Danny Brown

podcaster - author - creator

Insights

A Burst of Reality in Social Media

We spend so much time in social media that it’s easy to forget real life. Yes, social media is “real life” but I think you know what I mean.

I just found out from a friend that blogger and Twitter user Meg Porter (@megapixel) was killed in a car crash last week.

She was 24-years old. Just a kid, really, with a huge life ahead of her.

I’d chatted a few times with Meg a while back but, like so many other connections, never really had? a chance to get to know her really well. But I do recall her making me laugh a few times with her words.

Even though I didn’t know Meg as much as some of my other online friends, the news of her death still came as a shock and upsets me. So much life taken away in an instant. So much for Meg to live for.

Meg was a great video blogger, and her videos show you a lot more behind the person. She also took some great photographs and you could tell that a brilliant, creative mind lived inside this young lady.

We move in such fast circles and fast times, always chasing the newest application or technology, that we can forget there are real people and real things happening every hour, every day away from our computer screens.

Meg Porter was one of these people. Her sad death is one of these real things.

While social media is the space we live in, let’s make sure we enjoy the space away from it too. We never know when it might end.

My thoughts go out to Meg’s family and friends – I’m sorry for your loss.

Simple

If someone tells you that you want something, do you listen? Or do you ignore and think that only you know what you want?

If someone asks what you want, do you tell them your ideas and wish-lists? More than likely. We all like to be heard.

So why are you telling your customers what they want? Why are you not asking them? Instead of saying, “Hey, this is our new product, it’s just what you’ve wanted”, why not say, “Here’s the product you asked for”?

Or is that too simple?

Simple

If someone tells you that you want something, do you listen? Or do you ignore and think that only you know what you want?

If someone asks what you want, do you tell them your ideas and wish-lists? More than likely. We all like to be heard.

So why are you telling your customers what they want? Why are you not asking them? Instead of saying, “Hey, this is our new product, it’s just what you’ve wanted”, why not say, “Here’s the product you asked for”?

Or is that too simple?

Branded Tweetdeck – Great Idea or Waste of Time?

Not In The Way... Not At AllWhile I don’t use third-party Twitter app Tweetdeck myself (I switched to Seesmic Desktop a while back), I noticed today that both Mashable and TechCrunch now have their own branded versions.

It’s basically the same Tweetdeck application but now you can have a dedicated pre-set column for the latest news from both websites, as well as a shiny Mashable or TechCrunch logo on your Tweetdeck skin.

But are they worth changing to?

Personally, I can’t see the major benefit at this time. Yes, it’s great that now both Mashable and TechCrunch have their logo on Tweetdeck’s interface. But will that really expand their brand?

I’m guessing that most users who already have Tweetdeck installed know about both websites. And you can always just set up your own preset column in the standard Tweetdeck to watch the Mashable and TechCrunch feeds.

What about new users? Mashable promotes their version by saying it’s great for new Twitter users to “get up to speed”. I’m not so sure – new Twitter users might be better getting used to Twitter itself first before trying to control a multi-column app.

Comments on both websites are mixed – some think it’s great while others think it’s a waste of time.

I have to say that I’m with the second camp at the minute. It’s always interesting to see brands experiment with ways to get their name into people’s collective. I’m just not sure this is it.

And with some Tweetdeck users still complaining about performance issues (the new iPhone app crashing, memory hog, etc), wouldn’t it be better for Tweetdeck to concentrate on that first?

What about you? What’s your take on Mashable and TechCrunch’s new Tweetdeck app?

Would it make you question their bias when discussing third-party Twitter apps? How can they make real use of it down the line? Will you be downloading one of them?

Creative Commons License photo credit: dprevite

The Power of Connection

Although you're far...Seems numbers continue to be a hot topic.

I offered my views on the numbers game recently; as did both Dan Schawbel and Kasey Skala in posts of their own (and, I’m sure, many others have done and will do).

So, clear to see, numbers matter – how they matter is up to you.

As you’ll tell by my original post, my preference is on the quality versus the quantity set of numbers. Here’s a little example why.

I’m currently in the process of finalizing a special 24-hour charity fundraiser via Twitter and streaming video for my 12for12k Challenge. This takes place this coming Monday, June 29 (love to see you there!).

As much as I’d love to think I’m a multi-tasker, I’m not. This could be to do with the fact that I’m a guy and we all know women are far better multi-taskers than us, or plain and simple I’m useless. So, to help this event (hopefully) go smoothly, I know I need help.

I reached out to the 12for12k “team” and they responded like the stars they are. Emails, phone calls, favours called in, contacts spoken with, etc. So much so that already the event is taking shape fast and there looks to be some great stuff happening.

Now this team doesn’t run into the thousands. The numbers are relatively small – maybe a core group of around 100 people that want to help share the message of what 12for12k is trying to achieve. But it’s the power of this small group and the connections between us and outwith us that really emphasizes quality over quantity.

From these inner connections, we all have outer connections who, again, because of the quality of the connection itself, are also jumping in to help.

People like Amanda Hite; Brian Carter; Amanda Beals; Niki Madsen D’Alonzo; Christina Kingston; Susan Elaine; Delores Williams; and way too many more to list here. Donating time, services, gifts and more to make this event as big a success as possible.

But again, these numbers don’t run into the thousands. You might argue that the combined number of connections on Twitter run into hundreds of thousands, and you’d be right. But it’s the intimate relationships that everyone above has built with each other that’s allowing the message to be heard, acted upon and shared.

It used to be that you could just throw any message out to the highest denominator and hoped that some would stick. You can still do that, by all means – but now there’s much more to be had with connections. Real connections.

Chris Brogan talks about trust agents and how their connections help build armies and believability, because of the intimacy and way they each present themselves, their stories and their relationships.

My friend Iggy Pintado has written a book about the Connection Generation and how the old rules are changing and connection (or lack of) is everything. It’s a fantastic read and full of great insights.

So what does this mean for you, or your business? It’s simple:

Numbers are becoming less relevant than the numbers behind the numbers. How many of your connections are real connections and how many are just empty statistics?

If you want to spread your message, you need to have people – your customer, if you like – want to spread the message. How do you do this? Interact, involve and empower.

Make the connections physical. New product to launch? Offer more than your staid news release and get people into your place of work to try it. Real people. Your people; your customers. Make it a family day event and have fun while presenting your goods.

I’m one person. You’re one person. Together, though, we’re two and we’ve immediately doubled our strength. Now imagine how strong the message is when each person brings one more connection?

Are you ready to connect?

Creative Commons License photo credit: ~Aphrodite