Archive | July, 2011

Tune into these Podcast Picks

24 Jul

The house is quiet. I have some draft blogs going and a few emails popping up. I turn up the speakers. It’s time. Podcast time.

I’ve been tuning into some great social media podcasts as of late and wanted to share my favorites. They all have their own tones, audiences, formats and specific interests. But they all have one thing in common (besides being a podcast): They’re like me. We are all glued to social media. We have to talk about it. Think about it. Share ideas and thoughts about it. A social media podcast is a great way to hear the latest news, views, ideas and discussions.

There are many social media podcasts out there. Just check out this laundry list. But you don’t have to click each link and hear each one to know the best. I’m nerdy enough to do that for you. So here are my top choices.

For Immediate Release is a weekly podcast hosted by Neville Hobson and Shel Holtz. They cover PR, technology and social media. It’s well produced and reaches an educated audience interested in the latest issues and news. The podcast is talk format with expert interviews. You can learn a lot and have a good time listening to these folks.

Managing the GrayC.C. Chapman is a social media guru and in his spare moments, he produces this marketing podcast. From his mouth, he shares tips, news and insights. It’s laid back and simple with some great viewpoints.

6 Pixels of SeparationMitch Joel, a digital marketing rockstar, showcases his social media expertise with an engaging podcast. In a kitchen table discussion style, he conducts great interviews with other leaders in the space such as Chris Brogan and Seth Godin. It’s truly entertaining with an insightful and often comical spin. This is my favorite one.

Do you tune into podcasts and if so, what are your favorites? Do you make your own? What topics do you like? Turn up the volume and share your thoughts!

Yep, I’m on the Google Plus Bus

17 Jul

It has been a few weeks since Google Plus came into our lives. All fresh and new to the world, many of us eagerly opened our browsers for the opportunity to be part of the newest social media endeavor.

Since early July, I’ve nurtured +Amanda. I’ve fed it links and photos, shared stories, thoughts and updates with it, and invited others to do the same. It’s worked its way into my daily social media mix, taking a piece of my time from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Foursquare. While not first in line (Twitter is my number one), it’s hanging in second place with Facebook following right behind.

My vote: Yes, I do enjoy Google Plus. There’s no character limit. You don’t have to accept people before they follow you. It’s free and they don’t taunt you with premium upgrade options. With circles, you can organize your feed any way you’d like and post to certain groups. It’s a secure site! And, not to mention, it’s Google. Not only is this a new and exciting venture, but it’s coming from a very familiar place. Here are some ways I’m using the social site:

  • Since posts and comments are editable, I might write something and then go back and update that post. For instance, someone asked me a question. I wrote, “Let me check and get back to you.” Once I had the answer, I edited that comment with the new information.
  • I am trained to use one feed that spits out everything from everyone s0 it’s tough for me to break into circles. Right now, I have one giant circle. I want the full Google Plus experience so my plan is to break them out. Plus, that just makes sense. (Feel free to share your circle breakouts – I need ideas!)
  • I don’t bookmark Google Plus because I can easily access it from my Gmail, Google Docs or while I’m searching on Google. It’s integrated so well that it is attached to everything I do in the Google environment.

Since there have been a boatload of Google Plus blog posts recently, I pulled my favorites:

  • Koozi gives an overview of the platform as well as insights from an SEO perspective.
  • Chris Brogan has a few posts about Google Plus but this one is my favorite. It’s all about blogging with the social site.
  • Marcy Massura looks at the opportunity of photo sharing in Google Plus.
  • Geoff Livingston provides an overview and addresses the challenge of yet another social network.

Now it’s your turn. Share your thoughts. Add me to your circle. Or if you haven’t joined and need an invite, comment below and I’ll send one along. Are you on the Google Plus bus?

History in the Social-Media Making

10 Jul

This week was a week of history. It included the first ever Presidential Twitter town hall and the last flight for the space shuttle Atlantis. Although I was in my home office and/or using up the WiFi at a local Starbucks during these events, I hardly felt distanced. In fact, I felt very connected to them.

If you were out enjoying this beautiful summer and *gasp* missed these moments, here’s a quick recap.

Watching Obama Town Hall from Starbucks (thanks @dweingrod for the photo)

Obama’s Twitter Town Hall – July 6, 2011

The social media mecca brought us the nation’s first-ever presidential Twitter Townhall. President Obama had a Tweetup, moderated by Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder. Questions came in via the @townhall handle and the #askobama hashtag and the President addressed them. An outpour of inquiries flooded the Twittersphere from education, to the economy, to war and oil. Questions were selected and the President answered them in real time via streaming video on http://askobama.twitter.com. Columbia Journalism Review has a great recap of the event and some of the results are located here: http://www.radian6.com/platform-blog.

Watching the space shuttle launch from UStream

Atlantis Takes Flight for Last Time – July 8, 2011

The US space shuttle Atlantis took its last flight from the Kennedy Space Center on Friday.  After a 30-year history that has cost nearly $200 billion and claimed the lives of 14 astronauts, the Atlantis will retire to make way for a new generation of spacecraft. Mission commentator Rob Navias called it “poetry in motion” as cameras captured the flight. The streaming video overtook NASA.com, CNN.com, Weather.com, UStream and many more video-happy sites. The shuttle arrived at the International Space Station today. Here are images of the flight from NASA.

Both of these history-making moments were online and live as America watched from their computer screens. Twitter and Facebook were astir with status updates and tweets as users wrote their emotions, thoughts, questions and comments. As all of this unfolded in front of me, I felt a part of something. A community of people came together to experience and share a moment. This is what social media is all about. This is why I love it.

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