Social media marketing | Liz Hover's Diary of a Web Gal

I recently wrote a couple of posts trying to explain social media and why folks should be using it.

I said social media is an online behaviour. It’s the internet today – and we should really be referring to the social web.

I wrote about the benefits of social media tools and why you should be using them.

Then along comes this delicious slide show entitled What the F**K is social media? created by Marta Kagan.

With some great metaphors, this slide show is an excellent way to explain social media to anyone. You’ll get the idea within the first few slides.

There’s been lots of buzz around a new service – currently only in use by a small group – called Google Wave.

In September more folks will be able to use the service but it still won’t be available to the wider public.

Described by Google as ‘… a new model for communication and collaboration on the web…’ it’s hotly anticipated that it will become the next big thing in online communication.

My Canadian One Degree tweeting pal Corby Fine has written an excellent post disecting Google Wave and I strongly encourage you to read it for further details about how this tool might become part of your everyday communication in the not-too-distant future.

One of the cool chicks I follow on Twitter is Liz Strauss.

She’s created a special project calling on folks to provide 25 words of wisdom about social media.

Once Liz has received all the suggestions by July 31, she’ll compile them so we can all learn from each other.

And guess what peoples? I’m throwing my hat in the ring.

Social media isn’t a thing. It’s an online behaviour. Being a creator, a commentator and a sharer is what this web movement is really about.

Photo courtesy of ittybittiesforyou via a Creative Commons Licence

Being a Brit gal I was interested to see the UK government has written an extensive document about Twitter.

The Template Twitter Strategy for Government Departments really is a step by step guide to Twitter and includes information about positioning, tone of voice and a breakdown of content principles.

One could say it’s a little over the top but I guess that’s bureaucracy for you.

The one thing that pains me about corporate Twitter accounts is the possibility that every tweet must be approved. This simply isn’t practical and prevents folks from having any form of conversation because it slows everything down. Sadly the UK government has succumbed to this.

Overall the guide makes for interesting reading especially for folks new to Twitter who need an extensive breakdown of exactly how Twitter works.

I guess sometimes you do stuff and have no idea of its impact.

Case in point: the Winnipeg Folk Festival recently took place at Bird’s Hill Park, Manitoba. I’ve attended the festival for the last five years but this year stayed away to look after my pooch Sadie Shih Tzu who got spayed the first day of the festival.

The festival is significant to me because it’s where I first really fell in love with my man.

I’m at home sitting in front of my Mac Saturday night of the festival and John is at the festival.

As per usual I’m on Twitter when I spy a tweet from CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi who happens to be MC-ing the main stage that same night. Jian is asking for Folk Fest. stories to read out on the main stage so, assuming I’m one of many people replying to this request, innocently sent him a message.

I heard nothing for the rest of the evening.

It was only when John came home that night around midnight that I found out my tweet had indeed been read out in front of 10,000 people.

John hadn’t heard it but he certainly heard about it.

He’s the editor of a Winnipeg entertainment newspaper – Uptown Magazine – and was moved to write about the experience.

The tweet was my way of being present at the festival without being there. But I didn’t really think it would be read out. Apparently it was the first tweet that Jian mentioned :)

Steve Rubel rocks. I just watched this interview with him and realised he touches on some of the things I’ve mentioned in my last two posts about social media.

One word of warning – much as Steve talks about super interesting stuff, you might get sea sick from the camera :)

Video by Mark Glaser writing for Mediashift on pbs.org.