Big Is The New Small

Oklahoma City based Lamar Advertising Company has a cutting edge project dealing with Tweets and their Digital Billboard space around Oklahoma City.  In my opinion it’s one of the smartest examples of a business leveraging Social Media for community connection and Brand/Business awareness.

@LamarOKC has these 14 foot by 48 foot digital billboards around the city. They will screen thousands of tweets a day from their followers and choose 4-5 tweets to place on these monstrous digital billboards.  My tweets have been “Lamar’d” several times.  I always know when one of my tweets have been featured, because I will receive phone calls, tweets, emails, facebook updates and new followers letting me know they saw my tweet on the Big Screen. Early on, I even had people ask me if I paid money to have my tweet on the billboard. I simply chuckled…

This is another example of “How and Why” businesses should leverage Social Media. I am writing, you are reading and people are talking positively about @LamarOKC.

You can watch the 2min. video above for the complete story.  The coolest thing about the story is the last tweet they feature on the billboard.

dream BIG. think BIGGER.

Share your thoughts on the Twitter Billboards or any other examples of businesses uniquely leveraging Social Media.

I just received this nicely packaged set of books in the mail.  The book is called a Twournal and it’s a compilation of your last 3,200 tweets.  In my case the tweets cover a time frame of March 2010 thru October 2010.  It’s pretty cool to look back and see what you were saying, thinking and doing for over a 6 month period.  For those who tweet less than me (probably most of you), your Twournal will have tweets for a longer time frame, but not more than 3,200 tweets.  The Twournal is customizable, and I added the feature of having my @replies or @mentions, which means I have included what others were saying about me, to me etc.

I ordered two, thinking I would keep one at the office and one on the coffee table at home.  It makes for great coffee table and bathroom reading. It’s seriously just a nice keepsake.

If I’m being honest, when I first ordered it I was a little skeptical; however after receiving them in the mail, I will definitely order some every 6 months or so. I did not order the one with the color pics. although I think I will next time.

I ordered my Twournals as a part of a Beta launch, the public launch is happening in a couple of days.  If you are interested in having your tweets made into a Twournal, visit Twournal.com.

Do you think the Twournal is a worthwhile keepsake?

Below are a few of pages out of my Twournal:

1st. Page, @mention w/ twitpic from a twitter follower I was meeting with, The day I began reading Seth Godin’s Linchpin and The Back Cover.

For those of you who are at-least 30 years of age, you probably have heard of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Those under 30 may or may not have heard of this organization. There are BBB’s all around the country that gather and report information on business reliability, alert the public to frauds against consumers and businesses, provide information on ethical business practices, and act as mutually trusted intermediaries between consumers and businesses to resolve disputes.

When I was growing up, I would hear my mom and others use the threat of, “I’m going to report you to the Better Business Bureau” if a company or business was doing something shady or provided horrendous customer service.  I remember using it as a college student and over the years I began to notice that the threat of reporting something to the Better Business Bureau appeared to have less and less sting.

Consumers moved to the: “I’m going to email the corporate headquarters” of an organization.  They would simply send enough emails to make sure someone at the top hears their complaint.  The e-mail route became the most effective and efficient way for consumers to share their complaints.

The consumer complaint system has moved from the BBB to E-Mail to the current complaint and praise method we have come to know as Social Media.  If consumers have complaints they will simply blog about it, tweet about or post it to their Facebook page.  The bad thing for businesses is the fact that those complaints don’t go away and as matter of fact they have a lasting impression and potential to go viral.

Consumers are talking about the good, bad and ugly of businesses or brands.  Not only are they talking but their friends and followers are listening. Research shows that 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations, compared to only 14% trust advertisements.

This new reality makes it paramount for businesses to have a Social Media presence and a knowledgeable person handling their Social Brand.  Read this post for my thoughts about Businesses Without A Social Media Presence.

Social Media Is The New Better Business Bureau.

Do you share your complaints about businesses or brands via Social Media?  Share your thoughts on Social Media Being The New Better Business Bureau.

This Is What Twitter Can Do (All In 140 Characters):

Connect, network, influence, find info, teach, build a tribe, develop, rai$e, prov. instant access, entertain, minister, simplify & inspire

Share your thoughts on this list of things Twitter can do.

Add your own list (In 140 Characters Or Less)

11 Signs You’re Addicted To Twitter

• 1. Before you clicked on this post, you thought in the back of your mind — “I wonder if I’m addicted to Twitter.”
• 2. You are guilty of TWD — Twitter While Driving.
• 3. When you wake up in the morning the first thing you do is check your Twitter account.
• 4. While browsing through Twitter someone close to you asks what you are doing and you respond, “Nothing!
• 5. If you had a choice between radio, newspaper, television or Twitter — you would choose Twitter hands down.
• 6. You will argue Twitter over Facebook as though your name is @Ev.
• 7. The Fail Whale causes moderate to severe anxiety.
• 8. You have your Twitter name appearing on something other than your Twitter account.
• 9. You refer to other people by their Twitter name instead of their real name.
• 10. Those closest to you say that you’re addicted to Twitter.
• 11. You write a blogpost about being addicted to Twitter.
• Bonus: You own the domain with the word Twitter inside of it. Uhh Unfortunately, I own Twitteraholic.com  If you have any good ideas for it, let me know!

Share some other signs that you’re addicted to Twitter.

Business – Social Media = FAIL

Social media has eclipsed the thought that it is just a fad; it is more like cotton – the fabric of our lives.  Social Media is not simply new media… it’s the media.  It’s the chosen form of media of the people.  If a business wants to be successful they have to be where the people are and the people are on social media.

It doesn’t matter if you’re in the business of selling trinkets, pancakes, books, gas, financial services, phones, hamburgers or cars… Your customers are on social media and that’s where you need to be.  Many of them are reading this post from their mobile device.  They want to hear from you, they want to find you and more importantly they want to share the good, bad and ugly about you with their tribe.  Social media has allowed ordinary Joe to have a mom and pop type connection with their favorite brands, products and businesses through Twitter and other forms of Social Media.

If a company is not on social media they are failing bigger than a pregnant Twitter Fail Whale – that’s Super BIG. Business – Social Media = FAIL. Businesses need to have a social media presence just for the sake of being able to know what people are saying about them and their products.  Like it or not people are talking about your business, they are talking the good stuff, bad stuff and ugly stuff.  Not only are they talking but their friends and followers are listening.  Research shows that 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations and only 14% trust advertisements.  For that reason, every business should have someone that understands social media (consultant or in-house) assigned and responsible for their social media presence.

I remember traveling to Florida this summer and had a layover at KCI, Kansas City International Airport.  If you have ever been to KCI you know that it is very tight (not cool, but small).  You have to leave outside of security to get food, other than a few little kiosk like stands.  While I was at KCI, I tweeted an honest but somewhat negative tweet, my tweet was this: “Kansas City might have some good BBQ, but they need to work on this airport captivity, can’t leave, must re-enter through security airport!” I also tweeted, “Kansas City airport is like a prison once you get through security…  You’re Locked Down.”

Shortly after my tweet went out, I received a twitter response from @kciairport that read as follows: “@scottwilliams our design is not ideal for transiting pax. Working to increase avail concessions in gate areas.  Please enjoy our Free Wifi.” I loved the quick response and the fact that they directly addressed my concern as a customer.  It immediately changed my thoughts about the Kansas City International Airport.  I felt compelled to share my change of heart with my Social Media Tribe.  I tweeted this response, “Big #FistBump to @KCIAirport for having free wifi & a social media crew that responds to customers.  Awesome! Others should learn from this.”

The fact that the Kansas City International Airport had a viable social media presence saved their brand from a black eye and ended up adding value to their business.  If they were minus a great social media presence, those pregnant fail whale thoughts of mine would still be actively swimming around in the online waters of Twitter and Facebook.

Business – Social Media = FAIL

Do your favorite brands and businesses have a viable Social Media Presence?  Share your thoughts and experiences w/ businesses that are failing and those that are doing a good job with Social Media.

Here are 7 Simple Ways That Twitter Can Make You A Better Leader, all in 140 or less.

• 1. I Want Access- You have access to the thoughts, lives, principles & activities of some of the best leaders and leadership authors in the world.
• 2. Let’s Be Open- Allowing those that U work for, w/ or may potentially work with in the future to take a more open look at your life. The Other Side Of You!
• 3. Think Before You Act- Forces U 2 think before U tweet realizing that everything U tweet is permanent; all leadership decision R permanent at least 4 that moment.
• 4. Keep It Pithy- U have 2 get straight 2 the point, 140 or less. Streamline yr thoughts, say what’s necessary, make it meaningful & Realize yr words matter!
• 5. What’s The 411- There is an abundance of relevant information at your fingertips, current events, tech., trends, culture, scripture, product, research…
• 6. You’re Not My Boss-  You have to learn how to lead and connect in an environment where people are not forced to follow or connect… Why should I listen to you?
• 7. Don’t Be A Phony- Authenticity is critical for a leader! People smell a phony a mile away. Be Real, Be yourself. “Do You, It’s a Statement… Not a Question!”

Share your thoughts on this list of 7 or add additional to the list… of course in 140 or less!

This post will get straight to the point… If you want to get Re-Tweeted Pay Attention To These 10 Simple Ways:

• 1. SPACE - Leave 18-20 characters available in your tweet… allows enough room for your name @ sign and RT.  This is the most common reason people will not RT your post, individuals don’t want to take the time and energy to remove characters and shorten your post. TIME IS MONEY!
• 2. CONTENT – Tweet content that provides value to a broad audience — quotes, humor, questions, compelling thoughts, breaking news, technology, social media breakthroughs, tips, links to great content etc.  CONTENT IS KING!
• 3.  CONSISTENCY – Make sure your tweets are consistent.  Think of your tweets in a similar fashion that you look at newspaper or magazine subscription.   Your followers will learn to trust and grow to expect a particular type of content in a consistently delivered manner.  CONSISTENCY COUNTS!
• 4. TACTFUL - Have a keen sense of what to tweet and what not to tweet in order to maintain good relationships with your twitter community.  Don’t consistently ask your Twitter Community to Re-Tweet your tweet…  If you feel that the tweet or content is valuable, it may make sense to ask selective followers to RT a tweet.  If you ask all of your followers to RT your content all of the time, your message will fall on deaf ears. HAVE SOME MANNERS!
• 5. RECIPROCATE – Give and receive value to the Twitter community. Re-tweet other’s tweets if you find their information valuable and be sure that you provide them the RT credit they deserve.   Don’t be a Re-Tweetaholic or once again your message will fall on deaf ears. SHARE THE LOVE!
• 6. BRAND - Develop a consistent Twitter brand, presence, notoriety, content etc. desirable of being Re-Tweeted.  Many people have put the time energy and effort to earn the right for their content to be Re-Tweeted.  If you look at the Top 50 Re-tweeted Twitter Users Of All Time the one thing that’s consistent is that they all have their own unique brand. GET BRANDED!
• 7. RECOGNITION - Get recognized or develop a relationship with the people on the Top 50 Re-Tweeted Twitter Users Of All Time.  Seriously you don’t have to develop a relationship with people on that list; however having your content re-tweeted by folks with a strong Twitter brand will help with future RT’s.  GET RECOGNIZED!
• 8. LISTS - Believe it or not being on the right Twitter List can increase your ability to be re-tweeted.  People utilize their lists to keep the people they want to hear from front and center.  Lists can be as important on the Retweetometer as the number of followers.  Lists are a great measure of content value.  GET LISTED!
• 9. REPEAT - Repeat #1.  This is by far the most important aspect of being re-tweeted and often times the most over-looked.  Leave at least 18 characters, if you can leave 36 that’s even better… you have potentially doubled your chances. SPACE IS KEY!
• 10. BLOG ABOUT IT –  Write a simple blogpost about How To Get Re-Tweeted.  In all seriousness write about Twitter or Social Media – People in the wold of Social Media love to share content about Social Media. TOPIC MATTERS!

Share your thoughts on these 10 Simple Ways To Get Re-Tweeted. Do you have any additional ways to add to the list?

There is a new Bird in town and he goes by the name of #NewTwitter.  Twitter is about to change the game with the #NewTwitter.  About a month ago I had written a blogpost titled – Twitter Is The New Facebook Is The New MySpace and it looks like I may have been on to something.

Check out this video of the #NewTwitter.

Will this change how you use social media and whether or not you will continue to use Facebook?

It seems to be more of a common practice for entities to put a ban on social media for their organization.  In the past we have seen several college football programs place a ban on their athletes from using Social Media and more specific Facebook and Twitter.  Last season, former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach banned his Texas Tech team from using Twitter.  The ban was initiated after a player tweeted about Leach being late for a team meeting following a loss to Houston.

Leach was quoted as saying this, “I think that a guy who plays college football gets enough attention,” Leach said. It’s “a bunch of narcissists that want to sit and type stuff about themselves all the time. We’ll put mirrors in some of their lockers if that’s necessary but they don’t have to Twitter.” I like Mike Leach as a coach and his quirky personality, but his comment reveals his oblivious naivety to Social Media.

This year’s college football Cinderella team Boise State has also been placed on a Twitter ban by their head coach Chris Peterson.  Peterson stated, “It’s just a distraction that we just don’t really need to have right now. There’s plenty of time in their lifetime for Twitter.”

I believe it’s important for coaches and leaders to put certain rules, expectations and curfews in place to put their team or organizations in the situation to be successful.  Seriously, some of these bans are ridiculous.  This week Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is going one step further with a “social-media blackout.”  Kicking off this Monday, the Pennsylvania institution will block Facebook, Twitter, AOL Instant Messenger, and MySpace on the campus network for a week. This blackout will affect faculty, staff and students.  “Telling students to imagine a time before Facebook is like telling them to imagine living in a world with dinosaurs,” said Eric D. Darr, Harrisburg’s executive vice president and provost.

Vice-President Darr insisted the restricted access wasn’t censorship.  “We’re not denying students, staff, and faculty the right to connect to Facebook since the university network is only one avenue to get to these sites,” he said. “They can drive down the road to a place with wireless if they really want.”  Well vice-president Darr, if they can just go down the street why go through the trouble with the blackout?

I’m sure Mike Leach, Chris Peterson, The University of Harrisburg and countless others which have implemented such policies are well intentioned, they may just be a little uninformed.  The question I have for those people placing any sort of A Ban On Social Media is, “Are you placing a ban on any other sort of media?”  How about a ban on computers, televisions, faxes, mobile devices, iPods, iPads…  Those are all forms of media and all can be distractions like anything else.  The most effective way to monitor any form of media is to set clear expectations and rules for behavior.

Again, Media Is Not The Problem, I Repeat – Media Is Not The Problem…  Media is neutral, the only problem with media is People and Perception.  It cracks me up when I hear people say that you shouldn’t use Social Media a certain way and you shouldn’t tweet this or post that.  The most important concept to recognize about Social Media is the “Social” part.   The bottom line is that we are all social beings and we all socialize in different manners; therefore we all use Social Media in different manners.

Don’t put A Ban On Social, instead embrace it for what it is.  It’s the fabric of today’s connections, news and socialization and it’s not going anywhere.  Social Media Bans are about as effective as the Street Preacher with the bullhorn outside of a nightclub yelling that everyone is going to hell — not effective at all.

A Ban On Social Media…  I don’t think so!

What do you think about Social Media Bans and social Media Restrictions?