Social Media vs. Social Netorking...Who Cares?

Blogger Lon Cohen made a valiant effort on his blog to define the difference between social media and social networking. [http://ping.fm/wK3xm]

While his description and rationale are reasonable it makes you wonder why worry about it.

The key (and common) phrase is "social" and that denotes interaction. Without the interaction LinkedIn, Plaxo, Ning, even Facebook would just be file sharing websites.

The lines have certainly blurred as more and more sites build in "social functionality" --commenting, sharing, rating, polling, chat etc.

And while there are certainly some technology purist who believe that having clear definitions for the categories and sub categories is crucial. To the average "Social Whateva" user it's just not relevant.

With more and more social services launching or being cobbled onto existing websites, users are more concerned with which ones are best suited to their needs and lifestyle and are simple enough to use...regardless of what the technoratti want to call it.

Remember there still people today that debate whether they are on "the web", "the Internet" or gasp..."online".

Let's get social!

The DoubleShot Team

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TED Presentation Skills 101

All public speakers (corporate, government, even PTA leaders) can take a page from the TED Conference speakers on best practices and how to thrill (not kill) your audience.

Garr Reynolds has a great post on the making of a TED presentation with lots of wonderful examples. http://ping.fm/MB8X4

He also shares the TED Commandments which should be posted in every green room, speech coaches office and conference room across the world.

1. Thou Shalt Not Simply Trot Out thy Usual Shtick.
2. Thou Shalt Dream a Great Dream, or Show Forth a Wondrous New Thing, Or Share Something Thou Hast Never Shared Before.
3. Thou Shalt Reveal thy Curiosity and Thy Passion.
4. Thou Shalt Tell a Story.
5. Thou Shalt Freely Comment on the Utterances of Other Speakers for the Sake of Blessed Connection and Exquisite Controversy.
6. Thou Shalt Not Flaunt thine Ego. Be Thou Vulnerable. Speak of thy Failure as well as thy Success.
7. Thou Shalt Not Sell from the Stage: Neither thy Company, thy Goods, thy Writings, nor thy Desperate need for Funding; Lest Thou be Cast Aside into Outer Darkness.
8. Thou Shalt Remember all the while: Laughter is Good.
9. Thou Shalt Not Read thy Speech.
10. Thou Shalt Not Steal the Time of Them that Follow Thee.

Our favorites are number 4 (everyone loves a good story) and number 9 (damn thee teleprompter and notes montior).

Happy Speaking!

The DoubleShot Team

Social Media Learnings from Harley-Davidson

Interesting perspective on how Harley-Davidson uses social media and mobile marketing to get closer to their customer (http://ping.fm/QjwgS).

Key Learnings:
-Engage! Ask questions, solicit input and listen (yes just like your Mom said listening is important).
-Share! Give customers insight into what your thinking and an opportunity to respond.
-Go Organic! Don't force social media down your customers throats. Provide a platform but let them climb aboard in their own time.
-Be Real! To talk the talk then walk the walk. Live in your customers shoes and use your products. Otherwise how do you have any street cred.

Food for thought!