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[Video] An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube – Michael Wesch

10.21.08 // Social Media //Comments

In addition to my last post about Michael Wesch video about how “The Machine is Us/ing Us” I want to recommend one of his newer videos. Dr. Wesch presented “An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube” at the Library of Congress on June 23, 2008. The video is about one hour long, and it goes deep into the mechanics of society and how the Internet is transforming it/us.

Michael Wesch is talking about “Digital Natives” (Wikipedia: “A digital native is a person who has grown up with digital technology such as computers, the Internet, mobile phones and MP3″). He points out the difference of how this generation is growing up with a computer humming by their bed stands, their new ways of perceiving and connecting due to the Internet and new media.

So without spoiling any more, watch the video if you liked the last one. You’re going to enjoy this one, I promise :)

Web 2.0 in just under 5 minutes – The Machine is Us/ing Us

10.14.08 // Social Media //Comments

This movie is pretty old and was seen millions and millions of times, so there is a big chance, you’ve seen “The Machine is Us/ing Us” before. If you’re one of them: Sorry to bore you…

I stumbled over this clip today and allthough it’s 1,5 years old, it’s still strikingly insightful. And for any chance, that there is still someone out there who didn’t see it yet, I just have to share it once again. Please give me a comment, if you are watching this clip the first time OR if you’re enjoying it to see it yet once again :)

Michael Wesch, a Professor at Kansas State University, has produced this video early 2007 to accompany a yet-to-be-released academic paper about the web 2.0 phenomenon and posted it on Youtube the 31th of Januar. Because of the many copies all over the net, a viewcount is difficult to do, but a quick count resulted in at least 10 Mio views.

[Video] An Inspiring Gary Vaynerchuk about How to get Successful.

10.04.08 // Social Media //Comments

We all know Gary Vaynerchuk. The famous wine (video-) blogger and owner of Wine Library. He is a perfect example of being passionate about what he is doing: He calls himself a “Social Media Sommelier“. In his keynote-talk at O’Reilly Web2.0 Expo he not only talked about the relation between passion and success, but he did that with so much passion, that you have to see yourself.

One of my favorite quotes:

“Way to many People are doing stuff, they hate. Please stop doing that. there is no reason in 2008 to do shit you hate. None. promise me you won’t!” (Gary Vaynerchuk, 2008 O’Reilly Web2.0 Expo)

Watch the video here:

Gary Vaynerchuk is talking about “Building Personal Brand Within the Social Media Landscape“. With over 450 daily wine shows with an audience of at least 80.000 every day he successfully transformed his parents wine-merchant family business in New Jersey from a 4.5 millions to a 60m-a-year enterprise. He uses a lot of web2.0 / social media to promote his brand and to get/stay in touch with his audience/clients: facebook, twitter, pownce, linkedin, viddler, myspace…

What do you think about his approach? Do you have other examples of inspiring, charismatic people who love what they are doing,  putting all their passion into it?

Is your Company Ready for Going Social

09.30.08 // Social Media //Comments

Alisa Hansen collected in her Blog “10 Things Before Going Social” important subjects to check if your company is ready for the social era:

“1. Forget the “campaign”. It’s about having a holistic digital program that includes leveraging social technologies over the long haul. Get ready to begin socializing your brand.

2. Social media is not a silo. Social initiatives are about brand building, awareness, community building, gathering feedback and leveraging the world’s largest focus group…it should be inextricable from your brand’s strategic plan and certainly integral to digital strategy.

3. A note on social media monitoring: A) Approach it with the expectation that it is about providing strategic intelligence based on the consumer conversation. B) Use it to benchmark and track initiatives and programs. C) Actually act on consumer feedback (hey! crowdsource product development!).

4. Social amplifies you who are as a brand: the good, the bad and the ugly. Cover-ups, fakery and sneakiness are not advised. Be prepared to act transparently, admit when you’re wrong and actually listen to customer feedback.

5. If you think you can control, “herd,” push

6. Can I say it again? Think strategically.

7. Ask yourself two questions: How can I be useful? Why will people care?

8. Respect the attention economy.

9. If “viral” is somewhere in your aspirations, stop reading this and read this

10. Lighten up, socializing is supposed to be fun ! (If you’re going to stress over who’s using your pictures from Flickr, then don’t post them to Flickr).”

(from Alisa Hansen – 10 Things Before Going Social)

Some of these “Things” might sound a little harsh, but what we learn is that “going social” is not using another marketing tool. Its not another media channel to shout the users or consumers. This is a lot more. It affects the people, from employees to users and all other stakeholders. It is not shouting but listening. For a company this might be a lot of change. But Change we need!

You will read about social media more often in the future. So if you like, join me going into detail. And if you have any questions, give me a comment, please :) I would be happy to answer either in a comment or in my next post to the topic.