Fear Of A Native Black Planet. 20 Apr 2009 06:15 pm. Commenter KCN writes: I would really love to hear TNC

The world of public relations has come a long way.  I grew up around PR.  My parents are in the business.  When I first started in the entertainment marketing business PR consisted of press releases, face-to-face story pitches, and PR events or stunts.  Today, with the technology PR can and should be one of your most valuable assets.

If you handle PR for a show, event, or venue you should be busy every single day.  You have so many options at your disposal that you should never just sit at your desk and play solitaire.  Instead use that time to play in the social network world.  You should always have your social network sites up on your screen where you are always deep in the trenches of your customer base. 

I have become a recent fan of Twitter.  This social site is perfect for all PR people.  You can tweet all day in your social space about your brand.  I search Twitter everyday looking for other Twitter members to follow (you can follow me too, I go by eventpromoter).  I am always looking for people, shows, events, and venues from our world.  To my surprise, I am still not finding that many.  What is up with that?  Twitter is the perfect PR tool.  For example, I follow Starbucks.  Why, not quite sure but I thought a big brand like them might be a good social experiment.  I am not the only one following Starbucks.  They have almost 30,000 followers.  Think about this.  You can send out any number of PR messages you want for free and your potential customer will see it.  They want to see it. That is why they follow you.   I also use Twitter to get to know a brand.  For example, I am working on a wine cruise featuring wine guru Gary Vaynerchuk (by the way, he also has 30,000 Twitter followers).  What goes with wine, but cheese of course.  So, I am following Cabot Cheese.  Everyday, I get messages from them. Each one tells me something new about them that I did not know before.  That is good PR, don’t you think?  Many brands conduct contests for their followers.  What a perfect place to give away a few tickets.

I have discussed several times the use of Facebook.  They already own the high school and college crowd.  Now their fastest growing segment is the 30+ age group.  Check out these stats: http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics.   As a PR person, you should always be able to find your niche group to spin your story.  If you are a sports team you have all kinds of groups for that team.  If for some reason you don’t, then start one.  The same goes for concerts, family shows, etc…

If you do your homework you will find all kinds and types of social sites.  Many cater directly to your target demographic.  If you are trying to reach moms then go to momslikeme http://www.momslikeme.com/.  You can actually pick the state and city that you are trying to connect with.  Want to reach the African American community?  Join http://www.blackplanet.com/.  They have over 15 million members!  Want to reach the business community then you need to be part of LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com. Even if you are not trying to promote to the business world you need to join LinkedIn just to network for yourself.

Look at the world of blogs.  More people are reading them everyday.  You are reading one now.  There are blogs for almost everything.  Anyone can start a blog.  If you handle PR for a venue, show, sports team, etc.. you should have a blog.  What a perfect place to put all your press releases.  You will be very surprised who and how many people will read it. 

Next time your boss sees you just staring at your computer, tell him you are just playing the game of PR.

Sort of similar to Facebook...well not really.

Before Facebook and Myspace, there were earlier social networking sites called Migente ,Blackplanet, Asianavenue and Boltmedia.com. None were as successful as the two sites of today’s generation (Myspace and Facebook). Bolt Media Inc was the first among few social networking sties to emerge on the internet. It entailed a variety of features that are offered on Facebook and Myspace. Features that include browser games, photo albums, emails and blogs were set to entice the company’s young targeted teen audience. The site itself does mirror the two successful social networking site of today, so why did Bolt media shut down in 2007? Could it be that the target audience at the time was the site’s downfall?

 In 1996 I was in the second grade struggling to color in between the lines at the Thomas Garfield elementary school in Brighton. At the time I didn’t even know anyone that even had a computer. I knew the term computer and what I derived from the term was that it was extremely expensive. I didn’t care about computers back then, I didn’t even see it as a technology break through like I said, I was trying to color in between the lines in second grade. Of course I would be the wrong person to ask when it came to why Bolt media Inc shut down, so I asked my friend who (twenty nine years old). He chose to remain anonymous in my blog.

I asked him,

“I was in junior high school” “Where were you in 1996?”

“Did you know how to use the computers back then?”

“We took typing classes but that’s it”

“What about the internet, when did you start using it?”

“1997, I used it to for chat rooms”

“Ever heard of Boltmedia.com?”

“Nope”

 Ok, my conclusion to this social networking web 1.0 dilemma is this. Come on America, 1996. Do you realize how long and time consuming it took back then to go on a similar website to Facebook?  We’d log on and then wait for people to chat with us. Let’s just face it, Bolt media Inc is like television on cell phones-people could afford it. Bolt’s demise could have gone to variety of factors; one important one would be competition of rival sites and the aging members of the site. Due to lack of members the site had to turn to corporate sponsors such as Verizon and Gillette. They snuck ads into user content and was eventually sued. Bolt did come back in 2002 with a new upgraded version called “Bolt2”, however the number one social networking  spots have gone to Facebook and Myspace. Sorry Bolt, like about timing and your time is up!

This weekend’s edition of The New York Times Magazine features an excellent report titled “Is Obama the End of Black Politics ” It’s an incredibly well written well reported piece that I would love to have written myself.
edwardg.wordpress.com

Barack Obama must have been taking notes during Howard Dean’s campaign for the 2004 Presidential election.

Howard Dean is more than his devastating SCREAM (watch video above) that lost Iowa’s vote before he dropped out of the race. There is no doubt that Dean set the stage for Presidential campaigns today; and, Barack Obama is taking the lead, using online donations, political blogs and social networking. Plus, he’s cool, calm and collected—literally speaking (watch video below).

Barack Obama is clearly using the internet as a major tool in his campaign. Since young, voting-age citizens are likely to be interacting with Web 2.0 platforms today, Obama enjoys the benefit of communicating with a new generation that is underrepresented in the polls. Visitors on his website can register to vote through the homepage, simply by clicking Register To Vote. Obama is obviously investing in the future by utilizing cutting-edge technology to reach people who appreciate constitutional rights and the internet. Obama takes advantage of weblogs (Blogs), real simple syndication (RSS) feeds, social networks, simple message syndication (SMS), mashups and more. Careful not to ignore those who are less advanced in terms of new technology, he gives away free tools to grassroots supporters to pass his message on to Americans in the physical world. Also, Obama uses traditional means of communication, such as television and radio broadcasts, press releases, appearances and speeches on college campuses and other potential voter sites. This report takes a close look at Obama’s strategy to build a strong, unified community using new technology to influence today’s voters who are diving into the world-wide-web.

Obama announced his plan to run for President on January 16, 2007 using Brightcove, an internet TV service used to produce videos and programs, specifically for broadband business to have more choice and control over their products. With Brightcove, a company partnered with a variety of international news and entertainment businesses, Obama can manage video features, rights and distribution, while building a video audience. His pre-launch video can only broadcast with a branded flash-player, but it does allow space for businesses to insert advertisements.

The following are key messages in Obama’s pre-launch video:

• A different kind of politics to enable America to make better decisions and tackle big problems that demand solutions.
• A focus on working citizens in a changing economy.
• Lowering the cost of health care.
• Help for parents to pay for their children’s college education.
• A plan to end the war and battle America’s dependence on oil.

Obama’s website, also offered in Spanish, is loaded with technology platforms that reach out to people involved in various online groups. The campaign website is filled with links to Obama’s media—Weblogs, Obama Mobile, Partybuilder, Myspace, Facebook, BlackPlanet, Eventful, Flickr, Twitter, BarackTV and the official Obama Store. There are also campaign news feed options, photos, and videos. Obama States is a mashup that allows supporters to find out what is going on in their states, using Blogs, Google Maps and RSS. The People tab includes personal testimonials, targeting specific affinity and interest groups—Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; African Americans; Americans abroad; environmentalists; first Americans; generation Obama; kids; Latinos; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people; people of faith; students; veterans; women; and, even more to come. It looks like Obama is in agreement with Chris Anderson’s Long Tail theory; to run his campaign, he is identifying many niches of technology savvy people to share his messages, with hopes to raise enough money and votes to win the presidential election. Using the technology of the future, Obama’s campaign suggests that he is up-to-date in terms of efficient messaging and he wants American citizens to take advantage of information technology and make good decisions, while exercising their political rights.

Key issues on Obama’s website, launched in February 2007, are stated as follows:

• Strengthening America Overseas
• Plan to End the Iraq War
• Creating a Healthcare System that Works
• Fighting Poverty
• Environment
• Energy
• Technology and Innovation for a New Generation
• Fulfilling Our Covenant with Seniors
• Improving Our Schools
• Protecting Our Homeland
• Immigration and the Border
• Protecting the Right to Vote
• Honoring Our Veterans
• Cleaning Up Washington’s Culture of Corruption
• Strengthening Families and Communities
• Reconciling Faith and Politics

On November 14, 2007, Obama’s campaign made a significant turn. He separates himself from other Democratic candidates by officially proposing Public Media 2.0, a platform that would allow Americans to take a closer look at government proceedings. Committed to network neutrality, he advocates a citizen democracy, the freedom of speech and privacy in the world wide web. His technology agenda includes specific goals, like more training for high tech jobs, filtering kits for parents of children who need protection online, and an interactive White House website that would allow citizens to view and comment on government meetings and hearings before non-emergency legislations are signed

One of Obama’s most impressive campaign platforms is, My.BarackObama, which is like an advanced Facebook. He is the first to create a social network for a presidential campaign, and it looks like he has made no mistake because he’s taking advantage of the ability to build a community and communicate his message to thousands of people at once. Members of My.BarackObama have a personal account to include a profile, neighborhood, friends list, event manager, message center, group list, a fundraising resource center and a blog—free. The site makes it easy to manage personal involvement within Obama’s campaign. It helps users keep up with Obama’s action and connect with other supporters to plan and stay posted on local events. The Events tab allows users to easily keep track of events that members have organized or plan to attend. The Neighborhood tab organizes local groups, blogs, events and people who support Obama’s campaign. The Friends tool on My.BarackObama allows for a personal network for easy communication among regular contacts. When users are active on the website, their ranking rises over members who have made fewer contributions, so campaigning for Obama can be personally rewarding for competitive supporters.

Obama’s social networking strategy certainly does not stop at My.BarackObama. He has 166,109 Facebook friends (whom he calls supporters); 196,683 friends on Myspace; a BlackPlanet account; a Linkedin profile; a MyGrito account; an Eventful network; a profile on Digg, a social news/bookmarking site; and, a presence on Eons.com, touted as the webs most politically active community of Americans over the age of 50. Each site is interactive, and Obama uses social networking to give members a look into his personal life and political views. Members are able to communicate key issues to the Illinois Senator and others at any time. Professionals who want to view Obama’s resume and professional profile can do so on Linkedin, but for constant updates on the campaign, supporters can utilize Gather for current news and his other social networking sites.

Obama’s Facebook page consists of 365 photos, 18 posts with useful information and videos, and 1217 notes regarding Obama’s campaign with RSS feed options. Users can stay current on his campaign through the site, and there is also an Obama application that members can add to their own profile to share updated news about the campaign with Friends.

Myspace has proven to be a great platform for artists and other entreprenuers to market products, concerts, etc., and Obama has hopped on the bandwagon too. His Myspace page advertises and provides links to all of the Web 2.0 platforms that he is using in the campaign, plus it includes a blog and offers an easy start to becoming active in his support. All one has to do is click on Sign Up Now to volunteer, fill out the Join The Movement box to receive informative e-mails, or click on the Obama Store link to show support in style. All of Obama’s Top Friends are obvious supporters, and he provides embeded codes for anyone to add the campaign logo, Join The Movement box, and/or a Donate box to other wikis on the web. Those who visit the official Obama Myspace page also have access to Obama on MyGrito, Facebook, Linkedin, Gather, PartyBuilder, Obama Mobile, my.BarackObama, Twitter, and BarackTV on iTunes and YouTube—in one click.

Social networking helps Obama reach people who are underrepresented in the polls. He is communicating with people who speak Spanish on MyGrito, which is very similar to Myspace. His MyGrito page displays his personal interests and political values, a photo gallery, comments from supporters, a video and a link to BarackTV en Español. Obama is also reaching out specifically to young, black potential voters on BlackPlanet.com, another social site, where he has a blog, 2 videos, 5 photos and 368,328 friends.
Blogs provide a good foundation for Obama’s campaign online because they are the conversations of people who make up his social networking team and other followers. He hosts community blogs in an Obama HQ blog that is frequently updated, encouraging members to publish writing in support of the campaign. Also, his website currently features a blog on Obama’s foreign policy views. All blogs on Obama’s site offer the option to subscribe to an RSS feed of posts and/or comments. Thanks to blogs, there are constant conversations among supporters about his campaign on My.BarackObama, Facebook, Myspace, MyGrito and BlackPlanet—5 large worlds that are new to the political arena, but powerful enough to reach millions.

There is a Groupspace on Gather, a social blogging/networking site where people discuss shared interests. A community of people are on Gather posting blogs in support of Obama, and the candidate includes links to this site (and all others) throughout his online campaign.

Eventful is a community of people who are demanding events in their area. Those who participate on the Discussion Boards get the advantage of sending messages to the person, or group, in demand. Obama is registered with the site, and it lists his past and upcoming events, as well as a ranking of the most popular requests for future campaign visits. Currently, 1,528 people want him to go to the Los Angeles metro area, 1,347 are requesting that he visit the Seattle metro area, and 1,161 requests are for the Portland metro area. These are just the top three 3 demands—Obama has 3,516 remaining.

Obama uses BarackTV on YouTube, a video blogging community, to broadcast videos throughout his campaign, giving supporters a visual of what he is doing in each city that he visits. Individuals can subscribe to the videos or just video tags, through his website, to receive those that would be of interest. Users also have the option of re-posting videos and/or e-mailing them to others who may be paying attention to Obama’s campaign. BarackTV is also available on iTunes. In the midst of $.99 videos and songs and $9.99 albums, Obama offers downloadable videos for free. Users are then able to download BarackTV to their computers and/or cell phones.

This democratic candidate is only a text-message away. A US News and World Report article states that “the Obama campaign introduced an initiative that would allow cellphone users to pose the campaign questions using text messages. To subscribe to get updates from the campaign, users could text message ‘GO’ to the number 62262, which conveniently spells out the candidate’s last name. They could then ask Obama anything. During this year’s YearlyKos convention, the campaign also encouraged people to text OBAMA for information about Chicago, the senator’s hometown” (Schwab, 2007). Obama Mobile also gives the option to download wallpaper, ringtones and subscriptions to key issues via SMS at no charge (other fees may apply, depending on the service provider). According to an Obama spokeswoman, a combination of staff and volunteers respond to the text messages. In addition to the mobile services, Obama is registered to Twitter.com, a social network and micro-blogging site. Users can follow SMS updates through the website, mobile text-messaging, instant messaging, e-mails or applications, like Twitterfic, that use little space.

The true impact of Obama’s internet Friends and visitors on the election is yet to be known, but he is building, perhaps, the closest relationship with supporters seen in any other campaign. Even if a small percentage of his supporters create a My.BarackObama account, they are likely to be very active with so many tools at their reach. Obama is smart to penetrate the most popular social networking sites with his messages, in addition to using his personal platform. His supporters in the virtual world are using the technology upon which he has based much of his campaign strategy to build even greater support. These technology savvy grassroot supporters are even sending messages through games in Second Life, using avatars in the virtual world to raise real dollars and to recruit real support for his campaign. Still, he faces the challenge of turning Friends into voters when it is time for the election, but he has already built a large community of people who might vote in favor of Obama’s mission to lead America to become a better informed nation. Perhaps Obama could become more active on Digg in an effort to broaden his audience. He currently has 3,200 Friends on the site and a blogger, Danny Sullivan, posted “US Candidates Hit Digg, Fail To ‘Get’ The Social News Site,” on November 21, 2007. Sullivan introduces US Candidates on Digg, which is an application that allows users to view what candidates are posting on Digg; and, he criticizes Obama for only posting news articles about himself, rather than posting other news articles to express an interest in a variety of issues.

Nevertheless, Obama’s campaign is authentic; he is in high-demand on the political scene and America’s corporate world could learn something from his fresh messaging tactics. Nonprofits and government agencies should pay attention to Obama’s skillful use of free Web 2.0 tools within his campaign. For example, the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington could use Obama’s website as a template to revamp its own website and make it easier to navigate and more informative and interactive. PR professionals should pay attention to Obama’s ability to be part of the conversations of consumers through social networking and strategic ad placement using new technology platforms and applications.

The Obama campaign is so innovative that he is discussed on a regular basis within a plethora of media outlets. On April 4, 2007, MSNBC reported that Obama raised $25 million in the first three months of 2007, placing him just behind Hillary Clinton. My.BarackObama led a blogger on TechCrunch to publish an article on February 11, 2007 titled, “MyBarackObama: Who Built This?” The post marveled about Obama’s social networking site that is “feature-complete and bug free.” Obama’s innovative campaign is a hot topic in the blogoshpere, as well as in traditional media. Key bloggers lurk under the professional Obama articles in the Washington Post, where reporters are most likely to analyze Obama’s responses at debates while comparing him to his biggest competition, Hillary Clinton. In fact, much of mainstream media places a focus on Obama’s action from state-to-state, using cutting-edge tools, like podcasts, blogs and RSS. Even the Houston Chronicle published an article titled, “Obama takes aim at Clinton during his visit to Austin.” The article supports mainstream media, which has zoned in on Obama’s struggle to differentiate himself from Clinton, in terms of the war in Iraq, America’s health care system and the Presidential role. However, Obama’s solid position in the Presidential race also causes mainstream media to focus on issues that make his campaign unique. For instance, The New York Times published, “Obama Envisions New Iran Approach,” on October 31, 2007. The article discusses an interview on Obama’s plan to repair America’s relationship with Iran. With the support of Oprah Winfrey, a huge, influential media icon; and, Chris Hughes, the ingenious creator of Facebook, Obama is bound to have more, distinguishing news coverage.

Obama makes it his business to be a part of common conversation through the new technology platforms that are available to everyone. He shares his messages through both leading and amateur networking sites, and his campaign is more interactive than any other Presidential candidate. He shares a galore of photos through all of his media, plus he is registered with Flickr. Obama’s Flickr profile states, “[Obama] was fortunate to be able to grow up seeing America from varied viewpoints.” Clearly, Obama’s diverse life experiences have influenced his campaign approach as he offers Americans different viewpoints from which to examine his campaign, and a sneak peak at what America could look forward to if he were elected President.

Dedicated to Amber and Najja, my Final Project group buddies in
MEDIA RELATIONS

Baracka Obama, U.S. Senator from Illinois, is keeping up in the Presidential Election. Whether you think he’s hot, cool or wack, he’s almost on point when it comes to the polls and today’s technological situation. Obama recognizes that technology benefits the world and he pays special attention to developing a stronger technology system and team that would be sure to protect children. Parents and other adults would benefit from the rights of our FIRST AMENDMENT.

All i REALLY know about Obama is this: After I logged in to his website, a quick message came up that said I’d be connected to the main page…and in 1-2-3, I was there! (It’s the little things that make me happy, I guess, but he gained a little of my trust.)

Obama has really dove into the

WEB 2.0 WORLD

• OBAMA MOBILE
• facebook
• myspace
• partybuilder
• REGISTER TO VOTE
• Eventful
• BlackPlanet.com
• YouTube
• flickr
• Second Life
• eons

He Even Proposes

PUBLIC MEDIA 2.0

Notes and STUFF…

• Obama entered the race in February 2007

• Obama launched a TECH AGENDA on NOVEMBER 14

• Not only does Obama want to allow citizens to watch live internet feeds of ALL government proceedings, but he also wants to give us a chance to comment before non-emergency legislations are signed. He wants to create a position for America’s 1^st CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.

• Citizen democracy, privacy and free speech in technology take the stage as Obama’s IT platform takes shape.

OBAMA SAYS: 1) Train more people for high tech jobs. 2) Give citizen rights to immigrants who earn a college degree in the U.S. 3) Use technology to improve universal healthcare. 4) Connect all of America to 21^st century broadband.

• He’s right behind Clinton in the polls.

• Obama in Second Life

• Second Life Obama Support Group

• Obama in Second Life

HILLARY CLINTON’S TECH PLAN * JOHN EDWARDS TECH PLAN

• Obama’s got the youth vote article here: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2007/11/16/obamas_got_the_youth_vote_and.html
• Will Obama Turn Out Young Voters in Iowa? http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/11/will_obama_turn_out_young_vote.php
• CAMPAIGN NEWS http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_071116.htm
• Obama tends to look at the LARGER picture… http://www.slate.com/id/2178075/

• Obama in VA: Improve hiring practices and quality control measures at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities. (Response to the situation at the Marion VA Medical Center, where inpatient surgeries were suspended in August because of an unusual rise in deaths after surgery.) http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-vadoc_17nov17,1,1306126.story

• Obama in Iowa
• Obama in MORE STATES
• Obama accuses CLINTON of dodging questions. http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=157228
• Obama isn’t extra PATRIOTIC??

Internet social networks: list of social networks

Welcome to our list of social networks! Please let us know if your social network is not listed here, this is just the start of the list. Links to this post, with link titles such as “Internet social networks”, list of Internet social networks and reviews of Internet social networks are welcome!

Open source social network: registering one account on this social network allows you to access dozens of other affiliated social network. No more nightmares remembering passwords etc.
European social network: social network for European users
Social network for peace : social network promoting peace by linking people
Second life avatars social network: social network for Second Life residents
Polska social network: social network for Polish users
Magyar social network: social network for Magyar users

Internet social networks: jobs in social networks

Here we list vacancies from social networks and other Web 2.0 companies. Best wishes for your search of employment online!

Social networks managers wanted
If you are familiar with European social networks as IWIW.HU, MySpace.com, Orkut, Grono.net, Rate.ee, Limpa.ru, etc you can be the right person for us! We are looking for European social network managers, able to lead our communities in their own countries/languages. Managers are evaluated and paid on performances, for this reason we are 100% flexible about working time and location. You can work from home, travel and work, work little or many hours; that is all up to you! We monitor only performances, so if you deliver on your promises, you will be rewarded.

Application process is very easy. At this stage, we hope to hear from as many candidates as possible. Then, we will short-list the candidates who look more suitable. The top performers will be offered a job as social network managers, and the top manager in each country can become social network country manager and co-ordinate the whole site.

Please make yourself familiar with one or more of our sites (they all use the same social network platform):
European social network
Social network for peace
Second life avatars social network
Open source social network

After, please contact us on http://www.smilegrid.com/contact.php providing:
- contact information
- why you are the right person to be social network manager
- how many users you can bring us in the first week
- how many users you can bring us per month
- salary expectations
- projects you already worked on
- copied-pasted resume (if you have one)
- any information you consider relevant

Tags: Jaringan sosial, Rete sociale, Ismeretségi hálózat, Sociaal netwerk, Sieć społeczna, Rede social, Socialt netværk, Soziales Netzwerk, Sotsiaalne võrgustik, Red social, Réseau social, Ismeretségi hálózat, IWIW, MySpace.com, Orkut, social networks, hungarian social networks, European social network, Second life avatars social network, Open source social networks, Social network for peace, www.IWIW.hu