Tag: twitter reach

How Simon Pwned Guy Kawasaki (@guykawasaki)

I want to tell the story of how my six year old son, Simon, pwned Guy Kawasaki. In order to set the story correctly, I have to share a little bit about my take on social media and how I think Guy Kawasaki gets it wrong. Of course, Guy is invited to chime in here on the blog or ring me at my direct line, *REDACTED DUE TO AGING WEBSITE*.

I Love Social Media

Most of my readers know that I love social media. I love being social, and the Internet is a great place to do that. If you have read any of my articles on social media, or have ever been to one of my interactive live Webcasts, you probably understand my thoughts on this topic. My feeling is that I would rather start with ten people saying something nice about me, because I was good to them, than to have 100,000 people to shout my message at. I do not mean to sound too much like “Stuart Smalley“, but people seem to like my message because they know I mean it. If those people tell a friend “hey, I know this marketing guy, Murnahan … I think he could help you”, I have received much more than I would by shouting at a deaf audience of 100,000. You can say that this does not apply to organizations seeking to reach millions of people, but it does, indeed. Let’s say for example that if those like Guy Kawasaki made a greater effort at communicating with me, he would suddenly have many thousands of additional people seeing his message, because I would pass it along, and my friends would pass it along … etcetera.

Is Social Media Just Social?

I am not trying to say that social media is just social. For examples of my thoughts on social media, I offer you my recent articles on “The Value of Social Media Marketing” and “The Social media Marketing Dilemma“. For those of us who really value social media and its importance to our lifestyles, you will likely appreciate that I met my wife through social media (@pegmu).

How Simon Won the People

So how did a little boy pwn Guy Kawasaki? A lot can be said about intent. I am not going to fact check and give source citations on this. It should be pretty easy to look it up for yourself. As I have been told, Guy Kawasaki employs three or more writers to do his tweeting on Twitter. I have also heard speak that Guy Kawasaki holds the value of a Twitter Retweet in very high regard.

A while back, on February 20th, I had this funny idea to create a Twitter-related video to show my personality and to make a few laughs. I even blogged about funny Twitter videos, because they are great fun to watch.  It was all in fun, and we set out to make this video which went from concept to completion in well under an hour. The kids had a great time making it, and they still bring it up about how fun it was.

Here is Simon’s Video Pwn of Guy Kawasaki

The video is not actually how Simon “pwned” the social media master. For the real “pwn”, you will need to read the whole thing!

After making the video, I sent a message over to two guys who were mentioned in the video by Simon. These guys were Rob McNealey (@RobMcNealey) and Guy Kawasaki (@GuyKawasaki). I thought for sure that they would take it in good humor and have a fun laugh at the little six year old redhead from Kansas talking trash on them. Rob McNealey promptly responded with a good laugh and he Retweeted it to his friends on Twitter to see how he was “shamed” by this little boy. The response from Guy Kawasaki was not the same. In fact, Guy Kawasaki and his team of writers chose to completely ignore it.

Since the time we made that video, I have quite a few more friends on Twitter. I sometimes send the video out just so new friends can see it, have a laugh, and maybe get a better feel for who this @murnahan guy is. The video came up in conversation with one of these friends who wondered if Guy Kawasaki had seen it and, if so, what his take on it was. I explained that he, nor his writers, even gave it a nod. So, this is when “Simon Pwned Guy Kawasaki”. The tweet went out, and it was retweeted many times. The Tweet read like this:

Simon Pwned @guykawasaki http://is.gd/rykd [the #ghostwriters didn’t know!]

How Can This Be Called “Pwned”?

So how is that really being “pwned”? Well, it was really a joke when Simon said in the video that “we need to put him back in his spot”. Of course it was a just a joke! I was just a small guy who had very few followers, and certainly was not out to compete in any way with this social media giant.

When it actually came down to being pwned is when Simon and his daddy are very commonly more popular in all of the measures of Guy Kawasaki’s coveted Retweet than the man and his ghost writers who do not respond to their audience. Social media is about hearing and being heard. It seems that all his camp really cares about is being heard, which clearly indicates to me that they really don’t care about us “followers” any more than they do about their ability to sell us their words.

Regarding the real “Pwn”, just look at how many people follow each of us, respectively, and then see who is really being listened to. Here are some 3rd party references:

Now you tell me what you think, because I really want to hear. Is social media for broadcast or is it also valuable to hear what others have to say? I think it can be used either way, and it is the users choice, but I wonder which you think makes more sense.

The Value of Social Media Marketing

What is the value of social media marketing and social networking to a business? This seems to be a very misunderstood subject, and one which too many companies tend to relate to other marketing efforts or advertising. If you really do not see the enormous value of social media marketing today, then it is likely because you are either going about it wrong or you are not embracing it at all. It is time that we change that for you and help you to see what this social media thing is all about.

Business Social Networking ROI

I hesitate to use the term “business social networking”, because it is an awkward term. So many businesses want to know the value of networking using social media, so this is a term I use for the company hoping to implement a social media plan. This could also apply to the growing number of individuals seeking new employment opportunities using social networking.

First, I want you to understand that much of what you learned about marketing and advertising goes out the window right now. This is not likely what you think it is … it is much more! If you try to measure a return on investment of social networking, it is a lot like putting a ROI on each handshake or each “hello” as you walk through your grocery store. It is not about advertising, and the same metrics cannot be applied. The value of social networking flows down many streams, and it harnesses the value of good public relations, communications, marketing, friendships, and so much more. There is much that simply cannot be measured in a spreadsheet, and thus it will often take a degree of faith, especially if you hire a social media consultant.

Social Media is “Networking” and it is “Social”

The term, social networking really says what it is, but I often find people who continually get it all wrong. Companies seeking to use social media for business purposes often get it wrong by trying to advertise their goods or services. This sets them up for an utter failure, and can often do more harm than good. Business people participating in social networks often find it hard to come out of their shell and actually be social. How do we fix this? Well here are just a few tips about social networking that you should not overlook:

  • Always put your first name in your profile! People want to know YOU, and not a username or company name. Some people will still communicate with you, but is it really you?
  • These people you meet on social networks don’t bite! Well, maybe a few do, but most will hug you rather than bite you.
  • Get to know people. Spend time with them, just as you would with a friend anywhere else.
  • Be yourself! I have said it a million times, but I mean it. We will not all get along, but most people will respect the individuality you show.
  • Do not tell me about your business and then not remember my name! If you do this at your local Chamber of Commerce function or worse, at a cocktail party, you will look like a buffoon. You are not a buffoon are you?
  • Remember that 100 people saying something nice about you to 100 other people is far more valuable than a few business prospects. When you have friends, you will have people who want to be helpful to you. The value of a friendly referral can go a long way!
  • Be respectful of others.

Social Networking Takes Dedication

If you cannot make a solid commitment to a social media plan, it is best to not start one at all. The people you will meet are real and you simply cannot make friends only to leave them behind. Just how seriously do I mean this? Let’s examine just a couple of my friends whom I met online and through these social networks I write about.

  • Peggy (my wife)
  • Mike, who is one of my closest friends, Web developer, and Kansas State Legislator.
  • Reg, who has children 6 years and 10 months old and a stepdaughter who is 21. Reg is also a social media giant.
  • Bianca, whom I met online in 1998 and communicate all the time. She lives in Austria and used to be an au pair in the USA.
  • Eric, who ate a 6 pound burrito, lives in Las Vegas, and sells bulletproof vests and armored cars.
  • Toni, who blogs and chats with friends even while her husband Royal sleeps beside her in bed. Oh, yes … and she is lovely!
  • Melissa, who nearly wets herself laughing at things I send her via Twitter.
  • Sail, who lives in Honolulu, Hawaii and has not been to a beach in the last month.
  • Cody, who lives in Calgary, Canada, likes to party, is a bodyguard to celebrities, and met a new love interest on my live Webcast (#Shabam, Cody!)
  • Misty, who lives in Manila, Philippines and loves chatting and great design.
  • This list can go on for thousands of people.

The people mentioned above and many more are among the very important relations I have met using social networking. I communicate with these people regularly online, on the telephone, and in person. They are all parts of a very important network of people whom I can count on to be friends, and to have something nice to say about me, with or without prompting.

The Social Media Commitment

Just how important is a commitment to social networking? Like any wise investment of your time or money, you will benefit from social media commensurate with your efforts. If you have seen the news, it should be clear by now that other forms of communication such as television, radio, and newspapers are failing. If you have not heard this, it should be even more clear just how much their reach has degraded. Social media is picking up where all of those others left off, and at the horizon is Twitter. With all of the huge changes in today’s communication methods in mind, you must ask yourself just how important it could be to your company to make a significant effort toward building a social network and social media plan before your competition does.

Can a Social Media Consultant Really Help?

This may seem like an alien question to many people. After all, if you are to be yourself, how can somebody be a better “you” than you, right? That is not what a social media consultant does.

When you venture into the unknown world of social networking, there are many pitfalls to avoid, and many useful tools that can help you. Having a professional on your side to guide you and to promote you can be a huge factor to your success in reaching the right audience with the right message and with the right approach.

The answer is YES! A social media consultant can be an immeasurable benefit to your social networking efforts, and should be chosen wisely.

Which Social Network Do I Prefer? Twitter of Course!

I offer you the links below to understand how important I consider Twitter. Also, see my other recent articles on Twitter.

My personal commitment to social networking and Internet marketing is greater than I would ever expect for one of my clients. However, I expect my clients to make a substantial commitment to their efforts in social networking. In order to explain how committed I am, I will simply say that I spend far more time cultivating relationships with my social networks than most people will ever spend in an office. This is not a 9:00am to 5:00pm process. 

Related Articles:          

Asking For The Sale Online

Sales representatives forgetting to open the order pad or afraid to ask for the sale has been a concern of sales managers forever. This is something that I concentrated on as a sales trainer and management consultant for years. It often came down to a lack of confidence and training, but why should this be the case with a Website? Shockingly, the same problem also holds true on the Internet. Are you asking for the sale?

Asking for the sale is the best part of the job!

It could be said that asking for the sale is the hardest task for a sales representative. It seems strange, however, that this is the part that actually creates the business, and thus pays the salesperson. When it comes right down to it, it should be the most natural thing, and the fun part of the job. So why are so many Website owners neglecting the best part of the sales job? The answer is that they simply do not know better. It is because of a lack of training and experience.

How do you ask for the sale?

In order to understand your shortcomings, it is often best to ask for another set of eyes from outside your organization. Fortunately, with Websites those extra eyes (and where they are looking) are recorded in a server log that may be reviewed and analyzed to determine patterns which may show that you simply are not asking for the sale. If you do not know what to do with this information, and most people do not, you need a professional. This brings me to the point of asking you for the sale.

May I have your business?

I am not a hypocrite, so I will lead by example. I want your business, and I am not afraid to ask. Some benefits that you will receive from my services are as follows:

  • Enhanced Website user experience emphasizing your call to action.
  • Expanded visibility with search engine optimization (SEO) placing your Website at the top of appropriate search results.
  • Improved market exposure through social media.
  • Improved public relations with well prepared and distributed press releases.
  • Improved presentation with professional creation and review of existing marketing copy.

I want to provide you with my experience in reaching markets and delivering quality results. For more information, please take your time and review this blog. I hope that you will find this information useful. Following your review, call me at *REDACTED DUE TO AGING WEBSITE* to get started with a better approach to your Internet market.

 

One last thing! May I have your business please?

Twitter Usage Study: Pass The Tweet #PTT

Twitter has become an invaluable tool for bloggers, news agencies, Internet marketers, and friends who want a greater connection with the world. This Twitter study is intended to see just how far Twitter can reach, and to find how useful Twitter can be for spreading a message quickly and broadly. Before you go any further, please Pass The Tweet #PTT now!

Pass The Tweet!
(be sure to enter “#ptt” in your tweet)

The Twitter Study

The intent of this Twitter study is to determine the potential reach of Twitter micro-blogging and to find just how fast a Twitter message known as a “Tweet” can reach around the world. Let’s just pretend that this is a huge news story that we want everybody to hear. I believe that many Twitter users will be shocked to see just how quickly a message can spread. Please note that I am not a “Power Tweeter”, and I have begun this study with a relatively new Twitter account with only 78 followers, and a blog that was launched in December 2008. It is intended to find the usability and reach of Twitter for an average user, and not just the Power-Blogger or the greatly influencial … just us average people. My “Pass The Tweet” project could be “The Tweet Heard Around the World” or it can just be a couple of Tweets among friends. Tweeters will decide. 

I will post progress here on this blog, and I also welcome you to give your comments and include your location.

I have chosen a Twitter hashtag of #ptt to track the progress of this study. In order to see the reach of the Twitter hashtag, you may check it at Twitter.com or Hashtags.org. I have also decided to embed a map from Amung.us to give a visual aid to the #ptt Twitter study.

 

What is Twitter?

Since I am sure there is somebody out there hiding under a rock asking “What is Twitter”, I will briefly explain. Twitter is a service that allows you to follow short 140 character news feeds of people you find interesting, and for people who find you interesting to follow your feeds. It is called micro-blogging, and it has caught on in a huge way. Twitter is being used by many television news agencies, bloggers, newspapers, and friends just wanting to have a greater connection with the world. Twitter may be used from a Web interface on their Website, Twitter.com, from your cell phone, from desktop software, or from many Twitter tools found easily on the Internet.

Twitter is Simple

Twitter owes a lot of its success to its simple call to action. Twitter, although a method of social networking, is perhaps the most simple to implement of all social networks. Signing up for a Twitter account should take most users under a minute. In addition to a very easy to master Website interface, there have been many tools developed by others to make Twitter even more simple for users to keep their Twitter status current. Whether from their desk or from their phone while stuck in traffic, Twitter users love the simple means to keep everybody up to date, quickly. Twitter is quicker than blogging, and because of a 140 character limit, users are less likely to encounter writer’s block than traditional blogging. Thus, we call it micro-blogging.

Twitter News Media

I found it very interesting when my local CBS affiliate in Topeka, Kansas did a story on the amazing reach of Twitter. They ran a story on a recent Tweet-up, where Twitter users around Topeka came together to meet in person and network with other Twitter users. It was a great success, and many were in attendance. It was such a success that it was only a day or two later when the Topeka ABC affiliate began promoting the use of Twitter to follow news and weather stories, which the CBS affiliate had been doing for some time. I believe that it was perhaps only when they saw a local Twitter reach that the power of the micro-blog really made sense to them.