IanSchafer.com

Recap: Creating a Successful Social Media Website.

I recently participated in a KickApps webinar called Creating a Successful Social Media Website along with the brilliant Stephen Merrill, the GM of Budget Travel.

It was a great discussion, very well attended, and if you missed it, you can check out the recap here, watch an archived video of the session (registration required), or download the slides here.

If you've been thinking about building your own community, or extending one's reach, this one's for you.

My First Webinar: A Blueprint For a Successful Social Media Website

I'll be co-hosting a Webinar with the fine folks at KickApps on July 23rd at 2PM ET/11AM PT. Here are the sordid details:

On July 23rd at 2PM ET/11AM PT, we’ll be hosting a webinar where we’ll share tips and best practices for creating and running a successful social media website. If you’re in the process of putting together your social media website or are looking for ideas to take your website to the ‘next level,’ this webinar is for you.

Topics we’ll be covering:
1.Designing your social media strategy and experience
2.Leading and managing your online community
3.Programming your website’s social media experience
4.Social marketing for growth

We’ll be joined by a couple of special guests who are leading minds in their respective fields:

Ian Schafer is the CEO of Deep Focus, one of most innovative marketers around whose award winning agency has developed numerous social media marketing campaigns for brands like HBO (Flight of the Conchords) and Vitamin Water. Ian will share some ideas and thoughts around putting together a social media strategy and marketing a social media website.

Stephen Merrill is the general manager of BudgetTravel.com. Stephen recently launched My Budget Travel, inspired by the magazine’s daring, user-generated June 2008 10th Anniversary issue that showcases a reader-submitted cover photograph, and feature-length articles written entirely by readers. The KickApps powered social media section of the website gives readers and travel enthusiasts the opportunity to share their fondest travel experiences and adventures, and discover new ones. Stephen will talk about how to integrate social media and user-generated content successfully with editorial programming.

Sign up for the webinar at: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=49150.
Once you’ve registered, just click on the link above to attend the webinar. If you need to use another machine, just re-register. We’ll send you a reminder a day prior to the event.

If you've been thinking about whether or not to build a social media website (or a social network itself) rather than advertise within a MySpace, Facebook, or Bebo, this one's for you.

Sorry For the Inactivity Lately.

I've been traveling my rear off. But regular posting will resume momentarily, with a sneak preview of a busy, busy June of some very interesting speaking engagements...

MySpace Joining Google ’ s OpenSocial Initiative

I'm about to get on a plane, but I just had to share this. With all my recent traveling, I haven't been able to adequately cover Google's OpenSocial initiative, but my quick analysis is that it is a brilliant move, and one you will be hearing MUCH more about. Check out the video below to learn more.





As a matter of fact, you're about to hear much more about it right now, because MySpace is now joining the party.

This is either going to force Facebook into a full-on combat mode, or into having an if-you-can't-beat-em-join-em mentality.

Please Don ’ t Kill Word of Mouth.

On the same day that Interpublic signed a non-exclusive deal with word-of-mouth marketing firm BzzAgent, another story ran about how consumers are becoming increasingly wary of fake reviews and testimonials (30% of online users today vs. 20% in 2001).

If there's anyone that believes in the power of word-of-mouth marketing it's me. The power of getting the right information into the hands of the right people (influencers) and arming them with everything they need to make a decision to consume a brand or product can not be underestimated. But if the trust between brands and the consumer is in any way compromised, then the communication channels break down and you create antagonistic, skeptical consumers that will shun you -- and tell everyone else to as well.

The travel industry is feeling the effects of this right now.

BzzAgent, I know you won't let this happen, and you will fight potential primal urges of the big agencies -- protecting the integrity of what we do.

AOL to Buy Tacoda.

News travels fast. Even to courthouses with free public wi-fi (yay)!

According to TechCrunch (grain of salt added), AOL will be buying Tacoda, one of the leading behavioral targeting networks.

This is a great move for AOL, who already owns Advertising.com. Adding Tacoda to its portfolio makes AOL a powerhouse in targeting consumers based upon their browsing/content consumption habits.

The Experimental Half-Switch

So most of Deep Focus is on a Mac. About 99% of creative team is, that's for sure.

After years of working exclusively at home and work off the same IBM/Lenovo 12" laptop, I've decided to make a move to a different set-up:

Office: Desktop Dell Optiplex
Travel: 13" MacBook

I'm going to give this thing a shot. I'm hoping to get the same benefit as an American living in France. The goal here is to be bilingual (the distinct advantage I have is having been a "Mac guy" for about 7 years, from 1988-1996). It's going to be interesting to see if it's like riding a bike. Somehow, I think it's going to be different.

Why I'm letting all of you know this, I have no idea.