In the golf business, we felt that email blasts to our data base was miraculous. we could blast our message to all of our customers in a few minutes. We could have a short conversation with them about all the things going on at the courses. I think that we need a more subtle or refined approach.  Our mission now seems to be to try to stay where we are, almost given up on gaining any ground, we want to survive untill the recession recedes. In real terms, the ability of our small company to impliment these rules may make the difference for us.

I don’t know who said that Knowledge is Power, but I know it is true. If someone anywhere in the world could access vital information, say on how to purify water or recognize deadly diseases before they rage through a community. That is powerful. That information, taken for granted in parts of the world, would ease suffering in other parts. By the same token, knowledge of certain plant life that grows in remote areas, may ease suffering in the heart of New York City.

 Like all tools, some are more useful than others, Linkedin and Facebook are have more applications to my situations. Somewhere down the road, Twitter and Delicious and Digg are all good to have as reasources. Just not sure I would use them everyday.

What I have learned is that I do not know enough about this as I should. The most important thing is that this whole new way of getting things done may be one of the keys to surviving the financial crisis we are in at this time. Is it possible that a new way of doing business, better communication and feedback is one way out of the economic mess we are in?  If we were to use these systems to order durable goods, we would have less overstocks and waste. If the manufactures and service providers receive the immediate feedback, they would have the ability to react to their customers requests and complaints. We should have the same feeling about these applications that Marconi had when the first radio broadcast was possible. His imagination, and our imaginations run wild.

What I learned, in a nutshell, was that you could take a class with fifty other students, look at their work, converse with the instructor at any time and the other students and not leave your room or get in the car except for the 2 times we meet.  Not too many people would know what a New Media Driver’s License is but the possibilities are endless.

There are as many reasons for someone to pick up this book as there are people that might glance at the cover. Although I think the rules are the same the tools are the things that are new. The goal of marketing, advertising and Public relations have not changed, the way the word gets around is as different as hieroglyphics and word proceesors. David Meerman Scott has gathered all of the new tools and outlined their uses in his book, The New Rules of Marketing and PR. He has seen into the future, or the future of commerce at least, and laid out new strategies for marketing and information distribution. Rarely can one person keep pace with this area but he has managed to do it in a organized and clear manner. Maybe it his writing background, maybe it is his passion for the subject, in any case, we are the benefactors of his codifying  the rules in their infancy. I only wonder why it is in book form when it should be online only. Save the paper.

In regard to its value to our class, it gives us the framework to explore all the options available to us. He points us in the right direction gives us enough information to get started.  Like any instructor he whets our appetite and outlines how we might find our way no matter what out goal maybe. Each chapter stands on its own in that you do not always have read the previous chapters. I guess it would be reference book for anyone starting in this direction. Mr. Scott includes the sites where further information is available as well as some anecdotal infromation. In a pioneer fashion, his work might be the cornerstone for handling Advertising, Marketing, Promotion, and Media into the new century.

What kept you from jumping into Mom’s Oldsmobile and taking a spin? Was it because you could not reach the pedals? Maybe it was the fact that you did not have a Driver’s License. Here is your opportunity to step right in and drive the Information Super Highway. This will give you the hands on experience that might just be the difference. The Instructor has the background and the energy to fuel your interest in this subject. Barring any accidents or late arrivals you will gain your license and be on your way.

Advertising, Public Relations, and New Media might be familiar to you but you might not recognize the new models, faster, sleeker, and efficient. They have been dragged into the Computer Age. You will need to impliment Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, and Digg. Computer skills better be sharp. This will be the class that will separates you from other candidates or it might be the class that gets you back in the fast lane if you have that unexpected work interuption. Pick the direction, feel the wind in your face( if the window is behind your laptop) and get on down the road.

If your desire is to get the most out of your ad, you first have to speak its language. Mr. Schttp://www.davidmeermanscott.com/bio.htmott makes it clear that your message is the most important requirement for success. If you fish you have a notion of how this might work. If you need to catch one fish like a wild trout, you have to get up early, know what hatch is pending, and have the right lure. If you are in the business of fishing you need to get a big net and go in deep water. The Digital Bus, that seems to be going very fast, has outlined the basics in this post http://www.thedigitalbus.com/seo-guide-basics/.

I think most people have been on the other end of this equation, where they are searching for some information or product and stumble a bit trying to hit on the right word or combination of words to find what they asking for. If you know how this language works you can use it both ways. You have to think logically and be very organized to make the most of it. I think it compares to having a great business, awesome location, and a sign about an inch square to get the word out. That’s why you need a salesman to tell your story, at least pique the interest, get the fish moving. You have leg up because they are looking for you, you have to make sure you are the easiest one to find.

my linkedin

my facebook

I will start by saying that this assignment is late because the old school computer that I was using succumbed to a virus because I let my protection  lapse. Be that as it may, I read the posts that were assigned. I was really only familiar with Face book not that I have used it until now, but from kids talking about it and having to remove it a couple of times from the company computers. One can see  how young people would become entranced with this form of communication, you are at your computer with a photo of the one you are communicating with but not actually with them. Most of the time you are alone so maybe you type something you might not have the nerve to say face to face.  On the other hand, it make connecting with your friends, fellow students, and parents, very easy and on your own time schedule. There is no spam involved which is appealing to everyone.Would it make someone more inhibited when it come to actually speaking to someone? Maybe. The Face book group has great benefits to the class we are taking because you can make contact with the Instructor or anyone else in the class and have an answer or advice or just an update on how they are doing. You can have a meeting without leaving your room.

Then if we can do all these things on Face book do we also need Twitter? They seem to duplicate the things you can do on Face book, slightly different spin to it, but accomplishes the same things. Would I be wrong to say you really only need one of these ?  Or, would you use one to be more social- family, close friends and the other for more of business/work/school use? Twitter seems more suited to informal and immediate information like texting. I used it to get this fancy new from a friend of mine, so I think it is the greatest. I like the fact they get together in these Tweet Ups, less anonymity.

Linked in would have the most practical application for my situation. I can get answers from experts in my field and in other areas of general business. It make it easier to communicate with colleagues, clients, and old classmates. If I had to job hunt( anything but that) it might help, at least it would save gas. Linke in has more business tuned capability.

I find working these assignments difficult. If your experience with computers is limited it can be frustrating. The nature of dealing with it is trial and error and error and  error and then a little success. Almost like a golf swing, just when you are positive you are going to give up, you hit one pure shot and you realize that there is still hope.

The Calendar can be viewed in a few different forms. You can see just the days events or the weeks events of he events of the month. If there an event that repeats it self like a staff meeting or quiz day, those can be set up easily. It takes just a few seconds to set the day and time and you can always go back to it flesh out the details. If you run over the allotted space, it makes a note of how many items on the day you can click on that to see the  pressing events of that day. There are public calendars like Obama’s Campaign Stops, or Spartan Basketball, or  Red Wing games. You just click on the public calendar for that organization and it get added to your google calendar.

The best thing about it is that you are able to mesh the business or education commitments with the social or family obligations. Schedule the kid’s sports or birthdays and vacations and the important events in your work schedule. You can see how much or how little time you actually have. Your wife or secretary can have access to it so you don’t have to call and ask “What do we have to do tonite?” And they say “I already told you just before you fell asleep last nite that Janey has her dance recital and you have to videotape that significant event.” It’s all about being prepared for what ever.

you are not here because you forgot to look at the Google calendar!

I wonder if Americans realize how much pressure is on Barack Obama. I think the media has painted him as one who will be able to right all wrongs, create a new economy, and find peace in the Middle East. I guess I would rather have a smart young guy in this spot than a older experienced person at this time. He will be put to the test early and if he is not showing any progress I think Americans will turn on him quickly.

I am a little concerned about the people he has surrounded himself with, never liked Hilary, although she is smart to the the point of shrewedness, she looks out for herself first.  The whole Chicago political environment stinks and he could not have got out of there without some of that getting splashed on him. How much influence does Oprah have? Still he is the President and he deserves the benefit of the doubt. The clock ticks and he will need a running start. If he make any headway at all he will be the Chosen One and the rally around him will cross ALL political lines, but if he stumbles out of the gate, he will get run over by those that put him there and by those who did not. I hope he prays each day that The Lord will guide and protect him.

Check out this link I found about CNN and Facebook teaming up for a live streaming video of the Inauguration