Twitter Beats FoxNews.com: Bayh for VP!
I am sitting here in Paradise Cafe and I get a TWEET alert from a friend, Brad Ward. His tweet process is below.
I went to fox news to verify the TWEET. Fox didn’t have anything listed at all. Twitter beat Fox News. AWESOME! Talk about the power of social media.
This should be a lesson to everyone about the merits of checking sources. Apparently we had a prank pulled on us. Well, so much for that.
One of the Coolest Apps Of the Year: FIREFLY!
(hat tip to Mashable for hooking me up with the site)
Firefly is a brand new application that is currently in beta. I was reading through the Mashable post (found here) and thought to myself, “This is kind of a cool concept I am going to check it out.” I linked to http://firef.ly and tried out the service. It is amazing!
The basics:
Firefly is a chat tool that allow site owners to hook up a chat room on their site that is sleek and very-functional. If your website is supported by firefly a user can click the icon and a semi-transparent window will pop up. You are able to see the mouse icons of other users in the chat moving over the screen.
You can type anywhere on the screen and a little chat bubble will pop up. Colors differentiate the chatters in the room and it is semi-customizable and can link with Twitter.
One of the coolest features of the app is the chat history bar at the bottom of the chat box. It looks like a video timer on YouTube videos. You can drag the cursor right-to-left and see the chat history of your room.
I love the fact that the Firefly programmers have created a chat application that is easy to install, looks good (isn’t a bulky chat window or IM box), and is completely AWESOME! This would be huge for an active blog or a social media site.
Your chat archive is stored at the firef.ly site. Think about it: active LIVE chat on your site. This would also be a great tool for training.
The Self-Centered Tech World and Voicemail
hat tip to Doug Karr for the link to TechCrunch
I have read and re-read a post by Michael Arrington or Tech Crunch called Think Before You Voicemail.
The first line of the post states:
Voicemail is dead. Please tell everyone so they’ll stop using it.
Now, I happen to agree with Michael when he comments on voice mail being a little dated in the new world of email, instant messaging, twittering, and SMS texting. I would rather email a person than listen to a voice mail but that is my personal opinion.
The problem I have with Mr. Arrington’s post is the fact that it is all about HIS well being, HIS time, HIS technological prowess. ME. ME. ME. When did the tech world become this self-centered?
I can understand that it takes time to leave a voice mail. It takes time to pick up your phone, hit the little green phone, and listen to 30 SECONDS of a message.
Voicemail should be given up if and only if your peers/clients/partners/whatever have chosen not to use the service. I am not going to sit here and say voicemail is dead when 85% of my clients would rather leave a voicemail than send me an email.
Just because I would rather not leave a voicemail or listen to a voicemail does not mean I should decide to leave an away message saying, “I would prefer it if you didn’t leave a voicemail. I wont check it. I would rather you email me and inconvenience you for a second time. Because you will learn, my young one, that it is my time that is more important…not yours.”
Voicemail is only an inconvenience if you are thinking only about yourself. If my clients, prospective clients, or friends would rather leave a voicemail I am going to listen to it and return it.
In the world of business there is no ME factor. It is all about THEM.
**disclaimer**
Doug, I still love you. 
Microblogging=Money? Assetbar Thinks So.
Major props to Louis Gray for cluing me into a new development in the world of making money on the Internet. In his post titled Assetbar Launches Fanflow for Premium Messaging and Content, Gray talks about a new service offered from Assetbar called FanFlow. Long story short, it allows for the monetization of content from the developer to the reader.
There has been major strides in growing content on the Internet. Information is shared and updated by the second on millions and millions of pages. We have a way to create the content (ie Google Reader ) but we do not have a way to sell the content. I agree with Louis when he says:
One of the major issues hindering the growth of many Web services today is that users are not willing to pay. We don’t want to pay for using their service, we don’t want to pay for content, and we usually don’t want to see or click through ads.
I see it daily when it comes to growing social networks. Many people choose not to spend time developing content on social networks because they cannot place any value on the time they spend developing profiles and content on networks. When I am out talking up a new network or a new development project I usually get the response:
My time is worth (some dollar amount). I don’t have the time to spend joining and developing sites like Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn, Smaller Indiana, and Plaxo. How can I place a value on something so intangible?
Visibility is king for me when it comes to creating content and joining multiple networks. Though I have recently been conscious about how much of my time I spend on sites that do not create added value to my pocketbook.
Have we reached a breaking point on the Internet? Has growth been hindered because of the amount of time needed to spend on developing content doesn’t pay out?
Has Assetbar created a means to place a monetary value on time and effort in creating content? I think so. I am interested in seeing the development play out.
A Message. NOT from George Carlin
I have killed the person who sent me the George Carlin misinterpretation. Now we are are good to go.
This was no George Carlin.
I received this in an email.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember, to say, “I love you” to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
-George Carlin Actually written by Dr. Bob Morehead
I’m back
I’ve been down for a little bit. Working. Working. Working.
The new design is complete and I have promised myself I will start blogging again. Stay tuned!
Seth Godin Action Figure? It’s true.
I couldn’t imagine a scenario where Seth Godin would surpass my view of him as a marketing/blogging/new media GENIUS, and yet he strikes again. In his post, Hey Kids! It’s finally here he introduces his new state-of-the-art, plastic fantastic, branding guru action figure. No joke, it even comes with the “superpowers” of built Brandomatic® and PurplePower®.
I have always been impressed with the creative process of Seth Godin whether it is the packaging of his books or the outlandish ideas of an Action Figure or the coveted Purple Cow.
This should serve as an example of making marketing and “self-promotion” fun again. A plastic, Seth Godin action figure, Why not? If you want another route to create a word-of-mouth, word-of-key viral process, take note. Seth Godin has always known how to do it, and he strikes again.
I am actually looking forward to a Marc Gobe or Sergio Zyman action figure. Hopefully Sergio comes with an “Terrible Advertising Killer” sword or plasma gun.