FCC socializes it's broadband launch

This week, the Federal Communications Commission decided that social media was a key component to it's submission of a plan for national broadband access. Ever since the United States figured out that it is trailing behind the rest of the civilized world in public broadband, this issue has been hot on the keyboards of programmers and politicians. Given the inherently heated debate that has been stirring, why did the FCC choose to integrate social media into their development stage?

"We want it to be a two-way conversation. The feedback, ideas and discussions generated on thsi blog will be critical in developing the best possible National Broadband Plan," said FCC Chairman Julius Genachoswki. Please note that he took office in June of this year.

I am most looking forward to see which comments and "feedback" are censored. Let the transparency war begin! Here is a quick look at what has been posted since the campaign launch on Tuesday:

Click here to follow the FCC

To be honest, I am more than a little disappointed with their "engaging" tactics. Nearly every post begins with "Broadband Update:" and redundantly links back to it's own general web address. If I wanted to read repeated advertisements to visit their web page, I would add it to my RSS feed.

A quick look at the replies to the FCC account reveals similar feelings among new followers. It seems as though Chairman Genachoswki needs to do a better job executing the "two-way conversation" he has proclaimed.

The "Blogband" blog, however, is performing much better. It only has four posts and is two days old, but has received nearly 100 comments with undoubtedly heavy web traffic. Like most successful blogs, Blogband is collaboratively maintained by the FCC internal team (including posts from the Chairman). It is still too early to tell how much the social media outlets will affect the ultimate decisions of the FCC for initiating national broadband. Despite it being in its early stages, I have great appreciation for the fact that they have created social modes for input from the American public.

The question now becomes whether the FCC will actually begin responding to its feedback publicly. Please comment or send me an email at pauljmatson (at) gmail (dot) com. Cheers!

Self evaluation: blog traffic transparency

Since the inception of this blog nearly two years ago, it has undergone three major aesthetic overhauls and countless changes to it's content focus. There have been few alterations since the Summer of 2008, which prompted me to compare the actual traffic performance of today to my initial goals.

With majority thanks to Google Analytics and the input from insightful subscribers, I was able to uncover some interesting facts about what people find most interesting, the relevancy of my content, and how traffic is directed here. In honesty, my first post was for a college class, discussing the possibility of Facebook releasing an IPO. Today, with the title "The Social Media Institute," my blog has evolved into a home for my thoughts on optimizing the opportunities inherent in engaging the world through digital mediums.

In short, how to use the Internet to reach people.

For transparency's sake, I have published an 11 month web traffic report for your viewing/downloading pleasure. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have, and welcome thoughtful feedback. Leaving a comment, @ reply/DM me on Twitter, or send me an e-mail at pauljmatson (at) gmail (dot) com.

Google search results:
About 52% of my overall traffic comes from organic search results on Google, Yahoo and other search engines. I currently hold the top five listings for the following entries (test them yourself!):

1. abercrombie and fitch media (ranked #1) ... I'm still a little shocked at this one.
2. how to keep people interested (ranked #1)
3. a dying father (ranked #1)
   
4. best twitter application (ranked #2)
5. GPA vs experience (ranked #1)
6. strategically obnoxious (ranked #1)
   
7. no such thing as an expert (ranked #2)
   
8. social media institute (ranked #3)
9. how to pitch using social media (ranked #4)
   
10. paul matson (ranked #1) ... I hold the top 3-4 spots on a given day.

Top referring sites:
After publishing a new post, I typically post it to Twitter, PROpenMic.org, my Delicious page, Instant Messenger away message, Facebook, and LinkedIn. E-mail subscriptions included, of course. These are the top site ten web site referrals that are not from search engine traffic.

1. Twitter
2. Facebook
3. Blogger
4. PROpenMic
5. ohiouprssa.org
6. iphone.facebook.com
7. beingcheryl.com
   
8. LinkedIn
9. researchgoddess.wordpress.com
10. tonysylvester.blogspot.com

Global visitors (89 counties):

1. United States (4,300 visits)
   
2. United Kingdom (227 visits)
   
3. Canada (149 visits)
   
4. Austrailia (63 visits)
   
5. India (51 visits)
   
6. Germany (38 visits)
   
7. Phillipines (31 visits)
   
8. Netherlands (30 visits)
   
9. Colombia (22 visits)
   
10. France (21 visits)
    

Most popular posts:

1. The best Twitter applications
2. What and When to Tweet
3. Welcome to the Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department and Trauma Center
4. Who will hire me? GPA vs. Experience
5. Five ways to keep up with social media
6. 7 ways to keep people interested
7. How to pitch using social media
8. Twittiquette
9. Get noticed through Facebook
   

The full report:
Traffic report

How to pitch using social media

Whether you are solely a member of Facebook or go on a daily social media 50+ network binge, most people can generally understand the value of having an online profile. The key principle of Social Media is to connect with others (of relevant interest) and to share information not otherwise available through mainstream networks.

On the other side of the coin, however, is the use of social media for businesses and professional reporting. With social media tools, everyone is a reporter - but what about pitching to mainstream media? Since the advent of the Social Media Release (first created Todd Defren at Shift Communications) the evolution of virtual pitching has begun. As the authenticity of online users has increased, so has the number of tools to deliver a message to targeted news sources.

Here is a condensed list of tools I discovered from a Mashable author, Sarah Evans.

1. HARO (Help A Reporter Out) - Founded by Social Media adventurist Peter Shankman, the site has proven to be a highly useful and credible way for reporters and their sources to find each other.

The idea is fairly simple: First, you register as a source or a reporter. As a reporter, you simply submit your query to a distribution list. As a source, you will receive up to three emails a day listing the submitted queries, allowing you to 1) respond to the query directly or 2) refer them to someone who could help. If you are a member of the media, you would be crazy not to give this a shot.

2. Social Media Release Builder - It is difficult enough to learn HTML and XML computer coding, let alone build a SM release from scratch every time one is needed. Don't know what an SM release is? Click here. With a small fee, anyone can build a clean, usable SMR interface.

3. Wikis - If you represent a product or service that frequently appears in press release boilerplates, it's about time you built a wiki page. It's free, fairly simple, and gives reporter an easy resource to learn more about your product or service at any given time.

4. Media People on Twitter - The value of this list is obvious. Currently divided by country. FYI - this list was originally compiled and is maintained on a Wiki page. See the value?

5. Twellow - I recently posted a list of helpful Twitter tools, and this one is certainly one more to be added to the list. If you need find a story idea and people to interview, this is a great place to start. Search Twitter users by category. As opposed to justtweetit.com, Twellow is NOT self-submitted directory, which yields far more comprehensive results.

6. Beat Blogging - Whether you are looking to build a reliable pitch distribution list or learn about new trends from the blogosphere, this should be the first stop.

7. Ning - If I'm not mistaken, this is the same interface used by PROpenMic. The biggest difference between this platform and every other social networking site is that it allows users to create their own community. Fan pages, social networks, etc. are all possible and can be managed virtually for little or no cost.

Think of it as an advanced "Fan Page" on Facebook with a dedicated URL.

Helpful? I hope so. Leave a comment or drop me an email at pauljmatson@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @PaulMatson or twitter.com/paulmatson

The Social Media Lifestyle

From Internet forums, message boards, weblogs, wikis, podcasts, vlogs, to Twitter, Facebook and Second Life; the sky is limit when it comes to Social Media tools. Today's PR practitioner not only has the task of being knowledgeable about what tools are available, but must know which programs to use at what time. With the wide variety of Web 2.0-driven software, it can be a hot mess trying to discover the best social mediums for a brand.

Technology, of course, is only going become more advanced with time and will do so at an ever-increasing pace. An avid news junkie may even have trouble keeping tabs on the latest Social Media trend or daily Web 2.0 fad. A RSS feed of new SM tools and reading industry advice is not the end all solution. To be most effective, an industry practitioner needs to make Social Media a part of their daily lifestyle.

Your grandmother's Facebook

It's no secret that some of the Baby Boomers still have trouble understanding "the Google." Much less would you expect to be talking to your grandmother on Facebook chat, sharing your favorite sites with her on Del.icio.us or finding her blog on Technorati. There's nothing wrong with that, of course- it's just not a part of her lifestyle.

The Internet is a common ground for all information seekers with technology at their disposal. Unless one is immersed in Social Media tools on a regular basis, no one can expect to know the lingo, trends, or rules associated with every SM tool out there. Twitter may be easy to use, but there is an etiquette to be followed and methods to reach broader audiences that are not obvious to a first-time user.

No such thing as an expert

The bottom line is this: it takes time to learn how to EFFECTIVELY use Social Media. You wouldn't pick up a hammer out of your tool box and start whacking away unless you knew how to use it. Social Media can be profoundly effective or equally destructive if utilized poorly. Having a user name and password to every latest SM site does not make you an expert on to use it!

Take time to read about the programs, but not just from the homepage. Read blogs about the SM tool, scroll through public forums, and pay close attention to mainstream headlines when they happen to pop up in the news. Most importantly, use the tool regularly and pay close attention to how popular users operate their account.

Don't forget that the one characteristic that makes Social Media unique is the fact that it is user created and driven. Companies make the algorithm and concept, but people make the content.

And that, fellow blog reader, includes you.

Love or hate what you've read, please leave a comment or drop me an email at pauljmatson@gmail.com.

Playground Politics

This article could easily be about the election. But who wants to hear more about polls? The only conclusion that has been reached is that the results are inconclusive. Surprise, surprise. The best advice is to ignore the media, do your own cross-referenced research on each candidates' web site, and don't believe your neighbor's misinformed conspiracy rant. We will know who the next President is when they are elected. Onward.

The cool kid on the blacktop

The truth behind big business and branding is this: sometimes, it really is about being popular. We all love to think that we are far more mature that our colleagues and classmates. Popularity and social drama? We left that behind in high school! Not so fast, Mr. Rogers. As society becomes adults, we have simply learned to streamline popularity contests, manipulating our chosen industry to show our best side. Case and point:

1. Media - How much explaining is necessary? There are hundreds of dissertations that can qualitatively demonstrate how credible publications such as The New York Times and even the The Wall Street journal use propaganda. Actual CNN headline in February: "Will Hillary's shorter hair attract the mommy vote?"

2. Retail - Gucci, Brooks Brothers, Tiffany's. Quality, yes. In most of the world, with money comes social status. With social status can come popularity. The irony we ignore is that consumers want your brand to be popular to they can be popular with you. It's the ultimate buy-in. Don't stop at retail - this applies to any tangible product or service sold in a capitalist market.

3. Schools and education - The academic standard has long since stopped being the primary motivation for attending an institution of higher education. A great football team with a mediocre curriculum can sadly trump some schools with the opposite traits. Attended an Ivy League school? An employer may not know many facts about the institution. You may have earned a degree in South Indian Basketweaving. Regardless, you can rest easy knowing your portfolio will still be near the top of the stack of candidates. I already feel smarter by association.

Social Media

Ask yourself: what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word social?

Friends? After-work gatherings? Dating? You might even think of one person in particular who you see as exceptionally extroverted or introverted. Regardless, life is more about the popularity contest than we want to believe. Most people will never be able to admit it, even to themselves.

1. Facebook & Myspace - How would describe someone who has 20 friends and 3,000 wall posts? What about a person who has 4,000 pictures tagged of themselves?

2. Twitter - How many updates do they have? Here's an actual friend calculator that will measure your popularity on the micro-blogging site.

3. Blogs - Don't pretend that you're not more interested in a web site that has been read several thousand times. If you come upon an article that has only been read 12-13 times on the internet, you're ten times more likely to continue surfing.

Our failed mentality is this: "Everyone else didn't think it was important, so why should I?"

Read this carefully: To everyone else, we are everyone else.

The bottom line

Only your educated opinion matters!

Cutting through the social clutter isn't easy, but instead of ignoring it, learn to face it and demand transparency. George Bush has low polls again? Find out who was called and surveyed. Nike comes out with a new amazing running shoe? Check their competitors (same shoe, better deal. Always).

Love or hate what you've read, leave a comment or feel free to send me an email at pauljmatson@gmail.com.

The social networking animal

Things are getting hot in here... the Internet that is. With so many web sites to join, it can make you dizzy just thinking about which one is the right one for you. As an aspiring PR pro, I've realized that it is critical to stay at the battle front of the explosion of social networking, mobile marketing, blogging, twittering... you get the idea.

Web 2.0 - the name of the game

Those of you who know me - you're aware of my tendency to propagate Gmail and other google-related services. But there's much more to the madness. So finally, both reluctantly and proactively, I have compiled a list of EVERYTHING I stay active on with regard to the Internet. I've also included my personal link to each. Enjoy.

Here it is: (drum roll)

Google Mail
Gmail - pauljmatson@gmail.com
Seriously, people. Unless you use a work address full time, there's no excuse not to adapt to this service. Not only do you have virtually unlimited storage (I currently have 781 emails in my inbox using 3% of my alloted storage capacity), but you have the ability to chat online through instant messenger and it's accessible anywhere on the planet. Not to mention it's FREE?

Google services
Besides Gmail, I also utilize
1. Google Calendar (VERY similar to the functionality of Outlook and other related services)
2. Reader (RSS feeder)
3. Picasa Web Albums (automatically saves any photos I upload online)
4. Documents (using Google as a document host server)
5. Orkut (international professional networking) - Find me at Paul Matson
6. Analytics (which is how I track my blog exposure)
7. Talk (instant messenger through Google)

Blogspot
Currently what I am using to host my blog. The sign-up, set-up and maintenance is a piece of cake. If you have something ot say... get a blog!
my blogs:
paulmatson.blogspot.com
ouprssa.blogspot.com

Chase Online Banking
I can transfer funds, pay my credit card, and a number of other services. Most major banks provide this service for free. Make your life easier!

Mint Financial Tracking
A free online service that tracks your spending and savings and offers tips on how to save and earn more money without making major changes to your lifestyle. You have to see it to believe it.

Networking

LinkedIn - Business/professional networking
Think of it as a much classier Facebook. It also appears in Google searching, so you might to consider joining in you're in the job market or looking to hire! Find me

Technorati - Premiere blog searching
Whether you're looking to increase your blog's web traffic or search blogs efficiently, there's no better place to start. Find me

PRopenmic - Profile server for PR addicts
It's relatively new, but has the potential for some great idea bouncing and provides an excellent opportunity for some PR networking. Find me

Facebook
Need I say much more? Find me

Myspace
Also likely to appear on Google searches, you might want to consider signing up just to make sure you have some control over what the Internet reveals about you. Undoubtedly, this can be used to your advantage. Find me

Twitter - Microblogging
If you haven't already signed up, DO IT now! It's an unparalleled way to make quick news releases or just give your friends a quick update on your whereabouts. There's lots of cool stories about what Twitter has done for people both in the professional and personal realms. Sign up today! Find me

And just for fun...

Pandora - Online Radio
Forget iTunes radio. Pandora will literally tailor it's playlist to the music you like. Not by genre, but by algorithm. Stop wasting your money on iTunes and sign up (also free, of course).

There you have it.

Confused or have questions? Drop me an email at pauljmatson@gmail.com or leave a comment. Happy surfing!