Social Media News of the Day: July 1, 2010

We had such a great time last night celebrating Social Media Day at Taco Boy in downtown Charleston. Thank you to all who came out – it’s always great to meet other social media enthusiasts! We even picked up some new information about what’s coming from Google, app development and how to “bump.”

Even with our group divided – iPhones on one side and Androids on the other – we all came together as a social media family. Hope to see you at our next social media event.

Social Media News of the Day: June 23, 2010

Startup alert! Eventbrite is a provider of online event management and ticketing services. They help anyone from the 10-person Pilates class to the outdoor music festival Bonnaroo! Watch this video to meet co-founders, Julia and Kevin Hart, and their marketing director, Tamara Mendelsohn.

Planning on camping out in front of the AT&T stores tonight to be the first to hold the new iPhone 4 in your hands? Well, don’t waste your time because the actual AT&T stores won’t have them in their stores until June, 29. If you were unable to pre-order and can’t wait until next Tuesday you can try camping out at your local Apple store!

With all the bad press that Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook have gotten this past month, it’s nice to hear a few good things about the social media phenomenon. Check out this article on the 3 things that Facebook does really well (hint: privacy is not one of them).

Social Media News of the Day

Will you be watching France vs. Mexico in the World Cup on ESPN2? Even if you aren’t able to take off work for this 2 p.m. game, check out this NPR story that discusses the impact the World Cup has had on social media.

If you’re a wino then you have to check out vinyou! It‘s an online event venue for wine lovers that locates wine tastings in your area and gives you the opportunity to post your own wine tastings.

The iPhone 4 will be coming out next week, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to preorder. The large number of customers eager to get their hands on this new smart phone has overwhelmed Apple and AT&T. Anyone planning on getting the iPhone 4? Who WANTS to get the iPhone 4?

Social Media Star: Stacey Crew

Meet our very first Step Ahead Social Media Star: Stacey Crew, organizing expert, author and speaker. Stacey, whom I met many years ago through a friend of mine and who is based in Charleston, S.C., helps moms-to-be, new moms and generally busy women organize their time and space. Her book, The Organized Mom, will hit bookstores nationally in 2009.

Stacey is very active on all the main tools, but has also networked herself well within niche social networks like Girlfriendology, The Integrated Mother, Posh Mama, Twitter Moms, and the Mom Bloggers Club where she has developed a following of moms who look for her seasoned advice on keeping our lives together! Here is what Stacey had to say about social media:

What was the first social media technology you used?
Facebook

What is your favorite social media tool?
Facebook, then Twitter

How has social media benefited your business?

Social media tools have helped me keep my followers informed of blog posts, Web site updates, and general information that I’d like to share—all in a very simple way! Anyone who has been following me, knows that getting a book published is a long process.

How much time would you say you spend a day engaging social media?
1 hour

How do you incorporate it into your day?

Sometimes I schedule it. For example, if I’ve made specific blog entries, I’ll post that on my Facebook page and on Twitter. Or if I’ve made changes/updates to my web site, I’ll do the same. Essentially, while working, I’m always connected to Facebook and Twitter, but try and use the time wisely so it’s not all of a sudden the end of the day and I haven’t completed my To Do List.

What’s your best social media tip?

Be yourself. People don’t want to feel like you’re all business or all personal, so find a balance. In my market (moms, essentially), I mention my kids and post pictures. Keep it real, but maintain your position as an expert in your field. It’s like walking a tight rope sometimes.

Is there a social media tool/technique that you think is

underutilized that you would like people to know about.

Well, I suspect the iPhone technology. I’m waiting for my new iPhone to arrive and once it does, I think I will be saying, “How did I ever live without it.” I’ll be providing tech tips on my web site for the iPhone and other technology and social media tools. We’ve entered a time when we can truly be more effective and efficient with technology.

Where can people find you online?
www.staceycrew.com, staceycrew.blogspot.com, Facebook and @staceycrew on Twitter.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Everyone should analyze how technology can and does work for them, whether it’s personally and/or professionally. Facebook is a great tool for staying in touch with both family and friends, but it also serves a purpose as a business tool. Twitter, on the other hand, is a fabulous tool for networking outside your local venue. If one is attempting to reach a national audience (like myself), Twitter can get you connected to people far and wide. Just remember to follow Twitter etiquette!

What Microsoft and MySpace Have in Common

What’s that got to do with Microsoft? I found myself marveling at my iPhone and thinking, “Wow, if this is so incredible, imagine what it must be like to have an entire computer by these folks.” I mean, I’ve worked on Macs before, but it’s been years, and at the time I didn’t care for it. I remember frustratingly trying to take a disk (remember those ) out of the disk drive, but could not find a way, as there was no release on the drive (OK, Mac users you know you have to eject it on screen, maybe still do). It did not seem intuitive and I am definitely a fan of intuitive/user friendly (thus my allegiance to Facebook).

If the iPhone is anything like a Mac computer, it’s the most &@#* user-friendly piece of equipment I have yet to run across. Brilliant.