15 guidelines for trend watching...

clipped from trendwatching.com

Let's face it, the only thing that separates you—passionate CEO, marketer, entrepreneur—from being in the know, is the time that must be devoted to tracking and applying trend content.
And yet, when we ask professionals if and how they spot and apply trends, we're told they're still having a hard time getting a handle on the basics.
So here are 15 trend watching tips, some practical, some more contextual, for you to run with today:

1. Know why you're tracking trends

1. Don’t get your trends mixed up

1. Know a fad when you see (or smell) one

1. Be (very) curious

1. Don’t apply all trends to all people

1. Have a Point of View

1. Benefit from an unprecedented abundance of resources

1. Name your trends

1. Build your Trend Framework

1. Start a Trend Group (even if it’s just you)

1. Secure senior backing or be doomed

1. Don't worry about timing or life cycles or regional suitability or...

1. Apply, apply, apply

1. Have some fun

1. Let others do some of the work for you in 2011

  

3 Big Lies About Networking...

 OK, I don't know if these are really the three biggest lies or not but they are frequent excuses heard from myself and other people. What makes them not true or are they true? You tell me...click on the comment link or twitter me a reply @thirstyfishinfo

Amplify’d from www.entrepreneur.com

Think about the most successful people you know. What's one thing they have in common?

They have mastered the art and science of networking, and business flows to them almost as a matter of course.

Before you can commit yourself to the task of building a healthy network, you probably need to overcome at least one of these three major networking misconceptions.

1. "I can’t network if I'm not an outgoing person."

2. "Person-to-person referral business is old-fashioned."

3. "Networking is not a hard science. Its return on investment can’t be measured."Read more at www.entrepreneur.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/bbdj

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Social media "chicken and the egg". Which comes first?

I liked this post as it reminds us all that social media is fun and it is work. I get a lot of complaints that folks don't have the time or interest to get a twitter account. Well, you don't have to...unless you don't want an audience. Then there is that thing about saying something that someone actually wants to hear. That is where the real work (or the egg) comes in. Thirsty fish thoughts? Let's hear them.

Amplify’d from www.convinceandconvert.com

There are many ways social media differs from traditional marketing. It’s approachable and human. It’s a two-way dialog, rather than unilateral declarations. It treats the customer as a teammate, rather than a target.

But there’s another big difference. In social media, the audience comes after the message, not before.

Thus, there are really no shortcuts in social media

Nobody ever promised social media was easy, just that it was fun, and effective.Read more at www.convinceandconvert.com

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How much influence do you have?

Maybe a better question would be how do you get it but as you will read below, that is not an easy answer. Of course, measuring it isn't easy either. What we do know is that influence is essential for any type of leadership or business success. What about relationships, like the intimate kind?

Amplify’d from www.brasstackthinking.com

Influence is simple… which makes it complicated.

When we talk about influence, and particularly when we talk about measuring it, we have to define our terms…and know the limits.

Influence is contextual.

Someone writes a post. Someone else retweets it. Another person sees the retweet, reads the post, and writes a comment. Still another person finds the post on his own and then follows the commenter’s advice, to the benefit of hundreds of others.

Influence is the product of reach and authority.

To influence the actions of others, you have to have access to them—and they have to perceive you to have some level of authority, either over them or in an area of expertise they value

(Most) Influence is invisible. Read more at www.brasstackthinking.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/9rey

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Can artist benefit from social media?

In other words, can you make any sales of your artwork using social media? The answer is YES...

Amplify’d from www.artprintissues.com

There is undeniable demonstrable value in social media for artists and other entrepreneurs.

Social media is far more than the ubiquitous Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn mentions. It includes blogging, publishing. networking, commenting, photo sharing, and more.

Working smarter is far more effective than working harder

Here are a few art marketing / social media suggestions

Look for groups and people where you might find potential collectors. Being in a bunch of groups with other artists may help you gain career or business insights, but not collectors. Limit the amount of time you spend posting to family, friends and old high school chums. When you do, find creative ways to remind them your art is for sale.

Get a tool like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck that will allow you to write a bunch posts that are set to publish at different times. Limit the amount of time you spend on social media. Don't sit there with it on all day long. It will suck your time and deplete your energy.

Don't try to work too many social media venues at one time

Make sure you do everything you can to get the email address of every potential collector you encounterRead more at www.artprintissues.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/8wzx

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3 Steps to Simple Blogging Everyday!

I found this article by Chris Brogan very helpful and convicting. He outlines in 3 steps the process he uses when he blogs - and he blogs a lot! That last part is what convicted me. Some would say I blog a lot but actually I don't. I should and that is what convicts me. Review his thoughts and share yours...

clipped from www.chrisbrogan.com Let’s go through the formula: Step 1: Decide WHAT the Post Should DO for You To get a call to action. To attract business. To promote someone else. To get links and bookmarks and reblogs. To get a conversation started. Step 2: How Can I Be Helpful? tips and advice and ideas that you can use for yourself. Step 3: The Actual Writing start with a headline find a picture on Flickr under their Creative Commons area My first paragraph is always a personable lead-in, usually with a question

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Who do you follow on Twitter? Here's 14 ways to get ideas...

How do you decide who to follow on twitter? Who do you follow on twitter? Why would anyone follow you back? These are big questions that social media professionals ask themselves as they work with new client companies but it also may be a question you have asked yourself. Here's a list of 14 different online services that may help.

clipped from news.cnet.com TwitterCounter. TwitterCounter shows you your worldwide rank in terms of how many followers you have. TwitterHolic. If you want all the functionality TwitterCounter provides, TwitterHolic probably isn't for you. WeFollow. It might be new, but WeFollow has already made an impression on the Twitter Community. Just Tweet It. Just Tweet It is similar to WeFollow in that it asks users to add themselves to the directory listing that's relevant to them. MediaOnTwitter. Though it's not the prettiest site in this roundup, MediaOnTwitter is a fine resource for those who want to find out which journalists, bloggers, and media outlets are on Twitter Social Brand Index. Social Brand Index is a listing of Twitter accounts held by public-facing companies. TrackingTwitter. TrackingTwitter wants to be the definitive source for "brands, media, television, celebrities, and electric artists Twellow. TwitterLinkUp. Twibs. TweeterTags. TwitterVision. Twubble. WhoShouldIFollow.

 

 

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Use Twitter in a National Emergency...

You might be able to use this line of reasoning to your spouse to let you buy the new Droid or 3G iPhone, but better yet to learn a few high tech, social media tricks to help you during a time of crisis. Any other tips? Tweet us @thirstyfishinfo or leave a comment!

clipped from mashable.com Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes — lately, it seems like there’s a new natural disaster wreaking havoc on poor planet Earth every week. From our television sets to our Twitter () streams, it’s impossible to ignore the devastation these disasters leave behind. Create a Plan According to FEMA, the best way to avoid significant damage during a disaster is to prepare an emergency response plan in advance. The FEMA website is a great place to get that process started. You can easily order ID cards online at places like Life360, a site that offers multiple mobile and web-based emergency planning services, including ID cards for your kids your 3G-enabled phone will likely help you stay connected in case of an emergency. Even though phone lines may be down or jammed, the 3G network won’t necessarily be out as well. This is how Twitter status updates helped locate a missing person during the recent Chile earthquake bookmark your local emergency services site Google Docs back up your important papers

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How do you use social media?

Cover via Amazon

Chris Brogan is the author of Trust Agents and a great pragmatist when it comes to social media uses. Here's a great bit of how to make social media cool and use it for some great power business tools. What do you do with social media sites like twitter, linkedin, myspace or facebook that is cool?

clipped from www.chrisbrogan.com Social media are a bunch of tools. They let us see things a bit differently. They empowered new ways of working together. But they’re just the tools. When this all gets cool is when we start really turning this stuff on our own passion projects, on our bigger goals, on what COULD happen. Start a public list of Twitter accounts from local businesses. Point everyone in your community to it. Start small mastermind groups on Google Wave (I have an incredible group going. Very small. Very useful.) Donate four hours a week to a charity, giving them more promotion and exposure for their causes, equipping them with more ways to find what they need. Connect to 10 people every day. Make it a blend of 5 people you’ve been in touch with, and 5 people you need to stay fresh with. Ask for nothing. Offer everything. ( Tim Sanders does this well.) Give your local school teachers or library a free class on how to use the tools for their projects.

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The Social Impact of Friendships and Lies | Social Media Marketing | Social Media Consulting - Convince & Convert

We don't trust the media anymore but we do trust our friends online. Should we really?

clipped from www.convinceandconvert.com Social Media Strategy Blog Social Media Consulting

Should a Therapist "Friend" a Client on Social Networks?

When I talk to therapists about marketing via social media this is one of the biggest concerns that arise. It is a good concern! Dr. Zur does a great job explaining how to manage this issue. Additionally, my answer is that dual relationships is a problem in all contexts. Social media is just one more area that caution and boundaries is needed.

clipped from thirstyfishinfo.amplify.com How to respond when clients send “Friend Request” to their psychotherapists or counselors on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter or other social networking sites Most therapists with Facebook or MySpace profiles cringe at the idea and dread the moment when a client posts a Friend Request. They wonder whether it is ethical to accept such a request, and they are concerned with the clinical and relational ramification of ignoring it. Questions for therapists to consider before responding to clients’ Friend Requests What is on the Facebook profile? Did the therapist use privacy controls to control access? What can a client view on the therapist’s profile? What is the Context of Therapy? Who is the client? Why did the client post the request? What is the meaning of the request? Where is therapy taking place? What does being a friend with this client mean for the therapist? What is the potential effect on other and potential clients? Read more at www.zurinstitute.com