Twitter shouldn’t have to make sure everything crossing its servers is factual or true, but it is in Twitter’s interest to themselves to give us the tools to clean things up. Otherwise it risks becoming a cesspool of untruths and rumors. Twitter needs a way to reel bad information back in. It needs a way to let us flag things that we’ve said that turn out to be wrong. Twitter needs an edit button, a correction process.
In the wake of premature reporting surrounding the Boston bombings and spurious tweets from news agencies and retailers, the edit button is becoming a necessity.
We suspect part of the rise in narcissism is being driven by Internet tools. What is clear is that social media platforms are frequently used by those with narcissistic tendencies to feed their egos. These same applications are used by millions of others to build their businesses, coordinate events, and maintain close ties with friends and families.
We live in a celebrity culture. Social media tears down the walls and gives everyone the semblance of fame. The network effect is a boost for personality and a boon for business, depending on your goals. If you just want to feel relevant, post something engaging.
‘Are you considering investing in an explainer video this year? You know; the videos that explain your product or service in 60-90 seconds? Explainer videos are a great way to engage potential customers and familiarize them with your business. The hard part is to get them right.Since an explainer video may be smack dab on your homepage, and the first thing your visitors experience, it’s essential to nail it the first time. Here are 9 insider tips for creating a killer explainer video that clearly describes your business and drives more sales.’
‘When it comes to generating leads through social media marketing efforts, more and more startups are shooting for quality of users instead of quantity. By setting up a presence on a niche social platform, entrepreneurs now find themselves preaching to a jubilant choir, rather than shouting to the masses—and alongside tons of competition.’
The car-service start-up company Uber is “well aware that not everyone ‘can drop twenty-five dollars to get home from a random night out,’” and they’re soon hoping to offer more mid-level transportation, like they provided at SXSW this year, across the country. Here, Matt Buchanan looks at the business behind their plan: http://nyr.kr/XO9s9H
‘Facebook contests are a popular way for you to get your audience engaged and excited about your brand. More and more companies have adopted the use of Facebook contests to better track participation and engagement.’
‘Don’t make people pay for music, says Amanda Palmer. Let them. In a passionate talk that begins in her days as a street performer (drop a dollar in the hat for the Eight-Foot Bride!), she examines the new relationship between artist and fan.’
‘Besides the obvious opportunity to share content online, the Internet also gives travel brands the chance to engage with the travelers reading their tips. It appears; however, that outside of forums, few brands are truly talking to their readers.’
A few thoughts on social media and the such.
I moderate Lonely Planet's Twitter account @lonelyplanet and a few other social media accounts.
All views expressed here are mine.
