[Infovore] Social Media

I recently wrapped up a research paper on the marketing implications of social media. I did a ton of secondary research on the topic last quarter. Sitting down to write the paper was eye opening as to how much I have learned… Just call me a guru! I’m kidding, don’t. Social media gurus scare me.

The most important thing I learned is that social media should be approached like any traditional marketing channel. It’s about communicating value to your customers, like always, with a slight twist in that the messages are typically shorter and have the ability to evoke two-way conversations with consumers. Let’s not get too excited about it.

That said, I don’t think I can stop reading about social media. These are some things that crossed my Google Reader over the last few weeks:

• Research on 41.7 million Twitter profiles explains everything | Going Social Now -Interesting research on the behavior of people who use Twitter and what it means for marketers.
• Facebook Around the World | Brian Solis -Facebook is the #1 social network for 120 of 127 countries in this study.
• 21 Twitter Tips from Socially Savvy Companies | Fast Company – Lots of creative uses of social media.
• Web-Tracking Research Emerging from Surveys’ Shadow | Advertising Age – I might be a purist, but I don’t see social media taking over traditional market research methods any time soon. Enhancing, yes, absolutely. Replacing, no.
• Foursquare Introduces New Tools for Businesses | NY Times – Smart people at Foursquare! I’ve been noticing more promotions offered by larger business on Foursquare lately. The Starbucks in the basement of Westlake Center, for example, offers $1 off any drink for the mayor.

Game Report: Braid

I’m taking a class called “Virtual Worlds, Gaming and Communication” this quarter with the Masters in Communication in Digital Media program. (I’m able to take 4 classes outside of the MBA program, and I will be taking all 4 with the MCDM. They are great!) One of my assignments was to write a report on a video game. I chose to do “Braid” specifically because when Scott played it and finished it, he woke me up and spent a good half an hour telling me about it. That was a rare occurrence, so I figured there was something about it that I should check out.

Here’s my full report!

Braid was developed by Jonathan Blow along with artist David Hellman. The team also used character animator Edmund McMillen, effect programmer Sean Barrett, and sounds effects programmer Harry Mack for short periods of time. Blow is an independent game designer who is very active in the video game industry, and is especially interested in experimental game play. Blow regularly participates in the Indie Game Jam and writes for Game Developer Magazine.

The original version of Braid took three years to develop, funded by Blow’s personal savings. It was submitted to the Independent Games Festival in December 2005, and won that year’s IGF award for Innovative Game Design. This earned Blow a small prize of $2,500. After winning the award, Blow and his team spent another two years refining the game to be released on Xbox Live Arcade in 2008. It has subsequently also been released on the Playstation Network and as a PC game.

Braid has been very successful, especially considering its limited budget. (Although it is unclear if the team broke even on their investment.) The Xbox Live Arcade version of the game debuted with 28,500 downloads in its first three days. It has earned a 92% ranking on GameRankings.com, bringing it on par with big budget games such as Halo 2 and Legends of Zelda. Blow is quoted as saying,

I have been a proponent of indie and experimental game development for a while, but the attitude toward it always seems to be that they are interesting toys, but not real games. Well, perhaps that is changing. And perhaps some of the indie developers out there who are making cheap clones of PopCap games will realize that if, instead, they go out on a limb and do something interesting and different and important to people, their work will be recognized.

[Infovore Links]

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

10 Easy Ways to Super Charge Your Small Business’ Yelp Presence | Hubspot.com I love small business who engage customers via Yelp (and other social media outlets). I like that they go out of their way to participate!

The Missing Google Analytics Manual | FutureNow This is going to be helpful in my Web 2.0 class next quarter.

Location Based Social Networking | Whrrl SlideShare Whrrl presented this at a Social Media Club Seattle event last week. I’m now addicted to their iPhone app!

BUSINESS & RELATIONSHIPS

Exiting a Conversation Gracefully | Harvard Business Review Somebody used one of these techniques on me while I was explaining Twitter to him today! And the technique worked – no offense taken.

Practice Good Business Kharma, You Might Be Rewarded | Puget Sound Business Journal Lynn Parker was a mentor for a group of 1st year MBAs this quarter. What she says in this article is very true.

Be Lucky – It’s an Easy Skill to Learn | Telegraph Yes.

How to Sell New Innovations Without Killing the Excitement | FastCompany.com I love this… A communication tool to keep in mind.

Warren Buffett’s Tip for the Rest of Us | WSJ.com Thanks Warren!

PRODUCTIVITY

Configuring Google Calendars on Your iPhone | Robert Chien Now I can know where Scott is 24/7, not just 18/7.

Easy Scheduling & Meeting Planning | Doodle.com I love this tool – it’s a way to vet meeting times, which is seriously handy among business students who all have different calendaring systems.

GADGETS

Microsoft Courier | Engadget.com I think this is cooler than the iPad! I said it.

Pantone Huey Screen Color Calibration | Amazon.com Mmm. Gift idea! I think the color on my new monitor is funky. This would be really helpful to have.

Buffett on Leadership and Ben Graham

I found some videos of Warren Buffett on YouTube! The first one includes Buffett and Bill Gates at Columbia Business School (Buffett’s alum)… There’s a whole series of this talk in particular. This one touches on their leadership principals.

And this one shows Buffett talking about his mentor, Graham.

Winter break research: Buffett.

I’m going to meet Warren Buffett later this month through a school event, so I figured I should do a little research on the man over Winter break. I ended up reading, “Buffet: The Making of an American Capitalist”. The book was incredibly insightful and engaging – and perfect for someone not necessarily into the nitty gritty of his investment principals, like me!

Now I’m a Warren Buffett fan, which is something I never thought would even cross my mind.

Before reading this book I knew exactly two things about him: (1) he gave the majority of his money to the Bill and Melinda Gates’ Foundation not too long ago and (2) he’s not a believer in “wealth dynasties”, i.e. giving all of his money to his children and family. These two things alone are incredible… Let alone the fact that he’s the second richest man alive, drives his own car, and has lived in the same house (a few blocks from his offices) for, um, ever.

The book perfectly intertwines the evolution of Buffett’s investing principals and the play-by-play of his personal life. (Note: Including a mistress, of sorts. Who knew.) Again, the book had just enough investment information to make the story approachable and compelling. I found myself rooting for Buffett through his pivotal moments and looking for any crack in his steadfast, but somewhat stoic, character.

No cracks found. I’m completely fascinated.

p.s. His Wikipedia page is very informative, if you’d prefer the cliff notes.

By the way… my favorite Christmas present!

We’re back from Utah, and savoring one last week of Winter break before classes start up again. Our trip was really great, but it’s nice to be home too!

I wanted to share my favorite Christmas present that I got this year. Do you remember this book? It’s probably my favorite (or at least my most memorable) children’s book.

Scott and I had a conversation about this book in early December… He couldn’t remember it, and I went on and on about how Grover is afraid of the monster at the end of the book, and freaks out every time you turn the page. The monster turns out to be him, and then he gets embarrassed. The conversation was totally silly. And the book turned up under the Christmas tree!

In orbit.

First off, I swear I’ve been blogging. It has just been elsewhere…

Foster Blog

European Union GBF 
(This is a speaker-series class that I’m taking on the EU business climate. It’s two “deliverables” are blog posts!)

Second off, I’m reading an awesome book called, “Orbiting the Giant Hairball”. It’s written by a creative at Hallmark, who essentially has a great method and thought process around operating within the corporate world, but not participating fully in its insanity. The head of Cranium, who spoke to our class at orientation, recommended it.

So, I pick it up when the gravitational pulls of words like “deliverable” are sucking me in. And it helps me get back into orbit.