Archive for September, 2009
Do Backchannels Know No Boundaries?
Allie Sullivan (@ashevilleallie) is an online marketing and advertising specialist, formerly from the non-profit industry. She is a do-gooder, connector, and trying to make a difference in the world.
The Ugly Was Brought!
On Friday I was very excited to attend New Media Atlanta. Thursday evening I was fortunate to go to the speaker dinner and meet several of the presenters, the co-founders, and those who worked behind the scenes. The one thing that each player had in common is that they were all pumped about being part of the very first New Media Atlanta! I was excited too!
At the start of New Media Atlanta, after the opening comments by conference founders Matt Fagioli and Brad Nix, Jeff Turner took the stage for his presentation on Social Media Is Here To Stay. It was 10 a.m., the conference was just kicking off, and Jeff brought attention to the conversations that were going on through BackNoise. BackNoise claims …
“BackNoise lets you create conversations on the fly, in meetings, watching TV, during class, on the train, anywhere and anytime. Talk about what you want, when you want, where you want, and how you want.”
BackNoise is a channel that allows people to express themselves, anonymously or known, in a real-time online conversation. What started out on BackNoise that day as speaker feedback and comments that people were tired or thirsty, quickly spiraled downhill to what I believe, people who brought out their “ugly.”
Photo via @BeeRealty
There are certain people in this world that have the disco balls to say pretty much about anything. Chris Brogan was the main speaker at New Media Atlanta and embraced BackNoise by presenting with the backchannel behind him. There were some interesting comments such as his fly was down and that the more he cursed, the more an anonymous BackNoise user wanted to kiss him. Funny, right? Brogan has the disco balls though. Everyone in conference attendance was waiting for the moment that he took the stage. They know him, or have heard of him, and respect his reputation.
What about a speaker that isn’t as well known and adored? Does this mean that it’s okay to send a BackNoise comment that encourages the audience to cough two times if you don’t like their presentation? What about stretch if you don’t like the next one? Believe it or not, that’s what happened!
I’m sorry, but to attend a conference and revert back to middle-school mentality is pathetic. If I knew who started these behaviors on BackNoise that day, I would call you out publicly, but alas, you were anonymous. I have no problem with people suggesting that the content presented was weak, or that you’re bored or tired but at some point, grow the heck up!
If you are bored, say why. If you were a speaker and getting bashed, wouldn’t you want to know why?
I don’t think trying to get people to cough is going to help someone learn where and how they can improve. I also don’t think that by creating fear for future speakers is going to make any speaker become better at it!
We encourage people in the online space to be real and transparent, pay-it-forward, not to be a social media douche bag, etc. Why do these understood rules of common decency fly out the window when you don’t actually have to be accountable for your words and actions? They shouldn’t.
When users on the backchannel complained about it being too dark, the lights were turned on. When comments suggested that we needed a break, a break was given.
It is very clear that New Media Atlanta was paying attention to what attendees were saying and constructive criticism was able to bring about positive change. I like that. This also means that speakers were able to see what was said about them. Comments that attacked speakers on a personal level more so than the content that they were delivering, well, I tend to like that less.
Backchannels Are Here To Stay
There is no doubt in my mind that people will continue to use backchannels. After attending New Media Atlanta, it is only my hope that people will choose to use them in a more constructive way. We all like to laugh and feel part of a group, which is what platforms such as BackNoise allows, but where do you draw the line?
I admit that I looked at the backchannel conversations that took place at the conference. I admit that some comments made me laugh. There is something extremely intriguing about watching a stream of thoughts from people that don’t have to identify themselves for speaking what a lot of us might be thinking … but crossing the line of professionalism to middle-school bully is something that can be avoided.
Think about your words. Thumper said, “If you can’t say something nice … don’t say nothing at all.” Backchannels give us the room to dismiss that message and also the accountability of our words. Would you participate on a backchannel? If so, where would you draw the line?
Google Sidewiki Mailed Me Poetry
Google Sidewiki launched today. And they sent me a little poetry that fits pretty nicely with the goal of the project.
What do you think?
Music: Coal War – Joshua James http://wxpn.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-morning-download-92409-joshua-james.html
15 Top Social Media Agencies
In the last month I have had 6 separate conversations with peers surrounding the question “What is a social media agency?”
There are several types of social media companies out there. Some are research focused, or software heavy, or app developers, or monitoring services. Some are purely extending the PR battle plan to a new medium.
The social media agency is one that can grasp all these segments and help companies extend their brand and marketing through training, long term strategy, and execution.
For the purpose of this list, I have focused on companies who mostly do social media. There are many companies making social media a piece of what they offer. These companies are the top ones focusing on social media.
As Armano points out “What McKinsey would offer in SM would be very different than Crayon”. Since almost every company would almost be it’s own category, I am avoiding the categories for now. Perhaps in future lists we can add some delineation.
Advanced Guard of CC Chapman fame. Acquired by Campfire, which may not fall into our criteria of a “social media agency” but now has some major talent in the arena.
Altimeter Group, of Charlene Li and more recently Jeremiah Owyang fame, “provides thought leadership, research, and consulting on digital strategies, with a core focus on how companies can leverage social and emerging technologies.”
Ant’s Eye View “At Ant’s Eye View we concentrate on helping companies of all sizes understand and engage in customer collaboration, social media, and community building.” Clients include Apple, Microsoft, Cisco, Dr Pepper, and Maker’s Mark. [added per @TShelton]
The Conversation Group “The Conversation Group is a global consultancy broadly dedicated to the art, science, and practical application of social technologies. We’re enabling organizations around the world to radically scale their ability to discover, engage and collaborate with their constituencies, both inside and outside the enterprise.” [added per @PeterKim]
>carrot creative “is a new-media marketing agency located in DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY specializing in social media marketing and user experience design. We have the unique ability to take a project from the initial ideation stages to full scale application development all under one roof.”
Collective Bias “The Wisdom of Connected Crowds – this is CollectiveBias, a partnership between us, consumers, brands, & retailers.” CollectiveBias, of John Andrews, @GeekMommy and Walmart Moms fame, is a new social media company underneath the MARS Advertising umbrella.
Crayon, of Joseph Jaffe fame, “is a strategic consultancy that helps its clients achieve positive change and impact by joining the conversation.”
Dachis Group, of Jeff Dachis, Peter Kim, and David Armano fame, “was created to unlock the value of social technologies for large corporate enterprises through its Social Business Design global advisory practice and technology implementation program.” Dachis has $50 million in funding from Austin Ventures and recently purchased London/Sydney based Headshift.
Ignite is “the Original Social Media Agency ®. We’ve combined content developers, technologists, and social media strategists to form the Ignite team. Together, we keep up with trends, filter the noise, and help companies like yours put social media to work.”
the Kbuzz “is a Word of Mouth Marketing firm that creates and sustains buzz through word of mouth and social media marketing.”
New Marketing Labs, of Chris Brogan and Justin Levy fame, “is dedicated to solving your online marketing and social media challenges. They approach this in two ways, events and education (see Inbound Marketing Summit) and through guiding you and pitching in as a social media marketing agency.”
Mullen “is a social media agency rooted in strategy, public relations and a belief that creativity is as important as community. Social agency of record for Panera, Olympus, Grain Foods Foundation, Stanley, Stop and Shop and others.”
Shift Communications “is a fast-growing, national agency that lives at the intersection of Influencer Relations & Social Media. We measure our performance according to the impact that we have on driving your business forward.”
Social Media Group “Highly respected independent social media shop, delivering results as Ford’s social media agency since 2007, clients include SAP, Yamaha, ING & govt. One of the world’s largest independent agencies devoted exclusively to helping companies navigate the new socially engaged web.”
Undercurrent “is a think tank based in NYC that provides digitally-focused strategic planning, ideation, measurement, training, and advisement to global brands ready to engage a new generation of human beings that were born digital.” Clients include Pepsi and Ford.”
We Are Social is “a conversation agency. We help brands to listen, understand and engage in conversations in social media. We’re already helping Ford, Skype, Eurostar, The Economist, Absolut, Dunlop, Barclaycard and the WWF.”
Deloitte, McKinsey, Ogilvy’s 360 Digital Influence, and Porter Novelli are also in the space. Not sure any of them would pass the “mostly social media” standard, but I felt the need to include them in the discussion. They are all contributing to what a “social media agency” is evolving into.
Also, Charlene Li of the Altimeter Group has a great Wiki going with more information if you want to dive in deeper.
Who did I miss?
Include it in the comments and I will add them to the post.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com
Free New Media Atlanta Tickets
Tune into @jakrose at 4pm EST today for a chance to win one of four free tickets to the New Media Atlanta conference this Friday, 9/25/09. Chris Brogan is one of the speakers and it should be some great networking.
- Starts at 4pm EST
- 4 Atlanta Trivia Questions
- Follow @jakrose for questions and answers
- 1 Winner per question, randomly selected form the first 5 correct answers
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