Have you seen this, have you heard about this?

Facebook have changed the layout and the way you interact with photos on your Personal and business Pages.

Not only are the thumbnails larger, you can now like, comment and view interactions on individual photos without viewing them full screen. It makes finding the best pictures in an album a bit quicker and easier. You can also edit when and where the picture was taken without viewing it full screen, saving time.

That’s cool but what we really like is the ability to highlight (‘star’) an individual image thumbnail. This enlarges the image and shifts the rest of the thumbnails around it. This is useful for bringing first attention to specific images in an album, this is true for Pages especially.

A Zook-IT tip would be to highlight the images you want to make the most impact so your audience is drawn to them first. This could be highlighting a important person at an event or the best shot of a new product or service.

Hootsuite launched its new internal communications tool today, aptly named Conversations.

Seamlessly integrated into the dashboard, Conversations allow team members to share information, ideas, comments, concerns and links for communication via Hootsuite. Convocations’ main advantage is speed of reply and not having to switch constantly between Hootsuite and your email app.

We really like the ability to pull tweets from your dashboard into the convocations. This is important for teams since it allows questions to team members to be asked and answered much more quickly and accurately.

Example: A junior team member is handling an account and receives a derogatory mention towards the brand they are representing. They have an idea of how to respond but want to double check with their manager. Instead of emailing them with a quote of the tweet with a message they can simply use Conversations to send the tweet to the manager (or whole team) to get a quicker response on how to proceed. The manager or other team members can give their input in a conversation style, or take control of the tweet and write the follow up communication themselves if need be.

This is a logical step for Hootsuite to take; it means that you are likely to spend more time in the dashboard and less time switching between other communication apps, great for Hootsuite, great for you.

Have you used Conversations yet? Let us know what you think…

Craig Barker

Enlightenment Engineer

It is only recently that social media has been accepted as a viable outlet marketing and branding. Business owners in need of creative marketing platforms are still coming to terms with what social media is all about. There is so much hype around the growth and popularity of Facebook and Twitter that it’s hard not to want a piece of the action, but far too many businesses have thrown their hats (and their wallets!) into the ring without a clear understanding of social media and its ramifications.

Times are changing; we operate in an age were creativity is just about the only thing that will get your business noticed. While deep pockets can go a long way, it is no longer the essential factor in a successful marketing campaign. it is no longer essential for a successful marketing campaign. Social media has effectively leveled the playing field for online marketing and promotion Start-up companies and super brands like Coca Cola have roughly the same chance at reaching customers and fans. This, more than anything else, is what scares the big wigs, CEO’s and industry leaders of our time.

In an effort to stay on trend, investors are buying shares in both emerging and or popular social platforms. But as a result the business leaders of our generation are now facing a new kind of problem, ‘The Intangible Dilemma.’  In a nutshell this is the problem of financially evaluation a company which has no tangible assets of any kind. How does one decide that the Facebook IPO is worth its initial $104 Billion evaluation or that Instagram is worth paying $1 Billion for? At this point it would seem that your guess is as good as mine.

On a daily basis, sites like Facebook and Instagram attract high volumes of visitors and each time they visit they deposit more and more personal information. It is this action that makes these sites as valuable as they are. For example, Facebook has approximately 900 million registered users with personal profiles. In the right marketing hands, this equates to pages and pages and pages of valuable consumer information. Additionally, the value of social media is dependent on the amount of traffic it can consistently generate. Remember MySpace? It used to be the place to be… not anymore! Twitter, Pintrest and Instagram, for example, all rely on the interest of an easily distracted and fickle group of core users. This is not to say that people will one day stop using these social media platforms altogether, it just poses the question of how long these sites will remain popular.  What new will be the new ‘it’ site a year from now?

The value of any social media platform is dependent on its continued popularity. The more information that gets pumped through the server, the more valuable the platform becomes. These evaluations are often subject to inflation because, among other things, they are based on projected growth. In other industries like service or manufacturing one can rely on the predicted growth because it works in conjunction with a companies profits. This is true in some respect when applied to social networks, but the catch is that these networks are also reliant on engagement. This means that the networks are only valuable if they are well used.

The financial evaluation of Pinterest, Instagram and the like, relies on the sites ability to stay on trend. It is my contention that, while valuable, these sites can be over valued for a number of reasons. One of which being that the sites appraisal relies on the growth in traffic. However this growth is not necessarily a reliable statistic because most social platforms are based on popularity. Meaning that even if there are 400, 000 users registered to any given site its longevity depends on a sustained commitments to uploading new material. Much like MySpace, Google+ and others have seen growth but have not been able to sustain it.

In my opinion Facebook will have to find a way to ensure stimulated engagement if they are to begin fixing the numerous problems that have come with its decision to go public. Will these problems ever get fixed, is there a sustainable solution? Only time will tell.

Liam Ponton

If you haven’t already, you may want to start censoring your social media. Recent reports suggest that nearly 3 out of 4 hiring managers check social media profiles regularly in addition to checking your resume.

Old news? Well think again. These recruiters are scrutinizing everything from your use of foul language to your pictures, not to mention your grammar and spelling! It’s hard to imagine that they would judge your personal profile and deem you unworthy because of your spelling! Especially since most people consider their profiles to be a place off the record. Not to mention, bad spelling seems to go hand in hand with social media, especially Twitter with 140 characters or less, it’s difficult not to abbreviate.

If you’re one of those people who likes to express your deepest darkest feelings, or your overt opinions, think before you act. You never know whose going to search you on Facebook or Twitter.

In my opinion, it’s easy enough to control your privacy settings on Facebook and most people by now have figured that out, but Twitter is another story! If you search almost anyone on Twitter their profile shows up with an “About Me,” an avatar, and an option to look at their past tweets.

Talk about nerve wracking! I can look you up and find out what you’ve been tweeting and who you’ve been tweeting to. Imagine all the times you tweeted in anger or in some emotional frenzy… now consider what a potential employer would think after reading those. Not good? Didn’t think so!

Well, unfortunately it gets worse! In the U.S. it is reported that 92% of companies are using social networks to find talent.

Seems ridiculous to judge someone based off of their social media profiles—at first. But if your profile is filled with pictures of you boozing it up and complaining about work or responsibility, can you really blame the recruiters?

Checking profiles is actually quite clever. Avoid the problem before it happens, filter out the unwanted behaviors, and find someone who is smart enough to keep their private life behind closed doors.

In the words of Zack Galifianakis, “you better check yourself before you wreck yourself,” in the case of social media, at least. Don’t assume that the recruiter has better things to do than investigate into your online world. Think before you tweet.

Naveen Sohi

July 31, 2012

This week a chap called Paul Chambers launched himself back into a legal pickle by appealing his conviction over sending a “menacing” tweet.

Back in January 2010 Paul was flying from Robin Hood Airport, England (yes, we named an airport after Robin Hood…and what?) to Northern Island. It was a bitterly cold and snow had forced the airport to close. At this point most of us can empathize with Paul, he must have been feeling pretty annoyed to put it nicely. What he did next has haunted him for the last two years…

He reached for his phone, opened Twitter and wrote:

“Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!”

A week later an off-duty airport employee raised the alarm and sent the tweet up the ranks. Paul tried to pass off the tweet as a ‘joke’ but was convicted of sending a message of “menacing character” under the Communications Act 2003. The fallout for Paul is still unraveling, he is in and out of court, which is probably costing him a pretty penny, was fined £1000 ($1600) and given a criminal record.

Even in his understandable frustration Paul should have known better. In this day and age you simply can’t threaten an airport and be surprised if there are repercussions.

In my opinion the fine is justified, he did something thoughtless that resulted in a minor public panic. However should a ‘joke’ (no matter how distasteful) warrant a criminal record? And, to what degree does the fact that the ‘joke’ was sent on Twitter play in dealing out a criminal record?

To me this is a classic case of ‘where to draw the line’ – a joke to one person can be hilarious but potentially very offence and indeed menacing to someone else, in this case Paul’s Twitter followers and the public.

Deriving the ins and outs of what constitutes “menacing” and whether Paul was genuinely threatening the airport is for the lawyers to argue and the judge to decide. I am more interested in the effect this has on the policing of social media and our cherished freedom of speech…I’m not saying that threatening airports is ok but does this mean we can’t joke about committing crimes in general?

It’s the principle of the matter more so than I like to joke about crime. However there have been times when I ask myself, ”Should I post this? Will someone take it the wrong way? Will they realize I’m being sarcastic?”

If I was to tweet, “just seen an unlocked BMW, I’m going to steal it!” I wonder if I’ll get a knock on my door a few days later making sure that I’m not the proud new owner of a BMW…probably not.

What if I tweeted, “Hi @Rihanna you are amazing, next time I’m in LA I’m going to abduct you!” I honestly don’t know the ramifications of this, nothing could happen or I might receive a nasty Direct Message from her management or police might question me about my premeditated act of abduction, either way I’m sensible enough not to try it.

Either of these could be passed off as a joke but both categorically state that I intend to commit a crime, are they acceptable to be posted on Twitter? If so, do you think Paul should keep his criminal record? If not, should Paul keep his criminal record for a stupid mistake with minimum consequences for others?

Paul is still waiting to hear the verdict on his appeal; do you think he should have a criminal record?

Craig Barker

June 2012

Enter to win a $50 Gift Certificate to Pourhouse on behalf of
Make Music Vancouver.CA & Gastown Blog.

In just a few days, Gastown will host one of the largest outdoor urban musical festivals in the city. On June 21^st, 2012 the streets of Gastown will come alive once more for the return of Make Music Vancouver. Last year’s inaugural event is back on June 21^st from 5 to 10pm, where the cobblestone streets and heritage storefronts are transformed into sidewalk musical stages and festive dance floors!

This entirely free live music event will showcase some of Vancouver’s most talented musicians, and everyone is invited to enjoy the performances of over 150 amateur and professional artists as they take the sidewalk stages to kick off the start of summer.

Make Music Vancouver is a grassroots event made entirely possible by volunteers. All the organizers and musicians are donating their time and skills in order to create a free music event for all, and you’re invited you to be part of the experience and join in the celebration. Past 10pm, the party continues inside many of Gastown’s pubs, restaurants and eateries. So why not enter to win a $50 gift certificate to Pourhouse to spend while you attend!

The contest rules are simple:

(1)  Tweet or Re-Tweet this: I <3 @MakeMusicVan June 21 in @gastown & want to win a $50 GC to @pourhouse_van ! Info: http://bit.ly/Pe4CvW

(2)  Follow the @MakemusicVan Twitter page

(3)  You can win a second entry by tweeting: There’s no way I’m missing @MakeMusicVan June 21 in @gastown #MMV12

The contest runs from Tuesday June 19^th – Thursday June 21^st. Winners will be draw randomly and announced no later than 4pm on Thursday June 21^st via Twitter. Feel free to enter as many times as you like.

Before the main event, check out this video with clips from last year, and we’ll see you in Gastown on June 21^st!

For more information about this event, visit www.makemusicvancouver.ca

By Alan O’Doherty

Social media has had mixed results when it comes to being wielded as a tool for the greater good.

Last year saw the Arab Spring, where revolutionaries credited Facebook and Twitter with giving them the means to unite their forces to topple oppressive governments. It even reached the point where one Egyptian couple named their child after Mark Zuckerberg’s social network (sounds a bit bizarre naming a child ‘Facebook’ but it’s probably a better name than ‘petrol bomb’ or ‘AK47’ or ‘NATO Air Strikes’ which were also pretty crucial to the revolutionary efforts).

Then, last month we witnessed the spectacular public meltdown of Jason Russell, the man behind Kony 2012. After the initial positive reaction the controversy surrounding the film lead to Russell committing ‘certain acts’ which haven’t done wonders for his credibility. The viral power of social media can turn from positive to negative on a dime and Jason Russell now knows this all too well.

So how do we go about using social media effectively to support a good cause? Perhaps Russell’s mistake was to misread the nature of online culture – despite living in a world where we practically worship celebrities we seem to object very strongly to anyone who tries to put themselves in the limelight before they’ve ‘earned it’ (however the hell it is you do that). The objection to Russell’s film seems to have come, at least in part, from his decision to put the filmmakers themselves at the center of the project. The online sphere is a place where social conventions and politeness go to die. All the vitriol the audience feels towards people who take themselves very seriously and are prone to self-promotion can manifest itself without the social filters that keep the public from hurling abuse in the offline world.

Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist may have struck the right balance with a campaign to raise money for the National Wildlife Federation. Newmark has pledged to donate $1 for every follower he gains on Twitter and every use of the #Squirrels4Good on Facebook up to one million dollars. It’s still early days so it may be the case that this project crashes and burns like so many others (though I don’t expect, or hope, to see Newmark roaming the streets of San Diego in his underwear in the near future).

What the Craigslist founder seems to have realized is that the internet is not usually a place where things are taken seriously. He’s made squirrels the mascot for his campaign and while his goal is to genuinely raise awareness and funds he has had the good sense to allow people to have fun with it. If you take yourself and your cause too seriously you’re setting yourself up for a fall – if you’ve got the sense to go on your moral quest with a sense of humour about the whole affair, it makes it a lot tougher for the naysayers and critics to sink their teeth into you.

by Alan O’Doherty

TechCrunch recently reported that OMGPOP (the company behind the ‘Draw Something’ app) was sold to Zynga for a staggering $180 million. OMGPOP had been struggling for survival for six years, with founder Charles Forman claiming to have had only $1700 left in his bank account prior to the sale.

Draw-Something (think Pictionary for your phone) has sold 35 million copies since February and just a month after this launch Zynga offered Forman the 9 figure deal.

I’ve previously written on the importance of mobile online engagement – catering specifically to a market of people who get most of their information via their smartphones – and the success of apps like Draw-Something demonstrates that the relatively simple programs that provide a handy tool or a useful distraction on your cell phone can be as profitable, and as influential, as highly developed programs requiring months of work and dozens of programmers.

Draw-Something has managed to tap into one of the most important reasons mobile internet appeals to us so much – the app allows users to engage with real-world friends when they are physically separated from them. It’s a simple concept that’s fun and user friendly. There’s no learning curve – draw something has ‘pick up and play’ appeal. Forman and OMGPOP didn’t necessarily have a completely original idea – I remember playing i-sketch back in the heady days of the early 2000’s. What they have done however is recognize the potential to take this format to mobile internet and created an interface that doesn’t demand anything from the user – in a marketplace saturated with apps users won’t be willing to spend long learning to operate a program that is meant to be fun. Either they use it right away, or they won’t bother.

App development is a skill that requires a certain level of technical expertise but as these technologies become simpler and marketers begin to recognize the potential mobile apps have, we’re bound to see small businesses developing their own apps. The trick to making them successful? Keep them simple!

I’ve previously written on how the wine industry is making its presence felt in the online world. Vineyards and bottlers are using the Internet to join online conversation with consumers and distributors – and they’re doing it well.

Wine often enjoys an aura of sophistication that seems to run hand-in-hand with being tech savvy – there’s something oddly elegant about an ipad and a glass of chardonnay. But what about the beer industry? Does there seem to be something incongruous about an ale-fan knowing their way around an android phone?

Whatever our expectations, the beer industry hasn’t been slow to join the social media sphere. Just like the vineyards, brewers have been quick to notice the potential the world of social media has to enhance their marketing and provide a direct connection to consumers. As a dedicated hop-head myself I like to keep up-to-date on what the beer industry has to say online, and there is a lot of conversation taking place. Breweries seem to be getting the right idea about how social media works – it isn’t enough to simply promote yourself to your consumers – the trick is to engage with these people, ask their opinions and learn what they want and how to meet those needs.

As well as the breweries consumers themselves have got in on the action. CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) have an extensive social media following allowing disparate chapters of the group the world over to share news and opinions. The App developers have been hard at work on this front too – http://untappd.com/ allows drinkers to share what they’re drinking and where they’re drinking it at the touch of a button – a boon to the brewing industry and the restaurants and bars that stock their products.

There are few things that bring folks together better than a pint, and it seems this is true even across the online-landscape. From small start-ups to brewing giants (think Guinness and Coors-Molson) beer is a subject that people get passionate enough about for the brewers to have a ready made audience. This isn’t to say their job is easy though – consumers will have high expectations, which means they’re easy to disappoint.  So far though the breweries are doing a good job making the most of social media

by Alan O’Doherty

Blogs are the meat and potatoes of the online world. Twitter and Facebook are the perfect venue for headlines while Flickr and Youtube are the ideal platforms for a visual hook. But, whatever your business, you will always need a space for discussion, analysis and good quality writing.

Written articles are where we head for the details on an event or a business – where it came from, what it does, what kind of people they are. They’re where you go to hear an opinion and offer your own in return.

Producing an effective piece of online copy is not necessarily easy. If you didn’t have ADHD before, you probably will after ten minutes online – in a world of distractions written articles have to be striking and concise enough to cut through the clutter without sacrificing content. There’s no point in putting out a piece of writing if no one reads it, and there’s no point having readers if you aren’t saying what you set out to say.

Hiring someone with training and experience to write for you is a lot like the difference between hiring a professional to renovate your home or trying your hand at DIY. If the standard of work is important to you and it’s a not a field you have experience in, it’s up to you to make a decision about how much time and energy you’re willing to put into producing something yourself that will meet a professional standard.

Clearly I’m not Shakespeare (I’m not dead yet for one thing) but I do have a strong background in writing both on and offline. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Exeter and a Masters degree in Journalism from City University London. I’ve written content for ABC News, BBC London & Openfile.ca as well as lifestyle and review articles for a range of online publications. I maintain and promote my own blog covering the beer industry and regularly produce content for Zook-IT.com

Hiring professional writers can be expensive so I aim to offer a service that is affordable to small businesses while still providing polished and professional content. I am in a position to produce articles quickly and easily at your direction, leaving you free to spend time running your business. Working this way allows your online profile to respond rapidly to a constantly changing business environment.

I will work with your or your clients to produce written content that reflects the tone and style of your brand and helps you communicate and engage with your customers and followers. If there is a topic or event you are already aware of that you want to blog on I can produce a post for $25 – either as a one-off or as part of a regular series of updates for your website. For posts where I research new developments in your industry or field of interest to produce totally unique or original content I charge $50 per article.

Email alan@zook-it.com for more info.