TwitterChat 101

This week I am hosting a twitter chat on the twittersphere on Thursday, May 20 at 5pm EST, 2pm PST.  I’ve actually been following #mrktchat for the last nine months since Milena Regos @milenaregos (Diamond Peak Resort, NV)  and Eric Hoffman @eric_hoffman (Park City Mountain, UT) got the ball rolling.  It has been very successful in bringing together people with similar Snowsports industry interests from across the US, overseas and Australia in a virtual roundtable atmosphere.  Just read below and then join us!

So what is a “TwitterChat”?
Picture an informal meeting with a facilitator and a topic.  Only difference is that this meeting only involves typing.  No phone calls, no videos, nothing complicated.  Just a good ‘ole use of words.  Like instant messenger or texting for a group.

The way the group finds each other is by the use of a hashtag (the number sign plus a keyword).  There are tens of thousands of groups out there.  You can find them here http://wthashtag.com.  The #mrktchat group I’ll host today focuses topics around travel and tourism marketing.  It is always available and open to anyone.  But, every Thursday people come together to discuss for an hour a specific topic or snowsports industry related issue.  Its a great way to connect and learn.  Its informal, but every week there’s been great topics and different facilitators.

What’s Needed?
Basically, two things.  First you need to join Twitter and have a username.  Second, you will need a computer and/or a cell phone to be able to connect, follow, and post.

There’s a few different ways to track and post to the chat.
1. You can either use a web page such as http://wthashtag.com/Mrktchat or http://tweetchat.com/room/mrktchat
2. Use twitter related software you can download to your computer or iphone.  I use Tweetdeck and set up a column using the search function for #mrktchat.  Actually if you use Tweetdeck, all you have to do is click on a tweet with the hashtag #mrktchat and it will automatically create a column for you.

How It Works
Ok, so what will happen at 5pm EST today?
a) First, I will welcome everyone to the “tweetchat”.  Anyone that’s online and following the #mrktchat will usually introduce themselves to say they are there.  I will then ask some questions and look for responses.
b) Once the topic is introduced, people to start asking questions and making comments using the regular twitter rules (limited to 140 characters).  Normally we try to stick with a topic for 5-10 minutes then I will bring up another question/topic.  This goes on for the hour.  Other people are also welcome to bring up topics or other related items.

So, if it is a topic you want to say something about, do it.  Or, if you want to clarify anything or respond to a particular person, go for it.  Just a few things to remember:
1. Keep the #mrktchat tag in all conversations you want to be seen in that area.
2. If you are responding to a person in particular, then, make sure to include their twitter name (ie @srufo) AND the #mrktchat tag.  That way that person knows something’s been mentioned on twitter and can respond if needed.
3. To respond to a person without the entire group seeing it but you want to let the rest of the twittersphere see then just reply using their twitter handle (ie. @srufo).
4. To respond privately, direct message them.  But, don’t forget, you can only direct message people that follow you on Twitter.
5. Keep in mind your responses are public.  And, there is no “delete” button on the Internet.
6. Want to sell something?  Don’t do it here.  That’s better done somewhere else.
7. Have fun!

Have more questions?  Just let me know.

Feb 7th Snowstorm

Let it snow…Let it snow…ok, maybe we’ve had enough snow now

The Homestead

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Need a bigger shovel

No more grilling for awhile

Backyard paths

Good Marketing Meeting Kick Off

Need to get those creative juices flowing to come up with something cool and exciting for your brand?  Check out this funny video.

Eric O\’Shea – TV Commercials

Twouble with Twitters

This has to be one of the funniest videos.

25 Things I Hate About Facebook

Social Media Revolution Video

Laugh Wednesday-Real Headlines. Real Amusement.

Sometimes I think we all need to say, “what the hey?” and have a good laugh.  Unfortunately, the writers of the newspaper headlines I am going to provide below probably didn’t realize they were writing comedy at the time.  On a side note, writers are asked many times to squeeze headlines to fit space requirements, which in turn can completely change the tone of the headline and promise a pretty different story.  My comments follow each headline.  Feel free to leave your own too.

Can you try to figure out what they were really trying to say?

“Kids Make Nutritious Snacks”
(Good thing I am watching my diet)

“Marijuana Issue Sent to Joint Committee”
(No wonder why we can’t get anything done)

“Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers”
(That will teach them)

“Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over”
(Hope he was well paid!)

“Denver Chapter Will Have Senator for Breakfast”
(That’s one way to deal with the healthcare and aging issue)

“Cops Quiz Victim in Fatal Shooting”
(Can they contact Harry Houdini too?)

“Jail Releases Upset Judges”
(Maybe they were involved in the Marijuana Committee?)

“City Council to Discuss Nudity in Private”
(TMI)

“Litigant Has No Right to Lay Advisers in Chambers”
(I should think not!  Unless of course they are all agreeable)

“Deans Promise to Stop Drinking on Campus”
(I thought the guy doing a keg-stand at the last party looked a bit old)

“FBI Adds to Reward for Killing Suspects”
(That’s one way to fight crime)

“School Board Member Suspected of Honesty”
(Wouldn’t want that to happen, would we?)

“Steamed Pudding and Crap Dip”
(What is this?  A recipe from a Survivor Cook Book?)

“High School to Colege?  It Depends”
(Yes.  Yes. It would for you)

“Socks Lower in Tokyo”
(Well, maybe the stock market had something to do with that)

Considering a website re-design? Read this 1st.

Redesigning your website look is something that every marketer has to consider at one point or another. Very few websites out there have the same design they did 5 years ago.

Your website is a reflection of who you are as an organization – and the design of your site will influence the perceptions, sales and response rates of your visitors. If your website is not taking an active role in your marketing, it may be time to consider a redesign.

When it comes to redesigning a website, there are two approaches a marketer can take:

1) Offer your visitors a series of small changes over time, tweaking the look and feel so that it always looks familiar, but is slowly evolving over time. Sort of like wearing a new shirt every day – your friends will recognize you, but will notice something “fresh” every day.

2) Offer a radical makeover. Sometimes a couple tweaks won’t cut it – especially if your website is out of synch with the rest of your brand, or if you really want to make people sit up and take notice. This approach is more like getting an extreme makeover – your friends will know it’s you, but you are projecting a different image of who you are.

Many times your budget will force you into picking one path or another.  Check back for web project management tips.  Or, leave your own.

More is Not Always Better.

Think the way to win more customers is to offer more options on your products and services? Surprise. It’s not. And, it can seriously hurt your business to continue down that path.

“The belief that variety is good is not always true,” argues Harvard Business School professor John Gourville in “Overchoice and Assortment Type: When and Why Variety Backfires.” The research paper, co-written by professor Dilip Soman of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, demonstrates that sometimes offering too many choices prompts a confused customer to “run to the arms of a competitor” with less complicated offerings.

According to Gourville, when consumers go to make a buying decision, they can be overwhelmed by variety and start to question if they are making the right buying decision. The end result? Consumers simply give up or go somewhere else. In a sense, the consumer is saying, “I can’t decide which product to choose from the many offered by Brand A, so I will choose from the one or two products offered by Brand B.”

From my own experience with ecommerce and clients I can definitely see that the large number of options available make it almost impossible to move forward. It’s always a challenge to balance the “cookie-cutter” approach” to the custom one. It’s something that I constantly wrestle with.

Have thoughts? Why not share them.

Multi-tasking

Do you multi-task? It probably depends on how old you are. Really.

It’s rare that I take a phone call and do not do something else “behind the scenes” like answer an email, instant message, open mail, walk the dogs, even yes– drive.

It’s really not that unusual for my generation (Gen X’rs). We can actually walk and chew gum and any other number of things. It could be because we are an entire generation of ADD afflicted people, or we just have had so much thrown at us over the years due to new technology, that we’ve become immune to the affects.

Yes, some people, usually the Baby Boomers and older generations call it “rude”. Sometimes I agree. Sometimes I just can’t help it. The line for work and home life somehow got grayed out. I don’t think I’m alone.

According to BIGresearch, “The complexities of everyday life seem to be increasing, and as a result consumers are multitasking as a way of coping.” A recent study shows that 25-34 year olds are most likely to engage in multi-tasking, when using electronic media (TV, Radio, Internet) with almost 70% saying they do so regularly or occasionally. Not surprisingly, the 55+ age group multitasks the least.

Do you multi-task? What age group do you fit in? Do you agree with the study?