PodCamp Toronto

If you haven't immersed yourself in the social network, jump in!

The price of admission is contribution. There are no rules of how much or how often you should contribute just join the conversation.

Free to Join. Free to Join In.

You don’t have to do a podcast or a blog, you don’t have to have 30,000 followers on Twitter, your friend list on Facebook doesn't have to be in the thousands; you can just come in and grab a seat.

This weekend marks the third annual PodCamp Toronto and it will be busier than ever. There are almost 900 people signed up and the schedule is jammed with tips and pointers no how to navigate the digital space, how to interact better and perhaps even monetize the experience.

No salespeople wanted

That last part is tricky. If you think you can apply scam tactics to social media, you will find out very quickly that is not a wise approach. At the core of social media is the social aspect. People need to buy-in to people before they buy from people. Never has that been more crucial than right now.

PodCamp Toronto is an unconference which means admission, ideas and sharing is free. You are encouraged to share in the sessions and in the hallway, just get to know each other. The playing field is even.

Nice to meet you

The cool thing about this event is that you will meet people from all walks of life, experiences and professions. If you go to a marketing convention to watch marketing experts talk about marketing, it's can be too one-dimensional.

If you’re going to PodCamp Toronto, perhaps we’ll run in to each other.

km

Being Social Through Social Media

What is the first thing you would do if you won $5 Million?

Yesterday was a fun day on Twitter. It was one of those moments where I wanted a naysayer to be around so they could see what social media is all about.

In light of the current economic situation, I thought I'd pose an age-old question. Perhaps the answers have changed. My question was: what would be the first thing you would do if you won $5 Million? The amount wasn't important, but I felt it needed to be significant enough to get a reaction.

Some responses…

@DellaSiemens Pay off student loan debt
@CamilleJ buy my own flat! :)
@LifeLdrshpCoach Pay off my mortgage & credit cards, help my family members get in the black, put a BUNCH under the mattress, and then DONATE.
@cynthiayoung Buy expensive ketchup! (Barenaked Ladies' reference)
@chrisbrogan I’d bank 2, donate 1, and burn through 2 "fixing" things.
@Zoeyjane I'd buy new clothes. And a skateboard. And a tattoo. Prolly some furniture. Eventually I'd make it to a charity or two.
@myogis Call in rich! (nah...I'd probably call in sick before telling anyone)
@marcpsummers save $2 million and buy property with rest after paying every bill I had in my whole lifetime.

Science Meets Reality

A discussion ensued over a question we have asked, been asked and asked ourselves our entire lives - what to do if we won a bunch of money. Most lists didn't simply include buying fivolous stuff - though fancy ketchup is a good one. More importantly the lists included many ways to help others.

It is my suspicious that if we did a more scientific and detailed piece of research the responses would still fall under these main categories:

1. Pay off debt
2. Help others
3. Make a difference

Now let’s change the question slightly...

What would you first do to make $5 Million - so you could help others and make a difference?

km

How Does It Make You Feel?

We are inundated by information, pitches, news, content, blogs, offers, podcasts, emails, phone calls and the question remains: are we getting any further?

The blogosphere is fraught with economic news and predictions while we all try and stay focused. The 800lb gorilla is stomping on our collective skulls while we attempt to stay positive.

Help Wanted

We are looking at each other for guidance and answers but in the process forgetting that others are doing the same to us.

Some estimates say that we sift through thousands of images and pieces of content every day. We have become masters at weeding out what we don’t need and getting to what we do need.

Research Isn't Always The Answer

When I was buying my current car, I did my homework. I test drove 12 different vehicles, performed in depth price comparisons, examined options, pros and cons, and ended up buying the car that I wanted from the start. I had over thought it.

It wasn’t my homework that sold me; it was what my best friend said as we stood in the dealership parking lot one summer evening. He turned to me as we looked at three different models of the same car and said; “Dude, get the one that will make you smile”.

No Hoops | No Games

The best radio promotion I have ever been a part of was entitled “24 Hours In Vegas”. Unlike most radio contests, we did not ask listeners to wait for the sound of the clown horn or be placed on a waiting list or answer a skill testing question, we just gave away seats on our chartered plane all the time. I had 180 seats to fill and it was a blast. We kept our focus on how it feels to be told without notice that you are going to Las Vegas.

Winners received two plane tickets, that’s it. No hotel, no spending money, no rental car, no taxi chits, a plane ticket. We took off at 10am on Wednesday and left Vegas at 10am on Thursday. Listeners were left to fend for themselves and live large.

People Are People

There were grown men crying, women screaming in disbelief, and the morning we took off we had a plane full of excited people. It wasn’t about ratings, or the radio station, it was about connection.

There were no complaints or whining about extras. The plane ride home was full of tired but excited people sharing stories of their adventure. New friendships were formed, some stayed up all night, some grabbed a hotel, two couples renewed their vows, and not one person missed Thursday’s flight.

It was a team of people sharing an experience.

It's Not About The Bottom Line

In a time when companies are making cuts and trying to find the message that will cut through, perhaps it's time to find out how your message or product or service will make them feel.

With radio promotions, it was important to stay within four main prize categories: money, trips, cars and things people don't have access to experience on their own. No one would turn away the first three, but it is the last one that will last a lifetime.

The iPod isn’t about high quality audio, it’s about freedom. TED2009 on right now is not just about smart people talking, it's about showing others they can dream and think big. Social media is not about collecting friends, it’s about sharing with others.

How do you make others feel?

km

Media Hacks: A Necessary Initiative

Thought leaders such as Mitch Joel, Chris Brogan, CC Chapman, Julien Smith, Hugh McGuire, Christopher S. Penn and numerous others have stepped up with a necessary initiative called Media Hacks.

This is an open discussion about digital space, social media, marketing and anything else that comes up. Mitch talked about it this past weekend on his Six Pixels of Separation podcast. The idea is to gather thinkers and share ideas, no rules, opinions are allowed and encouraged. And it’s absolutely free.

The magic of this initiative is that others will be invited to contribute to the conversation.

That is the essesnce of social media – you can have information and thoughts from leaders in industry and they want to hear yours.

The Media Hack blog and podcast is coming very soon.

If you have an idea, start sharing!

km

from cc-chapman.com

The Evolution of Content

The three words I use a lot are: content, context and community. Words that roll off the tongue and sound kinda cute but they are – in my opinion – essential to most of the stuff we do, create, consumer and share.

We All Have A Voice
Technorati estimates there are about 150 million blogs in the world – that number is probably low. Anyone with a laptop and an internet connection has the ability to create content and discussion starters.

There are no interviews, no one will vet you, your resume will not be scrutinized, and you may gain a sizeable audience for what you have to say.

Toys Toys Toys
The Consumer Electronics Show is on right now in Las Vegas and while the throng gawk and point and touch and fiddle with all the coolest latest stuff, the challenge remains that we need stuff to put on all these toys.

Content comes in all shapes and sizes and sounds and tastes. It’s all too overwhelming for any of us to get a handle on what is available.

You Have To Be Good
A musician without good songs can have the nicest guitar on the market and it doesn’t matter. You can spend thousands on a Hi-Def plasma surround sound system but you still need quality content or all you have are more dust collectors.

The challenge is not content – it is quality content. Quantity is a word usually reserved for items that hold no emotional value and the lowest price will usually win the day. It’s okay to search for the best price on bathroom tissue but not when you are selecting a new cell phone.

Choice Is Everywhere
I would never suggest that we don’t have gobs of excellent choices available to us. Great music is being made, top-notch movies are being produced, bright minds are finding a space in the blogosphere and the world of podcasts, and the cable companies are providing a wide choice of shows.

And if you are in the area, you should check out Podcamp Toronto February 21 and 22nd.

While we continue to feed our seemingly endless appetite for the newest and shiniest gadgets, it’s important for us to spend an equal amount of time on the content that goes on these things.

What are your thoughts?

km

Don't Let Anything Stand In Your Way

At some point every day, I do something under the umbrella of “motivation”. That may be reading a few more pages of that book I’ve been trying to finish for months, listening to a podcast or read a blog, crank some music, or anything that gets the blood flowing in the right direction again.

Last week, I put on a podcast with Jack Canfield. In the interview, he is promoting his book The Success Principles.

There is some riveting stuff and great reminders here:

Turn your inner-critic in to an inner-coach
To often, we summarize a project or a meeting by what we did wrong or what we missed. That event is done, over, everyone else has moved on. The best idea is to decipher what went well and what you want to improve next time.

List what you want to accomplish in your life
This could include visiting the Sistine Chapel, writing a book, driving a race car, or starting your own company. None of us know how much time we will be granted, and nothing magical is going to help around the corner unless we create it.

Don’t share your dreams with negative people
How many times have you heard the phrase “that won’t work” or “that’s a dumb idea”? It may be true but if you feel in your gut that you have something worth pursuing, then pursue it alone or with people who share your vision. Life is too short to let others live it for you. Share your dreams with positive people or keep them to yourself until you can find them.

Drop out of the “ain’t it awful” club
We all know them - those among us who will find bad things with every idea or situation. There is some strange trait among us humans where we find comfort in knocking things down. Perhaps it’s laziness? Perhaps it’s fear?

Life is supposed to be fun
We are drowning in news about the economy these days. Get over it. It sucks. People are nervous and scared and cautious. This isn’t to suggest we take the “la la la, I can’t hear you” approach, but if we continue to wallow then we will get what we wish for – more wallowing.

Be a persistent. Be a visionary
If you surround yourself with positive people, stop sharing your dreams and ideas with negative people, and keep at it, exciting things will happen. Yes, easier said than done but it has been proven time and time again.

We can all waste more time preparing to discuss the preparation.

I am attending an event tomorrow night with Jeff Parks, Kristina Mausser, and Jay West. It’s a chance for us to share a little Holiday cheer but it is also a chance for us to discuss an adventurous idea we have been talking about.

Jeff has had an idea to change the Meet Up concept for years and has slowly surrounded himself with positive people who share the vision. There has been no shortage of naysayers but his idea has only gained strength.

On a personal note: 2009 will be the year where I realize a dream I have had for decades – to work with smart people on fun projects.

Do you think it will work?

km

Don't Be Shy - Share!

A few months ago, during a chat with a colleague, we got to talking about someone who we enjoy reading and listening to through their blog and podcast. I know this person, my colleague does not – so I asked him if he knew what this person did for a living. He was a bit stymied.

It got me thinking about the reasons why we blog and share and podcast and connect through the social network. Some do it to share wedding photos, some to share business wisdom in their particular industry or area of expertise.

There seems to be a reluctance to let the listener or reader peer into the host’s day job. It is vital to have a reference point for your thoughts and it is okay to open up once in a while.

Theories are cool but equally important are practical examples to show them in action. And it’s refreshing that some are beginning to let us in a little further through their blogs and podcasts to explain what they actually do.

We don't necessarily need to exchange our resumes, but it’s important to context what you’re talking or writing about with practical experience from your career.

Next year, we will need to share a lot more and try to find creative ways to work together, make a living, and expand ourselves.

Whether you blog, podcast or simply do things the old-fashioned way through human contact – it’s okay to share. That need will never diminish and that is the essence of integration.

km

John Weiss 'Sharing Lunch'

It's A Jungle Out There!

As the worldwide markets continue to slide, we are all nervous. Most are more cautious, less creative, and frankly unsure how far this will go.

Jeff Pulver has reached out to the community for a helping hand. He is calling it "The Social Media Jungle: Leveraging Social Media for You And Your Business." Click here for more.

Companies are looking for ways to better tell their story. The best way to do that is to reflect life and not wedge their product in somewhere out of context. When you walk in to a grocery store and the first thing you notice is not the Coke on sale for $2.99 but rather the delicious smell coming from the bakery section. You will buy a pie and spend more time and money in the space.

Blogs, podcasts, and social media profiles allow others to see our creations being created instead of being force fed our logos and company slogans.

The key word is "social". We aren't selling drills; we are providing a way for people to put a hole in their wall to hang that picture.

In order to embrace the power of social networking, companies need at least one corporate champion in the space. This is not to market company attributes, but rather to offer more insight into the people involved.

I don't know about you, but I will buy-in to a person long before I buy-in to another empty sales' pitch.

The corporate champion must commit to the social network and be sincere. Many feel it won't lead to making money. If you put money before community, few will buy into you.

And the most important element is that we must admit we need to solve this together. No one person has the answer and we are all feeling the pinch.

Good luck with the event, Jeff!

km