Category Archives: People

By Julie Blaustein

The Social Media Club Panelists: Moderator Chris Heuer, Peter Kim, Jen McClure and Michael Brito

The Social Media Club of San Francisco held their monthly meeting at PeopleBrowsr offices on Tuesday, May 17th. in SOMA. It was a conversation that included Chris Heuer, Founder of the Social Media Club as Moderator, Peter Kim of Dachis Group, Jen McClure of Thomas Reuters and Michael Brito of Edelman.

There appears to be a shift in the way that companies are messaging themselves; rather than conducting Social Media its preferred to be known as conducting Social Business. Much of the discussion centered around how each of the panelists define social media in terms of their companies and how it relates to social media. All agreed that social media has evolved from when it first came into our consciousnesses around 2004. Brito saw that when it first debuted to companies it was creating chaos but now companies are making sense of it and embracing it. McClure whose company has a large workforce felt that the term itself is being used less and its now more about it becoming part of the social organization and enabling employees to communicate with one another. Kim shared how the social media term is on the “outs” with the story of  how his client, Zappos‘ CEO Tony Hsieh, fined $1 to anyone who even uttered the term social media.

The panelists also shared their own definition of Social Business. Kim saw it similar to how you connect consumers but in the business world. Its how you communicate with employees through technology such as Jive Software that provides social networking, collaboration software, community software and media monitoring. Kim said, it “pains him when people use social business as social media which it is not.” McClure sees social business as a platform to connect and help employers learn from. Brito shared his definition of social business from an infographic that he has created. As he defined it, its the natural evolution that companies go through internally to equip themselves with customers. It starts with the people internally in a company such as the CMO and as a result processes are established within and technology brought on to manage it results.

Google Trend Comparison of Social Media vs. Social Business

A comparison between Social Media and Social Business in terms of search and news interest demonstrated how Social Business is barely a blip, yet its most definitely of importance to those in the enterprise social world. In the end perhaps the discussion was mostly about the semantics of language as it was agreed that social media is the umbrella term, with social business being a niche version of it. Some examples of those companies as seen in the forefront of this focus on Social Busienss were IBM, SAP, Cisco, Intel. Kim though felt at tis time no one is doing Social Business Particularly well but just getting started such as Disney and AT&T. There is still a huge amount of opportunity for companies to join the social world in a business way in the near future.

Join the Conversation with the Social Media Club SF at #SMCSF, view the video and photos from the event.

The following is a guest post by Melanie Notkin, founder of SavvyAuntie.com and author of SAVVY AUNTIE: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers and All Women Who Love Kids.

My life changed this week. And I owe it all to social media.

I’m at the precipice of one of the most thrilling times of my life and one of the most important days for my business and brand. My book, SAVVY AUNTIE: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers and All Women Who Love Kids is being released on April 26^th.  I can honestly say that I owe everything about this book and therefore my entire company, to social media.

It all started almost four years ago on June 12, 2007, when I decided to invest my life savings in developing the first online community for aunts and godmothers, specifically the nearly 50 percent of American women who are not moms but love the children in their lives, by relation and by choice. Savvy Auntie is now an award-winning multiplatform lifestyle brand for an influential and long-neglected segment of women I’ve dubbed PANKs®: Professional Aunts No Kids.

On August 20, 2007, I discovered Twitter through a blog post by Jeremiah Owyang @jowyang .  It was the perfect “Peoria” testing ground as a marketer. As I was developing SavvyAuntie.com, I was able to leverage my innate curiosity (so important to marketers!) and ask my new Twitter friends about the role they play as aunts or as moms who rely on the aunts in their kids’ lives. It really helped me build a better online destination. Over time, I met true pioneers in new media such as @ScottMonty @AaronStrout @ChrisBrogan @GaryVee @Zappos and of course @BrianSolis who taught me so much on how to connect and inspire my audience.

By the time I launched SavvyAuntie.com in July 2008, the support from the Twitter community was so strong, ‘SavvyAuntie’ was the most Tweeted word that day (yes, it was way before Beiber Fever!)

By the fall, I was working on a deal with RazorFish to launch a sponsored conversation on Twitter on behalf of Disney. That idea was so interesting it made the Wall Street Journal online! Further partnerships landed Savvy Auntie in The New York Times and Advertising Age.

Fast forward to the fall of 2009 and I was besotted by a little girl named @Leah_Albert, a 7^th grader in Tanzania who is part of EpicChange.org’s #TwitterKids program, enabling children from the world’s poorest countries to connect digitally. Through that experience, I met @DebbieStier, then an editor at HarperCollins, who was also taken with these amazing kids. Debbie noticed my flourishing online community and brand following and invited me into her office to have lunch. Before I left the building, we were working on the title of my first book.

In the meantime, I started to build a Facebook following. The Savvy Auntie Facebook Page now includes over 42,000 “fans,” rivaling major media companies and household name brands, enabling me to connect and engage with Savvy Aunties consistently daily.

Social media is democratic, enabling good people and good ideas to shine. It’s enabled me to connect with tens of thousands directly, and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, through their networks. I’ve received letters from women who are unable to have children telling me the Savvy Auntie has touched them profoundly, changing their perspective on what it means to be maternal, and lessening their grief. I’ve received letters from women who have chosen not to be mothers, who thank me for elevating their role and respect in their Family Village. I’ve received letters from women who like me, are ‘circumstantially infertile,’ they just haven’t met their love yet, who thank me for redefining their lives in the positive. They are not childless. They are childfull. And their love is a gift.

Recently, I received a Tweet that stopped my heart and then filled it with more love than I ever knew. It was inspired by my effort to give back to @Leah_Albert and kids like her in Tanzania for being an important link in my getting my book deal. I’m giving $1 for each book sold between now and April 27, 2011 to EpicChange.org in Leah’s honor. The attention Leah has been receiving makes her feel like “mr obama!” she Tweeted. And then there was this Tweet from Leah that changed everything: @savvyauntie i like you more than you like me.i have a favour to ask you can call you mum .coz you are like a mother to me.

And that’s how social media changed my life. Being the best Auntie I could be has in effect finally made me a mother.

And I owe it all to social media.

Melanie Notkin is the founder of SavvyAuntie.com and author, SAVVY AUNTIE: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers and All Women Who Love Kids (Morrow/HarperCollins).  Melanie invites you to join the Savvy Auntourage at Facebook.com/SavvyAuntie or find her on Twitter @SavvyAuntie.

I wasn’t quite sure what I was attending when I was invited to the 2nd. Swagapalooza at the DNA lounge last Tuesday. It turns out they pretty much invite bloggers and then they reward them with swag by attending and hopefully promoting the event. Most of the bloggers were foodie bloggers as most of the demos were about food. There really was no theme. The food wasn’t anything to write home about, mosty pizza. But it was a fun, excitable, heckling crowd who was happy to be there as were the presenters that were introduced on stage by Alex Krupp, the host and organizer.

First up was Justin Kahn of Justin.TV as the Keynote. He shared the virtues of quitting your day job and going after your dream with the young and impressionable audience who eagerly listened to his “lessons in life”. Fortunately for him, its all working out. Not only has Jason.TV taken off, he has now started his own mens-ware line.

Kristen Slow of Sabateur had Jason model her signature jacket from her mensware line. She demonstrated how any liquid will just roll off the Invincible Man’s Jacket. Although definitely a cool item to own, I was a bit sticker shocked at the price, $600! But she hooked us up with some real swag, a real men’s shirt with real men’s cuff links!

Transcendent Man, the movie about Ray Kurzweil, one of the world’s leading futurists was introduced by its director, Barry Ptolomy. Its going to be released in every conceivable medium that is available – YouTube, Apps, TV. You can even watch it here now! It suggests that computers will have conscience thinking and even cure death in the near future.

Will Hauser of Two Degrees shared with us the virtues of his all-natural, gluten-free bars. Their mission is to feed over 200 million children, one child at the time. The audience though was all a twitter and tweeting how HOT he was.

I never realized how fun recycling could be. John Funk of FlingBins popped up his 13 gallion recyclable bins to show us just how easy it is to whip one out at a party and have a good time with your garbage.

Swipe your credit card with Swipegood and do good by rounding up your transaction to the nearest dollar and then contribute that amoutn to your favorite charity. Steli Efti shared the many reasons why this is something you just automatically CAN do and DO good.

Stunner of the Month shared the cheesiest but entertaining presentation of all. Todd Smith modeled his offerings, quite the deal for $9 a month. You receive a new pair of shades and a funky tape to go with it in the mail. The perfect gift for all occasions!

Tracy Lee and her partner threw out Magic Panties?  Whatever they were, the crowd was going wild to catch a pair.

You would think that the Boom Boom Revolution would be something thumping but rather its a card deck where folks are prompted to do acts of kindness and then share them with a community of do-gooders. Turns out that Mary Beth Campbell, a former teacher was so shocked that her students were into acts of kindness she felt compelled to share it with the world.

Seems there are lots of people seeking to connect with others when they are not digitally connected. Eddie Lu of Grubwith.us and his partner realized this when they moved to Chicago. They set up a community where strangers can eat and meet one another at restaurants around the city.

Danny Grabiner of SourFlour is also creating community through his bread. He made 172 loafs of bread and greeted each and every attendee upon arriving at the event with their very own loaf. It was yummy but such a huge loaf that I gave it to one of the homeless on my way home.

And last of the bunch was Amerilab Technology which when it came down to it, they provided a possible solution to one’s hangover with their product, the Drinkin’Mate, although according to laws, they couldn’t come straight out and say that. Their secret ingredien: guava leaf extract. As part of my goodie bag I was swagged with one of their products so we’ll see if it actually works.

For the real fun follow the event at #swagapalooza. And check out the after party pics and some more pics here.

Alex Krupp, Host of Swagapalooza

Justin Khan of Khan.TV and Kristen Slow of Sabateur

Barry Ptolemy of Transcendent Man

Will Hauser of Two Degrees

Steli Efti of Swipe Good

Todd Smith, Stunner of the Month

Eddie Lu, Grubwith.Us

Tracy Lee and Partner

Chris Biggs and Partner of Ameritabs

Logo by @alliepal

TwestivalSF Returns in 2011 Locally Contributing to Juma Ventures

SAN FRANCISCO – What happens when individuals from all over the world employ the power of social networking for a very good cause? Twestival happens! (Twestival = Twitter + Festival) – 100% volunteer run – 100% of proceeds go to charity.

Twestival local, the biggest fundraising event promoted and fueled by Twitter will happen on March 24, 2010.

TwestivalSF is focused is helping the nonprofit organization, Juma.org

Juma Ventures empowers youth to make successful transitions to independence in adulthood, through an innovative program that integrates employment in social enterprises and essential support services. Juma’s program provides the foundation for youth to fulfill their inherent potential to transcend challenging circumstances and impact their communities.

Over 200 cities around the world will gather in their hometown venues to help create awareness and raise money for the charity of their city.

Special guests include:
• @MilesTheDJ LIVE 105 radio host and DJ in the mix
from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
•Sioux City Kid – San Francisco’s newest hickabilly jazzgrass band
•John Vicino – Songer, songwriter, and talent
•Featuring products from companies such as: EyeFi, PopChips, PretzelCrisps, TruBlood, and more!

Taking place at
Atmosphere and Lounge
447 Broadway Street
San Francisco, CA

Times: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Tickets are $10
More information: www.sftwestival.com all proceeds go directly to the charity.

Here’s a preview of what you may have missed in previous years, that you won’t want to miss this year!

TwestivalSF Recap – Thanks to @landinimedia

TechSeen 2010

Social Media Week is being held the week of February 7-11, 2010 in San Francisco. It kicked off with over 46 events! Monday’s opening night’s event was held at the newly opened, posh office of PeopleBrowsr in the hub of SOMA on Bryant Street. PeopleBrowsr provides research, social analytics and brand engagement. They recently unrolled their ReSearch.ly platform that provides analytics and search from 1,000 days of Twitter data while Twitter only goes back 30 days. The event also launched their SF Social Media Command Center with a panel discussion and social hour with food and beverages sponsored by Bear Republic Brewing Co, Vintage Wine Estates and Magic Curry Kart.

Chris Heuer, Founder of the Social Media Club and members Katherine Webster, Renee Blogdett, Ben Wan and Brian Zisk

The panel titled The Evolution of Listening: From Monitoring to the Collective Intelligence included Social Media Expert Brian Solis as moderator, People Browsr’s CEO, Jodee Rich, Tim O’Reilly, the Founder O’Reilly Media and the genius behind all those industry books and conferences you love to attend and Susan Etlinger who is a consultant at the Altimeter Group.

Solis opened up the panel with a few words about the listening tool known as the Conversation Prism. If you are not familiar with the Conversation Prism, Solis provides great detail about it in his best selling book Engage. The idea behind it is to listen, to “observe, analyze, dissect, and present the dynamics of conversations, how and where they transpired.” Solis provided a “secret” to the Social Web, that in every network there is a search box and through the results you can gain access to a list of keywords that will provide insights into your company, brands, competitors and other social networks.

The conversation then moved to Rich who talked passionately of the Interest Graph where your the network is made up of people who share interests with you, but who you don’t necessarily know personally. He sees it now an important business channel. He spoke of how “the world is evolving from a Social Graph to an Interest Graph. What ‘s very exciting for me, and I say this to my kids, what turns me on is, this the 1st. time I think in human history that we have something that is actually catalyzing our generous side and our generous side is about sharing…”

O’Reilly stressed the importance of listening, “Who should be paying attention? Everyone should be paying attention.” He talked of the Clue Train Manifesto that seeks to put the human touch back in the corporate world through technology and compared that to the use of social monitoring tools in corporations today. He believes we are moving away from the old model of studying Business Intelligence reports to building, learning from and tweaking algorithms to make improvements. He cited Google as a company that is successfully embracing algorithms as a way of doing business.

Etlinger is currently working on two research reports focused on mobile commerce and social business measurement. She is also considered an expert on all the social monitoring tools available at this time. She feels there are now very few tools and processes in place to get the right information to the right management. But she does see that there will be a convergence of the Social graph and the Interest graph. Rich though reiterated again how he sees the focus of social media as moving more towards an Interest Graph.

O’Reilly provided this key insight to consider, that with all the tools, artificial intelligence and technology, its the humans that are most important at the last mile.

A great way to learn more about listening and enjoy a few laughs, go to Ken Yeung’s coverage of the panel discussion posted on YouTube. And check out what has been happening with Social Media Week at #SMWSF.

Jodee Rich

Brian Solis

Susan Etlinger

Social Media Week Panel at PeopleBrowsr