Startup Demo Theme: The Future of Media

Startups demo throughout the venue, all night long. Stop by to check them out! Here’s the list of participants:

Doochoo
Doochoo is much more than just another application think tank — the Doochoo project is about revolutionizing the way opinions on the web carry meaning, starting with some applications, followed by a proprietary platform that will give opinions on the web tangibility and critical weight.

Envolve
Launching at SF Beta! Envolve lets you have topical group chats, private one-on-one conversations, and can do real-time translation in over 50 languages; all of these give your visitors an engaging experience that promotes your brand while increasing time-on-site.

Cisco Eos
Cisco Eos is a hosted software platform that enables Media & Entertainment companies to more economically deliver and effectively monetize social entertainment experiences around branded content.

Reachoo
Reachoo is a revolutionary, free, video classifieds website that connects the local community and assists sellers and buyers within the community to make transactions with ease.

Spreaker
Spreaker is a social service which lets anybody create his own radio show (talk, music, entertainment) and broadcast it live on facebook, mobile phones and internet-enabled radios. Listeners can enjoy single streams or create their personal radio station stitching together several shows.

LazyFeed
Lazyfeed is a unique service that provides a super-lazy way of blogging by actually “feeding” you stuff to talk about. Just follow any topics you want, and watch Lazyfeed deliver all the articles, videos, and photos related to those topics. Never worry about running out of inspiration. Endlessly talk about everything you love.

Diffbot
Diffbot is a seed stage web startup focused on leveraging statistical learning algorithms to achieving the holy grail a truly personalized newspaper that is not limited to structured data sources.

Loudcaster
The future of radio is online, not satellites or towers. Loudcaster enables anyone to create and DJ a interactive on-line radio station. We believe the next generation of broadcasting will come from giving people the power to easily create radio and interact with their audience.

SF Beta is San Francisco’s largest and longest-running startup mixer. Hundreds of founders, developers, investors, and geeks are joining us. Will you?
Our loosely structured event attracts over 350 people from across Silicon Valley. We provide tasty gourmet appetizers and a full cash bar, along with live demos from startups throughout the night.
Details:
• 21+ venue; no minors admitted
• Free appetizers from 5-6pm. (Early birds get the worm — or in this case, the hummus)
• Tickets are non-refundable, but can be transferred
• No formal presentations or talks. Instead, startups give demos at tables across the venue, throughout the night.
• For more information, visit our website at www.sfbeta.com

by Brian Solis via PR 2.0

Twazzup, a new search for Twitter, debuted recently and it just may replace you’re activity on search.twitter.com for the time being (thanks Louis Gray).

As Twitter vies for its place as your online attention dashboard, keyword search and the ability to link those discussions to real people becomes the key to relevant engagement and intelligence.

Twitter search, as well as the ability to search Facebook and FriendFeed updates in real time, threaten the viability of traditional search as it exists today. The ability to tap into material dialogue, as it’s happening, connects us contextually to those who share an affinity or passion for similar interests and topics. The results provide an immediate and seasoned entree into conversations that potentially represent an opportunity to earn a response and potentially a new friend or follower. This is the foundation for trust, credibility, and how we shape our reputation and package our online persona to convey what we stand for.

Unlike search.twitter.com, Twazzup displays top keywords related to your original search criteria as well as the individuals behind the associated tweets – this is in addition to the current, unrelated trending topics displayed at all times.

Twazzup also displays the most popular tweets tied to your search terms, including the top trendmakers and outbound links affiliated with each keyword.

Overall, Twazzup is far more useful than basic Twitter or TweetDeck search for market analysts, brand and customer relationship managers, sales, IR, and communications and community professionals responsible for listening, observing, responding, and learning. However, in order to be a complete replacement, it needs to include deeper functionality found currently in Advanced Twitter Search.

For more Twitter tools, please read, “Twitter Tools for Community and Communications Professionals.”

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by Brian Solis, via PR 2.0

Part Two of my recent visit to the gorgeous San Francisco offices of Loic Le Meur and Seesmic.

Loic and I spent some valuable time together that proved both refreshing and invigorating. We discussed digital photography, innovation at Seesmic, public relations and social marketing, and brand building in the era of the Social Web.

The conversation evolved into a deeper discussion that tackled the subject of online community building. Loic wanted to capture and share the experience on Loic.tv, so we moved to his video studio to continue the dialogue on camera.

Loic and I also discussed my new book with Deirdre Breakenridge, “Putting the Public Back in Public Relations.” Please watch the video here.

San Francisco – The view from Seesmic

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by Brian Solis, via PR 2.0

I recently visited the gorgeous San Francisco offices of Loic Le Meur and Seesmic to discuss his company’s roadmap, photography, how to build online communities, as well as my new book with Deirdre Breakenridge ,”Putting the Public Back in Public Relations.”

Loic suggested that we spend a few minutes discussing the book on camera to share with the Loic.tv community. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse – after all, Tim Ferriss had occupied the same chair moments before I arrived.

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by Rebecca Reeve

The 3rd annual Web 2.0 Expo kicking off yesterday in San Francisco, Tuesday, March 31 – Friday, April 3, with the tag line “The Power of Less.”

In an time constrained by the economy and tighten budgets it’s more important than ever to look at the fundamental Web 2.0 technologies that can create the advantages that will help us move forward stronger than ever.

This year’s main focus areas are:
* Strategy & Business Models
* Marketing & Community
* Design & User Experience
* Fundamentals
* Development

The main focus areas are complemented by five mini focus tracks:
* Web Operations
* Mobile
* Security
* Web 2.0 at Work
* Government 2.0

Reflecting the expo theme of “The power of less” and increased attention to ROI, it’s interesting to note that the marketing and community track is heavily focused on measurement and ROI this year.

Free Expo passes available when you register for a hall pass at here using the code: EXPOPASS.

The Web 2.0 Expo brings together an eclectic group of leaders in the web space, and as always this event is equally about the connections made in the evening over drinks at the parties. Below are a list of a few of the evening events we’ll be attending:

Below are a few of the evening events we’ll be attending.

Opening Reception (Last Night)

Sponsored by Palm, Wed, April 1, 5:30 p.m. in the 3rd Level Lobby at the Moscone Center.

All attendees are invited to an opening reception immediately following the keynotes.

Launch Party 2.0

Hosted by AD-Village, GirlGamer, and Nitobi on Wed, April 1, 10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m., Club Six, 60 Sixth St./Jessie street.

Secret party details to be text messaged/voicemailed when you pre-register on their site.

Ignite SF

Wed, April 1, 7:30 – 11:00 p.m. @ Mezzanine (444 Jessie Street @ Mint).
Hosted by Brady Forrest, register here.

AFTERparty
Wed, April 1, 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m., location TBA.

Sponsored by Benchmark and Microsoft BizSpark, and co-hosted by the Austin Secret Society of Entrepreneurs 9, Larry Chiang, Brian Solis, LA Weekly, you’ll receive the secret party location details sent to you when you text the party organizer.

words and pictures by Brian Solis

The Conversation Prism by Brian Solis and Jesse Thomas

The Conversation Prism debuted in August 2008 to provide a visual representation of the true expansiveness of the Social Web and the conversations that define it. In this short time span, over one million people have crossed its path.

When Jesse Thomas of JESS3 and I initially mapped “the conversation,” we recognized that the act of categorizing social networks within a visually rich graphic would be momentary at best, demanding endless iterations in order to accurately document evolving and shifting online conversations as well as the communities that promote them.

My goal was to observe, analyze, dissect, and present the dynamics of conversations, how and where they transpired.

We’re proud to introduce version 2.0 of The Conversation Prism. We’re also excited to release a version that traverses the online realm into the real world with the release of a full color 18” x 24” poster to prominently display in the workplace, classroom, home office, or at events. Please visit www.theconversationprism.com for details, embed codes, and additional insights.

Please read the full post at PR 2.0.

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by Brian Solis

I recently conducted an interview with Sociosophy and thought I’d share the highlights with you here…

Sociosophy: What was the reason you started to blog? What keeps you going?

Brian Solis: PR 2.0 is a looking glass into the experiences, observations, and trends defining the new media landscape. Before I blogged, I wrote for industry publications and newsletters to share my ideas and lessons learned with those who were looking to grow together. The community inspires me. Innovation is my muse.

Sociosophy: How many hours a week do you spend thinking about blog posts and writing?

Brian: I spend far too many hours thinking, conceptualizing, and starting posts and even more time finalizing 1-2 posts per week. I also blog at bub.blicio.us, which covers new web tech, gadgets, tech culture and the social economy. I’m thinking more than I’m writing however, which if I could change one thing, would be the ability to capture and communicate the essence and deep thinking that goes behind every post.”

Sociosophy: If you could change one thing about your blog, what would it be?

Brian: The design…stay tuned. I’d also love to post at a greater frequency, however, I’m also thinking about my next book.

Sociososphy: What’s your favorite Social Media outlet other than your blog?

Brian: I really enjoy following Chris Brogan, Sarah Evans, Nicole Jordan, Jay Rosen, Jim Long, Chris Heuer, Stowe Boyd, Valeria Maltoni, David Armano, among many, many others.  I’ll have to write a comprehensive post that lists everyone I love reading.

Sociosophy: Do you think Twitter and FriendFeed contribute or take away from your blogging?

Brian: Interestingly worded question. The question that everyone should be asking is whether Twitter, FriendFeed, Plurk, Facebook, etc. are thinning attention span or providing new and extended opportunities to carry ideas, opinions, and insight to a greater set of communities. I think it’s a bit of both, but blogs, for the time being, will remain as my hub for sharing more extensive and prolific discussions around important topics.

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Larry is a guest blogger and if you’ve read, Hip Hop Schools Silicon Valley”, 21 Lucky Tips for Blogworld” or ‘How to Hack Twitter, Take 2″, then maybe you’ll like his latest: ‘Communication 2.0′

By Larry Chiang

Communication in Internet land is crazy, but with Web 2.0 (coined by my publisher friend, Tim O’Reilly), it is even crazier. Its under studied, sophisticatedly subtle and highly varied. Navigating the ins and outs of social media communication is some they definitely don’t teach you at business school.

Communication 2.0 is about using technology tools to communicate more effectively. Yes, these tips aren’t taught in business schools anywhere.

-1- One Ping Only.

Sub commanders used to ping to confirm sonar position in relation to target. The modern equivalent is to ping an email BEFORE a long email is drafted.

Insert cell number in the subject line.

Include the cell phone number of your receiver and your own cell IN THE SUBJECT LINE to pierce both their spam filter and their interest filter.

For example:
Subj; Lawrence, 650-651-1515, this is Larry-licious 602-369-9741
Body: “hi Lawrence, we met at Arrillaga’s basketball court. Is this the best email for you?”

-2- Twitter Force Follow.

Twitter only allows for direct messages if they follow you. There are two ways to force a follow

a) the Unfollow. Follow. Unfollow. Follow. Method.

This sends a new email message notifying them that @larryChiang “is now following them with an email. Time the Unfollow Follow maneuver at time where you think they’re seeing email subject lines.

b) Force a twitter follow by calling them or seeing them in person.

Walk them through it and wait for the follow confirmation.

-3- Jedi Voicemail Tricks.

Leaving voicemail is like a using a light sabre. Ever see Return of the Jedi?! Yoda can do more damage with a light sabre than a bunch droids with cannons and super spiffy force fields. Voicemail has been called dead. It ain’t.

I think you can not only send a message via voicemail, but also close deals. Read more on “GigaOm”

-4- Text Message Intro.

Email intros have been coached here and here. Good thing you mastered them. Communication 2.0 uses the text message intro. Hitters do. For example, “Lawrence, 650-283-8008, meet Larry-licious 602-369-9741. He’s got Sand Hill Road hardwired”

-5- Plan B for Phone.

Plan B for Fundraising is when you don’t raise VC but are progressing anyway.

Fail forward with the “Missed Call” manuver. Show your vulnerability with communications new “hail mary”: the phone call. A hail mary is a pass that is on a wing and a prayer but if you’re calling from a position of power, no vm is necessary so long as the missed call shows up in the log.

-6- Facebook Wall Markings.

A wallpost that says, “call me” pretty much means, I’ve left you a voicemail because I want you and this is a last resort to get “closure”. Dogs pee on walls to mark territory so in Communication 2.0, people do the same.

After your Facebook wall gets peed on, for all to see, you have one of two options.
A) erase it. That says eeew, I don’t want this (or you)
B) keep it. It means, “yeah you’re a hottie and you can pee on my wall all-day-long. In fact, I like you enough to flirt back on your wall.

-7- Google Alert Them.

A Google Alert is when you use gmail to email you when an alert if a phrase gets read (or crawled and cached) on the web. Every hitter has their name, company name, portfolio stock tickers, and name in a google alert. I said name twice because they get google alerts for mispellings too. When people mention but incorrectly spell “Larry Chiang” by juxtaposing the a” and the “i”, I know about it via google alerts.

A Google Alert is when your name gets read by Google (spidered) and it fires off an email to you. They used to text message alert me but that Google feature’s broken right now.

Google alerting people with something as innocent as a flickr photo caption prods them forward and gets you back on their radar. MBA kids do this to go from the waitlist to getting accepted.

Larry Chiang is the founder of Duck9, which educates college students on how to establish and maintain a FICO score over 750. He has testified before Congress and World Bank on credit.

He is a frequent contributor to Business Week’s blog on “What They Don’t Teach You at Business School”