A few weeks back I blogged about the iPad. I basically said that I didn't get it. But I'm starting to see the light. Here are some of the reasons this just might work.
1. It's not about the iPad.
It's really not about the iPad, it's about a large touch screen tablet that we can read books, play games, and watch movies on. Apple is making this sexy. But you have to believe that HP, Dell, etc. will create touch screen laptops where we can just swivel the screen around and lay it on top of the keyboard so we can do all the same things that an iPad can do. In fact, these already exist, but we just don't care yet because they are either too expensive or we're just not hearing about them. But once we see an iPad and see how it's cool, but it doesn't replace our laptops or our cell phones we'll say hek, next laptop should have iPad like features. This is of course if you are a non Powerbook person. My biggest concern is that I don't want to carry a third device with me. There has been a great progression over the years. I used to carry an iPod, a Palm Pilot, and a cell phone with me whenever I traveled. Then the Blackberry replaced my Palm and my phone, reducing me to two devices. Then my iPhone got me to one. Sheer bliss. I still carry a laptop in my bag, and even though it's fairly light, it still weighs me down. A Kindle or iPad will just add to that. If my laptop can do the same thing an iPad can do, great!
2. Books, Magazines, and Newspapers will come to life
This is a huge boom to the publishing business. Just when you thought newspapers and magazines were going the way of the compact disc, bam! Now what you read can move. Just like in the Harry Potter movies. We all ignore the ads, right? What if the ad was a game? What if you could look inside the car and get a video tour? What if the ads were catered to you because advertising was delivered based on knowing more about you. What if when you finished the book you could watch a video of the author as they were actually writing the book. Doing research. Interviewing people. Watch this video from Wired and you'll see first hand what is in store. http://bit.ly/cQIuFN
3. You know, for kids
A friend of mine pointed this out. iPads are for kids. Imagine reading to your kids at night from your iPad. Books come to life. It's the same story but all of a sudden when you click on the Giving Tree, something magical happens. My son would love this. Even though he'd probably break the screen.
So there are three reasons why I get the iPad or more, why I get the concept of an iPad.
Boy, times have sure changed since this guy gave this presentation, huh? http://bit.ly/34T6iP
Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes yesterday. I just counted up my birthday notes on Facebook, Plaxo, email, phone calls, texts, and Twitter. Hovering close to 100 messages. Wow! Thank you very very much!
I was watching them come in yesterday via my iPhone and kept being amazed where they were coming from. Family, close friends, friends I haven't seen in 30 years, people I don't know all that well.
Proof that social media is really bringing us closer together.
62 of the messages were on my Facebook wall. My wall doesn't light up all that much, but it sure did yesterday.
And it felt great.
So, while I spend most of my time talking about how to use social media for your business, even I learned a lesson yesterday. Social media is great for your personal life too. If you are wondering if people are ever thinking about you, just look at your wall on your birthday. Hopefully it will make you feel as good as it did for me.
I want to go home. That's how I always feel when I travel. From the time I start driving from my house to the airport, all I can think about it getting back home.
I'm in Austin right now at SXSW. I left my house at 5am on Friday morning without a shower. The gas was shut down and there was no hot water. So I got off to an even rockier start than usual. My attitude definitely was in need of some adjustment. And it came yesterday.
I had spent a few hours during the past week studying all the panels, speakers, parties, etc. I had mapped out my schedule in great detail. But the first panel I attended yesterday was not good. I mean it was really bad. I was with a couple of friends in that panel and we left and tried to figure out what to do. We walked outside and it was so beautiful so we decided to walk and explore Austin.
To cut a very long story short, in one day I found myself eating pancake tacos from a truck, on a party bus destined for a private party at $5 Million dollar lake front estate, on a boat headed for a bar called the Hula Hut, at a gourmet food and doughnut trailer park, and ending on yet another party bus with the founder of Zappos.
And it all happened because I went with the flow.
Something I haven't done in a very VERY long time.
I'm headed out now to start my day again. I doubt I'll have the same luck I had yesterday, but I definitely have a new attitude. Go with the flow.
I'm headed to SXSW Interactive (not music) tomorrow. Email me: LarryW@Fanscape.com if you want to meet up. I'm there from Friday thru Monday. I'm looking forward to it. I haven't been to SXSW in about 4 or 5 years and have only been to the music version in the past. Everyone says that SXSW Interactive is the best conference going so I don't need to have my arm twisted. If you get my Tweets (@lardog2000) you know that I have BBQ on the brain and Austin is my favorite place for that!
I'm of course trying to RSVP for parties and navigate meetings and panels at the last minute. I've spent way too much time perusing the SXSW website in the past 48 hours and my eyes are quite bloodshot as a result. It's all a bit overwhelming. When I used to go to the music version of SXSW I'd fly in, usually speak on at least one panel, and then spend the rest of the time going to see bands, eating, and staying out very very late. Not much prep involved. But this time I feel like I need to have a plan.
I happened upon a Chris Brogan post today that I really enjoyed. I love his attitude and I'll try to employ it on both sides this trip - meaning, if I meet you I'll try to live by Chris' rules and if you meet me, I'll be conscious of the same.
Read his post below and if you are going to SXSW I hope to see you there, say hi. If you are not, then stay tuned and I'll try to check in from Texas.
Are you going to be in Austin, Texas for South by Southwest? So will I. So will Justin Levy and Colin Bower from New Marketing Labs. While we’re there, I’m definitely up for business meetings with people interested in talking about upcoming projects. I don’t like making set time meetings at the event, because things are a whirlwind. That said, when we get it narrowed down to a day, we can usually do okay on getting a meeting set up.
I’m also going to be out and about for some socialization, naturally. I won’t be going to many of the parties. I just don’t like the crush of the crowds, the loud music, and the waiting in very long lines. I’ll be in the halls and the blogger’s lounge and the Pepsi area at SXSW. I’ll dip in and out of sessions. I’m speaking on Saturday the 13th with Julien at 12-something-PM. The panel is “I don’t trust you one stinkin’ bit.”
On Monday the 15th, I’ll be with Tim Hayden and others at the AT&T Conference Center for part of the day for Get Ready to Live, an event with UT Austin that will explore the future of marketing and where all this social and experience marketing stuff is going.
I’m There To Meet You
Don’t be shy. If there are lots of people, just come on up and say hi. It’s why I’m there. If you’re normally shy, PRETEND you’re not shy. Want some hints on how? Here’s my post on how to be sexier in person.
By all means, make sure you say howdy do. I’ll be there for all of Interactive. I can’t stay for the Music part. That means you have about 5 days to try and connect. I won’t see your @ messages on Twitter, but will dip into my direct messages as often as I can.
The worst thing you could possibly do is tweet me a few days later and say, ” I saw you but didn’t want to interrupt you.” That’s why I’m there. Please come say hi.
The Business Card Thing
Here’s a test. Let’s see if you remember this when we meet.
Unless you want to do business with me, don’t give me a business card. We both know how to reach each other, so unless one of us asks for one, let’s not hand them out. We tend to give out business cards because we’ve been taught this is what to do. It’s not. It’s the old way. In the old way, we just blast people with messages whenever WE need something. In the new way, you and I should only exchange cards if we’re looking to do future business. Otherwise? We roughly know how to reach each other, don’t we?
Save a card. Save the planet. Rewire the way humans do business.
Can’t Wait to See You
This event is quite social. It’s a great way to meet lots of people you haven’t seen before in person. They’re all just people, just like you. Never treat people like they’re gods and you’re there to worship. They’re all just people. The biggest names in the world that I’ve ever wanted to meet are just people. And you know what? If they ACT fancy? That’s because they’ve got low self-esteem. That’s not your issue.
Let’s say hi at the event, okay? And more interestingly, let’s think about what we can do that would have some IMPACT while we’re there.
Last week I was on the radio. KFWB 980 AM out here in LA. I was interviewed by Renee Fraser and Betsy Berkhemer who have a weekly show called 2 Minutes and More. The conversation was about social media and as I listen to it now, it sound really good. I hope you give it a listen.
Social Media Smarts - You have heard all of the buzz words and channels, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc. Listen in on how to choose the right channels to leverage your brand. Although the tools are free, the human capital it takes to effectively run these tools is not - so don’t be afraid to find a consultant or communications company to help you get ahead of the pack. Caller, CEO of Fanscape, Larry Weintraub explains the four strategies you should focus on for Social Media - PR, Marketing, Customer Service and Market Research. His biggest advice - use social media to connect with your customers in a 2 way conversation - don’t just shout from the rooftops (or laptops) about your brand. Find his white paper here.
2Minutes&More with Betsy Berkhemer and Renee Fraser airs every Sunday at 1pm on KFWB NEWS TALK 980. Tune in for a full hour of tips for business success.
Thank you everyone who downloaded the "4 Reasons" White Paper I posted last week. We're trying to write up some useful and interesting documents at Fanscape with some regularity going forward. We've got another White Paper coming next week about Twitter measurement tools, so I'll post that when it's ready.
Something else we tried to do yesterday was get everyone together and get our collective heads around the Oscars and how social media was utilized. Really asking the question, does social media drive viewership? We've seen increased tune-in to several major media events already this year including the Grammys, the Super Bowl, and the Golden Globes. We had a hunch that the Oscars would see an equivalent lift and in fact, that's what happened. So why is that? Is it because we're all Tweeting and Facebooking? Is it because of iPhone apps and YouTube channels?
I personally think there is something to that.
If you get a chance, download this paper and give it a read. We call it: "Social Media and the Oscars - A Fanscape Perspective"
In what seems like just a week or two Chatroulette has gone from relative obscurity to national news item and trending topic. Created by a 17 year old Russian kid as a way to randomly chat with strangers, it is basically Craig's List with video.
Rather than tell you about it, if you didn't see last night's Daily Show, you really have to. John Stewart does a great job explaining exactly what Chatroulette is all about with a number of awesome cameo appearances from well known news reporters.
I see much in life as a possible business. It is exciting, but also torturous. I just don’t have enough time. A new idea often sends me into hours of thought, research, and ultimately deviation from what I really need to do in a day. I believe that the Internet has made it easy for anyone to create a business. I believe that the Internet has made nearly everything in life easier. I believe that trying to impact the masses is a tough notion, but finding a group of people similar to you, is at your fingertips. I believe that music is free, and that is not a good thing. I believe that life is a collection of experiences and that every day I learn something new and forget something slightly new.
I have learned that the toughest part of running a business is inspiring your own employees. I have grown to understand that you have to show your family at least as much respect as your customers.
I went to college at the University of California, San Diego and majored in Economics and minored in Literature/Writing. I wish I had majored in Literature and only taken the one Economics class that taught me about Supply and Demand.
Larry Weintraub is the CEO at Digital Word of Mouth marketing agency Fanscape. All blogs posts are Larry’s personal opinion and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Fanscape clients.
I see much in life as a possible business. It is exciting, but also torturous. I just don’t have enough time. A new idea often sends me into hours of thought, research, and ultimately deviation from what I really need to do in a day. I believe that the Internet has made it easy for anyone to create a business. I believe that the Internet has made nearly everything in life easier. I believe that trying to impact the masses is a tough notion, but finding a group of people similar to you, is at your fingertips. I believe that music is free, and that is not a good thing. I believe that life is a collection of experiences and that every day I learn something new and forget something slightly new.
