Branding and social media

Just a quick thought: your efforts in social media should be an extension of your brand. The best brands have emotional connections associated with them. If your efforts in social media are soul-less PR or marketing drivel you will dampen the emotional connection people have with your brand.

Engage people in real converstations and build relationships. Good relationships are emotional and so are great brands.

Update on the traveling trash can experiment

Despite the major inconvenience I've stuck with my trash can experiment. The first night was a little weird. I left the trash can where Cleaning Guy left it the night before. He came in. He saw the can. We made eye contact. He knew. It was awkward.

Over the last week or so I've let the cleaning crew guy put my trash can back wherever he wants instead of where it is supposed to be. Ideally, I'd have a camera with a wide-angle lens mounted above my office to provide a bird's-eye view of the journey of the trash can. Sadly,  I don't have such a camera so I sketched out a little map of my office and used an eraser to represent the route the trash can (Trashy) has taken. (You can click each image to zoom in.)

This is where my trash can is supposed to be: behind me under my desk:

This is where the can is directly in front of my desk drawers:

This one is even less convenient because it blocks to drawers while sticking enough to be tripped over:



Trashy made a big jump back under my little side table. Not a bad place for it - at least I could open my drawers:



It hung out in this area for a few days:












Finally it ended up almost smack-dab in the middle of my doorway. Tomorrow I'll move it back to where it's supposed to be and we'll see if Cleaning Guy gets the point.

Our ghetto apartment

I'm pretty sure that in most buildings (you know...safe ones...fit for human inhabitants), walls are supposed to come down and meet the floor in some kind of secure, structurally supportive way.

This may explain the draft. And the ants. And the mice.

Why Apple won't best the Palm Pre

Kevin Rose is at it again. After some dubious predictions in the past he's saying the iPhone 3.0 will have copy and paste and, according to his source, "Brings it up to speed with all the Palm Pre stuff."

Copy and paste is probably a pretty safe bet. And I will be the first to admit that it's pathetic how excited everyone will be for a basic feature that should have been included in the original software, yet has taken TWO YEARS to make its appearance. (Assuming it's even coming - everyone has been expecting it from day one.)

As for the iPhone being brought up to speed with the Palm Pre, I doubt it. Why? Because one of the big features I see in the Pre is the ability to better manage your information. With the Pre, it pulls all your contacts from (for example) your work email, Gmail, Facebook, etc. and deduplicates entries automatically. So if my friend from work, Adam, is in my contact list the Pre will pull his work email, Gmail account and Facebook status and display them all under his name without any help from me. It does the same thing for calendars, IM, email, etc. all over the air without needing to plug the Pre into a computer. (For a good demo of the Pre click here and watch chapters 4, 5 and 6.)

Apple has failed when it comes to information management on the iPhone. They can't even get their proprietary, completely-controlled-by-them, specifically built for the iPhone, doesn't play nice with anyone else, $99/year MobileMe service to consistently work properly. Nor have they enabled the push notification feature which was supposed to be out months ago.

I'd love it if Apple pulled the same functionality of the Pre out of its hat. I really would. Especially if it's easily unlockable. I just don't think it's going to happen.

Besides, they have yet to conquer picture messaging, instant messaging, text message forwarding and all those other radically advanced cell phone features.

Thoughts? Any last-minute predictions for tomorrow? Am I delusional? Leave word in the comments.

Trash can for the bathroom

 

Practical design, don't you think? By Stephan Hauser.

Oh yeah. And this is my 700th post.

Yahoo!

Elder Uchdorf on creativity

I think anyone would find this inspirational, regardless of your faith (best viewed in HD - click the "HD" button near the volume control in the player after you hit play):

The church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has set up a channel on YouTube called MormonMessages and is creating short, informative and inspirational videos exclusively for the medium. You should definitely check it out.

About this video... what an interesting topic for a conference talk! I wish they had a link to the entire talk because I'd love to read it.

What do you think? How did you feel when you watched the video? Leave word in the comments.

This chick kinda looks like she has a hairy chest

Sorry Ms. iPod Shuffle Model. The combination of freckles, shadows, thin lips and ill-placed head hair makes it look like you've got some serious shag going on.

Funny, but kinda creepy

Courtesy of here.

The trash can experiment

I walk into my office each morning and on a semi-regular basis find my trash in a place other than where I normally keep it.

You see, the cleaning guy doesn't put it back. He comes in and grabs it and tosses any trash that may be in it into a bigger trash can in the hallway. This is good. However, upon returning the can to my office, he only makes it about half way back and sets it on the floor in front of my desk drawers instead of tucked away under the opposite side of the desk where it belongs. I can only imagine a two reasons for this:

1. Short-term memory loss. The poor guy can't remember where the trash can goes despite picking it up just 15 seconds earlier. (Sad.)

2. He's lazy. (Also sad.)

Not to be overly critical, but I'm leaning toward number one because he never forgets where it goes when I'm in the office and he comes in.

So I'm going to do a little experiment and for the next little while I'm going to leave my trash can wherever he puts it. I won't touch it. If he puts it in the middle of my doorway I'll step over it. If he puts it on my chair I'll stand all day or find a new chair. (Don't any of you go giving the cleaning guy any crazy ideas. This is a scientific experiment.)

What do you think will happen? Let me know in the comments.

UPDATE: Dang it! I was still at my desk when he came in tonight. I tried not to make eye contact. It was awkward.

Got $1.4M to drop on a car? It should be this one.

Behold, the Aston Martin One-77. Why "One-77"? Because there are only going to be 77 of these cars hand built by the motor company. According to the article (link below), "...It represents the culmination of all the company has learned since its founding in 1913."

Check out this brief article with more pictures and info. Now you'll have to excuse me - I have to go change my pants.

The Kit to Thwart Writers Block

"The Kit to Thwart Writers Block was created after being asked to find something I hate, change it and make it better, and then advertise it. Because I hate getting writers block, I researched the many ways to solve it, and created a packaged kit. I advertised it by silkscreening depressing doodles on napkins that look like they could have been drawn by someone in the throes of writers block. Folded on the other side of the napkin is the logo of the kit. Napkins were dispersed at coffee shops, and other locations where one might go to try and avoid writers block."



A fun project. I wish she was really selling them. :) See more of the kit here.

An addictive chemical in the chicken

This scene is a classic. Still cracks me up. This time I watched it from the point of view of the friend listening to the story being told. Hilarious.

Get Dropbox

I've mentioned the stellar service Dropbox provides in the past.

If you aren't familiar with it, Dropbox puts a folder on your desktop and anything you put in that folder is automatically backed up online. You can also connect that folder to another computer and the files and folders placed in it will automatically sync between the computers. All your files are available through any web browser. You get 2 GB free.

It turns out they have a referral program where if you sign up by clicking HERE you get 10% extra space on the free version (and I get the same amount added to my account).

Give it a try. Install it on your work computer and your home computer and watch the magic happen. It works on Mac, Windows and Unix. Even if you don't need to sync files between computers, it's still a great, simple way to get 2 GB of easy-to-use, easy-to-access, always available (even when you're offline) online backups. It also includes a great online interface so you can access your files from any computer with Internet access.

Just sign up already, OK?

Vote on how we should spell "Sara(h)"

We're considering naming our girl Sara(h). While this is by no means set in stone, it's how we're leaning at the moment.

The question is, should we spell "Sarah(h)" with or without the "h"? The poll is in the upper corner of the site. If you want to give any additional justification for your vote/further argue your case, do so in the comments.

And....go.

Grumble, grumble

I'm sick, my head feels funny and my Internet connection is being very slow. I'm tired, but I can't fall asleep - a symptom of my illness which I do not relish. Also, what the heck is up with this "link" box below the title box on Blogger?:

That is all.

Idaho, it's a girl, and other updates from the last couple weeks

Sorry about the blogging drought. While I've been slacking in the blogging area, I've been more than picking up for it in all the other stuff I've got going on. Let me explain. No. There is too much. Let me sum up.

The Bun II

Most importantly, we're having a girl! We went to Fetal Foto last night (shudder) and had another ultrasound. It turns out the experience wasn't nearly as creepy as I thought it would be. And they sent us home with a DVD of the entire ultrasound set to music. So a bit cheesy perhaps, but not creepy.

Speaking Engagement

Last week I went and spoke at Brigham Young University Idaho on "social media and its impact on business and advertising". (Sounds boring doesn't it?) I was spending all my free time into the wee hours of the morning (literally) preparing the presentation. So no blogging for me.

Ironic since I was speaking on social media.

I presented a "one hour" version and a 15 minute version. I asked the students in the first presentation to fill out surveys afterward and overall the feedback was good.

My little family was able to come with me and the faculty members were very gracious hosts. Overall, I think it went pretty well and I really enjoyed hanging out for a bit up on my old stomping grounds.

If you're interested (or sadistic) you can view the Keynote slides by clicking the links in the sidebar. (Update: now removed. Email me if you want to see them.)

Brazil by way of Provo

Oh yeah. My sister in-law left for her mission to Brazil. Her visa didn't come through in time so instead of going straight to Brazil she had to make a slight detour to the Provo MTC. She just left today. Knowing that she'll be gone for 18 months doesn't seem like a HUGE deal until I think about it this way:

When she gets back my son will be twice as old as he is now.
Our little girl will be my son's age.

Crazy.

Txt me

Saturday we merged our cell phone plan with my in-law's. We now have more minutes and unlimited text messaging for less than we were paying before. Good deal.

As an aside, I had no idea how disciplined I was by limiting my texting to a paltry 1,000 messages per month. Being on an unlimited plan for a little over three days now I've already used over 300 texts. It feels good to not have to worry about that anymore.


TRANSITION...

Three random things I've noticed within the last two weeks:

1. We need more AA batteries in our place. I am at the point I'm pulling the rechargeable batteries out of the computer mouse to put in the remote to watch movies.

2. Singing multiple verses of "Old McDonad" is really funny when you start making up noises for non-barnyard animals. You should hear my bald eagle. Top notch.

3. If you see a house like this, and it's listed for $159,000, don't get your hopes up.

The last nail in MobileMe's coffin (MobileMe functionality, free)

Now that Google is providing free Exchange push synchronization of Google Contacts and Calendars to the iPhone and iPod Touch, it has effectively killed MobileMe's last unique selling point.

So instead of blowing $99 a year, here's a list of where you can get everything MobileMe offers (and then some) but free.

• Bookmark synchronization – Foxmarks (now available on Safari)
• Online storage (iDisk) – Dropox I've been using this for a while now and it works perfectly. Good UI too.
• Push Calendar – Google Calendar using CalDAV for iCal and Google Sync for iPhone/Touch.
• Push Email – Yahoo Mail (I suspect this will soon be available via Gmail as well).
• Online photo gallery – Picasa, Flickr, etc. Desktop clients/plugins are available for both Mac and PC as well as for the iPhone/Touch for easy uploading.
  

Of course, MobileMe isn't the be-all-end-all solution despite the fact they're charging for it. There are a couple of things MobileMe SHOULD do which are available through third parties:

• Note syncing – Notespark is a great little $2 app for the iPhone. It works when you don't have a data connection and all your notes sync to a decent-looking web interface. Includes excellent tag and search capabilities.
  
• To-Do List/Syncing – Remember the Milk provides a hard-core to-do application that works in Gmail, through their own website and (for $25/year) the iPhone/Touch. It, too, is available without a data connection. For something less robust (and free) try Toodledo.

There you have it. Everything MobileMe offers for $99 a year for free. I wonder how, or if, Apple will respond. Thoughts?

Someday, someone may make a movie of your life

Courtesy of here.

A week? Seriously?

Dag, yo. I didn't realize it's been a week since I last posted. I have three posts (or at least quick thoughts jotted down that have the potential to become posts) saved in draft form waiting for the time...well, I'm not sure exactly what they're waiting for aside from me to get the chance to work on them.

I've been busy.

I would tell you what I've been busy doing but I don't have time.

Today I got my new business cards. "Social media strategist." Additional title. New responsibilities. No raise. It's cool. I'm pretty stoked that I have a job.

I've been thinking quite a bit recently about how the world has changed a lot in a relatively short amount of time. Think about it. I remember very clearly when the Internet didn't exist (or at least it didn't exist outside of government and universities.) You probably do too.

Now think about how much of your life depends on it. The way we pay bills, the way we buy stuff, the way we communicate with each other, the way we bank, the way we find people, the way we work, the way we learn and discover new things and the fact that you're reading this right now. It's all the web. It's literally transformed our way of life in the span of around 15 years.

How many more 15 years do I have left in my lifetime? Probably a few. At least three I'd guess. Makes you wonder what's going to happen.

My mom said she thought it would have been fascinating to live when her grandmother did because she (her grandmother) went from riding a horse and buggy to seeing a man on the moon.

That really is remarkable.

But if I had to choose I'd rather have my laptop and the Internet and not have gone to the moon.

I think I could really go for a sabbatical. There's so much reading, thinking and writing I'd like to do about these changes. Take advertising for example.

TV ads in the 50's, 60's, and even into the 70's and 80's were on the Big Three networks. If you wanted to reach people, you advertised during Ed Sullivan and you could probably count on most of America seeing your message. It was like the Superbowl five nights a week.

Not anymore.

I think I may have just re-locked my unlocked iPhone. Not sure why, but it's not recognizing my T-Mobile SIM card. It's like it wants a SIM card from AT&T or something. Fat chance, iPhone. I love you, but I'll throw you to the wolves (or in the junk drawer) before I switch to AT&T. And don't give me that attitude. I'll wipe your pretty little self so clean there won't be an original 1 or 0 on you. Think about it long and hard and we'll continue this discussion in the morning.

For those of you who are reading this and aren't inanimate objects, I hope you have a good weekend. Who knows? Maybe the next time we see each other I'll reintroduce you to my new iPhone.

The irony is brilliantly potent

I love it.