Web 2.0: History in the Making

As I’ve gone through the Emerging Media Course at West Virginia University this semester, I have learned that one of the most important aspects of new media is information. Both marketers and consumers have a vested opportunity to share, communication about each other,

Web 2.0 is changing the way we share and manage our information. Virtually anyone can do this now, and over the course of time, the internet is becoming smarter. Although some of what we do is passive (i.e., clicking on a website link), programming behind the scenes allows sites to learn what is of interest specifically to you, and offer recommendations of additional products or services. (Think of Amazon.com’s recommendation list).

This fabulous video made its way around the internet waves in 2007. Although by today’s online standards what happens yesterday quickly becomes old news, something from two years ago is really old news. However, this link shows a very useful insight into the development of today’s “Web 2.0″. The video focuses on the evolution of forms ranging from HTML-based web-pages to RSS-feeds, from text to multimedia, and static web-sites to dynamic, “living” blogs and social web utilities.

Interesting to note is that creator of this film is NOT a social media guru or a modern day ad agency executive. Michael Wesch is the Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology from Kansas State University. Through is in-depth study of humankind, Wesch has created a relatable demonstration of new media’s influence on how society “talks” to each other (either in person or via technology). By watching, observing and learning how online communities will continue to evolve allows marketers an opportunity to learn new ways to communicate and engage consumers.

(Not to mention, the digital music is way cool.)

A Twitter Convert: Thanks to Keanu Reeves

I signed up for our new media class with a little bit of apprehension. Yes, I had a Facebook account, which I used with close friends and coworkers. And, of course, LinkedIn was a great tool I have used for years to connect with contacts on a professional level.

Create a blog? Never!
Twitter? Hm.

Honestly, I really wasn’t sure what to do with a thing called Twitter. Very, very few friends of mine Tweet, ditto for professionals in my circle. Although I work in marketing, it is in the professional services industry (legal). By its very nature, law firm marketing leans toward conservative measures. There are issues and concerns over adopting new media, as there are many industry-imposed ethics standards on how attorneys or firms can outreach to prospective clients, most of which vary from state to state. In many cases, the rules governing law firm marketing simply need to catch up with the trends in social media.

As a result, poor Twitter didn’t garner much of my interest or attention.

However, this month I was fortunate to be blessed by divine Twitter intervention to expand my experience.

Living in Buffalo, NY, life is great, but rather routine. It’s an older “rust belt” industrial city, and sadly, most of the industry has dried up. Other than snow, not a lot of excitement happens here. However, this November and December, it was announced that parts of a new movie would be filmed here. “Henry’s Crime“, starring Keanu Reeves (famous for films such as “Speed” and “The Matrix” series) was to be filmed downtown, directly outside my office building! Filming took place this week December 16 and 17th. On a whim, on Friday, December 11th, I posted this “tweet“:

Keanu Reeves films in Buffalo next week, directly outside my office. Stay tuned for updates.

Little did I know that I had opened up a Twitter flood gate with a simple post. Contacts started following me from across the globe. Links were shared, all kinds of links. YouTube videos, photos on TwitPics or Flickr and news clips, just to name a few. I was really surprised to see firsthand how a group of users could simultaneously engage in conversations all at the same time. What an amazing way to link ideas, break stories or find information about topics you might not think about from someone you would never otherwise meet. From conversation with fans of Keanu Reeves, I also received a lead on a product I was researching for business purposes. To me, most interesting of all was the fact that my Flickr site gained nearly 1,400 viewings within days. Amazing.

Although the obstacles in my own industry still exist, and there is a “slight” chance that attorneys may not get the same level of fan following as an international celebrity, there is a lesson here. Twitter may be one of the ultimate connection tool for rapid, real-time discussion. Through an active dialogue, contacts can share information between them selves. As a marketer, it is only logicical to get on board, and become engaged.

Thanks to Keanu, I have learned that the possibilities of Twitter are endless. If only I could thank him in person.

Career: Landing a Job Using Social Media

As we approach the holidays, it is hard not to think of countless professionals without employment. All too often, hard working individuals find themselves unemployed as a result of the economy and not as a result of a bad review or poor performance. In 2008, there were an estimated 1.2 million job losses. Fast forward one year later, and unemployment is now at 3.5 million, leading to an unemployment rate hovering at 10%. Even though many analysts are telling us that the recession is technically over, there are also predictions that employers are not anticipating a surge in hiring. Rather, many companies are determining how to “do more with less.”

Job Losses, Recent Recessions, compiled by Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Not a very optimistic prospect for the currently unemployed. Add on top of that an estimated 1.5 million college graduates, making the search for a job really slim.

With these sobering statistics, what is a job seeker to do?

The 1-2 punch of the economy and the revolution of the Internet has made a traditional employment search a thing of the past. Yes, candidates can and still should participate in employment fairs, and by all means send a thank you note for interview opportunities. And I cannot stress how important building a strong network is both in person. However, social media’s 2-way approach allows the possibility of many-to-many interactive communication in which a job seeker can be a proactive receiver and sender of information.

As much as companies spend countless resource hours on a social media presence, this approach can also help job seekers. Regardless of career, virtually everyone has a specialty of some sort that they can communicate to the world. You can become an information producer instead of just a recipient. One of the best ways to do that on the web is to launch a blog that centers around your expertise and passions. Best of all, it’s free! Check out WordPress.com, Blogger.com or Live Journal for a few ideas.

Definitely research companies that are of interest to you. Find out what they are doing online. I’m a big fan of LinkedIn by nature of its more professional tone and appearance. If you haven’t already created a LinkedIn profile, do one immediately. Importing your contacts from your email system (Microsoft Outlook, Google Gmail, etc.), is a way to research contacts (1st, 2nd & 3rd degrees) for information on their contacts for potential outreach for job searching. Follow companies of interest on Twitter to get updates and push your information out to them.

The biggest key is to this is integration of web 2.0 with the traditional approach you’ve already been using, in order to be consistent and be yourself. Recruiters do not want surprises. Be true to yourself whether you interact with them in person, on paper or online.