I know, I have not posted on this blog very regularly for a while... And I am not making a resolution to remedy that situation at this time. That is not the purpose of this post.
About two years ago began working at the Internal Revenue Service. My job at the IRS has been to increase public awareness of tax programs and laws through social media and traditional marketing communications campaigns. In addition to learning more than I could ever imagined - and probably no where near enough - about tax law and policy, this position has taught me a great deal about working as a civil servant and the many issues facing federal government agencies today. And I had the opportunity to work with a team of wonderful people!
Now, I am about to embark on a challenge. Next Monday I will be joining the Office of Web Communications at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be the social media lead for the EPA. I am looking forward to new challenges!
December 27, 2011
June 24, 2011
My Experience at the 140 Characters Conference in NYC
So, I know I have not posted to this blog in a while. However, my recent experiences at a conference in New York City definitely warrant a post.
How would I describe my experience at the 140 Characters Conference in a word? I cannot. It was a wonderful and crazy experience. It was like being exposed to waves of creativity and ideas. It was a time of professional growth and a time increase my understanding of others.
I enjoy conferences and gatherings which bring diverse people together to share ideas. Not only does it force me to listen to, learn about, and gain an understanding of topics I think I am not interested in; these experiences also help me to be more creative.
At the 140 Characters Conference in New York I listened to presentations by marketers, reporters, activists, visionaries, and more. I met and learned from too many people to mention in a blog post. And I had the opportunity to share what I am currently working on at IRS - and the lessons I have learned from this work. Here is the link to a YouTube video of my talk:
I want to thank everyone I met at the 140 Characters Conference for the thoughts and insights you share with me and the community. I would also like to thank Jeff Pulver for making the event possible, inviting me to speak and being supportive of myself and the other presenters. I hope to be able to attend another 140 Characters event in the future!
How would I describe my experience at the 140 Characters Conference in a word? I cannot. It was a wonderful and crazy experience. It was like being exposed to waves of creativity and ideas. It was a time of professional growth and a time increase my understanding of others.
I enjoy conferences and gatherings which bring diverse people together to share ideas. Not only does it force me to listen to, learn about, and gain an understanding of topics I think I am not interested in; these experiences also help me to be more creative.
At the 140 Characters Conference in New York I listened to presentations by marketers, reporters, activists, visionaries, and more. I met and learned from too many people to mention in a blog post. And I had the opportunity to share what I am currently working on at IRS - and the lessons I have learned from this work. Here is the link to a YouTube video of my talk:
I want to thank everyone I met at the 140 Characters Conference for the thoughts and insights you share with me and the community. I would also like to thank Jeff Pulver for making the event possible, inviting me to speak and being supportive of myself and the other presenters. I hope to be able to attend another 140 Characters event in the future!
November 30, 2010
Community Interaction on Twitter - #uksnow Map
This afternoon I noticed that the hashtag #uksnow was trending on Twitter. I looked at a few tweets and came across a very cool Twitter Mashup - #uksnow Map.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term mashup, Wikipedia defines it as a “web or cloud based applications are a combination of separate parts brought together with the use of the open architecture of public Application Programming Interfaces (API)”. In other words, it takes existing pieces (data and APIs) and creating something new and unique.
The #uksnow Map was created by a freelance developer (Ben Marsh) from the UK. The developer asked Twitter users to tweet their location, how much snow is falling, and include the hashtag #uksnow. Then the application on the website displays the snow conditions being reported via these tweets.
I think this is a great mashup. It is a fun way to graphically display the this uncommon snow storm. In addition, it is a creative way to encourage community interaction on Twitter.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term mashup, Wikipedia defines it as a “web or cloud based applications are a combination of separate parts brought together with the use of the open architecture of public Application Programming Interfaces (API)”. In other words, it takes existing pieces (data and APIs) and creating something new and unique.
The #uksnow Map was created by a freelance developer (Ben Marsh) from the UK. The developer asked Twitter users to tweet their location, how much snow is falling, and include the hashtag #uksnow. Then the application on the website displays the snow conditions being reported via these tweets.
I think this is a great mashup. It is a fun way to graphically display the this uncommon snow storm. In addition, it is a creative way to encourage community interaction on Twitter.
November 12, 2010
World Bank + Social Web
You expect consumer brands to embrace social media – it is where their customers are communicating with each other and gathering information for purchase decisions. But, what about other organizations, like international non-governmental organizations?
The World Bank has become an active participant in the social web. Through the Open Development program the organization is encouraging transparency and sharing their data with the community to promote innovation. The data for organization's projects is available online and via the World Bank DataFinder App for iPhone, iTouch, and iPad.
Recently the organization announced a contest – Apps for Development – to build an app for any mobile platform that displays their data in a useful way to the community. Here is how the competition is described by the World Bank:
The World Bank has also embraced blogging and has a number of active blogs on its website. In addition, the organization is actively engaging the community on a variety of social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. On Twitter the organization encourages discussion of Open Development with the #opendata hashtag.
Reaching out – virtually – to the global community and participating in conversations on the web is important for all organizations, including for profit companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations.
If a large international organization like the World Bank can become an active participant in the social web so can you.
The World Bank has become an active participant in the social web. Through the Open Development program the organization is encouraging transparency and sharing their data with the community to promote innovation. The data for organization's projects is available online and via the World Bank DataFinder App for iPhone, iTouch, and iPad.
Recently the organization announced a contest – Apps for Development – to build an app for any mobile platform that displays their data in a useful way to the community. Here is how the competition is described by the World Bank:
- “We're challenging the public to create innovative software applications that move us a step closer toward solving some of the world's most pressing problems.”
The World Bank has also embraced blogging and has a number of active blogs on its website. In addition, the organization is actively engaging the community on a variety of social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. On Twitter the organization encourages discussion of Open Development with the #opendata hashtag.
Reaching out – virtually – to the global community and participating in conversations on the web is important for all organizations, including for profit companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations.
If a large international organization like the World Bank can become an active participant in the social web so can you.
November 2, 2010
Foursquare in Space
I am not an enthusiastic participant in Foursquare. I created an account, used it for a little bit, and then wrote about my experience here. Perhaps I am too cautious to be the right demographic for that type of geotagging application. I just do not feel the need to broadcast my exact location. Nor do I feel comfortable doing so. Facebook Places is the only geotagging application that I have found less intimidating. Maybe that is because I am already hooked on Facebook!
But, I am not writing today to discuss my personal feelings or insecurities about geotagging. I am writing about Foursquare in space!
On October 22, 2010 a NASA astronaut became the first person to check in to Foursquare from outside the Earth's atmosphere. That is a cool use of social media! And a great way to excite and engage people in space exploration and science. The NASA Explorer Badge on Foursquare will soon be available for users to earn. This follows the first tweet from space in May 2009.
NASA is really embracing social media to share with community. In addition to Twitter and Foursquare, NASA has apps for iPhone and iPad and is participating in Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Ustream, and other social media platforms. Great way to engage the community!
But, I am not writing today to discuss my personal feelings or insecurities about geotagging. I am writing about Foursquare in space!
On October 22, 2010 a NASA astronaut became the first person to check in to Foursquare from outside the Earth's atmosphere. That is a cool use of social media! And a great way to excite and engage people in space exploration and science. The NASA Explorer Badge on Foursquare will soon be available for users to earn. This follows the first tweet from space in May 2009.
NASA is really embracing social media to share with community. In addition to Twitter and Foursquare, NASA has apps for iPhone and iPad and is participating in Facebook, YouTube, Flickr, Ustream, and other social media platforms. Great way to engage the community!
October 26, 2010
#SMIATL Lessons – Why Twitter is Powerful
I am a firm believer – and enthusiastic participant – in Twitter and written about it several times before on this blog. At the Integrating Social Media conference there was a great deal of discussion about this social media tool.
Twitter is a vital resource in harnessing the power of social media. It is a place to share information and have conversations. To be part of the conversations it is important to engage and provide a useful contribution to the community.
Twitter has upwards of 98 million registered users. Before the conference I had not been aware that additional individuals could follow Twitter users on their mobile phones without an account. (Thanks to Marla Erwin – @marlaerwin.) More Fortune 500 companies are using Twitter to communicate than Facebook – 54% versus 32% on Facebook. It is where business is communicating. It is where customer service teams (like @ComcastCares, @virginatlantic, and Best Buy's @twelpforce) are helping their customers everyday.
Twitter is real-time news and information. People are tweeting about what is happening now. This is changing the old news cycle where it took several hours for a story to be researched, written, and posted to the web or broadcast on television or radio. Now, on Twitter, people are sharing the news as it happens to them. Everyone can now be a source of information or a citizen journalist.
Twitter is where a lot of information is now. You just have to look, listen, and learn.
Twitter is a vital resource in harnessing the power of social media. It is a place to share information and have conversations. To be part of the conversations it is important to engage and provide a useful contribution to the community.
Twitter has upwards of 98 million registered users. Before the conference I had not been aware that additional individuals could follow Twitter users on their mobile phones without an account. (Thanks to Marla Erwin – @marlaerwin.) More Fortune 500 companies are using Twitter to communicate than Facebook – 54% versus 32% on Facebook. It is where business is communicating. It is where customer service teams (like @ComcastCares, @virginatlantic, and Best Buy's @twelpforce) are helping their customers everyday.
Twitter is real-time news and information. People are tweeting about what is happening now. This is changing the old news cycle where it took several hours for a story to be researched, written, and posted to the web or broadcast on television or radio. Now, on Twitter, people are sharing the news as it happens to them. Everyone can now be a source of information or a citizen journalist.
Twitter is where a lot of information is now. You just have to look, listen, and learn.
October 25, 2010
#SMIATL Lessons – What is Social Media?
It is always important to start at the beginning...
At the Integrating Social Media Conference there was a great deal of discussion about what social media is. And while this seems like an elementary and uninteresting topic, understanding it is essentially to be successful in the social media ecosphere. First it is important to look at what it is not. Social media is not just about user generated and / or curated content. It is not just the tools and portals, like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Social media is about creating, commenting on, sharing, and redistributing content. It is an interactive space where broadcasting is no longer sufficient and participating in conversations is essential.
Or put another way, social media is people talking to people.
At the Integrating Social Media Conference there was a great deal of discussion about what social media is. And while this seems like an elementary and uninteresting topic, understanding it is essentially to be successful in the social media ecosphere. First it is important to look at what it is not. Social media is not just about user generated and / or curated content. It is not just the tools and portals, like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Social media is about creating, commenting on, sharing, and redistributing content. It is an interactive space where broadcasting is no longer sufficient and participating in conversations is essential.
Or put another way, social media is people talking to people.
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