IN THIS ISSUE:

• WebWarrior: 'Buffoon' of D=S
• Social Networking for Promotion:  DIY vs. Free
• Lon Safco: The Ten Commandments of Social Media
• Skype for Phone Calls and Podcasting

WEBWARRIOR: 'BUFFOON OF D=S

Last year I received the funniest e-mail.

A reader was writing to let me know that the Ft. Hard Knox logo we were using at the time looked all "pixely," and that he'd taken it upon himself to create a new one for us.

Huh ?!

I didn't even know what to think about that, but the sample logo he'd created was really good. I wrote back, and explained to him that we were working with a zero budget, and that we were all volunteers...he assured me he didn't want to be paid. (Apparently, he just couldn't stand looking at my stock photo modified in Microsoft Paint any longer.) Since then, he has worked back and forth with me many times to modify our various logoas as needed and to create the logo we're using now, and has continued to help us with graphics that the project has needed as we've gone along. He's kept us "looking good."

So, who was this audacious reader? He goes by "Buffoon," and has his own blog, Democrat = Socialist: Unhinged, Unashamed, Unfiltered, Right Wing Punditry (or D=S for short). The blog is not for readers with senstive ears (or eyes); there's no question, however, about which side he's on or what he (and his his "agitators") stand for.

In the short period of time Buffoon's been blogging, he's already attained a Google Page Rank of 4/10, and a Technorati rating of 195 (excellent!), through aggressively and effectively using social networking techniques, and by posting original, entertaining blog content that other bloggers enjoy linking to.

We are very thankful for 'Buffoon's,' (an amusing misnomer) help on the Ft. Hard Knox project, and for his contribution to the conservative right blogosphere. He is this week's WebWarrior.

If you'd like to nominate a "WebWarrior" (a conservative using Web 2.0 effectively) e-mail Jenn.

SOCIAL NETWORKING FOR PROMOTION: DIY vs. FREE

"I don't have TIME to learn how it works - I just want it done!"

That's the sentiment that we, at Ft. Hard Knox often encounter in speaking with politically conservative professionals who are in the beginning stages of incorporating new media and online social networking into their marketing campaigns. What many of them have observed and concluded about social networking is:

1. The social networking sites are free to use - therefore they must not have much value.
2. There are instructions for how to do this, literally, all over the web (again, for free), so it can't be that hard to learn.
3. The level of communication among adults on the front page of most of the social networking sites (like Digg.com, and reddit.com) is taking place at aproximately a third-grade level of maturity and reading - so, obviously, even any idiot can do it.
4. I'm a busy person. Social networking sounds like something I can hire clerical help off the street to do for me, so I don't have to waste my time on it.

Several years ago, I knew a man who very much wanted to be self employed. He wasn't sure what he wanted to employ himself to do - He didn't have much education, and no real job skills. He just figured that as a self-employed person, he could be his own boss, get paid as much as he wanted to pay himself, and do as little as he wanted. At least, this was his perception. Eventually he learned, after numerous failed attempts at such a lifestyle, that self-employed people tend to work harder, longer, and often for less take-home pay than those who are working for others. He finally gave it up and got a job. Being self-employed sounded easy, but turned out to be a lot more complicated than it seemed.

Anyone who has taken on "DIY" (Do-It-Yourself) projects around the house now understands that in many cases it would have been cheaper to hire a professional. By the time they bought all of the necessary tools and instruction manuals, corrected mistakes, and factored in the cost of their time and labor - "DIY" work turned out to be costly. Of course, it might have been worth it. Maybe they did the work with a family member, and enjoyed the time spent, or maybe they learned valuable skills they'll be able to re-use. Perhaps they just enjoyed the satifaction of being able to say to themselves and the world - look what I did - all by myself (a good feeling, indeed)! But it is rare for a DIY-er to brag about money saved, unless they are already basically a professional in the work they are doing.

Likewise, those of you who are reading this who are long-time conservative bloggers who have been promoting your own blogs to draw traffic and support causes that are important to you know that taking on the task of self-promotion is not easy. It's a skill that constantly needs to be updated. While uisng social networking sites does not cost money, the activity takes a toll in time (LOTS of time), and in terms of the emotional wear and tear of doing battle with the "progressive" left. As in many other things in life (to address #3 above), just because there are plenty of idiots involved in social networking, doesn't mean that any idiot can do it effectively.

While some aspects of traditional marketing also apply to social networking, social networking (effectively) is a separate skill. It is done on a much more personal level, and in order for someone to do it for you, that person must know you and your business very well, and must be authorized to speak publicly on behalf of you and your business at all levels. Social networking (again, effectively), requires first the development of a substantial (quality) network, then soft promotion of whatever goods or services one wants to offer.

To be successful in social networking, you'll need to convince complete strangers to help you promote you for free. People need to know who you are, and they need to believe in you and like you before they'll help promote your "stuff." The "viral" phonomenon (where by a fluke, a person or idea suddenly becomes outrageously popular on the web, and no one is quite sure why) is rare, and most of us do not have the name recognition and fan base of a celebrity or national politician. Therefore, accomplishing effective social networking, for the majority of us requires personal interaction over a period of time, on a variety of topics with our potential peers, then clients. Hiring someone off the street or assigning the task to a clerical worker who has no real knowledge of you, your business, your industry, or online social networking will not be effective.

Self promotion using social networking is a "DIY" project. It's not easy, and it's not free. If you decide to hire a professional, be sure to hire someone who knows you and your industry. Also, be aware that the professional is working along side you as a consultant, but that this type of marketing is done on a very personal level, and that you will need to be personally involved in the entire process.

Not for you? No problem - there's still paid online advertising.

LON SAFCO: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Last week's WebWarrior, Dr. Bill, forwarded this link to me, and it's great:

As an author of The Social Media Bible, I am often asked, "What do I need to do engage my company, my products, and myself in social media?" The answer is easy: participate. Get out there and get involved. If you aren't in the game, you can't win. Here's your Ten Commandments or things you need to be doing to get in and win with social media.

 

1. Thou Shalt Blog (like crazy).
2. Thou Shalt Create Profiles (everywhere).
3. Thou Shalt Upload Photos (lots of them).
4. Thou Shalt Upload Videos (all you can find).
5. Thou Shalt Podcast (often).
6. Thou Shalt Set Alerts (immediately).
7. Thou Shalt Comment (on a multitude of blogs).
8. Thou Shalt Get Connected (with everyone).
9. Thou Shalt Explore Social Media (30 minutes per week).
10. Thou Shalt Be Creative (go forth and create creatively)!

 

...Continue reading on the Fast Company Blog >>

SKYPE FOR PHONE CALLS AND PODCASTING

This comes to us by e-mail from Paul "Paulie" Croteau, TheLoudTalker, on RFCRadio.com, and with his permission we are passing it on:

"...Before I joined RFC I never used the free internet phone service Skype. If you’re not familiar with it, Skype is the voice/video equivalent of instant messaging and is actually quite dependable. Calls between Skype accounts are free all over the world. You can also call 'real' phones via Skype for super cheap. I signed up for the 'Unlimited US&Canada' account, for just $2.95 per month. Pretty darned cool.

 

"Once you have Skype I suggest you find an application for recording Skype calls. “Audacity” is a free audio editing application available on the PC and Mac. (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) Here is a link on how to record Skype calls with Audacity on a PC: (http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=369131)

 

"I use a Mac at home, so I use 'Audio Hijack Pro' which is absolutely worth the $32 cost. In addition to recording Skype calls it captures all audio from your soundcard. I use it extensively to grab audio from news video clips on YouTube. And, since it grabs sound straight from your soundcard you can record ANY audio… game sounds, streaming live events, music, etc. Of course, always be aware of copyright issues...."

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