Crain’s Detroit Business Adds New Community Tools

Crain’s Detroit Business, one of Michigan’s most recognizable business publications, is undergoing a bit of a makeover.  While randomly clicking on some links shared via Twitter, I noticed that the blog portion of their site has been completely redesigned.  Take a look.

Get a closer look here.

It seems that the publication is now integrating additional community elements.  Users now have the ability to post wall messages on profiles, search blog posts by tags, “friend” reporters,  upload pictures and video, and track posted comments.

While Crain’s is well known for their weekly print editions, reporter blogs are quickly rising in popularity, generating more than 10,000 page views per month.  Additionally, there are very few hyperlocal sites with a strictly business-centric audience in the Metro Detroit area.  Adding more community elements could create a whole new dynamic and increase user participation.

However, I think they are missing something.   There doesn’t seem to be any links designed to help me share the site’s content with other networks.  For example, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal both have share widgets for posting to Facebook and Twitter.  Facebook Connect even turned me into a Huffington Post reader. Why not tap the power of other networks before creating you own?

What do you think?

Does building a community element guarantee more participation?  Do we really need a new place to connect?

Filed under: business, social media , community, crain's detroit business, detroit, media, publication, social media

The State of Michigan Really Likes Social Media

Did you know there is a Facebook Fan Page for Mackinac Historic Parks or that the Michigan Grape and Wine Council regularly tweets about great local wines?  In fact, the Michigan government Web site lists 26 Facebook pages, 21 Twitter accounts and 14 YouTube channels maintained by the state on its “Social Networking (Web 2.0)” page.

While many of us have already heard about the Pure Michigan social media success story, it seems the entire Michigan government social media program is attracting a few eyeballs.  The multiple Twitter accounts have more than 28,000 combined followers and the 14 YouTube channels have generated more than 41,000 views.

When digging a little deeper, it looks like each outpost employs a different engagement strategy.  Many of the sites are merely acting as extensions of their Web counterparts and rebroadcasting information.  There are only a few channels that are actively interacting with fans and followers. While creating a dialogue isn’t always an essential part of a social media strategy, I think two-way conversations are playing an increasingly important role in the government 2.0 movement.

Overall, I’m glad to see that the Michigan government is experimenting and giving average citizens newfound access to lawmakers and important state programs.  Mark this down as another “local” social media experiment that you should keep your eye on.

Your turn.

What do you think of Michigan’s social media strategy?  Are you fan?  What are they doing well?  Where could they improve?

Filed under: Michigan, blogs, community, marketing, social media, social networking, twitter , Facebook, Government 2.0, Michigan, social media, State of Michigan, twitter, Web 2.0, YouTube

Brand Camp University 2009 Video Recap

Last Saturday was a big day for Detroit’s interactive community. A number of social media, business and communications experts from all over North America gathered in Southfield at Lawrence Tech. to share their thoughts on social media and personal branding.

When the conference finally came to a close, and co-workers, fellow professionals and friends started asking me about what I learned, the first words that came to mind were, “You simply had to be there.”

To see my take on the energy and excitement felt during Brand Camp University 2009, check out this recap video.

I also encourage you to check out some of the attendee and speaker reactions available on the Brand Camp University blog.

Special thanks to Henry Balanon and Hubert Sawyers for helping shoot the footage. Super special thanks to Brand Camp University’s official photographer, Paul Manoian, and Brian Ambrozy of Prime Pics for the awesome photos.

Your turn.

If you made it out to Brand Camp University 2009, what was your big takeaway?  What are you going to change about your personal brand and the way you do business?

Filed under: community, conferences, detroit, events, iDetroit, social media, social networking , april holmes, Biggby Coffee, brand camp university, detroit, Hajj Flemings, ken brown, lawrence tech, mitch joel, personal branding, Scott Monty, social media, Strategy, valeria maltoni

Social Media Club Detroit October Meeting – How to Avoid Presentation FAIL

Co-organizing Brand Camp University has been one of the most rewarding and time-consuming projects I have ever undertaken.  Hajj Flemings and I spent countless weekends discussing content, identifying speakers, strategizing promotion and experimenting with format changes at Caribou Coffee in Royal Oak.  We constantly bounced ideas off each other. Proposals were challenged.  Every so often, moments of brilliance surfaced, followed by a few facepalms.  Luckily, after every meeting, we left excited knowing that we were now one day closer to the big event.  As Hajj would say, “we were cooking with gas.”

During the six plus months spent developing Brand Camp University, we learned a lot.  This Wednesday, we are going to share some of that knowledge with the Detroit social media community at the Social Media Club Detroit October chapter meeting.

Some of the questions we hope to answer include:

1. Why do large social media conferences matter to the Detroit region?
2. How do you grow a conference idea?
3. What are ways to approach creating a conference?
4. What’s the appropriate balance between content and personality?
5. Why should you match conference content to the region/market?
6. How do you create reasonable conference expectations?
7. What are the complexities of dealing with rock star speakers?
8. How do you create “need” and make sure your conference stands out?

As an added bonus, we will also be holding a drawing for free tickets to Brand Camp University 09, which takes place this weekend at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield.

The Social Media Club Detroit October meeting will be held at Java Exchange in Detroit near Wayne State University. To RSVP, visit the Facebook event page. To learn more about upcoming Social Media Club Detroit meetings and events, become a fan on Facebook.

Filed under: Michigan, community, conferences, detroit, events, social media , brand camp university, conferences, events, Hajj Flemings, personal branding, social media, social media club detroit

Think Global. Act Local. How you can Support the Growing Digital Detroit Community

**Originally posted by Ken Burbary on http://www.i-detroit.com**

Detroit has an thriving community of Digital marketing, advertising, creative and technology professionals. The community does exceptional work supporting the online communication efforts of brands like Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jeep, GeekSquad, United States Postal Service, Unite States Navy, and Michelin to name a few. However, we’ve long lived in the shadow of our industrial reputation the region earned decades ago. We’re trying to change that and show a different side of Detroit, the Digital side. Some ambitious members of this community have submitted their ideas for panels at the 2010 SXSW interactive festival. For those unfamiliar with it, SXSWi is one of, if not, the biggest annual industry event. People travel from all over the globe to attend, learn and share their professional experience in digital communications.

“SXSW Interactive features five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable line up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer.”

I’m highlighting 6 sessions submitted by Detroit based Digital professionals. I’m asking for your help to get their ideas selected for the conference. It takes only a few moments of your time to vote. Simply go to the SXSW panel picker by clicking on the session titles below, and click the icon to vote (note: you will need to register if you don’t already have an account). Every vote counts. Let’s get these panelists into the “big show” and highlight the emerging talent that is right in your own backyard.

Building Social Strategies at Fortune 100 Companies - panel session with Scott Monty, Ford Motor Company

Description: Companies of all sizes are adopting social media and community, but large organizations have some unique challenges and opportunities. This panel will uncover best practices through stories told by social media leaders from Ford, Nationwide, IBM, Microsoft, SAP and Dell.

Using Social Media to Find a New Gig – panel session by Shelli Gutholm, Aquent

Description: Don’t expect to get your next job by stuffing a bunch of resumes into envelopes and sending to “HR”. The best way to find the job of your dreams is by networking through Social Media. Social networking helps bypass the anonymity of the proverbial resume “black hole”. How you can use Social Media to secure your next job? We will be reviewing the tools and best practices that job seekers should utilize in a search. Also, we will outline some of the common mistakes job seekers make when using Social Media, which could lead to your efforts being sabotaged before they even begin.

Real World ROI and Social Media Strategies – panel session by Cosmin Ghiurau, BOSSdev Inc.

Description: Why Social Matters to Business Calculating the ROI of Social Case Study: CPR Week Digital Campaign for the American Heart Association Available with a client representative to participate These three topics can be presented as independent sessions or combined into one session. All three topics are focused upon how business can effectively understand, implement and measure web 2.0 marketing programs. Knowledge on the latest research and methods for digital marketing and social media Resources to leverage to stay informed on digital marketing and social media Real world examples of how businesses implement and measure web 2.0 programs ROI calculator to estimate and measure your own web 2.0 programs

Beyond the Click: Converting Website Visitors into Customers – solo session by Ayat Shukairy, Invesp Consulting

Description: For an online business, persuading visitors to purchase your product or service is crucial to increasing sales. Using the science and art of analytics analysis, marketing, usability and software, discover how the Conversion Framework approach can convert online visitors into customers such as RHDJapan and Metro Uniforms.

Industrial To Interactive: From Old Town To Tech Town – panel session by iDetroit members

Description: The idea of your city being home to the next thriving digital community is enticing. However, traditionally non-tech regions face a challenge. How do you introduce, develop and grow a digital movement within a location that has never seen one? Detroit is one such city currently grappling with this issue.

Using Facebook to Leverage Social Marketing and Gain ROI - dual session by K. Alan Robbins, BOSSdev Inc.

Description: Panel will cover the evolution of the social networking universe; provide valuable information with respect to the capabilities and unique aspects of the Facebook platform; valuable tips to help you craft an effective Facebook guerilla marketing campaign; and provide key criteria to help you to pick an effective development partner.

Filed under: Michigan, community, conferences, detroit, events, iDetroit, social media, tech , alan robbins, aquent, ayat shukairy, bossdev, cosmin ghiurau, detroit, Ford, iDetroit, invesp, Scott Monty, shelli gutholm, SXSWi

Detroit Tweetups – GM Summer Tweetup Edition

General Motors has been pretty busy lately.  The brand has been virtually everywhere, launching new cars and making some pretty big announcements. So, with all this activity going on, you can image how awesome it was to hear that the GM social media team wanted to host a tweetup for Metro Detroiters at Bar Louie in Novi on August 10th.

Great food. Interesting conversation. A couple of cool cars on display.  How could the Detroit Twitter community say no?

The GM Summer Tweetup drew a great crowd of 50+ attendees

Connecting with the people in your backyard
For me, this was more than just another opportunity to see old friends and make new ones.  GM will always have a strong connection to Metro Detroit and many of us here are personally and professionally invested in the company’s success. This tweetup presented a chance for Detroiters to connect with the people behind one of our brands and hear more about where the company is headed.

For more thoughts on this topic, check out the video below featuring me and Chris Barger, GM’s Director of Global Social Media Communications.  Note the handsome expression in the video still.

Also, I’d like to thank the lovely Lish for helping organize this great event.  She did all the legwork and deserves all the credit.

As always, to stay informed about the latest news and events related to Detroit Tweetups, please join our Facebook group. To see who attended the GM Tweetup, check out the list of handles below.  If for some reason you attended the tweetup and your Twitter handle is absent, please post it in the comments.

@wendyclark
@lish
@davesacre
@becksdavis
@becksdavishubby
@kewlrats
@alexfishernet
@verdelifestyles
@1485peet
@genebrady
@ktkruzn
@dukedna
@lisakup
@anig05
@mollysly
@shedski
@hmayers
@hajjflemings
@skinjunkie
@cbaccus
@rockdrool
@margosha8
@turbobrown
@shaunan
@cxiro
@potsie
@tinawebanalytic
@hondagrrl
@freshmenz
@detroitvoice
@drintelmann
@rmercader
@lesleyhettinger
@mrb8507
@jfavreau
@danieleizans
@cbarger
@julieglissman
@qoswhit
@davemurr
@jwphillips
@tvdeegan
@rposluszny
@mabdelno
@metajp
@christas
@tomehenderson
@bchesnutt
@positivecities
@essohhbee
@joem32
@jangosteve
@davebenjamin
@tomshea

@ejohnsonroxx (not valid – anyone know this handle?)

Filed under: Michigan, community, detroit, detroit tweetups, events, social media, tweetup, twitter , detroit, detroit tweetups, General Motors, General Motors Tweetup, GM Tweetup, social media, tweetup, twitter

The number one reason why Detroit social media events rock

Coutesy of MontageMan

You’re never in a room full of salespeople.  Just good people.

Filed under: detroit, detroit tweetups, events, social media, social networking, tweetup , social media, business, business relationships, detroit, events, connections, networking events

Seven Awesome Videos Featuring Detroit on YouTube

Courtesy of farlane on Flickr

For many people around the country, the only interaction they have with Metro Detroit is through what they see, hear and read in the national media.  With this filter in place, audiences often fail to recognize that we have been, and always will be, one amazingly cool place to live, work and play.  To offer them a glimpse of the Detroit that I love, I found seven awesome videos featuring Detroit on YouTube.  Enjoy!

(1) “Stand Up and Tell Them You’re From Detroit” Promo from WXYZ Channel 7 – 1985

Even though this video was made before my buddy Stephen Clark could add a little of his musical genius, the jingle is still pretty catchy. Maybe Channel 7 should think of reviving this campaign?

(2) Detroit Metro Airport Tunnel

When the new high-tech McNamara Terminal at DTW finally opened its doors, everyone was talking about the light tunnel experience. If you haven’t seen it yet, here is your chance.

(3) The Infamous March 26, 1997 Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche Fight

Back in the late ’90s, there wasn’t a team in professional sports that I hated more than the Colorado Avalanche. While I don’t condone violence (because I’m a lover, not a fighter), it feels like I just found a $20 bill in my pocket every time I watch the Red Wings dominate in this battle.

BONUS

The 1998 Rematch – Roy vs. Osgood

Because Ozzie deserves a little attention for his takedown.

(4) Kid Rock – Roll On Music Video

Not only is this a great song, but the video was shot on location in Detroit and features a number of city landmarks.

(5) The Detroit Zoo “Zoo Stars” Ad – 1982

I can’t decide which is funnier – the monkeys or the prairie dog.

(6) The Detroit News/Free Press “This Time” Campaign Video

I remember the first time I saw this ad on TV and thought, “wow.”

(7) Eminem’s Love Letter to Detroit

Our boy Marshall received a lot of praise for this video. Even though things are rough here, Em reminds us that Detroiters are unbeatable.

If you could build your own playlist filled with great videos about Detroit, what would you include? Feel free to create your own post, with videos or other types of media, and tag it, “I Love Detroit” (#ilovedetroit on Twitter).

Filed under: detroit, social media , #ilovedetroit, detroit, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Zoo, I love detroit, McNamara Terminal, WXYZ Channel 7, YouTube

Detroit Tweetups – Live To Give Charity Tweetup Edition

I think most of the readers of this blog are now well aware of my affinity for recapping tweetups and other local events.  However, since the Detroit social media community accomplished something very special this past Wednesday, I’d like to hand the recap duties over to someone else.

Detroit Twitterers & Live to Givers!

The most recent Detroit Tweetup was a monstrous success. We attracted over 100 people (new #detroittu record) and raised over $1,500 for our Bloomfield Hills non-profit organization, Live to Give Foundation (L2G). If you are unaware, L2G helps families in their time of need in a PERSONAL way with mini movies that reveal our donators, fundraisers and families in need. We were launched in November of 2007 by two college seniors and now are run by 5 post graduates all under 23 years old. Social media (obviously including Twitter) is our main outreach and have raised almost $20,000 because of it.

With the support we gained at the Tweetup in Novi, we are able to provide the Shuck family with 2 more months of rent and utilities while they try to escape homelessness, joblessness, and medical issues.

Thank you to everyone who attended, Fox 2 and Channel 7 for the stories they presented, our generous sponsors (Identity Marketing & Public Relations, iDetroit, CRT Medical Systems, Twitart.com, LA Productions and C! Tech Solutions), Bar Louie for their hospitality and Brandon (@bchesnutt) for taking so much initiative to make this wonderful night happen.

We have created our “personal touch” video of the night’s festivities and encourage you to take 3 minutes to see the Tweetup fun!

done

From the bottom of our passionate hearts, thank you!

The entire Live to Give team
Ryan, Kevin, Matt, Ashley & Kelly

Thank you to everyone for helping make this first Charity Tweetup a success.  It’s always a great time when we all get together.  Doing some good in the process was an added bonus.

For those who are wondering, we will be exploring this idea again in the future.  To stay informed as to when this will happen, follow Ken Burbary and I on Twitter or join the Detroit Tweetups Facebook Group.

Filed under: Michigan, community, detroit, detroit tweetups, events, social media, social networking, tweetup, twitter , twitter, detroit tweetups, tweetups, tweetup, Charity, Live To Give Foundation, Identitypr, C Tech Solutions, iDetroit, LA Productions, CRT Medical Systems, Bar Louie, Twitart.com

Introducing TechKaraoke Detroit

It’s official.  Tech Karaoke Detroit is up and running.

In case you were unable to attend our “launch event,” enjoy this lovely video recap.

You can also check out some hilarious photos on Flickr. The event was grunge themed, so I hope that explains the flannel.

Want to rock the mic with us next time and be part of the awesomeness?  Join our Facebook group for updates and details on our next event.

Filed under: community, detroit, events, social media, social networking, tech, techkaraoke