9/22/09

 

Richmond New Media Weekly Roundup

• We are very excited to announce our submission for permanent, public art in Richmond won the InLight legacy category. You may recall my talking about last year's InLight, Richmond's first "Art, Turned On," and raving over Scott Kyle's solar sidewalk.
  
  This year, Scott Kyle of Fullscale Architecture, Damon Pearson of Tektonics and our prefab Green Cabin Kits, Lisa Taranto of Tricycle Gardens and myself spent the summer concepting on The Tree. Set to be displayed against Richmond's Convention Center downtown, this solar tree reminds us of nature past, present, future. We hope to continue to add solar trees throughout the city, providing light and architectural dimension to our urban landscape.
  
  
• I am loving the new TweetDeck. I think the most valuable feature I'm noticing is the drag & drop, and automatic shortening of urls.
  
  
• I enjoy reading client Google Analytic statistics because I evaluate and think about our economy accordingly.
  
  For example, as I reviewed analytics for our client accounts this month, I saw growth in jewelry/accessories, real estate/architecture, and culture / museum accounts.
  
  Now I am no financial expert (I'll leave that to The Naked Portfolio Manager), but reviewing this data always makes me think... and I think these are good signs for our economy.
  
  
• The Taylor Swift / Kanye incident also had implications on how average people are using the web.
  
  
• Posterous has themes! But I am trying to dig up an article not two weeks ago on why using tools like Posterous can hurt your seo in posting duplicate content in multiple places. Can't find the article (yet)... But be aware. Useful tool, but caution if seo is of major importance (and for myself, seo is always king)...
  
  
• The New York Times has big plans for twitter... more aggregation, more search, more sorting of content to keep an eye on.
  
  
• Google launched Sidewiki. Sidewiki is like a Universal Commenting System http://om.bit.ly/81fgM I can't help but be reminded of AddATweet, which I mentioned a few weeks back.
  
  
• But don't forget: At the end of the day...
  Your Social Media Strategy Won't Save You.

Thanks for listening!
...If you note any trends or local media items of note, feel free to send 'em on!

I'm Copeland Casati, of Copeland Casati Media,
the original C3 in Richmond media since 1999.

You can reach me at copeland@copelandcasati.com, or on twitter, @copelandcasati. If you are a Facebook user, we can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Copeland-Casati-Media-C3/52352550685

Labels: advertising, awards, c3, google, social media, twitter

9/16/09

 

Weekly Media + Technology Richmond Roundup

Another frenetic week... typing fast. This week at work we have been teleconferencing through Paris, Colorado, Los Angeles, and... and... I know I'm forgetting... oh, yes:
Canada!
*Phew.*

I, for one, am looking forward to camping; not in our prefab house kit, but like we did, before: In the '60s aluminum teardrop camper, this time exploring Virginia state parks.


Like an earlier post on Personal Brands, we revisit some similar topics this week as the subject continues...


Here's our weekly Richmond roundup:

• Facebook added @mentions... Watch out, twitter! As Facebook continues to implement new functionality, it would behoove businesses to keep an active presence there.
  
  
• Richmond was discussing manners.
  I have my own thoughts and recent experience on that subject, for a later post in more detail. I *do* expect people can debate, even heatedly, without being impolite. And I do see emails, twitter, and other new media on the same level as if they were written on traditional company letterhead. Even in conversation, decorum is expected. If you, or your employees, use impolite words, it sticks... it gets around, it reflects on your brand.
  
  Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
  
  
• Going back to industries that "get it" re: decorum in public and private- Local hat tips to @constructionlaw @valaborlaw, @gatewood5000, and @valw, legal voices providing good content. I don't know why, maybe it's because I have a lot of friends in law, but I particularly enjoy following voices in this field.
  (Believe me, doctors and many other industries currently in new media are not nearly as compelling! ...Yet. )
  
  
• If we are losing our manners as they say, is there also a reciprocal swell of kindness on twitter / Facebook?
  
  [ Or is it that people discovered and embraced the No-Follow and those in "our crowd" just seek happier voices? ]
  
  
• We are in post-Twestival wrapup.
  Richmond raised over $2,000 within 2 weeks to unexpectedly give Tricycle Gardens money to help Richmond have more food-producing community gardens!!!
  
  There were nice write-ups of the mission / event... none of it could have happened without YOU. (Check out hardworking @lalamax and @thatjonesgirl setting up for the Twestival on your right!)
  
  The sponsors, the generous auction item donors, the Richmond musicians (and especially, @rvajazz) who donated their talent to make a cool CD, the nice bloggers / news outlets who promoted the global AND local cause, and every. single. ticket. you. bought: It made a difference.
  
  
  • http://www.richmondgrid.com/index.asp?ID=107
  • http://social.richmond.com/blog/csheppard/2009/09/richmond-twestival-benefit-tricycle-gardens/
  • http://floricane.typepad.com/buttermilk/2009/08/richmonds-twestival-lands-first-sponsors.html
  • http://m.richmond.com/richmond1/db_19531
    /contentdetail.htm;jsessionid=0D4C11C5D6436865A6313956387D7D9B?contentguid=kp2g6M6U&storycount=83&detailindex=1&pn=&ps=&full=true
  • http://rvanews.com/features/5-things-45/21075
  • http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/4229136/
  • Some great pictures of Twestival taken by Richmond's Paul Spicer!
    
    
• If you enjoy volunteering, social media is a great way to connect, galvanize.
  Right on the heels of Twestival, new worthy events spring up, a never-ceasing opportunity to ACT.
  
  Do you think people get jaded, overloaded with the Facebook events, the twitter hashtags, imploring participation? Somewhat.
  
  Considered spam?
  
  It depends on how it's approached, and it depends upon the person broadcasting, and the person receiving the information. Don't forget, YOU opted in to listen to these voices, vs. unsolicited spam.
  
  For myself, who has always enjoyed doing, I might not participate or acknowledge each event but I appreciate knowing about the cause, having the option to get involved. I don't mind the multitude of event requests on Facebook, in fact, I like to see 'em on my calendar and pretend that *maybe* I just *might* get a sitter!
  
  And really, so much of it is SO easy to do- in this case, just drop off some cans to kind retailers helping the Food Bank!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Speaking of events, and good gatherings locally:
  Tonight we have Green Drinks at Savor! (I can't wait to finally meet Chef Ellie! Follow her on twitter or Facebook!)
  
  Green Drinks info here: http://bit.ly/pUN32
  The five minute topic before we break for beer is, "Reuse of materials with Habitat for Humanity!"
  
  
• Well... it has been a busy summer.
  We were so focused on our clients it took me a few months to notice I had been nicely mentioned on Planet Green... oops. : )
  
  Solar cooking is one of my favorite hobbies and I am always happy to share my experiments! [Not. All. Successful. ]
  

Thanks for listening!

...If you note any trends or local media items of note, feel free to send 'em on!

I'm Copeland Casati, of Copeland Casati Media, the original C3 in RVA media since 1999.

You can reach me at copeland@copelandcasati.com, or on twitter, @copelandcasati. If you are a Facebook user, we can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Copeland-Casati-Media-C3/52352550685

Labels: facebook, press, social media, social networking, twitter

9/10/09

 

Summing Up the Week Quickly... Running on Deadline!

Summing up the week quickly... here's what was buzzing in RVA media this week!

• #Ukropalypse continues.
• A local marketing and media gal, Casey Quinin, is getting some very nice press for her book on her experience of getting cancer... on Christmas. Check out that profile, @cancerforXmas and the site, http://www.cancerforchristmas.com/, "Making The Most Of A Daunting Gift."
  
• Of course, Friday brings us... TWESTIVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's see how we compare to Atlanta, DC, and Charlotte in our Twestival enthusiasm. : )
  
  We have local musicians contributing to a soundtrack,
  we have Amazing Auction Items,
  and we have Fabulous, FANTASTIC Richmond Sponsors.
  
  Thank you Richmond for supporting and being a part of Twestival, which will benefit a local nonprofit that promotes community gardens and sustainability, Tricycle Gardens (@tricyclegardens on twitter). Yak it up in person for a good cause on Friday at The Camel, for TWESTIVAL!

No experimental telecommuting from a dock or off grid modern prefab this week... (I can telecommute properly but the twitcam needs some work- am working on/ light-heartedly testing it for some other business applications down the line...)

I am running, running on exciting-but-fast/crazy projects! Looking forward to slowing down a little, neck craned up, leaning back in a chair quietly in the dark watching the stars and satellites traverse the sky.

Thanks for listening!
...If you note any trends or local media items of note, feel free to send 'em on!

I'm Copeland Casati, of Copeland Casati Media, the original C3 in RVA media since 1999.

You can reach me at copeland@copelandcasati.com, or on twitter, @copelandcasati. If you are a Facebook user, we can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Copeland-Casati-Media-C3/52352550685

Labels: social media, Twestival