Digitally Demented

Rebecca over at Infomedia.com wrote a great piece about SEO in today's marketing and branding environment.

Here's an excerpt:

"A few years ago, an Internet search via Google might return a few pages of results. The number of websites on all topics has exploded over the last 5 or 6 years and one of the main results of this is an increase in the amount of content on the Internet for all topics. So much content is being written for the web that it is diluting the web and creating more competition. A search can turn up millions of results. "

Go visit the full post over at Infomedia.com

My friend Jason over at SocialMediaExplorer.com wrote a great article about Green Day teaching us about social media. Head on over and have a read. Here's an excerpt:

"As Green Day began to find its sound — driving punk riffs with Billy Joe Armstrong’s forceful, yet melodic overtones — it began to collect quite a following. Kerplunk, the band’s second full-length album, sold around 50,000 copies in the U.S. That’s almost enough to be eschewed by the punk underground as being too successful.

Coincidentally, forums and message boards about companies and brands, even some rudimentary blogs about them, began to pop up around the Internet. While the companies, in general, had no clue there was a social groundswell happening online, and were, thus, not participating in the conversations, several individuals at companies were. Online conversations about products and services was happening."

Jason Falls thinks about the Internet and communications, most often for Doe-Anderson, a brand-building agency in Louisville, Ky. A public relations professional by trade and writer by craft, Falls is president and co-founder of the Social Media Club Louisville. This blog is his own, contains his opinions and observations and does not necessarily reflect those of Doe-Anderson or its clients. For more email him at jason-at-jasonfalls.com.

Date: Thursday, June 25th from 2:30 to 5:30pm
Location: Homewood Public Library, Room 110

This workshop was born out of the recent panel discussion at Samford University in which it became very clear to me that businesses are looking for some kind of education on social media. Yes, most have heard about Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Myspace, blogging, and other social networks. But many are clueless about what they actually do and how they work.

This workshop has a two-fold purpose. First, it will serve to provide a basic education in some of the main social networking sites and concepts. Second, there will be a round-table discussion to talk about concerns about social media and using it in business.

About the instructor:
Daniel Walters is a social media consultant in the greater Birmingham area with a background in marketing, PR and psychology. As an early adopter, Daniel has been working with social media for years and has a firm grasp of the tools and concepts that accompany the tools. Owner and lead blogger at SocialMediaBirmingham.com, Daniel continues to document the evolution of social media in the greater Birmingham area.

Sign Up Today!
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/359899469

Download the Flyer here!

I'm looking at going... Anyone else?

Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Birmingham Chamber of Commerce - Entrepreneurial Training Series (ETS)
Topic: Using Your Advertising Dollars to Market on the Internet
Presenter: David Gibson, CEO

Linkage

Wade from over at Birmingham Blogging Academy is moderating this free social media panel. Everyone should come out and see "Who Needs it Anyway?"

Panelists:
Kara Kennedy, director of external affairs, Brock School of Business, Samford University (@karakennedy)
Ike Pigott, Positive Position Media Consulting (@ikepigott)
Libby Sexton, PR account executive, Big Communications (@libbysexton)

Details:
Samford Business Network Birmingham Source Meeting
When: Thursday (June 4), 7-8:30 a.m.
Where: Brock Forum, Dwight Beeson Hall, Samford University [map: to Samford | Bldg. No. 34 on campus]
Tickets: free, but reservations required
For more info: E-mail business@samford.edu or call (205) 726-2364

I was all looking forward to getting up at 7am and seeing the City Stages lineup announce on Fox 6 sunday morning. I woke up, iPod Touch in hand, ready to tweet at a moments notice. The news started promptly at 7am.

I was out cold by 7:03.

Needless to say, I ran late getting to work. And, needless to say, I was late getting this post up. The only saving grace is that, to be frank, the lineup announce (so far) stinks. Of the 20 or so "big names" I recognize two as something I would go see. Five others I know the names. And the rest? Well, let's just say unless I win free VIP tickets, I won't be putting up with the crowds at City Stages this year.

As a casual fan, there's just not anyone that grabs at me. Sure, Young Jeezy is a great grab for the rap-lovers in Bham. And Jane's Addiction/Guster is my kinda music. But I look down the list of acts and I see a bad "Now that's what I call music, '90's edition" CD. Here's to hoping that next year they decide to pull some bigger name(s) to the Magic City. Else the Crawfish Boil will eventually overtake...

CORRECTION: I just looked at the schedule for The Schaeffer Crawfish Boil in May. Whoever is in charge of booking for theCrawfish Boil should be kidnaped by the City Stages people. Just look at their lineup: Crawfish Boil Lineup

Yea, I'll be taking the wife to the Crawfish Boil (crazy schedules permitting) waaay before we head out to CityStages. No offense to @CityStages, But I just feel like I'm getting more bang for my buck at The Boil.

"You know it's going to snow on Sunday..."

"yea, look at the jetstream! Sarah Palin must have sneezed!"