BusinessCasualBlog.com

Something new: Where's Mel? What's Up With BusinessCasualBlog.com?

Last week, I launched a new site over at MelAclaro.com.  It's a more niched focus on some of the things I've found myself practicing more and more on this blog over time.  That is, the business applications of social video.  

I've fielded enough questions like those below to know that there's a need for a place for me to do a brain dump about the hard-knocks and learnings I've had in the last decade with video and its effective and efficient use in: blogs, social media and business.  

• How do I get started with video blogging?
• What special equipment do I need?
• What special hosting is required?
• How do I get the crisp-looking video images like you have in your videos?
• What settings should I use for bitrate, dimensions, and file formats?
• What's the process for getting video from my camera, through my computer, and on to the web?
• What if I don't want to host some videos on a public server like YouTube?  What options do I have?  How do set it up?
• What, really, is the difference between a blog and a videoBlog?

And, while that theme itself would still technically fit within the lineup for BCB, I really wanted to focus even more on video blogging, video-based marketing, and basically tracing a roadmap for the process I've gone through for setting up an online presence with a video-based blog.

What's Happening to BusinessCasualBlog?

BCB isn't shutting down.  I'll still be posting about the confluence of social media, business and learning.  The posts here may drop off to about once per week during the time I ramp up MelAclaro.com.  But, overall, both sites will complement each other.  

You can read more about the move by reading my write-up about on the "About" page at MelAclaro.com.  In the meantime, I hope you'll join me there by clicking this link to signup for the Social Media Marketing Tips newsletter.  You'll also get a free copy of my eBook Social Media Marketing Essentials Guide For Small Business Professionals.

Finally, if you have friends, colleagues, agents or office staff who've been wondering about just how to do "that video-thang on their blogs," this is a perfect time for them to join me.  In the coming days, I plan on writing a series over at MelAclaro.com about the steps I went through to set up a new video blog.  It's all part and parcel with the mission of the new site.  So, forward this blog post to them via email, as well.

Thanks in advance.  Here's that link again to signup for my newsletter.  See you over at MelAclaro.com!   

(Photo courtesy: Marco Belluci, Flickr, Creative Commons)

National Moment of Remembrance - 3 p.m. YOUR time

 

Just for the record: I take issue with the idea of "giving" my life for my country...

Photo courtesy: Remember.gov

Don't get me wrong. I'm a proud veteran. Among other missions, I served proudly in the U.S. Navy (Naval Air) during the first Gulf War. My friends smile endearingly when I tell them that I do, in fact, still get a little choked up EVERY TIME I hear the Star Spangled Banner. (No, really! That's a no-shitter. Ask me sometime of my story about the last day of my SERE school training and I'll tell you the exact moment that this involuntary reaction started for me.) 

I'm a proud U.S. military veteran, I love my country, I've fought in support of the freedoms she represents, I will do so again if called, and understand that dying is a possibility in the act of performing my duty... But, just for the record, I take issue with the idea of charitably "giving" my life for her. 

Rather, what I can say I and my vet-colleagues will do / have done, is to do our duty. And to do it with a commitment to the underlying values and principles that our duty-bound responsibility supports. But to "give" our life?  I can't help but feel that that's somehow trivializing the job description.  

While part of the military code of conduct does state, "I am prepared to give my life in their defense...", the wider context is a military professional who "...will never surrender of my own free will...while (I) still have the means to resist."

In fact, fighting and resisting is an obligation to be pursued until the point of futility.

So, the distinction I'd like to ask during this time of remembrance is that we also be mindful of a difference in giving as in a charitable act, versus giving as in the form of willful commitment to the performance of duty. 

Don't Think of Me As Unappreciative

"They gave their lives...", I know we say that a lot about our military veterans. Not a week goes by that we don't hear a sound bite on the evening news about another one of our courageous vets "giving" her/his life for you and me while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. But, don't think of me as unappreciative for making this grammatical distinction.

I understand the implied meaning behind it; the thoughtfulness of whomever is quoted using the term. I understand their empathy about the tragedy of it and the sacrifices associated with it. I also understand that many vets themselves have come around to using the phrase, as well. So, I accept the term in the spirit in which it's given: remembrance, honor, respect.

But, I guess every now and then--especially at times like this year's Memorial Day--I think about some of the friends I've lost in service of our country and the freedoms she represents. I especially think about one of my best friends Pat Ardaiz, who, after more than seventeen years, still graces our bookshelf with a picture showing him sporting his Navy "Dress Whites", Lieutenant's bars and gold wings. I think about how he, my friend Dennis Pendergist and I will never again be the complete "Three Musketeers" ever since Pat's E-2C Hawkeye crashed somewhere in the Ionian Sea on March 25, 1993. 

We Do Our Duty

If Pat were here, I think he'd agree: he didn't "give" his life (in the charitable sense). The fact is, he died. He lost his life while honorably, courageously and dedicatedly performing his duty in support of a mission for freedom. That's what we do. We do our duty. If that results in the loss of our life, it's accepted as a stark reality of that commitment. 

But, just for the record, we don't charitably give our life. In fact, we have an obligation to resist and live.  We do our duty.  We do it for our country, for freedom and our way of life.

"...All real heroes are not story book combat fighters either. Every man in the army plays a vital part. Every little job is essential. Don't ever let down, thinking your role is unimportant. Every man has a job to do. Every man is a link in the great chain. What if every truck driver decided that he didn't like the whine of the shells overhead, turned yellow and jumped headlong into the ditch? He could say to himself, "They won't miss me -- just one in thousands." What if every man said that? Where in hell would we be now? No, thank God, Americans don't say that! Every man does his job; every man serves the whole. Every department, every unit, is important to the vast scheme of things. The Ordnance men are needed to supply the guns, the Quartermaster to bring up the food and clothes to us -- for where we're going there isn't a hell of a lot to steal. Every last man in the mess hall, even the one who heats the water to keep us from getting the GI shits has a job to do. Even the chaplain is important, for if we get killed and if he is not there to bury us we'd all go to hell..."

~General George S. Patton, Jr.

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Twitter Was All A Buzz During Superbowl 44

As I was watching the Superbowl today, I got to wondering if analytics providers like Radian6, Hubspot, Compete, Sysomos and others have made a killing with new clients in those who plunked down $3M for a Superbowl Ad spot.  They had better.  Or, more to the point, the advertisers themselves would be well-served to have taken up with one of these service providers.

Taking just a little snapshot at key points along the Superbowl timeline, it was interesting to see what was working and what wasn't...

Superbowl First Quarter

About halfway through the 1st quarter (below), the Betty White / Snickers commercial and Doritos have taken an early lead with our laugh-meter.

 

After the end of the 1st Quarter (below) Joseph Addai is catching the attention of fans.  And, the Doritos commercial is still buzzing from the second spot with the guy in the jumbo coffin "living it up" with a casket full of doritos and TV set.  (LOL... yeah, I was kinda chuckling about that one.)

 

Superbowl Second Quarter

About halfway through the 2nd Quarter (below), the conversation seemed to be about how the heck did they get Jay Leno and David Letterman in the same room?  And, the Budweiser commercials are still a hit.  

 

And at the end of the 2nd Quarter, just starting in on half-time, the Dodge Charger commercial ("Man's Last Stand") has tugged at the laugh-meter of tweeps everywhere.  Meanwhile, the Johnny Depp flick, "Alice In Wonderland" seems to be piquing some interest.  Curious: I saw a couple of Flo-TV spots that I thought would've generated some buzz. They seemed to be trying pretty hard with a new product launch.  But, it's only a blip at the moment.

 

Ahhh...wait for it... wait for it...there it is.  The buzz around Flo-TV seems mixed.  With references to the iPad, I'd say, on net, tweeps aren't a crowd that's gonna go rushing out to buy one.   

  

Superbowl Halftime

Ouch. Apparently I'm dating myself here... while I still dig The Who (the Half-time show band), it apparently fell flat with some tweeps.  Folks were actually dissin' them indirectly by blaming Janet Jackson's ill-fated wardrobe malfunction for the "type of" shows we now get on the Superbowl.  Ouch.

 

 

Superbowl Third Quarter

 Woot! Right after that onside kick by the Saints, is there any question what tweeps were buzzin' about?  "Wow. That's the gutsy move I ever saw, Mav."  (All you Gen-Ys still lamenting about Janet Jackson's role in The Who, get over it.)  ;) 

 

And, by the end of the third quarter, clearly Google's ad made a positive impact.  For my part, I thought it was a great rebuttal to Bing. 

 

 Superbowl Fourth Quarter

Ha ha... part way through the fourth quarter, how about that 2-point conversion by the Saints, eh?  "Challenge" refers to tweeps taunting Peyton Manning to answer the call... Interesting, too, how this far after the Google ad, it's still making the rounds.  

 

 And by the end of the game, it was pretty obvious what the buzz was all about.  Beginning with the second quarter, much of the conversation had shifted from commercials and ads to events that were related with the game itself.

Congrats to the Saints for some kind of football game.  Absolutely awesome.  From the onside kick at the start of the Second Half, to the touchdown AND 2-point conversion and that last interception, the Saints played an absolutely stellar game.  Congratulations, champs.

 

 

I love the iPad! Though maybe not for the reasons you'd think...

By now you've heard all the hubbub about Apple's iPad launch last week. You know me, Mr. gadget freak. But, on "version 1.0 products" I tend to be a little more circumspect. And as much as I love Apple's products, I'm probably gonna hold off myself and see what new versions come downstream.

If the familiar skit below is any indication of what's in the iPad--or what's NOT in it--then my hesitation is right on the mark. (Warning: I'm giving the vid below a PG-13 rating for language... but I still find it funny.)

Despite the disappointment I personally feel about the features I need in the iPad that aren't there, one thing seems clear to me, this latest round of tablet mania will (thankfully) bring a new round of competition and "one-upsmanship" in the marketplace that will serve us--consumers--well.

In fact, even now there're rumors about Apple having another Tablet in the works--one that's more like a Mac than an overgrown iPhone that doesn't let you make calls.

And, just this morning, these sketches of the rumored Google Tablet.

Photos credit: TechCrunch

For a conceptual idea of how the interface might work, check out this short (42 seconds) video mockup.

So, here's my ultimate question for developers... who's developing one like this one below? Give it to me!

4 Things I'm Jonesin' to Change in 2010 at Our Non-Profit Association.

Today's going to be a pretty cool luncheon.  Not only will I, and a bunch of my friends in the Training and Learning profession get to eat a whole bunch of chocolate at what has been billed as our local ASTD chapter's renowned annual "Death By Chocolate" event, but I'll also be one of the proverbial "guards" to whom the reins will be passed for chapter management.

Today, I'll be taking over the reins as the new VP for Communications.  I'll hold that spot for the remainder of 2010.  My predecessor(s) did a great job of laying a foundation for me to build upon.  And build I shall... (*sinister laugh*) I've already submitted by budget requirements for 2010.

The big infrastructure projects I've got in my sights for 2010 include:

• Revamping our web site.  I've been jonesin' for this for nearly two years now.  Our existing site is old, tired and very, very static.  (To wit: our site is down hard as of this writing.)  Be on the lookout for an RFP from me soon after the new year.  I'll be looking for folks who want to bid on helping us install and configure an open source platform (leaning towards Joomla at the moment) with a really slick theme, community features, social media sharing features and...well, be on the lookout for the RFP.  I'll cross-post it here on BusinessCasualBlog.com when I have it written.  (Email me if you think you'll have some interest in submitting a bid.)

• Getting our chapter solidly on track with a new list host.  We need to be able to touch our members and prospective members in a more intelligent way.  The existing (internally-hosted) email campaigning system flies blind.  What I mean is that there's scant capability to see any analytics that will give us insight to what our members find interesting, what our open rates are, as well as click-through rates, bounces, opt-ins/outs, and so on.  Switching platforms will be a relatively easy hurdle (save maybe for having to re-opt in our whole list again), but the real challenge will be in developing coherent, story-based copy and message sequences that our list members will find relevant, informative and compelling.  If you have any copy writing tips for me, let me know.  I'm a sponge, man!

• Installing a membership management software system.  We don't really have one at the moment.  Well, yes we do, but, no, not really.  It's a very manual process today.  A process that finds us ironically foregoing chapter revenue (?!) in favor of pro-rating membership fees when someone joins later in the year. (HUGE opportunity cost!) We have apparently been doing it this way in order to make the bookkeeping and the administrivia of membership expirations easier to manage.  (Tell me if you see the same thing I'm seeing... we're incurring no less an 85% opportunity cost by my reckoning.)

• Increasing our chapter's capacity for social media.  Ha ha.  This is a no-brainer.  I started the year with a pledge to change hearts and minds at my chapter.  I'm still on that mission.  >:)

Here I go.  Wish me luck!

Photo courtesy: LeadingAnswers.com

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Thank you for subscribing and for being part of my circle of friends on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.  I wish you and your family a very happy day today in celebration of thanks for all things that make us each who we are. 

Busy weekend - REBarCamp San Diego - NAR Convention - ASTD-OC Leadership Meetup

The weekend's activities started last Thursday with RE BarCamp. Then, there was the NAR Convention that ran through the weekend. And, of course, the ASTD-OC Chapter leaders transition meeting last Saturday.

RE BarCamp was a hit with over 500 people in attendance at the Stingaree in San Diego's Gas Lamp District. In a nutshell, in addition to getting a whole buncha folks in the real estate profession together for a day to learn from each other about various topics ranging from Facebook, video blogging and social media to Google Wave, professionalism and legal issues of social media technology, we also had the pleasure of raising funds to sponsor schooling for two under-privileged children in a third-world country.

What's a barcamp?

In case you've never heard of a barcamp, it's basically a grassroots gathering where like-minded folks come to help each other learn. It's typically a free event run entirely on volunteerism and the occasional sponsorship from a company, organization or community. Frequently, there's also some kind of charity-sponsorship activity that attendees raise funds for. As I alluded above, last Thursday's event was honored to raise funds to help send a couple of kids to school via Mothers Fighting For Others.

BarCamps can form around any theme and can form anywhere in the world. Folks like YOU and me make it happen. Last Thursday's event happened to be themed on the real estate profession. It coincided with this year's NAR Convention (National Association of Realtors), which was also kind enough to sponsor part of the event. In many ways, a barcamp is like a convention, in the sense that there are breakout sessions where some expert facilitates discussion to learn about a certain topic. Unlike a convention, however, these sessions are free to attend. Also, cross-selling and cross-promotion of products or services by session speakers are discouraged. The event is strictly about learning. Well, learning and lots of networking.

How are session speakers selected for a barcamp?
You think it, you decide to do it, you sign up on "the board", it happens. 

It's like this: event organizers identify sections of the venue to split up into rooms. (Rooms can be formal rooms, or they can be a group of chairs pushed together in one corner of a large room.) Meanwhile, in some central gathering area, a large white board is posted. On the white board is a matrix. Columns in the matrix identify rooms. Rows specify meeting times, typically in 30- to 45-minute increments. In the cells of the matrix is white space for anyone -- any attendee -- to write the name of a topic and, of course, their own name to identify the facilitator.

Attendees regularly visit the white board to see the list of topics. If one interests you, simply show up in the designated meeting "room" at the appointed time. If there's a topic you'd like to discuss that isn't on the board, simply fill in your name and the name of the topic.  Of course, lots of networking also tends to happen during the session breaks, lunch gatherings and the evening mixer that typically happens at the end of the event.

Barcamps are a great way (and did I say free?) for professionals to come together to network while teaching each other about trends and current events going on in their industry. Some industries have more critical mass than others. The RE BarCamp (real estate industry professionals) happens to be one of those with critical mass and seemingly a new event someplace in the U.S. happening at least quarterly. You can learn more about barcamp here. And, real estate barcamp here.

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Free and Promotionals for Veterans

 

My friend, Bucky Elkins, was kind enough to respond to my request fornfo about restaurants and other businesses offering some kind of promotional in honor of our Veterans.  Bucky is a great guy to follow and was kind enough to dig up the following list:

• 11/11 - Free pizza or meal for veterans when another entree is ordered at Uno Chicago Grill locations.  http://uno.know-where.com/pizzeria/

• 11/11 – Veterans can choose from a special menu of free meals on Veterans Day at Applebees from 8am to midnight. http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx

• until 11/12 -Veterans, military personnel and their families can enjoy a 10% discount on all purchases at Lowes. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=Promos/veteransDay07.html&lks=hps#

• until 11/11 -All active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families Veterans can enjoy a 10% discount on all purchases up to $2000 at Home Depot. http://ir.homedepot.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=63646&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1352351&highlight=

• 11/11 – Free Bloomin Onion appetizer & drink for veterans and active military at Outback Steakhouse.  http://www.outback.com/companyinfo/veteransday2009.aspx

• 11/11 – Some Denny's are offering 20% off the entire meal for veterans.

• 11/11 –  Some Arby's will offer free Regular Roast Beef Sandwich to all veterans and active duty military men and women on Veterans Day.

• 11/11 – Krispy Kreme will give away 1 free doughnut of any variety to all veterans and U.S. military personnel that stop in. http://investor.krispykreme.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=422165    http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS155889+05-Nov-2009+PRN20091105

• 11/11 – Sam’s Club is giving away 25,000 Hugo free foldable walking canes. No Sam’s Club membership required. Each store has about 40 canes to give out for free.  http://www.hugosalutes.com/About-the-Free-Cane.asp

• until 11/11 – Colonial Williamsburg honors America's Veterans with a procession down Duke of Gloucester Street, 4:30 p.m., beginning at the Capitol. The parade culminates in a public ceremony, with militia and cannon crew firing volleys in recognition of those who serve. Active duty military, guard and reservists, retirees, veterans and their dependents enjoy free admission passes Friday through Wednesday, Nov. 6-11.  http://www.history.org/visit/eventsAndExhibits/specialEvents/index.cfm#VetDay

• 11/11 – In appreciation for service to the the U.S., Shirley Plantation in Charles City is offering free admission for all Vets on Veteran's Day, November 11th.  http://www.shirleyplantation.com/veterans_day09.html

• 11/11 – Public Lands Veterans Day Fee Waiver -  All military personnel, active and retired, and their families will receive free admittance to any National Park Service site on Veteran’s Day. U.S.  Veterans, members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families will be admitted free-of-charge on Veterans Day to most public lands managed by the Dept. of the Interior and Dept. of Agriculture.  http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=924 http://home.nps.gov/news/release.htm?id=922 http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/veterans/honor.htmhttp://home.nps.gov/applications/parksearch/atoz.cfm

    Battlefields and Military Parks http://www.nps.gov/pub_aff/veterans/honor.htm

    National Register of Historic Places http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/feature/va/

    National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/

    Fish and Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/

    U.S. Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us/

Naturally, it is a good idea to contact the facility you plan to visit for details and check if reservations or permits are required

• 11/16 – Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. The free dinner meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military.  http://www.goldencorral.net/military/

• Nov – Many NFL, NHL, MBA, and college teams celebrate a Military Appreciation Night in Novemember. Check you team's website  to see what discounts they provide.

• 11/13 – L.A. Clippers will host a Military Appreciation Night on Friday, November 13th at 7:30 pm as they take on the Toronto Raptors. Service Men and Women and their families will be honored and all military personnel in attendance will receive a commemorative T-shirt.   http://www.nba.com/clippers/groups/militaryappreciationnight091113.htmlhttp://krla870.townhall.com/pages/MilitaryAppreciationClippers

• 11/21 – Portland Trailblazers have invited all military personnel and families to an appreciation night basketball game on Saturday November 21st (against the Minnesota Timberwolves).   http://www.mfso-oregon.org/2009/10/12/join-us-at-the-blazers-military-appreciation-night-nov-21st/

• 11/22 – 5th Annual Houston Aeros Military Appreciation Night Saturday, Nov 22, 2008 http://www.aeros.com/news/News/index.html?article_id=1916

• until 11/26 – Knott's Military Salute, November 1 - 26 only; Knott's annual tribute to our Military, past and present. FREE admission for Veterans or current serving military personnel and one guest with proper I.D. presented at turnstile. (DD214, Veterans Administration Hospital ID or current Military ID) Past and present military personnel plus one guest will be admitted Free and up to six additional tickets may be purchased for just $15 each.  http://www.knotts.com/public/admission/prices/deals.cfm

• 2009 – Knott's Military Discount - Show your military I.D. all year and get in Knotts for just $29.99 (NOT valid for special ticket events e.g. Halloween Haunt)

• 2009 – Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks - Here's to the Heroes Program   http://www.herosalute.com

• until 12/23 – Walt Disney World Resort in Florida: Through Dec. 23, 2009, each active or retired member of the U.S. military may obtain one complimentary 5-day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute" ticket with Park Hopper and Water Park Fun & more options.  http://www.disneyworld.com/military

• OnGoing – Free O.C. Transportation - Show your military I.D. and ride  OCTA buses for free throughout Orange County - any time, any day. For more OCTA info visit  http://www.octa.net/  and the OC trip planner http://justclick.octa.net/Trip2007  You can text 628246 with the format "bus (stop#) (route#)" to recieve the next 3 pick-ups times at that location. (The route# and stop# are posted on the sign at each OCTA bus stop.)

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THANK YOU.

Related post:

Remembering 1 plus 27 plus 1,474,993 Americans

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And, though I'm a veteran, I'd be all for this, too...

"Why not, instead of commemorating Veterans Day, we establish and work on what we could call a "No War Day."

~Andy Rooney

Courtesy - CBS News Videos Online