BlogClump - Blogging About Associations From a Gen Xer

Do you know the answer to this question? If not, you may want to stop every other project you have and find out. Because you can't exceed expectations (aka provide value) without first knowing what those expectations are. There was a great conversation on the weekly Twitter chat #assnchat (yes, we know, great name) about using social media as a customer service tool. Scroll through here to see the conversation. I won't rehash the whole thing here, but there was a part about using live chat as a tool, and if you did, members expecting it to be manned 24/7. Would your members expect that? I am currently taking a deep look at our website, but I have had to step back and dig deeper into my members expectations. Because if they are expecting updates once a week, that is different than daily updates. That difference might change my technology choices, CMS setup, navigation, etc. So before you go to far with everything you are doing, you may want to find out what the expecta...

Earlier this week, I had a small Twitter discussion with Kevin Holland ( @associationinc ) regarding aggregation as a value proposition. @associationinc - Deciding your role is to aggregate other people's value is like George Costanza wearing sweatpants. "You're telling the world, 'I give up.'" @cardcat - Interesting comment about aggregating. Don't you think it is a viable option for a small association who can't afford it? @associationinc - Nothng wrong with aggregating content as long as you don't perceive it to be your value proposition. There's no real future in it. @cardcat - Don't think it is THE value proposition, but I think it could be A value to members, a big value. @associationinc - A big value is something you offer that nobody else can or that u can do better. Aggregating content is easy, there4 unsustainable. @cardcat - True, it isn't sustainable. But I almost think if you don't act as an aggregator, you risk folks...

My friend Maddie Grant tweeted this post the other day about Social Media Certification. I remembered another 2 posts from this time last year ( here and here ). In Andy's post he says something that is the crux of it to me. There is no authority in Social Media Marketing, there is no standard. Instead of authority, what I think he meant to say was governing body. I bet these folks doing the certifications are trying to become the authority by offering them. But there is no recognized governing body. The second part is the most crucial. There is no standard. As many of the above posts and others have said, there is no one thing that will work for every company when it comes to social media. We all have different audiences, different technology, different goals, etc. However, I think there is one way to help narrow the field from the people who have been on board from square one (or two) versus those out to make a quick buck. There is a certain amount of objective data ...

Last night I saw a tweet from @CopyBlogger linking to this blog post about blogging basics. #1 was about the title! Further proof of its importance. Also, just after one day, that post is my most read since Sept of 2008.

Don't you wish all your blog posts could have that title, and the corresponding effect of everyone who sees it follows through? As I was digging through my Google Reader this morning, I realized how much I rely on the title (and first sentence or part of the first sentence) to help me decide whether or not to read more of the post. I have boatloads of unread posts in my reader and just can't get fully read each one. Granted, I have probably already read a number of them because I clicked through to it when a trusted source tweeted about the post. However, I know I am missing good content because the title and first sentence don't grab me or tell me what the post is really about. Therefore, I am making a resolution to do better with my title and first few words to make it better for my readers. In addition, if you have any tips on Blog Post Title creation, please share. I am all ears! PS - this is also a test to see if my page view numbers increase at all with this tit...

We are getting ready to buy a new house. Every room in the new place is that dull, off-white. So the topic of colors and patterns is constantly in the conversation at home. My wife keeps looking for samples and inspiration, and then I remembered this: http://kuler.adobe.com If you haven't been here, you have to go. It might waste a full day, but it is so worth it if you do any sort of web or marketing work and you need color palette help. Of course, it is also perfect if you are thinking of redecorating your house too. It helps you create color palettes based on a base color or off a photo. It lets you choose several options once you have your base selected. It even lets you manually adjust if you feel the need. In addition, people create and save their own palettes, so you have plenty to look at for ideas. Here is another one solely based on web photos, and it only gives you 2 options with all colors in Hex format. But it works if you need something quick and easy. http:...

When you buy laundry detergent, they usually measure it in terms of loads. And when you go to use it, the cap acts as your measuring cup. But if you notice, one load's worth of detergent is like like 1/5 of a cup these days. This virtually guarantees that you are going to use more than you need, ensuring you buy more detergent, more often. But we really don't think anything of it right? So what if we put more in the wash? They'll just be cleaner, right? Do you have a product/service that you could alter in such a way that people would buy more of it, more often, and not bat an eye at? I bet you do. And I bet most folks wouldn't notice the change. Plus, your bottom line will thank you for it.