Lani and Allen

Feb 2012

13

Epiphanies, YMCA of Greater Boston to Offer Social Marketing Workshop for Business Leaders, Passionate Professionals

by Lani and Allen

[A little note before you begin: This is the press release for the event, which has just been distributed statewide and online, with all the details about this upcoming workshop. For a direct link to sign up immediately, head over to the payment page hosted at PayPal!]

Epiphanies, Inc. and YMCA of Greater BostonThree out of five adults in New Hampshire are on Facebook, the 800-million-member social networking powerhouse where the average user spends 55 minutes per day. YouTube is the world’s second most popular search engine. Google+ activity is now being used to create personalized search results. Twitter breaks news faster and more widely than any mainstream media outlet.

The options and opportunities for marketing and connectivity are evolving at light speed. Never before has it been so important to understand the power and economic impact of building and nurturing a strong, integrated online presence and social marketing strategy.

Determined to help mission-driven organizations, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and passionate professionals thrive in this ever-changing business climate, Gilford-based Epiphanies, Inc. is partnering with the YMCA of Greater Boston to present a three-hour workshop:

Igniting Your Social Marketing Matrix

How to Set Up, Optimize, and Unleash the Power of Social Media to Amplify Your Brand, Expand Your Audience, and Increase Your Profits

This fun, eye-opening, results-focused workshop takes place February 28th, 2012, from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the YMCA’s Todaro Leadership Center in Mirror Lake, New Hampshire. To learn more and register, go to http://www.epiphaniesinc.com/ignite-your-social-marketing-matrix.

Attendees will learn:

• The 3 essential attributes for any successful online brand presence

• The top social platforms for pumping up reach, SEO, and engagement

• 4 keys to building high-quality, targeted relationships in the social space

• How to rally allies and collaborators to spread your vision farther and wider

• 5 free tools for measuring social media performance

• Why some of the most important social brand-building tactics have nothing to do with your own online channels

• 7 quick and easy tips, tricks, and strategies for leveraging content, boosting visibility, and expanding your network, influence, and revenue-driving opportunities

“Social media marketing isn’t just about using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google+, or whatever is being buzzed as the hot platform of the day,” says Allen Voivod, co-owner of Epiphanies, Inc. “It’s about creating energy, harnessing passion, and deepening relationships with the serendipitous power of amplifying channels and technologies.”

“As part of the largest non-profit community service organization in America, we’re excited to partner with Lani and Allen of Epiphanies to bring this kind of community-building information to businesses and organizations,” says Kate Lemay, Senior Program Director with the YMCA of Greater Boston. “We’re proud of the Todaro Leadership Center, and feel it’s a fantastic, state-of the-art facility for a wide variety of life events, workshops and educational programs.”

The cost of the workshop is $60. Space is limited, and light refreshments will be served. For more details and to register, click here!

About Epiphanies, Inc.

Hailed as ”visionary” and ”two of the most creative thinkers in the industry” by the NH Division of Economic Development, Lani and Allen Voivod share powerful social marketing and success strategies through speaking, events, webinars, workshops, and their own online channels. Their company, Epiphanies, Inc., is in the business of engaging leaders, inspiring entrepreneurs, and redefining what’s possible for bold brands, innovative businesses, and mission-driven organizations in this dynamic, relationship-driven world. To find out how they can help you boost visibility, community, competitive edge, memberships, and profits, connect with them in any or all of the ways that work for you, starting at http://www.EpiphaniesInc.com.

About the YMCA of Greater Boston

Founded in 1851 as America’s first Y, the YMCA of Greater Boston has strengthened the Greater Boston community through a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. As the community’s leading nonprofit, we are dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving our community’s health and well-being and providing opportunities to give back and support our neighbors. Each year the YMCA enables more than 100,000 youth, adults, and seniors to be healthy, confident, connected and secure. For more information, visit http://www.ymcaboston.org.

About the Todaro Leadership Center

Built in 2006 and nestled in the woods next to Lake Winnipesaukee in beautiful Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, the Todaro Leadership Center is the YMCA of Greater Boston’s newest and only winterized facility. It is used for many events throughout the year such as: Business and school leadership trainings, weddings, birthdays, retirement and holiday parties, dances, wedding and baby showers, classes and a variety of other functions. To find out more about this state of the art facility and to book your next event, visit www.BostonYCamps.org.

Oct 2011

26

#AhaNH Partner, Speakers, and Success Team Spotlight (plus huge doses of GRATITUDE)

by Lani and Allen

2011 #AhaNH Partner, Panelist, and Success Team Spotlight

It’s ON.

In less than 24 hours,  the 3rd Annual “A-Ha!” NH Social Media Business Summit will be off to the races. More than 175 people will be driving to Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, NH from all over the Granite State, plus a few fine professionals from Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine, too.

For the third year in a row, we are proud and grateful to deliver this one-of-a-kind event in partnership with The NH Division of Economic Development.

The truth is, we are overflowing with gratitude, excitement, and anticipation for what’s to come.

For now, though, we want to share the one resource that means the most to us personally. Sure, it looks like just another bit of Official Event Handout-y Stuff. Technically, it’s a list of the friends, collaborators, partners, and professionals who worked with us to make this year’s event as potent as possible.

To us, it’s a surreal mastermind suite of hopes, dreams, experience, passion, creativity, and possibility. The people, businesses, and organizations inside the pages of the “Partners, Speakers, and Success Team Spotlight” packet you see above are top-notch DYNAMOS. Over the course of the last many weeks (and in some cases, months!), these incredible and talented professionals said “Yes!” time and time again. They contributed time, countless years of insight and experience, and true-blue positive energy that makes this world a better place.

More than that, they’ve spent their lives doing the day-to-day work – sometimes thankless, tedious, and tiring – honing their talents, nurturing their ideas, and becoming the best versions of themselves.

We love, respect, and appreciate these extraordinary visionaries, renegades, and firestarters. They are:

  • Abby Fichtner (Microsoft)
  • Lou Bortone (LouBortone.com)
  • Steve Boucher (NH Division of Economic Development)
  • Nancy Clark (Glen Group)
  • Walter Elly (V2 Strategic Advisors)
  • Dan Freund (Kinney Hill)
  • Michelle Goodearl (Michelle Goodearl Photography)
  • Janine Page (Laconia Skate Escape)
  • Ric Pratte (Meltwater Group)
  • Corissa St. Laurent (Constant Contact)
  • Kevin Skarritt (Flock Marketing)
  • Leslie Sturgeon (Women Inspiring Women)
  • Jim Tyrrell (JimTyrrell.net)

Seriously, these folks are EXTRAORDINARY, and we are so very lucky to know them and collaborate with them!
Check out this Spotlight resource. Cruise it, share it, and please support these wonderful professionals any and every chance you get. Follow them on Twitter, “like” their business Pages on Facebook, and hire them if and when the need strikes. They’re fantastic.

In addition to the folks listed above, we are also humbled and psyched to say there were more than a dozen thought leaders, trailblazers, and passionate entrepreneurs who are contributing to the energy and spirit of the day via videos they previously recorded with us and for you. All of these people are folks we greatly respect, admire, and appreciate, and we can’t thank them enough for taking the time to share their favorite insights and strategies with #AhaNH attendees, and ultimately, our social community.

They are:

  • Paul Boynton (CEO, The Moore Center; Author, Begin With Yes)
  • Chris Brogan (President, Human Business Works; Co-Author, Trust Agents)
  • C.C. Chapman (Founder, Digital Dads; Co-Author, Content Rules)
  • Jason Falls (Co-Author and Editor, Social Media Explorer; Co-Author, No Bull**** Social Media)
  • Laura Fitton (Inbound Marketing Evangelist, Hubspot; Founder of oneforty.com and Co-Author of Twitter for Dummies)
  • Tim Hayden (CMO, 44 Doors)
  • Jeremy Hitchcock (CEO, Dyn)
  • Nate Lindquist (President, Innerspire)
  • Jeremiah Owyang (Industry Analyst, Altimeter Group)
  • Chris Penn (Director of Strategy and Innovation, WhatCounts)
  • Mari Smith (Social Media Leader, Author, The New Relationship Marketing)
  • Lane Sutton (Social Media Strategist)

Thanks, one and all!

Oct 2011

13

Revealed! Presentations for the “A-Ha!” NH Social Media Business Summit

by Lani and Allen

"A-Ha!" NH Social Media Business SummitIt’s our honor and privilege to announce the titles and topics of the presentations you’ll see from the fabulous Featured Speakers at the 3rd Annual “A-Ha!” NH Social Media Business Summit.

If you’ve been on the fence about attending, this may be just what you need to say “Yes” – and just in time, too! The early-bird 50% off rate ends tomorrow, 10/14 at 11:55pm Eastern – get your tickets now, before the price goes up.

Without further ado, here’s the scoop:

Abby Fichtner, Development Evangelist for Startups at Microsoft

“Follow Your Own Path”

Keynote speaker Abby Fichtner, Evangelist for Startups at Microsoft (that’s her at left!)

“Let’s Get Engaged! The Dream Wedding of Online Video and Social Media”

Online visibility expert Lou Bortone

“The No Bull Pursuit of Creativity in Business Blogging”

Steve Boucher, NH DED Communications & Legislative Director

“The Art of Fearless Storytelling”

Nancy Clark, President and Owner Girl of Glen Group

Featured speakers at the 2011 "A-Ha!" NH Social Media Business Summit“Social Media in Strange Places”

Walter Elly of V2 Strategic Advisors

“Where the Rubber Meets the Road: The Business Impact of Social Consumers”

Meltwater Buzz Director Ric Pratte

“Wonder Twin Powers…Activate! The Email and Social Media Super Duo”

Corissa St. Laurent of Constant Contact

“Under the Influence: The New Social VIPs and Their Power Over Your Future”

Kevin Skarritt, CEO of Flock Marketing

“Blip, Spurt, Dash: How to ‘A-Ha!’ Yourself and Your Biz With the Social Web”

Lani Voivod, Co-owner of Epiphanies, Inc.

“Succeed in the Social Realm, You Will: 7 Jedi Strategies for Mastering the Social Media Force”

Allen Voivod, Co-owner of Epiphanies, Inc.

PSNH, "A-Ha!" NH Social Media Business Summit "Power Lunch" SponsorProduced in partnership with the NH Division of Economic Development for the third year in a row, the Summit will also feature a “Power Lunch” in partnership with Public Service of NH. During lunch at the Summit, the Featured Speakers will be sitting at different tables throughout the conference room for table talks – small group sessions where you can ask questions about their specific areas of expertise.

It’s a day to generate ideas, spark conversations, tune into the energy of the almighty “A-Ha!”, and ignite positive, purpose-fueled ACTION. It’s going to help you raise your marketing and success game overall, and raise your team and your business up with you.

Creating this event for you is how we share the best we have to give, and we hope you’ll take advantage of the Summit – and the 50% off rate, too! – by this Friday, 10/14, at 11:55pm Eastern time. (Even at the full price, it’s still a steal.) Sign up now at http://ahanh11.eventbrite.com.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Sep 2011

23

Expand, Engage, and Lead at the 3rd Annual “A-Ha!” NH Social Media Business Summit

by Lani and Allen

"A-Ha!" NH Social Media Business Summit

The word is in and the pace of change in social media has now eclipsed the speed of light. With Google+ on the scene, Facebook has responded to the pressure by rolling out powerful new features to stay competitive. What’s more, Facebook announced even more changes to their platform at the huge annual “f8″ Conference.

To help New Hampshire-based professionals get focused, spark conversations, tune into the energy of the almighty “A-Ha!”, and ignite positive, purpose-fueled action on the Social Web, Epiphanies, Inc., in coordination with the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, will host the 3rd Annual “A-Ha!” NH Social Media Business Summit on Thursday, October 27th, 2011 at Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, NH.

Early-bird pricing is open for a limited time. For more details and to register, go to http://www.AhaNH.com.

“Social media is no longer an option for businesses and organizations,” said New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Interim Director Chris Way. “The business case has been made that these tools are just as necessary as traditional marketing methods – and in most cases even more effective. Our own ‘No Bull’ Business Blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and SlideShare channels have been terrific for our visibility, and we’re proud to partner with Epiphanies on this signature event for the third year in a row.”

Lani and Allen Voivod, co-owners of Epiphanies Inc. and co-founders of the “A-Ha!” NH Social Media Business Summit, will again design and deliver the Summit, and serve as featured speakers for the day-long event. Other speakers at the Summit include:

–Abby Fichtner (Keynote), Evangelist for Startups at Microsoft and a highly regarding blogger in the Agile development field. “I have the most excellent job of getting to help startups build out the next generation of software,” she says. “I’m extremely passionate about how we can develop better software and am always seeking new ways to share knowledge with the community.”

–Lou Bortone, online visibility expert and YouTube video pro with more than 20 years under his belt as a marketing and branding executive with national media including Fox, E! Entertainment Television, The Family Channel and NBC.

–Steve Boucher, Communications and Legislative Director for the NH Division of Economic Development, whose “No Bull Business Blog” was rated “Best in Show” and “Excellent” over the last two years by the nine-state Northeast Economic Developers Association.

–Nancy Clark, Chief Strategist and President of Glen Group, a “fearlessly creative” and award-winning NH ad agency based in North Conway. Nancy is often nicknamed the “Owner Girl” at “New Hampshire’s Best Agency with Big Ideas.”

–Walter Elly, consultant with V2 Strategic Advisors; former senior director of emerging technology at MicroArts Creative Agency; and co-founder/co-director of Foursquare Day in Portsmouth.

–Ric Pratte, Director of the Meltwater Buzz Social CRM platform for The Meltwater Group, a global reputation management firm with 800+ employees in 55 offices on six continents (including one in Bedford, NH).

–Corissa St. Laurent, Regional Development Director for Constant Contact, the undisputed leader of Engagement Marketing™ for hundreds of thousands of small businesses around the world.

–Kevin Skarritt, serial entrepreneur, founder of Flock Marketing, and Communications Director for Michigan CHI, the Michigan Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery’s Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction.

“This is NOT a ’101′ training-type event, though it’s definitely suitable for both newbies and experienced users, too,” adds Lani Voivod. “While there will be countless and specific tactics and strategies shared throughout the day by our featured speakers and many other New Hampshire business leaders and new media trailblazers, the Summit will showcase what’s happening and what’s possible in the social space throughout the Granite State and the world at large.”

Continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments are included for all attendees. In addition, popular NH singer/songwriter Jim Tyrrell will make an encore appearance at this year’s Summit, playing great music throughout the day. A networking reception, door prizes, Segway demonstrations, and (conditions pending) a demonstration of the longest zip line in the continental U.S. are also in store.

Space is limited, and the previous two Summits sold out weeks in advance. To learn more, and get 50% off tickets by the early-bird deadline, go to http://www.AhaNH.com.

About Epiphanies, Inc.
Hailed as ”visionary” and ”two of the most creative thinkers in the industry” by the NH Division of Economic Development, Lani and Allen Voivod share powerful social marketing and success strategies through speaking, events, webinars, workshops, and their own online channels. Their company, Epiphanies, Inc., is in the business of engaging leaders, inspiring entrepreneurs, and redefining what’s possible for bold brands, innovative businesses, and mission-driven organizations in this dynamic, relationship-driven world. To find out how they can help you boost visibility, community, competitive edge, memberships, and profits, connect with them in any or all of the ways that work for you, starting at http://www.EpiphaniesInc.com.

About the NH Division of Economic Development
The New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, comprised of the New Hampshire Business Resource Center and the International Trade Resource Center, offers resources to enhance the economic activities of the state through business attraction outreach, in-state business expansion efforts, and facilitation of government and international sales. To find out more about why New Hampshire’s low business tax burden and sales and income-tax free tradition makes it the “Most Livable State” in the nation, visit http://www.NHEconomy.com, check out their “No Bull Business Blog” at http://blog.NHEconomy.com, and stay connected to NH Economy’s opportunities, grants, and news on Facebook at http://Facebook.com/NoBullBusiness.

Sep 2011

22

Liveblogging the #f8 Conference, and the mind-blowing future of Facebook

by Lani and Allen

Okay, after a good half hour of pre-game chat with the Facebook team, on strolls SNL’s Andy Samberg. (Gee whiz, that guy is hysterical, and does quite an hysterical Zuckerberg.)

At 1:22pm ET, Mark Z. entered the scene. Slightly awkward changing of the guards, given Samberg’s natural comfort with making a fool of himself and Zuckerberg’s comfort with being eternally awkward, despite the fact that he’s one of the richest, most influential humans on the planet.

Millions of people have spent years curating the stories of their lives, only to lose them. This is the problem that Facebook sees. The Profile is the first five minutes of a relationship. The Stream is the next 15 minutes…

Liveblogging the f8 Conference KeynoteAnd now, there’s TIMELINE. “Timeline is the story of your life. All your stories, all your apps, and a new way to express who you are.” THIS is the first big reveal today. Mark says the FB team has been working on this all year. The live audience oohed and ahhhed a bit, but they’re still more quiet than we’d expect them to be. Sporadic clapping, lots of absorption, apparently.

1:32pm ET

Ahhhh, Timeline AUTOSUMMARIZES our lives. Celebrations. A chance to go back in time in a quick scroll. Not everything you’ve ever done – just the important stuff. Somehow, Facebook knows what this important content of your life is. “Less important” stuff is also included, just not as visually prominently.

A chance to BROWSE THROUGH TIME…

And you can add things to you timeline, like photos from your childhood, stories from your past. Mark says it’s “fun and easy” to add these things.

Special life events can be added, too.

There’s a “PHOTOS” Timeline view. There’s also a “MAP” Timeline view, where you can see anywhere you’ve been on a map. You can use the Timeline slider on the right, and filter where you’ve been at certain times in your lives.

1:39PM ET

“So what types of content can I share on my TIMELINE?”

No activity is too big or too small to share. You can use APPS to add content to your Timeline.

Facebook has added something called REPORTS. APPS can help you roll up your activity in these nice Reports. Just zoom back, and you can see it all.

So, how do you add an app to your Timeline?

One way FB thinks we’ll discover cool apps to add to our Timelines is via our Friends’ Timelines.

[Mark keeps saying "it's really easy.] Yes, we suppose all of this would be “really easy” for him!]

Facebook wanted to make Timeline something we’ll want to refer to as our home. Because of that, FB has decided to allow us to change the cover of our profile – the top of our Timeline – to personalize the experience. This is called STARRING.

“You have complete control over everything on your Timeline.” You can glance over every story, decide who sees it, change the privacy settings. What you show there, how you display it – your Timeline is all up to YOU.

Every person’s Timeline has its own look and feel.

Timeline is compatible with mobile devices, too.

“So, that’s TIMELINE!”

And now, Mark shares a video they’ve made showing just how powerful Timeline is. Years are flying by. Photos representing moments that make up a life. Videos are integrated. Growing up, graduating, falling in love, getting married, having kids – it’s all there at a glance.

“We’re really proud of Timeline.”

Now, onto the next version of Open Graph and a completely new set of apps…

1:49 pm ET

“You can just read a book, you don’t have to ‘Like’ a book.”

Goal: Make an “order of magnitude more connections than you could before.”

Last year, FB added “NOUNS” to the Open Graph. This year, they’re adding “VERBS.”

People have things they want to share, but they don’t want to annoy their friends with boring stuff.

TICKER: A lightweight stream of everything going on around you.

When you share a post, it goes into Newsfeed. But when you add an activity, it goes into TICKER. This is the update to the Social Graph, so people can share their “lightweight” activity.

Last year was about connecting to anything you want. Now FB is creating an opportunity for a whole new world of social apps.”A new class of apps.”

Industries and products are becoming social.

Communication app. Lifestyle apps – expressing fashion, hobbies, etc.

Liveblogging the f8 Conference KeynoteHere are the three ways FB is innovating with apps

1. “Frictionless experiences” - no more rude app interruptions. The permissions box has been changed so things can be added to your Timeline clearly and without surprises. Ex: Spotify – it doesn’t have to keep asking for permission.

2. “Realtime serendipity” - you can see things happening live in your Ticker. For example, you can listen to the same song that your friend happens to be listening to. Things can spread quickly through the Graph. Interesting patterns emerge on a larger scale, too. Zuckerberg says you really have to experience this magic yourself to appreciate the power and coolness of these functions.

Discoveries are fascinating…and you can look at summaries of your friends’ interests. “By looking at patterns in your Friends’ activity, you can discover some really neat things.”

3. “Finding patterns in activities” – Developers are using Open Graph to rethink music, AND to rethink the whole MUSIC INDUSTRY. So here’s Spotify’s CEO, Daniel EK…

Daniel is talking about how we used to browse each others’ music collections, and then Napster happened about 10 years ago. So how do we share and deal with the piracy thing?

[Note: I'm a little lost right now, but I'll try to figure out what this Daniel EK guy is talking about. From what I can tell, Facebook just did something cool with Spotify - I just can't really tell what it is, except that Kanye West's "Stronger" is playing while they're talking about it. -Lani]

2:08pm ET – back to Mark Zuckerberg…

Allen here, taking over for Lani…and what we’re talking about now is how the music sharing and interaction can now apply to other types of content, like movies and television. What Facebook is looking at is ways to integrate the content from companies like Netflix, and turn them into “social companies.”

Mark then welcomes Reed Hastings, Netflix CEO, onto the stage, and the talk is about how to better discover a broader variety of content through your friends and the Open Graph.

Next up: Revamping the news industry! Social news apps tell you what you’re friends are reading. Mark notes that Yahoo! News is the largest news site on the web (!! really?! Wow!), and that it will get integrated into a canvas app that’s part of the whole social experience on Facebook.

Or, as Fox News views the future of news, in making their “The Daily” canvas app integrated into Facebook, “Everyone will discover news through their friends.”

More Open Graph fun and games: “Social games are killing it,” Mark says. And the changes are designed to help users find, discover, and PLAY more and better together. And finally, Lifestyle apps, which Mark thinks will “really take off” now that Open Graph is being applied with Timeline and Reports on apps like Foodspotting and Nike+.

2:25pm:

And, he’s spent. Summing up, the latest version of Facebook’s Open Graph allows a new class of apps to be built, to create frictionless social experiences, realtime serendipity, and find patterns in your friends’ activities.

And now, back to the offline life – Lani will be at the Women Inspiring Women “Extreme Business Makeover” event, and I’ll be at home with the kids…please feel free to keep up the conversation here in the comments, we’ll chime in throughout the day, too!

Sep 2011

16

10 Rousing Reasons Google+ Is Worth Your Time and Attention

by Lani and Allen

This post originally appeared on the state of New Hampshire’s “No Bull” Business Blog, and we’re pleased to reprint it here for you as well! Connect with +Lani and +Allen on Google+, and you’re still looking for an invite, let us kn

ow in the comments!

At twenty million users and growing since its beta launch on June 28, 2011, Google+ is definitely making waves.

Not the lifeless ripples of Google’s previous attempts at social – including Wave, Buzz, even Orkut – but waves of the Hawaii Five-O kind. Waves that thrill and inspire the adventure seekers, risk takers, and trailblazers of this dynamic new-world economy.

Even though it’s early days yet, please know Google+ is not only surviving, but already thriving as THE new social network contender to rival Facebook. If you haven’t been swept into its current yet, which is still on an invite-only basis, Google+ does seem a bit copycat-ish to the reigning champion of social networks.

“[Google+] is a collection of different social products,” explains Ben Parr in Mashable’s Google+: The Complete Guide. “These features include Stream (a newsfeed), Sparks (a recommendation engine), Hangouts (a vi

deo chat service), Huddle (a group texting service), Circles (a friend management service) and Photos.”

But the whole of Google+ and its implications for business and professional success are much, much more than the sum of their parts. With that in mind, dive in with us as we share 10 smart, strategic reasons why Google+ deserves your attention.

1. It’s Baggage-free (so far)

How many times has Facebook annoyed YOU with unannounced user interface changes, lack of customer service responsiveness, or one privacy incident after another? Google+ carries none of that baggage.

And you know what other baggage it doesn’t carry? All the relationships you have on Facebook. You get to start all over again. Maybe do things a little differently this time. It’s an attractive idea for a lot of people, especially those who feel like they’re stuck under Facebook’s thumb.

2. It *Looks* Simple

“They” used to say that MySpace looked like the Vegas Strip when compared to Facebook’s cool, crisp design. Now it’s Facebook that looks like a Lady Gaga rodeo, while Google+ looks like a clean, well-lighted place. Early adopters have cited this clean, simple design aesthetic as one of the big reasons they’re singing the praises of Google+ over Facebook.

Google has always celebrated simplicity as part of its brand experience. Dig the home page, which currently has no superfluous text, and back when it did, it wasn’t more than the length of a tweet. Only the absolute necessities remain, like navigation choices for search, plus advertising and business programs, because that’s where the bucks come from.

3. Lists Are Square, Circles Aren’t

Google has People, Facebook has Friends. Google has Circles, Facebook has Lists. You can add up to 5,000 People into your Google Circles, and you can have up to 5,000 Friends on Facebook. Big whoop.

How they work, though, is a whole different story. The unsung hero of web design is UI – the User Interface. Consider the seminal book on UI, Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think. You have to think reeeeeeeeeal hard about creating a List in Facebook. Lists aren’t even mentioned in any of the “Using Facebook” links in the main help browsing page! (Psst – click “Account” in the top right, then “Edit Friends,” then look in the top right corner of the center column for the “+Create a List” button.)

Google’s got it dialed. Click the Circles button. Find people. Drag and drop into Circles. Easy. Intuitive. Done.

What's So Good About Google+?4. Stream Control

Head’s up for the Facebook gamer haters sick of seeing your Friends’ Farmville and Mafia Wars updates and requests in your feed. (You do know you can block those, right?) What happens in Google+ Games stays on a Google+ Games Stream. No mixing it in with your other Circles.

Plus, so far there’s no secret formula about what appears in your Stream (a la Facebook’s “EdgeRank” news feed algorithm). The latest posts from peeps in your Circles are what appear at the tops of your Streams. In other words, you’ve got more control over what you see and what you want to see. Yippee!

5. Picasa Power

An alternative to Flickr, Picasa Web Albums is Google’s photo app, and it used to be that you had a 1 GB storage limit. Not anymore! When you upload photos to Google+, it uses Picasa’s engine as your photo management system, and you can edit your photos right in G+. Bonus – those G+ photos don’t count toward your Picasa storage limit.

Even better, you can view photos shared by people in your Circles while seeing at a glance which ones are generating the most comments. In our image-driven culture, these tech tweaks are pretty big deals.

6. Hangouts Are Hip ‘n Happening

Maybe it’s just us, but it seems the world greeted the Facebook/Skype integration announcement last month with a collective “meh.” A week earlier, Google+ introduced its Hangouts video chat app, and hands down it’s the most acclaimed feature of the network to date.

“The ten-person video chats (Hangouts) are awesome and a wonderful way to add more intimacy to real-time connecting/social networking,” says Mari Smith, one of the world’s leading relationship marketing experts and our own social media mentor, in What’s So Exciting About Google+ – An Overview. “I’m seeing and hearing about many cool, creative uses of Hangouts, such as: cooking demos, live tattooing, seven-hour concerts, pizza parties, and live news broadcasts.”

7. Search Plus One = INFLUENCE

Where do people do the lion’s share of their Internet searches? Yup, in Google. So when you see the search results, do you see Facebook’s Like Button? Nope! You see the Google +1s.

It’s been widely reported (and just makes good common sense) how much we all trust opinions posted online – from friends and strangers both – far more than we trust advertisements. So think of your own behavior. If you search for a baby stroller, and in the results, one site shows 3 +1s and another site shows 30 +1s, which are you more likely to trust, and click through to? This tiny little “+1” box becomes quite the power player in the world of social influence, sales, and ultimately, business success.

8. Algorithms, Anyone?

If people +1 your webpages and blog posts, doesn’t that make you more relevant in your industry than someone who isn’t getting those +1s? It sure does. What should Google make of that? They’re in the business of serving up relevant content on search engine results pages (SERPs). Raise your hand if you think Google will start factoring +1s into its search algorithms. Okay, now put your hand down and keep reading.

9. It’s Smart Business

Early reports claim that Google+ is filled predominantly with male geeks in tech-related jobs. These reports remind me of a marketing seminar I attended years ago, where one piece of advice was to be the only marketing expert in a roomful of dentists.

Right now, service professionals, business owners, self-employed go-getters, and brand mavens of all stripes have the chance to be real stand outs in their fields, before Google+ opens its doors to the masses. This is precious time during which savvy folks can make connections, boost visibility, nurture relationships, expand networks, and create opportunities with innovators, entrepreneurs, biz mavericks, and industry luminaries who are ahead of the curve in the social and tech realms. In these radically-shifting times, such a competitive and strategic edge can make all the difference.

These people – the Doers, Creators, Movers, and Shakers – understand the Bigger Picture. In many cases, Google+ pioneers know what’s going on – even live and breathe it! – and are forging the future of possibility for the sit-and-waiters and the let’s-see-what-happens-before-we-do-anything types.

It all adds up to invaluable connections with extraordinary, exponential, and infinite potential.

10. Tomorrow Is Coming…

Believe it or not, Google is still calling Google+ a “Project,” and it’s still officially in beta. Yet it’s probably the biggest-ever beta test in the world at this point, and it’s only getting bigger.

Think of what’s not in place yet: Ads, business pages, and integration with other Google features like Places, Latitude, Offers, Calendar, and Checkout. Google+ also has the unbelievable advantage of learning from Facebook’s trials and errors, and building tools and apps that are superior right out of the gate. Not to mention Google’s dominance in mobile (Android), video (YouTube), and search.

When it comes to the social space, Google may have been a little like Baby Huey in the past, but it looks like all its acquisitions and expansions are ready to step into their destinies and ascend to the next exciting level of purpose-driven ingenuity.

But What About Facebook?

Now, you could read this all and think, “Should I just ditch Facebook and head over to Google+?” Fact remains, Facebook is still the world’s largest social network. More than 150 million people in the U.S. have an account. What’s even crazier is that for every U.S. account, there are four non-U.S. ones.

It’s gonna take a HUGE mistake on Facebook’s part for them to lose that #1 position. So regardless of whether you or your company engages with consumers, other businesses, the government, or non-profits, you still need a business presence on Facebook. (Unless you’re Apple, the company that once again and always proves there’s an exception to every rule.)

What’s more, Google has a history of doing things not to become #1 in a field, but to give the #1 player a kick in the coding. The Chrome browser is a prime example. Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari work just fine, right? What’s the point of Google making its own browser? To keep the other three from resting on their laurels. To ensure that you and I have a great Internet usage experience. That, of course, benefits Google, where nearly all Internet search roads lead.

Hopefully by now, you’ve got Facebook handled well enough that you can spare a few of those social media moments you spend each day to start playing with Google+.

If not…please don’t let anymore time go by. All this social media brouhaha may be overwhelming, frustrating, or confusing, but it’s part of a bigger shift in how people are connecting, sharing, and communicating.

Be brave. Be bold. Play around and be patient with yourself. You can do this. And if you need an invite, post a message on our Epiphanies, Inc. Facebook Wall and we’ll do what we can to help you out. Or, if you’re already on Google+, please connect with us there: Lani Voivod, Allen Voivod.

After all, we’re all riding the curl of this ever-evolving socio-economic ecosystem together!

Aug 2011

27

4 Social Media Tips to Prepare Your Business for Hurricane Irene and Other Disasters

by Lani and Allen

In the hours before Hurricane Irene strikes the East Coast, all businesses and organizations in the path of the storm need to be prepared to be offline for as much as two weeks or more, due to power losses, downed trees, washed out roads, lost Internet access, and lack of access to offices, stores, and other business locations.

In fact, David Paulison, former executive director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), says that “Small businesses that don’t have a plan in place generally don’t survive after a disaster, whether it’s a flood or a tornado…We see that anywhere from 40-60 percent of those that are hit like that simply don’t come back to business.”

We had the honor earlier this year of working on a joint initiative of USDA Rural Development, the NH Division of Economic Development, and the NH Community Development Finance Authority on “When Disaster Strikes,” a series of workshops focused on business continuity planning, public relations, and social media in natural and man-made disaster situations. (See all three presentations at the Division of Economic Development’s Slideshare channel.)

Social media has tremendous power and value for people and businesses during disasters. Sharing information on evacuation conditions, communicating with employees, notifying key stakeholders about your business outages, showing customers and clients the human side of what’s going on in your business, getting updated storm information, coordinating assistance in areas where it’s needed most…those are just some of the ways you can use social channels like blogs, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and more to connect to the people and agencies that matter most.

Social Media Checklist for Business Disaster Preparedness

There’s a free “Social Media Checklist for Business Disaster Preparedness” download from us at the Division of Economic Development’s Slideshare channel, too. While some steps you may not be able to complete in the next 48 hours, here are four things you can and should handle as quickly as possible.

1. Set Up Mobile Access.

If you have a smartphone, be sure to install apps from social channels, like Twitter and Facebook, you already use personally and in business. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can still post updates to Facebook and Twitter using SMS text messaging, once you set up mobile access.

For your Facebook Profile, start at https://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php and go to the “Mobile” tab. For your Facebook Page, go to your admin panel (reached by clicking “Edit Page” when you’re on your page), look for the “Mobile” tab. For Twitter, once you’re logged in, click your name in the upper right, then in the drop down under “Settings,” go to the “Mobile” tab.

2. Keep Passwords Handy.

Sometimes people store passwords in their web browsers and just forget what they are. Other times, people have so much on their minds in the midst of a disaster that they just plain forget what their passwords are! Passwords get changed at different times, some require numbers while others don’t, or special characters, or different minimum lengths…you get the idea.

It’s not a good idea to just have your passwords lying around the office or store, but kept in a locked fire safe…well, that’s a better idea. Make sure you’ve documented all your passwords for social sites (heck, for banking and insurance sites, too), in case you need to reference or share them on the fly.

3. Have a Back-up.

If you can’t get to your social channels to post updates or communicate, is there someone else who can do it for you? It’s always a smart policy to have more than one Admin for a Facebook Page, for example, in case one person gets locked out of his or her account. Same concept in the event of a disaster – if you’re the only person with access, and you don’t have the time or means to control and communicate with your social channels, it’s going to look to the outside world like no one’s at the wheel of your business.

Find someone you trust to designate as a back-up for you – if not an employee or business partner, then a trusted spouse, relative, responsible friend, or relevant vendor, who can access and update channels for you in a time of need.

4. Create Emergency Agency Social Lists.

FEMA has said it expects to concentrate more of its information sharing through social media channels in the event of a disaster. FEMA is on Facebook and Twitter, as are many other support agencies. Don’t forget, too, that economic development agencies also serve businesses in times of disaster. The US Economic Development Agency is on Facebook and Twitter – check in your state or region to see whether more localized agencies are there, too. Here in New Hampshire, for example, the state is on Facebook and Twitter, and shared a “Hurricane Irene Storm Awareness Update for NH Businesses” on their blog yesterday.

To track and receive information easily from business support agencies in Facebook – once you’ve gone to their pages and “Liked” them – go to the “Account” link in the top right of your window, select “Edit Friends,” then look for “+ Create a List” button at top right of the center column. In Twitter, click the “Lists” tab, then click “Create a list” link in the dialog box that appears.

Follow Real-time Hurricane Irene Information, Conversations, Resources, and Reactions on Twitter

Here are a few other agencies to consider following on Twitter to keep on top of the Hurricane Irene buzz:

  • @USAgov – “Follow us to stay up to date on the latest official government news and information.”
  • @DHSJournal - “U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Official).”
  • @StormPrediction – “NOAA SPC and HPC Feeds setup by @kmcurry; NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center”
  • @NHC_Atlantic – “Providing analyses, forecasts, and warnings of hazardous tropical weather to protect lives and property.”
  • @TWC_Hurricane – “The latest updates on the tropics from The Weather Channel.”
  • @RedCross – “Official twitter stream for the American Red Cross. Follow us for disaster and preparedness updates.”

As of 2:30 am EST Saturday, “State of Emergency” and “Katrina” are trending topics on Twitter, and the popular hashtags following the threatening tropical cyclone include #hurricane, #irene, #hurricaneirene. The trending topics will change quickly and often, cluing you in to what’s nabbing people’s attention from a global perspective. So when “chatter” rises about hurricane information, you really get a sense of how much this storm is occupying the collective conversation.

A word about following hashtags and conversation threads on Twitter: Some of it might look like nonsense or unrelated trivia. Many people often jump into the stream of popular topics to crack jokes, get attention, showcase wit, and just plain contribute from their perspective. It’s human nature. However, there’s lots of really valuable insight, views, resources, timely updates, and full-throttle humanity in there. Check it out, and let us know what you think.

Web 2.0 Disaster Management Presentation

If you have 45 minutes and want to take a deeper look at why social media is more relevant than ever to the disaster preparedness and business continuity process, the full presentation from the “When Disaster Strikes” initiative is below (and on Slideshare if you need it, too). Designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals using social media for business purposes, the presentation allows you to scan through the slides quickly or listen to the whole audio that accompanies it, which includes nine things you can do before, during, and after a disaster situation.

Web 2.0 Disaster Management

Hope you find it useful and informative. What about you? What other steps would you recommend? Please share a comment below to let your fellow readers know!

Jul 2011

26

Your Ticket to Facebook Success, Plus a Bonus Gift From Us to You

by Lani and Allen

750 million users, and still growing! Facebook is not only the largest social network in the world, it’s also the largest photo sharing network, and even the 4th largest video sharing site. As one of the top 5 most trafficked websites in the world, it’s also hugely relevant to Google search results, too.

So when it comes to an event like the Facebook Success Summit, we can think of three types of people who could best make use of the information and expertise that’ll be dropped at the 2nd annual event:

  1. Corporate and small biz professionals using Facebook for business right now, who want to enhance their knowledge and focus to get even better results
  2. Social media marketers and consultants looking for top-notch professional development opportunities
  3. Facebook newbies who want to come up to speed fast, instead of diving in and treading water by themselves

Last year’s event was fan-flippin’-tastic. We can’t say enough good things about it. The quality of the presenters is without equal, the material is fresh (and even visionary in many cases), and there’s even a terrific networking component that happens through Twitter and LinkedIn.

So when it came to signing up for the 2011 event, it was a no-brainer. We believe in it so strongly, we’ve also become affiliates of the Summit, too. And because we’re so convinced of the value of the Summit – how can you beat access to the best and brightest minds in social media for less than $20 per session? – we have a gift for you.

If you sign up for the Facebook Success Summit through our affiliate program, we’ll send you a free copy of Launch by Michael Stelzner. Mike is the founder of Social Media Examiner and the mastermind behind summits like the upcoming Facebook event. Launch was released in June 2011, and details Social Media Examiner’s meteoric rise to prominence, during which it became a million-dollar biz in its first year of operation. He explains exactly how he did it in Launch, and shows step-by-step how to use his strategies and tactics to propel your own success.

Smart entrepreneurs and biz pros know that events like the Facebook Success Summit offer accelerated learning opportunities and exclusive access to thought leaders delivering new strategies and tactics that’ll catapult your performance, expand your awareness, and inspire your ideas of what’s possible in this new world of technology, connectivity, and Web. 2.0 humanity.

Sign up. Today!

Feb 2011

28

Reserve your seat for the web’s biggest social media event! #SMSS11

by Lani and Allen

The following is from Social Media Examiner, which is deeply tied to a remarkable series of online Success Summits that have been happening since 2009. The one that started it all? The Social Media Success Summit, and the third annual event kicks off May 3rd, wherever YOU want to engage with it!

They sold out the 2,500 spots last year, and as of this post, they’ve got a half-off, early-bird registration thing going on. People who attended last year’s event have already had a window to reserve their spot ahead of everyone else, so the remaining slots are now available to the general public. If you missed it last year, or you’d been holding out on re-attending, please, please, PLEASE do yourself and your business a favor and make the ridiculously cost-effective investment in this Summit and all the materials that come with it.

We’ve already registered ourselves, and we look forward to “seeing” you there!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Have you heard the buzz about Social Media Success Summit 2011—the web’s largest online social media marketing conference?

Before I tell you how this virtual summit will help your business attract great customers and prospects, gain a unique competitive advantage, and measure your social media results, let me share a story with you.

PROOF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING WORKS…

In October 2009, Michael Stelzner started Social Media Examiner, a blog for marketers and small business owners. Almost overnight, his site became one of the top business blogs in the world.

He didn’t advertise, didn’t rely on the press and almost none of his traffic came from search engines.

Slightly more than a year later, his site has more than 57,000 email subscribers, over 31,000 Facebook fans, a half-million page views a month, and has generated nearly $2 million in sales.

Everything he does focuses on delivering high-quality content coupled with intelligent social media marketing.

Michael’s story is not unique. A significant 73% of business owners and marketers plan to increase their use of social media in 2011 (2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report).

What’s the connection? Your customers (and prospects) are using social media every day. Social media is a new marketing frontier because it bypasses all the costly middlemen and allows you to engage directly with your customers and prospects! AND this presents an enormous opportunity for you.

SO WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?

Michael (and his team) have been working for months to bring the best minds in social media together in a fully online event called Social Media Success Summit 2011.

A significant 2,500 marketers and business owners from around the world attended his last Social Media Success Summit. Businesses were transformed. In fact, 96% of attendees said they’d attend again.

This summit’s focus is to empower you to implement successful social media marketing tactics, track and measure your social media ROI, and see how successful social media campaigns were executed. Twenty-two of the world’s leading social media superstars will be summit instructors.

Presenters include Jeremiah Owyang (Altimeter Group), Brian Solis (author, Engage), Frank Eliason (Citigroup), Mari Smith (co-author, Facebook Marketing), Erik Qualman (author, Socialnomics), Michael Stelzner (founder, Social Media Examiner), Dan Zarrella (author, The Social Media Marketing Book), and experts from Boeing, Intel, Verizon, Cisco and LinkedIn.

Plus join Andy Sernovitz (author, Word of Mouth Marketing), David Meerman Scott (author, Real-Time Marketing & PR), Jay Baer (co-author, The Now Revolution), Hollis Thomases (author, Twitter Marketing), Steve Garfield (author, Get Seen), and Ann Handley (MarketingProfs)–just to name a few.

Attendees at our two last summits included well-known organizations such as General Electric, American Express, Staples, General Mills, Microsoft, Harvard, San Francisco Giants, MetLife, Kraft Foods, Hyatt Hotels, Stanford, Ben & Jerry’s, IDG and Disney. But you don’t need to be a big business to benefit!

This is the world’s largest online social media event designed to empower marketers and business owners to master social media marketing. And the great news is it’s a live online conference you can attend from your home or office.

Go here now to learn more. And as a way of saying “thanks” for checking out the summit, there’s a gift just for marketers called “8 Steps to Creating a Winning Social Media Strategy” by Jay Baer (valued at $59) waiting for you. Go get it!

Feb 2011

4

“Begin With Yes” Career Fest: Attend on 3/15 or watch it live online!

by Lani and Allen

We love this, and not only because Allen is presenting one of the workshops and Lani will be tweeting and shooting quickie Flip videos to capture highlights of the event. This unique “Begin With Yes Career Fest” is fueled with a very passionate, powerful, positive intention to affect change.

Today the Department of Labor announced the nationwide unemployment rate is at 9%, and an additional five million people have given up looking for work altogether. This event is designed to help folks in New Hampshire get the tools they need to get back on track, get inspired, and TAKE ACTION that’ll lead to new jobs, more opportunities, and happier, more financially stable lives and livelihoods. Plus, Paul Boynton is a WONDERFUL, dynamic, and generous man. If anyone can serve as a catalyst for hope and prosperity in these challenging times, he can.

BERLIN, NH – When developing an effective job search strategy, it’s best to keep this simple theory in mind – Positive attitude plus positive action leads to a positive result.

That’s the philosophy of Paul Boynton, award-winning CEO of Manchester-based social service agency The Moore Center and author of the inspirational book Begin With Yes. Boynton is working with a team of State and private sector partners to help unemployed New Hampshire citizens access the tools and resources they need to return to the workforce.

In tandem with this effort, the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, White Mountains Community College, Public Service of New Hampshire, Logo Loc and media sponsor New Hampshire Business Review will hold the “Begin With Yes Career Fest” at White Mountains Community College in Berlin on Tuesday, March 15th from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

“The lessons you learn in my book about the power of being positive and setting attainable goals are all good, but there needs to be a corresponding action plan to turn those good thoughts into activity,” Boynton said. “That’s why we’re not only offering free downloads of Begin With Yes* to folks who are out of work, but are also providing them with the concrete set of tools they need to conduct an effective job search. It’s a two-pronged approach.”

In addition to Boynton’s keynote address, there will be four other general session workshops – “Job Search – Applications, Resumes and Cover Letters” (White Mountains Community College speaker TBD), “Effective Communication Skills in the Job Search” (Dr. Russ Ouellette, Sojourn Partners), “Networking – It’s Not Who You Know, But Who Knows You” (Kevin Shyne, North Country Tech Prep Director and Leadership North Country Executive Director) and “Social Media Basics for Job Seekers” (Allen Voivod, Epiphanies, Inc.).

“Recognizing that helping to develop a job ready workforce is a primary goal of education, White Mountains Community College is thrilled to be a part of this event,” said White Mountains Community College President Kathy Eneguess. “We look forward to lending the expertise of our staff in developing and coordinating workshops that provide valuable information to citizens looking for a fresh start backed with new ideas.”

Through a special arrangement with Manchester-based EZStream and Portsmouth-based Kinney Hill Media Partners, the entire event will streamed live at http://bit.ly/NoBullStream.

“Though the event is taking place in the North Country, we are definitely committed to ensuring that all citizens have access to this great information,” said New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Interim Director Roy Duddy. “Whether you’re someone who has been out of work for a long time or someone who is underemployed and is just seeking a new career direction, you’ll truly benefit from the combination of Paul’s book and the interactive workshops.”

“Public Service of New Hampshire is proud to take an active role in sponsoring and being on the coordinating committee of such a creative and proactive event in the state’s North Country,” added Public Service of New Hampshire Economic & Community Development Manager Pat McDermott. “Helping our citizens to get back to work and build a stronger workforce and local economy is a mission that everyone embraces and we’re just happy to be able to do our part.”

Admission to the “Begin With Yes Career Fest” is FREE but is limited to the first 200 people. To register, contact Leslie Sherman at lsherman@dred.state.nh.us.

*Unemployed citizens can download copies of “Begin With Yes” free of charge at http://www.beginwithyes.com/purchase.html. They will need to click the “ebook” option and enter YESNH in the discount code box.

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