working through lunch
on marketing plans
for Taking it Lightly
Category: Networking
Panning for gold in the stream: twitter 4 months later
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My friend, David White, introduced me to twitter. As a web designer and marketing consultant I felt a need to know; to keep up with trends. I began following people that David followed; and posted my first brief message on November 22nd, 2008. It took a lot of time to read what seemed banal and/or narcissistic 140 character messages from people I didn’t really know. Occasionally someone would post a link to a web site or blog which actually had value to me or my business. Mostly I read messages about the value of twittering and social media as marketing and PR tools. It seemed strange; sort of like people calling each other on their phones and constantly talking about how the telephone is a great tool for marketing and PR; or handing out flyers which state over and over again that flyers are great marketing and PR tools. Obviously I wasn’t following the right people. Another crazy thing: we’re only seeing one side of conversations. You have to follow the people that those you follow talk to in order to receive the whole conversation; such as it is. This all feels quite tedious. And for what? An occasional useful link or bit of knowledge.
Then there’s my little messages going out there with links to my work or blog posts. Most times I get no response. I have no idea if anyone found it useful or interesting. Feels quite weird. However, lately I’ve found myself finding and following filmmakers, designers, artists and musicians; as well as buddhists and zen practitioners. And things have become more interesting; at least for my sensibility. All of a sudden I began to receive some positive feedback and participate in conversations which I can actually relate to.
Last week I created a new web page-site poetographs.com to post work which puts words into a graphic context that, hopefully, enhances meaning. I put the link out on twitter and received a number of retweets (RT). Bing Futch, a beautiful and generous musician, responded and RT’d the link. I had some poetographs from back in 2004 which I wanted to resurrect as a series. I put them into a movie form and sent the link to Bing. Within 24 hours Bing returned a link with sound added to the movie. Now that’s gold my friends. Perhaps a small nugget. But solid gold nonetheless. Here’s our collaboration. Thank you Bing. Strange as it seems; thank you twitter; I get it.
“buzz” in world all a twitter
“…the age of Photography corresponds precisely to the explosion of the private into the public, or rather into the creation of a new social value, which is the publicity of the private.” – Roland Barthes, 1980
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So I opened my virtual eyes/ears to the twittering world; the virtual equivalent to walking into a room full of people; some you may know; some you’ve never met. Two weeks into this world of tweets, I still wonder if the time it takes to sift through the noise is worth harvesting a few charming voices and remarkable links they provide. But then I have a similar reaction at live networking events. I don’t consider myself antisocial; rather I like my socializing to feel rich and worthwhile.
Many of these twittering people seem to do it virtually 24/7. As in any social situation some of the people I’ve chosen to “follow” have valuable things to say and share; while others seem to feed a need to hear (or read) their own words between sharing useful or valuable information. One of several odd feelings I’ve experienced: invisibility when I’ve attempted to make connections; to “speak,” as in “reply,” to a number of those I follow; and my replies appear lost in cyberspace. Quite unlike a live networking event.
Another odd feeling I experience: akin to listening to one side of a phone conversation which I’m not meant to hear. Then all of a sudden a designer will drop a link to a fabulous collection of art; or a Non-Profit will alert me to a petition worth signing or some other worthy cause; only to return to what seems like hours of needless tweeting and chirping. Except, it’s not like birds in the trees. I feel a need to read (or at least scan) each tweet — in case I miss something of value. Puzzled. Reading. Listening. Looking.
How do you feel about the “new social media;” and how it fits or doesn’t fit into your life?
I’d love to hear your comments here or Twitter Imagist.
What if a client doesn’t have a video production budget?
The current trend toward feeding multimedia information over the internet demands our readiness to deliver professional messages for our clients. We’ve ramped up our video production and post production capabilities; while maintaining a budget conscious niche. Even with our cost conscious approach to video production some clients cannot budget those costs; yet understand the power of audio and visuals to more powerfully deliver their message on the web. For these clients we encourage them to consider fine still photography in combination with professionally captured audio, to deliver a more powerful multimedia message than either still images or audio, alone, can offer.
Our first opportunity to provide an example of putting professional quality still images with professional quality audio came from attending a JoeNetworks “networking coffee and donuts” event at JRA — and here, brought to you by MediumRareProductions, is the result:
Links and networks
How do we make the web we weave work for our clients as well as ourselves? It seems that new terms come into use every day. Recently we discovered the umbrella term “social media.” We’ve been using these media (e-mail, blogs, Skype, discussion groups, etc.) for years; yet didn’t have a term to refer to all of them. The potential of social media appears huge, time consuming, informative, mind boggling. Sorting out the best choices, and uses, for our clients and ourselves becomes the challenge.
About a week ago I received a call from Suzanne Kresse, inquiring about web site development. She liked what we did for William Peterson of Woodland Ponds; as the real estate agent for that development, she thought we could help her achieve her web site goals. So this link comes directly from an existing client. The question, “can we maintain and further develop this link for ourselves as well as meet Suzanne’s goals and budget?”
Yesterday I received a call from Renee Ferrara inquiring about developing a web site for Mille Tesori. Over the past 8 years I’ve worked with Marcia Klode, owner of Mille Tesori Design Studio, on a number of small photography and design projects. Each time we’ve met I’ve brought up the subject of developing a web site for her studio. Now we (potentially a new Mille Tesori web team) seem ready to begin the design process. This link speaks on the virtue of patience.
A simple photograph and ad design, produced in 2000, for inclusion in a Milwaukee Symphony program .
Kim Temkin-Taylor of Temkin-Taylor Design (we designed her logo, letterhead and business card, and host her web site which we hope to develop in the near future) actually designs the spaces which interior designers like Marcia eventually get to work within.
Matt Millen of Millen Roofing Company puts the lid on the finest homes, churches and other historic buildings. This family owned company has been installing and maintaining slate and tile roof systems since 1893. We’ve had the honor of working with Matt on numerous projects, including his web site, corporate identity, and documenting the making of the best quality hand split slate tiles in Arvonia, Virginia.
Both Dan Nauman at Bighorn Forge and Seth Tyler at Tyler Studios, Limited serve the same demographic as Suzanne, William, Kim, Marcia and Renee. In fact Seth did a little work on William’s beautiful permanent Woodland Ponds entryway signs (which we also helped design). I’m proud to have designed Kim’s logo, William, Dan, and Seth’s web sites, as well as having the honor of photographing Dan and Seth’s amazing metal sculpture, gates, railings, lamps and lights for years.
I look forward to exploring, discovering, and developing, all the new ways and means to take our small network of existing clients to new heights of success. It seems obvious and appropriate that Suzanne, Kim, Marcia and Renee, Matt, Dan and Seth should all meet — at least on-line — because they’ll find their clients within nearly identical demographic parameters.
Some time ago I proposed to Dan (and I believe Seth as well) that we arrange some sort of event to make these connections. Perhaps this very “social media” blog is that very event.
We look forward to helping you all stay in the news through the use of “social media,” fine web design services, superb photography, as well as multimedia: including audio, video, web casts, pod casts, etc..
Net(not)working(yet)
“A photograph is always invisible, it is not it that we see.” — Roland Barthes
Networking (day two) continues: Stephanie Reynolds, the friendly freelancer, hosted the Well-fed writers at Barnes & Noble in Bay Shore Mall, Glendale, WI. Martha Carrigan, President and CEO of Big Shoes Network offered valuable suggestions on the subject of networking. Wesley Manko, of DefenseWorks, recently published How to be Safe No Matter What; and also provided some useful ideas. David White also offered his insights. A few other snaps from the evening can be viewed here.
Net(not)working
“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” — Ansel Adams
Networks: My dear friend, David White, currently finds himself studying and testing networking concepts. He invited me to an event hosted by Katie Felten of MKE Live, a local chapter of LinkIn; a networking site for professionals. My interest, as always, revolved around “what does professional networking look and sound like? And, do attendees need and recognize the value of high quality photography, video, and graphic design services for themselves and their businesses?” To see more photographs from the event – look here.
Content is the name of my game. Images, words and videos which make the web, print and our walls come alive with interesting and useful information.
Fifteen minutes – FREE
Call me. We’ll meet.
I’ll create something beautiful
and useful, for you, within fifteen minutes.
(click this link for printable version)
