Privacy on the Internet? Perhaps a little bit.

(Written as a guest post for the Dixon Schwabl WOW! blog - http://bit.ly/aK6910)

We all know that the Internet and social media are not known for their privacy. Whatever you post to Facebook and Twitter can be seen by almost anyone. Let’s not forget Foursquare that tells everyone exactly where you are.

But for those of you who are a little bit more reserved, or for those who just want to be devious, there is now something that adds a small bit of privacy to the links you post.

The company Acar created a ULR shortener Trick.ly that allows you to be a tiny bit secretive. When you share a URL within a post or on a site you can now hide it behind a question.

Make your clues as simple or as complex as you wish. Only the people who can decode your clue will have access to the link.

This new tool can also be used creatively. Clever ideas for using Trick.ly include:
Job search
Contests
Promotions
Online scavenger hunts

Have fun with this cool new gadget. Use it for business and marketing, or simply use it for entertainment.

Filed under: Social Media, Acer, Facebook, Foursquare, Marketing, Privacy, Trick.ly, twitter

Tomorrow’s Social Media

I recently had the opportunity to chat with the CEO of PR 20/20, Paul Roetzer, about his views on the future of Inbound Marketing. As the founder of a leading inbound marketing agency and PR firm based in Cleveland, Paul had a lot to tell me about the industry.

My main takeaway from our conversation was his answer to my question,

“Where is the industry headed; do you have a response to all those who doubt the continued success of social media?”

My question originated from the recent article “R.I.P. Twitter as a Marketing Platform” written by Dan Schawbel. The article proves that Twitter’s influence is diminishing due to the increased number of people each user follows. The reach each tweet is able to capture shrinks due to the growing Twitter platform. Twitter is quickly turning into a mass communications system better used for things such as networking, customer support and researching.

Paul Roetzer answered my question by explaining the ever developing nature of inbound marketing. He explained that social media is here to stay. Perhaps it won’t be Twitter or Facebook that we use down the road; maybe Foursquare will take over, or even phase out as a marketing tool as well. But there will always be some form of social media for marketers to work with. A new platform will arise to take the place of those we use right now.

The younger generation grew up learning to communicate using these tools. An entire generation is not going to change their ways of sharing information over night. Paul stated, “Maybe someday it will just be called Media, maybe someday it will just be Social; either way it is here to stay.” He explained that it is the job of today’s PR professionals and those involved with inbound marketing to forever be evolving and stay relevant.

I agree with both Dan Schawbel and Paul Roetzer on the issue. Yes, Twitter is changing, but that is a good thing in the overall picture of where social media is headed. The industry is no longer new, people have figured out what works and what doesn’t with each particular platform. Professionals can now effectively use Twitter to engage, Foursquare to promote and can even measure their results. But more importantly, people cannot settle into these patterns. Eventually, perhaps soon, these platforms will change and we will need to be ready to evolve with them.

So I extend the question further, do you have any opinions on whether social media is here to stay or where it may be going?

Filed under: Social Media, Facebook, Foursquare, Future, Inbound Marketing, Paul Roetzer, PR, PR 20/20, Social Media, twitter

Curly Girl Contest Paired with Social Media

Curly Girl Designs is currently implementing a phenomenal contest via social media. They have implemented a 12-day give-away-athon for their Facebook fans and followers on Twitter.

Today is the last contest they are holding (aka: Day #1). The contest is themed to uphold the views of Curly Girl Designs. The rules and goals are on their Facebook Fan Page.

They state, “The small things we do, ways we act and what we put into the world all make a difference. So today is not about the big things but the small ones. The clever ones. The tiny love,” and encourage fans to share their stories.

This contest is an experiment by those over at Curly Girl Designs to test the power of social networking. Not only is the contest super fun, the prizes are incredible. A wall canvas from their collection has always been a dream of mine to own!

So I encourage you to follow @CurlyGirlDesign and submit your stories! …But I of course am crossing my fingers that I win!

Filed under: Social Media, Contest, Curly Girl Design, Facebook, Social Media, twitter

What Color is Your Bra?

Yesterday I recieved this message in my Facebook inbox:

Write the color of your bra in your status. Just the color, nothing else. And send this on to ONLY women, no men …. It will be neat to see if this will spread the wings of cancer awareness. It will be fun to see how long it takes before the guys will wonder why all the girls have a color in their status…

So many women started to participate in the chain message; my mini-feed was a rainbow in text form. Today I even caught a commercial for tonight’s news discussing the topic of color statuses on Facebook. Hugely successful awareness stunt!

But not everyone was a fan… One of my Facebook friends put up a status that expressed her disgust with the stunt, and I of course responded:

Her: Has facebook really become that dumb where ppl need to start advertising what color underwear they’re wearing???!! Realllly??? Cause I couldn’t give two shits its retarded. That’s all

Me: It is to raise awareness for breast cancer

Her: That makes no sense. What does the color of ur underwear have to do with raising awareness?? Go on a walk or raise money. Putting the color of ur underwear on facebook doesn’t really do much but tell ppl the color of ur underwear. Hmmmmmm. I’m all for raising awareness. But this is quite silly. No?

Me: Walks and raising money are definitely more proactive efforts, I think using facebook was an attempt at a fun and quirky way to get ppl talking. It worked in that sense.

Her: Seems that all its doing is telling ppl the color of ur underwear… “Oh hey what color is ur underwear?–black– oh hey cool have u heard about raising awareness for cancer??” ???? I guess it just seems pointless to me. Idk but like I said if u feel ur making a difference in some strange way then go for it.

Although she is obviously NOT a fan, she is talking about it! Therefore, SUCCESS!

Filed under: Social Media, Bra, Cancer, Facebook, Publicity, Stunt