Where Has Thou Chatroulette Gone?

Once upon a time I wrote on a previous blog post about the ridiculousness of an emerging online network called Chatroulette. I was kind of skeptical of the new craze and it made me laugh to think that people were actually using this thing.

I believe that I said (and I quote) that "No thanks. I'll let this craze slide and stick to the rule engraved in me since I was a child of never talking to strangers. I'd like to try and avoid any dirty old men with their pants down as much as possible. " (apparently not everyone thinks this way?)

It seemed a no-brainer to me that the immense amount of men's (and women's) genitalia floating around on this platform would curb people's enthusiasm for it.

Honestly, I was so frightened as to what horrors would pop up on my screen that I couldn't get myself to click the "scan" button to try it out. It's definitely not a site you want to dabble your toes into at work. 

So the other day I caught myself wondering what the hell ever happened to that phallic fad? Did it ever emerge as the newest venue for business ventures to apply their marketing efforts? Or perhaps it failed miserably and wiped off the face of the earth while amassing a herd of perverts and pedophiles (redundant????) leaving them to unfortunately to do something else with their day......?? (say that five times fast)

And the Answer is..........

Yes, it's still alive - but barely. The site is cheerfully falling down the slopes of Faux Paux Mountain.

I do admit that their site has had a bit of an upgrade since I last saw it (and when I say "a bit" I mean they must've hired a geeky highschooler from the '90s to do it)

Check it out:

Whoa! Trippy! Did I just step into an online time portal? So Chattroulette is a time machine now....??

So what led to Chatroulette's demise?

Well only the obvious: it was weird, creepy, and gross. There may have been a split second thought of "ooh maybe there could be an opportunity here" but that was quickly squashed by the influx of penises.


There's a great explanation on Quora of why it didn't work out - way more in-depth than I would ever get into -  but basically it's that the majority of people's perceptions were mainly negative (shocker) and that the top two psychographics involved were perverts and loners (which sound like real winners). However, Chatroulette has done a fine job of adapting to it audeince by adding the "Connect with singles" button.

Way to go Chatroulette! You've acclimated yourselves well to the passions and values of your followers!

 

 Have you ever tried Chatroulette? What do you think about it?

Social Media: It Ain't No Shot-Gun Wedding

 (Note: Italicized sentences = personal thoughts)

There are plenty of good analogies to describe the process of how a business can utilize social media. The first analogy that came to mind was how its slow development is like "nurturing a baby". And honestly, that came to mind first because I REALLY wanted to include a funny picture of a baby in this post.

(Ok now that I got that out of the way...) But after much thought, I finally determined that the best way to describe it is in romantic terms. Which, if you ever read my blog, I've actually compared blogging, another social element, to romance in a previous post. I'm just a hopeless romantic I guess.... :)


So why do I keep coming back to this absurd analogy? Well, because that pretty much describes social media's essence in a nut shell (IMO).

Here's the breakdown:
                                                                                                                             
1. Ain't No Shot-Gun Wedding
Relationships take time to grow and develop (unless you're the type prone to a shot-gun wedding and in that case this doesn't pertain to you). In the beginning of a new romance, a typical person's level of comfort is not automatic. Time is needed for that significant other to open up, share their feelings, and to let you in to who they truly are. Quite similarly, creating your online community is the same way. That's why interaction and fan growth is generally slow to start.

First, you need to understand that your audience must grow accustomed to you, get to know you and really dig into what you are all about. Only then will they graciously give you their partial attention (because we all know that the chances of having their complete, full attention is as much as me saying no to that 4th slice of hot, cheesy and oh-so delicious pizza) and determine whether your messages actually strike their fancy or not.


2. Don't Be an Open Book
You DON'T want to give everything away. Remember that fun thing called the "Dating Game" that we all "claim" to hate to play but yet still do anyways because it's a basic need of survival (ummm hello? mating calls/dances anyone?)? Well, the same rules apply (only in a slightly different context). You don't want to give away too much about yourself right away because then people have nothing to come back to - they already know everything about you (or your brand). Keep them on their toes and allow them to be mystified as to what exciting news, questions, or updates your going to post next. Allow the relationship between you and your fans to evolve with time. It's that process of evolving and revealing that is so exciting to the user.

3. Duuude, don't smother me.
This rule is a biggie. Don't lie, you know you are guilty of this. You get excited because things are so fresh and new that you want to be around that person all of the time. Unfortunately, just like your annoyed partner who is desperately seeking some space or avoiding your phone calls, the same goes for your fans and followers. You have to find that healthy balance of being there enough but not too much to where your posts are clogging up everyone's "news feed". The last thing you want to do is come off as desperate (or as the psycho-girlfriend who calls and texts every 5 minutes...noooo thank you!). In a relationship, this will put you on the fast track to Splitsville, USA. In the cyber world, you get the dreaded push of the "unlike" button (*gasp*).

Generally, my school of thought is this: you put in what you get out. Your posts should be relative to the amount of interaction you get in return. But the hard part is finding what it is that is going to generate interaction.


4. Many Fish in the Sea
Just because things didn't quite work out this time around - don't give up on love. There are many potential mates out there, you just have to be open and willing and eventually you'll find the right one. Social media is the same way. Just because you aren't seeing the fan growth or interaction you want right away don't feel disheartened. As I said, it takes time for users to become comfortable with a brand. If you put yourself out there, create interesting and relevant content, and start to build relationships with users, sooner or later you'll find the engagers you are looking for. Only then will you start to see the interaction and growth that you want.

The key point to take away is that building your online social hub and brand evangelists doesn't just happen overnight, especially if you are a local business. You MUST give it time, stay consistent, and continually measure performance against goals and objectives (you do have those, right?). Alot of it is trial and error. You've got to find out what's working, what's not and then make adjustments accordingly. Once you've gotten that down, you can then start to see those $$dolla dolla billz ya'll$$.. that $$cha-ching$$... that $$cash-flow$$....you'll $$ make it rain$$! Ya know what I mean?

What are your own tips or observations with building your online social communities?

Tosh.0 A Social Marketing Genius?

Ahh hello there old friend.. I admit, it's been a long while since my last post. June to be exact.

I've just been so busy that I barely have time to write nor the motivation. I guess that's what happens when life happens.

However, tonight I am motivated. Motivated by a young, fearless chap by the name of Daniel Tosh.

Now, I know in my last post I said that I would do a follow up on bringing the basics back to social media...and I will...some day. But for now my inspiration comes from this guy...

...since I am about to see his show at the Tennessee Theatre Wednesday, October 13th. I CANNOT WAIT!

But the point of this blog post is to recognize his own great use of social media. I applaud him for his creative efforts.This guy is swimming in the Sea of Social. Hell his show, Tosh.O, is entirely based on user-generated YouTube videos! 

His show has invaded my personal life and has become a weekly staple. It's sad, but almost daily I say to myself  "It's fun to do bad things..." like the 7-year-old kid who stole his grandmother's car.

I can't help but crack up everytime I see it. Not to mention I wouldn't have even seen the majority of these videos without his show because 1.) I have a life and 2.) am not constantly watching videos like SOME PEOPLE I KNOW **ahem**(not to mention any names ((Devo)) but you know who you are ;-))...

His social marketing (and/or his marketing department's) skills are superb. He knows exactly how to appeal to his audience; by maintaining the exact same perverted cynicism he displays on his show and integrating it throughout all his social vehicles. And people eat. it. up! I guess people thrive off assholes.

Also, Tosh definitely knows how to cash in on user-generated content by encouraging viewers to submit their own YouTube videos for a chance to be on his show or to take part in well-known impossible challenges like the Cocao Challenge.

The guy has got some great ideas (or at least someone on his team does) that I think many businesses can utilize and incorporate into their own social marketing strategies. Well, perhaps not to the extent of his level of putridness but you get my drift.

So kudos to you, Daniel, for leading the way in the social viral realm.

P.S. Can't wait to see your show.

And as always..."Is this going to be forever?"..

What?!? Mark Zuckerberg's Plot to Destroy the World??

Social Media.

I know what you’re thinking…

You are thinking… ‘Why, Nicole, those two words sound awfully familiar to me. Could it be something that I possibly spend 7 hours a month on?’

No lie. Surprisingly, I’m not making this number up at all. Mark Zuckerberg’s sitting there laughing in our faces right now because he knows what he’s done. He’s created a little devil monster whose main agenda is to steal our level of productivity and ability to have natural, face-to-face interactions.

I’m only kidding. The destruction of man-kind and world domination is not on his list of things to-do. This techi-tree-hugger’s mission is to spread the virtual love by evolving our social experiences and relationships on the web. And it’s big. I mean REAL BIG.

I don’t know about you but it seems like every time I look there is something new coming out. I sometimes find it hard to keep up with it all, and quite frankly, my sanity as well. Just stop with advancements already! You still have about 40 years to reach global domination! OK?!

But for those of you who like to take a step back for a moment, to "catch your breath" if you will, I thought that it might be useful to have a little refresher course. You know, a back-to-the-basics kind of thing to remind us the power of using social media from a business stand-point.

BUT that will be for the next post. So, until then!

Tah-Tah!

♪{Musac BlogRevue} Stimulate Your Ears with Rafe Hollister♪

If you are ready to get your honky tonk and boot scootin’ on, then Rafe Hollister’s “Stimulus Package” has got the plan to bail out your desires (eh, too much? Probably). Country boys Sam Brinkley- Lead Vocals/Guitar/Harmonica, Jeff Mendenhall- Fiddle, Brooks Butler- Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals, Joseph Massie- Bass, Vince Seabrook- Drums, and Mark Moser- Mandolin all spawned from the rolling mountains of Maggie Valley, NC which I suspect is the root behind their unique mountain rock sound. 

The album has all the workings of a good country/rock album: bluegrass, rock, folk, blues, punk and country while Sam’s vocals resonates a southern, classic-rock feel (which I absolutely love). Even the lyrics are genuinely redneck as they tell tales of moonshine, inbreeds, missing teeth, Bigfoot, “coon dogs”, hillbillies, mullets and many other subjects that define the everyday life of rural Appalachia.

Although most of the songs have similar sound qualities, their lyrics and use of traditional bluegrass instruments give them a distinct patriotic feel. From just listening to the album I can only imagine the high energy level performed at their live shows, nor can I deny my intense urge to slap on my cowboy boots and do a hoedown. 

Check out a show near you!

A Slight Turn off The Beaten Path

If you occasionally glance at my blog you may have noticed an increase in the number of music-related postings I've been doing (well there have only been two but you know what I mean). It seems as if my blog is taking a different shape - a shape that I am excited to conform to.

Music is my passion and will always be for as long as I live. So it makes sense to me that I should blog about something I am passionate about. But don't get me wrong, I am passionate about all things advertising/social media-related as well. Therefore I will continue to write about these things too. The only difference is that I will distinguish my music-related posts with these markings: ♪{Musac BlogRevue}♪ (just for your ease and my amusement).

The point of this post is to give you a glimpse into the transformations taking place in my blog. "Thoughts from a Distance" is slowly but surely becoming what it seeks out to be "✯ Sporadic thoughts ✯ Insightful insights ✯ Attempt at words" or a big ol' mash-up of systematic disorder.

'Hmm note to self: Use Systematic Disorder to cash-in on as good band name....'

So if you are reading this, you can continually expect to find that whatever happens to randomly inspire me shall be written.

Also if you are reading this, are in a band, and have a CD that doesn't suck, send it to me and I'll review it!

Thank you that is all...

♪{Musac BlogRevue} East Coast Dirt Debut CD: A Dirty Blend of Brilliant Complexity ♪

(Check out the preface to this post, "The Dirt on East Coast Dirt")

Last January I was asked by a friend at Suprema Lex Music to check out the Asheville-based band, East Coast Dirt, at the Preservation Pub. I walked in half-expecting a slightly amateurish group frantically struggling to keep things in tune; however, that was not the case at all. No, I was surprisingly hit by a wall of funky, improv-driven sounds, or as they coin it, “sneaker boogaloo”.

Now I get the awesome chance to review East Coast Dirt’s debut CD. Unfortunately, I have to narrow it down to a couple of my favorite songs, which is hard to do with an album chockfull of audible splendors. The whole album is an infusion of chaotic elements of jazz, percussion, electric guitar, and keys that all coexist in perfect harmony.

The first track I listened to was no doubt destined for me to stumble upon. Perhaps it is the title of the song, “10-15 on Mole Mountain”, that stirs up my imagination, but I can’t help but envision deep, heavy guitar riffs theming a journeyed car ride along a mountainside. It’s as if an electric guitar consummated with Latin rhythms and birthed the taunting melodies of this song. (That may have been a tad bit unrefined, sorry.....) 

.... Let’s just say that I can’t seem to get this one out of my head since I first heard it!

The next track to strike my immediate fancy, “The Dog that Bit Me”, is a monstrous product of tunes ranging from all sides of the music spectrum. If I could describe the elements of this song in one long, run-on sentence it would be intense dub/reggae beats meets Electric Light Orchestra blended with sporadic bursts of Rusted Root-inspired percussions and invigorating jam band-y vocals that are all interwoven into one little package. Needless to say, it's like eating candy because it's so sweeeett!

(Did I insert enough adjectives in there?) 

I can assure you that East Coast Dirt doesn't hold anything back on this one as they shove a collection of genres straight into your eardrum. However, as frenzied as it sounds, the album intelligently merges arrangements of melodies and grooves in a very thoughtful way.

I could probably analyze and dissect every song on this entire CD, but that would ruin the surprise you’re in store for. (Or your attention span might start to shift to that of a two-year-old.) So purchase a copy at one of their shows near you and find out for yourself. I must forewarn you though; be prepared for an eargasm of jazzy-funk and psychedelic-rock layers that are utlimately going to rock yo' socks off.


Click on the player below for a little East Coast Dirt teaser...