#MinorSetback,and #RenewedHope

Well guys, IntegrativeNews has seen a minor setback. Following too many people at one time on twitter can apparently get your account suspended. Me and my good friend @B_TownBeatDown (http://twitter.com/#!/B_TownBeatDown) are trying to start a twitter network dedicated to local politics and society in Southeast Michigan. We're working out a name and minor details as we speak. more later.

#Google #AdWords #100USD Free Advertising.

Guess what i got in the mail today!?!?

Google felt kind enough to send me a 100 dollar coupon for advertising through AdWords.

Im posting the link to the official Google AdWords tutorial on the coupon code.


http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=142741

#BigThingsHappening

Well, its been a interesting week so far. My fanbase is slowly growing (273) Ive been getting decent feedback. There'll be a politics/news related blog starting pretty soon by my friend, so ill pass that along to everyone when things get rolling.


As always, Thanks for the support. if you're interested in making a little cash on the side through twitter, the sponsored tweets banner at the top of the page is the best place to go so far that I've found.  The advertisers are pretty lax as long as you get the message they want out to the world. If anyone has any ideas or wants to contribute, feel free to send me a DM @Walldestroyer91.

#RealTalk

TimeStamp 6:09 PM 7/15/2011

Ive been up 26 hours now. 99 percent of that time was spent on twitter, listening to my followers, Getting the news out to the world. (ugh)  Got a legit partnership with @m3computers They'll be covering Technology related news and eventually a blog! 

Big stuff Happening! If anyone wants to add a segment to the news network we have going,(that is yet unnamed.) 

My new twitter is @IntergrativeGen Or @Walldestroyer91  

#CyberSecurity #Censorship

On June 23rd, Defense Secretary Robert Gates created a new military command dedicated to cyber security, reflecting Obama’s plans to centralize and elevate computer security as a major national-security issue, exacerbating concerns about military control of civilian computer systems. NSA Director, Lt. Gen. Keith Alexander, has been designated to take on the additional role as commander of the Cyber Command with the rank of a four-star general. This new structure is gearing up to start operations in October 2009. Meanwhile, this article describes how government censorship of internet is already being tested in Australia, and might be an omen of things coming to our shores soon.
How would censorship work in the Internet age? Australia gives us a sneak preview of the gong show that ensues when medieval thinking is applied to a wired world.

Australia’s government nannies have officially banned 1,370 web sites. They’ve drawn up a blacklist, just like the medieval index of banned books. Right now it’s a voluntary pilot project to which Internet service providers can submit. But if the trial run is deemed a success and made law, anyone who links to a blacklisted site can be fined $11,000 a day. That means it will be a crime not just to provide the contents of a web site, but to merely reproduce its address.

That’s not just like banning books. It’s like banning books, and banning saying the banned book’s title. It’s a lot of banning.

But here’s the tricky part: the government won’t even say what those 1,370 banned web sites are. It’s secret. So there are 1,370 web sites out there that could result in your criminal prosecution in Australia. But you won’t find out what they are — until you link to one of them. That’s right out of Alice in Wonderland. The pretzelian logic goes like this: if the Australian government were to list those 1,370 banned web sites, then not only would they be breaking the rules themselves, but that list would serve as an advertisement. Out of the billions of web pages on the Internet, 1,370 would be given special attention, inviting anyone curious to check them out.

10 Questions to Evaluate a Social Media 'Expert.'

f you know more than 5 people, chances are you now know someone who declares themselves a social media expert. How can you tell if someone's claim of expertise is legit? Here's my quick quiz. Ask each question and take the appropriate action:

1: Do you have a blog?

If the expert answers 'no', that may be OK. Follow up with something like 'Oh, you're using Posterous instead?'. If they look at you blankly, end the meeting there. No sense wasting your time.
If the expert answers 'yes', get the address and go look. If they've been blogging for less than 2-3 years, and there's no explanation like "I had to move my blog", again, end the meeting.
Any social media expert has been somehow participating in the conversation for a long time.

2: When did you start in social media?

"6 months ago". Yeah. OK. Bye.
"2 years ago". Hey, not bad. Worth a chat.
"In 1992". Er. Um. They'd better be referencing BBSes and Usenet.

3: What is social media?

"Blogging and Twitter and stuff". Excuse yourself for a bathroom break and don't come back.
"All of the conversations going on between people and people and businesses and such online". Not bad.
"A trendy term to describe a new kind of mass media". Totally acceptable.

4: What's a social media campaign?

"Voting something to the front page of Digg using my proxy server and 35 computers". Flee the scene, and get to a minimum safe distance as soon as possible. The Digg brigade may be on its way. Whatever you do, don't hire them. While this is a valid tactic (I guess), it's not a campaign. Nor does it generate long term results in most cases.
"Developing a great message and then reaching out to people, while giving them an incentive to 'pass it on'". Yeah, OK, keep 'em around.
"I have this great software that will put a link to your site on 21,000 forums and 10,000 blogs...". Push them down the garbage chute. Don't be seen with them in public.

5: How do you monitor social media for a client?

"Huh?" Hopefully your next step is obvious.
"Google alerts". Not bad, but wait and see if they add in stuff like subscribing to Twitter searches and the like.
"I use a 3rd party tool". Fine, but make sure they do more than plug in some keywords and wait for e-mails. A human being needs to review what the tool reports or its worthless.

6: How do you measure ROI?

"Oh, shut up". Perfectly OK, especially if the expert turns purple for a moment first. They're just sick of hearing this question, which means they've been around the block a few times.
"It's complicated, but here's a high-level view...". Nice!!!
"I track clicks from Twitter". Nope, sorry.

7: How do you build an audience?

"I auto-follow 20,000 people on Twitter". If you're OK with it, kick them in the groin for me. If not, nod politely and move on.
"I follow interesting, relevant people on Twitter, comment on relevant blog posts and try to get into the conversation". Home run. Try not to weep with joy.
"We need to figure out the campaign first". Good answer. Give them a hypothetical campaign to be sure, but clearly you're on the right track.

8: Do you offer a guarantee?

"Yes, I'll get you 1000 links and 20,000 clicks". See number 7, first action.
"Yes, that I'll work my butt off for you". I like it.
"No, because we're marketing to people, and it's hard to say what they'll like/not like, or what might happen in the world that will affect behavior". Also good.

9: How did you learn all this stuff?

"Oh, I read this book I bought from Amazon.com". Wargh. By the time that book went to print it was out of date. No go.
"I'm always learning". Good answer.
"I read a lot of blogs, and try to use as many different tools as I can". Also good.
"I go to conferences". Yeahhhhhh. Might be OK. Answers to the other 9 questions should tell you.

10: How does social media impact SEO?

"It doesn't". Slap them and tell 'em that's from Ian.
"It builds links". That's half the answer.
"It builds relationships that turn into links later". HIRE THEM NOW.

Bonus question: How often do you write?

"I hate writing". Cough.
"Oh, I try to but I don't have much time". Cough. Cough.
"Every day". DING DING DING. A winner!
There you go. An instant social media expert evaluator. Sort of like a Cylon Detector, but hopefully more effective.
By the way, print a copy of this. If you get word-for-word answers, you might think twice.

Read more: 10 Questions to Evaluate a Social Media 'Expert' | Internet Marketing Strategy: Conversation Marketing http://www.conversationmarketing.com/2009/07/10-questions-for-social-media-experts.htm#ixzz1Rz7TnQvG

How to Grow Your Twitter Audience with Smarter Questions

I guess we are all finding out that building your Twitter audience and influence isn’t as simple as writing and retweeting kick-ass blog posts. If “great content” was really the only answer, then millions of smiling tweeters would be publishing books and bragging about their Klout scores.


The good news is that the web is littered with strategies for growing your Twitter audience.
The difficult part starts after you’ve tried all of the obvious techniques. Once the well runs dry, you need to dig for the unorthodox. Recently, I stumbled across a fascinating infographic about the growing popularity of, well, questions. Click here to view the infographic.
Scroll down to the bottom and you’ll see two interesting stats:
According to the survey, 80% of individuals trust businesses’ responses as much or more than responses from their own followers! Ouch.
It gets better. When a business answers a question, the grateful questioner is more likely to follow and purchase from the business.
Which leads me to wonder…
Why aren’t bloggers and Twitter ninjas answering more questions?

Here’s how solving problems can kick start your Twitter following

Regularly Search for Topical Questions

Get in the habit of using search.twitter.com for common questions. For example, gardening enthusiasts can search Twitter for “How to grow (fill in the blank).”
Look through the questions and offer answers or relevant links.

Answer Without Strings Attached

Answering questions builds trust and credibility. Offering your help without conditions, obligations, or shenanigans will quickly build you a loyal following.
You can practice this by participating in a Tweet Chat—I suggest either #blogchat or #tweetdiner—and adopt newcomers who need a helping hand. Don’t include links to your own posts unless they exactly match what the questioner asks.

 

Use the Progressive Insurance Approach

Progressive Insurance built a multi-billion dollar business around helping their customers get the lowest priced insurance – even if it wasn’t their own. Progressive is widely regarded as the most “trustworthy” insurance company, and their revenue proves that their approach works.
You can do the same.
If your competitor has the answer, send the questioner there. Remember that this is a game of trust. You’ll get the credit (and ultimately the sale) by demonstrating that you focus on the person first and the sale second.

Don’t Forget the Basics

Make sure your URL is in your Twitter bio and that your blog or website’s About Me page is ready to tell your story. Consider creating a special welcome message to build rapport with your followers as well.

One More Thing…

Mine Questions for Topics, Products, and Friends

You will uncover valuable insights into what your market wants and is willing to pay for. Remember, people spend money to solve problems, and their questions reveal their problems. I suggest that you save questions and your answers in a Word file. Once a month, take a look at this file and write cornerstone posts that offer information for the most common questions.
Does this make sense? Have you ever thought of answering questions as a Twitter or blog growth strategy? If so, tell me how it’s worked for you in the comment section below

Via: http://pushingsocial.com/grow-your-twitter-audience-with-smarter-questions