RSS – The acronym for “Really Simple Syndication,” an RSS feed is the way most people subscribe to the web content of their choice. The creator of a blog / podcast will create an itemized list of each post / episode, usually in an XML file – which is basically a variant of a simple HTML file – and host that file on their website’s server. When someone wants to subscribe to that content, they can click the link to that site’s RSS feed(s) and then that feed is added to the aggregator of their choice. (Or, to use an analogy, just like most magazines allow you to order back issues from an order form in the current issue, think of RSS feeds as a website’s back issue order form AND a subscription card, all in one.)
Learn more about RSS feeds at the Business Smart Tools Conference.
Comment – Most blogs allow their readers to leave comments as an addendum to the original post as a way to continue the conversation. Usually text-based, some blogs and websites allow for audio and video comments as well. These comments can often be seen as “link bait” to lead readers back to the commenter’s own website. Some unscrupulous companies and websites litter the blog world with completely unrelated comments that, as in email, are referred to as “spam.” Fortunately, most blogs have developed safeguards to avoid this.
The business sector often questions the comments section, “what if someone says something bad about us?” I say, “consider it lucky that you heard that something “bad” first on your blog vs. a product recall or problems that escalate and land into mainstream media.” There is no disadvantage to conversing with your clients!
Podcast – A catch-all term used to describe audio or video content distributed on the internet – as in, not a broadcast, but a podcast. Originally intended to refer to content that could be downloaded and listened to on a portable playback device (i.e. the iPod), the term has since become outmoded, as this same audio and video content can be distributed and consumed in far more ways than the coiners of the term ever expected. However, since a more accurate term has yet to become widely accepted, “podcast” is still generally applied to all audio / video content distributed online.
Learn more at the Business Smart Tools conference!
Blog – The standard abbreviation for “web log” (a/k/a a web journal), a blog, is the web version of an op-ed column. Usually written by armchair journalists or hobbyists in their specific field, blogs are the modern equivalent of ‘90s “zines.” Some blogs are intended solely as a creative or informational outlet for the author(s), while others develop higher levels of mass media authority due to the credibility of the author or the fervor of that blog’s fans. Corporate blogs are now becoming a necessary tool to reach out to present and future customers. If done well, the corporate blog provides expert advice as well as providing a forum for interested or concerned customers.
One of our clients at Creative Concepts, Bigelow Tea, has a very successful corporate blog that provides an online platform for the Bigelow family so they can reach their consumer. The blog also provides expert information on tea health studies along with celebrity news, consumer stories and more.
Hear more success stories from the corporate sector at the Business Smart Tools conference!
“Web 2.0” – The nebulous term that refers to the highly-interactive, community-driven web culture of the mid-2000s. Wikipedia describes this term to mean web design that promotes collaboration, creativity and information sharing which has led to the evolution of social networks, blogs, wikis and more, all of which have been a huge asset to large and small businesses.
To learn more, attend the Business Smart Tools Conference!
We wanted to take the time to define some terms common on the web, particularly in the social media arena. This is the first entry of many.
Social Media – A catch-all term for blogs, audio, video, and any other web content (photography, animation, etc.) that encourages interaction among the creators AND the readers / consumers / users of the content. As opposed to traditional media, which is seen as a one-way monologue delivered from the media publisher to the masses, social media is considered a two-way dialogue where the readers and recipients can have an impact upon both the content and the creator. Some social media relies upon direct action from the viewer / user (such as video mash-ups, audio remixes, etc.), whereas other examples are considered “social” due to their implied invitation to create a conversation among all participants (like blog posts, widgets, etc.).
Because of this interaction, social media becomes a great tool for business where a direct conversation with the consumer can lead to feedback and loyalty all at once.
Learn more at the Business Smart Tools Conference!
Mike Dunn, VP Interactive, Hearst, shares information on how anyone in business can get started with social media. To contact Mike, go to his web portal, http://glemak.com
To learn more about social media and to understand the terms, please download the Creative Concepts white paper, Social Media 101: A Beginner’s Guide or contact Creative Concepts directly so we can personally walk you through your social media options, info@creative-conceptsllc.com.
Social Media is stickier than traditional media
Social Media is Viral (people like to pass the content to their friends)
Social Media is Interactive
Social Media has high visibility on the internet
Why wouldn’t you create a blog, a video or a new community on any of the social networks for your business?
Learn more at the Business Smart Tools Conference in May 2009!
In 2005 I sat on a train and read an incredibly interesting article in BusinessWeek called, “Blogs Will Change Your Business.” It changed Creative Concepts, that’s for sure…we grew from a traditional PR and Marketing firm to a PR, Marketing and Social Media consultancy and it all began with blogs. Our list of services now includes video production and distribution in addition to working with the social networks like MySpace and Facebook.
The writers, Stephen Baker and Heather Green, have concluded that the social media opportunities for business are only widening. We agree!