Mobile Diner® where wireless and washington meet….

Once again, Twitter provides some good ingredients for a dish.

This morning I had a fun exchange with Geoff Livingston who decided to take issue with CTIA’s blog. Geoff raised many issues with linking and stated that their efforts were “spamming the market with propoganda.”

Geoff is a talented PR professional and I really enjoyed his recent book on new media. However, I disagree with him about the speed and velocity that organizations “must” pursue to have success in this space.

As I mentioned frequently in the exchange, one size doesn’t fit all. Different organizations are finding out how new tools to communicate with their respective communities is both challenging and an opportunity. The fact that they are trying is a step in the right direction.

On a related note, different bloggers use and operate their blogs in different ways. Seth Godin doesn’t take comments but Mark Cubin does. I should also add that these folks and others sometimes link but often do not. That is their prerogative and it has not harmed the quality of those blogs. In fact, I like the diversity of tools that different folks and organizations use. If everyone did the same thing at the same speed it would be boring.

Here’s to engaging and having dialogs with your customers. One size doesn’t fit all. In fact, you’ll learn a lot from your community – I do everyday.

Notes –

Tin Can Communications will be working with CTIA starting in April.

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Just got back from Busboys & Poets and a large social media breakfast hosted by Jeff Pulver.  As always, great catching up with Jeff and I was glad he was able to find a charged up battery for his N95!

The place was rocking and it was great to see and talk with so many local bloggers and entrepreneurs. Overall, a lot of discussion about wireless and a few folks were broadcasting the action from their phones. It was awesome…

A few highlights from this am:

Briefly caught up with Ann Bernard who has launched a mobile social networking tool – “Why Go Solo.” I am hoping to interview Ann as she moves through the alpha stage and wish her luck.

Great seeing DC Media Makers Jill Foster and Jonny Goldstein. DC Media Maker Andy Carvin gave me the scoop on some digital projects they are working on at NPR. He also showed me how to call into an NPR news story and hear it over mobile. Andy and I both share an interest in technology advancing many causes and it was good to talk with him about the role wireless can play in making a difference to bridge the divide.

Jimmy Gardner is on the verge of launching a new company. He covers a lot of tech on his blog and it was nice meeting him.

Jeff Hibbard is a very passionate videoblogger and he is doing a bunch of mobile videoblogging. I am hoping to get him in the diner soon!

Once again, it was a great morning. Fun to be in an atmosphere where folks are passionate about technology and wireless….

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The Center for Media Research provides more evidence that companies and associations are wasting money trying to influence folks via traditional media and marketing – Seventy-Five percent have tuned out.

Once again, the politicians stopped listening and so did your audience…

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We’ve been excited about mobile video and personal broadcasting in the diner. On that note, Jeff Pulver recently discussed his excitement regarding mobile personal broadcasting in a recent post and declared it the “next BIG thing.” I look forward to catching up with Jeff later this week at a breakfast he is hosting in Philadelphia.

One other link to chew on comes from an AP story in the Washington Post. It discusses the fact that many adults are utilizing social technologies to communicate with their kids in college and the dilemma it poses for them (do they accept a “friend” request from Mom?).

Enjoy!

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The NY Times had an article last week discussing Twitter and how many news journalists were now utilizing the technology on the campaign trail. Ashley and I have been talking about Twitter since last Spring when we discovered it at the VON show in San Jose.

In any case, the article spurred me to think about Twitter and what I have seen since we started using the technology.

1) Mobile Social Networking – Twitter brings mobile social networking to life. In many instances, events have been started via Twitter and I have met Twitter friends during conferences and in major cities. Twitter has mobile functionality built into its platform so loading the website on your device is not clunky and is fast. Note to Evan Willams / Twitter – this is an area you can build on and other companies are trying to catch up. Continue Reading »

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Besides Barack Obama’s campaign – a few things are cooking in the diner!

As many know, I’m constantly amazed with what Steve Garfield does with mobile technology. Most recently, Steve captured some live video via his cellphone from New Hampshire. The technology he is using is by Qik (on his Nokia device). This will be one of the upcoming trends in mobile as more folks have video capability in their phone… Check out the mobile video journalist.

We’ve used Utterz here in the diner a few times. Accordingly, I’ll be on Jonny Goldstein’s live video blogging show with Sim (of Utterz) tomorrow at 9pm.

I hope you’ll tune in…

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December was a great month. It was a nice opportunity to really think about Washington and how traditional business in this town is conducted. Analogous to businesses that realize marketing is changing and face the challenge of implementing new marketing to (receive permission from consumers) be effective – traditional advocacy faces challenges and must evolve.

In the old days, a company could mass advertise on three channels and with mass capital expenditures – folks bought that company’s product off the shelf. In the District of Communications, a company hires a big K street firm with political connections and they create a barrier to entry for a competitor or break a barrier down for their client’s company (yes, I’m generalizing and recall that monopolies thrive in regulation).

Both methods are still relevant and there are some talented lobbyists in Washington… However, here’s some reasons why you may want to consider augmenting your company’s advocacy strategy.

1) There are more channels to choose from today and the lobbying rules have changed.

2) Your audience stopped listening – customers and the politicians.

3) New marketing is cost effective and you’ll develop a closer relationship to your consumers.

4) Your consumers and their constituents will be your advocates. There is nothing more powerful!

On a related note, National Journal wrote about blogs and the importance of blogs last October. Some K street folks questioned whether it was valuable…. Barack, John Edwards and Ron Paul sure don’t doubt social media. Eventually, the policy / political / government affairs shops won’t doubt it either.

Disclosure – New media efforts are not for everyone. Quoting Danah Boyd – “Social technologies succeed when they fit into the social lives and practices of those that engage with the technology.”

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Traditional lobbying, campaign money, and power in Washington will always exist. However, with rapid advances in technology and the continued growth of social networking tools – YOU really are just as powerful as the connected K street lobbyist.

I recognized the power of the consumer at an early age. One summer I worked as an intern for Frito Lay and we worked very hard to build community through the Frito Lay challenge and other efforts in Baltimore. We learned a great deal and I know Frito Lay took our field reports seriously.

With regard to DC and advocacy, I saw the power of the consumer at AT&T Wireless. In that instance, a lawmaker from California was pushing the CPUC to initiate a wireless only number take back. The reason she was supporting it was due to area code exhaust occurring in California (they had gone from 13 area codes in 1997 to 25 around 2002). If enacted it would have required consumers to give back their current area code (they would keep their seven digit number) and get a wireless specific area code.

AT&T Wireless had a significant number of subscribers in this district and our consumers would have been the most affected by the technology specific overlay (TSO). We filed comments at the FCC and did some traditional advocacy. We were getting nowhere. It was time to directly reach out to our customers.

Collaborating with CTIA, we designed bill stuffers and our customers responded. They flooded the FCC and the California lawmaker with calls opposing this effort. The result – the lawmaker hauled us in and told us she would not continue to press the CPUC to implement the TSO.

The tools for engaging and having conversations with folks are much better now. With permission, we can learn more from our customers and work together to affect change.

If you don’t believe me — ask George Allen.

Related Note & Promotion – Seth Godin discussed the new politics the other day. It is the reason why I founded Tin Can Communications ™.

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What a difference a year makes…

I wrote Mobile Diner’s first post a year ago today, and I had no idea where it would take us. I just knew that listening and having a dialogue with wireless consumers was the right thing to do.

Along the way I have met and learned a great deal from many entrepreneurs, tech mavens, and videobloggers. All of you showed me how important it is to build community and have inspired me to spend more time on these endeavors.

On that note, in January, I’m launching a public affairs / new media focused communications firm that will offer services to companies, associations and non-profits. Utilizing social media tools to engage consumers or affect change in Washington will become increasingly important to businesses. Those who participate will win in the market and will win on Capitol Hill.

New times call for a new class of communications professionals. Accordingly, I hope to make a difference for a few select clients.

Stay tuned for more on the new company…

Related ingredient – I will still be collaborating with Capitol Solutions on the Wireless Broadband Coalition..

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now is gone is Geoff Livingston’s recent book for executives on navigating new media and this evolving world of communications. It is well done and I recommend it to folks that understand the basics and who are looking to learn more about social media tools.

Brian Solis provides an introduction to now is gone that really sets the tone and hits the mark. Mr. Solis explains how traditional PR efforts are no longer effective and that “the evolution of social media is also forcing the most dramatic transformation in PR and corporate communications to date.” Mr. Solis urges participation and “how effectively you participate will determine the success or failure of your company in the long term.” I couldn’t agree more.

The book continues at a nice pace with examples of companies utilizing social media and the success of having two-way conversations with consumers. There were some instances in the book where I was wanting more from now is gone. However, this topic is a big one to tackle and Geoff focused appropriately on those who might be interested in social media but have not committed to it. That is a growing constituency and this book could be a catalyst for engagement by some companies.

Mass marketing and press releases are not going away. However, in a world where consumers are being marketed to at all times, the companies that have permission and have built communities will be leaders of the pack.

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This afternoon I attended a forum held by the New Politics Institute on leveraging social networks and it was a great event.  As we know, social media is changing the way we communicate and this event honed in on its utility in the political and non-profit arenas. 

Simon Rosenberg (President & Founder, NDN) kicked off the event and expressed the importance of new media in communications.  I’ve known Simon for a long time and he is often on top of political shifts and technology transitions.  He spoke about the rapid advances of technology and how far campaigns have evolved from Howard Dean’s successful efforts online in 2004.  Simon believes campaigns need to utilize new tools and social networking is one of the “most undeveloped tools out there.”

Chris Kelly (Chief Privacy Officer, Facebook) stated ”politics has always been about social networks” and that leveraging connections on sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube are unique ways to build communities.  He went on to mention 5 areas where social technology can play a role in politics.  Those areas are – branding, voter registration, fundraising, volunteering, and voter turnout.  For a full meal - checkout his paper on it.

Chris Kelly was asked by fellow lunch 2.0 DC member Peter Corbett about “what keeps him up at night.”  I followed up with Chris after the forum and asked him about dealing with Capitol Hill’s internet fears.  Specifically, the fact that many lawmakers are afraid of social networks and view it as a place for online predators.  Chris responded that by engaging facebook users who are active in politics that he is hopeful they will be Facebook’s advocates to push back on unnecessary regulations. 

Related ingredient – Friends of mobile diner are welcome to join me on Facebook.

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Google has had all the right moves. 

YouTube, Grand Central, Feedburner, DoubleClick and most recently Jaiku (although I like Twitter better).  The company is positioning itself to be the internet advertising company and extend its dominance into mobile (internet) as that market matures.  However, if you can’t beat them – you might as well go get the next Google. 

Congrats to Microsoft for winning the deal with Facebook! 

What do YOU think about the deal? 

Related Housecleaning - we’ve done some other posts on Facebook but I need to update some tags…

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About this recipe – this dish is especially cooked for DC Diners.. 

Great story in the National Journal (subscription – 10/06 edition) about all of the blogging activity occuring in the District of Communications.  The article covered legislation by Senator Durbin (Illinois) which was tailored with the help of the online community and it included some thoughts from some heavy hitters on K street about blogging.

We’ve talked about the great opportunity that blogging and other social networking tools can do for your business at the diner.  Sean Garrett over at the 463 has covered the DC policy blog beat as well.  On a related note, CTIA just launched their new blog at their IT & Entertainment show and Steve Largent seems to be a natural at blogging! 

In any case, there was some discussion by a few folks in the article about whether or not this form of new media is relevant and if it is worthwhile….  My $0.2 – this is not a fad.      

Start blogging!

Lawmakers, Lobbyists, Non-profits, (you name it) the time is now to join the conversation.  Lawmakers can actively engage with their constituents and it is a real time way to let folks know what they are actually doing on Capitol Hill (although some lawmakers may prefer not to let their constituents know what they are doing!). 

With regard to lobbyists, this could be interesting.  I would encourage those who are passionate about certain topics and issues to mind-share and put your thoughts out there.  You’ll learn a great deal and meet some very talented people along the way.  On that note, I have met so many awesome folks in new media and technology.

There’s more than just blogging!

Do a podcast or videoblog.  Start twittering or join facebook.  There is so much going on in social networking and it is all very valuable.  For instance, I have joined several wireless and new media focused groups on facebook. 

If you are afraid – join LinkedIn!

LinkedIn is a nice online resume and a chance to dip your feet in the water of social networking.  It allows you to look at who your contacts know and touch base with them (on designated interest areas).  LinkedIn now allows folks to add a picture and it also has a question/answer function.  I don’t think there is a great deal of utility on LinkedIn.  However,  it is a good way to start for folks.

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Dish Disclosure – CTIA – the Wireless Association is a client.

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Click To Play

On Tuesday, Chris and I went over to CTIA again to chat with Steve Largent. I had the chance to talk to him about the WMATA bill, the G-phone, and CTIA’s upcoming Wireless IT and Entertainment show in San Francisco, which I will be covering on their show blog.  Steve and I got into a little bit of a debate about the “old world” of Microsoft vs. the “new world” of facebook.

Check it out!

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Lots of ideas and recipes cooking in the diner… 

With Congress back legislating (mobile bill) and the FCC starting an open meeting over 10 hours after it was supposed to convene (meeting was listed at 9:30am yesterday), things are returning to normal in the district of communications.  In any case, here are a few rants from the kitchen:

FCC Open Meeting – Does Chairman Martin have a problem getting votes or does he just want to have open meetings in the dark?  Hopefully, this is not becoming a habit…

Back to the Future – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) stated “the rules governing our wireless industry are the relic of the 1980′s when cell phones were a luxury item that fit in a briefcase instead of a pocket.”  Her bill would take us back to the 80′s when only a few folks were able to enjoy wireless technology.  Once again, we need to move forward and have policies that are a catalyst for deployment and unleash wireless broadband – not legislation that provides more ambiguity and sets the table for a patchwork of different state laws.

Bundling -  President Bush has a lobbying bill that awaits his signature and the Clinton campaign has an 850K bundler.  The bill that the President may or may not sign would have no bearing on the 850K bundler but would prohibit a registered advocate (me) from buying a sandwich or coffee for a staffer interested in telecommunications policy.  Although the bill does not prohibit me from writing a $1000 check and eating with his/her boss!? 

Twitter – Robert Scoble opined in Fast Company that Twitter is the Next Email.  It is a great column.  In this instance, I hope it does not become the next email because I’m drowing in fundraising emails and other spam.  However, I do share Scobleizer’s view that there is a great deal of benefit to this service for companies.  Accordingly, figuring out how to leverage Twitter will reap huge benefits.

Sorry for the noise pollution.  Look forward to YOUR thoughts?

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