We will be playing this interactive game at the next meeting of MauiSMUG on September 29. I will be facilitating a version of The Social Media Game, an interactive learning process originally developed by my darling colleague Beth Kantor a few years ago. I’ve updated it and added many more “tools” – though it will “never” be 100% complete. It just shows you how much app and platform development continues in the sphere of online social networks and mobile options. Need I say the longer you wait to start using these the steeper the learning curve? Right – I didn’t think so. 
Photo Credit: Tools, part 1 by scjody on Flickr.com
Come with a specific goal in mind – we will be collaborating in small groups and will be able to craft a social media strategy for several of you! Your goal should be specific so the group can help you strategize for it. Tweet me @roxannedarling or post a message to the MauiSMUG Facebook page if you have questions!
The confusing part is also very good news: it is arbitrary whether we call something a “social network” or an “online broadcast” etc – most of these tools listed below easily fall into many of these categories! Each of the services is in a constant game of copycat – adding features that competitors have and doing whatever they can to keep you on their site. (If you have been on Facebook this week or Google+, you know exactly what this is about!)
LISTENING
Google Analytics
Set up automated reminders for any mention of your org name or your product/service keywords.
How often should you get reports? Who will review & act?
www.google.com/analytics
Yelp/Trip Advisor
Customer-generated reviews of products and services. You can interact with them directly.
Have you claimed your business? How will you deal with negative reviews?
www.yelp.com
www.tripadvisor.com
Google Alerts
Set up automated reminders for any mention of your org name or your product/service keywords.
How often should you get reports? Who will review & act?
www.google.com/alerts
SOCIAL NETWORKS
Drupal
Customized content management systems (CMS) where your staff can access and edit the website and users can create their own blogs within your main site.
Is there a dev & support budget?
www.drupal.com
Facebook
Set up an organization page on an existing popular social network to connect with others.
What will you name your page and what will you feature there?
www.facebook.com
Ning
Create your own niche online social network with ready to use blogs, RSS feeds, forums and more.
Do you have a community on the ground to support an online community? Or would you be better served to set up a community inside another social network?
www.ning.com
LinkedIn
Use for recruiting, research on potential contractors, ask/answer questions, create org profile.
When will you set up your profile? How can you ask for referrals? What about your staff?
www.linkedin.com
COMMUNICATION
Email List
Talk to your key supporters often.
How often will you use this and what data or content would you like to include?
www.mailchimp.com
www.verticalresponse.com
www.campaignmonitor.com
Twitter
Web and mobile updates. Hash tag conversations. Share links.
Is your target audience familiar with using this tool? How’s your understanding of social media etiquette?
www.twitter.com
Mobile Texting
Instantly text message your audience about urgent updates to their cellphones.
How will you collect and manage cellphone numbers?
www.group2call.com
Skype
Free or low cost calls over the internet with ability to record and conference.
Will you create audio or video interviews using Skype? Will you connect with others at low cost?
www.skype.com
Google+
Just now opened to the public, you can chat in private circles, video chat on the fly, and coming soon you can live stream video from within Google+.
Can you make time to learn a new system to save time and extend your communication abilities?
plus.google.com
COLLABORATION
Basecamp
Commercial online project and content management system for internal use. Helps organize your team, save assets, plan events, archive files and processes.
Can you make time to learn a new system to save time?
www.basecamphq.com (Our Bare Feet Affiliate link)
Exploration
Allow your staff to explore and learn more about the social web.
Where will you start? What do you want to know to move forward?
Google.com
www.mashable.com
Training Programs (Sign up for ours! www.knowhowcafe.com)
Wiki
A wiki provides groups with collaborative publishing and work- space. Great for group editing documents or projects.
Confident about collaborating? Who will be the wrangler?
www.wikispaces.com
Social Bookmarks
Help organize your own presence on the web by tagging your own pages or pages related to your mission.
Willing to make an effort to tag and share so others can find you?
www.stmbleupon.com
www.delicious.com
Private Groups
Facebook & LinkedIn allow you to create private groups. Manage invitees; they discuss and share.
Where do you and your staff spend more time?
www.facebook.com
www.linkedin.com
Hashtags
Create custom tags for your org & events or concepts. Prepend with a # sign, aka a “hash” mark.
Have you created your main tag? Are you checking for duplicates?
www.hashtracking.com
Tweetup
Host an event organized on Twitter. Raise money, share info, meet face-to-face (IRL).
Does your venue tell the story? Are you more influential in person?
www.twtvite.com
MEDIA CONTENT
Podcasting
Create audio-video stories of your projects and campaigns. Let users subscribe in iTunes.
Do you have a small budget for gear? Can your staff produce this content regularly?
www.blubrry.com – Podpress wp plugin
Flickr
Create or archive photos online to share with others. You can also share find photos of other’s you can use under a creative commons license.
Will you create your own or use others? Create a group too!
www.flickr.com
YouTube
Create or archive videos online to share with others. You can also share other’s videos.
What can you post? How will you share your channel with others?
www.youtube.com
uStream
Create a live (and recorded!) video stream of key events.
What stories make sense in real time? Who can monitor the chat?
www.uStream.tv
Use QR Codes
Embed the custom graphic into your flyers or printed material. Lets users w smart phones jump directly to a webpage or get SMS.
Do you have a specific info page?
www.qurify.com
SlideShare
Share powerpoints and PDFs that can be embedded on other sites.
Do you have compelling presentations and/or data to share?
www.slideshare.net
ONLINE BROADCAST
Other People’s Blogs
Find other bloggers passionate about your cause. Ask them to write about you.
Are you willing to do the research and pitch these bloggers?
www.technorati.com
News & RSS Feeds
Capture other people’s content using their RSS Feeds and aggregate (display) them on your website.
How will you choose your feeds? Do you have a feed?
www.feed.informer.com
www.feedburner.com
Project Blog
Organization uses blog to support projects and events. Can have many authors
How will people know about blog? Will you add share links?
www.wordpress.com
Personal Blog
Individual in organization writes personal perspective on a topic related to your org’s mission.
How will people know about the blog? What links will it include? How often will you post?
www.wordpress.com
Or a custom WordPress blog via standalone hosting:
www.greengeeks.com (our Bare Feet affiliate link)
www.hostgator.com (our Bare Feet affiliate link)
MOBILE APPS
Instagram
A photo-sharing social network built around mobile apps plus artsy filters.
Do you have a smart phone? What photos are worth 1000 words?
www.Instagr.am
FourSquare/Gowalla
Geo-location app, users check-in at your place, share with friends.
How can you support your regular fans/customers? Who will monitor this social network?
www.foursquare.com
www.gowalla.com
Tout
15-second videos straight from your phone to Facebook, Twitter, Email.
Do you have basic video skills to make yours engaging?
www.tout.com
Facebook Places
Facebook creates geographical places that allow people to “check in” when they are there.
Do you already have a place? Are your fans checking in? Are you responding?
www.facebook.com
EVENT TOOLS
Eventbrite
Sell tickets, email attendees, print name badges, free for free events, social sharing tools included.
Why just sell tickets when your attendees can share on FB & Twitter in one-click?
www.eventbrite.com
Aloha,
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Really enjoyed the Social Media Game! Helps to focus on what’s needed.
I have a conundrum and am hoping to get some input from the group, if at all possible.
Let me know if this is inappropriate.
What would you suggest for a resort client who is doing well social media- and internet-wise, but needs to get the phone to ring? When online/wholesaler bookings are made, their revenue is cut by up to 25%.
I’ve come up with:
1. Requesting direct calls for best deals mentioning a code in print ads.
2. QR code in larger print ads that goes to their toll-free number.
Thank you in advance for any assistance you may have.
Hi Nancy,
So glad you liked the game! I still use the cards when working on new strategies myself. You’ve listed some good ideas though I think the depth of your question is more than we can (or perhaps should) address on a blog comment. I myself would want to know all kinds of background info before recommending something for a client – kind of like a doctor prescribing medicine. (The Social Media Doctor – surely someone has grabbed that moniker??)
It’s always good to ask though and others may well want to provide some quick ideas here! It’s one of the great things about social media – there are not really any rules and people get to design their own plans and practices.
Roxanne,
Thank you for your reply and totally understand the doctor metaphor.
I’ll bet you’re right about the Social Media Doctor – there’s a Health blog by a real doc with a post called “The Social Media Doctor is in.”
A hui hou!