The ABC Rule for a New Media POST Plan

Is social media a joke nowadays? From the satirical news source, The Onion: Local Laundromat Employs Social Media Coordinator:

Saying that it was the next logical step for the company, the owners of local laundromat Sudz Cleaners told reporters Tuesday that they had recently hired social media coordinator Dan Elmets, 26, to lead the development and execution of social strategy for the coin-wash laundry business. “Dan’s role is essential to Sudz Cleaners because he not only manages our Facebook and Twitter identities, he also keeps us on top of the latest trending topics and makes us a part of the global online conversation,” said Bill Dunn, co-owner of the self-service and drop-off laundromat. 

(TheOnion.com, June 4, 2013.)

I want to start a discussion thread on social media planning in general and getting feedback on my forthcoming site on podcasting.

I have been blogging since 2002 and I have had talks, courses and workshops on social media for 5+ years. We are not talking about nuclear science or brain surgery here, but as a blogger and social media evangelist, I have learned a thing or two during the years. I must say that it boils down to the A.B.C formula that is described in Amber Mac's book, Power Friending: Demystifying Social Media to Grow Your Business:

  • Authenticity
  • Bravery
  • Consistency

For me authenticity comes natural due to the fact that the philosophy which I subscribe to, is providing me with the integration of fundamental ideas. If you are staunch individualist, you will understand the real meaning of the word, ego (Latin for I).

It was a bit of a brave move to jump into cyberspace and create content in the blogosphere, 11 years ago.

My personal brand is consistent with my online activities and I am both professional and personal. I don't have an urge to share all things about my private life, because that is as the word says, private. The thing with consistency that is a challenge is to create content in a consistent way, on a regular basis. I have been taking blog breaks now and then and I will continue to do that...

After you have integrated this formula into your daily social media activities, you could get establish a P.O.S.T social media plan according to the ideas in the book, Groundswell: Winning in a world transformed by social technologies, by Charlene Li & Josh Bernoff.

  • People
  • Objectives
  • Strategy
  • Technology

I often get questions about the tech. stuff when I am speaking on social media and new media trends. I am fascinated by the latest gadgets, "shiny objects" and the new IT start-ups with cool ideas, but the main thing is to ask the question: Why am I in business and how could I use new social technologies as tools in my worklife?

My main focus right now and in the near future will be to launch my new site, EGO NetCast

Rough thumbnail sketch by John Cox.

I will cover things like talk radio, podcasting, vlog, etc. Here is an excerpt from Chris Miller's post, Your Social Media Strategy:

"What’s the return on investment?” That’s one of the questions that’s regularly asked by businesses of all types, while trying to make sense of their place in social media. The more honest statement I hear is, “I know I need to be doing more with social media, but I don’t know what I should do.” I see social media and content marketing make the needle move for businesses, but there’s one thing you have to do before you’ll see results with it: do it correctly. The first step in doing it correctly is to come up with a plan. So, here are four steps to your new, effective social media strategy, especially designed for radio stations. 

(Talkers.com, July 1, 2013.)

I have started a new podcast with the title, "15 minutes of prep.". It would be interesting to ask questions to Jonathan Hoenig about the onion trade ban in 1958 and FDR's Executive Order 6102 in 1933. What kind of regulation and intrusion will we see in 2014?

Here is the pilot episode: