trick or Tweet

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Mobile phones: the ultimate fashion accessory

iPhones, Androids, 4G - those high school kids would never leave home without them on the way to Homecoming. FLIP CAMERAS were everywhere too.

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NING EVERYWHERE TAKES CUSTOM TO A NEW LEVEL WITH MOBILE, SOCIAL INTEGRATIONS

Partnerships with Mobile Roadie, Seesmic, Constant Contact, Double Dutch Expand the Power of Ning Social Websites 

 

PALO ALTO, Calif. – Oct.  2010 – Almost every brand, person and organization has built, or is building, a web presence. The proliferation of social technology has made it critical that every one of these websites will need to be social. Today, Ning, the world’s largest platform for creating custom social websites makes that easier with the launch of Ning Everywhere. Ning’s API (Application Programming Interface) offers unparalleled control and flexibility for Network Creators and third party developers to integrate and innovate.

Now, every Ning Network can be a digital hub, integrating with leading cloud and social services like Twitter, Facebook, and Seesmic, accessible from every device, and extensible for those wanting to build custom applications.

Ning makes it easy to create highly customizable and powerful social website for musicians, fans, brands, political organizers, non-profit organizations, and more. Ning Everywhere is the latest evolution in social platform development, and offers even stronger ways to integrate and extend your Ning social website.
“Consumers have changed their expectations on how and where they will consume social,” said Jason Rosenthal, CEO, Ning. “Ning Everywhere gives our customers new and deeper ways to customize their Ning social experience and make it accessible on any device.”

Ning Everywhere offers three new ways to unleash the power of the community:

• Mobile Application Creation: Partnerships with several mobile application creation platforms make it quick and easy to create branded mobile apps for Ning Networks.
  • Premium: Mobile Roadie and Double Dutch provide a simple way for Network Creators to build sophisticated, professional looking mobile apps for Ning communities.
  • Do it Yourself: AppMakr and Double Dutch offer cost-effective ways for Ning Network Creators to build their own mobile applications.
• Ning Extensions: With Ning Extensions, the best of the web – and the best of Ning – are now closer than ever before. Seamless and elegant integration with leading cloud services offers Ning Creators and members new features to extend the power of their Ning communities. With the click of a button, Ning Creators can enable Seesmic, Constant Contact, Aviary, CafePress, heyZap and Skimlinks on Ning Networks, providing new ways to monetize and connect.
• Custom App Development: With the Ning API, Network Creators can build their own applications with help from fellow developers, making deep integration easier and more opportunity for creativity to run wild.

“Constant Contact and Ning share a common passion and commitment to making social media simple and accessible for our customers,” said Steve Johnson, vice president of partners, Constant Contact. “The combination of our complementary technology platforms helps small business customers extend the reach and impact of their Ning communities through the power of email marketing.”
"We are very excited to team up with Ning. By combining the largest mobile app platform with the largest custom social platform in the world, we believe we are making it easier than ever for our customers to have a cohesive digital presence." said Michael Schneider, CEO, Mobile Roadie.

Integration Partners

• Mobile Roadie - A turn-key platform to quickly and inexpensively build and manage mobile apps. Mobile Roadie worked with Ning to develop:
  • Linkin Park iPhone app
  • Friends or Enemies iPhone app
• Double Dutch – Helps companies and brands build mobile, social, geolocation apps for their communities. Double Dutch worked with Ning to develop:
  • Interscope – Soulja Boy location-based iPhone app
• AppMakr - A browser-based platform designed to make creating your own iPhone app quick and easy. AppMakr uses existing content and social networking feeds,to create native iPhone applications. AppMakr worked with Ning to develop:
  • GovLoop app
  • SheWrites app
• Seesmic – The Seesmic Desktop, an application that allows you to follow activity across multiple social networking services and post status updates from one easy-to-use location, now supports full integration from Ning Networks.
• Constant Contact – This powerful email marketing software makes it easy to create professional HTML email campaigns with no technical skills. Constant Contact worked with Ning communities to enable:
  • Easy upload of member contact information into the service
  • Development and delivery of compelling email newsletters, simple sharing of those newsletters via social channels, and measureable results
• Aviary – This suite of content creation and development tools, ranging from graphic design to audio and effects editing, provide Ning Networks with high-quality services for artists of all genres.
• heyZap – Social and casual games have brought websites increased traffic, user retention and engagement, and additional income streams. Ning and heyZap have teamed up to provide deeper integration of social gaming into the Ning platform, so that Ning Creators can monetize via in-game microtransactions.
• CafePress – As the world’s biggest destination for self-expression through merchandise with more than 11 million shoppers visiting shops each month, CafePress provides an easy way for Network Creators to create and sell merchandise and monetize their Ning Networks.
• Skimlinks – This service simplifies affiliate marketing for web publishers, enabling content to be monetized through commissions from more than 12,000 merchants. By integrating into Ning, Skimlinks lets Network Creators convert normal links into affiliate links, turning product references within content into relevant, geo-targeted shopping links.

Ning Everywhere provides the tools and resources to enable brands of all shapes and sizes to create integrated and customized social experiences wherever their audiences go. To learn more, please visit www.ning.com.

About Ning
Ning is the leading online platform for the world’s organizers, activists and influencers to create social experiences that inspire action. For brands of all shapes and sizes, Ning makes it easy to build custom and powerful social websites. Ning Networks span categories like politics, entertainment, small business, non-profits, education and more, connecting millions of people every day around the topics they are passionate about. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Ning was co-founded in October 2004 by Chairman Marc Andreessen and is privately held. For more information, visit www.ning.com.

Android,apps and blogging on the go

Just uploaded the new app to blog from my android phone. How cool is that! Not sure what is all the rave?

See http://over40socialmedia2.eventbrite.com

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How to Get Started in Mobile Media Marketing

If you're wondering how to get going on mobile media, here's a 12-step program to help you get going. (Yes, we see the irony in a 12-step program for mobile media.)

• Step #1: Mobilize your website. Set up a mobile website so that it's simpler and easier to navigate than your regular website.
• Step #2: Study your competitors. Are they using Foursquare or Gowalla to drive traffic to their locations? Steal their ideas. Really. Steal 'em.
• Step #3: Start using mobile media yourself. Download LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to your smart phone. Then take the next step and try Foursquare or Gowalla.
• Step #4: Read everything you can about mobile media. (Hint: A good place to start is with the Mobile Media Glossary right here on the 60 Second Marketer.)
• Step #5: Claim your business on location-based applications. If you own a restaurant, claim it on Foursquare before anyone else does.
• Step #6: Run a mobile ad campaign. Now you're getting into the more advanced stuff. Apple has iAd and Google has AdWords to help you do this. Or you can contact one of the multitude of mobile advertising firms out there.
  
• Step #7: Create a QR or 2D Code promotion. To take a quick dive into QR codes, read "How to Use QR Codes to Promote Your Business" on the 60 Second Marketer blog.
• Step #8: Design an iPhone or smart phone app. Now you're really getting advanced. iPhone and smart phone apps take time and money to create, but they can be worth it.
• Step #9: Encourage interactivity. No matter what kind of mobile campaign you do, be sure that it gives the customer a reason to come back and do it again.
• Step #10: Integrate the program into your overall marketing program. Your mobile program shouldn't stand alone in a silo. Integrate it!
• Step #11: Track your results. The cool thing about mobile is that it's digital. And digital is trackable.
• Step #12: Test, test, test. The folks at BKV Digital and Direct Response are always talking about doing A/B split tests. That's the only way to continuously improve your results.

So there you have it. Our very own 12-step program!

Article via Jamie Turner
Chief Content Officer
The 60 Second Marketer
BKV's Online Magazine for Marketers

Also See http://socialmediapr.eventbrite.com 

Did You Know? Pam Perry's Favorite Video

Welcome to the future of Marketing

See www.facebook.com/pamperryfanpage

Simple Messaging Service (SMS)
Now you can maintain a single integrated system that combines the power of SMS Mobile Text, Instant Message, Email, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter!
Here are some of the powerful tools and easy to use features that a SMS offers businesses and organizations…

BULK SMS

• Send and receive text messages anywhere via our easy-to-use web user interface, your mobile phone, or our robust SMS API
• Collect mobile phone numbers using Mobile Keywords or import a list of opt-in numbers
• Tie your mobile phone to your account so that when you’re not in front of a computer you can send out a single text message from your phone and text everyone in a distribution list
• Setup recurring and automated messages to be sent out at certain days and times of the week, month, or year
• Schedule messages for future delivery time
• Compose mobile texts that automatically address each recipient by their first and last name so it’s more personal.
• Easily select only certain area codes to send your text messages to

MOBILE KEWORDS, SHORT CODES & COUPONS
A Mobile Keyword is a one-word phrase that identifies a product, service, action, or business. People text a mobile keyword to a pre-publicized 4, 5 or 6-digit short code number to receive additional information and to join your mobile distribution list. For example, if a customer texts “SNEAKER ” to 69302, the customer will immediately receive an automated text response (that you can setup and change at anytime). The text response can be more information about your product or service tied to that specific keyword. You can also setup a different automated response with each mobile keyword that you setup. For example, the keyword “SNEAKER” would be owned by your SMS account. Anybody who creates an account with ADS-SMS can immediately create a mobile keyword as long as it’s not already taken by another ADS-SMS user (much like owning an Internet URL).
Businesses and organizations use Mobile Keywords get people to opt-in to their mobile distribution list, and then they send out Bulk SMS Text Messages once they’ve accumulated sufficient numbers to text. Restaurants, for example, are using Mobile Keyword and Bulk SMS Texting. Here’s another example, a bakery sends out text messages with a mobile coupon offering discounts when they over bake a product.
Frankly, customers don’t redeem paper coupons like they used to. It’s a hassle to print them, cut them out, and remember to keep them in your pocket so you can have them handy just at the right moment. On the other hand, people have their phones with them at all times so the redemption rates for mobile coupons are much higher compared to paper coupons.

Short Code : 69302

Short Codes are special telephone numbers that are typically 4 to 6 digits long. Unlike regular 10-digit phone numbers, you cannot call a short code number. They are used for texting purposes only. Short codes act just like any other regular 10-digit phone numbers that you can send text messages to. Typically they are used for business purposes for consumers to purchase products or to request additional information about a product, service, or business. They are often used to tally votes for a contest or sweepstake (like they do in American Idol^tm ). You’ve seen mobile keyword and short code technology on TV shows, radio commercials, billboards, print advertising, and websites.
Setup as many Mobile Keywords like in minutes. When people text your keyword it automatically opts their mobile number into your ADS-SMS database. Automatic replies are texted back to people that text your Mobile Keyword, and you can customize and change this auto-responder text at any time. Other uses include:

• Send the auto response message once per mobile number, every time the keyword is texted, or once per timeframe (day, hour, week, or month). You can also send an Alternate Auto Response text message if someone has already texted your keyword before.
• People can text your Mobile Keywords followed by a message they want to send you. All of their messages will be captured in your ADS-SMS Inbox or you can have them forwarded to an email or mobile phone of your choice.
• Automated and recurring messages can be sent to any new keyword signups. So if someone texts your Mobile Keywords you can setup an automatic text to be sent to them on day 1, day 5, day 30, day 100, etc.
• Have a notification texted to your mobile phone or emailed to you when somebody texts your keyword so you can follow up right away.

MOBILE VOTING
MOBILE VOTING via Text Message. Create all types of fun and engaging SMS votes and polls and ask a multiple choice question with up to ten choices. As people vote via text messaging, every vote is categorized and automatically tallied so that it’s really easy for you to see and analyze the results. SMS Voting is one of the most commonly used features of ADS-SMS’s mobile text messaging solutions.
It’s easy to use, quick to get setup, and has become very popular because of the many television and radio stations that have been utilizing this technology for years.
ADS-SMS’s Mobile Voting Service enables you to create all types of fun and engaging SMS votes and polls. As people vote via text messaging, every vote is categorized and automatically tallied so that it’s really easy for you to see and analyze the results.
ADS-SMS’s Mobile Voting Service allows you to ask a multiple choice question with up to TEN choices. All people need to do to participate in the mobile vote is to text your Mobile Keyword to a Short Code. They will then immediately receive back a text message that’s customized by you with all the choices they can vote for. They simply need to reply back with just the number that’s tied to the choice and that’s it!
ADS-SMS will make sure to record every vote and reply message, and every mobile number that participates in the vote is captured in your personal database so that you can also text the voters in the future. ADS-SMS’s voting module ensures that each mobile phone can only vote one time keeping things fair and simple.
Here are some voting ideas:

• A musician, band, or radio station that wants people to vote for their favorite song.
• A politician wants immediate feedback from constituents on how to vote on an issue.
• A real estate broker or agent wants to send information on a hot property that just came on the market.
• A labor union sends organizing instructions to its leadership or rank and file.
• A retail store that wants to ask its customers what their favorite brands are.
• A church that wants to ask its congregation what they want to do this Sunday after church.
• A sports league or team that wants to ask their fans to vote for their favorite player or game MVP.
• A restaurant that wants its customers to vote for which entrée or dessert they like the most.
• A bar, club, or DJ that wants to asks the crowd which song they want to hear next.
• Or anything you can think of – the possibilities are endless!!

APPOINTMENT & RESERVATION REMINDERS
ADS-SMS includes a mobile text messaging reminder feature that allows you to easily queue and send automated appointment and reservation reminders via SMS. It’s perfect for Doctors, Dentists, Chiropractors, Day Spas, Tanning and Beauty Salons, Automobile Service Centers, and much more.
If your service or business depends on appointments or reservations, you need to minimize missed opportunities as much as possible. After all, each missed appointment or reservation means lost revenue!
Unlike automated phone calling systems, Mobile Text Reminder is a non-intrusive way of saying you care and an automated way of increasing your revenue. Mobile Text Reminder pays for itself with just a single saved opportunity and is the most effective and least expensive way to keep your business or service at full capacity.
The best part is that Mobile Text Reminder is incredibly affordable, and any business or organization can setup and start sending SMS reminders in minutes. All you need is a computer with Internet access!
It’s time to let your staff focus on something more important than making repetitive reminder phone calls, and never allow your clients or customers put up with intrusive automated phone calls again!
TWO-WAY TEXT MESSAGES (CHATTING)
Send and Receive SMS Text Messages from any Computer or Phone
Two-way text messaging (chatting) allows you to send messages back and forth to individuals. Recipients of a text blast can simply reply back to the text message and their responses will be captured in your ADS-SMS Inbox or forwarded to an email or mobile phone of your choice.
ADS-SMS’S TWO WAY TEXT MESSAGING PLATFORM allows you to send and receive SMS text messages from any web browser or phone, and gives you complete flexibility in managing all of your incoming and outgoing messages. Other features include:

• Easily export out all of the replies and messages from the Inbox to an Excel file.
• Permanently remove and easily block mobile numbers right from the Inbox.
• Easily type a message on your computer to chat with individuals or entire groups of people with a click of a button
• Send and receive text messages from any mobile phone
• Recipients of a text blast can simply reply back to the text message and their responses will be captured in your ADS-SMS Inbox or forwarded to an email or mobile phone of your choice
• Quickly export out all of your collected mobile numbers, replies and messages from your ADS-SMS account to an Excel file
• Save a complete history of all your messages and threaded conversations
• Send out regular, scheduled, automated, and recurring messages to individual(s) and group(s)

ONLINE SIGN UP PAGES
Create Online Signup Pages (Opt-in) so people can enter their contact info on your website and automatically populate your ADS-SMS database.

• Choose from dozens of pre-designed Online Signup Page templates or design your own Online Signup Page to match your website by plugging in the HTML source code.
• Send an auto-responder (automatic response) to go out immediately after someone signs up on your Online Sign Up Page (maybe information about your company, next sale, or event). Send an Active Auto Responder message via email, IM, text message, or all three.

POWERFUL TOOLS AND UTILITIES

• Quickly and easily Import and Export mobile numbers, instant message screen names, and email addresses via Excel files.
• Filter a list of opt-in phone numbers so that you send messages to mobile phones only.

NOTE: ADS-SMS does not allow sending messages to anyone who has not opted-in to receive messages from your business or organization (under any circumstances). The wireless carriers prohibit anyone from sending unsolicited commercial text messages. As a service, we provide a list building service including cold calling prospects and web-based opt-in setup and implementation.

• Easily identify and remove failed /invalid contact information from your database.
• Click on a distribution list to see the sign up date for each contact.
• Sort a distribution list by Source, Status, and Wireless Carrier.

ADVANCED MESSAGING OPTINS

• Tie your mobile phone to your account so that when you’re not in front of a computer you can send out a single text message from your phone and message everyone in a distribution list on every mode of communication (SMS, IM, and Email).
• Setup recurring and automated messages to be sent out at certain days and times of the week, month, or year.
• Schedule messages for future delivery time.
• Compose mobile texts, instant messages, and emails that automatically address each recipient by their first and last name so it’s more personal (merged fields).
• Select from over 100 stylish email templates or plug in your own custom HTML code.
• Update your status messages on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter right from ADS-SMS.
• Easily select only certain area codes to send your text messages to.

2D Barcode or QR Code (Quick Response Code)
The 2D Barcode is a link to your mobile or pc website. It can be used for a variety of applications including: ad campaigns, nutritional information, business card information, personal mobile pages, t-shirts, and much more. Your customer “takes a picture” with a smartphone and the coded instruction will automatically take them to a webpage, or play a video or display a mobile coupon – right on their mobile phone! The sky’s the limit with 2D Barcode application. Don’t let another piece of promotional literature leave your business unless it has your 2D Barcode printed on it!