NML Connect Newsletter

We're Back!

Justin Levy — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:00:00 GMT

After a few months of not waving hello to you from your inbox, we'reback with a refreshed NML Connect newsletter. You'll see that a lothas changed since the last newsletter we sent. Not only do we have acleaner design but we have also changed the format and content thatwe're delivering. Hopefully you'll find this much more valuable. Now,each month we will send you original short articles from the NML teamto stimulate thought and keep you updated on what we're up to.

Thismonth we're looking at the shifting of viewership and mediaconsumption, small-to-medium businesses, a possible Facebook mutiny,using cloud tools to organize your work and life, how to avoid annoyingyour customers, and staying consistent with your online presence. Allof this wrapped up and packaged in a quick to read newsletter. Amazing, huh?

As always, we would love your feedback. Let usknow what you love and what you would love to see changed. We publishthis newsletter for YOU so we want it to cover the areas that you findinteresting. Deal? Oh, and by the way, if you're not connecting withus around the social web, come find us on Twitter, Facebook and over on our blog. We'd love to chat a little more than once a month with you!

What Does the Shifting of Viewers Mean to Web Marketers?

Stephen Saber — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Mashable has a great article about the expansion of video consumption on the web as an alternative to TV. It is interesting here is to explore what this means for marketers. The first thing to realize is that this switch means more than just a change in appliance. The content, context, and consumption patterns have changed as well. If we just buy ads on the web like we did on TV, we are missing the larger point with this transition. We need to think in terms of a new paradigm for outreach, marketing, and advertising that takes into account integrated campaigns which truly define the essence of the next generation of web-based platforms.

Social Media for Small-to-Medium Size Businesses

Colin Bower — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Most of our partners are large brands, obvious first moves given the relative cost of digital marketing to these companies. However, we have been getting a number of inquiries from small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the last two quarters. Initially, these companies didn't have a budget or even an idea to why digital was important to their business. Over the past quarter, this has changed. We have talked to SMEs that know what they want and understand the cost/ benefit of digital marketing. We center our discussions by asking a simple question: what will it cost you to manage your digital marketing internally so it is comprehensive, professional and drives the return necessary to justify the investment? The reality is that it is most often not only cheaper to outsource, but more effective in that there is no learning curve, and all platforms are managed professionally. Does the math work for you?

Facebook Mutiny?

TJ O'Connor — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:00:00 GMT

The social community was stirred up this week when popular video blogger Leo Laporte decided to delete his Facebook account, instead promoting an open distributed community platform. Leo (and several other major bloggers) cite Facebook's increasingly public-facing privacy settings as the main reason for their departure. Google Trends also indicates a recent surge in users deleting their accounts. Type "delete" into Google and the first auto-complete suggestion is "delete facebook account" (see screenshot).

Organizing Your Work/Life with Cloud-based Tools

Benjamin Abrams — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:00:00 GMT

New media tools can certainly revolutionize your productivity, but have you also considered the ways they can enhance your organizational skills? Like many, I use a standard desktop calendar at the office and a personal calendar at home to keep my priorities in check. However, I also utilize cloud-based tools like Remember the Milk to keep my work/personal life in order when I'm on the go. Online personal task managers such as RTM, Todoist, and Basecamp's Ta-da List help you organize daily routines and important tasks wherever you are, and allow you to share your calendars as well.

How NOT to Annoy Your Customer Base

Erica Templeman — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Respect your audience's boundaries. Sounds like a no-brainer, but when it comes to marketing it's incredibly easy to step on toes in an effort to connect and engage. Example: I reached out to my personal network asking for suggestions on blogging/hosting platforms. I got several tweets of brands looking to push their product out to me. Instead of this method, which really just annoyed me, I would suggest offering help and leaving out the mention of your product. The user will want to know who you are and will discover your product through your profile. Positioning yourself as a friend offering help instantly adds credibility to your handle.

Staying Consistent With Your Online Presence

David Romm — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:00:00 GMT

When companies are building an social media presence, it is very important that they use consistent branding. There are obvious and not so obvious reasons for this. When your username is the same as your company, people searching for your company on Google will see your social media presence at the top of the list. This keeps impostors from claiming your company's username and riding "on the coattails of your success." Don't take the risk, stay consistent.

Remote Tech Support Company iYogi Gets A $15 Million Boost From DFJ, Others

Robin Wauters — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:00:00 GMT

iYogi, a company that provides remote tech support directly to consumers and small businesses, has raised a Series C round to the tune of $15 million.

Tips for Successfully Managing Workshifters

Melanie Turek — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

As someone who's been workshifting for more than 15 years, and also as someone during that time has managed workshifters for a number of organizations, I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to successfully supporting remote employees.

What World of Warcraft Can Teach You About Project Management

Christopher S. Penn — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

With the opening of Icecrown Citadel in the latest edition of World of Warcraft, the challenges facing guilds and players of all levels of skill have increased. During a recent run in the Forge of Souls (facing the evil alter ego of the late James Brown, no less), I noticed that our usual team's play style had to adjust to the new challenges.

How to Make $30,000 a year Blogging

Darren Rowse — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Last night I was chatting with a blogger who was feeling completely overwhelmed with their goal of making a living from blogging.

I asked them how much they wanted to make from blogging.

They responded that they wanted to be a full time blogger.

What 'The U' can teach you about building communities

Mack Collier — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I'm a sucker for documentaries that show the 'rise and fall' of military empires, businesses and the like. I love seeing the plan that made these giants possible, then what changed that led to the inevitable decline.

Should We Be Worried About Fast Food Content?

Sonia Simone — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Earlier this week on TechCrunch, Michael Arrington wrote an alarmed post about "fast food content that will surely, over time, destroy the mom and pop operations that hand craft their content today."

Mom and pop operations and hand-crafted content sounds an awful lot like you and me, doesn't it?

My Google Wave Wish List

Chris Brogan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I'm using Google Wave a bit more right now. Julien and I are writing notes for our next book in it. Justin and I are talking about New Marketing Labs in it. I'm using it as a document collaboration tool, or an idea collaboration tool, and so far, that's working reasonably well. There are many things I wish Wave did/had that would make the experience better.

How Getting An F On Your School Paper Makes You A Better Blogger

Rob Sutton — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

This comes to be a surprise to many, but I hate writing. Every paper in grade school through college was a futile effort in an attempt to pull out my own teeth. I could not stand it and I would do everything in my power not to have to write one more paper. My senior thesis to complete my economics degree was one of the worst experiences of my life. I dreaded every word on the page and had to stretch out every thought just to make it past the minimum page point to graduate. So ...with all of these harsh, I'd rather die feelings about writing, how do I throw over 2,000 words a day on a screen for others to read and why is everyone I know surprised that my words now turn into dollars?

Typical Customers Don't Exist

Valeria Maltoni — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

At least not in the way you used to think about them.

For many companies that have lost touch with their customers or don't have penetration within the companies they do business with, that is a problem. In that case, access and attention can be expensive.

Use December's blogging lull to your advantage

Mack Collier — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

If you've been blogging for more than a year, you know that we are heading into the 'dead' season for blogging. As we get into next month, everyone's attention moves to other, frankly more important areas, and blog readership across the board goes downhill from around mid-December till the New Year. Traffic will come to a crawl and for this blog, Christmas Day and New Year's Day are probably the two lowest days of the year for traffic.

Measuring Social Media Marketing

Chris Brogan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

In working with our various clients at New Marketing Labs, we like to start with measurement as it aligns to goals. We're always excited that people want to work with us, but we also want to make sure their time isn't wasted by simply "doing social media."

Celebrate your victories

Christopher S. Penn — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Ever heard someone be congratulated and their reply was "Aw, it was nothing"?

Ever listened to someone recount a tale of legitimate good work and say that it wasn't a big deal?

Don't ever do this to yourself. Why?

Using Social Media to Manage Adversity

David Baeza — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:00:00 GMT

We have advertised on political talk shows, and with that comes some degree of risk associated with the content. On occasion, a radio host will make outrageous or inflammatory comments that incite a political group. Typically the "group" uses the outrageous comments to promote their agenda, and so the mud slinging begins