Disqus - Latest Comments for MarkBarker

Re: Are the biggest benefits of social media local?

MarkBarker — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:26:13 -0000

The ironic thing is that Google rose to such prominence on its ability to deliver relevant, localized results and pair them with advertising. And in many ways it still does this better than anyone else by integrating Google Maps into search, etc. And on the content side you've got big players like NYTimes, etc, creating "city blogs" and upstarts like Outside.In aggregating local info.

But I think what's really different with Twitter is an evolution from static to real-time content that, due to its growing scale and relative simplicity, few others (including Vine) will be able to match.

Re: Are the biggest benefits of social media local?

MarkBarker — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:39:13 -0000

Agreed. Was driving by Pease Park in Austin last weekend and was surprised to discover a big outdoor happenin' I had heard nothing about. I searched Twitter for "Pease Park" and immediately discovered tweets from people at the event--Eeyore's Birthday Party.

A Google search for "Pease Park" and "Pease Park events" was of no help at all. I eventually would have found the event by searching local listings, but the real-time search that Twitter makes possible is enormously powerful and nowhere is it more relevant than on the local level.

Re: Op-Ed: What Social Media Revolution? By Gareth Kay - AgencySpy

MarkBarker — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:58:16 -0000

Spot on.

The best filter continues to be the one I learned in Mikal Reich's ad class many years ago: "Why does anyone care?" Why does anyone give a fuck what your brand has to say on Twitter, etc?

BUT--if you can pass that test, you've got a social idea. One that has value for people, be it practical utility or social currency or both. One that people will be excited about sharing. And I think that is where social media comes into play: delivering the idea in a way that facilitates interaction.