<editorsnote>Hi, I'm Jen Friel, and we here at TNTML examine the lives of nerds outside of the basements and into the social media, and dating world. We have over 75 peeps that write about their life in real time. (Real nerds, real time, real deal.) Sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the stories!!</editorsnote>
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Melodie. I met her when she invited me to come and crash on her couch for the night in the San Dizzle and she is for reals one of the nicest chicas ever. She's a fellow marketer and wanted to use this space to share her thoughts on life, love, and all things nerd. Hit it Melodie!</editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @MyMelodie
When I shared my List of 12s for 2012 for things I want to accomplish related to tech/web/social media, YouTube was on the list and I said “I’m not a regular YouTuber but I’m currently working on an awesome Social Media related video that will be published soon. My goal is to get at least 1 million views on this video. I know that sounds extreme especially since my current YouTube videos have views only in the hundreds. I’ve got a good feeling about this video and in 2012 I’m going to get 1 million views on my social media related YouTube video.”
Well I’m making progress! I finished the video and it’s now up for your viewing pleasure! I couldn't help myself with this video. While watching the popular video "Shit Girls Say" and all the spin offs (By the way my favorite spin off is "Shit Yogis Say" since yoga is my other passion), I got a great idea to create a video related to my love for marketing, tech and social media!
Please, please, pretty please share this if you find it funny, compelling or can relate to it in any way. Leave comments and spread the word! I'm aiming for at least 1 million views and since most people reading this are extremely tech savvy and influential in the space, we should have no problem achieving this goal!
And now for the feature presentation: "SHIT SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERTS SAY" (You know, the people who can run your Facebook and Twitter account)
Big thank you to @jennyjenjen for producing and editing the video, @iPodschun , @ChrisKirkman for being a part of creating the video and @LoMagna for her ideas on writing the script.
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Melodie. I met her when she invited me to come and crash on her couch for the night in the San Dizzle and she is for reals one of the nicest chicas ever. She's a fellow marketer and wanted to use this space to share her thoughts on life, love, and all things nerd. Hit it Melodie!</editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @MyMelodie
Happy New Year Nerds! It’s my first TNTML post of 2012 so I’m sticking with the “new year” theme! Like many nerds, I love making lists. To-do lists are the most common for me. I make these daily to stay on task with both my personal and professional life. In fact I’ve even added things to my to-do list after I already accomplished them, just so I can check it off. C’mon I know I’m not the only one who’s done this before! Fess up if you have ;)!
Instead of resolutions, I shared with my network that 2012 means making “Lists of 12s”!
I’m working on lists of 12 new restaurants to try, 12 new places to go, 12 marketing goals for my business and the list I’d like to share with Talk Nerdy To Me Lover is, 12 tech/web/social media related things I’d like to do in 2012! (Yep I’m sharing my nerdiest list with all of you!)
Pinterest- We all know about my food porn addiction I recently joined Pinterest and wow, it’s any food porn addict’s DREAM! I have 2 boards related to food. My Sweet Tooth is filled with gorgeous, mouth-watering sweets. Rather than just look at these images and drool, in 2012 I’m going to actually make at least 2 desserts I’ve pinned on Pinterest. (Give me food and I’ll cook but please note I have virtually zero experience when it comes to baking sweets so this is something new for me!)
Facebook- Part of what I do for my Marketing clients is work with them to create customized social media profiles that are cohesive with their brand and website. You know the old saying “The Cobbler’s children have no shoes”? I spend a lot of time helping clients create a marketing strategy that effectively integrates social media and Facebook is one of the main tools I use. However, even though I help clients with this, I personally haven’t had an opportunity to customize my own Facebook page. In 2012, I’m going to redesign my Facebook Page so it’s cohesive with my website and brand.
Yelp- Write a minimum of 12 new Yelp reviews in 2012
LinkedIn- I’m grateful that I’ve received so many positive recommendations from my colleagues, clients and partners on LinkedIn. I’m truly humbled by reading the things people who have benefited from my work. I’ve been meaning to create a “Testimonials” section on my website by transferring many of my LinkedIn recommendations. In 2012 I’m going to create a “Testimonials” section on my website based on my LinkedIn recommendations.
Gmail- I’ve created folders and filters for many emails, but not all. I have thousands and thousands of unread messages in my inbox. I’ve trained myself to skip over unimportant emails such as ones from newsletters I don’t recall signing up for or emails related to people connecting with me on a social network but this still means there’s clutter in my inbox. In the past few days I’ve already unsubscribed from about 15 email lists and removed over 4000 messages from my inbox. I have over 8000 to go! In 2012 I’m going to get my gmail inbox down to zero, for the first time ever!
Evernote- While Evernote helps me stay organized; my Evernote itself needs to be organized. Whenever forward an email to my evernote the email doesn’t get categorized into a folder immediately. This is one of the main ways to update my Evernote so I definitely have some cleaning up to do. In 2012 I’m going to clean up my Evernote account.
Foursquare- I’m a total Foursquare lover! <nerdy tangent>Make sure April 16th is marked on your calendar for Foursquare Day it’s on 4/16 because 4 squared = 16</nerdy tangent>. I’m currently a Super User- Level 2. The highest Super User Level is 3 and I’ve read that it’s virtually impossible to become a Level 3 Super User but my wordplay mind comes to fruition because in the word “impossible” I just see the words “I’m possible” so in 2012 I’m going to become a Foursquare Super User- Level 3!
YouTube- I’m not a regular YouTuber but I’m currently working on an awesome Social Media related video that will be published soon. My goal is to get at least 1 million views on this video. I know that sounds extreme especially since my current YouTube videos have views only in the hundreds. I’ve got a good feeling about this video and in 2012 I’m going to get 1 million views on my social media related YouTube video.
Twitter- All of my Twitter followers were gained authentically through people finding my page and being interested in topics I tweet about. I’d like to continue being a resource on Twitter but also build up my Twitter following with more people who are engaged in conversation and content I post. In 2012 I’m going to grow my Twitter following to over 5000 while keeping in mind this must be done authentically through just being me!
Phone- My Droid 2 just isn’t cutting it! Rather than continue to complain about how my phone is slow in 2012 I’m going to get a new phone!
Laptop- My laptop and all the information it contains is literally my most valuable possession. It contains photos, music, confidential documents etc. It used to be backed up on the cloud but my subscription ended and I haven’t had a chance to renew. Whether on the cloud or on a hard drive, in 2012 I need to make sure I back up my laptop again!
Blogging- My last in my list of 12s is something that will keep me accountable for 1-11 on this list! And that’s to write a follow up blog post in 6 months and then right before on 2013 on what items have been checked in on this tech/web/social media list of 12!
Wishing everyone the best of the best in 2012! Thank you again to @JenFriel for having me a part of her community and everyone who reads my posts. I’ve really appreciated the tweets, Facebook Likes and Subscribes and emails! It makes me happy to hear from you so please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time!
<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Meg. She's an indie filmmaker here in LA and is here to talk about her experiences and challenges in filmmaking. Dudes, Hollywood in a recession is nooooo fun! But here's what's working and isn't working for Meg. Hit it lady!!! </editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's Meg Pinsonneault
Long gone are the days of indulging only in creativity. Specifically for an indie filmmaker like myself, you must be versed in all aspects of the process. And I’m beginning to realize that no skill is more important than social networking. There are so many contests, polls, and competitions based solely on a voting system. The bigger your social net, the better chance you have of prevailing. But you have to be engaging too. It’s about making friends and supporting each other. It’s about community and family. I hear a lot filmmakers complaining that social networking is too time consuming. But I think they’re looking at it all the wrong way. It may feel like you’re whoring yourself around, but there’s a lot more to it than just a cheap date. (Just remember, it never hurts to ask. You’ll be surprised how fast relationships can grow.)
Twitter, Facebook, and the like are wonderful platforms for which to engage and interactive with your audience. We’ve all watched the resurgence of indie film fueled by cheap and accessible technology. But it’s also a direct cause from the rise of social networking. I believe that indie filmmakers are some of the most passionate people on Earth. Up until a few years ago, most of us didn’t have a chance in hell of telling our stories. Social networking platforms gave independent artists of all kind the ability to scream from the rooftops and the audience a chance to listen. Fine, I’ll admit it. Up until 9 months ago, I thought online relationships were a joke too. But I was very wrong. To all those naysayers out there, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s time to bite the bullet. Social networking isn't going away. If you’re an indie artist and you don’t have a Twitter page, you’re simply not competitive.
Case and point: I’m currently working on a feature documentary, Gwapa (Beautiful), about a poor Filipino family’s struggle to help their 3 kids with facial deformities. It’s been a very exciting process and I can safely saw that most of this project’s success to date is due it’s heavy social presence online. Back in November, we ran a kickass crowd-funding campaign to fund the completion of this film. We didn’t reach our goal, but $12,411 our of our $16,500 goal ain’t bad! The real commodity we gained was massive support for our cause and a wide audience excited to see our film. Once the word got out, people from all over the world came to our aid andGwapa (Beautiful) spread like wildfire. It’s truly special to see so many wonderful people step to support this wonderful cause. But the good news doesn’t stop there. Because of tremendous support from our online family, we also won indieWIRE’s “Project of the Week” contest in early December. And best of all, we’ve had major interest in the film from sales agencies, all because of our social marketing for the project.
Fast forward to present day to where we’re now vying to win indieWIRE’s “Project of the Month” contest! (This is where the whoring comes in.) Ring the year in right by helping to bring awareness to Filipino kids with cleft deformities. Winning a consultation with Sundance Institute only solidifies the importance of this film. Be a part of the movement! Please consider voting forGwapa Beautiful for indieWIRE’s “Project of the Month” contest. The competition runs through a Facebook poll from January 2 - 6, ending at 10am EST. You must have a Facebook account to vote. Help save lives forever and help spread the word about this important issue! Click HERE to vote this film.
If you’re running a crowd-funding campaign right now, I suggest you consider submitting to these contest. Each week, indieWIRE readers can vote for their favorite in-the-works film project using a Facebook-based polling system. Each weekly winning project will also be voted on for the best project of the month; the winner with the most votes will score an in-depth consultation with a senior member of Sundance Institute’s program staff.The projects are selected by indieWIRE editors from filmmaker-submitted applications, documentaries or online video. Digital distribution is a rapidly changing industry. According to IndieWire blog, this is what filmmakers can expect to get out of the consultation:
Discussion of new platforms and devices, including iPad and other tablets, smart phones, and connected TV platforms -- and how they can become part of your distribution strategy
How theatrical and digital releases can work together
The promotional and financial value of theatrical distribution vs. digital distribution
How to get the most out of digital-distribution platforms.
If you want to submit your film for consideration as “Project of the Day,” click here.
<editorsnote>Nerds, meet my buddy Jennifer. She's a muse for hire and social media writer and consultant that is passionate about comic books and video games. Um, hello? Nerd-goddess? Is that you? This chick is the shizzy shiznat, and she has a lot of adventures. So, like, go follow 'em!</editorsnote>
#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @Scandalous
Today marks my 4th anniversary of being on Twitter. Has it only been that long? Why does it feel like so much more?
I remember how I first found out about Twitter- through a dating website that no longer exists: I'm in Like With You. That was the site that really started the floodgates for me. Don't know what I'm in Like With You is? Don't worry, you're not the only one. But let me just say this: back in its heyday, that site was way ahead of its time and I wish that it still existed like it did all those years ago.
Twitter was still in its infancy even back then. I remember telling a few friends about it after seeing it on a couple of profiles on IILWY. I don't know if any of us knew how much things were going to change because of it but something inside me just knew that this was going to be the explosion of the space. I dove in.
To me, especially then, Twitter represented a blank canvas to carve out anything you wanted to be for yourself. It was the culmination of all those things my Journalist teacher told me back in high school. It was about maximizing your image so people knew what to look to you for.
Through my journeys through the Twitterverse, I have witnessed so many great things happening. The rise and fall of startups… Of citizen journalism becoming more and more common place… of stars coming out of posted videos and Youtube… of Michael Arrington stepping down from Techcrunch… Of Steve Jobs stepping aside at Apple...
But then there are the other things not completely out there that have happened as a result of Twitter- like the countless number of relationships I have cultivated within the digital space, of how far I have come from being a girl displaced from a broken marriage to the confident woman that I have grown to be.
Twitter has changed shapes for me as the years have passed. It is the melting pot for my work, friends, and art. It's for business. It's for community engagement on the things we care about. It's about an artistic thought bubble that bid release. After 4 years, I’m still just as excited about the opportunities it presents. Here’s to another four more years of evolution.
Want to find out more about my latest adventures? Follow me on twitter and watch them unfold.
I am FASCINATED by not only social media, but particularly our photographic documentation of life through it. (Clearly, I post and talk about said fascination morning, noon and night. One would think it gets old ... but it DOESN'T! BAHHHH!!! SUCKAASSSSSS!!!)
Alrite, remember the in the mirror myspace picture?
I can't get enough of it. I feel like it says so much about who we are as people.
I started using Myspace in 2005 as all of my collegiate friends back east started getting on Facebook; I didn't want to be left out. As anyone from back then remembered, or if you just saw the movie, in the early days of social media, you had to have a college ID address to create a Facebook account. Tangent: I have a theory as well, that myspace was so synonymous with being "ghetto" because in fact lesser educated people were among the early adopters. Think about that for a second ...
When social sites were first established, one of the first things we all did when we created our pages, was to select a default picture. K ... cool ... but remember this was back in 2005, pre every.single.person. in the world having a digital camera (or camera phone); the last time we took a picture we actually liked, we were at Grandma Betty's BBQ in Poughkeepsie. Might cramp our style if we're trying to get laid. Dude, chicks dig plaid pants. No joke ... schmexy.
People weren't taking pictures nearly as often as they do now. Period end of sentence. Anyone who owns a mac has photobooth, but let's again - face facts that not everyone can afford a mac. What were people to do? Take pictures of themselves in the mirror.
Super, easy, efficient way to capture a photo. Not everyone was capable of setting a timer, running back, and making sure they were still in the picture and not looking like a total dweeb.
Makes sense, and totally spurred a cultural phenomenon.
YouTube exploded with tutorials on how to successfully take a Myspace picture:
Wait, kid. are you kidding me? TURN OFF THE FLASH ON THE CAMERA, HOLD IT AS STEADY AS POSSIBLE, AND CLICK SNAP. Omg. Wow, I just made all of you dumber by subjecting you to that video. I am so sorry, that was horrible.
How many times did he call himself a genius too? Wow. Insane.
HAHA, but wait actually - kinda funny. I never thought about doing it that way. Pretty clever, but also way too complicated. People are stupid, mate. No really - people are phenomenally predictable and incredibly dumb. There's no way that many people would have put that much effort into taking a picture when they can just turn off the flash so that the light doesn't block out their image.
K ... back we go ... Myspace's Tom even jumped on board, and switched his iconic default to keep up with the cool kids in 2007 from this:
to this ...
Note the flash ... and Tom, dude - clean the mirror.
Then of course, fast forward to 2009 - Facebook boomed in business due to the recession, the general ease (no HTML comments, music, and solid :15 second waiting time per profile), and because people frankly were looking for connections to the realness of it all after losing who they were as they once placed their value in their jobs, belongings - etc. But what happened to the in the mirror pictures? Why didn't they move on over to Facebook too?
When it comes to our social networking, we have a certain degree of social media responsibility. Myspace was a bit more public - still post yahoo chat, AIM ... but I felt like on Myspace I could be a bit more of a rockstar and have more of an alter ego. Myspace was where I wanted to go to be the person that I wanted to be versus accept who I am like I do on Facebook. Seriously, Facebook is way more incestuous. Pictures are tagged, mutual friends happen, high school friends find you - there's no escaping the Facebook web; and honestly, that's what made it so popular to begin with. It feels into its own viral-ness. PPUURRRRRR!!!
In the mirror pictures were instantly labeled douchey, and for a few years it looks like they were laid to rest for good. That was, of course, until Twitter came along, and photo services like twitpic, plixi, and uber-twitter started to happen.
Oh yes, they're back!
Albeit, this chica here is an adult entertainer ... for her personal brand, I'm sure this makes sense. But anyone who studies trends and influencers will tell you - these are the people we look to first. Porn and gamers. Well, porn, gamers, and high school kids - but I didn't want to post a picture of a high school kid for fear of parentals coming after me. STAYYY AWAYYYYYY!!!!! I'm not a creeper I promise!!
Think about it though ... twitter is way more public. I am very literally my own personal brand, I'm always shocked when my friends from like middle school find me on twitter. I was like, really? Are we besties on here now too? Feels kinda weird. Twitter to me is more about less of who I want to be, and actually even more of who I actually am, but not in a photographic sense. I feel a bit awkward posting pics of just myself on Twitter; I get more excited about posting random discoveries I've had throughout the day.
I never got into the whole myspace in the mirror pics. In fact, I even went through my entire myspace account prior to posting this just to confirm. HAHA! I was so not about to live in a glass house and throw stones. I think honestly, it had more to do with the fact that I've had a macbook pro since 2007, so no matter what I didn't really need to do the "in the picture thing."
Kinda got me thinking though this afternoon, are there ever any valid reasons to post an in the mirror picture? I took to twitter to find out.
After taking all of those suggestions into consideration, I have come up with the top 5 reasons one should EVER take a picture of themselves in a mirror. Ready? K ...
1. You are sexting back and forth with a sexy mate, and want to take it to the next level. Why not show some skin? Throw on some lingerie, or other equally naughty piece of loveliness, and snap a pic of yourself in the mirror displaying said loveliness.
(Just remember, don't put the face in the shot incase you ever become famous and they leak. Or if you do become famous - and have naked or nearly naked pictures, grab a friend who's an awesome photographer and have him or her take pics of you in an equally revealing way. You'll totally cockblock the ex by reducing the value of the picture. HAHAHAHA!!! SUCKA!)
2. You bought a new outfit, and are either so ferociously fashion forward - or are a walking, talking, what not to wear. Friends DEFINITELY need to be called in before bar hopping can commence. Snap the pic in the mirror, it's cool - just don't post it, cause that's not cool.
3. You're about to have self portraits taken, and you need to know which smile is your best. Seriously! Senior pictures, class photos, work photos - this is the digital age, kiddies! Those things don't just end up in some book anymore, they are archived in google in perpetuity. Make sure that smile is good peoples!!!
4. You got a new haircut, and cannot see it from the back. Dude, I have totally done this before - even when it just came to testing out a new hairstyle. This one is a MUST, and a perfectly valid reason to take a pic of yourself in a mirror.
5. Artistic expression. There are definitely times in my life where I have found something really really really rad in a reflective surface and taken a picture of it. These can be pretty cool. Like dude, look at this one from a shoot I did in Florida ... pretty rad!
Well, technically speaking - I was just checking my makeup at the time and he came up behind me to take the picture. Either way, a mirror was involved in the general composition, and in this case it was perfectly acceptable.
I think, er at least hope, you are all catching my drift in this. If you ever have to ask yourself "is this too douchey to post?" the answer is always - YES!!!!!!!!!!
Social sites will come, and go but remember - google images last forever.
Friday, January 13, 2012 at 4:00PM
