WELCOME TO THE PAGES OF LON SAFKO

Lon Safko is The Social Media Strategist who speaks and consults with Fortune 2000 companies across America.  Learn how Lon’s social media tactics, tools, & strategies that will help you.

Lon works with your team, and your company or organization, whether it’s a one-on-one personal consult, an on-site visit to consult or train your team, or speaking to your entire company.

Lon Safko is The Social Media Strategist who built 11 companies, has 18 inventions and more than 30,000 personal papers in the Smithsonian Institution.

Email Lon at: LonSafko@LonSafko.com

NEWS ROLL

Lon Is Interviewed By Inc. Magazine

Lon was interviewed for an article in Inc. Magazine that appeared on January 25th, 2010.  This was a very well written article by J.J. McCorvey, titled “How to Use Social Networking Sites to Drive Business“.  If you want to learn more about how to use social networks for business, this is a great place to start!

Lon Is Awarded Another Patent

Lon was awarded another patent for his concept of “Virtual Electronic Retailing” and “Three Dimensional Internet Advertising” by the Uuited States Patent and Trademark Office.  This was another major advance for Lon to allow Lon to enforce his patented intellectual property in the face of nearly every Fortune 1,000 Company distributing in violation of his patent.

Lon Is Appointed First Ambassador To SCORE

Lon was recently appointed as it’s first Ambassador to the government agency SCORE whose charter is Counselors To Americas Businesses.  The Ambassador position is something new to the over half century organization.   Previously known as The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) they provide free resources and expertise to maximize the success of existing and emerging small businesses.  SCORE is the result of The Small Business Act that was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created at that time as the law said the federal government “should aid, counsel, assist and project the interests of small business.”

Lon Safko Named To USA Today Advisory Panel

Lon Safko has been selected to join the CEO Panel of USA Today, Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 12, 2009 – Based on Lon’s leadership in the development of cutting-edge Technology And Internet Marketing, Lon Safko, CEO of Innovative Thinking, and author of the Best Selling Book “The Social Media Bible” published by John Wiley & Sons, has been asked to participate in The USA Today Chief Executive Officer Panel, a high-profile advisory group of leading CEO’s throughout the nation.  These Top CEO’s are consulted in the development of content of feature stories scheduled to appear in the Money Section of USA Today.  Click Here For More…

Lon Joins The Cast Of The John Adam Show

Lon is honored to become a member of the cast of The John Adam Show heard Fridays from 9:00 to 10:00 AM on KFNN Financial News Radio 1510 AM, Phoenix or anywhere worldwide on Internet radio.  Lon and John will be discussing social media,  the benefit to business, and Lon’s new book, The Social Media Bible!

Lon Interviews CEO’s And Authors

Lon has created a series of podcasts for his new book “The Social Media Bible“, published by John Wiley & Sons; which can be found at www.TheSocialMediaBible.com.  These interviews

include: Evo Terra the author of “Podcasting For Dummies”, Alan Levy the CEO of “BlogTalkRadio”, Stephanie Bryant the author of “Videoblogging for Dummies”, David Nour, author “Relationship Economics”, Marc Canter, founder of MacroMedia and Broadband Mechanics, and Chris Schalk, Director of Google OpenSocial, and more.
To hear these incredible interviews click here!

Lon Speaks At The Society Of American Archivists

Lon spoke to the Society of American Archivists at their 71st Annual Convention held in Chicago. Lon Safko had been chosen to represent the “American Inventor” in a presentation called “It’s More Than Just the Patent: Documenting Invention Records and The Makers and Players. Listen to the actual presentation Podcast format .mp3.

Lon Inducted Into The Lemelson Center For The Study Of Invention & Innovation

More than 30,000 corporate records, video tapes, newspaper articles, design drawings, & photograph have been archived into the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention & Innovation in Washington, D.C. The Lemelson Center is part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History. To see more about the Smithsonian Institution Acquisition, Click Here!

Lon’s 18 Inventions Added To The Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. has added eighteen of Lon Safko’s early inventions and over 30,000 corporate documents into its permanent collection.
Read more…

Lon Opens Virtual Store In Virtual World

Paper Models Inc, announced today that it opened its first virtual store in a virtual world, selling its real world products in a virtual format to virtual citizens said Lon Safko, president and creator of Paper Models, Inc. For the complete story click here!
PR Web Newswire Story.pdf or Read more…

Lon’s 14 Inventions Archived In The Computer History Museum

The Computer History Museum In Mountain View, CA has requested some of Lon’s other inventions and the SenSei System Software for its permanent collection. The SenSei System Software, conceived as a human interface between the early Apple Computer and disabled users, was a milestone in the development of the Smart Home.
Read more…

Lon’s Patent Is Awarded

After five years and $30,000 in fees, Lon Safko was awarded a patent for his unique marketing concept, Paper Models, Inc. This concept, which has been used by thousands of schoolchildren for class projects, can also be used by corporations.
www.PaperModelsInc.com

Lon Writes The Social Media Bible

The Social Media Bible published by John Wiley & Sons was released on May 4th.  The book has been received with overwhlming enthusiasm.  The Social Media Bible at 844 pages is actually three books in one; Tactics, Guide, and Strategies.  For more information on The Social Media Bible, Click Here!

Lon Has Been “Scoble-ized”!

That’s right, the famous Microsoft blogger, Robert Scoble has “Scobleized” Lon in his recently PodTech interview “The Killer Business”. Lon and Robert met to discuss Lon’s recent patent, his development of V-E-Tailing, the Paper Models concept, and even a little about Lon’s development of the Assistive Technology Industry and his impact on the computer interface.
Go To PodTech Interview…

Lon Publishes “Gratuitous Serendipity”

“Gratuitous Serendipity” (Non-Fiction), is an intriguing compilation of seven actual accounts of events in my life that both changed my life and changed the world (just a little). “Gratuitous Serendipity” will leave you wondering, just how much each of us play in the role of creating and influencing history. Read More...

Lon Publishes “Life Is But A Dream”

“Life Is But A Dream” (Fiction), is an intriguing compilation of insights learned during my life as I rowed down my stream on my first 50 years of my journey. Each of these seven short stories is filled with compelling observations on the definition of ones’ individual reality. They are presented in different, interesting, and entertaining plots and are woven around unique perspectives of what your reality is or might be. Read More…

Lon Authors The Three C’s Of Innovative Thinking

Here is my recent article on the “Three C’s Of Innovative Thinking” written for InformIt.com and provided courtesy of Financial Times Prentice Hall. This article will help you understand how to be more creative and a more Innovative thinker by showing you an actual process you can follow. How would you value the ability to better solve problems?
Go to Financial Time to view the “Three C’s of Innovative Thinking” Now!

Lon’s Company Is Recognized By The Arizona Republic Newspaper

The Arizona Republic Newspaper Reports in the Business Section about The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. accepting 18 inventions and over 30,000 corporate documents into their permanent collection!

Download Newspaper Article .pdf

Lon Included With Darwain, Wyeth, & Edison

The Smithsonian Institution’s Winter 2006 “Prototype” Magazine, features insights into great innovators such as Darwin, Weyth, and Edison. Also featured next to theses astounding individuals is the story of Lon Safko and his development of technology for the disabled. Prototype Magazine Winter 2006 and other Smithsonian Items.

Google Social Search

Just like contextual advertising, Google Social Search makes your search experience contextual to you and your friends.  Cool.

I’m not immediately seeing the business application of this and I’m not excited about seeing what my friends have written on a subject.  I have many friends that write blogs.  I aggregate them on my Google Home Page.  I pretty much know what my friends are doing, what their opinions are, and what they are writing about.  I can’t see myself Googling a search to find out what my friends are thinking.

I suppose that if they did write a blog last year that I somehow missed, it would be interesting to to have the ability to at least have the option of reading their thoughts first.  For personal use, it would be interesting if Google could deliver an aggregated search and pull from Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, comments from Flickr & YouTube, and serve them to me sorted by acquaintances.  But, Google Social Search isn’t there yet.

What they’ve done is simply taken the enormous amount of collected data from the Internet they’ve accumulated and sorted it by the searchers list of acquaintances.  Clever, but I don’t think disruptive.  The one strong social-psychological benefit here is, it is that this type of a search is giving greater empowerment to the participants of the social Internet.  The biggest change in business marketing that has taken place over the past several years with the integration of social media, is the shift in power.

No longer does the big corporation control their message, control their markets, or control their customers.  The shift has allowed the individual, the Internet social citizen to take control over the corporate communications.  With Google Social Search, you can find recommendations and criticisms written and reported by your most trusted social network, your friends, family, and coworkers.  Recommendations by a friend is one of the most powerful influence there is.  Google Social Search, I think, will add significantly to this shift in power.

Facebook’s “Obama’s Assination Poll”

I was recently asked what I thought about the affect that Facebook’s “Obama Assassination Poll” would have on Facebook’s advertisers.  Here’s how I responded…

Facebook is right to try to monetize everything.  Google has built a more than $20b business around Internet advertising.  Polls are a necessity and very popular.  (My ex-fiancé’s father Bill Gaskill and his Mad Men partner, George Gallop made an industry out of taking polls in the 1940’s.)  So, I think Facebook, Google’s Contextual Ads, and ole George’s polls are a perfect match.  It’s unfortunate that there are idiots like the one who posted the “Obama Assignation Poll” on Facebook, but that’s human nature.  Sometimes social media brings out the best in people, sometimes it’s the worst, and sometimes it brings out the stupid.

What happened on Facebook was an unfortunate mistake.  The important thing about a mistake is not that you make it, its how you take responsibility for it and fix it.  Facebook removed the poll immediately upon notice.  Go Facebook!  The poll went up, they were notified, it went away.  In the past, there have been a lot of social interactive sites that weren’t that responsive.  Craig’s List was one of them, which has now changed.

I don’t think this is as much about social media as it is about human nature.  We’ve seen this type of bad judgment since the Internet first became popular.  In the beginning there were “hate” sites, “sex” sites, and other content that we as a culture find offensive.  While I am a strong proponent of the First Amendment, sometimes some things are just not appropriate.  This was one of those times.  The great thing about social media is the social conscience and the self policing.  I am sure that it was an astute social citizen that first alerted Facebook to the poll and it was quickly removed.

The more I practice social media, the more I realize its similarities to conventional media.  When asked by human resource managers “How do we create new rules and guidelines to control employee participation in social media”.  It explain, don’t create new rules, use the ones you already have.  You have rules that say as an employee, you are not allowed to talk to the media.  Well, social media is media, too!  The same rules apply.  The same goes for liable, fraud, theft, and stupid.

When it comes to advertisers who use contextual advertising, the same rules apply.  Instances like this will happen, not often, and not for long.  As an advertiser you have two choices, understand that it was an isolated instance and roll with it or pull your advertising as you would with a newspaper or magazine you advertise with that ran a distasteful OpEd piece.  With on-line advertising generating so much revenues, having such an effective delivery system, to such a targeted audience, my advice is “Get over it.”

With www.TheSocialMediaBible.com and the www.LonSafko.com web sites, I had to pull the Google Contextual Advertising from both sites.  All of the advertising delivered by Google was for Bible Study, Churches, Bible purchases, and Jesus.  I’m all for Jesus, but it just wasn’t appropriate advertising for my web sites.  And there is no “Not” in Google AdSense. (Which means you can’t set it up to say “Social Media” – Yes, “Jesus, Bible, and Churches” – No.

Based on the keywords “Obama, Assignation, Poll” my curiosity is getting the best of me to know exactly what type of advertiser did Google pull up and match for that?!

Facebook Flattering Twitter Or Stomping MySpace

Facebook Annouce today another cadre of new features and  benefits, Facebook Lite & @Tagging.  No Facebook Lite isn’t design as another new social network fad weight loss program, it’s a streamlined version of Facebook that loads faster.  Facebook’s new @tagging isn’t just flattering Twitter by imitating them, their adding some proven secret sauce. … Continue Reading

Monopoly City Streets – A Hit New Board Game Or Will Players Be Bored?

I read a recent article on the PC World web site, “Monopoly City Streets’ Online Game: Will Buying Park Place Be Any Easier?” where Hasbro has taken Google Maps and combined it with their highly successful traditional board game Monopoly.  Here are some thoughts.

First off, this is a great idea!  Of course, Monopoly and Google Maps!  I’ll bet that one was thought up over a pint or two!

One of the Lon Safko quotes on my web sites says, “Innovation is taking two things that are ordinary and combining them in a way that makes them extraordinary”.  That’s kind of what I’ve done throughout my career.  Nothing truly new is ever invented.  This is just two items we all knew, combined in a unique way.  Still, very innovative! … Continue Reading

Twit or Tweet

The June 15^th cover of Time Magazine showed us all an iPhone with a Twitter Tweet from journalist Steven B. Johnson that read, “Twitter is changing the way we live-and showing us the future of innovation.”  But what does the future hold in store for us, business, and Twitter?  My guess is that unless some of the rules about “Tweets”, the text messages that user send out to their “followers” change, the future of Twitter for business is questionable. http://twitter.com/

During the research for my book, The Social Media Bible, by John Wiley & Sons, I had an amazing half hour conversation with Biz Stone, the cofounder of Twitter about why he invented Twitter and how Twitter is being used for business.  I learned a lot about the technology, its applications, and how Twitter really has changed the world of communication, news reporting, and business marketing ROI using free Tweets.  You can click http://tr.im/u6ct to listen to our conversation. … Continue Reading

While Control May Be An Illusion, Chaos Is Real

Whenever I speak with a government agency or often with larger, Fortune 500 corporation I hear “Oh, we don’t allow social media in or organization…”  Ah, yeah…

I was working as a nuclear engineer at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state when email first hit the scene and we were told ‘We will never allow email at any of our facilities because people could just email top secret information outside and even to the Russians”.  When cell phone first became popular, they were outlawed also because they didn’t have control over their use either.  Then it was the Internet and now it’s the dreaded “social media”… … Continue Reading

Social Media eBook Downloads

Welcome to the Extreme Digital Marketing – Social Media eBook download area of my web site.  I have provided these eBooks to you for free so that you may better understand the power of social media, its tactics, tools, and strategies.

Feel free to distribute them to anyone who could benefit from them and please feel free to comment below and and let me know your thoughts on them and on Social Media!

TSMB (The Social Media Bible) Sampler
This is an ebook offered in two versions; 78 pages with the complete 33 page index and 43 page without.  This ebook has been taken directly from The Social Media Bible and includes;
Table Of Contents: This is the actual Table Of Contents from the original book.
Introduction: This is the 9 page Introduction, Preface, and Acknowledgement from the book.
Chapter 1: This is the complete, 21 page Chapter 1.
Strategies: This is a 3 page excerpt from Part 3, “Building A Foundation For Social Media Success”.
Index: This is the 33 page Index from the book.
Download the TSMB Sampler eBook with the Index – 23mb
Download the TSMB Sampler eBook without the Index – 9mb … Continue Reading

Lon Safko’s – The Social Media Symposium

Sponsored By:

and,

The Social Media Symposium was produced by Lon Safko and presented on behalf of the Arizona Small Business Association and IBM at the world renowned Heard Museum in Phoenix Arizona.  The following link will allow you to view this incredible 45 minute presentation segmented into 3 to 4 minute vignettes in high definition video.  They are hi-def so they can take up to 1 minute to download before playing.  The wait is worth the content!

I hope you enjoy this presentation and for further information about how to book Lon Safko as a speaker at your next event or to have Lon consult with your organization about how social media is affecting you, your business, and your bottom line select  Contact Lon Safko.

To find out more about Lon’s newest book “The Social Media Bible” published by John Wiley & Sons click here! … Continue Reading

Lon Safko Named to USA Today CEO Panel

Lon Safko has been selected to join the CEO Panel of USA Today, Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

# # #

The Social Media Bible – Ten Commandments

As coauthor of the Social Media Bible, I was asked “What are the Ten Commandments” of Social Media?”  So here they are!

1. Thou Shalt Blog (like crazy).
2. Thou Shalt Create Pro?les (everywhere).
3. Thou Shalt Upload Photos (lots of them).
4. Thou Shalt Upload Videos (all you can ?nd).
5. Thou Shalt Podcast (often). … Continue Reading

“The Five Ps of Social Media Implementation” But Not FRED Figglehorn

Here is Lon’s  parody on the YouTube sensation; Fred Figglehorn.  Fred is a 14 year old pretending to be an 8 year old with anger management problems.  Fred creates his 3 minute improv videos with his voice pitched high.

When I interviewed George Strompolos, the Content Partnerships Manager For YouTube, he said that he couldn’t be specific, but 14 year old FRED was earning more than $100,000 in advertising revenues from his videos.  He’s also generated more than 33 million views. … Continue Reading

The Five P’s Of Social Media Implementation

Here is a transcript of the audio and video posts on YoutTube and here at The Social Media Bible web site of my Five P’s Of Social Media Implementation.  I hope it is helpful!

Hello, my name is Lon Safko, co-author of The Social Media Bible, published by John Wiley & Sons, the most comprehensive book ever written on the subject of social media.

And today I will be speaking about the Five P’s of Social Media Implementation.  Everybody asks, “Okay, now that I’m getting a better idea of what social media is, “How do I actually apply it?”  Well, these five P’s actually are Profiles, Propagate, Produce, Participate, and Progress. … Continue Reading

A Virtual Presence-tation

It always seems to happen.  Anytime the economy goes into a downturn, the first thing corporate hatchet people do is go after the training and education budget.  Honestly, when times are the most difficult do you really think this is the best time to attack morale and eliminate necessary training? … Continue Reading

Two Free eBooks From Lon Safko!

“Life Is But A Dream”
“Is Yours, The Only Real Reality?”
Only $9.95 - FREE!
Download Cover

“Life Is But A Dream” (Fiction), is an intriguing compilation of insights learned during my life as I rowed down my stream on my first 50 years of my journey. Each of these seven short stories is filled with compelling observations on the definition of ones’ individual reality. They are presented in different, interesting, and entertaining plots and are woven around unique perspectives of what your reality is or might be.

Buy The Paperback Book From Amazon

“Gratuitous Serendipity”
“The Right Place, The Right Time”
Only $10.95 - FREE!
Download Cover

“Gratuitous Serendipity” (Non-Fiction), is an intriguing compilation of seven actual accounts of events in my life that both changed my life and changed the world (just a little).  “Gratuitous Serendipity” will leave you wondering, just how much each of us play in the role of creating and influencing history. Some stories just take a different look at the world around us, and how information can be put together in a slightly different way. Often, just by looking at something different, the same data can produce significantly different results.

Buy The Paperback Book From Amazon

Lon Is Guest On The John Adam Show

Lon was the guest on the John Adam Radio Talk Show discussing Lon’s process for “Innovative Thinking” and how to think more creatively. John Adam a seasoned professional with his long running talk show celebrated his first show with KFNN 1510, Phoenix on Friday.  To listen Lon and John exchange their high energy conversation about being more creative, click here! Also, be sure to stick around to hear John’s other exciting guests such as Dave Cooke, Doug Bruhnke, Joan Koerber-Walker, and Michael Gerber of the famed best selling book, The E-Myth! … Continue Reading

Lon Signs The Social Media Bible With Wiley & Sons

Lon signed an agreement with Wiley & Sons to write and publish the most comprehensive book in history on Social Media. Lon will be coauthoring with David Brake to create a first time 650 page compendium of all things Social Media. The original design of The Social Media Bible was developed using Social Media, or “The Wisdom Of The Crowds”, while it’s content will also be created through “User Generated Content”, and the marketing of the book will incorporate Social Media’s “Trusted Networks”. The release of The Social Media Bible is scheduled for this fall. More…

The Social Media Bible – October Update

As promised, I am keeping you up to date on the progress of The SMB book design and launch.  We have had some incredible additions to the Executive Conversations, we’ve nearly completed the book cover design, and still have a great deal of opportunity for you to participate and contribute your insights to the design and content of The SMB!

Executive Interviews
Expert Insights
A special thank you to all of those who have participated in the Expert Insights, Executive Conversations. These podcast conversations with industry giants has brought an incredible array of fascinating insights. We added quite a few new names to the already impressive list of participants for you to listen to. … Continue Reading

35 Major Corporations Engaged In Social Media

This is a list of 35 major corporations engaged in using Social Media. It was so compelling I had to blog about it! The results for these corporations have been great.

Every corporation both large and small will have to engage in social media sooner or later. Those that wait will be left behind by their competition.

Blendtec is famous for its bevy of inexpensive “Will It Blend” videos posted on YouTube and shared by millions.

Adobe maintains a list of interesting company related websites and conversations on the social bookmarking site Delicious. … Continue Reading

Your House Plants Can Now “Tweet”

This is one of the most innovative, albeit silly applications of social media I have seen yet. A company called Botanicalls has come up with a combination of do-it-yourself electronics and computer code that allows your house plants to Twitter you when they need water!

Everything you need is listed on their web site. All you need is a DYI moisture sensor, an Arduino electronic board and either an old Blackberry or laptop with internet access. They provide the computer code download which allows your plant to communicate directly with you through Twitter, the extremely popular microblogging service. … Continue Reading

The Social Media Bible Company Reference

Now is the time for all good men & women to come to the aid of their party!

The project is now finally underway with John Wiley & Sons to produce the largest book ever written on Social Media, called The Social Media Bible.

The book contains three parts; the first part is an overview of all of the social media components and their history. The third part is how to apply social media to a company to increase revenues. And, the middle part, a reference which is the largest part, are profiles on all of the social media participating companies. Companies like Jott, WordPress, Twitter, Yahoo!, and LinkedIn will be represented in this huge directory / reference bible.

We want every company that has contributed in any way to the Social Media Ecosphere included! I need help finding and contacting all of them! I don’t want to miss a single one. Let’s put the value of our own trusted networks to work.

PLEASE, text, twitter, Jott, blog, call, and email this to everyone you know! We want every Social Media technology that should be in the guide, in the guide!

This is the link to the on-line form where each company can input their basic information for the profile: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=2mVrAUTbTEzoikD3ecPEiA_3d_3d

The initial web site has only just been set up and is really under construction. This site can be found at http://www.TheSocialMediaBible.com, and my background is at http://www.LonSafko.com.

If you have any questions whatsoever, please contact me at lonsafko@lonsafko.com.

Please, help us to be sure that everyone is included.

Thank you!

Lon Safko & David Brake

Lon Is Interviewed For ‘Ask The Expert’

Lon was interviewed for the podcast series, “Ask The Expert” by Paul Schmidt of Five Star Speakers in Kansas City on the subject of Social Media and how it will affect your business. Paul and Lon discuss everything from user generated content to wisdom of the crowds, from blogs to vlogs, and how affective this nearly zero cost marketing can be.  Lon says that all you need to be successful…  Is to use your creativity!
To listen to this lively podcast conversation about Soical Media and how it will affect you and your company, Click Here. … Continue Reading

Largest Virtual Event In History

Extending The Experience Through 3D Advertising…

On Saturday afternoon, March 15th, I was one of the guests of honor at this year’s American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. The event was like many other events I have attended in the past. The room was a modern elegant theater style auditorium, the podium was strategically set on a lavishly decorated stage with large screens at either end of the stage. While I sat in one of the many comfortable director chairs set on the stage for the guests and speakers, I could see my partner Linh Tang and several of our designers sitting in the audience. I could hear the D.J.’s background music playing one of my favorite Beatles songs, and the M.C. at the mic repeating the infamous pre-show “testing, testing, testing”, sound check mantra.

I watched the nearly 400 attendees filing and flying into the theater rushing to find just the right seat with the best view of the stage; and that’s when it happened. I heard someone yell, “I think were crashing! We’re going down!”. At that very moment, everyone froze; literally. The number of attendees (or avatars), exceeded SecondLife’s computer capacity and we crashed their servers. Second Life was down… … Continue Reading

The Social Media Book Survey Results Are In

The Social Media Book Survey results are in and finally available for download!

Thank you for your patience through this process and especially for participating in the first of two steps in development of the Social Media Book Project.

As we begun working on the Social Media Book Project we realized that we were onto something bigger than the standard 250-page business book that most publishers punch out by the hundreds. The feedback and level of participation in the initial survey was more than double and nearly triple the usual participation Content Connections sees when they survey a standard business book idea. We had nearly 1,000 people assist us in the creation of this new book so far! … Continue Reading

TSA Speaks & Now Listens…

I really wanted to share this recent Social Media success story I heard on “On The Media” which is broadcast on National Public Radio (NPR). This was an interview with Bruce Schnier, security specialist speaking about the T.S.A. (Transportation Security Administration). A recent poll showed that our beloved TSA has tied for last place as the “most hated” federal agency. Guess who they tied with… Yeah, the IRS.

This success story is actually about our government using cutting edge technology to communicate with us. This is worth repeating; our government is using cutting edge technology to communicate with us… … Continue Reading

Lon Publishes Social Media Audio CD Set

Now available is Lon’s brand new “SOCIAL MEDIA… The Impact On You And Your Business“, Double Set Of Audio CD’s. This high energy, high content presentation contains more than 1 1/2 hours of what you need to know about how Social Media is affecting you and your business. For more information on this product, to hear samples, and to find out about the introduction pricing, Click Here!

Social Media: “Will It Blend”

This is another great example of Social Media Viral Marketing at its best and WII-FM (What’s In It For Me). I am often asked when I speak, “How can I create a video, blog, web site fish food, that will become viral and spread on its own?” The answer is always WIIFM. There always has a “What’s In It For Me” or “What’s In It For Your Customer”. In many cases it’s a white paper with value, a take-away, or in this case the WII-FM is humor or entertainment.In this video Tom Dickson, President of BlendTech a manufacturer of consumer blenders blends a brand new iPhone! … Continue Reading

Social Media: Subway verses Quizno’s

Here’s a terrific and fresh example of the power of  “User Generated Content” video on YouTube and iFilm.  Like a lot of Social Media Marketing, this video had some unanticipated results, both good and not so good results. … Continue Reading

Social Media: At Work

I just met with Don Mock at Jobing.com here in Phoenix. This is someone who really understands the importance and effectiveness of using Social Media as a key component in their corporate marketing and sales strategy plan. Don explained to me that he has recently implemented a blog site for each of his Jobing job categories and that the most recent one he has created was for Construction/Trades. … Continue Reading

Journey To The Home Land

Last Friday I got a unique opportunity to travel back to the Holy Land. Being a computer geek and developer for the past 20 years, I am of course, referring to Silicone Valley, Mountain View in particular. I got to fly out and meet with Google at their headquarters in Mountain View. Talk about Déjà vu! When I walked onto the Google campus, I had a total flashback to 1987. No, this wasn’t like a 1960’s flashback. This is when I started traveling back to visit with Apple Computer in the eighties. Google so reminded me of Apple in the old days. The college campus look, the industrial college type buildings with their stark Ikea type furnishings, and even the college age employees all in their jeans and sweatshirts. Only the logos on the shirts had changed over the last 20 years. … Continue Reading

Social Media Book Survey Update

The Social Media Survey Is Off To A Great Start! But, still needs your help. … Continue Reading