Twitter has gone through some recent changes, including an updated interface. Isn’t it great? Well, the changes aren’t over. And if you’re a brand on Twitter, listen up. They’ve already started unveiling a special kind of page just for you.

Twitter like Facebook

Moment of honesty – Twitter is clearly headed in the same direction as Facebook. Facebook has had brand pages for a while now, so Twitter is a little slow. From both social media sites, we’re seeing interface changes geared to big companies. But why? To enhance the experience make more money.

The Big Difference

Unlike Facebook, where brand pages are always free to make, Twitter is demanding a hefty advertising investment. Cue booing from crowd. Why? In my opinion, it’s a blatant attempt to finally monetize the service beyond promoted tweets. I mean, take the stir from Facebook’s IPO filing earlier this month. Facebook has clearly mastered the making money part. Now it’s Twitter’s turn.

New Features

Now you can “pin” tweets, which means displaying them at the top of your profile. You can also display a fully customizable banner across the top of the page. I like that feature a lot. It’s giving the user a bit more design control, which is nice. Or maybe it’s just making brands one step above the rest of us “average” Twitter users. Regardless, here are a few examples already in place:

Volkwagen‘s Twitter Page:

NBC News‘ Twitter Page:

Lea Michele’s Twitter Page:

The Catch

To get these additional features, you have to invest $25,000 in Twitter advertising.

The Verdict

Great features and all, but the investment is a problem. A big problem. And here I was getting all excited.

Although I’m eager to see how big companies utilize the new interface, I’m definitely more excited when it becomes available for small business clients. And for myself, of course. For more information about Twitter brand pages here.

New car or Twitter brand page? I think we both know the answer.

It’s Friday! Time for me to tell you who’s hot on Twitter.

@FontSquirrel, Font Website

Even if you’re not a designer, you will need a font at some point. Something different from your standard Microsoft Word selection.

The problem is – people tend to flock to the same font websites. Here’s a great site that’s more of a hidden gem. Font Squirrel is a great website that, believe it or not, offers free fonts and custom generated webfonts for commercial use. What could be better?

Follow @FONTSQUIRREL

@LAImYours (LA, I’m Yours), Art and Culture Website

There is more to do in Los Angeles than you can imagine. This website will point you in the right direction.

Bobby Solomon, the founder of the Fox is Black (formally Kitsune Noir), often explores Los Angeles-based art and culture, but now he’s got an entire website dedicated to it.

Check out this great site and be sure to follow them on Twitter.

Follow @LAImYours

@NorthSocial, Custom Facebook Applications

I get asked all the time… “Phil! How do I install those cool apps like on your Facebook page?” One answer: North Social.

Of course, if you’re not a designer yourself, you’ll need one to help. I spend a great deal of my time designing for my clients’ applications on Facebook… So much so that I am considered a North Social Superhero (cool, right?).

North Social also featured me just a few weeks ago for my client work. If you’re looking to take your (or your clients’ Facebook pages) to the next level, North Social is a great solution.

Follow @NORTHSOCIAL

Got someone for next week’s list? Hit me up on Twitter (@philpallen) or on my Facebook page.

Until next week!

Nowadays, everyone everybody is hopping on the social media train. And I mean everybody.

Here in Hollywood, the transition has been slower than expected. It appears the big studios hate letting go of the old-fashioned way. In other words, they resist new practices, like alternative distribution methods like Internet streaming and online purchasing. As a result, there have been many social media mishaps along the way.

Social Media + Awards Shows = Celeb Overdose

Celebrities usually do well in the social media realm. Why? It’s the way we all satisfy our unhealthy obsession with their lives.

I think awards season is a complete Hollywood gossip feast. When you combine celebrity and social media, they really do have the potential to be powerful.

Working The Red Carpet (and The Timeline)

Although the show has gotten a bit dull (in my opinion), the Glee cast still manages to slip their names on nomination ballots. They also hit the red carpet in style, and they tweet like crazy. Glee has a fairly big fan base thriving on the latest scoop. When Lea Michele starts posting Twitpics, the fans let out one great big collective squeal.

The Drama

Social media solves problems, but it also creates them. Last year, Modern Family star Sarah Hyland mocked Lea Michele’s dramatic red carpet poses. We all got to see the drama play out.

It boils down to this: It’s no longer a publicist’s world. They don’t control what we see. In fact, social media is a front row seat where things get so much juicier.

I also think social media is seriously changing the way fans interact with stars.  An @reply from a favorite celebrity can make someone’s life. A quick Twitpic from the red carpet makes us feel like we are there. Any crises can be managed without calling a press conference. The classic notion of publicist either has to adapt or disappear.

Industry Impact

Social media obviously affects more than just stars. It’s really shaping the industry.

In the old days (not that I was around), awards shows were kind of mysterious. It felt somewhat like an elitist club we couldn’t be a part of from home. Now, thankfully, the magic is gone. In fact, we are just plain vocal about whether or not we agree with how the academy votes. Better yet, we are vocal about whom they don’t include for a nomination.

Live and Learn

The industry is learning from mistakes and successes. In spite of their omnipresent fight against Internet piracy, they reluctantly embrace digital marketing. For an industry that is used to having 100 percent control, it’s fascinating to watch.

The Verdict

The Internet will continue to turn our favorites stars life into our personal entertainment. Enjoy awards season and embrace how social media gives you a front row seat.

It’s Friday! Time for me to tell you who’s hot on Twitter.

@whatkatiedoes, blogger for whatkatiedoes.com

If Etsy was a person, it would be whatkatiedoes. Although, I think she’s even more fabulous.

I frequent this up-and-coming blog often to get design inspiration, look at yummy food, and generally admire how she’s carved her brand beautifully. Her style is totally different than mine, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate it. This chick could teach anyone a lesson on branding and design. Check her out.

Follow @WHATKATIEDOES

@MELLYLEE_ (Melly Lee), Photographer

I get compliments all the time on the photos I use to brand myself (twitter background, display picture, etc.). They all go to her.

Melly is a Los Angeles-based new media-savvy photographer with serious talent. She has an incredible way of showing people’s personality through photography AND making just about anyone look cool. She succeeded with geeky me. That’s a feat.

If you’re in the Los Angeles area and need some new shots, definitely check her out and follow her on Twitter. While you’re at it, check out her work on her blog.

Follow @MELLYLEE_

@dearphotograph (Taylor Jones), Founder of Dear Photograph

Take a picture of a picture from the past in the present. Then upload it onto dearphotograph.com for thousands to see.

I am loving the concept for this new photo blog that has dramatically increased in popularity recently. I also love that it was created by Taylor Jones, a fellow Canadian (from Kitchener, Ontario).

You’ve got to not only check out their Twitter, but also check out the blog. It’s really amazing how people are able to capture emotion of then and now in just one photograph (well, two).

Follow @DEARPHOTOGRAPH and founder @TJ

@rossbruggink (Ross Bruggink), Graphic Designer

Love a solid graphic designer. Meet Ross Bruggink, based in Minneapolis.

I came across his work recently and had to compliment him. I particularly like his branding work for Santeen and I think this designer has a very bright future. Check out the rest of his portfolio here.

Follow @ROSSBRUGGINK

Got someone for next week’s list? Hit me up on Twitter (@philpallen) or on my Facebook page.

Until next week!

This week I was featured by North Social as their “Page Admin of the Week” alongside my client Gordons Gold Jewellers.

What fun!

Full Interview >>

It’s Friday! That means a list of some of my fav new media people.

@thenounproject (Edward Boatman), founder of The Noun Project

Is there anything more beautiful than a symbol?

Maybe you think I’m crazy, but I draw a lot of design inspiration from simple things. The Noun Project is almost always where I start.

I met Edward, the founder, at Creative Mornings LA before the holiday. He gave a fascinating talk on how his project started as a sketchbook. Behance also did a great feature on the site this week. I seriously suggest checking them out.

Follow @NOUNPROJECT

@sepbaz (Sepy Bazzazi), Social Media Manager

He started out as a fellow fierce Canuck competitor in the race to become the Sheen intern. Don’t worry though, now we’re friends.

Sepy’s job is similar to mine – he manages social media for small to medium-sized businesses, and I get definitely assure you he ‘gets’ social media. He’s always sharing great stuff on Facebook and Twitter. Follow him already!

Follow @SEPBAZ

@hustleupshannon (Shannon Flaherty), Founder of Hustleup

Here’s a cool chick I met recently with a great idea.

Everyone hustles, particularly in the new media world. We’ve all got our own niche and story, and Shannon had the bright idea of documenting it on her blog. She interviews people that interest her, but she also accepts submissions. This is a great way to get some exposure if you’ve got a cool story to tell. Nice work Shannon.

Follow @hustleupshannon

@AhamDannaway (Adham Dannaway), Front-End Web Developer

I don’t remember how I found him, but I’m glad I did.

Adham is from Australia, but his work often appears on blogs showcasing great work. I’m a big fan of his work and I really enjoy his updates (very witty). Not only should you follow him on Twitter, but you should also fan his Facebook page.

Follow @AdhamDannaway

Got someone for next week’s list? Hit me up on Twitter (@philpallen) or on my Facebook page.

Until next week!

Another week of endless hours spent on Twitter. Luckily, these people the experience a whole lot better.

@heatherpayne (Heather Payne), founder of #ladieslearningcode

Heather is a constant reminder of what it takes to be driven in this new, exciting world of social media and technology.

Besides being a genius and sharing great tweets, Heather has innovated an exciting new program in Toronto (and beyond) called Ladies Learning Code, which, by the way, is not just for ladies. If I lived in Toronto, I’d totally go. And not for the ladies.

In all seriousness, check it out. Understanding coding is a fundamental tool for anyone venturing into a career in technology, and even if you’re not, it’s a beneficial skill. Web isn’t slowing down anytime soon. You might as well start understanding soon, right?

Follow @HEATHERPAYNE

@danozzi (Dan Ozzi), Twitter comedian

Either he’s seriously underrated or he just hasn’t been discovered.

He may have less than 500 followers, but for the love of God… become one of them. I can always count on a belly laugh or two with nearly every one of his tweets. It’s not often I meet people who are so consistently funny on Twitter. This guy is all quality.

Follow @DANOZZI

@gunnarolla (Andrew Gunadie), YouTube celebrity

Andrew is what you call digitally well-rounded. Not only are his posts great, but his YouTube videos are SO good that they’ve earned him  a fan base of thousands around the world.

His YouTube Channel is definitely worth checking him out, and if you’re Canadian, you’ve probably seen him before in this. His videos are catchy. Particularly this one. And his latest initiative sounds like a lot of fun – traveling with his friend (also named Andrew) to Australia.

Follow @gunnarolla

@PinpointSocial (Pinpoint Social), social media promotions agency

I’m basically revealing a trade secret right here.

I started working with Pinpoint Social in the fall just to try it out, and I was blown away. In fact, it continues to blow me away.

This tool is invaluable for anyone who handles social media for clients (that you want to impress). It handles the brunt of the work for running sweepstakes contests online, like coding and interface. I use Pinpoint to facilitate all of my Facebook sweepstakes promotions, and in most cases, they doubled in size at worst.

Follow @PinpointSocial

Got someone for next week’s list? Hit me up on Twitter (@philpallen).

Have a great weekend.

Everyday I work with clients from different places, industries and walks of life. I love my job.

Many of my routine clients are  big players in entertainment, fashion and real estate. It’s my job to manage their online brand. Sure… Some days are stressful, but most of the time, it’s a lot of fun.

There’s also a fair bit of responsibility that comes along with the territory. Before agreeing to manage social media for a celebrity or well-known brand, you’ve first got to know what exactly you’re signing up for.

The Big Difference

With celebrities comes fans. Face it – they’ll always be in the picture, which is kind of exciting most of the time. These fans are usually existing, which means it’s less about building a following and more about managing it.

I should also mention that in addition to fans, there are often haters. I know, I know. We’d all be happier without them, but welcome to the Internet. Haters and trolls are an integral part of this wonderful landscape.

Go ahead and ignore your haters, but be aware of your fan-to-hater ratio. In short, there should be more fans than haters if you’re branding and managing your client properly. If not, it looks like you’ve got your work cut out.

Truth: I’ve worked with a number of controversial public figures on their brand in the new media realm, and I’ve always been surprised by a few things.

A) How personally they take criticism.

B) How dedicated a fan (or a hater) can become, having never met the person in real life.

Let’s just say… People take what they see on TV very seriously. Although your client will have a desire to appeal to everyone, in reality, it’s just not going to happen. Instead, clearly define your target market. A lot of the time, the fans will fight the battles for you.

Establish A Voice

Your opinion is your personality. Your voice is your brand. I remind myself that every single day, as I set out to post and tweet for many different people.

Here’s a fun way to look at it. I have characters for all of my clients. I’m aware of the way they talk, comment, reply and interact. I also have a clear idea of their writing style, reoccurring sayings, punctuation and capitalization. That makes it easier to switch back and forth, while managing to keep things consistent. After all, people don’t want to believe that your client is doing the updates.

Balance Content

At the beginning of every month, I develop a content plan for every single client. This forces me to conceptualize content as a whole, rather than just working off of spontaneous inspiration. Both are important for a solid online brand.

I also make an effort to diversify the types of things that I share. It’s not just about their accomplishments or even what they had for breakfast. Shake it up with inspiring quotes, links to great articles, and anything relevant to your client’s brand. People share and retweet what they like.

Want to know another great tactic? Ask a question (get it?). By asking a question, you are welcoming interaction. It makes the fan feel a personal connection. Let’s be honest, we all want to be @replied to by our favorite celebrities (and it better not be their social media manager, damn it).

Interact with Fans (But Not Every Fan)

Fans want to be acknowledged… but sometimes there are too many of them.

You don’t want an entire feed to be consumed by individual @replies, so pick and choose. My advice? Reply to the ones that stand out — maybe they’re funny or maybe they’re heartwarming. Whatever it may be, with an @reply, you can make someone’s day.

The Verdict

Social media for celebrities is social media on speed. Know what you’re getting into and pay attention to detail. If you’ve got all that covered, brace yourself for a wild and fun ride.

I spend hours every week on Twitter. I witness the unnecessary noise first-hand. That said, I also come across some tweeters that are great. And those hidden gems I plan to share here.

Welcome to my first official #FF blog post. Here are this week’s tweeting all-stars that you should definitely check out (and follow, obviously).

@NewRockstars (New Media Rockstars), social media blog

This is a relatively new site, but boy, have they made a serious ripple in the new media blogging world.

In their short life, they’ve already posted informative articles about social media, like how to maximize your YouTube views or how to take advantage of Facebook’s cover photo. They’ve also featured big-time online celebrities, including KassemG, Tay Zonday, Kingsley and many more. It’s got a Mashable flare, but geared more to helping budding new media enthusiasts succeed.

Follow @NEWROCKSTARS

@AmeliaRebecca (Amelia R Wasserman), funny chick

Her Twitter description says it all: “Over-promising and under-delivering since 1982.”

Although she’s definitely delivering more than she makes it sound. My introduction to Amelia is recent, but I’m thoroughly enjoying her quick wit and self-deprecating humor. If you’re offended easily, you might want to keep her off your radar… But obviously now you’re interested, so go check her out.

Follow @AMELIAREBECCA

@maison21 (Christian May), interior decorator/blogger

Based in L.A., Christian is an avid blogger and enthusiast of all things fabulous.

His blog has years worth of great interior design and decorating projects, as well as awesome DIY projects. Most of all, I love his anecdotal posts and tweets loaded with sass. He’s also quick to RT awesome contests and timely posts, so an all-around A+ tweeter.

Follow @MAISON21

@LosAngeles_CM (Creative Mornings Los Angeles), lecture series

I had heard of Creative Mornings well-before I finally got to attend it.

Now that I live in L.A., I get to take full advantage of this amazing lecture series geared toward designers and independent thinkers in the new media world. It takes place on Friday once a month (ironically, today), and the brief lecture features a vast array of noteworthy individuals who offer insight and inspiration.

Past speakers include Bobby Solomon (The Fox is Black/Kitsune Noir), David Lai (hello design), and many other amazing individuals. Check out their website for more information (and to find Creative Mornings in your city).

Follow @LosAngeles_CM

Know of a good tweeter that didn’t make the list? Hit me up on Twitter (@philpallen) and I’ll definitely take a look.

Enjoy your weekend!

So you read the Mashable article about SOPA/PIPA. You even saw the infographic. Now you know everything you need to know about the bill. Obviously, you’re against it.

You, being a moral human, think pirating is fundamentally wrong… Even though you’ve pirated before. Music, movies, maybe even software. Downloaded without thinking twice.

You shared the Mashable article on Facebook along with a few choice words about Internet freedom. You RTed your witty friend. Maybe you posted a ranting vlog on YouTube.

You represent the Internet generation after all.

Here is where you went wrong:
- You got your news from a site that will be censored if this bill comes to pass.
- You only read one article (maybe watched a video).
- It’s called bandwagoning.
- You are not the solution to this whole issue. You are the problem.

And trust me. I am just as guilty as you.

Danger Zone

Last February, Secretary Clinton spoke at George Washington University about ‘Internet Freedom.’ The speech was streamed live on Facebook. It was timely; the Egyptian government was taking measures to restrict internet access to it’s citizens during the massive protests against the Mubarak regime.

This February, Secretary Clinton will be watching as an eerily similar set of restrictions attempts to find it’s footing in Congress. The Secretary of State said last February, “The Internet has become the world’s town square where people assemble to connect.” SOPA/PIPA would shut down those social media sites that were so instrumental last year: it would demolish town square. No more Twitter, Facebook, WordPress, Tumblr, Reddit, YouTube, or Google, the list will go on and on.

Wikipedia‘s site blackout in protest of SOPA.

WordPress‘ site blackout in protest of SOPA

Reddit‘s site blackout in protest of SOPA

The Truth

This incredibly powerful bill is vague. That’s what has us shaking in our vintage combat boots (or me, at least). The proposed act uses the same DNS blocking as China, Iran, and Syria. These bills stomp on our faces. They smother the little guy with ballooning legal responsibilities.

These acts turn the internet into an elitist club where only the rich rise to the surface. In 1983, 90% of American media was owned by 50 different companies. In 2011, that same 90% is controlled by six major companies. They are: GE, News-Corp, Disney, Viacom, Time Warner, and CBS. This is who will be left standing when all of this is over.

What’s the real problem here? These six companies cannot figure out how to monetize the Internet. It’s like Sandbox 101. If you can’t control it, tear it down and rebuild it so that you do.

Worse Comes to Worst

If these bills do come to pass, then it is Armageddon on the Internet (for a while). But do I think it will last? No.

Soon after the first round of censorship, lawsuits will hit the fan, sending this all to the Supreme Court, where it will be ruled as unconstitutional. The courts are not influenced by lobbyists, but rather by justice. Checks and balances.

But Why?

We are in the middle of a paradigm shift. Traditional media still has a lot of power (and quite a bit of coin) but they still don’t understand the new paradigm. They don’t understand that information can be free. Some say it is Hollywood vs. Silicon Valley. I think it’s a classic case of corporation vs. individual.

The Verdict (Why It Could Be Great)

SOPA/PIPA are both unconstitutional pieces of hooey (I love that word). How can they be a good thing? Both of these acts are an extreme version of censorship, but perhaps we are lucky. Lucky that they are so extreme that it decreases their chance of getting passed.

At the end of the day, SOPA/PIPA shows us the cracks in our beloved Internet. They are numerous. And if we don’t repair them, threatened parties will exploit those cracks.

Our new paradigm is has some serious flaws:

- We don’t adequately reward our content owners.
- We take, take, and take with out giving back.
- We share without giving due credit.
- We are completely unaware of copyright law and proper use.

This is an opportunity for us to open the dialogue and figure out how exactly to keep the information highway as open as possible (without enduring a hit-and-run on content creators).

Solution

Let’s stop treating copyright law as a scare tactic. Start viewing it as a way we can respect the original creator. Let’s teach kids more about copyright and less about how to write in cursive. I mean, many of them are walking around with their own iPads already.

If we want to see web 3.0, we are going to have reinvent the way we interact with the endless flow of information. A ‘respect nature’ movement on the Internet, if you will.

SOPA is the fourth bill of its kind (it’s predecessors were shot down). Before this, it was the ACTA, and before that, it was the EIPA. But this time around, everyone is paying attention. Now’s the time to fix what needs to be fixed (properly).

What makes the Internet unsustainable? How do we fix it?

Go ahead: Sign the petition. BUT if you’re signing the petition, you should also think about all of those torrents you have lined up for download. Just sayin’.

Most importantly, make a concerted effort to start respecting the Internet. That’s the attitude we need to make it sustainable.