Like I said I know the quality is not the best. I shot it in my back yard on an overcast day with a $20 webcam. For a lot of people though a subpar video is more engaging than text.

The video was shot using Viddler.com. A video site that has a “record” option for shooting videos of this style. I’ve used Viddler before and I appreciate how clean and uncluttered the site is. I also really like being able to put a logo in my videos.

All you have to do is go to www.viddler.com, sign up for a free acount, hook up a webcam, and your ready to go. After you sign up mouse over “videos” in the nav bar and you’ll see the big red record button.

A great tool for having a video on the web fast.

Click here if the video is not showing up in your email or RSS reader.

Click here to comment on this video.

This is a perfect example of why it is important to be careful how much you invest of yourself and your company into applications like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and YouTube. There has been a growing trend of people and companies sinking a lot of time and money into these various sites. The problem is they do not own these sites and at the end of the day they have no control over these sites. At anytime the sites could change drastically, allow advertising you don’t agree with, suspend your account, or shut down completely. Which is why I believe a self hosted blog is the most important piece of real estate a company can have in the world of social media.

When you have a self hosted blog you own that blog and everything that goes into. You also have complete control over the design and function of the blog. Any content you upload to your blog you still own exclusively. Which is not true of most social network sites. (Take the time to read the terms of service.) And you know your blog will be around for as long as your willing to keep it around.

When I consult with clients I tell them that sites like Facebook and Twitter do have their value but I recommend a blog to be at  the core of the company’s social media efforts. And use those applications to bring people to that blog.

What do you think? Does your company use social media? What have you found to be the most valuable?

That is the problem I solve for you. I partner with businesses, large and small to guide them into the world of social media. This can range from consulting, to blog building, and content creation such as blog posts, podcasts, and video blogging. I also create custom user manuals to fit your company and your social media applications.

If you have been thinking about getting your business into social media or you feel stuck in your current efforts contact me today and let’s have a palaver about how we can connect your company to the world.

Click here to fill out the contact form to receive your free phone consultation.

Going to Google and typing in the two words “Best Buy” demonstrate a great example of this. The first listing will be www.bestbuy.com the web site for the consumer electronic store. But ranking in around number 3 or 4 most of the time is this video:

The video was created by a group called Improv Everywhere, a group that prides itself in “causing scenes of chaos and joy in public places.” And the video is the group using a Best Buy store as a scene for that chaos and joy.

Do you think this is what Best Buy wants you to find when you do a Google search for “best buy”? I doubt it. I am sure they would much rather you find the first page of Google filled with links to all things Best Buy. And that could be the case if Best Buy had more of an online presence. A Best Buy Blog for example. And of course a few of the other social media options out there such as MySpace and Facebook.

The other side of the coin is the great ranking that Improv Everywhere has secured just by making a video about Best Buy. I am sure more people now know about Improv Everywhere thanks to this ranking.

Who is talking about your business? You or them?

What does this mean for business owners?

It means that people are getting used to getting their information via their home computer. It means that blogs are becoming an everyday tool used by more and more people, not just geeks and computer gurus. It means that if your spending money on print media your audience is shrinking and your getting left out of the conversation.

Enjoy the video:

But there is also something else a farmer does when he goes to market. He talks to other farmers. And more importantly he listens to other farmers. He gains a better understanding of what they are going through and what life is like for them. He offers help and advice as well as friendship.

It is that side of the conversation many companies who begin social media campaigns often neglect. They view it as simply a new place to sell their wares. Broadcasting advertisements, links, and spamming other users, basically taking the same old tired strategies into new media.

Broadcast less and participate more.

Read blogs that are in your related field and comment on them. Think conversation. Don’t think bullhorn or soapbox. Help people. Even your competition. Be vulnerable. Smile. Laugh. Be human. Remember the "social" part of social media. The more you offer yourself as a human, not just a salesman, the more returns you will get.

At the end of the day I’d bet it is the friendly helpful farmer that returns from the farmer’s market with an empty truck and a thicker wallet.

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Thank you CedarBendDrive for the use of your photo!

Think of growing a social media garden as a way to feed your business.

People turn to gardens to produce their own feed when money is tight because though a garden requires a little more labor it can be very cost effective to grow. A packet of seeds cost a lot less then the vegetables those seeds will one day produce.

Social Media and Web 2.0 is a lot like that. Think of each Social Media outlet as a packet of seeds. You begin with a little research to see if a particular seed will grow in your climate and produce a fruit you desire. Will Twitter reach your market? Will Facebook get you the clients you desire? Can LinkedIn provide sustenance for your career? Before planting a seed it is good to know if it is a crop you desire.

Spend some time in other gardener’s gardens that are similar to what you hope your’s to be. What Social Media outlets do your competitor’s use? Are they healthy and growing? Or barren and full of weeds? What is your market using? The people you hope to reach are using social media, where are they? Start asking your current clients and customers where they can be found.

Social Media and Web 2.0 have the potential to explode in these economic times. The balance is shifting from disposable income to disposable time. People will be turning to the Internet seeking comfort and connection. Not to mention information and work. Will you and your business be there for them? Ready to help them? Is your garden in place? Don’t you think it is time you started to clear out your spot in the Social Media landscape?

Even though blogging is a fairly new medium it still contains the huddles and challenges that have faced writers ever since there has been paper. The two common things I hear from people when talking about blogs are:

1. No one wants to hear what I have to say.
2. I don’t know what to write about.

For a business owner these are two huddles you really need to examine and get over.

If your a business owner that thinks no one wants to hear what you have to say your basically saying that no one wants your product or service. Because that is what a business blog is all about, you talking about your product or service. And I would venture a guess that you do that all the time through all the old standard ways; sales calls, meetings, networking groups, with other people inside your company, and of course traditional media such as news anchors and reporters. As a business owner I bet you spend most of your day talking about your business to people who do want to hear what you have to say. So why not put that conversation to work for you 24/7 in the form of a blog?

Number two is the most common thing I hear from people. They just don’t know what to write about. But the key to jumping this hurdle is similar to getting over the first hurdle. Think about all the conversations you have on a daily basis about your business. Do you ever find yourself at a loss for words when another human being standing in front of you? I doubt it. When you sit down to write a blog post just imagine you are writing a letter to a potential client or think back to a recent conversation and transcribe the nuts and bolts of it. Or think of it as answering an email. You know what to write, so just write it.

A blog is an amazing tool for business to use. More and more companies are using blogs and social media to build their business. Companies such as Zappos, Southwest Airlines, and Garmin, just to name a few. What are YOU waiting for?

TwitterFeed is a free service that automatically broadcasts your blog posts for you. You write your posts and TwitterFeed checks for them however often you tell it to, then Tweats a link to your new blog post on Twitter. It is an automatic way for your followers to keep up with you.

Get started now right here.

As always let me know if you have any questions or need any help right here.