Should Seesmic Desktop 2 become your new Social Desktop Application?

Seesmic Desktop 2 has come a long way since it previous release. While I really do like the new interface, speed, and layout it is missing a few things that will make me not want to leave Tweetdeck, permanently, any time soon.

So let’s get to my review shall we?

What I like:

• Streamlined design: Once you boot Seesmic Desktop 2 up you will appreciate the elegance and layout.
• Columns: The columns are easy to add, as well are additional accounts. You can add Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Google Buzz, and Ping.fm.
• Plugins: Also interesting are the plugins that Seesmic Desktop 2 has to offer from 3rd party developers.
• Speed Baby: What is also great is the speed. This may be due to using the Silverlight platform, rather than Adobe Air that has been used by many other developers, including Tweetdeck.
• Photos: Having photos people share via twitpic, yfrog etc being displayed direct in the timeline is very cool as well.
• Quick profile preview button: There is a little Seesmic Icon under each tweet opens up a mini profile that shows bio, follow counts etc.
• Tabs: One other thing I like are the 3 different tabs on the left side of the screen. They are All, Accounts, and Userlists. Here you can have additional columns open. This is kind of cool, and it reminds me of Hootsuite BUT you are not able to add additional tabs like you can in Hootsuite.
• Real Time Rules: Possibly the coolest feature is the real-time feed. No more waiting for columns to load based on the old twitter API, at least for the home column. I have been having some issues with lists I have open not refreshing real-time.

What’s Missing or Different:

If you are an avid/power Tweetdeck user, there will be some glaring features missing.

• Spell Check: This is a must in my opinion, especially because I occasionally mis-spell a word here and there.
• Scheduling: You can not schedule tweets for a later date. If you can, I have yet to find it. But I rarely schedule anyway, and if I do I use CoTweet.
• Reply with #Hashtag: If you are a fan of the Hashtag, prepare to copy paste, or re-type it all the time as Seesmic does not include it in the reply.
• Account Sync: Use your 3rd party app on multiple PC’s? Tweetdeck has the account sync feature. But with the speed of Seesmic, setting up columns on a different PC will not take that long.
• Preview Link: Do you want to see where you are going before you click that bit.ly link? I know I do!
• ReTweets: By default, the ReTweet is the Twitter style version only. Unlike Tweedeck, you can not option to the old style RT to be default. You can however still do the old style RT by selecting the options icon, and selecting “Quote (Old RT)”. This I am not a fan of as I prefer the old RT, and I do not like the extra clicks to make it happen.
• Reply All: In Seesmic it is called “Mention All” and I guess that is OK. The annoying “feature” is it adds your own name to the reply. Like Tweetdeck, it should strip your own name in the “Reply All” tweet. (Let’s save character space)
• Filters: If you ever want to filter out content in twitter streams, no way to do it here in Seesmic.
• Search: There is no way to start a search column, at least not that I have found. You can however click on a #Hashtag in Seesmic Desktop 2 and it will open a search column for that hashtag. So from what I see, you can not do a keyword search in Seesmic Desktop 2. Correction: Search is at top right, and will open a new column.

In the end, I guess it really comes down to how you use your application of choice. For me, there is just too much I am used to in Tweetdeck to abandon it completely. Tweetdeck now has a real-time version that I am just starting to use, and so far so good there as well. However, I think real-time is still having some hiccups on both platforms, and that could be due to Twitter, and not the apps.

Overall I am really impressed with Seesmic Desktop 2, as well with the service I have been getting from them on Twitter (@askseesmic). I have been experiencing some challenges, and they have been great at replying on twitter!

Currently I am using Seesmic Desktop 2 only on my Windows PC, and I think I will try it out on my Mac eventually. (I am just a boob about installing Silverlight on my Mac)

Real-time side note: When you follow thousands of people, this stream can just go non-stop. Be sure to make twitter lists to sort out the constant stream of information hitting your screen.

So what do you think about Seesmic Desktop 2? I’d love your comments below!

Until next time…

Doc

Recently I have been reading blog posts and articles about companies calling Social Media a major “Time Suck”… I think they are wrong!

I really think the term “time suck” needs to be retired when it comes to Social Media. Time suck has a major negative tone, and to apply it to such awesome platforms where you actually have the opportunity to engage with your clients, or future clients should be considered a TIME MUST!

Let me ask you this: Is Social Media any more of a time suck than a “traditional” job within a typical business organization? If you are a business owner reading this, do you consider your best sales person a time suck position? How about your receptionist (the in house first face/voice of your organization)?  Sure, it may not be YOU doing some or all of those efforts and positions, but you value their time and efforts right? Also, you invested time in training these individuals to be their best… was that a “Time Suck” as well?

Doesn’t monitoring your brand or business make sense? How about engaging your customers beyond your physical location as well? No not just in traditional advertising methods… besides, who wants to be interrupted by advertising!

Maybe you have tried your hand at Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn on your own and you did not see any immediate results and you decided to quit! Maybe you outsourced your Social Media efforts to what I refer to as a Social Media Huckster and you wasted your time and money and did not see the results you were promised. If that is the case, brush yourself off, put in the time and continue working on it!

YES, Social Media takes time, but so does building relationships at your local chamber meetings, or client calls. Social Media can be one of the best networking/word of mouth tools in your marketing tool belt! So why are you ignoring it or treating it like the marketing version of an “ugly step-child”?

Twitter and Facebook: A new front door to your business?

Your Physical Front Door: Let’s say you have a retail store… and someone walks in that door. What do you do… you greet them right? You ask them how you can help them, offer them (hopfully) great service and close the sale. BUT what if the customer walked in and you ignored them? Possibly this customer may tell friends they know about the bad service… yup, negative word of mouth is not what any business wants! (We all know that!)

On the other hand, you may get praised for great service in the same manner… but we all know bad word of mouth spreads more than positive… sad but true, so do not count on it!

So get out there and make the positive happen… Care, Listen, and Engage!

Your Online Front Door: You may refer to this as your website, but you are assuming people are coming to your site. So why not listen online and be proactive? Just do not be “that guy”! (We will cover “that guy” in another post)

Let’s say someone on Twitter or Facebook mentions your business or product. Maybe they are looking for (in general) where to find a product or service, or maybe they mention you by name. Maybe the person is happy with your product or service, or possibly they are upset with the lack of service received, and in either case they tweet about it or post something on their blog, Facebook, Yelp, UrbanSpoon etc. THE PROBLEM: This is your virtual front door and everyone can see it, NOT JUST YOU! Everyone can see the interaction (or possibly lack there-of). EVERYONE has access to customer comments, good or bad… and you need to be on top of it!

If you do not get your Social Media house in order and take advantage of the opportunity you have to engage you can and may:

• Leave business on the table and lose sales
• Lose the opportunity to become the leader in your business in social media
• Lose the opportunity to turn a negative into a positive
• Lose a customer to a competitor that cares and is proactive in the Social Media space

So, why is hiring someone (outsource or in-house) to handle your social media properly not a priority? You may have a professional CPA do your accounting, an attorney to review your contracts, maybe you outsource your H/R and payroll as well? But you have yet to take Social Media seriously! Why is that? Do you not care? Are you scared to see and have to react to a negative comment? Are you not IN LOVE with your customers and want to thank them for their business? Do you not like building relationships and in turn possibly getting return business and or referrals from existing clients?

When thinking about your Social Media strategy, do you:

• Care about your company, products, services, and most important your customers?
• Listen and Monitor  Twitter for real time comments regarding your business or product? How about Facebook, other websites and blogs talking about your company?
• Engage your fans, or react properly to good and bad comments? Do you create an online community around your business?
• Do you do this all over and over again with a passion?

Obviously these are just some ideas to get you thinking, and there is so much more to cover. We will leave that to future posts!

Now the million dollar question: Do you outsource your social media efforts, or do you do it in house? Well, I say you do whatever works best for you… as long as you plan your strategy, execute, and stay on top of your efforts… but most important, DO NOT QUIT!

And, if you are looking to outsource… I am available. (shameless plug).

Anything to add? Leave a comment below.

Until next time,

Doc

On July 31st the first Cupcake Conference (#CupcakeConf) was held in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Grand America Hotel.

As the event was being planned, the organizers asked Scott Duehlmeier (@paco_belle on twitter) and myself Darin aka “Doc” (@iGoByDoc on Twitter) to present the first ever Keynote address.

We were happy to oblige, but did not really know what to present… so we decided to present “Scott and Doc go to Cupcake Conference… The #Cakeover”

Take a look at the day long expedition both Scott and myself went on as we journey’d out to find the best cupcake in Salt Lake City!

We hope you enjoy our presentation as we had a blast on our journey and at the Cupcake Conference as well!

Also, once we arrived at the conference both Scott and myself, along with the head chef at Grand America, judged the cupcake decorating contest.

Be sure to go and learn more about the Cupcake Conference on their website http://www.cupcakeconference.com/ and on Twitter @CupcakeConf and you can check the Twitter Search stream for #CupcakeConf as well.

Love to have your comments below!

Until next time…

Doc

Click for larger image

Today during the press conference Tiger Woods held to tell the world how “sorry” he was I tweeted a comment, and to my surprise it was picked up by CNN and added to their website. (Link to page)

My comment was “Tiger Woods needs a teleprompter. At least he did not write notes on his hand!” and CNN picked up on it, and tweaked it a bit saying “Tiger Woods needs a teleprompter. At least he did not write notes on his hand!” wrote Twitter user @igobydoc, an apparent reference to a recent speech by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

So NOW I can now officially scratch “Be quoted on CNN website” off my list of things to accomplish! Now I just need to add to it the following: Be quoted again, and this time have @ricksanchezcnn say something on air! Or better yet, have Wolf Blitzer say “Please Stand By, new twitter comment by @iGoByDoc”

Anyway, I thought it was pretty neat, and I figured I would share it on my blog.

Special thanks to twitter user @offgrid as he was nice enough to bring it to my attention… thanks man!

Until next time…

Doc

Photo from @ladygaga twitpic account

I thought of this question last night just before the awards started live in California. I was hanging out on Twitter and I saw all the chatter start to happen about the Grammy Awards.

So I started to kind of tune out the chatter about the show knowing I would end up hearing the results via Twitter from many of the people I follow before the awards actually started here in Utah (where the awards started an hour later).

So, I have the @cnnbrk account on Twitter set to send me an SMS for “Breaking News”… because, well, that is what that account should be used for… right?  Well, just after the live show starts, I get a @cnnbrk SMS message saying “Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” wins the Grammy for song of the year”.  And of course CNN kept on broadcasting results all night… because as you know, the results are “Breaking News”.

Well, not that I really care in the end who wins what what award and for what song as I have no stake in the game, nor can I really blame @cnnbrk for announcing the winners, but it kind of made me think of how social media can ruin results for live events for people who watch them on a delayed feed. And to take it a step further, how does social media affect the advertisers who spend a lot of money for commercials during the show especially if people accidentally hear the results and decide not to tune in as a because they heard the winner already.

Recently, the Golden Globes (at least I think it was that show) decided to broadcast live in all time zones… and I thought that to be a smart idea. People had the option, if they so chose, to see it live OR record the program on their DVR and take the chance they may hear something before they got around to watching it. In the end, it was the viewers choice right?

Can you imagine if the NBA, PGA, or hell even the Super Bowl decided to air games based on the same principles the Grammys do… or many other shows for that matter? What if you heard the score to the end of your favorite teams game one or 2 hours before your delayed version ended even ended?

We live in a time, with social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, where you have access to up to the second updates. With people at the event or watching the live feed you can not, unless you live in a cave, escape the information.

In the end, social media did not “ruin” the Grammy Awards for me last night as I mainly tuned in for the performances anyway (Props to Gaga and the Michael Jackson tribute). Also, I did record it on my DVR and ended up fast forwarding through as many commercials as I could, so maybe my concern for the advertisers is mute… or at least as as it relates to me.

What is your opinion? Should television networks change their thinking when it comes to broadcasting live events like the Grammy Awards? Or am I just off my rocker?

Would love to have your comments below!

Until next time…

Doc

(PS: @cnnbrk you annoy me. please only use that account for “Breaking News”. If you must, use an entertainment account on twitter for these types of updates. You are losing trust as far as I am concerned with that account… break it up a bit. @CNNSports @CNNEnt or in this case @CNNSpoilers. I have invited you into my mobile phone for SMS updates… do not abuse it! Besides, every time I get an SMS from you, all I can think about is Wolf Blitzer saying “Please Stand By”… too bad I can not associate a ring tone of him saying that to the tweet SMS messages I get from you. Hehehe)

(PS2: Networks… get with the times as they are a changing! How about The Grammys LIVE actually LIVE everywhere next year?)

Okay, now I am really done… Doc

A couple days ago, my friend Josh S. Peters (@JoshSPeters on Twitter) posted a entry on his blog called “So this is what you people think of me” and at the end of his post, he assigned us all homework and said he wanted to see my Wordle! So of course I said yes, and am now showing off my Wordle off for all to see!

Seriously though, this is a representation of what people on Twitter think of me based upon the lists I have been added to (at the moment of creation I am on 86 lists on Twitter).

I think this is an AWESOME graphic, and represents me pretty dang well… what do you think?

To all who have taken the time to add me to one of your Twitter lists… I thank you. I am honored to be there.

Want to show me your Wordle? If so, head on over to Wordle and create one of your own. Once you have created it, share here on my blog, or post the image to Twitter and use the hashtag #WordleShare.

For a faster way to get your lists ready for Wordle, be sure to see Rick’s awesome walkthrough on Joshes blog post.

So what do you say? Will you let me, and the rest of the world see your Wordle? Come on, I showed you mine. #SoundsDirty

Until next time…

Doc

Follow the Hashtag!

On August 11th here in Utah, West Valley City to be exact, myself and some other folks on Twitter who are a part of a group called Team Awesome @TASLUT were invited to be a part of a VIP grand Opening event for the new Smashburger location.

We were invited in and the owners of the establishment took us on a tour of the restaurant and showed us how they prepare the hamburgers as well as the rest of the menu. While in the kitchen they showed is how they “smash” these 100% pure angus beef patties on a super hot grill to sear, almost caramelize the meat to lock in the flavor and juices that the high grade meat provides.

After the tour we were informed that they were going to run through the entire menu…. and that we would be getting to taste everything. Good thing I brought an appetite that day.

They brought out rounds of food and I started out with the Classic Smashburger. From the first bite I was in love! The flavor of the meat was amazing… and come to find out they have a nickname for the meat once it is prepared here at Smashburger… “Meat Candy”! And you know what, they are right… it is Meat Candy!

They brought out many other hamburger choices, as well as salads that were delicious, and Hebrew National 100% Beef hot dogs, with my favorite dog being the Chili Cheese Dog. In addition to that they also served us milk shakes made from Haagan-Daz ice cream and while all flavors were good, I liked the Grasshopper Mint the best (although I wish it had Oreo’s in it to make it just right). But I must say I was a huge fan of the Root Beer Float made with IBC root beer… it was for sure my favorite item from the desert menu.

And for the french fry lovers out there, Smashburger has you covered. They have a standard fry that has sea salt as well as the incredible “Smashfries”! Holy freaking cow these are tasty fries as they are made with rosemary, olive oil and garlic. The flavor was outstanding!

So, just when one would think they could eat no more, the owners brought out a burger that is the creation of the owner, whom I believe they said was a flavor specialist or something. This burger was just the regular Smashburger with a fried egg and nothing else. I have never had a burger with a fried egg before, but decided that it must be tried! So while I was stuffed we split this burger 4 ways so a few of us could try it out and I will say this… it became a favorite of the table instantly! It was phenomenal, and the favorite burger of the day for me!

At the end of the meal, and we all left very happy and excited to return. I think I had meat sweats from the “meat candy” for a couple hours after from eating so much, but it was worth it!

Rating for me, based on that visit, is a 5 out of 5.

We went back to Smashburger a couple of days later to see if it would be just as outstanding… and for the most part it was. There was some confusion when ordering the fries on the menu… as one assumed there was a small (side order version) and a larger version (that was more money). However, there is just one size, and it is just cheaper to order it with a meal.

The food was very hot and the burger tasted great again!

So, be sure to go check out your closest Smashburger when you get the chance… it is quite tasty! And be sure to tell them Doc sent you. They will have no idea who I am, and may have a befuddled look on their face… so that alone will be funny enough to just do it… right?

Until next time…

Doc

PS… be sure to follow Smashburger on Twitter @Smashburger and @SmashburgerUT

PS2… The Team Awesome folks participating in this VIP event were @Saintless, @Paco_Belle, @MarciMouse, @RickGalan, @Knite20, @MichaelKreagan, @JoshsPeters, @NteeJ and myself @iGoByDoc

As a special tribute and gift to a few of the folks I follow on twitter, people who give me a the gift of knowledge every singe day, I present to you and for everyone to enjoy a fun Disco Christmas Dance performed by:

• Elf Chris Brogan – Social media guru and one of the nicest guys I have come across on twitter!
• Elf Gary Vaynerchuk – Mr. Wine TV and newly found inspiration for me.
• Elf Robert Scoble – Self Proclaimed tech geek blogger. Who wouldn’t want to do what he does for a living?
• Elf Cali Lewis – One of my favorite podcasters.
• Elf Doc, yup it’s me! When else would I have the chance to do a little disco with these fine folks?

I look forward to the day when I can meet these fine folks in person! Who knows, maybe if we are all in the same room we can do our own version of a elf dance… just kidding about the dance… (or am I).

All four of these people are in fact elves as the work they do is absolute magic. Magic that I am sure Santa Clause himself would be proud of!

Happy Holidays folks.

- Doc

PS: Join in the fun with making some Elf Yourself magic online as well. If you make a fun video to share with everyone, post to twitter and hash tag your tweet with #elf – Just an idea!

PS2: No this is not a way to promote Office Max, no this is not a lame attempt to make any money off of affiliate marketing via Office Max, this is just plain fun.

I LOVE Twitter – Love it! I love the whole Internet “social” scene, and let me tell you one more reason why.

Last night I came home from my sons football dinner, I was full of pizza as if it was Thanksgiving, tired and was about to go to bed early when all of a sudden I get a Tweet via @calilewis to my iPhone to join her for a live online convert on Ustream.

I was intrigued, and decided why not go check it out to see what Cali is talking about. I arrived to the stream looking at a guy by the name of Geoff Smith playing his guitar in his home and singing. At first I was wondering what the heck, what’s the fuss all about? That question only lasted about two minutes as I just sat back and enjoyed the music Geoff was performing.

Geoff is one talented individual, he went from playing the guitar to the piano, singing any song people in the chat room asked for, and in my opinion he sang most of the songs as good if not better than the originals.

The vibe I had initially was feeling as if I was in a dueling piano bar, you know 2 guys rocking the pianos playing anything you can think of by request, but there was only one guy, a piano and a guitar! I guess where the vibe came in from was in watching and participating in the chat room. People were giving cyber tips in his cyber jar as they requested music, and cyber clapping and singing along in the room all while I was tapping my feet and singing along to most of the songs he was performing. 

I found myself watching Geoff for at least an hour… and as he was performing I was sending tweets out trying to get as many people there as possible to see this amazing artist perform live! @calilewis was doing her best to get 1000 people to watch the stream live and I was tweeting to help in the effort and I know brought a couple of people to the stream. At most however, I think there was around 300 people watching, but 300 people to perform in front of is a concert in my eyes… and this was online!

Geoff did a great job playing to the camera making you feel as if you were right there in the room with him. He even did some fun sound effects with his voice during a few performances that seriously made me laugh out loud.

Anyway, I just wanted to give a shout out to @calilewis who is one of my favorite pod-casters over at www.geekbrief.tv and say thanks for sending the tweet inviting to the stream, and a huge thanks and mad props to Geoff Smith himself for putting on a great show! I can not wait to watch him perform again! In fact, I read in the room he is doing a Christmas concert online… that should be awesome!

Below is an embedded video of his show from last night. Click play, and enjoy!

You can also follow Geoff Smith on his website www.thegeoffsmith.com and on Twitter @geoffsmith

If you get an alert from Geoff or Cali via Twitter he is going live, drop what you are doing and go watch. Trust me, Geoff Smith is so fun to watch live!

Until next post…

- Doc