Social Media Guide

Tools and Technologies

What Do I do?

• BlackBerryCool.com – Leading BlackBerry blog dedicated to news, reviews and community.

• Pretzil.com – A loyalty platform for smartphone apps.

• WickidApps.com – An app company with a leading BlackBerry photography app.

• Brooklyn Themes – Develop BlackBerry Themes in partnership with local design firm.

What We’ll Cover

• Facebook• LinkedIn• Twitter• Blogger• Tumblr• Wordpress• Posterous• What tools do I use?• Resources

Facebook – Friends

Benefits• Ubiquity (mobile and desktop)• Enormous user base (500M+)• Facebook Connect• APIs and platform developmentDrawbacks• Closed system (no contact export)• Low involvement (“Like” versus Comments)

LinkedIn - Professional

Benefits• Professional network• Application plugins• Event managementDrawbacks• Limited API and platform development• Smaller user base• Some features still in beta (companies)

Twitter – The Pipe

Benefits• Open API• Trends and analytics• Content discovery and pipe valueDrawbacks• Limited profiles• 140 characters (could be positive)

Blogger – Personal

Benefits• Google product (updates and innovation)• Account management• SimplicityDrawbacks• Limited customization• Proprietary platform• Difficult to effectively monetize

Tumblr – Art and Fashion

Benefits• Simple and elegant• Engaged and focused communityDrawbacks• Limited sharing (internal > external)• Closed platform• Often times too simplistic

Wordpress - Business

Benefits• Open source and fully customizable• Easy to manage a business• Widget developer communityDrawbacks• Security holes• No real community• Limited for free use

Posterous – Easiest

Benefits• Incredible sharing options• Easy and simple posting• Ubiquity (post from anywhere)Drawbacks• Limited customization• Not much community• Startup and may not have longevity

What Tools Do I Use?

• What is the goal?– Make money?– Engage community?– Personal brand?– Marketing?

• Who is your demographic?• Technical competence• Size of team and skill sets• Content focus

Resources

• Mashable• Ars Technica• Business Insider• ReadWriteWeb• TechCrunch• VentureBeat• The Next Web• Wired