Some would like for you to believe that the social web is about to take over the world…..others I see declaring the emergence of social as the “death of SEO”. Which I personally find laughable.

From my Monday Morning QB chair a few things do seem quite clear:

1. Chad Pennington threw quite a few interceptions (Captain Obvious)

Sorry, Monday Morning QB had me thinking about football for a second….back to work.

2. The Social Web positively deserves your attention from this point forward.

If you are not thinking about how to integrate the growing number of social tools into your overall marketing strategy you need to start now. Otherwise, start working on the resume, as you will need it in the not-so-distant future.

3. SEO is far from dead, it has just become more complex.

Social will not replace SEO, it will however, have a profound impact on SEO and will, in my opinion, create further separation between those that understand SEO and those that still base decisions on what the ‘green bar’ tells them.

According to a story in BusinessWeek, Google has applied for a patent that essentially ranks the value of a user on a social network. A user’s score would rank them based on a variety of factors to determine their influence.

http://www.imediaconnection.com/news/20684.asp

For the truly geektastic, take a look at one of the Google patent applications found over at SEO By the Sea.

You need not bog yourself down with the ins and outs of algorithms, and reading of patent applications to understand that your future SEO and Social efforts will correlate.

The morale of the story? Has SEO been a key component of your strategy in the past? If so, you need to begin thinking about your social strategy and participation. Budget time, budget resources and begin planning.

Sales of Slim Fast, running shoes, gym memberships and Nutri-System are sure to spike in the coming days. It’s what we do….what we have been told you are suppose to do; Make a New Year’s Resolution. A New Year, a clean slate….a promise to ourselves that is rarely kept.

Why do so many resolutions fail? Lack of accountability? Unattainable goals? Who knows for sure, but I love the concept of resolving oneself to change.

I would like to share my “big” resolution for the New Year, and then challenge you. The goal I have set for myself is lofty, a bit crazy and opens the door for failure. However, I am sharing it with the world (er….all 1 of my blog readers) as a way of creating accountability. Yes, I could fail (very easily!) however, fear of failure is the bane of many an existence, the culprit of apathy and instigator of do-lessness.

I could easily fail, but I’m going to give it hell….and let the chips fall where they may. Also, if I am going to challenge you to make a shift in the way you think, I needed to make as significant change myself.

Without further adieu, my resolution:

I am a bit of a workaholic, and my work is so called “knowledge work” (despite often being called ‘Dumbass!”) and involves many long hours at a desk behind a computer monitor. Coupled with my love of all things bad for me (beer, chocolate, chocolate beer, pizza, cheese….) has added a few pounds to the frame. Ok, maybe a bit more than a few.

Am I ready to be extracted from my home via chainsaw and jaws of life? No. I am still somewhat active, and can still see my feet when I look down, however I want to get back in shape. It’s time.

Today, I will be registering for the Captain Thurmond’s Challenge, in 8 months, I might regret it. Hell, tomorrow I might regret it, but there it is…a goal, with a great deal of hard work ahead. What is the Challenge?

Captain Thurmond’s Challenge Triathlon is 30 miles of the most extreme whitewater, mountain biking and running in the state and the East Coast. Set in the spectacular New River Gorge, the triathlon includes an 11 mile bike leg that begins with a Lemans start from the historic Downtown Fayetteville and runs to Cunard along the ridge lines of the New River George. The 8 mile watercraft leg proceeds from Cunard to Fayette Station through Class III and IV rapids. The 8 mile run at the end tests the athletes endurance going up and out of the gorge finishing back at the Fayette County Courthouse. The triathlon can be done either by a team or solo by one individual

I figure what the hell….going solo.

So it begins….the change, the hard work with a goal in mind, and the thoughts of the residual benefits of reaching (or trying to reach) the goal. Lisa bought me a new pair of trail runners for Christmas, as I had worn my last pair out with trips to the refrigerator…and Adam over at Marathon Bicycle Company has performed a minor miracle in bringing my mountain bike back to life. I’m going to pick it up today. Ready or not…

My challenge to you, is to change the way in which you approach your marketing efforts. Put the bullhorn down, quit yelling at your customers and quit trying to find needles in haystacks. Listen for a change. Study for a change. Marketing has evolved, have you?

If not, make a resolution to evolve and join me in making fundamental changes and losing the fear of failure.

So if you see me on the trail (or more likely on the ground gasping for air), say “Hi” and tell me about your resolution!

This post will be random (surprise) and disconnected, but will be just another way of saying “Thank You”…..no spell check, emotion, typos and more! Transparency in the raw.

While it is a personal priority of always letting people know that I appreciate who and what they are, and what they do, the majority of us still are pretty poor at showing appreciation. For some saying “Thank You” is akin to Fonzie and “I’m sorry”.

As I reflect on things and think about my business and personal life, I realize that in being a small business owner, the two are joined at the hip.

I owe many people thanks and I am grateful for many, many things. I would like to share just a few that have helped shape who I am.

Family
It all starts with family, and without it, I am nothing. Just a few incomplete thoughts about the parental and immediate influences of my “fam damily”…

Thankful For:

My wife and kids

Think Brady Bunch Lite….I have two step-sons whom I am VERY proud of, ages 14 and 17 and a daughter that will soon turn 5. Between sports, dance and school, we always have somewhere to be. I’m thankful for the kids putting up with gadgets littering the home and the crazy work schedule of a small business owner and more importantly for reminding me of what is really important. Watching games, coaching a team, going to a dance recital, playing “tickle monster” and ….coloring.

My wife…..why she puts up with me, I haven’t a clue. I could write a book…

I’m thankful for her dealing with me working late, having to travel and rambling about CSS, search and the latest Google update. She has stood beside me all along the way, taking the feast and famine nature of starting and running a small business in stride.

From running to Staples, stops at the post office and helping with filling out tax forms and paperwork, I couldn’t do it without her.

My grandparents for instilling in my entire family the importance of hard-work and education (amongst other things!)

My Grandma Mary for teaching me patience and that anything can be accomplished amongst family. She and her sisters collectively put themselves through school (one set would work to pay for the others schooling, then return the favor) to become teachers….she rode a horse to school for her first job.

My Grandpa Gene for teaching hard work and the art of tickling. He died when I was young so my perspective is that of the eyes of a child. As a kid every time I would walk through the door of their home it was clock work, “Paaaaattttttttttt-aaaaaaaaaa-reeeeeee-kkk-usssss!” and he would then tickle with a finger mangled in a railroading accident. My Grandpa worked hard, multiple jobs from railroading to mailman, to support his large family. Work ethic and responsibility.

My Grandmother Ruthie for teaching me to tell people what you really think and more importantly that it’s that it’s perfectly fine  to have fun ! Whooppin’ hollerin’ and spending that “mad money” that you saved for a rainy day on things that make you and others smile (you can’t take it to the grave right!). Ruthie loved life and it loved her back.

My Grandfather “Granddaddy” for teaching me work ethic, education and walk softly while carrying a big stick. He grew up in lumber camps and on farms and despite all odds, found a way to get an education on his own. He overcame obstacles of the era (farm chores and his own father’s de-emphasis on education) and worked by the light of an oil lamp to complete assignments. In this manner he completed high school, then college and became a teacher and principal. He worked hard, he served his country, he gave back.

My Mom and Dad for always, always, always being there and as difficult as I made it at times, supporting me no matter what.

I could write a book about all my parents have done for me….but will highlight one thing. Fast forward to the 8th grade!

I always loved playing sports, but basketball was never “my game”. However, I decided in junior high, that I wanted to play for the school team. I tried out…and was cut.

Don’t expect a Michael Jordan story, here, something on a smaller scale, it was the lesson it taught…not the outcome.

As a kid, I was pretty good at all the other sports I played and it was tough being cut. My parents took time to explain to me that things don’t come easy…you have to work at things and earn it.

One quote from my Dad that stand out, “You can prove them right…or you can prove them wrong”.

They bought a basketball hoop, put it up in the driveway and handed me a basketball. In hindsight, I guess it was their way of seeing what I was made of.  I decided to prove them wrong.

Everyday, snow, rain wind I shot baskets, worked on layups, free throws….and shots behind the back from the rhododendrons! (Hey…never know when a game might come down to that!). By the time tryouts rolled around the next year that ball was worn smooth…I can still see and “feel” that ball to this day. I tried out, made the team….and started every game (yet somehow managed to only score 20 points!).

Them…proven.

Work ethic….check.

Events
It’s interesting to take a look at how events in our lives shape who we are and what we become. I touched on one earlier, but there are others that I look back on that had a major impact on my business.

I’m going to keep this short, but it’s quite a story, next time you see me ask for the “non-condensed” version.

Years ago, I handled the marketing for a small rafting company. There was no budget and so I turned to the then emerging Internet as a low cost marketing tool. Little did I know, it would later become my career.

I learned the in’s and outs of how search engines worked, how a website worked and how to use them to promote a company. Long story short, we had great success and the business saw a significant surge in rafters. After two years of growth, I asked for a modest raise….I was single, had very few bills yet was still barely making it.

My request was denied and I attempted to explain, in the foyer of their brand new log home, why I thought it was a valid request.

Their business had grown substantially, and I mentioned that I had “become pretty good” at what I did. When I said that, one of the owners laughed and she said, “I don’t think so”.

I walked out the door and haven’t looked back. Dad…I took your advice, and proved them wrong!

Sadly, they went bankrupt two years later.

People
There are a great number of people that have helped me in various ways. From providing encouragement, advice and business I am indebted to those folks that went out of their way to help. Just to mention a few….

Geoff Heeter, of Opossum Creek Retreat Cabin Rentals fame, was not my first client…..but he was my first paying client! He has endured countless experiments and has provided valuable feedback on a variety of things. More importantly, he has become a great friend and has provided great, at times much needed, laughs along the way. Be sure to follow Geoff on “Tweeter” (I think he’s becoming insecure about his single digit followers!) and ask him how his Linux install is going!

Susie Hofstetter and Len Hanger at Songer Whitewater gave me a job years ago, and an opportunity. An opportunity to also work on my own projects and grow my business on the side. Their help, encouragement and support played a huge part in getting Matterhorn Marketing off the ground.

Dave Arnold at Class VI River Runners is an entreprenuer’s entrepreneur. While I have never had an opportunity to work with Dave, and despite working for his competition, he has always supported, encouraged and opened doors that otherwise would have never opened. I have developed a great amount or respect for Dave on both the personal and professional level and am thankful for the help he has provided.

Sorry!
I apologize for being long winded, and could (and should to adequately say thanks) easily write much more. Much like telling my family I love them, It is important to me to say thanks and make sure people know it. I am often quite liberal with my use of “Thank You” and “I really appreciate that”, but I mean it when I say it.

Reminds me of a time, not long ago, while tucking my daughter into bed. She was half asleep as I pulled the blanket up over her shoulders and kissed her on the cheek.

I whispered, “I love you”.

She whispered back, “I know”.

Let people know…

So, I was busy “Facebooking” this evening, and just happened to notice an interesting Facebook Ad….

I didn’t click the ad, but it said, “Make your own customized cards now!” with a graphic which said, “Mrs. Claus. Yeah, I’d Tap That”.

WOW!

So I guess before I decide to commit any funds to Facebook Ads I need to determine:

1. Who is successfully using Facebook Ads

2. Who the hell would send a Christmas Card with, “Mrs. Claus…Yeah, I’d Tap That”? College kids?

Dunno about you, but when I was in college…doing the proverbial “mailing of the Christmas Cards” was not high on the list.

Guess 15 years ago I was too busy “tapping” it….get your mind out of the gutter! The KEG!

I am not going to bore you with a long-winded explanation of the concept of social media. A simple google search will reveal a number of websites which attempt to define, and debate, exactly what constitutes social media.

For the sake of simplicity and in keeping with the premise of the “Marketing Minute” let’s think of social media as (to borrow a fragment from Robert Scoble) “conversations” and building and maintaining relationships.

On an indivdual, personal, level social media is being used to reconnect, and stay connected, with friends, co-workers and colleagues. Community sites such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Brightkite people are using social media to establish, re-establish and strengthen relationships on a number of levels.

A growing number of individuals are also utilizing social media as a business networking tool via LinkedIn, Facebook and others. From staying connected to industry cohorts, to actually creating connections for jobs, the Chamber of Commerce “After Hours” networking sessions have been taken online.

More important to this conversation is the use of social media as a business communication and branding tool.

Social media allows you to create and maintain connections while providing an opportunity for those outside the company to see “behind the scenes”.

A successful social media component, a part of this complete breakfast..and a part of your overall marketing strategy can help create brand awareness and establish brand loyalty and more importantly allow you to learn more about those that are using your products and services.

It is of utmost importance that you:

1. Are open and forthright in your social media endeavors. Authenticity, transparency…whatever terminology you choose just remember that people have grown tired of standard marketing pitches. If you stand up with your megaphone and send out “traditional” marketing messages…you will be booed of the stage.

2. Actually listen to what people are saying! This is will be one of the hardest habits to break for those cut from the traditional mold.

Some babysteps to get your company social media strategy off the ground….

First, join the conversation. Create profiles in some of the more popular social networks and social sites including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube. There are a growing number of sites that will become a part of your social profiles, they will become evident as you begin participating across the variety of sites and networks.

After you create your profiles spend time observing. Observe interaction, conventions and pay attention to the “unwritten rules”.

When you begin to participate keep things simple and be careful to avoid being confrontational and pushing hot buttons like religion, politics and the like. Remember that what you say can and sometimes will be held against you! The backlash from offending your audience, can be very, very difficult to overcome.

Use these sites and networks as tools to help tell your company story. Share pictures and video and tweet about the things that you are doing in the course of the day. What you find mundane, others may find of interest. As an aside….people don’t want to be inundated with your daily goings on….”Picking up the mail”, “Making lunch” etc. aren’t exactly of interest.

Some large companies are using social media, Twitter specifically, as a Customer Service channel and Online Reputation Monitoring (ORM) tool, monitoring the conversations about their brands and quickly swooping in to help with, or at least acknowledge, the issues.

Take for example a search of Twitter, using modifiers, to see what people are saying about a topic, a brand or an event. In this example of a Twitter search, you can see recent tweets about Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. This type of search could provide an opportunity to acknowledge and rectify any issues, or to also find brand evangelists and supports to reach out to and add to your network. Another simple example of this can be seen by running a search of blog engine Technorati.

Social media and Online Reputation Management are components, should be…or will be components, or your overall company strategy. This blog post doesn’t even scratch the surface of either, but if you wish to continue to compete in your field, you need to be aware of emerging tools and tactics which are quickly re-shaping the ways in which companies market themselves.

I’m meaning the change in the ways in which we interact online. How we obtain, and digest content from sources we look to for information. How we keep up with one another amongst the vast array of social websites that are quickly becoming mainstream. An impetus of this change is the growing use of RSS feeds.

What is a feed?

Wikipedia tells us:

A web feed (or news feed) is a data format used for providing users with frequently updated content. Content distributors syndicate a web feed, thereby allowing users to subscribe to it. Making a collection of web feeds accessible in one spot is known as aggregation, which is performed by an Internet aggregator A web feed is also sometimes referred to as a syndicated feed.

Feed auto-detection, has been a feature available to Firefox users for quite some time. However, the fact is, the majority of web users still rely on Internet Explorer as their browser of choice. The inclusion of auto-detection in the release of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 7 browser, in my opinion, is one of the things that helped push RSS use past the tipping point.

When folks started seeing the “orange square thing”, commonly called a ‘chicklet’, in their browser light up on pages, curiosity won over. Tipping point reached…

What is RSS?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and in a nutshell, it brings information to you (and you could use it to send information out from your own site…more on that another time), without having to go and find it again, and again.

Worried you might miss something? No problem. When a feed enabled website or web pages posts new content, it automatically delivers that content to anyone subscribing to the feed.

I’m not going to bore you with all the details of what lies under the hood, there are numerous posts and pages which you can find by simply searching for RSS, or by heading on over to the friendly neighborhood know-it-all, Wikipedia.

Instead what I would like to do is introduce you to some tools so you can start using RSS yourself and start participating in the conversation.

An RSS Tool to Get Your Started

One tool, an RSS reader, allows you to aggregate all the content that is important to you. By using an RSS reader, you can simply add feeds from blogs, photo streams and more and keep up with all of the information in one single location.

Some of the more popular feed readers, according to Feedburner, are Google Reader, Bloglines, My Yahoo!, NewsGator and Firefox Live Bookmarks.

We are going to do a simple walk through using Google Reader to get you started in the conversation. Why Google Reader? Simplicity, Availability and who doesn’t have a Google Account already? (Pssttt, if you don’t, go create one….)

Ready….Set

1. If you don’t already have a Google account, you can create one for free
2. Head on over to the Google Reader page where you can login, if you aren’t already, and get started.
3. There are a number of articles that give a complete rundown of how to use Google Reader which you can browse through. We are going to jump right into adding a feed.
   • Newbie’s Guide to Google Reader
   • Lifehacker - Getting Good with Google Reader (advanced but great…also Lifehacker is a great feed to start with!)
4. You can begin by searching for feeds, or by pasting in the feed URL directly (more on finding feeds in a moment)
   
   
5. When you conduct your search, you will be provided with a set of results and a subscribe button which you simply click to add to your set of feeds…simple enough!
6. You can also simply copy and paste the feed URL into the box to subscribe. When you are visiting your favorite sites, look for the orange chicklet, which you can click to obtain the feed address.

That’s it in a nutshell…VERY simplified. There are a number of great tools which you can include to make things even easier by using Greasemonkey scripts, as outlined over at Lifehacker.

Start subscribing to blogs and other feeds which interest you and join the conversation by reading and commenting. If you wish to be a part of the Groundswell that is happening all around us, you have to start somewhere…

A Sampling to Get You Started

• Online Marketing Blog - Lee Odden provides great information that you can put to use with your PR, SEO and marketing.
• Lifehacker - “Tips & Downloads for Getting Things Done!”
• The GrokdotCom - The Eisenberg brothers offer up some of the best marketing information on the web, must read.

Add to your list by searching for blogs in your field and niche, and even your competitors to keep up with the things important to your business. There are also some very simple ways to use RSS to keep up with what people are saying about you across the blogoshpere and social media…stay tuned for an intro.

Some Ways You Could Use RSS on Your Website

Start thinking of ways you can enable and use RSS on your website to expand your reach and stay engaged with your audience.

You could create feeds for:

• Your photos - Upload a photo of the day or week
• News and page updates
• Product changes and additions - Create a feed for your products which can be used in shopping comparison engines and more
• Press kits - Provide a feed for reporters and writers interested in what you have to offer so they can keep up with press releases, story ideas and more

Get started with RSS and join the conversation….

As a business owner I find myself investing everyday; Technology, training, equipment, time and people. No matter what the nature of the investment is, whenever it fails to meet expectations it is disheartening, disappointing and if allowed to consume, debilitating.

Any time we invest in such things as software, hardware or other types of technology we know in the back of our minds, “this will eventually break”. We know it will, however we are essentially betting on the utility that it will provide, and in almost all cases, they come with warranties, so we have a re-assurance of at least the minimum return which can be expected.

Sure we have some influence on its ultimate value in how we handle and maintain these types of investments, but in the end, we are dealing with an inanimate object. When it fails and the return on investment ceases…it is not due to the equipment simply deciding to quit.

When investing in the markets we take calculated risks, with no guarantees or warranties as to what the ultimate return may be. The performance of your investment in the markets is dictated by a laundry list of external factors from interest rates to political unrest in countries thousands of miles from our own. However, much like our first example, when your investment fails or disappoints, it is not because the market itself decided to fail you.

Which leads me (collective thank yous from the one lonely reader that has made it this far!) to a lesson learned as a business owner. For me, the most disappointing investment, is the failed investment in people. The failed investment in people that have the ability, but not the desire. The failed investment in people that are given tools, training, encouragement and opportunity, but are done-in by lack of work ethic and lack of responsibility.

Each of us, in one form or another, invest in people, and more importantly relationships, every day. Be it co-workers, family, customers and friends, we invest heavily in those we care about and those we wish to care about us.

It is the emotive aspect of investing in people, for me at least, which makes these types of failed investments the most daunting. Everyone makes mistakes and at times these mistakes in judgment or actions are puzzling and hurtful. Anyone with kids knows exactly the situation I speak of.

To me, a building block of any relationship, is trust. Trust in those involved. In the business world, this is paramount. Without trust, your business or brand is devalued. With trust customers are far more likely to buy from you, and “invest” further in the relationship.

Building trust comes from being sincere, up-front and doing just as you say you will do. In today’s post-consumer society, where “bullshit meters” are pegged, trust and transparency are crucial to success, both on the business and individual scale.

You are what you are…..don’t be afraid to be yourself…..warts and all. Tell people of your faults, and they are more likely to believe you when you brag about your strengths. Fess up to mistakes, take ownership of them, show responsibility and make amends, and then allow what was once a detractor to become an evangelist.

I feel I speak for the majority, and do so quite comfortably, when I say we are tired of the “the best in the industry” type of marketing jargon. Some are so busy telling people they are #1 that they aren’t listening to the most valuable resource they have….feedback.

Facilitate and create conversations, listen, listen, listen and listen some more and then let people know you are listening. When you tell someone you are going to do something….do it. Take advantage of situations and relationships, “pull the wool” on those that care about you and you will find yourself in the un-enviable position of losing trust and credibility…..two things you almost never gain back.

Be yourself, communicate, act…build trust and your business and relationships will flourish be it with customers, suppliers or employees.

At the onset of any design project we try to determine what website elements and attributes our clients may like and/or find useful. This gives us a bit of an idea of things to try to incorporate or avoid, or what topics we may need to provide further education or encouragement.

Despite urging and always explicitly stating, “Look outside your industry” we are repeatedly provided with examples from within the clients own vertical, and more often than not, those closest in proximity (Remember, we are working with a great deal of tourism and travel businesses).

While it is frustrating, it should come as no surprise. Why? People like to stick to what they “know” and forcing people outside of their comfort zone is a sure-fire recipe for anxiety and trepidation.

However, stepping outside of that comfort zone can provide inspiration and serve as an impetus to become a leader in your field versus a follower.

As Roy H. Williams says, “it is difficult to read the label from inside the bottle”.

In recent weeks we have been trying to take a bit of our own advice. Attending mini-cons (ConvergeSouth and Create West Virginia) which are different in nature than those conferences of our normal travel schedule.

While I cannot point to any single result, although our readers (or should that be reader? hi mom!) would attest, our blogging frequency has went up (or perhaps more accurately…went) since returning from Converge South. Additionally, the Create West Virginia conference has inspired us to become more involved in ways to encourage and become part of the creative economy in our own area (more on this to follow soon).

One final example from my baseball experiences:

This past season in working with a talented, yet struggling, player on his swing, I introduced some modifications which clearly were uncomfortable for him.

The grip this player was using on the bat robbed him of any power and prevented his swing from being smooth. Always getting by on superior talent and athleticism, playing with bigger and stronger players (Ages 13-15), made the flaw in his grip more noticeable resulting in weakly hit baseballs.

Before making any changes I asked the player if he could tell me why he as holding the bat in the manner in which he was.

“That’s how I have always done it”, he said.

After working on the swing change for a bit I asked the player, “How’s it feel?”

“Weird” he said, “I don’t like it”.

I explained the basic premise of the old adage: “If you keep doing things the way you always have, you will continue to get the results you always have as well”.

He decided to give the change a chance and in the very next game, went 3-3 and absolutely scalded the baseball and went on to have a very successful season at the plate.

Peer over the fence for inspiration, break out of your comfort zone and see what happens.

Do? Learn? Inspire? Encourage?

The past two weeks have provided opportunities to attend regional conferences, which are considerably different from the other conferences (SMX, SES, An Event Apart, and Web Design World) which regularly dot my travel schedule.

Most recently I was fortunate to attend the 2nd Annual Create West Virginia Conference held at Snowshoe Mountain, West Virginia. The conference focused on what Mythology Marketing’s Jeff James refers to as the pillars of creative communities, which will allow the “creative class” to thrive and lead in the “new economy”.

Available tracts included Business, Place, Resources, Strategy, Education, Diversity and Technology. By all accounts the attendance was up significantly from last year’s inaugural conference and there was no shortage of sessions from which attendees could choose.

A number of high quality keynotes were provided; unfortunately I was only able to take in the following three:

Considering a number of factors including the economy and the apathy amongst the general population in relation to the primary topics, the turnout, the list of speakers and presenters and the overall quality of programming should be commended. Kudos to Jeff James and Skip Lineberg.

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Scanning the social media streams and blogosphere for references to the conference, and live streams provided sparse results.

The poor cell reception and Wi-Fi coverage at Snowshoe Mountain (I am told cell service is limited due to restrictions imposed by the Greenbank Observatory), coupled with the apparent low-level of technology adoption, can be blamed.

I had no problems connecting wirelessly in the sessions in which I attended, and in the main expo hall, and tried to provide a steady stream of Tweets. However, I saw a limited number of folks that were connected during sessions.

I believe that Jason Keeling was blogging (nice meeting you and chatting, albeit briefly!) and I am certain that conference organizers Jeff James and Skip Lineberg will be blogging re-caps of the events. Considering the conference is just in its second year, and that micro-blogging is just reaching its tipping point (and in our area…. general blogging is just being adopted) I think you could expect a greater “streaming” presence next year.

Just my two cents: I would suggest (and volunteer to help with) incorporating live blogging, micro-blogging and live streaming with Qik, Ustream or Kyte. Utilizing available media outlets, all in concert (and with a collective agreement on such things as hash tags) would create buzz, expand coverage beyond just West Virginia and encourage more to embrace technology which can serve to further facilitate the adoption of tools which can help fuel the creative economy.

————-

I saw a small number of tweets in regards to the conference which insinuated that those attending were less interested in creating things than they were in having a conference.

In a way, I think they are right, but the view is a bit close-minded in my opinion. I see this type of conference as more of a call to action to facilitate and inspire, than to actually create.

Personally, I am more interested in ways in which my business can be a part of the movement to facilitate creative jobs and be involved, and benefit at the same time from the larger whole. If I had attended the conference and found sessions on how to draw, how to paint, how to write etc….it would not have provided me with the information needed to try to facilitate creativity from myself, my family, my community, my state…

After all, isn’t expecting lessons on creativity counter-intuitive? If you are creative….you WILL create things no matter what. If you are already creating, would it not be in your best interest to open the eyes of others that may help facilitate an economy with a higher value on creativity?

——

What are you or your community members doing to facility a creative economy?

There will be a slight change in the approach and objective and the result will be more blog posts on a wider variety of both topics and “skill” levels.

As the founder of Matterhorn I have witnessed a number of profound changes to the landscape in the past 10+ years of involvement in Internet Marketing. I have also been part of a changing company and dynamic as well.

Up to this year Matterhorn Marketing was a one man band, with some “virtual” partners that created websites, dealt with development issues and all of the things associated with marketing them (seo, ppc etc.).

The past 12 months have brought about a profound change to our company structure, processes and products with even more to come. We hired our first full-time employee in late 2007 and in doing so, have added the ability to handle more projects with shorter turn arounds (pending the clients do their part!) and more importantly added photography to our list of available products.

The beauty of the Internet, in relation to running a small business in a rural location, is the globalization effect. Matterhorn has forged strong partnerships with a small, highly skilled set of spcialized contractors to help with custom php scripting and database development, graphic design and copywriting.

We have additionally made significant investments in technologies such as a SMS text message marketing platform, equipment to create short online videos, call tracking services and more.

It has been an exciting year at Matterhorn, and we are excited about what the future holds.

We are currently looking for the right people to join our team: If you are interested in social media, CSS coding and standards-based design, give us a shout!