The secret to building a social community

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer

Building a social community
takes time and is not an easy thing to do.  There is power in a group of like minded people gathered together around a purpose.  When you can get them to interact offline, and then naturally continue to interact online, you’ve accomplished something special.  So what’s the secret?  Let me enlighten you on a few key ingredients.

Social good builds social community.
Have everyone bring a giftcard, a teddy bear, or cash donations to your event.  Help some kids.  Help some older folks.  It’s amazing how well you can bond with someone through humbly serving others.  This is a key ingredient to building a social community.

Social influence builds social community.
I’m not talking about the kind of online influence such as “biggest reach on Twitter”, Read more »

Filed under: 2:00 A.M., community, Social Media | Tagged: , , | 5 Comments »

Did you just add a QR Code in an email

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer

QR Code in an emailIt’s happening: QR Codes are everywhere.
People are trying anything they can do get more scans of their QR Codes.  I recently was approached by a co-worker showing me an email newsletter he just received that had a QR Code in it.  His first reaction was “Brew, this is so stupid.  Why would they do this?  Why not just give me a link?”.  I have heard arguments for both sides of this issue, and I’d like to share them with you.

People still print emails (the FOR camp).
I have to admit, I’ve seen it myself.  In fact, I once had to empty out an office that had a year’s worth of emails printed and filed – including SPAM (albeit a few years ago).  So, the argument is that if people still print emails, and they contain a QR Code, there’s an opportunity for a scan.

No one prints your crappy SPAM (the AGAINST camp).
I think the real question to ask here is: If I print your email, will I ever be compelled to scan your email with my phone, even if it’s in your signature?  This argument comes from people who feel strong that print is dead, and that email is digital and should stay digital.

You can scan a QR Code on your monitor (the FOR camp). Read more »

Filed under: Qrcodes | Tagged: , , | 5 Comments »

5 Qr Code Failures To Learn From

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer

Broken QR Code

 

I found this half page advertisement
in an in-flight magazine.  Hopefully I’ve blurred out enough so that you can only recognize the brand if it was your ad.  This advertisement has a few problems, but the biggest problem was that the qr code would not scan at all.  In fact, I was only able to see the intended destination page by taking a picture, loading it to my laptop, and zooming in and scanning my monitor.  Yeah, not too many people are going to go to that extent for your ad :)

Failure #1 – Size matters.
According to the official Denso-Wave specifications: “The size of QR Code is decided by determining a symbol version, based on data capacity, character type and error correction level, and by setting a module size, based on the performance of the printer for printing or the scanner for reading.”   I’ve done a ton of testing on my own with various versions, sizes, and phones and I’ve chosen to use a Version 2 symbol (25X25 modules), error correction level M (15%), and print the code 11/16″ X 11/16″.  This has resulted in the quickest scan using short URLs by the highest number of devices.

Failure #2 – The word “QR Code” is a registered trademark.
Only when you use the word “QR Code” within your document or advertisement do you need to also print “QR Code is registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED”.   Read more »

Filed under: Qrcodes | Tagged: | 28 Comments »

Digimarc Discover – another qr code alternative

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer

QR Code Alternatives

I look for qr code alternatives.
I’m a big supporter of qr codes, but I like to be prepared to answer  “..what do you think about [insert qr code alternative here]?”.  It’s my belief that everyone needs to get behind just ONE scan code technology for now, so we can collectively train the muscle memory of consumers.  Qr codes stick out, they all look alike, and there are many apps out there that can scan them.

Clicking on physical objects with your phone
needs to become a normal assumption that people make before we’re ready for qr code alternatives.  Read more »

Filed under: Qrcodes | Tagged: | 6 Comments »

Social SEO – Awesome spreads

Posted on April 30, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer

This is a story about Social SEO.

I’m not sure if someone has claimed the term of social seo already, but I’m using it to describe how a small article of mine made it to the #1 search search result on Google, subsequently dropped down to #7, and how I’d like you to help me test getting it back to the #1 slot.

The USPS qr code discount backstory:

  • On April 17, 2011, I posted an article entitled “Don’t let the USPS ruin the qrcode experience“.  Normally, after a post, I’ll tweet out a link and receive a handful of readers.  I received 26 views from 4 tweets (1 from me, and 3 from others)(38 overall to my blog on that Sunday), and all traffic to the blog was tweet-driven. Read more »

Filed under: Qrcodes, Social Media, Twitter | Tagged: , , , | 9 Comments »

Don’t let the USPS ruin the qrcode experience

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer


The USPS will be offering a special 3% discount
in July and August for mailers who include a two-dimensional barcode on a letter or flat according to James Cartledge, from Post&Parcel.  The USPS is hoping the summer “sale” will highlight that technologies like QRCodes on physical mailings can help boost traditional direct mail response rates.

This is great news, right?
First, let’s take a look at what a 3% savings means.  A  10,000 piece postcard mailing, going at First Class Presort rate, with an average postage rate of .369 per piece, would total $3,690 in postage.  A 3% savings could mean $110.70. Sound great?  Let’s think this over.

All you need to do is print a qrcode to get the discount.
No big deal, right?  Your tech guys say Read more »

Filed under: Qrcodes | Tagged: , | 14 Comments »

Entrepreneur Survival Guide – Are you an entrepreneur

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer

Being an entrepreneur might be in your blood.
Maybe you lost a great job during the recent recession and started working contracts.  Quite possibly you needed a change from a company that was suffering or not managed well through the downfall.  Perhaps being an entrepreneur was something you’ve always wanted to do.  Then, there’s always the possibility that a book, website, speaker, or community inspired you to be an entrepreneur.  You might think you’re the only one who can solve certain problems.  So all of this makes you an entrepreneur, right?  Wrong.

So what does being an entrepreneur actually mean?
I mean, let’s face it: that word gets thrown around all over the place, so let’s first take a look at why you might not be an entrepreneur.  Read more »

Filed under: Entrepreneur Survival Guide | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

Twitter etiquette and how it can affect your business

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer

So, you have a personal twitter account.
It’s cool; most of us do.  Yes… I know that you’re careful about hand crafting tweets from the business account.  In fact, I’m sure that you never drink and tweet from the company account.  I even bet you stay oh so far away from politics and religious links and comments with the company account.  Or, maybe, better yet, you have someone tweeting for your company.

But I’m talking about your twitter account.
Have you ever gone to your twitter page?  Try it right now.  Go to http://www.twitter.com/yourusername.  Start at the top and start reading down.  Now imagine me reading it – or, better yet: imagine a customer reading it.  Embarrassed?  Feel lousy yet?  Think someone else would judge you negatively?

What’s in your bio? Read more »

Filed under: Social Media, Twitter | Tagged: , | 3 Comments »

Social good starts with you and me

Posted on March 27, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer

 

I’ve fed a hungry person.
I’ve seen someone with a sign saying they were homeless and hungry, driven to McDonalds, bought some food and brought it back.  I’ve given money to complete strangers who ask for change.   I’ve donated clothes for people who need it.  I’ve given someone a ride.

I’ve retweeted stuff.
You know the drill.  Retweet this message and @soandso will donate a $1 to some good cause.  I’ve clicked links, I’ve facebooked shared stuff.  I’ve clicked like buttons; all in the name of “Social Good”.

So what. Read more »

Filed under: 2:00 A.M., community, Social Media | Tagged: , , | 7 Comments »

We were ready for SXSW

Posted on March 19, 2011 by Jonathan Brewer

I’ve gotten a bunch of people asking me what I had expected to get out of SXSW, and what we got out of it, so here it goes…

For those of you that missed it,
our company, Meet-Meme was playing a multi-day scavenger hunt game (see details at our website) in Austin during the event.  We had put countless hours into planning, prepping, and coding leading up to our flights down to Austin.  We had t-shirts, hoodies, stickers, bacon, and eggs (and a kittycat sailboat).  We produced thousands of Meet-Meme cards for attendees, and we were hoping to see enthusiasm about our product.

As I sat down the day before we hopped on a plane,
I couldn’t help but think how lucky we are to have such a great community around us.  Daily we have new people joining our family, purchasing cards, and telling the world about us.   I’m always amazed on the days that the USPS delivers our packages.   I am just excited as our new family members are when they open up their cards.  From Twitpics to tweets, to Facebook posts – people love sharing us with others.  That’s so awesome, it gives me chills each time.

It was super cool
being a collectible game piece during the event.  It was a bonding experience with my team, Andy Wright and Andy Thompson.  By the way, I can’t possibly write enough words to explain how awesome those guys are.  Andy T. had been burning the midnight oil making sure our leaderboard for the game was live by the event.  Andy W. had been working with clients about future events, writing copy, helping plan the Beer and Brat Bash, and still somehow managed this entire process.

Was it a success?
Here’s a number of things that made SXSW a success for us.

1. We had fun (remember, that’s our first priority!)
2. We collected signed cards from new members of the Meet-Meme family.
3. We caught up with old friends (and I can’t wait to see you again soon)
4. We made new friends (so many new friends)
5. People told us they loved us (and we love you back, of course)
6. We got to hang out with Zane and she introduced us to everyone, literally.
7. Someone got married at a Hip Hop party on a rooftop (not one of us).
8. J-Money and I helped a pedicab get tweeted (and then rocked the Mash Bash)
9. I got to see a certain blue haired rockstar and someone who’s pretty much a big deal.
10. I got to have physical conversations with my #usguys tribe.
11. I fell in love with Beluga.

Oh, and then we also got new leads, closed deals, and made it to the final cut for a deal that should be our elephant.  When fun is the first priority, the business part comes naturally ;)

Filed under: 2:00 A.M. | 3 Comments »

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