Read the blog post.

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The deeper I get into social media, the more I notice the richness and variety of my conversations with fellow travelers. Especially with Twitter (but also through Facebook, Forum Participation & Blog Commenting), I’ve had many wonderful interactions with people that would have seemed impossible only a short while ago. What makes the Social Media Revolution even more personally satisfying is that I get to be (and am rewarded for being) “real”. I can communicate comfortably in my “Straight, No Chaser” manner as opposed to putting on the front I typically reserve for public events where conformity is the norm. I’ve also found that even just a small amount of personal communication via social media prior to a personal meeting greatly enhances the encounter. In these instances, the conversation is immediately comfortable since the barriers to getting to know the person have already been broken down online and the other person and I have many shared experiences to draw from.

Of course, there is a flip side to this equation. Never has small-talk seemed so…”small”.

Online marketers spend their day speaking a language inaccessible to most outsiders. This isn’t totally unique to our profession…engineers & scientists also are similarly handicapped. However, until recently, we still had been talking to each other in pretty much the same manner as other groups communicate amongst themselves.

Now, the conversation in our industry has been significantly amped. Through the magic of open platforms combined with RSS feeds, our interactions taking place in one medium get ported to others. We accept as natural that remarks made on Twitter will get read on static blog posts, on Facebook Pages, in RSS Readers, and even get repeated back to you at Tweet-ups. We can understand how a series of 140 character (or less) comments from a gaggle of thought leaders can allow somebody to view the heart of an industry better than any traditional publication could report. We can view people’s Tweets and Facebook activity as “windows to their soul” and use them to get a meaningful sense of their personalities which can be leveraged on other platforms with significant business and social advantage to all involved. Furthermore, the mobile nature of communications devices means that we have access to our networks and our fellow travelers 24/7.

The wonderment of social media has made it so much more difficult to relate to those who haven’t been touched by this “New Communication”. Once somebody has taken the trip and experienced the infinite number of ways that one person can connect with an infinite number of other people, “Communication 1.0” gets really old quickly. Sure, the old ways of relating to others will always have their use but they have never seemed more perfunctory as they are now.

The “New Communication” is one of openness and sharing, not exclusivity. It thrives on participation, not passivity. It focuses on the creativity of people’s minds, not their surface trappings. It is very much a meritocracy where somebody’s standing in the community is earned, not granted and where giving to others is rewarded much more than taking for oneself.

For those who haven’t taken the trip yet, embarking upon it is easy. Follow the lead of others who have tripped successfully before. Cast away any apprehensions about trying something new and don’t prejudge the journey and its outcome. Drift with its flow. Every trip is different and each participant will be rewarded in a meaningful way unique to them. If the traveler can avoid viewing the journey through the standards of their past, they will be enriched in countless amazing ways.

As time goes on, the communications divide between those who trip and those who haven’t will become quite vast and relationships between people who dig it and don’t dig will get harder to maintain. People who aren’t able to open their mind to the possibilities of the “New Communication” will never be enriched in the manner of its adherents. The “New Communication” is groovy, far-out, and psychedelic all rolled up into a pipe that we’re smoking and the folks who don’t inhale are missing out on one hell of a buzz.

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For those folks who already signed up for the webinar and asked Stoney a question, he answered them over at Search Engine Guide.

For those who haven’t signed up for the webinar yet, don’t miss out. Register Now.

Time and Place Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Time: 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Location: Online

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This position will report directly to the President, and will be directly responsible for improving services and client relationships. We are looking for an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and experienced individual to help drive the next phase of growth for Amplify Interactive. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in search marketing, and will have the unique opportunity to make a direct contribution to the success of our clients and our company.

Qualifications Include

• 5+ years prior experience in online marketing environment. Search engine marketing background desired, but direct mail, PR and even web development & technical experience are a plus also
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Computer Science, MIS, or related discipline
• Demonstrated SEO (search engine optimization) experience. Project portfolios & documentation examples are a plus
• Demonstrated SEM/PPC experience. Preferably certified with Google & Yahoo. Project portfolios & documentation examples are a plus.
• Strong client/project management skills
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
• Disciplined organizational skills in all aspects of job performance with strong attention to detail
• Personable, professional and pleasant demeanor suitable for client services role
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, informal environment
• EXPERT with Microsoft Office applications, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook / Entourage*
  • *Amplify Interactive is primarily a Mac environment
  • Comfortable analyzing large quantities of data using Excel
• Experience with web analytics programs such as WebTrends, HitBox, Google Analytics, Omniture, etc
• Experience with paid search management tools & SEO/SEM tools
• Basic understanding of common web technologies as they relate to Web sites & search engine optimization such as Flash, HTML, CSS, JavaScript & other Web site development technologies.

Interested?

Please see the full job description, requirements and information on how to apply at our site (no phone calls please!): http:/www.amplify-interactive.com/aboutus/careers.htm

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Purchase your SEMpdx Hot Seat Tickets Now!

Time and Location
Tuesday May 20, 2008
Registration & Networking: 5:30 PM
Program: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Hotel DeLuxe (729 SW 15th Ave. Portland, OR 97205)
Food & beverages included.

Post from: SEMpdx Blog

Are you in the process of launching a new website? Are you looking for ways to improve your current site’s performance? Whatever the case may be, you’ll learn what it takes to make a website successful.

Attend and discover:

* The basics of good site architecture, from URLs and domains, to page and link structure
* Techniques for improving site crawlability and indexing
* Tips for enhancing user performance

Time and Place Date: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Time: 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Location: Online

To register for this webinar, click the link below:
http://www2.eventsvc.com/conferenceplus/searchfriendly?trk=SEMpdxBlog

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Read the press release.

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Post from: SEMpdx Blog

Originally coined by Stowe Boyd, the term “twitpitch” entered my consciousness in this Read/Write Web post from Sarah Perez. I had not read two paragraphs of the post before I had the name registered (and I was shocked that I was able to grab it). This is a term that definitely has future development potential.

Great…I own the name. Now what?

Web development projects with such vast potential must be done with terrific care. My initial ideas include:

•  Forums where various Twitpitches can be presented and discussed.
•  Member pages where a person’s name & business profile can be linked to their Twitpitches.
•  Creative uses of a Twitpitch API (A “Twitpitch Widget”…I like how that sounds).
•  A Blog (probably call it the “Twitpitch Itch” or something catchy).

Anyway, it’s going to take quite a bit of time to blow out a full site development, so I elected to put up a simple website in the interim. Feel free to check out what I’ve done so far: Twitpitch.com .

Post from: SEMpdx Blog

Sample topics include “Mapping the Digital Landscape: A Strategic Guide” from the CEO of eMarketer and “Creating a Social Strategy That Will Work” from a Principle Analyst at Forrester Research. SEMpdx members receive a 10% discount, so registration starts under $250. More info:
http://www.internetstrategyforum.org/summit

Internet Strategy Forum Summit
Thursday, July 17, 2008
8:00am - 5:00pm
Optional Internet strategist career path symposium on July 18th
Governor Hotel
http://www.internetstrategyforum.org/summit
info@internetstrategyforum.org
971-223-3838

Post from: SEMpdx Blog