SOCIAL MEDIA  

It wouldn't be entirely original to liken social networks to nightclubs but the comparison is a highly legitimate one. They operate in extremely similar ways with very similar dynamics and rules. There are the regulars hogging the dancefloor, a moderator (or DJ) keeping everyone happy, cliques, gossip, alcohol-fueled mishaps (don't type with whiskey, trust me) and many other important similarities. Read on

SOCIAL MEDIA  

I love it when popular culture memes slide over into the general lexicon. One such word that seems to be making the transition from fiction to fact is 'borg'. Just recently, I've come across the word a couple of times - not in reference to the Star Trek villains, but as a descriptive word aimed at large companies. Scott Heiferman, founder of Meetup, is quoted by Jeff Jarvis in his new book What Would Google Do?, talking about the insurance industry, where he refers to "the corporate borg (AIG)" and "the government borg (social security)".

SOCIAL MEDIA  Remember the school yard? Remember how whenever there was a fight, every child from miles around would crowd in a circle, joining in one massive spectator sport? No other playground activity could attract as much attention, except maybe streaking naked past the staff room window with the headmaster's snapped-off car aerial in your hands. In this new online world of social media, the fight rule also seems to apply. Controversy wins. Arguments attract spectators. Being a bastard can turn an average website into an essential read for thousands of people. After all, if it works for Gordon Ramsey and others offline, it can certainly work online. Read on

SOCIAL MEDIA  (Insert tongue firmly in cheek and read on...). These days, it seems that absolutely anyone can declare themselves an online marketer and start advising clients on the intricacies of web marketing. All you need is a laptop and a phone line and you have access to most of the same tools and techniques the professionals use. Even better - you can pretend you understand them too. If you have the ability to talk continuously without actually saying anything useful and believe morals only come at the end of children's stories, you too could make an impact in the exciting new world of online hustling - umm, marketing. Read on