Craig Arthur Weblog

Just recently, I witnessed an argument on twitter about the Auto-DM tool that many tweeps use. There is a great divide on many users opinions on this tool. I’m going to explain where I stand on it and why. This constant bickering back and forth between tweeps on whether or not you use auto-dm is honestly getting egregious to me. Enough of me complaining, here is my position and why.

Position: Auto-DM and twitter tools that promote automation and no interaction need to be used only for people who have 100,000+ followers. Anything underneath that amount of followers, there is no excuse to use these tools because conversation is what is important in social media, no?

Why: It isn’t that hard when 10-20 new twitter users follow you to actually tweet, thanking them for following you. One must remember, that is most likely a real person following you. I try to think of it this way: You have 1,000 followers. Think of those 1,000 followers as people in a room actually listening to you talk. Are you going to put someone else up there to talk for you when everyone wants to listen to you speak? I don’t think any of you reading this would do that. I understan that it might be hard to keep up but I used to have an account where everything was automation. Guess what, the amount of interaction was little to none and only bots were following me back while doing the exact same thing, sending me an auto-dm thanking me for following them.

I’m not looking down upon anyone who uses these tools. Realize that I am new to the whole social media scene but just because that is the case, it doesn’t mean that my opinion doesn’t actually have relevance.

Please comment below and tell me what you think! I would love to hear what you have to say!

With the huge impact that social media has on businesses, one can guarantee that there will be even more people trying to think of new ways to get a more business. It seems like every time I log on to the internet, there is some new social media application out that is going to be,

the next big thing…

I have compiled a list of 3 social media applications that I love and how they will be a huge impact in the social media business.

1. Facebook Places – Officially being confirmed on August 19th and released the same day, Facebook Places is going to be the next big application in social media. They might have come after many other geolocation apps such as FourSquare and Gowalla but what Facebook Places has on their side is the amount of already registered users. It is easy to include your business into places. All that needs to be done is the confirmation of your business. This requires the business owner to upload his/her own official document showing that they actually own the business. The best part about Facebook Places is that it will be fully integrated with already establish Geolocation services such as Gowalla, FourSquare, and Yelp. Basically all I’m trying to say is that the doors have opened to the vast amount of users that are Facebook. Can I get an Amen?
2. StickyBits – Now many of you might not have heard of this one just yet. This application is fairly new. As scanning with your phone becomes more socially acceptable, applications like StickyBits will be accepted as well. We have all recognized different stickers for businesses on telephone poles and on the back on benches right? StickyBits pushes that a step further by putting a barcode on the sticker that can be scanned on your phone. What happens when you scan the sticker? Information that can be used are: Photos, Videos, Music, Text, PDFs, ZIPs, etc. Now as a business owner, you can put different offers on the stickers or have a contest to see if someone can find one sticker, then they will get a prize!
3. Electronic Loyalty Cards – We all love loyalty cards but at the same time they are hated by everyone because they take up room in the wallet. Applications such as Key Ring or CardStar help you out with that. Scanning the barcodes on your phone is quick and painless. Now as a business owner, I would create a quick mobile page on my website where the loyal customer can click, “Get Card” and instantly be signed up for the loyalty card via the transfer of your simple information such as your name, address, phone number and email.

What are the common denominators between all of these?

EASY, MOBILE, SOCIAL

Thank you for reading and subscribing!

PS. I want to thank the first 3 subscribers that I have! Thank you very much! I will try to not let you down. Excuse my horrible grammar. I’m still working on it.

1. Be personal – When interacting with everyone online, it’s like a third dimension. You wouldn’t try to automate your real life would you? Okay, so maybe some of you would like to automate your life. Automation does make everything more simply but it can make you look less sincere. That’s right, I’m talking to all of you that use TweetAdder. Paying for a program that automates twitter for you doesn’t make you the “Social media EXPERT.” In fact, none of us are experts, but I will get into that in another bullet.

2. Be original – Sometimes it can be difficult to be the “original” of anything online. The internet is such an extremely fast paced area of our lives, as soon as you post something that you think might be original, it most likely isn’t. I’m sure what I’m writing right now isn’t original.
3. Don’t just re-blog - It’s easy to read a blog that another person just posted and paraphrase it. If you do this, you are not original and just a crook. Yeah this post has been done before but I’m adding my PERSONALITY into this.
4. Actually do some research – The social media realm is constantly changing as I have said before. If you don’t try to keep up, you are just going to “fall by the wayside.”
5. Discover which social networks you like to use best – Be honest in using your social networks. Use the ones that you like best but make sure you are familiar with the others. Familiarity with all social networks will be good because every business is different and can use different social networks respectively.
6. Use grammar effectively - Okay, I’m even guilty with this one. I’m awful with grammar if you can’t tell by the time you have gotten to this post. This tip is pretty self-explanatory. Just do it…err I mean try your best.
7. NEVER say you are an expert in social media - If you say you are a social media expert, you should just stop now. I know and accept that I’m a social media nOOb.

It’s OFFICIAL! Facebook Places has been announced!

Facebook held a live event today that many rumored to be about the Facebook Places launch. All of those rumors have been confirmed this evening at the live event being held in Palo Alto, CA.

For the most part it sounds much like FourSquare (Sorry guys…) but with the massive community of facebook behind it. There are three key components:

1. Share your location to others

2. Find where your friends are in relation to you

3. Discover new places around you

The mobile app and iPhone application launch tomorrow!

The main difference between FourSquare and the new Facebook Places application is that instead of just showing nearby places, it will show places that are relevant to what you enjoy.

I know many of you will say…

Well that will just invade my privacy more!

No worries…The application comes with a “Not now” button so you can turn off the location settings.

Gowalla’s CTO Scott Raymond talks about integrating different badges into the application. Foursquare’s Holger Luedorf, VP of Mobile & Partnerships, also discussed integrating gaming and rewards options into the application. There are an incredible amount of features. Most of these features I will explain in another blog post.

What does this mean in terms of Social Media in the business?

Well, to put it lightly, the FLOODGATES of Social Media have opened once again. Incorporating this into every business is going to be a must because of the impact Facebook has on society. To paraphrase what VP of Products Chris Cox said,

Facebook places will be a collective archive of our memories, like a scrapbook.

Just to start, Facebook Places will be changing the way businesses can:

1. Establish incentives for new customers
2. Offer promotions and “group” promotions
3. Maximize the effectiveness of events
4. Offer promotions and giveaways to an even larger crowd!
5. FourSquare’s community vs Facebook… That’s a NO BRAINER!

Enough of me talking. The video is below.

To start off this blog and my startup business, I have to create different steps and goals to success, right? I know that sounds ridiculous and all but this is what I’m going to do.

PS: I’m horrible at anything grammar so I apologize in advance.

Okay, on to the steps/goals…

1.  Write down every idea, regardless whether it is valid or not. It could always turn into something viable business solution.

2. Slow down and take my time. I always tend to rush into ideas only to find out they are already taken.

3. Get the right people: There are many bad people out there that are waiting to steal your wonderful ideas.

4. Forget about the money! Well for now, I just need to focus on what I love and turn it into cash right?

5. Everything that I do, I need to do it for my Wife and future children.

Hello everyone. Let me introduce myself…

My name is Craig Arthur and I’m about to change the way I do things starting today with this blog post. I see an incredible amount of young people create new and interesting websites daily. Every time I see one, I always think to myself,

Why can’t I do this too?

I have figured that question out today. I simply do not know the right people…

What am I going to do?

I’m going to get plans together for every time of business I want to start and pitch them to talented people that I know can get things done. If this blog interests you and you want to join me in the wonderful world of startups, I want to hear from you!

One word…

GET AT ME

Mobile: 317-560-4538

Email: craigjarthur@gmail.com

Twitter: twitter.com/craigery