PRSA Social Media Conference

I’ve spent the last two days, a block away from where the Twin Towers once stood, listening to social media “experts” educate the audience about what some of the implications of this new era in communicating means. David Carr, a columnists for the New York Times may have summed it up best, “Be wary of those who claim they know what’s going on right now, I don’t, and you should be skeptical of those who claim they do.”

Speakers included: Josh Bernoff author of Groundswell, Edelmen blogger Steve Rubel, Paul Gilin author of New Influencers and many other leaders of this relatively new way of communicating.

Some outakes:

“The Groundswell is a place that you can’t control. Don’t even try.” –Josh Bernoff

“85 percent of internet homes in US have broadband.
11.4 billion streaming – video content increasing. 54% of 25-49 years old streaming. 50/50 split male female, average American household.” –Lynn Bolger, comScore

“Be transparent.” –Larry Thomas, Medialink

Negative will rise to the top faster than positive in blogosphere.” –Matthew Snodgrass, Porter Novelli

“If the company Web site is hard to navigate, I move on. I’m not going to direct the public to a Web site that is hard to maneuver, I don’t want to mislead the public.”–CBS Early Show Producer, Betsy Alexander.

“Corporate video is not newsworthy if it is up on the company Web site, it is not news. We like it to be just the opposite.” –Richard Wilner, New York Post

“Those who treat small people well, are the most successful people. Build on the small stuff.” — David Carr, New York Times

“Learn how to use advanced search.” — Paul Gillin, writer

“Every niche will be addressed with depth and breadth. However, the Attention Crash will force people follow their interests more deeply.” –Steve Rubel, Edelmen

There was a lot of information communicated, and during day two when I became a bit overwhelmed, I took a walk to St. Paul’s Chapel, the church that provided refuge for the rescue workers during 9/11 and the year after as this area recovered. I had decided not to visit the site of the tragedy despite this being my first visit to New York City, but since the site was next to the conference hotel, I did. I’m glad I did, glad I was able to see the construction and the progress that is happening, glad I was able to reflect on the victims, and glad that the church was there so I could do so peacefully.