Beyond Pretty Things http://vincenthunt.posterous.com Creativity, Design, Innovation & Revolution posterous.com Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:30:57 -0800 broadsharing: wfxl fox31 good day - twitter design http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/broadsharing-wfxl-fox31-good-day-twitter-desi http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/broadsharing-wfxl-fox31-good-day-twitter-desi
Goodday_layout

Project: Twitter Layout Design - WFXL FOX31
Designer: Vincent Hunt
Complete Project: http://twitter.com/FOX31GOODDAY

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:57:06 -0800 Building value in news stories using social media http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/building-value-in-news-stories-using-social-m http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/building-value-in-news-stories-using-social-m The single most effective way that I have found to build value in a news story that you may have posted on your news stations website or within any social platform is to first and foremost, find the "common thread". IF you are the Social Media Director or Interactive Content Manager at your station, YOU first have to find elements in a the story that matter to you, and build conversation around that element. Your audience has a very dynamic way of picking up on your interest, and will ultimately help you build the value you are looking for!! Remember... The key word in the Social Media construct is "Social" #commthread

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:10:00 -0800 News Station Twitter Abuse http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/news-station-twitter-abuse http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/news-station-twitter-abuse

This morning, as I was opening up my email at the lab, @WFXL FOX 31, Richard Harrold of Barrington Interactive (my Chief) had sent out an email with an mandatory read. What's interesting about this, is that the blog post that he was pointing everyone to, was a post dealing with News Stations and their abuse of Twitter written by Brian Manzullo, the Editor in Chief of Central Michigan Life. For this to strike you as interesting, you would have to know Richard Harrold (@newzdude76 on twitter) and you would have to know his history with Twitter... LOL!! That's another story...

News Station Twitter Abuse - About 2 months ago I tweeted into the mainstream on Twitter, for ALL of my followers to see, BUT mainly the Broadcasting types that follow something like this...

Note to Broadcasters: Twitter is not an RSS feed. It's a conversation. Period.

I got ZERO response, I am not even sure if I ruffled a feather. BUT what I do know, is that I am absolutely telling the truth. I think. As the world of the news and broadcasting become increasingly transparent, and the audience takes a bigger role in the delivery and forwarding of the news as it's told, and the idea of broadsharing becomes even the more evident, I strongly believe that the shift in social platforms as it pertains the news/broadsharing industry will dynamically change. As early adopters really start honing in on "best practices" and the definitions to the rules become common language, WE the audience will have a totally new perspective of the news stories told, and the human experience that we are all involved in.

Thanks Brian Manzullo at Central Michigan Life for telling the truth http://tr.im/newstwitterabuse, AND thank you Richard Harrold for sharing such an amazing blog post!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:06:00 -0700 Social News Life Cycle: Introduction to a disruptive idea http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/social-news-life-cycle-introduction-to-a-disr http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/social-news-life-cycle-introduction-to-a-disr

If you have been following me, you would know that about 6 months ago I took a position with Barrington Interactive, working within one of their Broadcasting affiliates FOX 31 WFXL in Albany, Georgia. I made this move for two reasons...

1. The broadcasting industry is shifting and shifting fast as it pertains to how they engage you and I both online and off

2. As a Design Thinker, working in an arena where innovation is no longer a luxury was and is key

Within 2 weeks of me being there I had to quickly change my vocabulary because I felt that the idea of "Broadcasting" was fading, and the idea of "Broadsharing" was more inline with the modality of thought needed to execute disruptive innovation, so I coined the terminology and made it part of my normal conversation around the office. However; this is only the beginning to a much bigger shift that I believe needs and is taking place...

Social News Life Cycle

I can remember growing up as a kid and always watching the news with my dad. At the end of each news"cast" we were left with a wealth of conversation that in an essence, died in the living room, or at the kitchen table.

What if the life cycles of the news that we engage was no longer limited to the conversations that we have in our living rooms or within the confines of a very limited group of friends that we encounter from day to day? What if the news was not a one way conversation speaking to a culture, yet what if the news was actually "part of the culture" adopting the ideas of broadsharing vs broadcasting?

What does this framework look like? How can we as broadsharing professionals insure the life cycle of the news stories we produce? Does this idea even matter to the masses? I am challenging that it does. If news happens in a town as small as Ty Ty, Georgia, that has a very human centered impact behind it, I would want to know about it, AND if the impact was great enough, I would probably engage others in conversation about it, all in hopes of gaining a deeper or "richer" perspective of the human experience.

Over the next 3-6 months I will be talking a lot about the Social News Life Cycle. I will be publishing ideas, and I will be pulling ideas from my networks because I think this matters.

Closing ideas

1. Broadshare vs broadcast
2. News becoming part of the culture in a deeper more intimate way.
3. Extend the life cycle of the news with the hopes of helping more people gain a richer perspective of the human experience...

Vincent Hunt

"Errare humanun est, perdonare divinum."

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:16:00 -0700 Malcom Gladwell: Human Potential http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/malcom-gladwell-human-potential http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/malcom-gladwell-human-potential

Incredible video looking at human potential capitalization. Enjoi.

http://www.poptech.org/popcasts/malcolm_gladwell_human_potential

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:48:00 -0700 twelve: designing a social framework http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/twelve-designing-a-social-framework http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/twelve-designing-a-social-framework

Over the past year I have been closely involved in watching how Social Media/Networks are changing how we communicate and interact with each other as humans. What I find most interesting is how this emerging form of communications has been purposed in each industry and what really surprises me is how it's not being levered within the arena of ministry. If you have been following me for all of two weeks, you would quickly come to the conclusion that I am a deeply spiritual person, who happens to believe in Jesus Christ, and what He did to insure the salvation of many. I often rant about NOT being religious, and I often support the idea of "Kingdom Thinking".

Last year, after meeting with local ministry leaders, I came to the stark realization that over times past, the Church has always been the last to adopt new forms of technology, highlighted, in the arena of communications. It took the Church YEARS to adopt radio, and even more years to adopt television, AND if the trend continues it will take even more time for the Church to embrace the power of social media. I do not feel that the Church community does not desire to embrace the technology (social media), in-fact I know far too many ministry leaders who are feeling their way around it to believe this, BUT I do feel that if they are not given the right perspective of how this technology is leveraged, NOT KNOWING will be the curve that we face (the Church) on this front...

Twelve - A design project purposed to define the framework of how social media is used in ministry

I am curious as to what can be achieved by creatively looking at Social Media and Ministry, and how these two connect with each other. Twelve - I Am One of Twelve, will be a collaborative work of some of the most dynamic ministry leaders in the country, all coming together to "frame" the future of social media and the Church.

If you are interested in collaborative work in this project please use the project info below...

Project Info.

Twelve
http://tr.im/twelve
http://twitter.com/iamoneof12
iamoneof12@gmail.com

I Am One of Twelve.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:38:00 -0700 why integrated marketing communications is important http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/why-integrated-marketing-communications-is-im http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/why-integrated-marketing-communications-is-im

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:30:22 -0700 The one word that keeps most businesses mystified about Twitter http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/the-one-word-that-keeps-most-businesses-mysti http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/the-one-word-that-keeps-most-businesses-mysti With every business or thought leader that I have talked to about Twitter, and walked away from saying to myself...

"They did not get it..."

I have found one word that they all have in common. When I really looked at all of the factors that COULD be standing in the way of a leader grasping the power of Twitter, it boiled down to one word....

Work.

For many, many years there has been a misconception within the business community that marketing the business or "spreading the idea" is some "act of the heavens" where as if a campaign is executed, the "consumer gods" will release hords of consumers in the path of the brand/idea champion. This way of thinking is not 100% the fault of the champion, when in fact, in most cases, this is how marketing is sold...

"If you let ME or US market your business you will be covered in business..." AND OH YEAH! You might want to provide incredible user experiences, be the biggest fan of your own brand, and make sure people have an emotional stake in your business or idea... The sad part about this however; is that the part from "AND OH YEAH..." on - does not get drilled into the mind of the brand/idea champion.

SO when I start talking about really caring about the people you tweet too, and start letting the consumer in on the OTHER side of your business, that part that exudes passion and the other driving forces (besides money) that really makes your brand/idea what it is... I get a hazy look, and I hear the one word that blocks the brand/idea champion from understanding what Twitter is and how it's used. Work. YES!!!! WORK!

In todays highly competitive environment, where we are all trying to get our share of the hottest commodity in play "ATTENTION" - we need to also be looking at ways that we can maximize our depth at every touch point, and this takes work. Twitter takes work. Followers do not appear overnight, they do not move on your ideas just because you say so, and they want to feel connected in a very profound way... WORK...

BUT I can say this.. If a plan is put in place now, that a following is built over time, with a little sweat equity, the payoff in the long run is huge, VERY HUGE.

Closing thoughts:

1. Stop thinking that marketing is a magic trick... It's not.
2. Decide to put some WORK into building a REAL Twitter Following, HECK think "Cult" or "Tribe" - that's the mentality to have
3. Be willing to do whatever it takes to be authentic, and transparent - let the real business come out, THAT is what todays marketplace is looking for... Deliver.

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:28:00 -0700 The value of connection: The real value of Twitter http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/the-value-of-connection-the-real-value-of-twi http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/the-value-of-connection-the-real-value-of-twi

Today, I was browsing through my email and I ran across an email from Jeff Keni Pulver. The email immediately caught my attention because of the subject: twitter is worth Billions... AND then it went on to say something about the up-coming 140 Conferences that will be held in various locations all over the world. My attention here is on the valuation of Twitter. Though I have thought about this proposition many times, it was not until I watched this video...

http://video.foxbusiness.com/9858678/twitter-how-much-is-it-worth/?category_i...

... that I really put some brain muscle behind the idea.. "How much is Twitter worth??" Jeff Keni Pulver made some pretty compelling observations as it pertains to the impact that Twitter has had on the media, in fact he bought to light that Twitter has fundamentally changed how we communicate as a people in a wide range of industries and facets of life, he calls it "The State of Now" - Real-Time Internet... Now THAT is compelling.

This type of disruption causes me to think about things like the telephone, heck... THE AIRPLANE, as well as a dozen other "game changers" that have basically "re-shaped" how we connect with one another. What are these things worth? IF you are indeed the owner of a "game changing" technology, what value do you bring to the table. Can we REALLY place a value on such a thing?

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:38:12 -0700 Twitter Streams Should NOT Look Like RSS Feeds. Nope. http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/twitter-streams-should-not-look-like-rss-feed http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/twitter-streams-should-not-look-like-rss-feed

Often I get the question from colleagues, and clients... "How do I take my Twitter activity to the next level??" AND right out the gate I want to ask them - "What is the next level of Twitter??" AND the second question that I have for them (that I tend to keep to myself) is... "What level are you at now??" And to avoid making the entire scenraio more complicated than it could already be, I simply give them one word of advice...

Answer the impeding question that Twitter so elegantly ask you as soon as you log onto the site.. "What are you doing?"

While this sounds easy enough, I have undoubtedly found that this question is much harder to answer than it appears on the surface. I come to this conclusion because though it IS the question asked, it's seldom (VERY SELDOM) the question answered. AND if it IS answered, it's answered in a way that is not really believeable. Heck - I AM EVEN GUILTY of not answering this question on Twitter. In fact, IF I am honest, I never really answer this question AT ALL. However; this is not what I want to talk about in this post, I just wanted to lay down a foundational idea that we could spring from...

Twitter Streams Should NOT Look Like RSS Feeds. Nope.

From time to time look at some of the Twitter Streams that are really gaining some momentum and what I find, absolutely counter trends the idea of the "conversation stream" that Twitter bolsters, is in-fact - the "one-way communication" approach that tends to negate the idea of conversation yet prevails in over 70% (or MORE) of the streams that I note. News organizations are NOTORIOUS for this. Here is an example...

Q. What are you doing?

A. Man shot on the far east side of town - http://manshotonfareastside.com

Huh? So... What you are doing is... Ummm... What? You are doing the man shot on the far east side of town...? I would think not, BUT this is generally the way broadcast and news identites have leveraged Twitter, for the most part. NOW it would not be fair for me to give this example of poor Twitter execution without giving the example of good execution... So here you go...OR my best shot at it...

Q. What are you doing?

A. Sharing a story about a man who was shot on the far east side of town, would love feedback!! http://bt.ly.com/45xl

The difference is obvious, however; there are subtle things added to the conersation that transforms the Tweet from a broadcast to a conversation or a broadshare (broadsharing... totally different idea that we will deal with later). Here are the differences...

1. The tweet was written in context to the original question... What are you doing? Answer: Sharing

2. A call to action OR a request to engage was injected... "... would love your feedback"

3. A short URL was injected to insure "retweeting" or spreading ...

The problem that faces almost every "Tweeter" that I have ever shared ideas with, is they have a hard time tweeting in an open ended way. Answer the question (what are you doing?), invite conversation, insure ease of idea spreading (short url's, shorter tweets, ect.). At the end of the day... The goal is to make sure that your Twitter stream does not look like an RSS feed. RSS feeds are generally one way communications, and have no window for engagement - and righfully so.

Ideas

1. News Stations/Broadcasting Identities - Do not do away with continual news updates, simply add some engagement. ANSWER the question from time to time.

2. Businesses - ANSWER the question. Tell us that you are starting an program that raises money for building sustainable housing in thrird world countries... AND ask us what we think about it...

3. Individuals - ANSWER the question - What are YOU doing... You could be thinking about something, OR looking at something that I wanty to see or engage in a conversation with you about...

BUT in all of this... Try to resist the idea of your Twitter stream being an RSS feed.

 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:43:00 -0700 Never Forget Your Social Swagger... Period. http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/never-forget-your-social-swagger-period http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/never-forget-your-social-swagger-period

I am writing this because YES! I am a victim of it... Or WAS a victim of it. I had forgetten my "Social Swagger".

Over the last 7 - 8 months I have really done well (in my opinion) in the area of spreading ideas within the sphere of Social Media, SO WELL in fact that being a Thinker and Spreader of Ideas has become my perma tagline. I enjoy it. AND while I have done well at it, you know, "Spread Ideas" - and YES! Think <--, I can honestly say that over the last 60 day's I have lost some of my "social swag". Where in months prior I made it an absolute point to give warm handshakes, and actively engage all of my social networks... Here as of late, my skills have SUCKED. And that's being transparent. While working at WFXL FOX 31 which is my primray drive right now, because I really feel there is some change that can be set in place here (there), I can NOT allow my personal brand to suffer... SO this is the idea I want to share today... AND tomorrow if I have to:

1. If you are engaged in the sphere of Social Media, make it a point to set time out of each day to engage your Followers. They follow you for a reason, AND it's not good to just leave them ourt there hanging...

2. If you have amassed a huge following, DO NOT GET COMFORTABLE! This "following" is depending on you for your content. Be willing to deliver on a regular basis

3. Last but not least... Never forget your social swagger. What got you in the "social game?" What is it about YOU that when you sign-in on Twitter or Facebook made people listen to you, and invest a follow? Whatever THAT is... Get back to it (if you are like me and have kinda... Lost it...).

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:15:37 -0700 Do Teens Tweet? http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/do-teens-tweet http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/do-teens-tweet

This morning I was looking over the trending topics on Twitter, and the top trending item was "Do Teens Tweet?". To me; the father of a 15 year old "tweeter" (@KaRianaHunt) - the answer WAS pretty obvious... However; after browsing through the conversations on Twitter, I am finding that there are mixed views as to if teens tweet or not... So I decided to base today's Twitter Trending Topic Poll at WFXL FOX 31 (http://mysouthwestga.com) on this subject matter. Take a moment and cast your vote (one way or another) as to what YOU think or KNOW... Do Teens Tweet? Take the poll at http://mysouthwestga.com

Vince

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt
Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:06:00 -0700 there is nobody in the lobby... welcome to social media. http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/there-is-nobody-in-the-lobby-welcome-to-socia http://vincenthunt.posterous.com/there-is-nobody-in-the-lobby-welcome-to-socia

One day I went to a friends office building because I was supposed to be conducting a session on the emergence of Social Media and the Networks that drive it. What happened that day was so much more profound - because I received a clear visual representation of what the last shift in online communication ushered in - AND it gave me a base level introduction for anyone trying to wrap their minds around Social Media. SO - what I am about to share with you will help you understand what's going on online as it pertains to what I have now started calling "The Social Life Cycle" of your brand. This is what happened...

Written early 2008...

When I walked into the building it was a tremendous site. The floors were highly polished and directly to the front of me was a huge, glass Receptionist desk - and oddly enough there was nobody occupying it. As I traversed across the lobby I could hear the faint clamoring of people that was coming from the long corridor that preceded the immaculate lobby area - from behind closed, what I found out later, to be office doors. My meeting with my Colleague was in about 15 minutes, I was fashionably early, so I had a couple of minutes I could use to catch up with myself - so I sat in the sitting area of the huge lobby area. I was alone.

As I sat there I pulled out my business card and looked over it. Being a perfectionist I wanted to make sure that this print was indeed perfect, and without error. As I reviewed my business card I could still hear the faint clamor of people in their offices - as I gleaned at my business card, smiling at it's design, because am a Sucker for great design. Right then in an instant - It hit me...

There is NOBODY in the lobby. Welcome to Social Media.

This experience and observation of the absolute obvious - stirred an idea in me that I have always known but could never line up a situation that demonstrated what is now an absolute "realization" in what's happening on the web today. Let me explain ...

For the past decade we have become familiar with the traditional Web Site. We have built amazing online properties that tell people who we are and what we do - with color, "pizzaz" and "flare". We have managed to build applications that can take in data and spit out amazing reports that we can use to truly "empower" our businesses. We have battled with Goggle, Yahoo, and other Search Engines to insure that our wonder works of "art" can be found by the masses - and that we indeed get an opportunity to tell our stories. And we spend countless hours insuring that what we have created ins INDEED "perfect".

For the last 2-3 years the people that we want to see our Web Sites have started to "figure things out" and they are building Blogs, and Facebook pages faster than we can say... "Pixel".... And they are getting involved in the domain that we have held dear to us as - THE WEB. They are talking among themselves making decisions via services like "Twitter" and "Rejaw" and they are doing it WITH or WITHOUT our amazing web sites. They are communicating and building conversations around the things that are important to them. They are no longer in the Lobby, They are where they want to be - when they want to be there, talking about WHAT they want to talk about.

SO - How does all of this come together?

In todays web environment it's no longer about your "pretty" web site. It's no longer about JUST how "shnazzy" you can make it - BUT it is about the CONVERSATION. When I finally stood up from the lovely couch in the lobby, leaving my awesome business card on the table that was before me - and started walking down the hall and getting closer to the offices that lined the corridors of this immaculate building - is when I started getting a crystal clear view of what the web has become. An orchestration of web services all tied together, powered by the individuals who have something authentic to say, and are not afraid to say it. Each door on this corridor represented a service. MySpace was room 101 and Facebook was room 102, Twitter was full of clamor, it was room room 105, and with THIS revelation I understood even the more, that IF we do not get off the couch - and start walking into these rooms and saying something, we will be left in the lobby.

This is only the half. This experience also gave me a look at Social Media Optimization - and how this new paradigm in online communications basically makes SEO or Search Engine Optimization obsolete. But I will write about that another day...

Are web sites going away, like our traditional Business Cards are quickly fleeting? No. We will all still have prety web sites, however; the stock that we put in them will lessen over time - and we will start to find that customization of our list of services will be the new standard. Do not be surprised if your Company "Higher Up's" start a Facebook page complete with your companies logo's and brand communications... Do not be suprisd if a new department springs up, and this new generation of Worker, Team Player, carries a title like: Twitter Technician or Mashable Architect. Do not be bewildered if you are a Web Designer within your organization and your work-flow turns into a Mind Map of services that you have to maintain - because, THIS is the future of the conversation..

 

Vincent Hunt is the Founder and Chief Design Officer of Paper Aircrane, a strategic Ideation Company tactical in conceptualizing and developing breakthrough ideas for new products, services and brands. A Groundbreaking Thinker, Compelling Speaker and Blogger Vincent is sought after for his ideas pertaining to the post-industrial revolution, disruptive innovation and the talent that makes it happen, and his compelling arguments surrounding the emergence of the creative economy. 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1254066/vincent_200_2.png http://posterous.com/users/eME3ljgpyx Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt Vincent Hunt