Creating Video for the Web: Examples, Strategies, and Pitfalls

I come from a tradition where creating video requires expertise.  The web has changed that, both for traditional media and emerging, evolving media.  Now that we’re all brands and we are all the media, McLuhan’s “the medium is the message” rings true more than ever before.

Brown's Aggressive Web Buy Crushed Coakley, Drove Volunteers

Following a whirlwind campaign and an election upset in Massachusetts, Republican Senator Scott Brown's digital strategist has finally sifted through the results of his online ad efforts. Two months after the election, Rob Willington's takeaways aren't far off from the things he stressed before the election: digital efforts like online ads and text messaging should push real world activism, and campaigns should be willing to cede some control to supporters.

Five Insights into the Behaviors of Social Media Users

We do a decent amount of social media coverage here at Ars, but not everything that happens with Facebook, Twitter, and the like is worth its own story. Sometimes, though, we happen across things that make us say "huh, that's interesting." It turns out there are a lot of things we thought we knew about social media users, but not all of them are true. Here are a few tidbits we gathered that may surprise some of you. 

Foursquare Hits 347,000 Check-ins in a Day

With legions of mobile, tech-savvy individuals invading Austin, Texas for SXSW, Foursquare experienced an extraordinary day yesterday, recording a record-breaking 347,000 check-ins.

In response to the boom in usage, the developers added a new badge called Super Swarm. There was already a badge called Swarm; it was awarded when 50 people checked in at the same location at the same time. Super Swarm is achieved when 250 people check in.

And here's a little insight into why people are watching less TV ala Seth Godin...

But It's Better than TV

At the local health food store lunch buffet, they offer stir fried tempeh.  I never get it. Not because I don’t like it, but because there are always so many other things on the buffet that I prefer.  That's why I don't watch TV. At all. There are so many other things I'd rather do in that moment.

Keeping Up with the JONESES: The State of Texting in 2009

A new examination of text messaging data from six progressive non-profit organization finds that while their text messaging list grew by about half in 2009, only a tiny sliver of people who join a texting list -- just 2% -- do so by responding to a offline pleas to text a shortcode from their mobile phone. But, finds the study, once joined, those members can be responsive allies. Texters respond to requests to make an advocacy phone call at a rate some five times that of those folks who are called to action via email.

How Campaigns + Causes Can Use FourSquare

What is foursquare? foursquare is a cross between a friend-finder, a social city-guide and a game that rewards you for doing interesting things. The tool was developed to not only help you keep up with the places your friends go, but to also encourage you to discover new places and challenge you to explore your neighborhood in new ways. Most importantly for campaigns though, it allows your supporters to easily notify their networks that they are volunteering and working in your campaign office.

Social Media: The New Career Norm

Last week, several signs came together to further underline the fact
that social media is no longer an emerging trend or passing fad, and
that it's gone beyond the realm of the personal and become a
fully-fledged part of our working lives.

3 Reasons Why You Need a Facebook Page

I tell everyone–clients, friends, family, random strangers, you name it–that they need a Facebook Page. All the time. I’ve done blog posts on it, PubCon presentations with standing room only, internal meetings at work. Some people get it; others seem convinced that Facebook, and the rest of social media, is just a passing fad, and that a website alone will serve them well for years to come.

Why Auto-Retweeting Every Single Mention of Your Name Might Not Be the Smartest Move

It's a cutting-edge Twitter tactic that Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn seems to currently be  making use of. Seriously, it's kinda difficult to believe that this ever seemed like a sensible idea.

100 Ways to Measure Social Media

If there's anyone out there left who says you can't measure social media, here are a hundred answers.

At most of the events I've been to lately, measurement continues to be a hot topic. The first question that comes up is, "What can I measure?" That's where this cheat sheet can come in handy: a list of 100 thought-starters.

Next Year's Twitter? It's Foursquare

Among the Web's early adopter set, the answer is nearly unanimous: Foursquare.

While the technology landscape is ever-changing, I'd argue that Foursquare already has aligned itself to become next year's mainstream hit.

GOP Leads New Media Charge

One year ago, President Barack Obama’s election win transformed political campaigns by showing the power of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and text messages.

Now Republicans are charging ahead with their own social media agendas, which are becoming more prominent in state elections and day-to-day outreach to constituents.

The GOP: Luddites or High Tech?

Are Republicans trailing the Democrats in their ability to exploit new technology to communicate with voters -- or overtaking them?

That issue flared briefly during the opening day of the Republican Governors Association annual conference here Wednesday. Former Ohio representative John Kasich offered a provocative assessment of his party's failures on that front when he complained about the lack of success of his former colleagues in Washington in projecting a compelling message to the country.

And for those of you who aren't fortunate enough to jet set to Barcelona for PdF Europe, you can listen to the audio thanks to our friends at TechPresident - Enjoy.