Twitter lists have hit the social web … and if you’ve missed that, you really need to get out more   Lists are finally out and people are running around like chickens with their heads cut off to build them and promote them.  It’s like a freakin’ gold rush out there.  Applications are making a mad dash to integrate Twitter lists in a compelling way while sites are now popping up around them too.

Everyone has their take, the social media “gurus” are rampant and marketers are besides themselves with orgasmic joy, it’s like someone landed on the darn moon.  What does it all really mean? I guess it depends on your perspective.  Whatever its worth, here’s my perspective on Twitter lists.

My Gut Reaction

As with anything on the social web, lists will either become an opportunity of real value or another pile of crap technology that marketers use to group, self-promote, and p*ss match about who’s who and what’s what.

Now, with that said, I do believe lists have value. Real value.  I see lists as another step in the direction of social colonization and personalization, listed as trends in the future of the social web.  I see businesses, thought leaders, non-profits, and ministries providing real, useful value and community connectedness to the communities they serve.

Then again, I also think  a lot of what Twitter lists have to offer, has already been around for those of use who are tech-geeky.  The only difference is now, these features are legit, easily sharable like on Listorious, and part of Twitter API, which opens them up to some seriously cool integration.

[I've covered ways I think Impact Agents should use Twitter lists for their business, non-profit, ministry, or cause driven initiative on IMZ]

Twitter Lists How-To

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You can also view this on your favorite video sites:

Blip.Tv: Twitter Lists Frenzy

MySpace Video: Twitter Lists How-To

DailyMotion: Twitter Lists Frenzy

MetaCafe: Twitter Lists Frenzy

Veoh: Twitter Lists How To

Viddler: Twitter Lists Frenzy

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Image: Twitter on Flickr

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I’ve been talking about social search a bit lately, because its a movement that is contributing to serious changes in online marketing — at least changes you’ll need to make moving forward.  Focused and purposeful content marketing is becoming more important as time goes by, especially if you want to gain traction in the search engines and throughout the social web.   Smart marketers will need to not only integrate SEO strategies, but savvy social media marketing as well.

In the forefront of news reflecting the direction the web is taking — Google has recently announced their experiment, Social Search, is now live for the adventurous type to opt in.    Simply head on over to Google Experiments and click “Join this Experiment” to start viewing social search results every time you search.

“Sign in to Google and do a search. If there’s relevant web content written by people in your social circle, it will automatically show up at the bottom of your search results under a section called Results from people in your social circle.“

It’s that simple.  Notice that your network will be the catapult to the new social content you’ll see. This network/peer filtering has been a part of most social networks and social media sites — soon your entire web experience will be based on your network and your preferences of experience.  This  is important for marketers to understand…

Opt in to the experiment and start experiencing what your audience will, it’s pretty groovy so far

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Image Credit:  //Amy// on Flickr

Wordpress has released the latest version of it’s popular blogging platform that increases security and provides necessary fixes within its coding.  All bloggers who are able (figure that out below), should upgrade to ensure your blog is not vulnerable to security risks.

Why Upgrade?

The version is considered a security upgrade and is mandatory for all Wordpress blogs run on self-hosted servers. The developers are calling this released a hardening release because it tightens up your blogs security.  According to Wordpress.org the release addresses these key problems:

• A fix for the Trackback Denial-of-Service attack that is currently being seen.
• Removal of areas within the code where php code in variables was evaluated.
• Switched the file upload functionality to be whitelisted for all users including Admins.
• Retiring of the two importers of Tag data from old plugins.

To make it plain and simple, it fixes what needs to be fixed for your own good

Before the Upgrade

You should never just upgrade your Worpdress blog without doing due diligence before the upgrade, regardless of how large or small the upgrade is.  Here’s a checklist I tell clients to follow before you begin your upgrade to help avoid any unnecessary drama:

Make sure all plugins are compatible with the upgrade. While you really only have to do this with major upgrades, like going from 2.6 to 2.8 — I say, why not just do it all the time to avoid issues.  Complicated plugins can break with the smallest upgrades (like WP-Forum, WP Wishlist and WP eCommerce).

• Head on over to the plugin page and see if anyone has reported issues;
• and, search Wordpress.org for any reported issues.

Make sure your theme is compatible with the upgrade. Same issue as with plugins, not all themes are created equal.  An upgrade can cause your theme to lose structure and cause custom coding to malfunction.

• Head on over to your theme designers main page and search for reported issues;
• and, search Wordpress.org for reported issues.

Always backup your blog database first. Always.  If you own a Wordpress blog and do not know how to do this, you are a sitting duck.  Take the time to learn it, now.  If you’re using a hosting service like GoDaddy, you can easily backup any database with a click and if you don’t know how, call them — now.  Wordpress also provides manual backup instructions that are fairly easy to follow.

Deactivate all plugins while upgrading. This will ensure that if you have missed potential conflicts in your due diligence, you won’t cause any serious problems.  The key here is to then reactivate them one-by-one to ensure everything is groovy.  You can simply “select all” and deactivate in one full swoop.

Do the Upgrade

You have three choices when deciding to upgrade:

1. Do an automatic upgrade through your hosting provider;
2. Complete the manual upgrade, detailed instructions here;
3. or, use the automatic upgrade feature within your blog dashboard.

Our team always completes the manual upgrade.  It gives us more control over the process and ensures the upgrade is not hung up through the blog itself.

Get on with life…

That’s it!  Now go and do something groovy for yourself

As my friend Beverly Boston says, perception is reality. What you perceive is what you believe. The problem is that many take this foundational truth and run with it, often times teaching others to apply this in creating their business structure or how they deliver their customer experience. Big mistake friends.

For those who have lived under a rock or just don’t get it, understand this: if you play with the idea that perception is reality, it works both ways and often not in the way you try to manipulate it to be.

Perception IS Reality

Gatekeepers and obnoxious prices do not increase perceived value. You can not manipulate how someone perceives the value you offer.  Value can only be delivered, then perceived.

Are you being told to increase your inaccessibility with gatekeepers who block access to you… to increase the perceived value of what you offer?  You’ve been lied to.

Are you being told to increase your prices beyond that which seems reasonable… to increase the perceived value of what you offer?  You’ve been lied to.

It IS a lie propagated by those who want you to believe that you can work an hour a day, sell value based on perception without actually delivering that value in a meaningful way and make a ton of money.

I’m just going to call it how I see it…

Chances are, those telling you that lie are the same ones selling that lie… to you.

Impact Agents understand…

It’s not about showing off, it is about showing up.

It’s not about being exclusive, it is about being inclusive.

It’s not about meeting your customers needs, it is about exceeding their needs.

It’s been a while still since I’ve discussed PageRank with a client or colleague.  Why?  Because in the big scheme of SEO and search engine traffic, it’s one of the least important factors that come into play. When I do explain PageRank it’s always to explain its branding value for Google and the insane need newbies and novices have in clinging to it as if it were a guidepost to all things SEO.  It’s not.  In fact, it’s been quite a while since PageRank played any significant factor at all.

Google itself has repeatedly said that PageRank is not as significant as so-called gurus would tell you. Check out a recent explanation as to why it PageRank is being removed from Webmaster Tools.  It has almost as much value as Alexa ranking.  Both are relational or relative rankings.  In other words, they provide guidance on how your site places amongst a group of others and as is the case with PageRank, show how your site is IN GENERAL performing in Google’s index.  Andy Beal refers to PageRank as a red light, green light indicator.

What my point?

Stop obsessing over your PageRank.

Understand that the search rankings game has changed and it’s less about spammy links and more about relevance and trust.  Just like the social web.  See a theme here.

The more people (websites) that trust you (link to you in a meaningful way), the more you build authority (rankings).  Period.

Nothing more, nothing less.  All those tricks you’re paying to learn, all that hype so-called gurus are telling you about PageRank and this or that… nonsense.

Offer value.  Build trust.  Give people something to talk about.  Period.

Now, hand over your PageRank blankie and let’s get on with some grown folks business! 

Not more than a year ago, many online experts referred to social media’s place in the online world as a bunch of cocktail parties across a cities throughout the world.  I still like this analogy.  At social media parties there are always people who know each other.  There are friends of friends connecting together.  And while the dynamics of every party is different — different crowds, different environments — the vibe clicks.

But… there is always some “you-know-what-hole” who crashes the party. You know the one.  The guy (or gal) that no one knows.  They come in, disrupt the flow… and by the end of the night, they’ve done thrown up all over someone or something… at a party they weren’t invited to in the first place.

Seriously, major party foul!

In the case of social media, those party crashing “you-know-what-holes” are coming out in large numbers.

Are you the the one who keeps crashing the party and throwing up all over everyone, like you don’t have any sense?

If you’re vomiting links and promos, promising fame and fortune, in a projectile motion across Twitter, Facebook, and every other place you can automatically blast… you ARE the one.

If you’re crashing parties you have no business being at — spamming hash tags or using otherwise vomit smelling tactics for “visibility” — you ARE the one.

… and that’s why you’ll always be 86′d from my parties and any other parties where grown folks hang!

Shout out to @BeverlyBoston for inspiring me with the awesome analogy to describe what in-your-face and spam tactics feel like!  You are definitely an Impact Agent!