Archive for September, 2009

Posted on September 22, 2009 - by Wayne Sutton

Google announces push email / Gmail support with Google Sync, iPhone users rejoice!

If there has been one feature that iPhone users have been wanting natively without buying Apple’s mobile me service or using yahoo’s ymail is push email. Push email also has been one of the most requested features for the million of mobile Gmail users and today the wait is over.

Using Google Sync, you can now get your Gmail messages pushed directly to your phone. Having an over-the-air, always-on connection means that your inbox is up to date, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. Sync works with your phone’s native email application so there’s no additional software needed . Via Google Mobile Blog

According to the post push gmail should be rolling out soon. As an iPhone user who have seen a recent wave of push email apps such as Gpush and PushMail it will be interesting to see how Google’s announcement will affect these two services.

Thanks Google we have been waiting on this, well at least iPhone users have been.

Update: iPhone users looking to use Google sync with push email support go here: http://www.google.com/mobile/products/sync.html#p=apple

Posted on September 22, 2009 - by Wayne Sutton

Personal branding: Making your avatar/profile photo standout from the rest. It's the photographer

In a day in time where you’re likely to see Twitter avatars ranging from chin-poses, charity support banners and bikinis, having an avatar that matches throughout your social networks is not a personal branding law but its recommended. But does that mean you need to hire a professional photographer just for a headshot for you to post on your Twitter or Facebook profile? No, but find a few friends from your local flickr photo meetup group or the friend who’s always traveling with their digital camera and ask them to take a quick photo of you. For instance a few of my Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) and my online friends on the West Coast are really great photographers who have helped brand profile avatars or profiles for some of the web who’s who and my personal friends. Here are a few awesome profile photos below.

Bio head-shots for Twitter avatars

Photo taken by Don Hazelwood

Photo taken by Brian Solis

Facebook Profiles

Facebook photos taken by Jeff Cohen

Special Case: Self Portrait with photoshop skills
Photo taken by Chris Owens

As for the “personal branding” tip; having an awesome, rememberable photo across social networks are easy to identify and can assist in separating you from the rest of the average avatars or profile photos on the web. Therefore making you memorable ref. to 1918′s blog post “Being memorable“.

When was the last time you updated your avatar or profile photo on Facebook or Twitter? Who took your last profile photo?

Posted on September 16, 2009 - by Wayne Sutton

See you at IZEAFest – October 01-04

IZEAFest organized by Ted Murphy and company, is an interactive event designed to educate, inform and connect social media enthusiasts at SeaWorld on October 1-4. I’ll be joining an awesome list of speakers by moderating the “Screen Gems” session on growing your community and increasing your reach with Sarah Austin of Pop17.com andJulia Roy JuliaRoy.com. Some of the other topics we’ll cover in our session will be video blogging, content creation and monetization in the social media space.

IZEAFest is marketed to bloggers, podcasters, tweeters, marketers & agency professionals, PR & communications practitioners. Thanks to Ted and others for invitation.

Do you have any questions you want me to ask Sarah and Julia?

Posted on September 15, 2009 - by Wayne Sutton

Facebook releases inspiring video to promote the Facebook Developer Garage Program

For those who know me, know that I love technology, online videos and video blogging. Well today I originally saw on Dave Morin’s tumblr blog an inspiring video created by Facebook about the history of the Facebook Developer Garage Program and how all it takes to make a difference sometimes is your passion and a laptop. Take a look at the video below.

Update: For more on the video read: Celebrating Facebook Developers

After watching the video doesn’t make you want to create something awesome to change the world? Great video Facebook.

Posted on September 15, 2009 - by Wayne Sutton

9 controversial topics to avoid on social networks for job security

If you look at one of the recent post on Mashable today about an employee who’s social media activity landed him in the um-employment line, sadly it’s not the first time something like this has happen. Employees are using social networks more and more but without conscious thoughts about how their online posting could effect their employment status.

While social media and social networks may be a way for self expression, a way to stay in contact with friends and family members, you have to remember while you’re on the clock, content you post during work time could be looked as views supported by your employer without any disclaimers. Also even when you’re off the clock, sometimes unless you state that your views are your own, it could be considered the same values supported by the company.

With that being said here are 9 topics to avoid on social networks:

1. Politics
2. Race
3. Sex in general
4. Gay Marriage
5. Sexual preference
6. Religion
7. Porn
8. Past Jobs
9. General complaining on the Job

For best practices it’s best for a company to have a social media policy / guidelines in place for all employees.

Does your work have a social media policy? Do you feel that you should be free to discuss any topic online?