Each year, advertisers try to out-do past performers during commercial breaks of what is arguably America’s biggest sporting event, The Super Bowl. This one was no different. Some of the best of media merchandising was to be seen at the 44th annual championship. While my own vote (which, along with $4.37, will get you coffee at the local Starbucks) was for Dorito’s (see the ad on this site by clicking on “Viral Vids”). And given that costs for product evangelism during broadcast were a hefty (almost) $100,000.00, well, one might expect excellence. If you missed your chance to see all the fun, or you just want to cast a glimpse of your own faves, not to worry, many Social Media Sites are posting them from last night’s game as well as others in the past.

I would add as an aside that half-time entertainers always seem to achieve an increase in sales and market visibility. It was really grand to see The Who (with Zak Starkey, son of Richard Starkey, a.k.a. Ringo Starr, still with the band since the early ’90’s!) on stage, and hope for them all the success life can provide them. But maybe I’m just getting older… candid shots of Pete Townsend’s belly just were’nt quite as titilating as was Janet Jackson’s flash at Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Desirable attendance in social media plays an important part for the communication of messaging. Whether for personal or professional endeavors, the rules remain the same. Listed here are a few of the more important parameters:

• Establish goals: The first step in any successful plan is knowing the desired end results. By defining the aspirations of the aftereffect one can effectively begin to lay the foundations of the course of operation.
• Appropriate actions: Responsible activities are a must. Staying within entrenched guidelines of the venue should be paramount. Failure to do so will only alienate prospective audiences.
• Denote policies: Regulation of procedural standards creates uniformity across the board, thus ensuring quality control.
• Harmonious technology: There are many user platforms in existence. It is compulsory to extend one’s reach across this vast plain. Integrating mechanics that are balanced warrants advantageous latitude.
• Consistent enterprise: Staying engaged within the community will increase visibility and awareness. A schedule should be kept for posting updates, blogging, tweets, etc.

This is by no means a complete list. Research and investigation of further protocols will assist in the address of maturation. Yet by following these, as well as other, important criterion, one may acquire a modicum of ascendancy in the social media arena.

It is evident that there is a paradigm shift in social media marketing taking place. The recent discussion in eMarketing Association Network on LinkedIn.com, titled Social Media for Business is CRAP, is proof of this. Many marketing professionals argued that social media marketing is a strong asset, with some even going so far as to state that a social media presence is necessary to compete. Also, the recent rise of business sites on facebook.com evidentiates this notion.

The following usage graphs from Google Trends illustrates this:

The blue line is Facebook.com, the green is MySpace.com, the red is LinkedIn.com

This is the graph of Twitter.

I would postulate that what is occurring is diffusion of innovation, where the chasm is being breached between visionaries and pragmatists. Obviously, this phenomenom is still in its infancy, and the agency is likely somewhere on this side of early adopters in the technology adoption life cycle, but I would predict that this will be a viable marketing venue for some time to come.

Google is providing free WiFi in some of the larger airports around the country this holiday season. While this is obviously a marketing effort, it is one that is both good and worthwhile. Providing convenience as a tool of CRM (customer relationship management) is positive; everyone, consumers and enterprise alike, benefits. In addition, this endeavor is in lock-step with Google’s efforts to provide the public with government sponsored high speed bandwidth, another advantageous and appropriately fitting contrivance. This approach should be encompassed worldwide.

No doubt many will decry this deed as self serving for Google and its affiliates, but welcome to the real world. Lunch is never free. The very linchpin of free content-laden media access is advertising. Folks need to understand that the bill must be paid, and when corporate pays it, they want a desirable ROI (return on investment). This is the basis of business bravura in an unfettered society.

Commercial affairs concerning endorsements are in the end user’s best interest. We would be hard pressed to know about the things we purchase and then find we cannot live without were it not for promulgation.

October is breast cancer awareness month, but breast cancer awareness should be throughout the year, not just for a single tide. I make this post so that it may be remembered that breast cancer knows no timetable. Much information exists at BreastCancer.org and at The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Web sites, as well as many others. Breast cancer is a terrible affliction affecting the lives of not only stricken women, but their families and friends as well. This is just one more example of an ailing prostration that we can eliminate. It is difficult to find someone who has not known or whose life has not been touched by an unfortunate sufferer of this insidious malady. Like all other infirmities that have been conquered, this is another that can, should, and hopefully will be. Let us all be enlightened and informed. And to all women, please be alert to your body, do self-checks on a regular basis, obtain professional exams, and, when age appropriate, have a yearly mammogram. Let’s end breast cancer now. Think pink all year ’round!

…was asked by television programming magnate Joss Wedon, who queried, “Why can’t everyone love it like I do?” This seems to me to be the consumate lack of understanding between us all. We love something, why can’t everyone else? It stems from our fundamental belief that each of us is right minded in our thinking, whether that is accepted by the populace or not. And so we wonder, if we love it, why can’t everyone else?

I have the firm belief that the best educators remember what is was like to be a student. They were students once themselves, had to be to get where they are, and now they dedicate their lives to perpetuating that grand tradition of learning. By keeping in mind what is was like when they were undergoing what their students now endure, they keep an appreciation, a sympathy, and an empathy. In doing so, I submit that they enhance the learning experience by avoiding what did not work for them and providing what did, or at least what would have. Teachers are among the most self-sacrificing of all professions. They immortalize for all of mankind that which is required for the imparting of skill and understanding of our world. There can be little of greater sacrifice. Here is to teachers everywhere. Every person that has ever learned owes you a debt of gratitude and thanks. Please remember when you were where we are now, and help us to move through these times successfully as you did.

To me, the use of Twitter and my blog go hand in hand. Twitter’s incredible rise to spectacular heights of usage makes it an efficacious delivery vehicle for my headline, and then by adding my blog link, I am afforded the opportunity to have my voice heard world wide via my site at Edublogs.org. And what is of particular note is that both of these services are free of charge!

I am new to the SNS purview. I spread my interests over a variety of posting sites. I find I can network with other (in my current state, future) professionals on LinkedIn.com. I trend my wellness efforts at Limeade.com. I frolic on one of the Internet playgrounds at MySpace.com. And as previously stated, I orate on Twitter.com and Edublogs.org.

I was an early adopter to the Internet and the World Wide Web back in 1993. Little was available in the way of content in those days of information infancy. But as time moved inexorably forward, the mighty admonition autobahn grew exponentially. Unfortunately, due to untimely illness and finacial hardship, I was forced to give up my online access. For ten long years, I subsisted in a dissuasion deprived vacuum.

My delivery arrived in the form of formal education. At the tender age of 55, I went back to school. I did so in an effort to rid myself of the yoke of disability. I decided I still had something to contribute, that I was not through living, that I could find a new career in this brave new world, and not only survive, but thrive!

One of the first things that happened to me on my matriculation ingress was the use of the Web 2.0 augmentations. I had heard of social networking, but thought it pedantic and sophmoric. Imagine my delightful surprise to find that where my previous use of the ‘Net was to do simple research on subjects of interest, I could now interact with others on the same quests as I!

This has led to my being here, now, as a student blogger. An old man in an apprenticeship, but then, what greater joys can there be than in learning something new? Few for myself. Having been a  person of passionate persuasion throughout my life, I now can share those affectivities. I can blog. I can tweet. I can interactively communicate!

My path towards excellence in this endeavor will be long, but I find myself improving not only my mind, but my body as well. I have begun to take the reins of my health firmly in grip, and I exercise regularly, I eat nutritionally, and I take time to enjoy my life. I share all of these experiences. I do so by blogging and tweeting.

I know my regenerations of psyche and soma will reward me with a long and happy life, and while I live it, I’ll happily apportion with like-minded others. I can do so from the comfort of my home, extending my reach planet wide. I am on a great adventure!

Professor May is my Photoshop CS 4 instructor at Pellissippi State, one of their finest, and was kind enough to lend his considerable talents and precious time in helping me finalize the appearance of my header design. While the work is both original and mine, his helpful suggestions and input afforded, IMHO, an excellent end product. Won’t you, constant reader, leave a comment and let me know what you think?

I wish to thank all the fine people at edublogs for having chosen my humble blog, “The most important tips for educators starting out blogging with students”, as a winning entry in the “Share your tips – and win BIG!” contest. I am sure there were many others just as if not more deserving of the honor. I am quite honored!