Christina Tierney

Okay…I gave in…I admit it…I caved to the peer pressure.  I’m now officially “test-driving” foursquare the social networking platform.

What is “Four square” you ask?  Well let’s start with discussing the original playground game.

Four Square Objective*

The objective is to eliminate other players of higher ranks and advance oneself to the highest ranking square and remain there for as long as possible.

Did you know, their are  152 unique “how-to” videos on YouTube that will walk you through step by step the rules of the game.  I had no idea this was such a big deal…they have championships.  Check out the Napoleon Dynomite look-alike below.

But what does www.foursquare.com provide me?  Why am I participating in this permission based communication/GPS Tracking/microblogging thingamajig?  Will I be pummeled with random playground rubber balls?

If I become Mayor...FREE BEER!

From what I’ve learned so far…ultimately…I’ll be rewareded with “freebies” offered by those establishments I frequent…say a local diner, pub, bar, cafe, carwash, movie theatre, etc.  The community that follows (stalks) me tracks my whereabouts when I”check-in.”  It’s not as boring as it sounds…cause you’ll actually be rewarded with really nifty “badges” for doing things like being a “newbie”.  Yes…I’ve earned that badge

already!  Just as in the playground version…you can be promoted to King…only less bruising from rubber balls. It’s good to be the king!

But hold on…their might be potential for some harm here…yes?  Got a private message in FB from a really good friend worried about me posting my whereabouts throughout the day.  You see www.foursquare.com allows your “check-ins’ to be autoposted to Twitter, Facebook, etc.  And as I’m testing driving…it’s starting to let my network of cool peeps, and tweeps, etc., in on my wanderings.  She’s got a really valid concern here.  I’ve been thinking about this myself.

I figured that since I’m pretty selective about those that I allow into my FB family…that should be cool…I’d be okay if those folks knew.  I mean depending on what’s going on in my world…I’m usually posting minute by minute any belly button lint harvesting and random shop visits throughout my day.

But…this could be a bigger issue with say Twitter.  I have just a little over 840 followers there.  I candidly don’t really know all of those that follow.  I’ve not locked my Twitter account…and maybe I should.  I’m not a proponent of open following really…I’m very selective about who connects with me…I report those that I feel are spamming and will downright block someone if I don’t like their feed and or just get the heebie jeebies.  Thinking maybe just allow autopost to FB.  Not Sure.

To Do's Assigned by Friends

Bottom line….do I really want to invest my precious little time into another Social Network.  A network  that will now broadcast to the world…(if I check-in) that I’m at my favorite hole-in-the-wall?  Are the Freebies I’m tempted with really worth the potential risks of a stalker?  Am I thinking too highly of myself…am I kidding myself thinking anyone is really that interested in me to stalk me anyway?

Would really love to hear what you think…is this kind of social network experience of interest to you?  Would you really participate if the pay-off was worth it?  Do you really want to spend a considerable amount of time becoming “king of the square” for noterity or status?

We were’nt really sure if Twitter was going to last or bring folks any value over time…I mean we showed up, hung around, we stayed – all without “any” door prizes.

* Source : Wikipedia

Social Media Club PBC Chapter

Well…We Did It!  We launched our first Social Media Club Palm Beach County Chapter Meeting.  We we’re fortunate enough to have founder Chris Heuer,  leading a round-table discussion without the table.   The primary topic of conversation focused on “Social Media @ A Cross-Roads.”

I think the biggest concern for many of us who “practice” in this field is the proliferation of the “Social Media Expert.”  I’m completely committed to “Practicing Safe Social Media” …and as a paid Social Media  Consultant since 2007 I worry about people being taken advantage of.  Especially those who are currently suffering from recent lay-offs and learning the job search has forever changed.

In the coming months Social Media Club Palm Beach County will continue to grow and educate the community.  We’re looking for volunteers to help take our budding chapter to the next level.  If you’re interested in joining and getting involved you can stop by the Facebook Group Page (we’re working on our website) as well as follow us on Twitter, @SMCPBC.

Chris Heuer

I was super excited to have the opportunity to interview Chris after our meeting.  We stopped by Authentic Brooklyn Pizza, in Boca Raton, FL off Palmetto Park Road. Of course recommended by @Lapp…the www.WorstPizza.com KING.  Not a surprise…the food was AMAZING!  Thanks Craig…we know we can always count on you for the right place to hang out as well as a PHENOM venue for our first meeting.  While Craig Arganoff may be the Pizza King by day…he’s a principle in a very cool little company called VOIS…a Social Network dedicated to local Project Outsourcing…be sure to check them out.

So without any further delay…hope you enjoy the interview…and hope to see you at an upcoming meeting!  And don’t forget…”If You Get It…Share It! 

Had to share the updated version of this video.  I presented the original to clients about 2 years ago.  You can imagine the responses we got from the data shared.

Enjoy!

I don’t want to appear to play favorites…but I am so excited to have gotten a few moments with Kevin Wheeler, Founder and Chairman, Future of Talent Institute. His presentation/break-out session, “What Will 2010 Bring” on Thursday night, was standing room only. He painted a VERY realistic picture of the challenges facing organizations with talent recruitment in the coming year.

I asked Kevin to share the top 2 challenges he’d hoped everyone took away from his presentation.

It’s a great interview…enjoy!

When I interviewed Kevin Wheeler last month he talked about top talent taking their “A” game and charting their own course.  That really got me thinking. Who are the “A Players” today and where are they?

Are they sitting in cubicles in major corporations?  I’m thinking maybe not…since we’ve seen so many jobs eliminated over the last year.

I then thought of one person in particular…Craig Agranoff AKA @lapp.  He’s most known in my community as the www.WorstPizza.com guy.  I originally met him at a Pizza Tweet-up where I won a gift certificate to The Sicilian Oven, in Lighthouse Point, FL.  Which by the way…EXCELLENT pizza…totally check them out.

But what I didn’t realize was while Pizza is his TRUE passion…he does have a day job. Craig is the Co-Founder of www.VOIS.com, a “social sourcing” site dedicated to connecting superior local talent to legitimate projects.   Craig  shares his journey out of the traditional 9 -5 Corporate America job to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams.

Thanks Craig for your time and support of my budding video career   Here’s wishing you all the success you can take.