A student that will participate on this blog next semester sent this to us. A quick guide to respect followers, fans and friends as some convert to customers. Many of the students already have flourishing online businesses. Interesting…

10 commandments to pass on when deciding on social media strategy by Bill Boorman

1. Before you do anything determine that you have products or services you can sell on-line. Without something to sell, it will be nothing but a distraction.
2. Set up “destination points.” All your time invested in areas like twitter need to be leading somewhere as a point of reference. I recommend a linked in profile completed to 100% and a web site or community to draw customers in.
3. Blog every week somewhere. I favour a mix of your own blog and guest blogging in your market place. This way you not only reach your own followers but the followers of others, some of whom will choose to follow you also.
4. Comment often particularly on your clients blogs. Not just “I thought that was great!” add something to the discussion and include your contact details. The more often you comment, the more followers you will attract.
5. Followers doesn’t equal customers. There are 4 types of followers: 1)Your target market 2)Influencers who won’t or can’t buy from you but will spread your message 3)Your competitors that are keeping an eye 4)Collectors who are motivated by building giant lists of no relevance (more ego than value in my view.)  Identify the first two and concentrate your conversations with these groups.
6. Put a person on the end. People communicate (engage) not robots. In the instant society you need an instant answer or a question as well as original responses. Would you rather talk to a receptionist or an automated response when you call a supplier? The same applies in SM.
7. Be prepared to help others. Get to know what your followers do and introduce them when a need arises, as well as offering your own help where you can. This builds reputation, and in turn engagement.
8. Blend your message. You need to include video, audio and written word to communicate your message. Followers will have their own preference, give them their own choice.
9. Have a personal conversation as soon as possible. Look to have personal contact at every opportunity moving from e-mail to face mail. Conversation personalizes the relationship and enables you to connect.
10. Review your strategy, measure the time you’re spending against the return you want. Without review you will get lost. Don’t expect a quick return; it takes about 6 months before you will notice real wins. The investment is worth it as long as you followed step 1!

We are keeping these posts relevant to tweens as we witness the evolution of a highly intelligent young generation. There are no subject filters here. There are basic rules of engagement and the posts generally unedited, except for non-english speaking students who use Google to translate. Filtering basic educational information away from young people is widely debated.

How will this generation (12-17 roughly) move through the next decade? As committed to ethical behavior as the current generation is demonstrating? Are young voters currently passively speaking out or confident to speak up? The difference is between active or passive. Is access just a utility? I think not. It’s enabled empowered truth, a voice that didn’t have opportunity for audience just a decade or so ago? For the young people who question why their passion for truth is being discounted, this blog offers just another voice to them. They are fully aware (with school and parental oversight) that Rise of the Technology Class is also collecting their words as data.

time-young-voters

Academic leaders are committed to understanding how the interactive engagement changes the lives of families, young people and those who are educating students while away from home.

Henry Jenkins, formally of MIT, now USC, is the “Marshall Mcluhan” of modern communication. Marshall would be proud to see Henry’s work today. The debate continues.

http://www.henryjenkins.org/

Short video clip is :30.

Professor Henry Jenkins of USC, on filtering not helping learning ecology.

Insight why schools often cut themselves off from the learning ecology. Students don’t have access.

The longer interview is at: