Measuring Your Social Media Influence is Key | Webcom 2009 Wrap-Up

Kim Vallee — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:05:39 +0000

Let’s look at what I see as the key elements of the latest Webcom, which happened May 13, 2009 in Montreal. Several subjects were covered. Privacy, identity, authenticity and transparency in social media have occupied a part of the debate. Except for one session that I left in the middle, all presenters did an excellent job talking about their topic. Analyzing and capitalizing on the influence you have on the different social networks is what captures my interest.

I particularly enjoyed the session given by Caroline Allard on how Exvisu measures and analyzes what it is said about a brand, a concept or a person on the Web. They create portraits of digital conversations from what it is said on blogs and Twitter. We will see more and more tools and services like that appearing on the market.

If you are a big participant in social media, it is important to know how well you do. So far, I took baby steps by visiting Twitlyzer and joining the newcomer Viralogy in hope to get some feedback on my social media influence. It is also great to see how you perform over time. I am looking to try more sophisticated solutions in the coming months.

Clara Shih‘s session was also a treat. I chatted with her the night before. Clara is the author of the Facebook Era, a book about tapping online social networks to build better products, reach new audiences, and sell more stuff. I bought it. I believe in the power of its social graph of Facebook. I received my copy of her book Tuesday and I did not have the time to start reading it. I also bought the Tribes, the book of Seth Godin.

For many, Facebook is the place where many people talk about their private life versus Twitter, where they communicate on a public forum. Facebook changed the definition of a friend. For many bloggers like me, a Facebook friend may be a reader that never commented on your blog or all the persons you meet in conference. Clara Shih mentioned that we often do business with people that we vaguely know. Keeping a link with them on Facebook extends your connections.

It is to address the privacy issue for family that Cyrille de Lasteyrie alias Vinvin launched Hellotipi, a secret garden Facebook where you connect only your close friends and family members. For the moment, Hellotipi is launched only in France. If things go well, expect Hellotipi to expand their reach in other countries.

Sylvain Grand’maison praised the power of the niches. I cannot agree more. To succeed in a crowded market, you need to differentiate your product or your blog, concentrate on R&D and communication and more importantly be agile. For that kept team small; small is beautiful. Brands should use social media to communicate, interact, and add value by giving time, content and advices. Plus take the time to evaluate who follow you and who stop following you. Again, we are talking about analyzing your social media influence.

Finally, Jessica Lipnack of Net Age showed us an impressive dynamic organizational chart of the chain of commands at the White House.

The Webcom was well-organized. Except for one session that I left in the middle, all presenters did an excellent job talking about their topic. Congratulations to the team and the speakers!

My husband, who sits next to me on the top picture, posted the pictures he took during the day on Picasa.

MORE:
+ List of official bloggers for the 6th edition of Webcom
+ Photo courtesy of Adele McAlear – see Adele’s photo album of Webcom on Flickr

Official Blogger at Webcom Montreal 2009

Kim Vallee — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:34:05 +0000

The 6th edition of Webcom Montreal is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13th, 2009. This is a bi-annual one-day conference. I am writing a quick note to tell you that I will be publishing posts live (assuming no technological problems) one week from now. Readers of On The Web will be lucky since you will get more than one post next week.

I am one of the 5 official bloggers of the conference. The other official bloggers are Bertrand Duperrin, Frédéric Harper, Philippe Bonneau and my husband Jérôme Paradis. Since Jerome is an extraordinary software developer, our coverage should be from a different angle. As you can see, I am the only woman in the group. Note that 6 speakers out of 32 are women. I wish to concentrate my coverage on topics that will interest you as bloggers and participants in social media.

Being hosted in Montreal, Webcom Montreal has the particularity of having sessions in French and sessions in English. About 40% of the sessions are in English. The 32 speakers are from Canada (many from Quebec), the United States and France. All conferences from 3:30 pm to 6 pm are free. Places are limited.

If you wish to know more, visit the Webcom Montreal conference Web site. The event will take place at the head office of the ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organization.

+ Webcom Montreal
+ Blog of Webcom Montreal – in French

On the Web with Kim Vallee » webcom

Measuring Your Social Media Influence is Key | Webcom 2009 Wrap-Up

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Official Blogger at Webcom Montreal 2009

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