The Internet and Odyssey: Make it work for you

1. The Internet and Odyssey: Make it work for you Don't fear the Geeky

2. Overview

3. What I'll cover It'll go fast, I promise.  • Social Networking Upsides and Downsides • Specifics for a few Social Networks • Google Plus • Twitter • Facebook • Others • Keeping in touch • Web conferencing • E-mail lists • Downsides to instant global communication • Solution Sharing • Fake social Media Accounts

4. Upsides of Social Networking    Meeting people you didn't know you didn' know.  • People don't have to specifically look for you to find you • They can find you through their friends • Your 'followers' can share you with everyone they know.  • Some Social Networks work better across all ages • Much smoother learning curve than rest of the Internet • Most sites know their users average age, and build accordingly • Most of the work is done for you • No need to rebuild your site, just add things to theirs • It's easy to get started  • Messages never get blocked by spam blockers

5. Downsides of Social Networking     Yup. FarmVille requests.  • You can't specifically target kids • Almost all sites have a minimum age for use • Smart parents are careful about their kids' browsing • Using them properly is an investment of time • What you share can result in questions to be answered • Setting up any sort of online community requires policing • The 'Net is full of nefarious people • Hackers don't always need good reasons to break into something • You won't know everyone that's following you. 

6. Specific Social Networks

7. Facebook All the people you wanted to forget from high school • Easiest of the networks to use • Multiple types of pages and sharing • Groups • Pages • Subscriptions • Largest user base on the planet (over 800 million) • Super simple chat function

8. Facebook continued • Groups • Allows control of who sees content • Can be hidden from non-members • Pages • Anyone can see them and like them • People can share them with their friends • Allows Photo Galleries • Built in forum discussions • Easily list events • Post links • Subscriptions • Allows you to share any public updates • Mostly designed for people that only want certain things public

9. Twitter Yay! One degree of separation from Jeri Ryan! • Posted Messages are called "tweets" • Unless a user is private, all tweets are public • Followers automatically get your tweets in their timeline • Anyone can 'retweet' a message • Post then goes to all of their followers • Can be sent down the line • Twitter tracks trending topics • Lots of similar posts from a geographic area will show up in trends • Generally aided by the use of hash tags (#) • People see the trending topics and look into them - or Trend Surf • Both text and photos can be posted

10. Twitter Caveats Let the poster beware... • Know what you're posting (Trend Surfing can be bad) • Tweets can get lost in the shuffle of your audience's timeline.

11. Google Plus The latest attempt to take over the world • A Facebook/Twitter hybrid • Fewer features than Facebook • Subscriber model much like Twitters' • All friends/pages organized into Circles • Always changing and adding new features • One particularly standout feature: Hangouts • Real time web video chat for up to 10 people • Can invite anyone in your circles

12. Questions so far? 

13. General Facts The Sky is Blue.  • Average Ages on Social Networking Sites

14. Best use of Social Networks Make them work for you Facebook/G+ Twitter • Information Dissemination • Cultivating a community • Getting people to share your information • Information Dissemination • Answering questions sent directly to Twitter account • Reaching out to other Twitter users (News Organizations/Celebs/Politicians)

15. Using those networks well     Coffee is for Closers! • While you can't connect to the kids - you can reach their parents • Getting parents to follow you allows for easy open calls for volunteers • You can post information, how-to's and tips, and all sorts of information to get people familiar with the program • With enough help you can setup multiple pages (or multiple twitter accounts) to specialize in information targeting • Pages/accounts by region/area  • alternatively - information channels for coaches/volunteers/judges/board

16. Things Social Networks can't do Well... nothing's perfect. • Replace E-mail. • Social Media can't be targeted the same way • Email still easiest way to get to volunteers and coaches • Make you an overnight success • Still lots of ground work to be done.  • Getting followers still a big job

17. Questions so far? 

18. Web Conferencing

19. Why would I want to do this?  More meetings? Really?  • Takes Geography out of the equation • Large states don't need a central location • No need to house those that came a long way • Sometimes e-mail isn't enough • Real time discussion is generally preferable • E-mail can be delayed, deferred, or generally take a while • Call a meeting whenever one is needed • Committees could meet 'in-person' whenever needed

20. How would I do this?  Does it involve Duct Tape?  • Computers would need a microphone (webcam optional) • A Google Plus Hangout • Zero installation needed • Uses common web technologies (a browser and flash) • Will host 10 people in one chat at a time • Totally Free. • Go to Meeting/Cisco Webex • Meeting organizer needs special software, clients don't • Will host a limited people online, but has optional call in lines • Not Free - Costs Vary, but average $50 a month

21. Questions so far? 

22. Downsides to all this technology...

23. Teams Sharing Solutions Not just grandma can see it • Can it be stopped? No. • Can it be done better? Yes.  • Teams can post videos on YouTube as unlisted. Only those with direct link will see it.  • Alternatively, they can post to Facebook where only friends can see it.  • Is it something we really need to worry about? 

24. Fake Social Media Accounts That tweet didn't come from who you think it did.  • Um, What? (with great anonymity comes great peril) • People can setup any page/twitter account they want - real or not. • People can follow those accounts thinking they are real.  • Can it be prevented? Yes.  • Get your pages and accounts setup before anyone thinks to take the name.  • Once setup, paste your real accounts all over the place.  • Debunk any fake ones that pop up.  • Is it something we really need to worry about?  • Maybe not - but fake accounts can put out any sort of rubbish.  • Don't you want to control whats out there about you?

25. Best Practices Prevent the big oopsie.   • Entrust logins only to the trusted. • Passwords should be super strong.  • Passwords should not be public knowledge.   • Keep an eye on your pages.   • Don't take too long to notice a problem.  Once a day is probably best.  • Fix problems as soon as they arise.  • Get a Chief Geek and/or a Social Media Czar on your board. • There's plenty of experts out there... find one.   • Find someone that will take the time to do it right.

26. Questions so far? 

27. Thanks to... It takes a village... idiot.  • Stefanie Johnsen for proofreading.  • Jackie Otte for asking in the first place.  • Dad, for making me the geek I am today.