What is Social
Media?
by David Emmett
Podcamp Halifax, January 25th, 2008
Alderney Gate Library,
Dartmouth, NS, Canada

Welcome
What is...? Why should I...? How can I...?

What is...
• a blog?
• RSS
• “Social Media”
• “Web 2.0”
• a podcast?
• a vodcast?
• a wiki?
• Twitter?
• Facebook?
• Linkedin?
Welcome
• the point of all of this stuff?

What is a blog?
• Web site that chronologically publishes
your content
• Can be used as a landing point for
online life Flickr
Flickr
Twitter
Facebook Twitter
Blog
FriendFeed
Welcome What is...?

What is RSS?
• Real Simple Syndication
• Old model
you website
• New model
website you
Welcome What is...?

What is Social Media?
• Internet enabled methods through
which people communicate, share, and
collaborate
Welcome What is...?

What is Web 2.0?
• Buzzword for current internet age.
• Combination of new technologies and new
approaches to the internet.
• Also, a design style epitomized by gradients,
rounded edges, and reflections
Welcome What is...?

What is a podcast?
• Syndicated audio content
Welcome What is...?

What is a vodcast?
• Syndicated video content
Welcome What is...?

What is a wiki?
• Website that can be edited
collaboratively.
Welcome What is...?

What is Twitter?
• Microblogging site.
• Answer the question “What are you
doing?” in 140 characters or less.
Welcome What is...?

What is Facebook?
• Social network that lets you connect,
share content, and chat with friends
Welcome What is...?

What is Linkedin?
• Professional social networking site.
• Build contacts with people you work
with, and those in your field.
Welcome What is...?

What is the point of all
of this stuff?
• Fun
• Connect
• Share
• Collaborate
• Profit
Welcome What is...?

Why should I...
• use twitter?
• create a Facebook account?
• start a blog?
• begin podcasting?
• sign up for a (insert social media site name
here) account?
• care about all this techy-geeky stuff?
Welcome

Why should I use
twitter?
• Meet new people, network, learn about
interesting things
• Alert people to what you are doing
(personally/professionally)
Welcome Why?

create a facebook
account?
• Stay in contact with people, easily
reconnect with anyone.
Welcome Why?

Why should I start a
blog?
• Your blog is your own place on the
internet.
• There are many like it, but this one is
mine...
Welcome Why?

Why should I begin
podcasting?
• Share your knowledge or love of a
specific thing with the world
Welcome Why?

Why should I sign up for a (insert
social media site name here) account?
• Depends on the service, but it will
probably help you connect better with
interesting people.
Welcome Why?

Why should I care about all this
techy-geeky stuff?
• The future is digital,
mobile, and connected.
Welcome Why?

How can I...
• use social media for business?
• start a blog?
• start a podcast?
• get in touch with the presenter?
• keep up?
Welcome

How can I use Social
Media for business?
• Go to Duane Forrester’s presentation at
10am: How to Make Money With Your
Blog
• or, Stephane Lagrange’s at 11am:
Online Monetization Models & How
to Market Them
Welcome How?

How can I start a blog?
• Free sites like: www.wordpress.com or,
www.blogger.com
• Hosted services like wordpress.org
Welcome How?

How can I start a
podcast?
• You need:
• an idea
• recording equipment (mic)
• software (Audacity or GarageBand)
• hosting (podstrike.com,
podomatic.com, podblaze.com)
• to submit it to iTunes (optional)
Welcome How?

How can I get in touch
with the presenter?
• email: davemmett@gmail.com
• twitter: @davemmett
• on facebook: David Emmett
• I’m also on Skype, MSN, dopplr,
wishlistr, flickr, Linkedin, friendfeed...
• telepathically
Welcome How?

How can I keep up?
• Attend Alison Ambi’s talk this
afternoon: Feed Readers and
Podcatchers
Welcome How?