Social Networking Throughout The GenerationsStuart R. CrawfordVice President, Business DevelopmentBulletproof InfoTech403.206.2233stuart.crawford@bulletproofIT.ca

Is Social Networking really new?Why is there a buzz around Social Networking?What is so unique?Haven’t we been socially communicating all along?What is the difference between now and then?Why is now so important?What are you doing?What is your plan?

In the beginning…An Early Look

It started in the cavesCave drawings were early forms of social networkingUsed to tell storiesUsed to pass along messagesLeaving a legacy

How about smoke?Chinese soldiers on the great wall used smoke to alert others of enemy attackCollege of Cardinals use smoke even todayNorth American Indians used smoke to communicateUsed to: Transmit newsWarn of dangerSignal meeting spot

How my Grandpa networked?My Grandpa was an expert social networkerHe didn’t even know itIt just occurred naturallyPeople followed in, not online but in personWhy?He offered valueHe was authenticHe enriched peopleHe was funny

How about your church group?Communities met to share ideas, stories, common interestsUnited around a cause, hobby or burning desireTravel was involvedDeep personal relationships were formedSome stood the test of time

Soccer Moms and the Mini-VanA community of women, sharing a common interestViralKeeping up with JonesMarketing to a particular community of interest

Moving to modern day…How things have changed

The web time forgot…

Was Paul Otlet the Grandfather of Social Networks?Belgium, 1934Otletvision included wired access to cards, audio and video using “electric telescopes”Index cards and teletype machinesAnticipated the “Hyperlink”City of knowledgeDestroyed by Germans in 1940

Do you remember this?People actually spoke to others using telephonesBusiness struggled to the find it’s use“You Voice Is You” – SouthernBell Ad 1929“Will the telephone break up home life?”“Will it make people lazy?”Hasn’t the phone brought us together?It is now part of life

Email – the first and largest social networkLong before FacebookPeople still trust emails from friendsHotmail has over 375 million usersEmail has a profile (signature)Ability to connect (send and receive)Share something useful (the act of emailing)Isn’t email just like a telephonePeople expect it to work

The move online…1994ListservBBSNewsgroupsGeocities.comAll early examples of online communitiesThe goal…Create communities of interest, what has changed?

Fast Forward 2008The Presidential ElectionPresident Obama leveraged Social Mediato win the 2008 Presidential electionObama blogsObama has YouTube videoEncourages citizens to sharetheir stories and share their goalscrowdsourcing

Leaders – Shaping and InfluencingObama set the stageShare insight, opinions and viewsCreate a followingMarketing their businessWarning – Imposters and those unwilling to share who they are lurk around us.http://www.fakesteve.net/ - Steve Jobshttp://www.blogsouthwest.com/ - Southwest employees

How will Social Networking play in today’s world?Learn from the pastLeaders will embrace social networkingBecomes transparentInfluencers sharing ideas, tips and lessons“The new PR machine”Crowdsourcing

Welcome to the CommunityOnline communities are popping up everywhereBusinessCommon and Specialty InterestsFaith and BeliefsCulturalHealth and WellnessPoliticsPeople, Small Business and Big Business are building online communitiesReach across boundaries

Where are we going?Whatever technologies are introduced, wherever we go and however we communicate, social skills are still at the root:GPS?Star Trek Transporter?Brian wave posts?Use your imagination, how can you leverage it?

“Your Voice Is You”How about…Your Profile Is You!

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