237 Bloggers Worldwide Collaborate to Benefit Charity

Aoc2
A year and a half ago I would not have imagined being in this place. Sure, I believed in the potential of social media, but how could it scale? How could we turn an idea into a movement? What were the mechanisms required to ignite the passions and ideas of a community? Today, I proudly released The Age of Conversation 2: Why Don’t They Get It? for publishing. You can purchase it here.

It brings together the written thoughts on the role of conversation in marketing today from 237 marketing professionals from 15 countries. And, as one of the few people who have read all the contributions, I can (without bias of course) state, that it is a must-read for marketers wanting to understand the opportunities, challenges and potential of social and digital media in this challenging and turbulent marketing landscape.

Last year we were able to raise over US$15,000 for Variety, the children’s charity. We are hoping to better this figure in 2008-09. This year’s list of authors is impressive. Take the time to visit their blogs and explore their ideas further. After all, it is the Age of Conversation!

Adrian Ho,
Aki Spicer,
Alex Henault,
Amy Jussel,
Andrew Odom,
Andy Nulman,
Andy Sernovitz,
Andy Whitlock,
Angela Maiers, Ann Handley, Anna Farmery, Armando Alves, Arun Rajagopal, Asi Sharabi, Becky Carroll, Becky McCray, Bernie Scheffler, Bill Gammell, Bob LeDrew, Brad Shorr, Brandon Murphy, Branislav Peric, Brent Dixon, Brett Macfarlane, Brian Reich, C.C. Chapman, Cam Beck, Casper Willer, Cathleen Rittereiser, Cathryn Hrudicka, Cedric Giorgi, Charles Sipe, Chris Kieff, Chris Cree, Chris Wilson, Christina Kerley (CK), C.B. Whittemore, Chris Brown, Connie Bensen, Connie Reece, Corentin Monot, Craig Wilson, Daniel Honigman, Dan Schawbel, Dan Sitter, Daria Radota Rasmussen, Darren Herman, Dave Davison, David Armano, David Berkowitz, David Koopmans, David Meerman Scott, David Petherick, David Reich, David Weinfeld, David Zinger, Deanna Gernert, Deborah Brown, Dennis Price, Derrick Kwa, Dino Demopoulos, Doug Haslam, Doug Meacham,
Doug Mitchell, Douglas Hanna, Douglas Karr, Drew McLellan, Duane Brown, Dustin Jacobsen, Dylan Viner, Ed Brenegar, Ed Cotton, Efrain Mendicuti, Ellen Weber, Eric Peterson, Eric Nehrlich, Ernie Mosteller, Faris Yakob, Fernanda Romano, Francis Anderson, Gareth Kay,
Gary Cohen, Gaurav Mishra, Gavin Heaton, Geert Desager, George Jenkins,
G. Kofi Annan,
G.L. Hoffman, Gianandrea Facchini, Gordon Whitehead, Greg Verdino, Gretel Going & Kathryn Fleming, Hillel Cooperman, Hugh Weber, J. Erik Potter, James Gordon-Macintosh, Jamey Shiels, Jasmin Tragas, Jason Oke, Jay Ehret, Jeanne Dininni, Jeff De Cagna, Jeff Gwynne & Todd Cabral, Jeff Noble, Jeff Wallace, Jennifer Warwick, Jenny Meade, Jeremy Fuksa, Jeremy Heilpern, Jeroen Verkroost, Jessica Hagy, Joanna Young, Joe Pulizzi, John Herrington, John Moore, John Rosen, John Todor, Jon Burg, Jon Swanson, Jonathan Trenn, Jordan Behan, Julie Fleischer, Justin Foster, Karl Turley, Kate Trgovac, Katie Chatfield, Katie Konrath, Kenny Lauer, Keri Willenborg, Kevin Jessop, Kristin Gorski, Lewis Green, Lois Kelly, Lori Magno, Louise Manning, Luc Debaisieux, Mario Vellandi, Mark Blair, Mark Earls, Mark Goren, Mark Hancock, Mark Lewis, Mark McGuinness, Matt Dickman, Matt J. McDonald, Matt Moore, Michael Karnjanaprakorn, Michelle Lamar, Mike Arauz, Mike McAllen, Mike Sansone, Mitch Joel, Neil Perkin, Nettie Hartsock, Nick Rice, Oleksandr Skorokhod, Ozgur Alaz, Paul Chaney, Paul Hebert, Paul Isakson, Paul McEnany, Paul Tedesco, Paul Williams, Pet Campbell, Pete Deutschman, Peter Corbett, Phil Gerbyshak, Phil Lewis, Phil Soden, Piet Wulleman, Rachel Steiner, Sreeraj Menon, Reginald Adkins, Richard Huntington, Rishi Desai, Robert Hruzek, Roberta Rosenberg, Robyn McMaster, Roger von Oech, Rohit Bhargava, Ron Shevlin, Ryan Barrett, Ryan Karpeles, Ryan Rasmussen, Sam Huleatt, Sandy Renshaw and James G. Lindberg, Scott Goodson, Scott Monty, Scott Townsend, Scott White, Sean Howard, Sean Scott, Seni Thomas, Seth Gaffney, Shama Hyder, Sheila Scarborough, Sheryl Steadman, Simon Payn, Sonia Simone, Spike Jones, Stanley Johnson, Stephen Collins, Stephen Landau, Stephen Smith, Steve Bannister, Steve Hardy, Steve Portigal, Steve Roesler, Steven Verbruggen, Steve Woodruff, Sue Edworthy, Susan Bird, Susan Gunelius, Susan Heywood, Tammy Lenski, Terrell Meek, Thomas Clifford, Thomas Knoll, Tim Brunelle, Tim Connor,
Tim Jackson
, Tim Mannveille, Tim Tyler, Timothy Johnson, Tinu Abayomi-Paul, Toby Bloomberg, Todd Andrlik, Troy Rutter, Troy Worman, Uwe Hook, Valeria Maltoni, Vandana Ahuja, Vanessa DiMauro, Veronique Rabuteau, Wayne Buckhanan, William Azaroff, Yves Van Landeghem

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No Clean Feed – Internet Censorship in Australia

CKnocleanfeed If you use Twitter, you may have noticed a bunch of people are using avatars with an X across their mouths. This is a protest against the Australian Government’s plans to implement an internet content filter. This plan places a blanket of censorship across the internet which will, no doubt, have unforeseen consequences – and puts our access to information on a par with China and Iran. (My friend CK, pictured, has joined in, and I would encourage others to do the same.)

For example, when travelling in China I found that I was unable to access my blog. It is not like I write dissenting material. I put it down, in the end, to the title of the blog – Servant of Chaos. It seems China does not approve of chaos. And I am concerned that this “new Australia” may follow suit.

Furthermore, once internet filtering is in place, what safeguards will we have over excessive filtering? What rights of recourse will we have to follow to have our websites “white listed”? And how much will this cost? Is this perhaps a veiled attempt to “control the conversation” emanating from a growing and more vocal constituency via blogs and social media?

While this may be alarmist, remember, we are now just emerging from a time where political debate was managed according to “core” and “non-core” promises. It is disappointing to think that some of the first digital steps of a new government are those being contemplated by Stephen Conroy. It is frightening to consider where this may lead, or more importantly, what impact it will have on our nation’s innovation and place in a global knowledge economy.

There are more details on The Australian’s website where I left the following comment:

So our government is aiming to spend more than $40 million dollars of taxpayer money on technology which can be circumvented and does not achieve their stated aims?    
Why not invest this money in the FUTURE of our country? Put it into the ailing education systems and teach our kids how to safely use the Internet. Or use it to bulk purchase the XO Laptop — which would deliver 200,000 computers into the hands of kids who cannot afford them.      
As the saying goes, give a man a fish and his hunger will be satisfied (for now). Teach him to fish and he will feed his community.      
We have just had 12 years of feeding. It is time to fish.

Update: Get Shouty’s "future husband" (wouldn’t they make a lovely couple if they had met) Angry Aussie gives us the lowdown on why this is a bad idea and why it won’t work.


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Stop the Australian Internet Filter

In a misguided attempt to "protect" Australian internet users from the dangers of the world wide web, federal policy makers led by Senator Stephen Conroy are proposing the mandatory filtering of content. This will see the implementation of filters on the servers of Internet Service Providers across the country. This will result in significantly lower connection speeds (in the order of 80%). And as the filters will rely on a "black list" provided by a government body, it opens the door to potential misuse or political interference.

The government’s own tests have shown that the filters cannot adequately determine the difference between legal and illegal content, and will be completely ineffective against content shared via peer-to-peer systems used by most illegal "distributors" of content or software. Rather than wasting precious taxpayers money on ineffective technology, I suspect we would gain greater communal and economic benefit from some simple technology education. After all, if we are serious about protecting our children from the dangers of the internet, we should start by providing parents with the skills and understanding to determine what their kids are looking at.

Electronic Frontiers have put together a site to help bring our concerns to the attention of politicians. There are a number of things you can do to take action. Sign the PETITION.

Call the Minister

There’s nothing like a personal
phone call to get the message across. Call the minister’s office on
(03) 9650 1188 and let them know your objections.

Write to the Minister

A
personalised letter to the Minister sends a powerful message: We don’t
like the policy, and we care. Letters can be sent to the Ministerial
office:

Senator Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Level 4, 4 Treasury Place
Melbourne Vic 3002

Here is a template you may wish to consider using.

Dear Minister,

As an Australian and an internet user, I have serious concerns about your mandatory Internet filtering initiative.

Given the importance your Government has attached to modernising
Australia’s broadband network, pursuing a policy that can only slow
down and increase the costs of home internet access seems misguided at
best. Australian households are diverse, and most do not have young
children, so mandating a one-size-fits-all clean feed approach will not
serve the public well. I don’t think it is the Government’s role to
decide what’s appropriate for me or my children, and neither do most
Australians.

Given the amount of Internet content available, the
Government will never be able to classify it all and filters will
always result in an unacceptable level of over-blocking. I feel that
the time and money could be spent in better ways both to protect
children and improve Australia’s digital infrastructure. Australian
parents need better education about the risks their children face
online. Trying to rid the Internet of adult content is futile, and can
only distract from that mission.

How to Collaborate

I have worked on and with teams for most of my career … and I have found that I am most productive (and creative) when I am in a team environment (ok I like to lead, but can play nicely with others!). But I know this is not the case for everybody – yet I am always surprised to learn that colleagues don’t understand the mechanics of collaboration. Even the basics of brainstorming seem foreign to some people. But now, Leisa Reichelt provides a solution that will get your collaborative process off to a flying start … with some great tips and techniques for brainstorming.


 


   

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: web2expoeu08 design)

 

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What Can Planners Steal from IAs?

One of the best forms of innovation is to transplant a practice from one knowledge domain to another. What this provides is a proven method — but one uprooted from its original context. However, it is in this re-planting where the real opportunities for innovation can be found.

For some time I have been convinced that there is much that marketers can learn from the technology community. From the "promiscuity of ideas" and open collaboration offered by "open source" through to the benefit of systems thinking captured in development lifecycles, there are ripe fields that will prove fertile ground for marketers coping with changes sweeping the industry. A great case in point is the overlap between information architects and planners. Matthew Milan shares a great presentation on the subject and reminds us "a planner is not their brief".

The Stories Inside My Head

The first spark can hit me like a revelation. It sizzles from synapse to synapse and in that instant, I am all tingling nerves and tunnel vision. There is no here and now, there is only this. ONE. idea. Burning like a fuse.

And before I can breathe, a lifetime passes. All tousled bed clothes, babies, bits of paper and smudges of ink. It is not the images I see, but rather, clarity emerging from the chaos. It is what Angela Maiers may call "making the connections" — but it feels more like creativity than learning. More like riding a bolting horse than sitting in a classroom.

And yet, I know, before my hearts pumps another beat, that the whole world has changed. I have learned something and have been transformed by it. The challenge now lays before me … you see the easy part is over. I have seen forever in a moment and the opportunities of a lifetime in a single glance; but now I am faced with a dilemma. To act or to demur.

When I write a blog post, work with a client or brainstorm with a team, my creativity is on tap. All I need is a starting connection (a word, a song) and it begins. Quickly. But the ideas are easy. Really, you can have them for free. The stories inside my mind can draw unexpected meanings, but they are straight and true. Of course, bringing them to life — transforming them into something that can change your business, delight your customers or motivate your staff is a longer haul. For while ideation runs like a sprint, execution requires stamina. And whether it is a blog post or a fully integrated marketing campaign — there are always tears ahead.

Laurel, this great stop motion video by Carlos Lascano actually comes close to capturing the way my mind works. Enjoy.



A SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo.

A Little About Gavin

Thank you for visiting!

When you read my blog and look at my resume you may be confused. You may not see the pattern of emergence that has led me to (and through) the various stages of my career … but I can honestly say, each step and opportunity has honed my broad and unique perspective on digital/social marketing and the role of brands in our future society.

Gavinbabycropped For as long as I can remember I have been crafting stories. And as you will see on my blog, I place a high degree of importance on the scripting and writing of brand experiences. This is not about prescription, but about context. After all, the last thing any of us want is to deal with an automaton. But in a world where our interactions are increasingly mediated by technology, stories can breathe life into our relationships and help us find and engage with the communities to which we ache to belong.

I have taken a storytelling approach to many of the roles that I have held in the corporate world … this includes the roles that were not “strictly” marketing or strategy oriented. What seemed clear to me, even 20 years ago, was that any interaction I had with a customer, employer, colleague or partner would generate a story. Their story. And the intersection between their story and my own was an opportunity for love or loss. Wherever possible, I choose love.

To do this, means listening. It means researching. And it means seeking. It also means leading and following-through.

Gavinheaton For the last 12 plus years I have worked from Australia in global roles for a range of companies. I was responsible for the digital strategy and implementation of the HappyMeal.com brand in the USA and its subsequent global rollout. I have also built and grown business units for companies like IBM. I evenly balance creativity and business know-how with a passion for the chaos in which we live — and strive to transform the teams I work with into focused and enthusiastic micro-communities.

I am the co-publisher of the ground-breaking collaborative marketing book, The Age of Conversation, which brought together over 100 marketing bloggers from around the world for the first edition, and over 230 writers for the second. I am also actively involved in a variety of marketing/advertising-related efforts, from Planning for Good through to the Interesting South conferences.

I currently work for global software company, SAP. But enough about me. What’s your story

You can email me on servant [at] servantofchaos [dot] com or use the form below!

Contact Form by WebCheatSheet

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Off the List


  Meine Eltern – my parents – Retrophotos 
  Originally uploaded by Ela2007

Whenever a new "list" comes out, we all scramble to see it. We want to know who is ON and who is OFF. We want to know who we know and who we SHOULD know. In short, we want to know where we BELONG.
When Mack Collier kicked off the Z-list a while back, it was done in part, as an attack on Technorati and the way that they measure "authority". Yet, while we can rebel about lists and argue about the metrics that they use, they do serve a fundamental function — they help us categorise and contextualise our place in the world. And if we are NOT on a particular list, our aspiration to belong marks us out as a participant in that community.
Guy Kawasaki shares what he calls the "mother" and "father" of all social media lists. Now, go check them out and tell me … did you look for your own name first or the names of those you know.

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