Mike Mueller, Social Media.ist

Your Feedback is requested!

I’ve been working on custom designed client Facebook pages and have left my 3 Facebook Business Pages virtually stock.  I guess that’s a little like the car mechanic not working on his own car.

I finally started applying some axle grease to my pages.  In particular my Mueller Map Page .

I added 3 new tabs.

• A What Is tab that is also the landing page for new visitors
• a DEMO tab that I will soon import a live DEMO of a Mueller Map
• and a VIDEO! tab that rounds up all the video relevant to creating and editing a Mueller Map and puts it all in one page

Next up I think I’ll create a tab that showcases Mueller Maps of various Clients or maybe one client at a time.

Looking for Feedback

• What features would you like to see?
• How did the page function for you?
• Are you a Fan?  (Page loads differently if you are)
• Did the Page give you enough information to understand what a Mueller Map is?

Tweet me , email me , or comment.  I’d love to hear about your experience.

What is a Mueller Map Google Map Mashup?

http://www.viddler.com/explore/mikemueller/videos/41/

With all the news about Swine Flu (H1N1) and my passion for Google Maps I thought I would share this mashup:

View H1N1 Swine Flu in a larger map

There’s also a few things to know about the Swine Flue H1N1 (from the CDC):

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Fast breathing or trouble breathing
* Bluish skin color
* Not drinking enough fluids
* Not waking up or not interacting
* Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
* Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
* Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
* Sudden dizziness
* Confusion
* Severe or persistent vomiting

Pork - it’s the other white meat! (yeah, it’s safe to eat pork)

Related articles by Zemanta

• Basic facts about swine flu (nationalpost.com)
• Swine Flu Outbreak (gardnersgate.blogspot.com)
• What is an Influenza Pandemic and How Can You Protect Yourself? (grantlawrence.blogspot.com)
• Mexico City on alert over swine flu outbreak (cnn.com)
• Swine Flu: Questions and Answers (abcnews.go.com)
• CDC confirms 7 cases of swine flu (cnn.com)

Are We Connected.com

Image of Renae Bolton

Renae asked me what was the best way to drive traffic to a newly created Facebook Fan (business) Page?

Simply change the links that you have that might normally lead to your Facebook Profile (resulting in a new Friend ) to your Facebook Business Page (resulting in a new Fan )

Would that really work?

Looking at the below real time chart from Facebook I would say, VERY MUCH SO!

That Facebook Bottle Cap is much smaller and more concealed than my previous “Join Mike on Facebook” widget yet my traffic dramatically increased.

Currently I have 4 different Facebook "Business" Pages :

Mike Mueller: I started this Page as a way to better promote upcoming events I’ll be speaking at, classes I’ll be teaching, or really anything related to the business side of my life.  Join the Mike Mueller Fan Page

Mueller Maps: This is just to showcase and demonstrate my Google Map Mashup I call “Mueller Maps ”. If you are not familiar with the concept, it’s a great way to embed video directly onto a Google Map.  Best of all, it’s easily updated by adding a row on a spreadsheet.  Join the Mueller Maps Page

AreWeConnected.com: I realized after starting the first two pages, I had not yet created a page for this website.  The website itself needs it’s very own page.  This is a place where everyone who comes by the site and signs in using Facebook Friend Connect will be directed.  Think of it as a home on Facebook for AreWeConnected.  Join the AreWeConnected.com Page

HyperLocal Edge: Your business is Local.  HyperLocal Edge is a company that helps other companies get noticed. Online and off HyperLocal Edge is a marketing machine that will put your business in front of thousands of new customers.  One of the most difficult tasks for a small business is to attract new business. We give your company the edge over the rest by maximizing the exposure of your brand across several different mediums and getting you noticed.  Need a complete Facebook Business Page?  You’ll need technical skill and help coding.  That’s what we do!
Join the HyperLocal Edge Page

Are We Connected.com

Recent budget cuts have eliminated all sports starting next fall.  More cuts are on the way!

One person has a plan to raise enough money to bring them back.  (It’s not just him, he has a lot of help!)

He’s going to make a Movie! a real "get a bucket of popcorn and sit in the backrow"  Movie!

From the website: (http://concordmovie.com/ )

Questions about our movie:

Why are you making this movie?

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District is in crisis with California state budget cuts and has been forced to cut sports and music programs from high schools, as well as give out pink slips to teachers and other staff members.  We need your help!  I’ve worked in the movie industry for 28 years (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0608444/ ) and feel this is a great way to reach a national audience who can help us raise money for the school district while involving the community and our children.

Are you really trying to make a movie?

Yes, this is real and you can relax knowing that we are being advised by entertainment attorney Richard Lee of Lee & Lawless in Oakland, California, we have registered our production company business (3 J Films, LLC) with the State of California (Secretary of State File #200835410330) and we’re just a nice group of people…ask anyone at Woodside Elementary School in Concord, California.  Also, take a look at the video.  We have the endorsement of Gary Eberhart, MDUSD President as well as Concord Mayor Laura Hoffmeister.  All money collected will be kept in a separate account until we reach 2/3 of our budget at which time we will begin pre-production.  If we do not reach that goal the money will be given directly to the MDUSD.  If we produce the movie all net proceeds will go to the MDUSD.

What is the title?

"Chasing Rodriguez" (read the first 5 pages of the script below) It will be rated G or PG.

What is it about?

Four teenagers enter a 24 hour film contest to win a cash prize.  While filming their movie they inadvertently capture a robbery on film.

Where will it be filmed?

In Concord, California, and around Contra Costa County.

Who will be in it?

The 4 lead characters are not cast yet.  They will be between the ages of 12 and 14.  We are looking for actors locally and in Los Angeles.  The Blue Devils Marching Band (http://www.bluedevils.org/ ) will be featured and some of the filming will take place at the Brendan Theater.

When will you be filming?

May - Pre-production: Casting and Location Scouting
June - Production: 18 day film schedule in Contra Costa County!
July and August - Post-Production: Editing, music, sound effects
September - Public Screening
October - DVD Replication
November - Receive your copy of the DVD

Can we read some of the script?

Yes.  You can read the first 5 pages of the script in PDF here…

"Chasing Rodriguez" Script (click here)

Yes, I am supporting the making of this movie and offered in any way I can.

I love the outside of the box thinking!

It’s the end of the regular season and we’re about to start the playoffs.  About now each year I start setting up the Hockey Shrine.  Everyone has a Hockey Shrine don’t they?  If you’ve followed the NHL for anytime you might have been confused by some of the year end trophies.  That’s understandable as they are all named after actual people.

Here’s a 7 minute video explaining each of the trophies and what they represent.

• The Art Ross Trophy
• The Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy
• The Norris Trophy
• The Frank Selke Trophy
• The Vezina Trophy
• The Calder Trophy
• The Hart Memorial Trophy
• The Conn Smythe Trophy
• The Lady Byng
• The Jack Adams Trophy
• The Stanley Cup

I’ll leave you with just one other tidbit.  It has been said that you may never meet someone who has actually touched the cup.  I’m not so sure about the validity of that but I do know that it is indeed a rare event.

I also know someone who has touched the Cup (besides a player).  Me!

Wondering about my second Hockey Post?

That will only be when the San Jose Sharks hoist the Stanley Cup!

Go Sharks!

Social Reach - it’s the number of people you have a theoretical chance at getting your message to in using social media.

It’s numerical value is derived by the number of Friends, Connections and Followers you have and how many Friends, Connections and Followers they have.  That raw number grows exponentially!

Maybe that’s why the Sales & Marketing Types are drawn to Social Media. They are literally blinded by that potential.

Unfortunately, so often they get it wrong. They blast into Social Media, follow and friend everyone, compute their massive Social Reach potential, then start blasting out broadcast (spam) messages.

Soon they find they have little or no ROI and declare Social Media as an empty sack of hype.  And for them, it is.

Also unfortunately, the misguided Marketing Guru is replaced by a new Marketing Guru and the "Circle of Life Spam" continues.

I was a guest on the radio yesterday with Tim Davis and Nick Thomas (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/smallbusinesssuccess ) discussing ways a small business owners could engage in social media and help their business grow.

Nick asked me what was the biggest mistake I see salespeople making in social media. My answer was easy. Not engaging others in a meaningful way. If you don’t do that, if you think like a traditional marketer, you’ll have a social reach of just one. You.

What is your social reach? Much more importantly, what have you done to engage others?

I’d be interested in your answer.

Related articles by Zemanta

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• Social Media or an Electronic Billboard (searchengineguide.com)
• All Tweet and No Cattle (ducttapemarketing.com)
• Twitter is not for every small business | Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing (tsurch.com)
• Should We Even Consider ROI in Social Media? (kylelacy.com)

Today is the day of REBarCampLA and I am going to miss it!  I didn’t want to miss it.  I would have much preferred to be there, connecting with all my online friends and making new ones. For me it was a matter of economics.  I’m close enough to cover the 370 miles in a matter of hours.  I know there are people flying from all over the country to be there!  I was there at the inception for the first one.  REBarCampSF08  and it rocked!  Oh well.

Image by brad.coy via Flickr

This post isn’t about all the great people flying in.  It’s also not about how wonderful the BarCamp experience is (and it is).

Instead it’s going to be more of a little rant.  Yeah, I said RANT!

1st. The REBarCamp Experience is free to attend.  It’s free because generous sponsors come forward to cover the room and board.  (yay for the sponsors !)

2nd. Many smart and knowledgeable people take time out their busy schedules to share, to instruct, to guide.  Some represent a company, others do not.  Still others might be direct competitors of yours in the very same market.  Yet all of them offer their insight for freely.  They are willing to share what they have learned with you and help you become better at what you do, no strings attached.

3rd. The REBarCamp experience is custom tailored and adapts to every level.  The experienced tech geek and the newbie both will find a wealth of valuable information.  Walk in wanting to learn what this thing called Twitter is?  You can do that!  Want to learn how to tweak your .php to customize your RSS in order to get a better ROI from your SOI?  Don’t we all?  You can have that covered as well, and have it covered by someone who has done it effectively!

All this sets the bar pretty low for local real estate professionals to NOT attend and that’s where my rant comes in.  Wouldn’t it be great if every sales professional was required to attend a BarCamp prior to starting in Social Media?

Let’s play the “How’d you hear about REBarCamp?” game

If you read about the event on this blog, that blog or any other blog, good for you!  You score 10 points.  If you read about it in your feedreader – score 20 points!  Did you comment on a post about it?  Add 5 points.

If you read about it in LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter, score 20 points.  If you ReTweeted about the event  - collect another 20, no let’s make that 40.  Have you used the correct hashtag? (#rebcla )  Have you Twitpic’d or seen a Twitpic, a QIK or Ustream from a previous REBarCamp? Have you watched the great http://Dakno.tv streams?  That’s worth another 20 points.

Ok, now total up all your points.

Now, for the bonus and final question.  How many local real estate professionals who don’t blog, who don’t twitter, who don’t Facebook, who don’t participate in anything Social Media… You know, the “Old School” agent…  How many of those types did you grab by the hand and forcibly escort to an REBarCamp?

That’s my rant.  While the REBarCamp experience is a great benefit to all, the message isn’t reaching those that might benefit the most.  The absolute social media beginner.  You can’t say that you mentioned it to them at a sales meeting and it’s their fault they didn’t act.  You have to forcibly take them.

So while it’s too late to bring someone to REBarCampLA you have a few more chances. (sourced from the Dakno site)

RE BarCamp Portland

04/23/2009
622 SE Grand Avenue
Portland,OR
RE BarCamp Portland Website | #REBCPDX

RE BarCamp Phoenix

04/23/2009
7408 E. Osborn Road
Scottsdale, AZ
RE BarCamp Phoenix Website | #REBCPHX

REBarCamp Charlotte

05/15/2009
TBD
Charlotte, NC
RE BarCamp Charlotte Website | #REBCLT

RE BarCamp Denver

05/22/2009
7100 East Belleview Avenue, Suite 211
Greenwood Village, CO
RE BarCamp Denver Website | #REBCDEN

RE BarCamp Philly

05/27/2009
TBD
Philadelphia,PA
RE BarCamp Philadelphia Website | #REBCPHL

REBarCamp Salt Lake City

06/05/2009
230 W. Towne Ridge Parkway, #200 (the Salt Lake Board of Realtors Campus)
Sandy, UT
RE BarCamp Salt Lake City Website | #REBCSLC
rebarcamp.com/slc/

RE BarCamp Boston

06/12/2009
The Loft - 319 A Street
Boston, MA
RE BarCamp Boston Website | #REBCBOS

RE BarCamp Chicago

06/15/2009
200 S Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL
RE BarCamp Chicago Website | #REBCCHI

RE BarCamp San Francisco

08/04/2009
208 Utah Street
San Francisco, CA
RE BarCamp San Francisco Website | #REBCSFO

REBarCamp Miami

Still in planning stage
09/??/2009
TBD
Miami, FL
RE BarCamp Miami Website | #REBCMIA
rebarcamp.com/miami

REBarCamp Lynchburg

10/08/2009
Holiday Inn Select
Lynchburg, VA
RE BarCamp Lynchburg Website | #REBCLBG

REBarCamp DC

10/27/2009
TBD
Washington, DC
RE BarCamp Washington DC Website | #REBCDC
rebarcamp.com/dc

While I would love to make it to each and every one of these events what is much more important, especially if you are local, is to get as many of the  “old school” person(s) to attend instead.  Do that and you’ll be scoring massive points in my book!

BTW: If you failed the bonus question you lose all points!  But if you attended a REBarCamp you got much more in the way of valuable information than any silly game I might come up with!