Everyone’s Blogging

These slides from the training session for the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce last week. Let me know if you want us to come to your event or run a bespoke event or Masterclass.

More details on our Social Media for Good course soon (looks like next date will be Oct 3 in Brighton).

Covers a bit of an introduction to social media and blogging, plus some questions to get you thinking about your own context, opportunities and challenges.

Some good thinking in the room and animated conversations. Quite a few organisations ready to get blogging and exploring integrated social media in more depth.

A few of you made pledges are you walked out the door about your goals and intentions, so let me know how you get on!
Thanks to all for your warm feedback and to those who helped make it a positive event, especially Lorraine Bell (BCP), Tania “Radiance” Fullerton (Brighton Steiner School) and Fay McDonald.

Twitter stumbles, and there goes the neighbourhood

Witness the emotional committment of Twitter users.  Wow, people love it, really want this thing to work, and really love to moan about it as the fail whale displays more and more often.

Twitter looks back on track after a shaky few days back there, which shows that all is not well in microblogging land, and there’s something wrong with the microblogging model, but that’s a topic to take up later.

Having Twitter get slow, turn off features, or just not respond has started to get really annoying.   We’re inclined to include Twitter as an emerging tool to use to build and attract community. But without stability, it’s not going to work predictably . How can we recommend building twitter into a social media campaign?  Well, we can’t really.  Or we have to accept Twitter as a somewhat flaky, sometimes useful tool.

And worse, with Twitter going up and down, there goes the neighbourhood.  People pick up and leave to one of the fifty other microblogging services that are growing up in the shadow of twitter and waiting for users to fall out of the Twitter tree.

Trouble.  We’re never going to find each other if we’re spread across tens of different services.

But then again, we want Twitter, in its lovely cuteness, to work.  But that makes it a monopoly with a secret or currently secret business model.

Tricky.

So, my big needs in microblogging are:

1. I want something reliable that works
2. I want something that accesses most people (that want to be involved)
3. I want it to be long term sustainable, not a monoculture or monopoly with a secret business model

To meet these three, we’re going to need to do some internet-level architecture work to support microblogging and ambient status.  Basically, we’re going to need to:

1. Develop some standards for microblogging messaging
2. Develop standard ways to connect microblogging services together
3. Allow users to migrate from one service to another easily– and use more than one service at once
4. Ensure some level of reliability in messsaging
5. Make sure the whole thing can scale up to the current level of global SMS usage and beyond

This looks a lot like what we have for the internet email architecture.  It took a long time to get organised, and it has some problems, but it is a mostly universal service with lots of servers, providers and clients.

There are a bunch of people talking about these sorts of standardisation. I’ll review the efforts in a later post and see where we are headed.  My guess this is going to take a while and we are going to have some early-adopter pain in the meantime.

Key point:  At some point Twitter is going to have to open up and interwork with other microblogging services.  And that is the moment, in my opinion, when they will really succeed.

On writing (& social media)

When I read this, I also include social media (eg. blogging / photo sharing / social networking).

Commentators like Clay Shirky and Charles Leadbeater tend to be a bit snobbish when it comes to acknowledging the inherent human need to be heard, to share, to tell our stories.

Lawrence Sanger told me he was worried about non-experts getting together to construct their own knowledge. But he would say that.

I say - do it! Experts be damned. Speak your truth, and find others that share it.

[[ Just be careful about checking the facts that really matter. Which is not what we are talking about here anyway. The subjective realm is far vaster than many wish to acknowledge.]]

Writing is egalitarian; it cuts across geographic, class, gender, and racial lines… vice presidents of insurance agencies…factory workers…lawyers, doctors, gay rights activists, housewives, librarians, teachers, priests, politicians…

We all have a dream of telling our stories – of realising what we think, feel and see before we die. Writing is a path to meet ourselves and become intimate.”

Natalie Goldberg in Writing Down the Bones

Pros & cons of blogging - for social entrepreneurs

Some interesting analysis and discussion around this question at Social Edge - the Skoll Foundation online space for social enterpreneurs. Check it out, join in and subscribe to Social Edge is that’s your area.

See other Nodestone posts on blogging.

Here Comes Everybody

He talks as well as he writes. Here’s Clay Shirky talking at the RSA about the concepts behind his book, Here Comes Everybody. I haven’t read it all, but so far it is a well argued, consistent view of what online social networking, social media and mass content creation mean. And it ain’t a bunch of techno-utopian cheer leading either.

The RSA don’t have (easily) embeddable videos, so click through to see the 20-odd minute presentation.

Third Sector - Is The Internet Friend or Foe?

Despite what some might think, even Africa is getting online.
(Click the image to access individual site links.)

Nick Aldridge, CEO of MissionFish helps charities raise money on eBay. He also writes inspiring, informative pieces about the potential and pitfalls of social media and web 2.0.

On the Social Enterprise Magazine website, Nick talks about why social enterprises (and by extension you could add other Third Sector organisations - charities, non-profits, community organisations and other social/eco innovators) should be thinking hard about how to handle the new paradigm emerging.

Authenticity, yet again, is seen as a priority. Something we need to explore more in practical ways. In essence, think “do what you are”, “be who you are”. A congruent, human, appropriate identity emerges.

“The fundamental idea is that the Internet is now a huge forum where people can interact with each other and generate their own content. A bundle of technologies, such as blogs, feeds and widgets (check Wikipedia!) have grown up to catalyse and spread user generated content.

“The result is that customers or donors are no longer passive recipients of marketing messages, which many now actively and vociferously challenge…

“This undoubtedly makes things more complicated for social enterprises, but also more exciting. A real-life supporter or client talking authentically about your work to a large network of friends is worth a dozen beautifully crafted press releases.”

Thanks for your perspective Nick. Thanks to all at Social Enterprise Magazine for putting together a great publication and website.

As an aside… Would be good to see some appropriate social media / interactivity come into Social Enterprise Magazine. I know this is going on in other places (eg. UnLtd World and Ammado), but there is still a chance here to engage on your specific content, even just to the degree that the Guardian, Times and client-specific publications like the RSA Journal are doing… but different. Perhaps focussing interaction between readers not between readers and editors.

Continues on the Social Enterprise Magazine website here…

Other items you might find useful:

Social Media for the Third Sector - at Shine Unconference 08

Social Media for the Third Sector

Gra Sutherland and I ran a session at the Shine Unconference for social entrepreneurs yesterday in London. What was billed as Authenticity in the Online World became Social Media/Web 2.0 for the Third Sector on Day Three, as the event unfolded and our awareness of what might be most useful came into focus.

Given it was one of the last sessions on a sunny Sunday afternoon, after nearly three days of the great shiny “happening”, we were delighted by the number, passion and knowledge of the people in the room.

Many were there to start scratching the surface of this new paradigm, this new way of making things happen in the world, others had already begun to engage more deeply and several were card carrying members of the converted and critically aware. Perhaps half were actively making part or most of their income directly through engagement with the social media space, which might explain the vested heat in the room. All were passionately involved in the debate that unfolded, whether they were talking or listening.

Questions People Asked

Initial questions asked included:

Why bother? Is it worth the 3rd sector getting into social media (back question here is about what is relevant to 3rd sector)

What is the current diversity of the internet? Who’s online.

Data on growth of social media for various groups, 3rd world, stakeholders of 3rd sector

What about reputation issues. How can we put stuff out there without losing our rights, our control of our message?

How do we build trust in each other online?

What are the sensible things to do in social media? How to start, put a toe in the water etc?

Why is there so much pressure to get onto facebook etc?

What will be left when the social media hype is over?

How can you make introductions safely online. How to replace the 20 min face to face ‘intuitive trust’?

Essence & Consensus

The key points we wanted to get across follow. Consensus was not sought, but to a large extent was experienced.

1. Web 2.0 / social media is a new paradigm emerging, not another internet fad or buzz word. It is changing the way we do things - potentially for the better. The pace of change is speeding up. New ways of collaborating, new economic models, new ways of building engagement and participation (think: fundraising, recruitment, contracts), new ways of communicating.

2. There are challenges and opportunities. It’s not utopia (yet). There are significant gains to be made, with wisdom and caution. Some often overlooked opportunities are for individual and group learning, collaboration and innovation. But it can be as simple as building dialogue tools into your website and partcipating in key online conversations that matter to you.

3. There is essential learning and initial or further exploration to be done by third sector people - leaders, communications/ fundraising people, HR and others. Case studies and other elements in a body of knowledge are already emerging to help in this (see UK Catalyst Awards for example). Professionals from a range of backgrounds are emerging to help.

4. The tools will keep changing but the key conceptual space is already starting to become clear (see We Think and CommonCraft for simple animated examples). Learning needs to focus on concepts first, tools second. This knowledge can be learnt and experienced without undue risk or brain drain, but a commitment is required to build capacity and embed the knowledge in specific contexts. There are no magic bullets or one size fits all.

5. Authenticity has never been more important.

6. Experimenting with tools like blogging, forums, flickr, facebook, YouTube, MySpace twitter, discussion lists etc is essential. You need to get your hands in there having real life experiences to get a feel for things. That doesn’t mean you have to be on facebook nor reveal all, anywhere at anytime.

7. We can now more easily be thinking and connecting with words, images, music, videos, photos, animation. It’s good to explore when and how to use a range of media to communicate. Different tools are more or less supportive of different media.

8. It can all be very confusing and time consuming! Even for seasoned specialists.

9. Small steps might be all it takes. One step at a time. As long as the path is clear.

10. Social media should work in support of, not as a substitute for, face-to-face, “real world” interaction.

We are well aware real consensus cannot be achieved in such a short time, nor was this an intended outcome of the session. To ensure your views at this point become clearer to yourself and others, participate in the ongoing debate.

Who Was There

Some of the people and organisations represented in the discussion included the very knowledgeable Dave Dawes (Foundation of Nursing Leadership), David Wilcox (Social Reporter. Much involved with building up social media around the Shine event and very active in this space. Do check out his blog and coverage of the event), Angela Walker (Neru - Brand & Marketing), Parag Shah (Art Switch), Alison Coward (social entrepreneur), David Floyd (Social Spider), Chris Prior (Franklin Waugh), Eszter Kun (social entrepreneur), Ben Matthews (Bright One Communications),

In the true spirit of the unconference and web 2.0, we collaborated with whoever turned up, rather than delivering a one-way, “we have the knowledge, sit there and eat it” presentation. Which of course can be very useful and inspiring to receive. But not empowering, nor making the most of the opportunity rare “face time” offers for deeper human interaction.

Social Media for the Third Sector Video

We see our job as offering time and cost effective training and ongoing support to help the Third Sector find out what is really worth knowing and doing within their own context.

To find out more about the approach we are offering in our next learning programme in Social Media for the Third Sector, view this short interview David Wilcox invited me to do.

At the end?

We were all intent on making sure the Third Sector (social enterprise, charities, non-profits) are not left behind in gaining this knowledge, if it can be used in meaningful ways that lead to genuine social impacts. No-one’s in it just to get “friends” in facebook or waste their time, to be sure.

How will we create these impacts? Well, we might need to dip a toe or two in the water. Maybe even plunge in at some point.

Let’s continue the conversation…

…in our social network to explore these ideas further… If your questions need expanding or clarifying, if you want answers or to help others find them, get in there. All with an interest are welcome. There are already many posts and discussions in the Ning that start to cover some of the question above.

Never joined one before? No time like now to experiment… You can watch for a while, explore when you are ready.

Catalyst Awards & Social Web Innovators Connecting

I rarely repost other people’s blog posts here, but this one needs sharing. David Wilcox recently came into focus when Tessy Britton invited him into our new online social network for social innovators.

David is what we call a “node”, a hub, a connector and maven. In other words, a kindred spirit. I haven’t even met him yet, back very much look forward to.

Here he writes optimistically about the new Catalyst Awards, about how change agents are using the social web and getting together. The Catalyst Awards are brought together by some great people with real form in this emergent area - like Mark Your Mark, UnLtd, NESTA and the Minister for the Third Sector.

“We’re looking for inspiring stories of people who help their community by using social technology* in new and exciting ways. Can you or someone you know show how technology is already enabling people around them to connect with each other in new ways and do good things?”

So glad there is such a large amount of energy coming into this space. Makes our job of creating and sharing a body of knowledge and positive practice a lot easier.

Spread the word about the awards, enter before 16th June 2008. and consider using them as a point of reference for developing your own best work.

A wealth of other information on David’s blog around this space. Check it out. Will definitely be adding David and Dr Dan to the blogroll on the new site.

RSA (Renewal, Sharing, Advancement)

Gra and I went up to the Royal Society for the Arts recently to hear Charlie Leadbeater talk about his new book We Think. We were also keen to find out more about the RSA as they have approached me to become a Fellow.

Mum bought a copy of We Think while she was visiting… keen to get her head around the space we are in, and perfect for her ilk, among others. There are many major ommissions and doesn’t come much from deep, personal experience (Charlie doesn’t blog or facebook), but is a fine point of reference for many at this point in time. I am recommending it widely.

Highlights of the evening were…

Blogging as Gardening

Talking with Charlie and Tessy Britton afterwards about blogging. Our message that “the first audience for your blog is you” (blogging as a reflective, learning tool or private/public path on which to travel) got Charlie mentioning “zero-audience blogging” and gardening as a metaphor for why and how some people blog, ie. the cultivation of your blog is a meditative pleasure in itself, towards the cultivation (and harvesting?) of the self… plus others can stroll by and enjoy it too.

Mary Harrington (aka Seb Mary) from School of Everything has talked about this in the past and present too. Interestingly, her garden is out back and not visible to others except when invited in. Mine’s a bit like that too. Maybe I could do with a bit of improvement out front (aka let’s finish the upgrade!

What’s Happening in The RSA

Looking around the crowd afterwards, I spotted Felix Velarde from Underwired. (To be honest, I was just looking for a model to do a nice juxtaposition shot and vox pop, note: interesting facial hair and piercings). He had many positive things to say about the benefits of RSA membership, as did Tessy, who we spent an expansive evening with.

The RSA, it turns out, are making special efforts to attract new media folk, new paradigm folk to their hallowed halls. When I first got their letter, I thought it was a mass marketing effort. Turns out they are serious about engaging Fellows (erk, the feminist in me gasps) in opening up debate and moving forward a very progressive, authentic, connected vision.

There is much emphasis on education which resonates deeply Glad to see Roland Meighan and friends trying to keep them on track as outspoken agitators working from within… Ian Cunningham is also a Fellow.

They are about “removing the barriers to social progress” and state their recently revised manifesto challenges as:

• Encouraging Enterprise
• Moving Towards a Zero-Waste Society
• Developing a Capable Population
• Fostering Resilient Communities
• Advancing Global Citizenship

If we were courting each other, I would have to say the feelings are strongly reciprocal and we will be getting hitched, if for no other reason that to follow Richard Sennett’s call in The Craftsman to cultivate our skills and higher self in the company of like-minded people.

I used to think the UK was impossibly BIG. Now the multiple connections between RSA, School of Everything, Richard Birkin (Biff), Ian Cunningham, Richard Sennett, Michael Fielding, Tessy, Roland, John Grant, Andy Gibson, Seb Mary, MA in Person Centred Education, blogging, progressive education, and Everything are so rich in the potential patterns they create - it’s almost fractal in it’s beauty. Feeling very connected and safe within the spaces opening up and the paths between them. In permaculture terms, there is edge, there is diversity, the soil is rich, the system is in harmony.

Spring has sprung.

Free School (of Everything) Tomorrow Night - London

What do you want to learn?

Looking forward to meeting up with the School of Everything (SOE) folk (Andy Gibson, Sebastian Mary Harrington and compadres) tomorrow night at Free School. We’ve been talking about fun, expansive stuff in the informal education space together lately and found many friends and values in common

They helped set up Social Innovation Camp with Dr Dan, Nesta and all, and are now all systems go with real funding from people like philanthropist and visionary Esther Dyson, plus Rocco Pellegrinelli, JP Rangaswami and Channel 4 Education. Their charter is to make learning and teaching much more accessible and human, in the spirit of Ivan Illich. (Interesting to note Illich’s shared use of ‘convivial’ with Slow Food Movement, another passion). They were kind enough to invite me to be their Feature Teacher last month.

I won’t go on about it too much, but suffice to say I am deeply inspired by what they are about, by what they are creating. It links up with so much of what we have been looking at over the last decade, culminating in the MA in Person Centred Education journey. See more on the previous blog Learning.

Social media, social enterprise and education all come together. Sparks are flying! Wherever I go right now - Team Everything are there. The list of friends/colleagues in common, random path crossings and thought trains is getting too spooky to mention.

I’ve been asked to do a short show and teach at Free School, plus it’s a good chance to meet up, and my London digs are in Bethnal Green anyway.. too easy! I’m guessing it will be a great and somewhat intense evening of like mindedness and learning. Real learning. Plus Sarah Cheal is coming down from The Foundry to join in, which is a grand bonus prize.

Where? Gallery Cafe, Old Ford Rd, Bethnal Green

When? 6-9pm on Tuesday 29 April.

Here’s how Seb Mary described it earlier. Nice and informal:

“The idea is to get interested local people, friends, fellow social-enterprisers and other lovely people together for a few hours regularly to swap skills, find out what we can teach each other, and of course eat cake. And go to the pub afterwards.

The format of the evening is: cake (of course), nice people, a friendly cafe, and a Free School signup sheet. This is basically a piece of paper where you can add what you want to learn, or what you can teach, and see if anyone else matches up. It always results in new friends, and surprisingly often in skill-swapping.

We also like having a mini-teaching session or two on something people might find interesting…. might you be interested in running a mini-session on blogging for social enterprises?”

Free School will also be running at the Shine Unconference for Social Entrepreneurs on 9-11 May. Authentic Blogging / Presence Labs will also be at Shine, and might be offering a session too. Will keep you posted.

More on Free School with SOE here…

Can’t make it, or want to swot up before or after?

“A Taste of Social Media” (web 2.0, mass collaboration and creativity, blogging, flickr, facebook etc) for individuals, activists, organisations, artists, any and all.

Plus many many more short sessions where you can learn or teach for free.

For a preview of “what is social media?“, start with the wiki definition. Social media par excellance.

Try out a ning social network here. Join if it’s you - and post your thoughts and questions.

Enjoy the wonderful We Think animation to introduce Charlie Leadbeater’s new book of the same name and start getting your head around social media again, and again, and again…

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