#MEPISocial Media Workshop

by

J.R. OsbornCommunication, Culture & Technology

Georgetown Universitywho3@georgetown.edu

www.glitterdustfilm.comwww.jrsfantasticmachines.com

Plan for the Day

1. Introductions and Overview2. Lessons learned from Wael Ghonim's Revolution 2.0

"Kullena Khaled Said” 3. Varieties of social media: benefits and disadvantages4. Social Media Strategy5. LUNCH (12:30)6. WordPress Blog Workshop7. Building our Blogs8. Search Engine Optimization

Lessons Learned from Wael Ghonim

1. Voice: confrontational vs inclusive, Egyptian colloquial Arabic– "Kullena Khaled Said spoke the language of the internet generation.

The tone of the page was always decent and nonconfrontational." -- this carried over into the physical activities

2. Voice: who is behind this message, individual political organization, business?

3. Virtual world represents or parallels the physical world (reporting vs. activation)

4. Importance of Video: did Khaled Said have one? / Importance of photos: see the movement vs nameless posts

Lessons Learned from Wael Ghonim

1. Organization/Activation Strategies– changing profile image– organizing physical meet-ups– constant reporting/online activity during the event

2. Organizational steps:– joining– liking/commenting– participating– activating (from a commenter!)

3. Online/Offline Interaction– Plan online, do offline (mirror events), share online

Filter Bubbles?

• The possibility that “social search” will only provide you with more of what you already like.

• Education/knowledge/change occurs when we come in contact with something different.

• Filter Bubbles by Eli Pariser @ TED:bit.ly/Eli_Parser_TED

Tweet this: (or Facebook post)

• I don't understand arabic typography!

• Still looking at fonts….

• These are the best: http://www.khtt.net/page/106

Tweet this: (or Facebook post)

• What Arabic #font do you like (and why)?

• Khatt Foundation for Arabic Typography: http://www.khtt.net/

• Really digging the matchmaking project: http://www.khtt.net/page/106

Tweet this: (or Facebook post)

• I don't understand arabic typography!• These are the best:

http://www.khtt.net/page/106--- OR ---

• What Arabic #font do you like (and why)? • Really digging the Khatt Foundation #font

matchmaking project: http://www.khtt.net/page/106

Tweet this:

• Matchmaking #fonts balance size and weight across Arabic and English. I’m looking for one for visual consistency on my blog. #Typography

• One of the best recent projects Khatt Network: http://www.khtt.net/page/106

• I chose the #Fresco #FrecoArabic matchmaking #fonts. Check it out: myblog.wordpress.com

WordPress Blogs

1. By today you must have:– Bio/About– Vision Statement– 1 Post: Thoughts on Kullena Khalid Said and Social

Media– Categories: MEPI Project, Advocacy– Email your blog address to who3@georgetown.edu

2. Post something every day (login)3. Experiment: add video, photos, add widgets

Social Media Strategy

1. Create a presence – audience? theme? voice? FOCUS!!!

2. Implementation– Regularity. Integration. Engagement.

3. Reciprocity– Shout Outs. Humility. Sharing. Participation.

4. Monitor and Momentum (M&M)

SEO(Search EngineOptimization)

The Paris Hilton Problem

Problem: The Web is not Flat

Solution: PageRank™

PageRank™From GOOGLE:

PageRank™ reflects our view of the importance of web pages by considering more than 500 million variables and 2 billion terms. Pages deemed important receive a higher PageRank™ and are more likely to appear at the top of the search results. PageRank™ also considers the importance of each page that casts a vote, as votes from some pages are considered to have greater value, thus giving the linked page greater value.

Page rank

1. Promotion (email signature, business cards, papers, etc.)2. Share links on other platforms and target “sharers”3. Participate in relevant communities

4. Cross Reference (your posts and others)5. Use Keywords: Google Adwords6. Blog Registries

7. Study your analytics (Google Analytics, Wordpress Stats)8. Go Offline: attend and host events9. Consistency: keep writing!

Increasing Blog Traffic