Despite leading workshops entitled “Twitter 101″ I can’t help but get concerned that too many businesses are getting caught up in the tools of social media. Instead shouldn’t we be focusing on developing the right mentalities enabling us to effectively communicate across the social communities that exist today and are yet to come?

Nonetheless, there is still a need to advise businesses on the platforms necessary to help them best connect with their targeted audiences. As a result, we’re asking you this poll question:

We realize that every business has different needs so we know we are generalizing with this question. It really depends on what your social strategy is and who you are looking to reach. In general, we’re curious to know which platform you recommend the most to businesses looking to get involved. Anxious to hear your thoughts on this topic!

Yes, I now have a Flip Video camera and I think that gives me the right to be on camera…right? Not really. I just did my first (unedited) video from my office on Friday making a brief introduction to each of you. I promised to get better with your feedback, tips and guidance:) Enjoy!

Even though that was pretty bad, I am so passionate about what I do for a living and feel like doing more video will truly show that passion…I hope:).

Again, I look forward to receiving your comments, tips and feedback!

I’m always amazed when I meet with “search engine marketing” firms and they tell me how they always recommend their clients start a blog. I typically follow-up that conversation with, “how do you guide them around producing an effective blog?” Unfortunately, the answer is usually, “nothing, that isn’t our area of expertise.”

Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of advocacy taking place around blogging – I remember this post from SocialMedia.biz , there is even a site called BloggingTips.com which I’ve found very helpful.

Over the years I’ve come up with my 4 L’s of Blogging summarizing some effective blogging tips:

Lead the Conversation -  It’s always important to show some degree of thought-leadership in your blog – besides, that’s why you have one right? – but you also have to remember that you are starting a conversation. Don’t get up on your soapbox…people don’t follow blogs to be spoken to but instead to be spoken with.

Link, Link, Link - Blogs have always fought the credibility battle and it is my belief that like a traditional news story, a blog should always contain links to other sources including reports, studies, traditional media, influential bloggers, websites, etc. Although I’m sure anyone with a blog is credible , you have to gain respect by linking out to other credible resources. Plus this spreads your conversation out…which is another great idea.

Less is Always More – I would keep your blog post to 250-500 words (tops) and always try and utilize lists (i.e., Top 10 Reasons, 5 Ways To, etc.). The bottom line is folks that are reading blogs just don’t have time to sift through stories and chapters so follow the old K.I.S.S. method – Keep It Simple Stupid.

Let Others Contribute – This isn’t just about “letting” it’s about encouraging others to contribute to your blog. Remember this is your conversation starter and you can’t (I suppose you can) have a conversation by yourself. This means always asking others for their thoughts or advice about the topic you’re discussing.

What are your best practices around blogging? Do you agree/disagree with my 4 L’s? I’d be curious if others have a simple strategy…I’m always game to steal great advice and give credit of course.

I chuckled after reading Ben Parr’s story yesterday on Mashable entitled, “AP and News Corp: Facebook, YouTube, Google Are Exploiting Us.” Within Ben’s story he quoted the shared frustrations coming from Tom Curley (AP) and Rupert Murdoch (News Corp):

Tom Curley: “Crowd-sourcing Web services such as Wikipedia, YouTube and Facebook have become preferred customer destinations for breaking news, displacing Web sites of traditional news publishers. We content creators must quickly and decisively act to take back control of our content.”

Tom Curley: “We will no longer tolerate the disconnect between people who devote themselves – at great human and economic cost, to gathering news of public interest and those who profit from it without supporting it,”

Rupert Murdoch: “The aggregators and plagiarists will soon have to pay a price for the co-opting of our content. But if we do not take advantage of the current movement toward paid content, it will be the content creators, the people in this hall, who will pay the ultimate price and the content kleptomaniacs who triumph.”

When on earth are traditional media outlets going to understand that consumers aren’t out to get them but rather would prefer their news faster and throughout a variety of different mediums (social media included)?

Here are my 3 Reasons Traditional Media Will (Has) Fail Online:

1 – It’s All About Your Reader…Not You! Case and point from the quotes above from Curley and Murdoch, folks aren’t trying to take anything away from anyone, we’re just listening and responding to the needs of news consumers.

2 – Its Almost Too Late – Traditional media outlets have seen this coming for some time and for whatever reason never put any value into the fact that consumers demanded their information throughout such mediums. With the exception of a select few (WSJ & USA Today…in my opinion) most are trying to play catch-up when so many of their audience has already left seeking other means for their news fix.

3 – People Don’t Want to Pay $ For Free News – Until traditional media outlets realize that in today’s world access to news is free (and will be for good) they will continue to fail and subscription numbers will plummet even faster. Don’t get me wrong, they should provide paid content but only after they begin offering what the consumers want to see such as video, transparency, consumer feedback, etc.

Do you think traditional media still has a shot within the online world? I’d love to continue this conversation:)