referring to number 2, K.I.S.S. it (keep it simple stupid) is a good saying I heard too at #bwe09 can't wait for next year

Great post, I have heard that same comment about short meeting with @chrisbrogan that he's starting to scare me

To me #4 is what's been pushing me lately, create, create, create.

Best top 10 list I've read from #bwe09 so far, thanks.

So true Scott. It's too easy to forget that with everything. Simple wins. Another great example of this was Kevin Rose's talk on getting from 1 to 1,000,000 users. He talked about what can we take away to improve the user experience. Worth watching: http://www.pmorganbrown.com/2009/10/11/from-1-t…

Thanks for the comment – hope to meet you in person next year!

Thank you sir! I think creation is where it's at. Sometimes I need to pull myself out of the twitter stream and get down to creating valuable content that can help people.

Re: Chris, yeah he's scary good. Post coming on that shortly.

Thanks for the comment!

It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Did Fatbuger have a traditional burger eating contest, or did they add a creative twist to get everyone's attention? Love their burger's, by the way!

I like your list. With #3, I'm not sure I'd call it a “social object,” however. I think “shared experiences” win. If you can connect your consumers and give them channels to talk:

- to you
- through you
- about you

…you'll create shared experiences with your customers. After all, shared experiences lead to lasting relationships, I think.

Nice list.

Morgan, I have to agree with you on the face to face meeting. No matter how well I think I know a person virtually, the real and personal connection happens during the face to face meeting.
It was great seeing you again.

I liked the way you made your comments on Blogworld both personal and insightful. Thanks for the report. Love that simple and giving are a constant theme leading to success.

Hi Michael,

Fatburger's competition was pretty traditional. It was a table of folks trying to eat a burger and the winner got a prize, certificate and t-shirt. They did do a few cool and innovative things though:

1) They advertised on Foursquare so when you checked in at blogworld a “special nearby” would pop up offer free Fatburger samples at the Fatburger truck. That was cool.

2) They named the burger the WTF burger because it is 3 king-sized patties with cheese. I have video I'll post later, but they were really the size of a person's head.

3) They had a ton of social media stuff going on – a live stream of the contests, tons of photos and videos and tweets. They did a good job that way.

Overall it was a great job and a good way to connect with the folks in social media they were trying to reach.

Good point. It is more of a shared experience than a social object. Thanks for helping me refine that. I agree, shared experiences are powerful bonding opportunities between people and between brands and people.

It was great to see you too Mana! It's so true, there is nothing like face time and real interaction. It can't be beat. Thanks for the comment!

Thanks Bill for the comment. Simple and giving. You're so right. I think I see a new post coming “Simple + Giving = Success” thanks for the clarity.

Darren Rowse tweeted: “Face to face counts for a lot!” In line with your point #6, I couldn't agree more. Social media is great, but if you're doing nothing to turn some of these connections into offline connections, then you're missing something big!

Thanks for the reply. It's great to see a small chain like Fatburger, making a big impression! Of course, “leveling the playing field” is one of the things social media does best!

I wouldn't be so quick to leave the “mass media” behind as a bloggers lack a standard of practice, attribution of source materials, double checking the facts, rushing to “beat the next blogger to the punch” leads to expediancy and lacks accuracy and responsibility. As a Realtor I'm constantly reminded of this by the repeating of “agent-laws” which are simply half-truths pasted on to another Realtor via the grapevine without any regard for validity or accuracy but simply a parrotting of an idea. The internet is a vast land with a 24 hour cycle as the current media circus. The sheer volume is too much for one loan blogger. Besides, we still gotta make a living! Overall liked the post. I was at Inman Connect and was dazzled and lost by the third hour! Innovation is fun but overwhelming. The latest, greatest “app” is just around the corner and everyone seems content on chasing this elusive holy grail as they trample over all in their pursuit.

Terrific thoughts and recap, Morgan.

And thanks for coming and being a part of it! That's what makes it great, you and everyone who participates, sharing knowledge with others and personifying social media as a living, breathing movement. I saw new media technology experts helping newbies, small biz entrepreneurs helping corporate exec's, and web and traditional broadcasters exchanging experiences. I think you've nailed it. This is a very kind crowd of interactive innovators.

For me personally, it's so much fun to see everyone either being reunited, or meeting for the first time in-person after becoming online friends for months…or years!

Additionally, at this year's event, there was definitely a broadening of attendees to include traditional media and entertainment figures who have embraced evolutionary changes in communication…finally…and I'd say opened some eyes about how thoughtfully they're putting their new online voices to work. Prior to the event, the new media regulars in some cases would be pretty standoffish, but in-person, walls came down and it really seemed to be a time of understanding and growth for nearly everyone. (I say nearly, because there were still just a few skeptics who thought new media was ours, and what are “they” doing here. Hey, every party needs a pooper.)

Btw, Morgan, really impressed that you replied to everyone's comments. Nurturing your garden is a sure way to help it grow and become healthy as can be. You clearly get it.

Okay, enough mushy stuff. Back to work, we've gotta get planning for next year!

Happy holidays, and until next event, see you online.

Dave Cynkin

Co-Founder, CMO, Sleep Deprivationist & Thrill Seeker
BlogWorld & New Media Expo

@dave_blogworld

Thank you again, too kind.

You wrote:
“As the mainstream continues to come to the community it will be important to maintain the balance between authentic conversation and connection in the face of uber-brand dollars looking to control and craft the conversation in a way that works best for them.”

I think there will always be entities, large and small, who try to manipulate conversations and media to their advantage; this goes for companies, political organizations, news providers and more. The really smart ones will utilize the deep understanding of their consumers' needs afforded by social interaction, and in so doing create product qualities which more accurately meet market needs. For those who “get it”, and for their audience, this amounts to tremendous mutual benefit.

That is not to say that there won't be some misguided and misused conversations, spin doctoring to varying degrees, there will be. Just as there has always been in every form of media. But while the disingenuous come and go, the long-lasting brands and the most loyal relationships will be driven by quality conversation.

It's critical for those new to social media to realize that when you're suddenly, in effect, face-to-face in a room with your audience it is not about controlling the conversation or measured, inauthentic communication which yields the most valuable long-term benefits; it's listening, becoming a peer, and deriving solutions to market needs which grow affinity for your brand. If this is done, I believe brand promises and fulfillment can be very real, consistent and accurate. This unprecedented two-way idea exchange gives those who listen and respond more power to deliver on their original vision than ever before. Small ventures, individual content creators and young brands can learn, improve and grow with real-time market feedback which has relatively easy access and low cost. Large companies and established brands can keep a finger on the pulse of their marketplace to make sure they're truly on track, and to correct earlier when they're not without waiting for long-term sales or transaction metrics before deciding to act.

Let's not kid ourselves. This is the most brutal economic period in our lifetimes. But with the reinvention of media and communication happening right before our eyes, I can't help but be hopeful. There is a tremendous amount of promise, potential and capability that social media affords us all. I can't wait to learn more, listen more, and I'm looking forward to watching the success stories unfold as companies and individuals not only find light at the end of the tunnel, they create it.

Best,

Dave

Sorry Michael your premise is plain wrong. First off you have to separate “serious bloggers” from “User Generated Content”. I will pit serious bloggers fact checking on the whole against traditional media sources any time. I am not saying bloggers are more accurate than traditional media all or even most of the time but they are at least as accurate as traditional media.

As for standards, it has been proven time and again that traditional media standards are very subjective and are compromised regularly. At the end of the day credibility is an individual thing. Every journalist or blogger is responsible for their own content and has their own reputation for accuracy and thorough reporting.

You don't equate The National Enquirer with The Wall Street Journal right?

MSM still has a role, New media just makes MSM better and vice versa.