Category Archives: twitter

digital media, social media, twitter

The World According to Tweetping – 140 characters at a time with Twitter

If you ask my wife, she will tell you how massive of a fan I am of Twitter. One of the reasons is that it is a quick and efficient communications platform that can be used by anyone, anywhere with a mobile phone, tablet or computer. Not too long ago she finally opened her own Twitter account. I announced then that with her getting on Twitter, that everyone in the world must be on Twitter. I tell you this story to tell you how wrong I was and still am.

Not everyone is on Twitter. All one has to do is check out a new and very cool visualization tool called Tweetping.

Tweetping allows you to visualize, in real time, where Twitter is being used globally. One of the things that struck me right away was how dark most of Africa and Asia was. Here are some other observations:

  • At approximately 3pm EST, Europe is more active on Twitter than all of North America
  • Brazil heavily dominates the use of Twitter in South America
  • In Canada, most of the use is along the corridor between Windsor and Quebec City
  • In the United States, the east coast is busier than the west coast.

Tweetping is built as an open source project and was created by Frank Ernewein. Check it out.

digital media, social media, twitter

thirdoceanTV – in conversation with Andrew Jenkins

The following interview with Andrew Jenkins first appeared on the thirdocean website. As many of you now know, thirdocean is a boutique social media and digital communications agency that I am partner with. I also have the privilege of being the host of program called thirdoceanTV.

Andrew Jenkins is an emerging technology strategist with Volterra Consulting. Over the last five years, social media strategy has become an increasingly larger part of the work that he does. His focus goes beyond social media campaigns to the “operationalization” of social media and the ongoing efforts required to turn an organization into a social enterprise.

In this full episode, Andrew chats with me about:

– How he shifted from ICT consulting to social media consulting
– What is a social enterprise and what does it mean to operationalize social media
– Why banks and other financial institutions are interested in social media
– How banks measure Return On Investment (ROI)
– Why Twitter as a utility has become important
– What innovations we can expect in 2013

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJx_1UrAX-0?rel=0]

Connect with Andrew Jenkins on his website at www.VolterraConsulting.com and on Twitter at @ajenkins.

Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel and stay up to date with our conversations with North America’s leaders in Social Media and Digital Communications. Follow us on Twitter @wearethirdocean, and Like us on Facebook.

social media, twitter

Securely Back Up and Index Your Tweets

There are many “shiny new tools” that come out to serve the social media industry these days.

Late last week one such tool was publicly launched in beta and actually grabbed my attention: qlouds.net.

Why do I like qlouds? As a heavy Twitter user it’s like magic to me.

First off, Twitter doesn’t “remember” all my tweets. Qlouds does. As soon as I registered my account, qlouds stores all my tweets. ALL OF THEM: Mentions, Tweets, ReTweets, DMs, and favourites.

And qlouds comes with its own search engine: I can search user name and even subjects.

If you’re interested in signing up for a free beta trial of qlouds, visit qlouds.net.

digital media, social media, twitter

#SaveInTheCity Video Campaign

There’s an interesting video campaign happening in Toronto right now called #SaveInTheCity. Sponsored by ING Direct (the bank here in Canada famous for their “Save Your Money” commercials) and being hosted and powered by My City Lives, this video campaign aims to inform Torontonians on the many local places people can save money.

If you know me, then you know why I LOVE this campaign:

  1. I love to save money!
  2. I love the folks at My City Lives!
  3. I love Toronto

All the details about this campaign can be found HERE.

And if you want to vote for me in this campaign consider “Liking” THIS VIDEO. It’s about my LOVE for the good boys and girls at The Work Republic (another great Toronto location!).

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4mrIrKNVt4&w=560&h=315]

blog, digital media, social media, twitter

social media workshop at PwC

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to lead a workshop focusing on social media as it relates to the business-to-business realm. It was a lively 75 minute workshop mostly filled with discussion and interaction amongst the attendees who were all from the marketing department at PwC (Price Waterhouse Coopers).

We didn’t video tape the workshop, but I do have the presentation below. I hope you enjoy. And if you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or find me on Twitter

social media and business-to-business [slideshare id=11943108&w=425&h=355&sc=no]

View more presentations from Karim Kanji
digital media, social media, twitter

my #FollowFriday list for 2011

It’s finally here.

Twitter
Image via Wikipedia

The last unofficial workday of 2011.  So what better thing to do then continue something I started last year here.

Here is this year’s list of Tweeple (people on Twitter) who positively impacted my  life in one way or another (in no particular order). After reading this make sure to follow all these people. Your life will be better for it.

  1. @jpuopolo – Joseph has been a good friend and supporter of mine for a little while now. I first met him at freelancecampTO. Before we met he was just the dude who used Charlie Brown as his Twitter avatar. Today?  He’s my UFC buddy. He’s been kind enough to open his place up to host many a UFC PPV. And he’s also offered his stickers for our XConnectTO events.
  2. @manalsiddiqui – Who would have thought that meeting on a TTC Streetcar party would have netted me a good friend in Manal. Manal is one of the few people I know who spends so much of her energy and heart into making Toronto an even better place to live in.
  3. @salimavalji – We met briefly at MusicConnectTO and then again at a Mobile Monday event. Next thing you know I was heading up to Stratford with Salima for Canada 3.0. Salima is a bright young lady whose understanding of social media and digital marketing is second to none.  Knowing Salima this past year has helped me gain a better understanding of my own industry and business.
  4. @OrangeYYZ – ING DIRECT’s foray into co-working with their Network Orange space has been a success as far as I am concerned.  Our business, thirdocean, proudly calls the space at 221 Yonge home. Thanks to Melissa, Conrad and everyone here for making 2011 so special for us.
  5. @thehartley – Matt has come through for thirdocean like no other this year.  He has hosted 3 events for us this year: HashUpTO, FilmConnect and WebPalTO.  His tweets on #cdntech and baseball are always enlightening if not downright hilarious.  Thanks Matt.  We shall do more lunches/drinks this year.
  6. @hessiejones and @azimalibhai- I met Hessie through my friend Azim when they were both with Due North.  Today, they are both carving out their own path.  Azim is an independent consultant in the media space while Hessie is starting to kick butt with a new Toronto-based startup.  They have both introduced me to some amazing people.  Thanks!
  7. @TheWorkRepublic – Thank you very much Ray, Maurice and Milan for hosting me on many days.  It’s always a trip hanging with you guys during the day. TWR is the best place to work north of Bloor Street.
  8. @funkstop – Although an entire continent away, Rahim has continued to support and be an inspiration to me and my business.  The folks on the west coast are lucky to have a talented guy who wears his heart on his sleeve.

There’s probably a bunch of Tweeple that are not on this list that have impacted and continue to impact my life in a positive way.  This is an incomplete list.  I have also not included the many people not on Twitter who I interact with often whom I could not do without.  To everyone, thanks for making 2011 another amazing year!

If you’re not on Twitter, get on and follow me at @karimkanji.

blog, digital media, social media, twitter

UFC uses Social and Digital to rule Sporting Universe

Earlier today an article I wrote was published on the website Web Not War.

On the weekend of December 10th Dana White’s UFC settled in Toronto with Sunday’s UFC 140 anchoring their activities. Over the past 10 years, Dana White, his partners the Ferenzzo brothers and their MMA athletes have created one of the most popular and fastest growing sporting and entertainment brands in the world. The reasons are manifold: the demise of the boxing industry and the need for fresh and new programming for this 200+ channel universe being just two of them.

To read the rest please visit http://www.webnotwar.ca/ufc-uses-social-and-digital-to-rule-sporting-universe/

digital media, social media, Toronto, twitter

my favourite co-working spaces in toronto

Almost a year ago I blogged about co-working spaces in Canada. On December 17, 2010 I wrote a piece titled “the (in)complete list of co-working spaces in Canada”.

The impetus of the previous co-working post was the desire to find a space to work from while at the same time being able to take advantage of other people working and building.  Listed below are three places that I’ve had the privilege of working out of:

BNOTIONS:

While not officially a co-working space, BNOTIONS has had a profound positive impact on the growth of thirdocean.  We spent 6 months calling the BNOTIONS office space our home.  We held our team meetings there and also met potential clients in their space.

The culture of BNOTIONS also positively influenced the culture of thirdocean.   Every time a guest exited the elevator on the 4th floor a loud round of applause greeted them.  The BNOTIONS office is also famous for their WWE DVD collection and superhero action figures.  Today, no matter where we work, all thirdocean visitors are greeted as long lost friends.

The Work Republic:

No matter what I say about TWR it will not be enough.  Located at the corner of Victoria Park and McNicol Avenue’s, TWR is only a 5 minute drive from my home.  This has allowed me to work out of a space while still being able to drive my son to his morning and afternoon classes.

This north-Toronto space is a welcomed and quiet reprieve from the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto.  On most days you can find Ray, Maurice and Milan listening to old school hip hop (Neil Young when I visit!), building mobile apps and making videos.

Need a space outside the city (yet still very accessible) centre to work from and bring your guests to? The Work Republic is the place for you.

Network Orange:

A slice of heaven in the middle of downtown Toronto, Network Orange is ING Direct’s contribution to Toronto’s startup and freelance community. Nestled at the corner of Yonge and Shuter, Network Orange offers our team a home 7 days a week.  Included in their package are a choice of 3 meeting rooms, wifi, coffee, a functional kitchen as well as ample desk space. Open 7 days a week, I have actually “opened” this space at 8am and left when it closed at 10pm.

Operating out of this space has also allowed us to meet with potential clients, clients and even our service partners.  More than any other space, Network Orange has helped our team at thirdocean grow from a young company looking for an identity to Canada’s community management and social media agency.

If you have a favourite co-working space please tell me about it in the comment section below.  If you want to receive this blog in your email, click on the “sign me up!” button on the right.

digital media, podcast, social media, twitter

guest appearance on the blogtalkradio network

Earlier today I spent an hour talking to Wayne in Milwaukee on his show.  We chatted about social media, community building, what brands are doing right and wrong, and what makes Toronto so special when it comes to startup community.

Here is the embed code for all of you.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf

digital media, social media, twitter

Social Media Masters: Toronto

Unlike traditional events that attempt to satisfy the needs of all levels of practitioners, the Social Media Masters Series goes beyond typical introductory courses, and provides advanced social media sessions for practitioners from true social media Masters. With the Social Media Masters Series, we are progressing the social media dialogue from the “why” to a more technical understanding of how to execute social media programs in key areas with an emphasis on engagement marketing.

Produced by Social Media Club, the world’s leading association of social media professionals and Sensei Marketing, a firm specializing in customer acquisition and social engagement for the enterprise, Social Media Masters is a premium event for leading brands and social media strategists.

The event takes place this Friday, October 7th in Toronto.

If you are a Social Media Professional wanting to take your skills to the next level, or an online marketer expanding your capabilities, this program is your chance to go beyond a typical introductory course and get advanced training from true Social Media Masters. This conference is a unique opportunity to develop your own mastery of social media for Marketing and Communications, with an emphasis on engagement. Whether you are in charge of a department in a large organization, you are responsible for multiple clients within an agency, or you are an independent professional deepening your skills and knowledge, this event will help you advance your career and accomplish your goals in key areas of social media marketing.

Produced by Social Media Club, the world’s leading association of Social Media Professionals and Sensei Marketing, a firm specializing in customer acquisition and social engagement for the enterprise, Social Media Masters is a premium event for leading brands and social media strategists.

Register today and save 20% by using code ‘karim’.  Social Media Club is also hosting a cocktail party the night before. You can register at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2275211218.

See you there!