Smojoe Speaks Again, New Lenzr Contests, Stabathon is an iPhone Application
Post by Robert Campbell on May 02, 2010
Dumpdiggers is something I used to write every week, but now I only update it once a season. I’ve stopped digging up old dumps in Toronto, and I don’t buy glass bottles or Canadian pottery anymore. I do however still collect knowledge.
As Smojoe, I make my passion pay dividends by writing rich media articles that are ‘hero driven’ whenever I can get behind the subject. I make stories more compelling for humans by personalizing the text. Dumpdiggers is really an act of charity, and a character building exercise. That’s because collecting antiques is a niche that’s almost entirely without sponsors, and so my text adventures here are purely personal. I love the idea of using a life’s passion to accrue knowledge and grow wealthy in wisdom. Like the wise old man whom I admire, i too will someday be able to spot the rare and precious opportunities, and one-of-kind investments that come from simply listening and writing and eventually just knowing lots and lots of little details.
Dumpdiggers wrote about the 2010 Toronto Bottle Show and then visited the 2010 Toronto Costume Jewelery Show at Leaside Gardens on the next Saturday. This is my own social capital. I love writing about historic things and junk jewelry is my own favourite shade of citizen journalism.
Four Lenzr photo contests climax as more struggle to launch
May 1st, 2010 – Four Lenzr photo contests ended today, and the results were full of surprises, as usual. The biggest shock came when I noticed that John Kenyon’s photo Only three remain had won the Backyard Party Events photo contest that his own Toronto tent rentals company sponsored! Oh no. The worst part is that its entirely possible and within the rules of the website, which is machine driven and has no board of appeals – Lenzr admin cannot change the winner which has been picked by members and visitors, and their votes and comments. Fortunately Mr. Kenyon has agreed to bestow the prize on the member that uploaded the 2nd highest ranked photo. Dr. Sandra Ausma wins twice this session. Her picture He “Really” Nailed that Pig is just as excellent, and truly deserves a reward.
You can read all about the separate web challenges, see all the winning photos, get links to the successful members pages and read all the prize details on the Lenzr blog. Each contest has its own story; some competitions became grudge matches when members went head to head soliciting friends’ votes. My favourite battle occurred between Johnny and Slimmswitch who each used social networks to recruit help and draw attention to their campaigns – that kind of viral marketing that makes sponsors real happy.
The How Green Are You? photo challenge collected 27 photos and amassed a healthy total of 1592 votes. Almost all of the images are entirely focused on green subjects, and most have one or two sentences that share insights into recycling and reusing materials, and using alternative energy sources. The contest itself was sponsored by a solar powered grass cutting business in Toronto Ontario, and curious readers can lots of information about the company on their blog. Slimmswitch wins the Neuton CE6 battery powered lawnmower and I do hope he’ll be kind enough to send me a photo of himself cutting a lawn with it somewhere this summer.
Lenzr analytics tell stories about traffic sources and website usability
Lenzr delivers a good user experience as measured in the 43% bounce rate, and the high number of pages per visit. When people are spending over three minutes on the site and visiting six pages they are engaged as active participants.
The next round of contests will use some new marketing tools to triple number of visits. SMOJOE PREDICTS on July 1st 2010 the traffic sources overview will be very different, and there will have been over 15,000 visits in the next sixty day contest period. I have some tricks up my sleeve and hopefully some new alliances including getting some help from the original Contest Queen, Caroline Wilman of Oshawa Ontario.
Stabathon is an iPhone app for Stabbing Friends (and then sharing it on Facebook).
From the mind of an evil genius comes an iPhone application that’s purpose built for puncturing pals. Stabathon is fun for the whole family, esp teenage boys.
This app comes complete with gory sound effects and there are several ways that users can share their virtual stabbing success, including Facebook. Also there are several different weapons available to choose from – my favourite is the pint glass.
Smojoe Speaks Out Against Predatory Instructional Seminars in an Age of Cliches
Rob Campbell is throwing down the gloves and leaving nasty comments on community websites in which savvy businessmen promote ‘Introduction to Social Media’ seminars with $400 per seat ticket prices. This is digital flimflam, and everyone associated with that scheme should be ashamed of themselves. Their strategy is so predictable. First they gather up some speakers who are promoting their own software products and companies so they don’t need to be paid, and then they rent the Hyatt so the event appears prestigious. Throw in a bean salad and some sandwiches for lunch, and the rest is pure profit.
What makes Smojoe different than other social media speakers?
Well for starters I don’t begin my presentations by asking for a show of hands to see who is on Facebook, and who is on Twitter. And I don’t follow that useless exercise with ten slides of statistics. Actually I don’t even have a slide show anymore – Smojoe evolved beyond PowerPoint presentations last year, preferring to just talk straight and use the projector to do Google searches and show off reports and good media – you know why? because PowerPoint presentations are boring.
My unique performance is an original blend of good storytelling and proven search engine marketing strategies. This is NOT affirmation, but rather this is good useful information that will help anyone selling anything online. This is the view from the trenches that you won’t find ANYWHERE else right now, especially ad agencies and PR firms.
Tickets are very reasonably priced between $25 and $40 ea
On 10th May 2010 Smojoe will be at speaking for the Toronto Business Leaders at a secret location (you have to be a member to see the details).
And then Smojoe Speaks to the IABC on 12th of May 2010 at Oakham House, Room A/B, 55 Gould Street, (one block north of Dundas, 1½ blocks east of Yonge.
Come out and listen, and surprise me with tough questions. I’m asking for it.
