CircleCount helps you better understand Google+

2013-05-19 17:38:24 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

So a boy at our church is working on a very cool project as part of Eagle Scouts. He is raising $10,000 and building a horse stable to house wild mustangs to be used for therapy with kids that have suffered extreme trauma. Apparently caring for the mustangs is quite therapeutic. Anyway, I love his ambition (in his words, "I could have just built a bench but I really wanted to make a difference." I just donated, if you are so inclined, great. Any amount -- even a dollar -- helps.
https://spiritreins.org/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/contribute/transact&reset=1&id=20

2013-05-11 19:18:01 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Baby Hedgehog Waves Hello!

Your dose of daily squee. This baby hedgehog can look forward to a lifespan of 4-7 years. Unfortunately, in some areas of the world where hedgehogs were introduced, like New Zealand, they have become major pests destroying native species of insects, lizards and ground nesting birds. But yes, they are cute :)

Photographer unknown. Via http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/baby%20hedgehogs

2013-05-11 19:15:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

"My Wife the Community Manager" (a pre-mother's day interview with my smart and beautiful wife, Melanie Starner Strout).

http://blog.stroutmeister.com/2013/05/my-wife-the-community-manager/

2013-04-04 18:50:44 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 7 +1s)

Do you love QR codes? If so, you might want to skip this post.

2013-02-06 01:04:25 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Nice write up on my man, +Schneider Mike's transition from agency world to startup CMO - http://ow.ly/hsfzw #proudofmycoauthor

2013-02-06 01:02:13 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

What is your most favorit-ist tv show right now (looking to pick up another 1-2). Besides The Walking Dead, I'm LOVING The Following.

2013-01-24 21:07:18 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

A "back to basics" post on using social media. Realizing that most of the folks here probably are already pretty well steeped but if you have a friend, family member or colleague that needs a primer...
http://blog.wcgworld.com/2013/01/using-social-media-effectively

2013-01-04 16:10:54 (0 comments, 6 reshares, 10 +1s)

Haven't shared this here yet but thought my Google + peeps may appreciate these insights from a group of very smart and knowledgable folks in the location-based marketing space.

2012-12-19 22:38:17 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Want me to be forever in your debt? Or willing to pay you in leprechaun tears? Give this post a like (California Restaurant Month). My better half is helping to manage the page:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=123500627813951&set=a.123500614480619.26768.107440619419952&type=1

2012-12-12 20:08:43 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Aaron Strout. Dad, agency guy at +WCG, author of Location-Based Marketing for Dummies. I also do some blogging about social and mobile on our company blog (below) and on MarketingLand here: http://marketingland.com/author/aaron-strout

2012-12-12 02:20:26 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

LA peeps. Plum job at Red Bull (client). If you are a digital/social analytics/data sciences type, let 'er rip!

https://redbull.taleo.net/careersection/jobboard_us/jobdetail.ftl

2012-12-07 11:25:31 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Thanks for the invite +Jason Keath 

2012-12-03 16:09:00 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

I've done the BeanCast a few times now but last night was definitely one of the most fun and engaging. Smart conversations with host, +Bob Knorpp  +Kathy Mandelstein and Steve Wax. We covered topics like:
- Facebook and whether or not it's become just another advertising platform (it hasn't)
- Mobile engagement/customer service/who's doing it right
- GM's announcement of embedding Siri in it's new vehicles
- Is the agency model dead. Long live the agency!

Hope you'll take a listen and let me know what you think: http://www.thebeancast.com/profiles/blogs/beancast-229-location-is-a-mindset

2012-10-18 15:59:40 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

Thoughts? I know +Schneider Mike will disagree: http://marketingland.com/the-future-of-location-based-marketing-is-not-foursquare-21393

2012-09-14 18:48:36 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Oh, and on the lighter front... would you chose $10M or the love of your life. Weigh in here (note: my wife runs this FB page): https://www.facebook.com/nowenergybar/posts/362413843839347

2012-09-14 18:47:28 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

Treasure trove of data on growth of social networks here: http://www.ignitesocialmedia.com/social-media-stats/2012-social-network-analysis-report/

2012-09-10 15:38:01 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Loving being on the +Tonya Hall show! Talking mobile. 20 more minutes. http://daniellesmith.visibli.com/share/hX0dY6

2012-08-26 13:28:45 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Thanks to +Mike Johansson for including me in this interview...

2012-08-06 16:18:49 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Have you been watching the Olympics? If so, what has been your favorite moment so far? For me, I've loved the volleyball (men's, women's, beach) but feel like the best is yet to come!

2012-08-04 02:05:10 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Good people of San Francisco! My company, WCG, is looking for a kick butt sr. manager of technology (account skills a must). Details here or email me: tinyurl.com/cnav4q7

2012-08-04 02:04:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

New +VinTank blog post: http://www.vintank.com/2012/08/public-service-announcements/

Please share.

2012-06-16 22:51:52 (6 comments, 2 reshares, 7 +1s)

Great post by my man, +Brad Mays on social TV. What do you think? http://ow.ly/1NPzwT #socialtv

2012-06-16 15:55:39 (1 comments, 6 reshares, 8 +1s)

May visitor numbers from +Compete confirms Google+ growth

The May US website visitor numbers from Compete are now available, and shows that Google+ is growing steadily. The site had 22,3 mill unique visitors in May, a 10% growth since April. The Compete numbers does not include mobile (smartphone and tablets). 
The Compete statistics confirm the trend shown in the statistics from Experian Hitwise. But while Experian record visits, Compete record unique visitors.

100 million monthly users probable?
Several reports have shown that US Google+ accounts represent around 30% of worldwide Google+ accounts. If the Compete visitor numbers are representative, a possible estimate of worldwide monthly visitors to Google+ - from desktops - thus could be around 75 million. Including mobile devices, this could make the last published figures from Larry Page, 100 millionGo... more »

2012-06-04 15:00:08 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Have you heard of +VinTank? If not, you should. While they are focused on helping the wine industry... the things they are doing with social CRM are quite amazing. My latest take on their platform here: http://blog.stroutmeister.com/2012/06/vintank-shows-us-the-future-of-crm-for-vertical-industries/

cc +Paul Mabray +James Jory 

2012-06-01 22:14:16 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Thanks to +Aaron Strout for including me. Great post.

2012-05-24 03:43:21 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

Want to get better at Instagram? 5 Tips for brands (or people) here: http://blog.wcgworld.com/2012/05/five-ways-for-brands-to-engage-on-instagram

2012-04-19 14:24:46 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Social Media Thought Leader: Intel's +Ekaterina Walter Walter, Forbes. Part 1: http://onforb.es/HNkDZN
Part 2: http://onforb.es/J3TkXe

2012-03-21 17:03:59 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

My key take aways from SXSW (hopefully relevant even if you don't know what it is or didn't attend). This is not a "I hung out with so-and-so" but rather key marketing observations post: http://blog.wcgworld.com/2012/03/sxsw2012-key-takeaways

2012-03-04 19:30:41 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

This is why Apple wins. I walk into their store with my 2 year old iPad. My daughter has dropped it two or three times so that the screen barely works. No receipt, no questions asked... they replace it for half the cost of what I paid with a brand new unit.

2011-12-23 16:15:07 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

My favorite thing about the holidays is...

2011-12-07 23:11:00 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Whoa! Watchout says that bird! CNET reports that photo sharing darling, Instagram, has 50 million users. Also, Android app is finally under development: http://m.cnet.com/Article.rbml?nid=57338496&cid=null&bcid=&bid=-264

h/t +BryanJones

2011-12-06 19:54:16 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Anyone else listened to Black Keys newest, El Camino? Not only do I love it but am also thinking that the song, "Little Black Submarines" is either a direct nod (or knockoff) of Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."

2011-12-02 23:10:53 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

Proud of this. The first episode of +LivefromStubbs -- guest is +Andy Sernovitz w/ my co-host, +Kyle Flaherty. Lots more to come over the coming weeks:
Live From Stubbs Episode One: Andy Sernovitz Part 1

2011-11-28 18:49:27 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

Quick plug for my better half, +Melanie Strout. She currently moderates a Facebook page for a Fortune 500 company (15-20 hours/week). She's interested in picking up another part time social media gig (ideally content moderation). She's worked for big and small brands.

Ping me if you might be interested. stroutmeister AT gmail DOT com

2011-11-23 22:32:49 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

It was such a joy to highlight in this post some of my friends, colleagues, one wubby (!), and others who reminded me all the time this past year that relationships (more than anything else in life) matter most. Thanks everyone for playing along! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

2011-11-23 22:27:18 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Please share this it means a lot to many ppl

2011-11-22 20:02:32 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Wow - just got circled by three people I actually know and like. Yup, +Ed Shahzade +Joe Cothrel and +Baochi Nguyen I circled you back immediately. Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-18 14:29:14 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Funny, woke up in the same clothes I was wearing yesterday...

2011-11-14 18:09:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

These guys are cool AND are supporting #Movember. Throw 'em a +1 if you get a chance.

2011-11-13 16:10:18 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 0 +1s)

I am trying to offer help to Arizona entrepreneurs, and I need to reach more peeps. http://azec11.com Help or RT if you can.

2011-11-13 14:19:04 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 3 +1s)

Some fabulous stats in this +ReadWriteWeb [infographic] on location-based services usage. Big ups to +Michael Brito for bringing it to our attention: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/25_of_american_adults_use_location-based_services.php

2011-11-03 14:39:51 (3 comments, 3 reshares, 5 +1s)

Want to know more about location-based marketing for B2B? In depth interview [video] with +jessenoyes and moi: http://ow.ly/1zJ96c

2011-10-31 17:47:17 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

BTW, very excited for Movember! We have several very fun events for all your Austinites. Starts tomorrow with a shave off. http://movemberaustinshaveoff-eorg.eventbrite.com/

Continues Friday at Livestrong HQ with a Mo-Tie event (drinks, food and a silent auction). http://amotieaffair-eorg.eventbrite.com. Be sure to rsvp for both!

Double bonus: Sam LeCure, former Longhorn and current pitcher for Cincinnati Reds will be at both events.

Stay thirsty my friends...

2011-10-31 17:43:18 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 1 +1s)

Does the seem a bit convoluted to you?

2011-10-27 04:19:11 (12 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

Probably a little more excited about the return of Beavis and Butthead than I should be... heh heh... hum... huh... heh heh.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Beavis-Butt-Head-MTV-1039028.aspx

2011-10-26 14:27:42 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Okay friends... it's that time again. Yup, mustache season. If you live in Austin (or the neighboring boroughs), I would love your support. Find out how to get involved here: http://movemberaustin.com (guys AND gals welcome).

BTW, our first event is next Friday, 11/4. It's a mo-tie affair (READ: fun cocktail party with a silent auction at Livestrong HQ). Hope you can make it!

2011-10-13 23:01:20 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Attack & Release might be the coolest name of an album ever. #BlackKeys #justsayin

2011-10-12 17:11:57 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

With all due respect to +Francine Hardaway who is a smart, funny social media-ist... why does Google + INSIST in every single e-mail notification I get on me following her? Seriously, I'm talking about 50+ e-mails.

2011-10-10 00:35:32 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)

7 Business Drivers of Social Media Marketing (via +Jason Falls)

* Enhance branding & awareness
* Protect your reputation
* Enhance public relations
* Build community
* Enhance customer service
* Facilitate research and development
* Drive sales and leads

*from Driving Sales Executive Summit on 10/9/11

2011-10-09 23:44:47 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

From #DSES (Driving Sales Executive Summit), +JD Rucker forecasted that sales leads by channel in 2012 for dealerships will look like this (note: multichannel touch means number won't add up to 100%):
- 60% phone (up from 48%)
- 55% text (up from 43%)
- 33% social (up from 5%)
- 20% e-mail (up from 4%)