Kyle Thomas

The Website of Kyle Thomas (KyleWith)

Communicating With Who

One of the things I seem to do, is wander the websites of companies that claim to provide New Media or Social Media needs. It’s how I learn, I see what they are offer, how they are doing it, and what they say they can do. I’m far from being perfect myself, but it is something I’m passionate about and I want to master.
I have come to realize you have to sell yourself to potential clients. You need to prove to this client that you have the skills to help them. So the one statement I often read on these marketing companies sites is something like this, “Our team uses these sites and knows how to navigate them, use them and to reach those you need them to reach and build a relationship”. At that point I have to say “WAIT, I need to check this.”

Okay you claim your team uses these sites, like twitter, youtube, facebook page, etc, but for some reason I can’t seem to find them on any of these platforms. Well of course they have a Facebook Profile, who doesn’t. Facebook Profiles are only for your friends though, right? I consider myself a half decent Googler, so if I can’t find you, chances are you don’t exist. Which ultimately means you are lying. I’m not saying you can’t plan a social media strategy for a client, I’m sure anyone with a little bit of marketing skills can. What I’m more implying is that you tell me that you are, but aren’t. If you really are, LINK TO IT. I want to see @yourname. I want to see you communicating with people.

One of the biggest things I believe Traditional Marketing Companies get wrong it, Social Media is a 2-way street. You can’t just push you content at people, you have to talk to them. You are not using a mega-phone, your using a telephone.

Don’t be fake, be authentic. Oh by the way follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Flickr.

Where we are at

Last night, after the issue was brought to light, I recieved a call from Daron, the reporter, who spoke with Jason earlier in the day. He did not say anything about what I brought up but asked me about the Blog Awards, which I answered to the best ability. Sorry Megan I didn’t know your Cell phone was working down there. I told him about this blog and we talked about it a little. He told me he wouldn’t mind meeting up sometime in the New Year and then the conversation was done.

The reason I mention Daron’s name is because he posted a comment on my post last night and is going to clarify himself there. I fully respect him for coming forward rather than trying avoid all this. I think Daron is an excellent guy, I met him back in the summer. He does an excellent job covering Yellowknife Entertainment scene. It is very unfortunate that he got caught up in this mess I kept feeding. I hope we can sit down for a coffee sometime in the new year.

I held off informing everyone that I spoke to Daron last night, for only one reason. The discussion that is happening. This topic which we are talking about is not only related to Yellowknife, but also North American and the UK as a whole. How does traditional media deal with new media, how can they work together; it is a topic that interests me very much and something I am constantly reading about. As the conversation that was happening was related to our community of Yellowknife I wanted to see where it would go, and I am very pleased with the response.

Please join in the discussion and also check out the fluff piece in Wednesdays edition of the paper about the NWT Blog Awards.

Clarification of the Issue

I was surprised to hear feedback, to the podcast I just published, so quickly. It just reassures me that bloggers stand beside each other. Because I got some much feedback I have decided to fill in everyone on the details about the situation that I didn’t mention in the podcast. Although I will be leaving out names.

Upon reading a Facebook status that a fellow bloggers posted about how they would be in the Wednesdays edition of the local paper with their blog, I left he/she the comment “neat”. I love it when any NWT/Yk blogger gets traditional media attention, to me it says “we’re not totally ignoring you” or so I thought.

After I had made the comment I received a message from said person. They explained to me why they had been contacted, which was because of the NWT Blog Awards. I thought great but that wasn’t all. They proceeded to tell me how they suggested to the local paper to call me because I am the one with the. passion for blogging and the north. Which makes sense, although I don’t want to be to big headed, because as a journalist are you not suppose to try and find the person with the most information? Anyways the reporter replied with no, they’re not allowed. Their reasoning is because one of my other blog is media related and as this paper is also media, they do not want to promote the competition. Which again makes sense to me, if we were more comparable. I certainly compare my blog to them. I rarely report any facts and when I do it is not very detailed at all. I find it funny that a company that is well established and has many staff working all the time, sees a blog by one person who is not very old a threat.

Before this paper gets offended that I wrote about this, I want them to know that I respect them. I read the paper every time it comes out and I get information from it. I use it as a resource on occasion. Keep in mind that this blog of mine is not some much about reporting the facts but more creating the discussion around the issue. It about promoting Yellowknife and spreading the work about what is going on,

UPDATE: Read what Jason and Megan have said so far.

UPDATE: I have written a follow up post, please check it out.

Note* I will be back to edit and add more to this post later. Need to clear my head.