On Thursday, Facebook announced major changes to the platform that we all know – and hardly love. Through the wonders of modern technology (thank you, C Spire), I watched the entire presentation through streaming video, from my car, while Andy drove. An hour or so later, my summary and comments went to the media in the following statement. To begin what will certainly be a lengthy discussion on this blog of the money-making possibilities for a variety of businesses with the new Facebook platform, I wanted to share this release with you.

Chapman Comments on Facebook Overhaul

September 22, 2011 – Today, changes were announced in the last few hours by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg. Below is a summary and extemporaneous comments from The Gibbes Company’s Director of New Media Marianna Chapman.

Today, Facebook announced major changes that in the words of their CEO Mark Zuckerburg will “reinvent industries.”
Among those that will be transformed by today’s announcement are music, video, media, and businesses selling lifestyle brands, products or experiences… that’s a pretty broad range of reinvention!

Facebook’s announcement today centered around two major changes and a third change that I believe is the most transformational of all for business. Today’s announcement will forever change the way that life is shared and how content spreads virally throughout the social web.

Most importantly for business, I believe, is the introduction of “verbs” to the open graph. Last year, Facebook introduced nouns to the open graph, allowing users to “like” a variety of people, places, things, experiences, etc. Many businesses have experienced the benefit of the “like” button as it has driven personal preferences for brands, products and experiences virally over the past year.

Now, verbs are added. Developers will be able to add any verb they wish to the open graph and insert those reactions into the open graph in a variety of ways. For example, the possibilities include the addition of a “want,” “ate,” “cooked,” “read,” “listened” or “watched” buttons that operate similarly to the current “like” button. For business purposes, this allows marketers to personalize more specifically how users engage with products, brands and experiences in a way that boosts social sharing – and thus the exponential power of their marketing machine when used strategically.

Beyond this development, two major interface changes were announced.

Beginning immediately for developers in beta format, and then rolling out to all users over the next few weeks, Facebook will introduce the Facebook Timeline. The Facebook Timeline will entirely replace the current personal Profile for Facebook users. Facebook calls this Profile replacement a way to present the “story of your life.” This new format looks to me a lot like a “Tumblr style” blog presentation of all the various types of experiences in your life including photos, videos, wall posts and comments, travel, and interactions with all of life among other things.

Next, canvas apps will allow for “frictionless experiences” with apps, and therefore products, brands and experiences, on Facebook. Think of it like the demise of the pop-up box and the birth of more real-time web-based social sharing… That’s a mouthful! But the interface looks fantastic, and the development options for business are mind-boggling. Facebook will immediately introduce music, video and news apps with the launch of Timeline.

These Facebook developments present a fundamental leap forward in the power of Facebook for viral marketing as well as the overall power of social sharing on the greater web.

Want to talk about this more?

Contact me directly at mchapman at gibbes dot net, or let’s chat in the comments. I welcome your thoughts and this discussion is just getting started to be sure!

Jackson, MS, May 21, 2010 – On Tuesday, May 25, one of our nation’s top real estate agents, Libbi Logan will be our guest on ResultsRevTV at Noon CDT on the ResultsRev Ustream channel (http://www.ustream.tv/user/resultsrev). Logan will share her marketing experiences and insights gained from starting and growing a real estate business during an economic downturn.

In 2009, Libbi Logan, a 2008 REALTOR™ Magazine “Top 30 Under 30 Realtor” in the n

ation, partnered with three other broker/realtors to start Cleveland, Miss. based Partnership Properties (http://www.partnershipprop.com). Despite a shaky national economy, the group has prospered greatly since its start.

Logan is a Mississippi-licensed agent/broker and small business partner an independently owned and operated real estate agency. She is a graduate of the Bolivar County Chamber Leadership Class of 2002 and a Graduate of the Mississippi Association of Realtors LeadershipMAR of 2004. She is former president of the Cleveland Board of Realtors and former chair of TEAM Cleveland, Cleveland’s Main Street/downtown redevelopment initiative. Currently, she is chair of Community Development for the Cleveland/Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, and she has maintained multi-million dollar sales level since 2002.

In this episode of ResultsRevTV, we’ll talk to Logan about she works with several business partners to achieve success, how they market to win in a down economy, and how they manage to maintain such a high level of cu

The agents at Partnership Properties work together to bring success to their real estate clients.

stomer loyalty for their business.

ResultsRevTV is a weekly 30-minute broadcast featuring a successful small business owner interview. Small business owners and managers from across America tune in each w

eek to learn helpful advice from the marketing experience of other successful small business owners. ResultsRevTV is one initiative of the Results Revolution project.

The Results Revolution is a nationwide initiative seeking to create strong economies based on locally owned & operated small businesses. We encourage consumers to shop local, equip local independent small businesses to do effective marketing, and facilitate networking in the local business community. The Results Revolution was founded by small business marketing experts Marianna Hayes Chapman and Andy Chapman. Learn more at www.resultsrevolution.com or www.facebook.com/resultsrev.

Interview with Serial Entrepreneur & Publisher, Jack Criss

Jack Criss chatting with ResultsRevTV hostess, Marianna Hayes Chapman.

Yesterday, I interviewed 20-year publishing industry veteran and serial entrepreneur, Jack Criss. Criss is currently publisher of locally-owned and operated Greater Jackson Business magazine. Here are some of the questions we discussed and my paraphrases to his answers. For precise quotes, please watch the full interview on ResultsRevTV here (30 minute video).

Marianna: As a news insider, explain how small businesses can get their business covered in the media? What approach would you recommend?

Jack: Realize that the media love to be contacted and love to have their ego stroked. Recognize their work. For example, “Dear Jack, I read the article you wrote about the Two Lakes project – incredibly well written piece! I love what you’re doing with the new magazine… I have a story idea I think would fit well…” Address press releases or story ideas to specific people. Find their real name and correct spelling and send a personalized e-mail directly to that person’s e-mail address.  Be personal and find ways to connect with them unrelated to the need. Don’t mass send information to 50 journalists and address it to “Dear Sir/Madam” – those messages get trashed immediately.  If you don’t personalize a press release at least make sure it’s well written and correct and keep the information to one page as much as possible.

Marianna: How has technology played into having a successful business?

Jack: The demographic that the magazine is geared towards calls for a print magazine in addition to the website.  Jackson isn’t ready for a 100% online magazine yet, in my opinion. However, corrections can be made online within hours instead of waiting for the next edition to be printed.  We can supplement the print magazine stories, post video and photos not in the magazine and much more. Also, GJB is really a multi-media effort with the print magazine as the cornerstone providing readers and advertisers with a valuable and interesting long shelf life. But we supplement that with Facebook, a weekly radio show and vide on the web site.

Marianna: How have you overcome your fear of technology to keep up with the speed of news?

Jack: Facebook is often primarily used to communicate, network and make deals, in many cases more than e-mail. You have to get over your fear and get on Facebook.  Your competitors are on and you have to be too.

Marianna: How do you use Facebook to network while balancing your personal and professional life?

Jack: I’ve used it in incorporating my business and personal life. I’m just an ordinary guy who likes to run and has two daughters. I love being a father and a runner and a member of the community. I think being who I really am on Facebook helps me connect with others who share my interests and builds deeper relationships.

Marianna: How do you make time to do it all? Facebook, web site updates, sales, writing, events, networking and Twitter, too?

Jack: One way is that I’m leveraging the technology so that some things just happen automatically without me spending any time at all. For example, whenever a news article is posted to the web site, Facebook and Twitter are automatically updated with that information. You can leverage technology to make time to do it all without a big staff.   Facebook and Twitter all point to the magazine and help promote it.

Marianna: What do you do in your business to give back, even when cash is tight?

Jack: I can’t always give cash, but I can always give space in the magazine. Of course, certain “restrictions apply,” but non-profits that need advertising get free advertising in Greater Jackson Business – always. You’ve talked a lot about generosity in recent weeks, and this is how we do it at Greater Jackson Business – it’s important.

Marianna: What have you learned from failure?

Jack: Learn from your failures and be humble. You have to appreciate your customers more than ever.  Make friends with them and take time to develop a friendship. See them face to face on a daily or weekly basis as much as possible. Also, know when to say no and know when not to expand.

Jack talks much more on each point in the 30 minute ResultsRevTV broadcast…watch it now.

Watching Twitter earlier this week, you couldn’t help but notice that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was making a big announcement. (Note: I’m not going to get in to politics on this blog, you can ask me about that later, but it’s not polite dinnertime conversation. We are talking strategy only…)

She’s stepping down as Governor of her state, and she basically told us she has big plans. So what does that do? Well it creates a buzz. Remember another guy that did this. He said he was going to make a big announcement, but he was going to send it out via Twitter. Yeah, I think it was a Vice-Presidential running mate selection, oh, and the guy using Social Media (and using it well) won. You do remember Barak Obama’s use of Twitter right?

So, I checked tight-lipped Sarah Palin‘s Twitter stats since her announcement that she’s stepping down. Well turns out she’s gotten quite a bump in followers. Seems she’s started Tweeting a few times a day, and used her Facebook Fan page to give out a little more info, that took the press 18 hours to figure out where it came from. Interestingly enough, her stats indicate an almost 20% jump in followers since she made her statement on Friday, July 3rd.

By creating a place where people feel like they are going to get the most up-to-the-minute information, Sarah Palin is setting her self up to be the gate keeper of her own press info, and she’s been Tweeting out bits of informationn that the press can’t seem to keep up with. It’s great strategy, and we’ll be watching to see what she does.

So, what can we learn from all this. Well it’s something that came up in tonight’s #BlogChat with @MackCollier. Make folks feel like you are a real person, and have a little inside scoop. They said it increases the WOM (That’s guru-speak for Word-Of-Mouth) marketing buzz.

What can you do with this? Well, what do customers want to know about your business? Special deals they can only get using Social Media, insider scoop on your business plans, and ventures. It’s a great way to get the buzz out there, and have more people that are following your brand, and business. Be personable, and work it!

Read the Mashable Story: Sarah Palin Shuns Press: Talks to Twitter, Facebook Instead