5 Digital Communities To Join and Begin Your Research

Yesterday I posted an article, #MakeItCount: How You Can Change The Digital Landscape, which highlighted (1) participation, (2) workflow analysis, and (3) observation as key roles to changing digital culture, while promoting your brand. Remember: the focus here is development in digital. If you would like help researching a different field, please contact me.

I’ve assembled an ordered list of 5 communities and networks for you to begin your research and observation, all of which I use. I will have specific activities you can take to join the conversation tomorrow. Check back with us.

1. HBR Blog Network. I discussed the benefits of HBR Blogs on May 19th 2012. Why this network will help you succeed: personal development, strategy, insight from people who have been there.
2. Radian⁶. I don’t own a business but I am in the business of the self. Stay tuned with Radian6 for their Webinars, which focus on social media, digital, sales, marketing, and customer engagement. From Boring to Story: How to Make Your Content Rule is coming up on June 7th. (Click the link above for more information.) Why this service will help you succeed: strategy, hone in on your craft.
3. W3 Schools. If you plan on working in digital, especially blogging and editing, it’s a great idea to have a background in some coding. They offer tutorials that are straight-forward and information that is simple to digest. Why these tutorials will help you succeed: foundations in understanding how digital operates.
4. Wired | Mashable | Gizmodo | Tech Crunch If these were people, they would be a great golf foursome. Developing a regular news diet tailored to your interests is paramount when pursuing digital careers. These are my personal favorites. Find what yours are with Google. I will discuss how to get deeper into their culture later in the week. Why this information will help you succeed: strategy, keeping current with your industry, learning from the pros.
5. Copyblogger. These guys (and gals!) are the bomb! They offer tutorials in copywriting, content marketing, SEO copywriting, email marketing, keyword research, landing pages, and internet marketing. Many claim to be the Bible when it comes to these topics, with catchy slogans like The all-in-one to becoming a marketing guru! Just …. Don’t. Copyblogger doesn’t claim to be a Marketing Bible because they don’t need to create hype. Why this site will help you succeed: their content speaks for itself.

Summary of the content featured above:
(1) blog network, (2) industry service: webinars, (3) code tutorials, (4) stay current: develop a news diet, and (5) building skill sets. There are plenty of other great sources to explore by way of performing Google searches. Add your favorites to this list in the comment section below.

Update: 06/06/2012 9:44 a.m.
As promised: 5 Methods To Participate In Digital That Lead To Personal Growth.

Debate: Internet Civility and Anonymity in Western Culture

Wales, Keen and Sifry Debate Internet Civility, Anonymity

Partner: Miller Center of Public Affairs
Location: National Press Club | Washington, D.C.
Event Date: 05.18.10
Speakers: Andrew Keen, Farhad Manjoo, Micah Sifry, Paul Solman

I enjoyed Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia:

What I think that we need to recognize is that we have to work for social mechanisms that drive towards quality and thoughtfulness. And that we are still very much at the beginnings of that. We have some hints of it here and there […] Newspapers haven’t figured out how to engage their audiences in a way that is productive. Instead, we have comment boards that are useless angry people that are yelling at each other.

Andrew Keen, entrepreneur and writer, discusses:

• The Issue of Anonymity, not the Internet
• Western culture thinks: The Internet is a Right, not a responsibility
• Jeff Jarvis: The Internet is the Next Society
• Social contract theory
• Central fact of social, cultural, and political life in the 21st century
• Key responsibility in the West: reveal who you are to solve the problem

Micah Sifry, co-founder of Personal Democracy Forum, makes compelling arguments that suggest anonymity is a double-edged sword. There are circumstantial benefits to anonymity.

Closing Remarks
It’s most beneficial to push these three minds together, without losing form or becoming mush. They all make great arguments and marshal strong evidence to support their claims. We can’t forget they are on the same side: to promote digital and push this culture forward. If we combined all perspectives, [and were able to execute and pull it off] the Internet might be a utopia.

Imagine a culture that embraces social mechanisms to promote quality, thoughtfulness, and responsibility while still enabling the present nodes of communication, especially the freedom to post anonymously.

The nature of digital is a constant state of flux, which means it’s difficult to grasp exactly how to communicate. I like to call the places we communicate: joints, as a knee or elbow but much more flexible and durable. These joints allow us to interpret language and construct meaning. We’re all learning along the way. A little patience might help us, and go a long way.

The full video and story is featured at FORA.tv | Debate: The Internet and Democracy.

#MakeItCount: How You Can Change The Digital Landscape

Credit: Smashing Tips

I ate breakfast on my balcony today and saw the “double-yellow” lines on my street had been redone. (And the street recently paved!) I noticed, however, that these lines did not meet at the white crosswalk lane. And I thought: huh, that’s funny. The next question is fairly easy to think of, but not obvious to address: why didn’t they draw the double-yellow to the white crosswalk?

Answer: because they aren’t finished yet. They will be touching up the white crosswalks as well, which are currently cracked–prime for development and change.

The same can be said for social media and the Internet, but we’re not always as conscious about these things as we are in real life. The information pool and wealth of knowledge is much greater and more subtle. It’s not as simple to identify the “pothole” (keep thinking: social). Staring at the computer screen won’t give you answer, like observing the road does. So how can we “predict” change and see what’s coming next? (On the horizon.)

Participation in Digital
To “understand” the digital frontier, you must participate. An interactive experience gives you the opportunity to explore the current landscape and discover other users’ passions, thoughts, and desires in digital [to promote your own]. Blogs, webinars, conversations, posting—as stated: participation, first. To be knowledgeable is to marshal potential resources in your favor to push digital culture forward. And to innovate, it’s important to develop strong creative and strategic thinking. This is seldom learned by following a rigid set of instructions, like a technical manual. So enjoy drafting your own syllabus.

Example:
I am a writer seeking introductions in content management to promote a brand, mission or company. I attend @Radian6 webinars regularly, and connect with people like @ginidietrich, founder and CEO at Arment Dietrich, a Chicago-based integrated marketing communication firm. I will be guest blogging for them in July! (I am very excited.)

Wrestling with Uncertainty
Discovering outlets I’m interested in has proven to be a great tool in directing my attention and how I can get there—to apply my skills and expertise to new media. Your passion and development is to be determined along the way. Don’t let this uncertainty intimidate you. Or if you already know exactly what you wish to do, your execution should be that much easier.

The beauty of innovation is: you don’t have to do it alone. We need a lot of fingers and toes to count the number of people looking for what’s next in digital. And the big guys at corporations don’t even know.

Developing Valuable Connections, with Mutual Interest
Find like-minded people and groups to learn and develop with, together. Organizations like Radian6 and Arment Dietrich are two of many places I look for quality information. Don’t be afraid to make leaps and connect with people. A beautiful network of connections awaits you. Consider Twitter, Facebook, Quora, niche forums and threads, etc. You just have to get out there and go.

Susan Chun, who recently announced her own blog’s obituary, Smudged Text, writes: “Twitter is like a virtual water cooler where you can share interesting links with interesting people.” (Twitter is the reason I am blogging less.) I’m discussing collaboration with Sue, now, which I am very excited about. Remember: Information exchange is at an all-time high. It’s important to choose wisely, as not to spread your jam too thin, but also Make It Count:

Don’t forget the Medium
The digital landscape’s workflow must also be considered. Humans are not the only members in the process. Workflow systems now incorporate man and machine, as I like to call it “manchine”. Knowing how these devices work is also a must. I am currently learning HTML, CSS, and Google Webmaster Tools to name a few. A carpenter can’t build something great or discover use without insight into how their trade and resources operate. Observation is paramount.

Summary

• Participate, to gain knowledge and insight into the user experience and collaborate with current professionals.
• Workflow analysis, to facilitate the growth of new ideas and create a strategy. Remember: it’s not concrete; you may need to adjust along the way.
• Observation, to identify existing structures and resources.

Above all:

#MAKE IT COUNT

Are you pursuing a career in new media or involving the Internet? What are you looking for? If you have insight into strategies or inspiration, share your ways! How do you spend your time online? What’s worked for you and what has not?

Stay hungry, and you will make sure you get fed.