Content Throwdown

The recent Facebook IPO filing for $5 billion is not the largest or the most sensational public offering, but it is the most interesting in the last few years for several reasons. With 845 million members and over half of those visiting daily, Facebook.com is one of the most popular portals for sharing and consuming content. While we won't get in to the details of whether or not you should invest in Facebook (that's better left to the money managers and magic eight balls) this filing has revealed massive amounts of information and clues about this global technology giant. How will this transition effect the company, its users and most importantly the content creators? Is this the beginning of an incredible technology platform or the beginning of the end for another social network? In this episode of Content Throwdown we will put the risks and rewards of Facebook to the test.

The problem with our increasingly connected society is that there are more channels and opportunities than ever to share our story, but the pitfalls have also become more dangerous. Jumping into the modern social scene with your company's message can feel like swimming with sharks while wearing a SPAM scuba suit. So let's look at a real world example and see what we can learn about where and how to best share our content.

With the holiday season upon us we are all exchanging communications and content within our professional settings, as well as with friends and neighbors. Sifting through the cards, emails and tweets, I am reminded how important the tone of our messages can be. The Facebook message from a friend or the corporate email blast can be an opportunity to build a relationship even further or pile frustration on to the all ready hectic season. So sit back with your favorite seasonal beverage and lets hash out this edition of "Content Throwdown: Personal Voice vs. Professional Voice!"

According to Pew Research Center, "50% of adult cell phone owners have apps on their phone." In other words, we have gone app crazy! What was once reserved for the early adopters, gaming companies, or social networks has now become the must-have tool for any business. You have a website, Facebook page, Foursquare deal, and now the time has come to decide... app or no app? In this episode of Content Throwdown! we will explore the pros and cons of building an app. So grab your marketing plan, put on your wrestling gear, and let's hit the mat!

We are the content creators. The digital warriors who wrangle the fire-breathing dragons of text, photos ,and videos. We have honed our weapons into skilled machines that can upload a news release onto the web in the blink of an eye. Our workflow can edit, upload ,and embed while we casually sip on our lattes. We have reached the pinnacle of taking an idea from the strongholds of our minds and disseminating it to the masses, all with the click of our mouse. Or have we? In the battle for speed of delivery there may be a new contender on the horizon. In this edition of Content Throwdown! we will put the iPhone 4S Siri Assistant up against the bastion of electronic content input devices: the keyboard and mouse!

There are plenty of "rules" for online content these days. "You must post your story to Twitter at 10 a.m. on Monday for maximum effectiveness," says the blog post. "If your YouTube video is longer than 2 minutes no one will watch it," shouts the latest marketing book. "If your content isn't formatted specifically for each different mobile device, your audience will show up on your doorstep with pitchforks and torches," screams the over-paid consultant. And while some of these statements do contain grains of truth, I think Thomas Edison had a better take on rules. He said, "Hell, there are no rules here--we're trying to accomplish something."