It's cyber-vocabulary time!

I bet you have the same reaction I do, someone when says "meh." The brain says- what kind of word is that?

Today, I have created a short (abridged) list of some new words & acronyms to help you out. Let me know what I may have missed!

Grammar alert: this may not be suitable for those concerned about the perceived negative impact of these words on the English language.


FAIL- this was born during the great twitter crisis. twitter was frequently down this summer, so folks started using "twitter = FAIL." I am sure there are a bunch of excellent examples at the moment, "US Economy = FAIL," for example.

meh - I think this is bleah lite. "My inbox is piled high, meh." (this one is currently my fave)

HA! - a short laugh in response to a funny joke that may be at the other's expense.

hehhehheh - sneaky laugh

ROFL - Rolling on the floor laughing

MIL - mother-in-law

BRB Be right back

BIAB Back in bit

BFF - Best Friend Forever - used like this "My BFF is coming over for ice cream later."

haz - see icanhazcheeseburger.com There are lots of new words ending in "z" now. And using "can" in the sentence. ex- "I can needz dinner." 

Want to learn more? Check out netlingo.

Happy Friday!

-I Can't Keep Up 

PS- when someone figures out how to use "zombie" in a conversational context, will you let me know?

A Best Kept Secret: Red Couch

Among all the other great new things at the Democratic National Convention, I learned about an internet best kept secret. Who'd have guessed, but Level (3) Communications hosts great video interviews on its website. Yes, free content that's not on cable or network TV.

The Red Couch travels around to national events and hosts interviews with pioneers, thought leaders, scientists, celebrities and entrepreneurs. Mark Zuckerberg, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., lonleygirl15, and Ben Huh (icanhazcheeseburger.com) are just a few of the folks who have graced "the couch." Each interview lasts around 5 minutes or more. The best part are the great questions that give you more than a sound bite from these stars. I think the comfort of the Red Couch lulls them into answering insightful questions with real language, not talking points. Maybe all the candidates running for office should sit on the Couch- we'd probably get to hear some real answers.

Big things are in the works for Red Couch including interactive features. Until then take some time to browse interviews hosted at events like the The Webby Awards, Democratic National Convention, and the CIO 100 Awards.

Have you got your Halloween costume ready yet? I thought so. Well, if you hurry there is still time to make a LOL Cat costume ;-)

-I Can't Keep Up

What social networking sites do you use?

Let me know! Take my poll and I'll post about it once it ends on October 3. If you don't see one of your networks here, please leave me a comment.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Social Media: Your Customers are Waiting for You!

Good morning sunshine!

Do you understand the importance of social media and its impact? Do your co-workers? Does your boss? The study I discuss below demonstrates why your company needs to have a social media presence.

Cone, a strategy and communications company, just released the 2008 Business in Social Media which found that 93% of Americans expect companies to have an online presence. (I am not making this up.) On top of that, 85% think that companies should also interact with their customers.

Wow! That's interesting because we know that not everyone knows how to use social media applications, but they know it is important. 60% of Americans use social media on a regular basis. That number is rapidly growing- isn't your grandma on Facebook now?

We are reaching a point where customers are expecting to not only visit your website or Facebook page, but they are also wanting to connect with your business and deepen that relationship.

How do social media applications build relationships with customers?

1. They give you an opportunity to listen to your customers. Customers are already out there talking about you in the various social media venues: Twitter, Facebook, Plurk, MySpace, Chat Boards, etc. Reading their comments helps you understand your market and your product better.

2. Jumping into conversations they have already started enables you to thank them for their kind words, or make an offer to solve a problem for them. To top that off you get free feedback to improve your product.

3. Creating interactive venues - like a Facebook group - helps your customers find one another and share their great experiences.

This just a taste of what you can do. Where do you plan to find your customers?

**Update** I have been asked a couple of times about who participated in the study. When I asked how they selected participants for the study, Cone, Inc. Spokeswoman, Andrea Larrumbide, gave me this response via email: "Opinion Research Corporation selected them from a pre-existing panel of respondents. We screened for prior usage of social media."

Here's looking to another great week!

-I Can't Keep Up

Sunday Funnies: Peanuts Want You to Vote!

Happy Sunday!

I know you are all sick of election related anything, however, I couldn't pass this up. The Peanuts have joined with Rock the Vote to make sure we all register and send in our ballots, or head to the polls.

Peanuts Rock the Vote

You can vote for your favorite character, purchase "You Elected Charlie Brown" and read Classic Peanuts Election Strips. And you can Register to Vote, get info on voting/registration deadlines and info on "the issues."

Gear up for the big day and make sure you are registered to vote.

-I Can't Keep Up