I recently spoke at my own church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As the church is preparing a new outreach to college students in the Fall, the pastor and I talked about the need for the church get a handle on…
Author: Brian Atkinson
Brian has extensive experience running digital departments and teams in non-profit and for-profit organizations, including marketing and communications, higher education, and information technology. Specialization in social media and frequent presenter at conferences and seminars on the strategic use of different communication styles to reach a new generation of constituents. And I have a lot of t-shirts.
Distracted by Math
Posted in Speaking Tagged with: church, consulting, digital tools, generational, marketing, new millennium, speaking
Why I Don’t Like Much
If you follow me on facebook, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t like those pictures of sad-eyed kids or lonely American soldiers. But why not?
Posted in Social Networking, Wacky Tagged with: hoax, like, like farming, scam, scam artists, unlike
Get Personal
What makes one Facebook page better than another one? Is it the nature or the tone of their content?
Social Media Warning
Warning Social Media users – there is a new threat to your personal security and it is being perpetrated on Facebook as well as other social media like Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest. The posted virus can infect Windows and Mac…
Posted in Random Thoughts, Social Networking, Wacky Tagged with: Gullibility Virus Redux, Large Red Button, Susceptibility Virus
Social Media Shortcuts
I don’t know about you, but I prefer to navigate through my programs using my keyboard as much as possible. The keyboard shortcuts for Undo (cmd+z) cut (cmd+x) copy (cmd+c) paste (cmd+v) and my favorite “Select All” (cmd+a) are indispensable…
Social Media and the FTC
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has been governing online advertising on the web and email for years, but as of early March, 2013, the FTC includes governance for social media and mobile technology. How will this effect your employees?
Posted in Social Networking Tagged with: advertising, disclosures, employees, FTC, governance, regulation
Audience Engagement
When a Facebook page has been lying dormant for a time, it’s important to start providing content to engage the audience.
Pioneers not Settlers
I just remembered a moment from my recent speaking engagement in Wyoming. This one came out kinda off the cuff.
Posted in Random Thoughts, Speaking Tagged with: church, church consulting, consulting, ministry, speaking
It’s Never Too Late
So, you say your social media is dead in the water? You’re getting nowhere? You don’t even know what to post or when? Take a few deep breaths and know this one key thing: It’s never too late.
Posted in Social Networking Tagged with: internet, restart, social media, social network, social networking, stagnant, start again, start over, web
New Instagram TOS
We’ve all head the news that Instagram (recently purchased by Facebook) is updating their Terms of Service (TOS).
Content Strategy and the News
Yesterday was December 14, 2012 and I spent a large portion of the day producing content for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. as commentary and encouragement regarding the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, CT.
Posted in Digital Ministry, Social Networking Tagged with: children, Connecticut, content strategy, hope, news-jacking, Newtown, Sandy Hook Elementary, shooting
Quick Wins
Sometimes, just a few days can produce pretty spectacular results. Social Network Voice took over posting for one of our clients for one week to cover a staffer’s vacation time. After just a few days, we can already see a…
Why You Need A Strategy
Over the last 20 years of talking to people about their technology, the web (interwebz), and now social networking and social media, I’ve heard the following statement too many times: “Let’s just get started, we can do the strategy thing…
Posted in Digital Strategy, Social Networking Tagged with: digital media, internet, social media, social network, social networking, strategy, technology, web
Building a Business
I’m in a totally new world for me. I’m building a business. So, I’m trying to read and listen to everything I can about doing that and the advice is all over the place. I’ve been doing the work, I’m…
Posted in Digital Strategy, Social Networking Tagged with: API, app, business, social media, social networking
1 Billion
Today, there are more people on Facebook, than there were on the planet 200 years ago. Here are the facts about that.
Relational Messaging
My favorite way to help people connect to your brand is through relational messaging. For some organizations this is difficult, because you have to consistently care about your audience. I mean really, really care. You must provide them with the…
Posted in Digital Strategy, Social Networking Tagged with: social media, social network, social networking, strategy
Doing Ministry Online
Most anyone who works in Christian Ministry thinks about one of a couple of things: ministry in the church, or some kind of boots-on-the-ground international missionary work. Those are of course a bit limiting, especially as it doesn’t take into…
Posted in Digital Ministry Tagged with: Bible, Christian, digital ministry, internet ministry, ministry, online ministry, social media, social network, social networking
Social Networking Content Strategy
Let’s talk about your social networking content strategy.The key to any successful venture in social media, social networking and any digital endeavor is relevancy. You’re either providing content relevant to your audience, or you need to figure out what they…
Posted in Digital Strategy, Social Networking Tagged with: social media, social network, social networking, strategy
Your Social Networking Circles
Are you approaching your social networking circles strategically? (social networking introverts move along…) Most of us have Facebook friends by now and the Pew Internet & American Life Project estimates we average 229 of them.
What’s your super power?
I recently read Noah Kagan’s blog post “Why I got Fired from Facebook (a $100 Million dollar lesson)“. It’s a great refelection on lessons learned from that experience, and one line in particular caught my eye.
Posted in Random Thoughts, Wacky Tagged with: social media, social network, social networking, Super heroes, super powers
Everyone is Irish
On March 17 everyone gets to claim their Irish heritage, no matter how fictitious.
Posted in Wacky
Pi Day
Each March 13 (3.14) I find it a moral imperative to celebrate Pi day with Pie! This year, I made pie!
Genius part 2
And if you have a French toast bagel, and bacon, and eggs, and cheese…
Two Words
Two words: “Genius”!
Kony 2012
Total misunderstanding! I’ve heard about this Kony thing but finally got around to figuring out what’s up. Misspelling there made all the difference!
For the record
For the record, you can indeed freeze gumbo.
Clip Clop
I haven’t posted on this blog in what seems like forever. It’s not that I’ve stopped eating, heavens no. It’s a matter of what to post. Today I drove out to Blue Ball, PA and hit the Smorgasbord at Shady…
Posted in Brian-Food
Let’s Get Some Chinese
I’ve lived in the Philadelphia area for about 2 1/2 years. I have yet to find any really great Chinese food. That is until now.
Posted in Brian-Food
COFFEE
I got one of these Aeropress coffee makers for Christmas. I’ve been practicing and playing around with the process and amount of coffee for a few months, and I think I’ve really got it just right now.
clean plate club
Mmmmmm dinner time! My very dear friend and land-lady Melissa made a quick hodge-podge of dinner happiness. Pierogies with onions and sour cream, fish sticks with tartar sauce, carrots, onions, mushrooms and Brussels sprouts. The hardest thing for Melissa to…
Posted in Brian-Food
Tiny Food
I recently had a late dinner special at a little pub. Little being the operative word here. Not only was the room small, so was the food. This “Petite Filet” came with an itty-bitty potato and snow peas. The Steak…
Posted in Brian-Food
Food Challenge Fail
I’ve hardly blogged since moving to the Philadelphia area and starting my new job, and bemoaning that fact recently inspired me to eat something I shouldn’t have. 3 pancakes! I know – three pancakes doesn’t sound like a big deal,…
Posted in Brian-Food
Part of this nutritious breakfast
Texas! Part of this nutritious breakfast That’s right – Texas! An important part of this nutritious breakfast. The Residence Inn, Austin has been great so far. An easy walk to the Paramount Theater for the Q conference, and it’s got…
Posted in Brian-Food
Foreign Language Skills
Things I’d like to know how to say in a foreign language, like Russian: We’re in silent attack mode! I will be your friend. I am dangerous. Ha! I have your lawn chair! There are 10 cars parked here. 9…
Posted in Brian-Food
I Kin Do It
So my plane was stuck on the approach to the runway in Philadelphia – number 23 for departure… I’m on my way to BibleTech in Seattle. My flights are scheduled to go from PHL to Dulles, to Seattle. That’s two…
Posted in Brian-Food
tall lasagna
tall lasagna I’m not kidding, this thing is huge. A recent business dinner brought a party of 7 to Maggianos for family style dining. One of the pasta choices was Mom’s Lasagna. Will you just look at the height? It…
Posted in Brian-Food
Why You Are Fat
Another food blog has taken up the challenge. Thanks to my friend Rob for pointing the way. Some awesome samples…The Mega-Stuff Oreo Corn Dog Pizza And my new favorite….The Double Bacon Hamburger Fatty Melt And this time I can prove…
Posted in Brian-Food
breakfast in bed
breakfast in bed Honestly!You know how in The Sound of Music, Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews are realizing that they are in love and they sing, “I Must Have Done Something Good”? Well that’s how I feel. However, that might…
Posted in Brian-Food
shrimp po boy
shrimp po boy The Shrimp Po Boy is a bunch of fried shrimp on a roll. Sounds simple? You’d think so, but the location of the really good shrimp po boys is hotly contested. This particular po boy came from…
Posted in Brian-Food
Chumble Spuzz
My friend D’Arcy sent me this blog post about learning English as a second language and using children’s blocks to illustrate the language. Everything starts out innocently enough: And moves on to some interesting translations: Then a little stranger:Where’s your…
Posted in Social Networking
