What’s really convenient about HootSuite is that you can pull most of your social sites into one interface, so you spend less time logging in and out of the different sites. From the dashboard, you can create a tab for each of the accounts you want to include, with choices of: Twitter, Facebook, Facebook page, LinkedIn, MySpace, Pingfm, WordPress, and Foursquare. As you can see in the screen-shot below, my chosen tabs for the trial were my Twitter and Facebook accounts.

One nice thing about HootSuite is that you can post a message to multiple accounts. If I wanted to say the same thing on Facebook as I do on Twitter, I can check both boxes and the tweet/status change will post simultaneously. I haven’t used this feature because our audiences are different and therefore we generally have different things to say, but I’m sure some would find it useful.

You can also schedule posts ahead of time. So, if I want to wish my friends a Merry Christmas this coming Saturday, but will be stuck at Grandma’s sans internet, I could schedule the status to auto-update. A more practical use of this might be if you need to release information at a specific time, but know you’ll be held up in a meeting, etc.

The program also does some basic tracking. For Facebook, the stats are pulled from Insights and from Twitter (as long as you use their ow.ly URLs), you can see general click stats, referral and regional stats, and Twitter ‘influencers’ that have mentioned your handle.

To give my two cents on the program, I thought I would break it down into perks and pitfalls for both Twitter and Facebook management.

Perks for Facebook

• One nice thing about the program is that it will show you in your page feed when someone has tagged you, which doesn’t show up from my Facebook interface. I can then go to that person’s page and comment on their post or status.
• When you post a URL, HootSuite does allow you to edit the title, description, and thumbnail image just like Facebook, which is very handy.

Pitfalls for Facebook

• There seems to be a bit of a time delay with the ‘like’ feature. It’s not as instant as it is within the Facebook interface.
• The Facebook Insights on HootSuite are very close to the Insights within Facebook, but do not include quite as much information. Basic stats are there, like daily post feedback, daily page activity, total likes, and demographics of visitors, but to really break down the information (like visits by city), I still had to log in to Facebook.

Perks for Twitter

• The delineated tabs make navigation between each social account easy and well organized. Within each tab, you can also separate the information into streams. With Twitter you can add separate feeds for Home, Mentions, Direct Messages, Sent Tweets, and a variety of others.
• The tracking for Twitter is pretty nice. For anyone who uses bit.ly, the stats are very similar. You can see click stats for a set time period, referral and regional stats, Twitter ‘influencers’ that have mentioned you and how many times they have mentioned you.
• HootSuite also gives stats on individual tweets or what they call messages. Within this section you can search past tweets, which makes it really nice if you need to go back and look at stats for something in the past (as shown in screen-shot to the right).

Pitfalls for Twitter

• While the tracking is pretty nice there are a few flaws. Under most popular messages, you can see who else shared the link within your tweets, however it seemed some users were left off of the list. It does not appear to be all-encompassing.

If you manage more than just Twitter and Facebook accounts then this product is probably even more useful. And for $5.99 a month, the price is really not bad. There are several other features that I have yet to explore including Firefox add-ons and an iPhone app, so I’m sure there are more perks (and possible pitfalls) to add to the list. Overall, I found the tool particularly useful for Twitter and ‘not bad’ to use for Facebook. Has anyone found a different tool that you absolutely love?

Jumo was conceptually introduced in March of 2010 when Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes announced a soft-launch of the non-profit platform that matches users’ philanthropic interests to various causes. Nearly 9 months later, what was just a landing page is now a beta-launched version that is definitely worth checking out. So what exactly is it?

Jumo set out to address three key challenges in the non-profit sector:

• There are millions of people working to improve the lives of others, many of whom lack the resources to have greatest impact.
• There are millions more who want to help, but don’t know how.
• Despite huge advancements in connection technologies, it’s hard to find meaningful opportunities to get involved.

Their goal is to make it easier to find organizations and issues you care about, follow the latest news and support these causes with your time, money, and skills. Functionally speaking, Jumo allows you to ‘follow’ an issue or project (organization) that you’re interested in, providing you with a news-feed of information on those that you follow. The news is aggregated from a variety of sources including local newspapers, industry-related blogs and sites, the project’s own blog or web site, etc. You’ll also see a Twitter feed with mentions of those you follow and a list of related projects and issues. Charitable donations can also be taken from the site so as users become savvier to its capabilities I’m sure will see what fund-raising possibilities there are.

Some of you may be thinking that the purpose of the site sounds similar to others like change.org or idealist.org. There has been some debate as to whether Jumo is able to bring something new to the table. My immediate reaction is that while they all connect individuals to organizations, there is more interactivity and networking possibilities on Jumo.

One thing I really like about the layout of the site is the instant similarities to Facebook. New interfaces can sometimes take a while to get used to and there are several familiar features that ease the navigation. From your homepage, you’ll see a list of your friends that are also on Jumo and you can browse the projects and issues that they follow. Jumo also uses the 3 column layout with your Facebook photo on the left above your list of friends, top news in the middle, and then suggested follows on the right.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy challenged their Twitter followers to assess whether Jumo will succeed. According to one response, Jumo will succeed because there’s a need, it is easy to use, it offers unprecedented access for nonprofits, and it offers networking capability. Another claims, Jumo will fail (though admits this statement is a bit of a journalistic hyperbole) because at the end of the day Facebook will still consume so much personal time that while Jumo may gain a bit of muscle power and a great deal of good, it will not become the next Facebook.

I think this is a pretty valid statement and I’m not sure that even Jumo’s founders believe it has that sort of power, nor was it their intention to create a site to challenge Facebook. But, I do think that the site has potential and it serves as a great way for us as a Museum to connect to our constituents while also allowing our constituents to connect with one another. If you’re interested in checking out the site, or following us, you can do so from the IMA’s Jumo project page.

And I don’t wanna brag, but I also happen to be the Mayor of 100 Acres and Nourish Cafe. Bet you didn’t know I was such a big shot, did you? Now gimme your lunch money.

You don’t recall voting, so how did I end up in office? By frequently “checking in” on the social media app. Foursquare, via my smart phone. And get this: I checked in to the IMA on Foursquare last week and to my surprise, received this badge:

I have to admit, I was slightly offended. Until I actually looked up what it meant: A zoetrope, which means ‘wheel of life’ in Greek,  is a device that produces an illusion of action from a rapid succession of static picture. So basically, a motion picture.

So how is it I won this badge by frequenting an art museum? Oh, well yes.  The IMA does offer quite a bit for the film buff. And I’m not just talkin’ The Toby.

Part of the 40^th Annual Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, the IBE Film Fest features the artistry of established and emerging filmmakers creating non-Hollywood productions on subjects relevant to the African-American experience.

Indianapolis International Film Festival

July 15-July 25: DeBoest Lecture Hall & The Toby

The 2010 Indy Film Fest partners with the IMA to host another world-class selection of independent films, actors and directors from around the globe. This year’s line-up includes films from both award-winning professionals and emerging filmmakers, ranging from short-subject documentaries to full-length feature films.

Summer Nights Film Series

June 4- August 27: IMA’s Outdoor Amphitheater

From June 4 to August 27, the IMA will be screening films every Friday in its outdoor amphitheater, located on the west side of the Museum.  The 2010 series includes films from six different decades. This week’s film is Alfred Hitchcock’s suspenseful classic North by Northwest.

So whatever you are: film-buff, videophile, movie-junkie or zoetrope… we’ve got what you need. And we promise not to call you any names.

This discussion, which was moderated by our Director & CEO, was recently summarized in an article in the Art Newspaper, Climate control: time to change the settings.

I also want to point out what a great job AIC and IIC have been doing with their blogs to let members know about conferences and current news.  Check out the AIC blog and read all of the recent posts about the Annual Meeting.  While there’s no substitute for actually going to a meeting, the amount of information the members of AIC are sharing through the blog is impressive.

Along with AIC and IIC, ICCROM has been using Facebook and Twitter to share current news and connect with a larger audience.  Even if you’re not a conservator, you ought to check out these pages and start paying attention to all of the discussions.

• AIC Blog
• AIC Facebook Page
• AIC Twitter Account

• IIC Blog
• IIC Facebook Page
• IIC Twitter Account

• ICCROM Facebook Page
• ICCROM Twitter Account

@uplandindy kept the beer (and conversation) flowing all night long.

@kylehodges1 aka DJ TwinPeaks manned the turntables.

IMA’s Top Blogger, Katie Neville graced us with her presence.

iPads in circulation. Always a people pleaser.

We’ve got a few ideas up our sleeve for the next BlogAnon. Until then, see you on the internets.

(photo via Joe Shoemaker)

Last week, I represented the IMA (@IMAMuseum) at the Indianapolis Social Media Breakfast (@indysmb) on the topic of Using Social Media in Travel, Tourism and Attraction Industries. Serving on the panel with me were representatives from IndyHub (@IndyHub), The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (@TCMIndy), The State Fair Grounds (@IndyStateFair), and the ICVA (@VisitIndy). Sitting in the audience were some of the most engaged social networkers in the city. It was a great opportunity to discuss the IMA’s social media strategy and to hear how other organizations are utilizing social networks for marketing and audience development strategies. (In case you don’t know, the “@” behind the organization refers to its Twitter account).

To sum up, here’s what I discussed:

1. Social Media = Social Networks (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) + Social Content (Video, blogs, etc.) If an organization creates great social content then social networking is a heckuvalot easier! Producing good, engaging content should be your top priority.
2. The staff person/s that manage/s Facebook and Twitter is your online visitor services staff. Whether they speak from their own voice or on behalf of your organization, Social Media staff are evangelists of the organization. They have to be authentically passionate about what they communicate and be willing to live the mission of the organization. The best Social Networking is done 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.
3. When it comes to online strategy, the best plan is to not plan. While it’s essential that overall communication objectives and key messages are understood, the best social media presences are those that have the ability to be flexible, responsive and experimental.

See the full discussion:

Indianapolis Social Media Breakfast | May 13th 2010 from Twelve Stars Media Productions on Vimeo.

Want More?

If you are local and want to learn more about the IMA and our social media strategy, you’re in luck! This Thursday, May 20 at 5:30 we will be hosting Bloggers Anonymous, a meetup group of individuals who are interested in art, technology, online communications and networking. Come, grab a drink in Nourish Café, get some freebies, and meet some really great people while you’re at it!

This photo was snapped just this morning down in 100 Acres by Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, Lisa Freiman and promptly tweeted by CEO Max Anderson:

Steel workers gather for a photo opp. on top of Free Basket by Los Carpinteros

Take for instance how social media has reshaped the world of journalism. “Citizen journalism” is the concept of members of the public “playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information.” Examples of this can be seen through blogs, twitter, and camera phone images.

As a museum, we can employ this same idea. Staff, artists and visitors can capture events as they happen with their iPhone or a Flip Video. The following images were captured on artist duo Type A’s cell phones and then uploaded to Facebook:

The top ring of "Team Building (Align)" casts a shadow

Astronomer Brian Murphy of Butler U. and Andrew of Type A work out some calculations to place the second ring for "Team Building (Align)"

So, budding art journalists, here are some tips from caffienatedtraveller.com to get you started:

• Acknowledge the artwork and museum in the photo credits. It is time for bloggers to step up and put on a professional face.
• Post great images and not the family snap shots on your blog. Why discredit a good art exhibit.
• Flash photography? Don’t go there unless you have explicit permission from the museum. Not even when you think you’re alone.
• Leave the fanatical blogger psyche at the entry door. Spend some zen time in the moment, with the art and the space and then shoot.

In the meantime, I’ll be looking for your tweets, status updates and image uploads. And let’s continue to blur the lines together, shall we?

The first site is “Dribbble – What are you working on?”. I think of this website as a visual version of Twitter. It allows designers to showcase the latest version of what they are working on in “120,000 pixels or less”.

I’m so glad this site exists! The best thing about it is you can only become a contributing member if you are invited, or “drafted” as they say, by someone who is already a member, also known as a “player”. The branding is a play off of basketball and I think it works. The fact that the basketball is pink is perfect. It should help keep the jocks from getting confused.

Anyways, this site is an amazing community because it is curated by it’s members. Players can start design contests (example here), share work, get and give feedback, and all of the other things you’d expect to find on a social site. Good luck getting drafted!

BetweenCreation is a social network that seeks to promote emerging art worldwide. This is another great social networking site for artists and designers. Anybody can sign up!

Unlike Dribbble, this website will let you upload larger images. I like the “related artwork” sidebar feature which provides a pleasant way to browse through the artwork on the site. Also, you can post and share art events easily.

Something that could easily be over looked about the IMA’s web presence is the amount of social media the museum is creating on a weekly basis.

So in the process of the redesign, the IMA Stream was invented.  What is the IMA Stream? You might ask.  Well the idea behind the stream was to create a single consolidated “stream” of all the content that is being produced by the museum.  The stream contains up to the minute updates from Flickr, Twitter, the IMA Blog, press releases, YouTube, Del.icio.us, and Artbabble.  This allows visitors to quickly browse thru the latest internet offerings from the museum in one convenient spot.

The system was made possible utilizing a common internet standard known as RSS.  In a nutshell, RSS is a standard for sharing and syndicating content across the internet. Leveraging the power of RSS feeds we are able to programmatically aggregate all of our content from multiple sites into a single feed which is what you see when you visit the IMA website.

This is a crown, but not the actual crown that the winning blogger will receive.

And the Nominees Are…

• Jessica Hancock
• Katie Neville
• Crystal Hammon
• Jenni Clarkson
• Heather McAllister
  

So What Happens Next?

Every Wednesday for the next 5 weeks we will post the submission of each of the finalists listed above. On March 3 we will then take it to a public vote in order to let our blog readers decide the individual who gets to be the IMA’s next blogger.

What’s at stake?

For the winning blogger – You will get a free membership to the IMA as well as complimentary tickets to select public programs and events. In addition, you will receive the opportunity to blog on a monthly basis through the end of 2010. As and added bonus, I will also fashion a special crown for whoever wins.* AND as a super special added bonus – The Social Media Committee of Excellence will buy you lunch at Nourish Cafe to celebrate your success.

For our blog readers – You will receive the opportunity to pick the voice that you want to hear throughout 2010. Who makes you laugh? Who intrigues you? Who has a point of view that is unique and relevant? It’s up to you to decide. Choose wisely.

Good luck to our finalists, cheers to our future voters, and let the best blogger win!

Oh, oh. And one last thing…If you aren’t following the IMA on Twitter, I think you should.

*Wearing the crown is completely optional. However, if the winner decides to not wear the crown, I will (obviously) be required to wear it myself.