Things online move fast!

Is your business keeping up?

Does your business need too?

We dive into this question and more as we tackle the Growing Digital Divide: Helping Businesses on the Outside of the Leading Edge!

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Blab Video Replay:

The Growing Digital Divide: Helping Businesses on the Outside of the Leading Edge!

Businesses can struggle to keep up with the fast changes in the digital world.  Just this spring we were all talking about the need to use video on Facebook as the "leading edge."  That hasn't changed, but some changes by Google+ have made that network less of a "social media" tool and more of a utility.  In my mind, Google+ is declining in value.  Are you using Facebook video yet or trying to ramp up your Google+ use?

Add to that the rage of live streaming and the onslaught of Meerkat and Periscope this summer and business marketers could feel they were behind.  I confess I didn't really jump in on Periscope or Meerkat that much.  I experimented but it wasn't a clear fit.  I'm glad I didn't because (1) my audience wasn't really there and (2) both of those livestreaming apps was then (in my opinion) superseded by Blab!

Blab, to me, made more sense primarily because of efficiencies.  I have a podcast audience.  Some listeners wanted that podcast to be video.  Video works well on Facebook.  So I could do a "Blab" and use their tools to then convert it into multiple pieces of content:

BOOM! I was sold!  That's five distinct content options from one live event.  That's what I needed!  A way to reach my audience in multiple forms where they are at.... and for me to do it efficiently!

[Tweet "Efficiency in content with Blab! Host a live event, create a podcast, video, & blog, all from 1 show! via @mike_Gingerich"]

Some businesses in the leading edge of digital flow with all these online changes easily.  Many businesses, however, don't.  They are lost in the digital overload.

In this episode, I sit with Jessika Phillips of Now Marketing Group and Donna Gilliland of MOS Training to discuss this trend.  Along the way we invite in my friend Vicki McLeod from Maple Ridge, BC, Canada, and we dig in from the perspective of business trainers, consultants, and agencies working with clients across the spectrum of leading edge to those just starting out.

Covered in this Digital Divide Livecast interview:

[Tweet "DIGITAL TIP: It's ALWAYS about where your audience spends time online! via @Mike_Gingerich"]

Here's the video Jessika helped her client create by doing together!

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All this and more as we dive deep from the baby steps into the online world for a business to those working on the leading edge with such tools as Blab and Periscope.

RESOURCE LINKS FROM GUESTS IN THE LIVECAST:

What's your biggest takeaway from my process and tools?  Share below!

Next Doable Task:

It’s always about taking away learnings and applying them!  What’s the key takeaway that you need to act on in the next 24 hours based on listening to this?

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Why the Halftime theme Mike?

I’m an Indiana Hoosier native where basketball is the top sport. Every team heads to the locker room at halftime to evaluate the first half and create a updated plan for the second half. That plan includes adjustments based on reviewing what worked and what didn't. The “halftime” is a key review point where the game stops, the team pulls away to huddle in the locker room away from the fans, and they come out prepared and ready to succeed in the second half.

That’s what this podcast is all about, taking the time to pull away for a bit to evaluate, learn, and set some strategies for your business to succeed in the second half. Join me by subscribing and let me be your “business halftime” to help you find great success going forward!

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Blab Video Streaming And Chat Tool

Video streaming apps are rapidly gaining popularity. From Periscope to Meerkat, the opportunity to stream live video and connect it quickly and easily with social media networks has the marketing world all abuzz.

With the growth in use of smartphones, video has jumped to the forefront on apps like Facebook and even Instagram. And livestreaming goes one step farther than recorded video. People love to see who they're talking with. It almost feels like they're with you. Families, friends, and businesses separated by distances have come to rely on tools like Facetime and Skype as a way to maintain close relationships. Now there’s a new tool on the block and this one really seems to have some great potential! It’s a website and app livestreaming free service called Blab (www.Blab.im).

Blab Video Streaming and Chat Tool

 

Group Video Chat With Blab

Blab is a video streaming app that allows four people to video chat while an audience watches. The audience is also allowed to make comments and switch places with any of the four people who are chatting. It’s free, simple to use and is available on desktop computers and via a iPhone app.

Here's how it works:

To engage in the chat, sign in with your Twitter account. Your handle and bio from your Twitter account is what a user sees when they click on your name.

Whoever started the chat has control of the conversation and can either accept or deny entry to anyone who tries to enter the “circle of four” live presenters.

The chat can either be recorded or allowed to disappear into the internet once the chat is completed. Saving the chat to watch later could prove to be very useful. The recording is a great free feature for business users to then re-use the video such as uploading to YouTube or Facebook!

Users have the ability to give someone's video chat box "props" (sort of like quick “likes”) and the ability to use emoji’s. “Props” were originally called “Feels” but in the fast changing world of the web that lasted about 2 months before “giving props” became the term to show you dig what someone is saying!

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Potential Uses For Blab

Blab can be very addictive, which is great considering the many potential uses it has for business and social. Though it's still only available in beta, it has incredible promise.

Blab is an excellent arena for gathering customer opinion and insight. Imagine a live political debate between four candidates, while the audience throws out questions to be answered. Emojis, or "props" can be given to a specific speaker in regards to what they are saying.

On the social front, musical or artistic collaborations would be a snap on Blab!

Engagement on Twitter can be HUGELY amplified. Because Blab has tied itself to Twitter, it's incredibly easy to share links on Twitter to specific video chats. This can make it much easier for a video chat to go viral.

Many of you might be thinking "Can't I do the same sort of thing on Google Hangouts, or on Skype?" Yes, but the great thing about Blab video streaming is it's integrated with Twitter which is a very popular social media network in it’s own right, and the sharing is seamless. Plus, Blab is easy to use.

It can also be a great way to introduce a product, do a demo, offer a free consultation session, or talk about your next big event. Or you could simply have your event on Blab! It takes the personalization trend of the web one step further and businesses need to pay attention. People want to hear from you and know you….the people in the business. It can also be used similar to “live radio”, with marketing opportunities doing company and customer interviews, and for live podcasting!

Since Blab is in beta, many more exciting features could be added. As noted, it is currently available as an app for the iPhone, and it can be used on Android through the Chrome web browser. While there are other apps available for video chatting, this one looks the most promising from a social media and business use standpoint. Try it out; though there are other apps available for video chatting, this one is the most fun and user-friendly.

Schedule your next meeting or drop in on a Blab chat to check it out!

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