Geo-tagging is the new shiny object in the social media arena.  Therefore, we should expect similar applications (apps) to appear in its wake.  In line with that expectation an application called Shopkick has been developed for smart phone users.  The app tracks customer movement from outside the store to various points within the store such as the dressing room, cash register and moving from floor to floor.  Think of it as your virtual personal shopper.

Shopkick is similar to other geo-social apps in that users are able to accumulate points – called kickbucks – towards gift cards from the retailer.  Retailers have found their marketing edge – a customized shopping experience as well as an opportunity to influence and analysis consumer behavior.

Personally, I enjoy the evolution of technology.  My phone allows me to stay connected – email, Facebook, Twitter,  the web – but I draw the line at allowing myself to be tracked at any given moment.  What is the pay-off for that level of intrusion?   A $5 gift card?  Storage of my habits and preferences in the clouds?

What’s your opinion?  Is Shopkick the natural progression to geo-apps?  Are we exposing too much of ourselves in the world of Web 2.0?  Please comment.

Being social comes naturally to most people.  Before the popularity of the internet, socializing or networking was done formally – business conferences –  or informally – meeting at the local pub.   The development of social sites such as FaceBook, Twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn has added another option to our ability to network, i.e.  socialize.

Evolution is inevitable.  Society seeks to improve upon existing technology – make it faster, more specific, more personalized, more available.  This wave of progression ushered in the popularity of geo-social networking – the ability to advice your network and your network’s network about your whereabouts at any given time of day.  This, in the moment, where am I, sharing can be done via a popular geo-networking site called Foursquare.

Foursquare is a location based social networking platform that allows users to “check-in” at venues using a mobile device.  Users are awarded points and/or badges by checking in at locations with certain tags or for the frequency of “check-ins”.  Users can share their location virally, via Twitter and Facebook, thereby blasting their location to their network and their network’s network and inadvertently to those with less than virtuous intentions for this information.

As a marketing tool, Foursquare and similar geo-tagging sites have their benefit.  Some advantages are:   promoting a sale or special for a specific area, determining the faithful followers of a specific business location and the ability to share comments about a specific location.  I have not created a Foursquare account and after read the following post doubt that I will:  please read.

In my role as a virtual service provider, I would use this service or one similar to it to promote my client’s business in line with their social media strategy.  Personally, virally sharing that I’m away from home for 2 weeks or won’t be home until late is a level of sharing that’s better achieved via word of mouth on a need to know basis.

What’s your view on geo-social networking platforms?

The word legacy is a small word with a lot of gravity and depth.  It may conjure up thoughts of financial inheritance, rights of passage to head of household or an imprint in history.

My coach asked me a similar question last year “what would you like your legacy to be?”  Thinking about perpetuity caused me to evaluate my business plan.  My business will be the foundation for my legacy.  It will give me the platform to partner with people and/or organizations for which I have synergy.  My business will also give me the opportunity to participate in supporting causes I believe in  - women, children and hunger.

For me, creating a legacy is not only how much money I’ve made but how did I use that money to help support the causes I believe in.

Have you thought about your legacy?  How would you like to be remembered?

Do you have a cause, hobby or interest that you would like to spend more time on?  Or do you want to spend more time on income-generating activities within your business so your business will be your legacy?  Perhaps you can’t because daily administrative tasks are bogging you down.

I’m here to help.  Transition those tasks to me @ www.setufreeva.com – then go build your legacy!

The media endorses it – most people engage in it – companies advertise on it – what is it?  If you answered Social Media you are correct.

Social media is represented in various mediums – Facebook, LinkedIn, instant messaging, and texting – all forms of communication.  I’m using another form right now – blogging.

Blogs are a means to engage, inform and share.  The key to blogging is fresh content, especially if your blog is attached to your main website.  Some blogs are personal. They enable family and friends who are separated by distance to keep in touch.  Other blogs are business oriented. They include updates from the CEO’s desk, announcements about major company initiatives and new-products offerings.

My website provides tips on business blogging. It also notes some ways to engage, inform and share information with your target audience.  Sign up for my “Social Media Marketing” series @ http://www.SetUFreeVA.com to read more.

Social media is here to stay.  A blogger wrote “if you aren’t part of a social network – the world isn’t passing you by – it has passed you by!”.

If you are new to social media or still considering joining the masses; here’s a cheat sheet of common terms used in the social media arena:

Blogs: short for “web logs” – allows companies and individuals to interact with consumers, target audience and friends.  The preferred platform is WordPress.  Blogs can be targeted – photography, basket weaving, golf or general interest.  It’s a forum to illicit communication and provides information.

Feeds or RSS Feeds: these programs are used by social networking sites – as well as blogs – to allow subscribers to receive updates without visiting the actual site.  The feeds are aggregated to a site of your choice – Google Reader, Yahoo Reader or a similar aggregator – to allow for 1 stop reading.

Micro-blogging: social networking or marketing using a maximum of 140 characters.  The most popular platform for this type of interaction is Twitter.

Podcast: audio or video content that subscribers can receive automatically – similar to RSS fees.  A popular platform to access podcast is via iTunes.

Trackback: linking a blog to another related blog post or comment on another blog site.  This is mutually beneficial to both blogs as readers can reference both posts and drive traffic to both sites.

Viral Marketing: the wide-spread awareness of a product or service via social media platforms.

Widgets: code embedded in a site that performs a specific function.  Widgets are commonly used on WordPress sites.  Some functions are opt-in boxes, donation buttons, Facebook or Twitter buttons.

This is a short list of some popular social networking terms – the list grows daily – I hope you find it helpful as you navigate the various social media platforms.

I read an interesting article in InfoWorld that highlighted 9 websites that IT professionals should master in 2009. The article states “this list is not for geeks. It’s for IT professionals…to keep up with the latest innovations on the internet.” Amongst the list were 2 social networking sites: LinkedIn and Twitter. Social networking is here to stay…and I’m sure you don’t want to be left out!

Do you have a presence on LinkedIn? Do you need assistance maintaining your presence on LinkedIn and other social media? I’d be happy to assist you; here’s mine www.linkedin.com/in/setufree.