Mar
18th

Oneupweb : Words from a Writer – An Interview With Doug Stanton

Posted by Maureen on March 18, 2010 at 11:39 am

I was absolutely thrilled when Doug Stanton said he would be our guest on the March episode of Be Relentless: Business Success Against the Odds. As the New York Times bestselling author of In Harm’s Way and Horse Soldiers, Doug really knows what it takes to be a successful writer. The constant struggles, the relentless drive—he’s been through it all and had some amazing experiences as a result.

The idea behind our new monthly podcast series is to profile the ups and downs, do’s and don’ts and mesmeric lives of Michigan’s most exemplary business professionals—those who have relentlessly pursued and found success against the odds. I’d say Doug has done just that.

I could go into how he worked during his early high school years, saving all his money so that he could attend Interlochen Center for the Arts. Or how he gave up a good job as a college professor to pursue his real dream of some day becoming an author. But I think what makes Doug Stanton’s story so compelling is the experiences he has had while in the midst of writing his books. He nearly drowned in Cape Horn Waters and spent time with soldiers in Afghanistan. It’s clear that he’s relentless when it comes to getting a story, and I think that’s what makes his books so compelling.

The interview he gave with Oneupweb CEO and Founder, Lisa Wehr, and Oneupweb Director of Operations, Tim Kauffold, was no different. I got a sneak peek yesterday, and was glued to my chair as he relates an acting lesson he once had with Harrison Ford and talks about the current National Writers Series. So what are you waiting for? Go to iTunes, download the podcast, and discover Doug Stanton’s story for yourself.

And don’t forget to stay tuned for next month’s episode, featuring….wait for it….a business owner who can tell you just about anything you want to know about political participation in Cuba, and therefore, makes jam for a living. Have a guess who it is? Submit it via the comments option below.

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Feb
23rd

Oneupweb : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Get Social

Posted by Adam D on February 23, 2010 at 9:53 am

The 2010 winter Olympic Games have been full of exciting ups and downs. From Shaun White’s snowboard run for the gold, to the interesting outfits of male figure skater Johnny Weir to Apolo Ohno’s near crash with the Chinese, there have been plenty of exciting moments for fans to dig into. And this year, the Olympics have become more integrated with social media than ever before, resulting in the creation of some pretty cool new social tools.

Meet the Olympic Pulse.

Here you’ll find many different ways to stay updated on all things “Vancouver 2010″. You can view the “Tweet Sheet”, where tweets from athletes and NBCOlympics.com are posted.

Or you can try something a little more abstract like the Olympic Tracker. This neat tool uses images of a topic to sort tweets by popularity. The larger the image is, the more tweets it has received. You can also choose the time period you want to view. So you can view popular topics by adjusting the slider on the right side.

You can also see what’s being dug up on the Olympic Games from Digg.com, embed a widget into your social profile or use RSS to get your proverbial IV drip of “Vancouver 2010″ if you prefer. There are also some pretty slick photo and video interfaces where you can view celebrity sighting photos at the games and receive email and mobile alerts.

You can also just use Vancouver Olympic Games official Twitter and Facebook pages to keep up with the games. Are you an Olympic enthusiast? If so, let us know how you like to use social media for the 2010 Olympic Games!

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Feb
18th

Oneupweb : Be Relentless: Business Success Against the Odds

Posted by Natalie on February 18, 2010 at 11:45 am

Have you ever watched a movie or read a book and come out of it thinking, “Wow, my life is pretty lame compared to this”?

Yes, me too. But it’s not always a bad thing! It just means it’s exploding with entertainment value.

And “edge of your seat entertaining” is exactly how I would describe February’s episode of Oneupweb’s newest monthly podcast, “Be Relentless: Business Success Against the Odds.” This episode features Dr. Jerry Linenger, an American astronaut who (among numerous accomplishments) survived the most severe fire ever onboard a spacecraft while aboard the Russian Space Station Mir and was the first American to conduct a spacewalk from a foreign space station while in a non-American engineered space suit. (His story is riveting, to say the very least.)

Okay—let’s take a minute to dissect this. The simple fact that Linenger has been to outer space (a place I’ll never venture to in my lifetime) and back is fascinating. But then combine that with his heroic stories and sightings of UFOs and what do you get? Simply unbelievable. I mean really, have you truly considered how difficult extinguishing a fire in outer space would be? No gravity. No naturally produced oxygen. And the water, well, floats! (I’m begining to wonder if Linenger has some superhuman powers we weren’t made aware of.)

And although it will be a hard one to top, Dr. Linenger’s story is just the beginning. Each month, Oneupweb will feature a different relentless Michigander in a new episode of “Be Relentless: Business Success Against the Odds.”

This podcast series aims to shine a light on the success stories homegrown here in Michigan. It serves as a way to recognize these particular people for their leadership, perseverance and above all, their relentless character. We’re really hoping that this series will get Michiganders fired up the same way it did us. We live in a great state that produces great people, leaders and professionals—and we thought it was time to pay tribute to them.

Stay tuned for next month’s episode featuring New York Times bestselling author Doug Stanton (we hear he’s even played hoops with George Clooney). In true Oneupweb fashion, it’s going to be relentless, riveting and rip-roaring fun!

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Dec
22nd

You Only Need One Ingredient

Posted by Tim on December 22, 2009 at 9:44 am

A few weeks ago, Nick posted a blog here at StraightUpSearch about podcasting and its value to your overall marketing. It warmed my heart to see that post go up. Podcasting is near and dear to me, and I think it’s an exceptionally powerful media that is still dramatically underutilized.

Nick did a nice job in his post of touching on integrating podcasts as a piece of a larger marketing strategy. That’s spot on. The real power of podcasting is when it becomes a part of larger efforts.

While this is all well and good, a lot of folks get a little antsy thinking about podcasts. It feels like such a departure from what they are comfortable with. It tends to raise a host of questions—What will I talk about? How will it sound? Will anyone find it interesting? And on, and on and on….

Podcasting really isn’t all that different. It doesn’t have to be anything more than a conversation. The only thing different about this conversation is that it’s recorded.

So don’t worry too much about the small stuff. There are pros that can help iron out those production details (Oneupweb has plenty of experience with this, in fact). There’s really only one thing that’s essential in order to put together a good podcast that people will listen to.

Passion.

That’s it.

You just have to believe in what it is you’re doing. Be excited. Get fired up! I’ve had the opportunity through the years to be exposed to a myriad of different industries and services, including core aeration, calendar sales, pest control, Sarbanes Oxley compliance, etc. And in almost every case, I’ve gotten riled up about the topic and been genuinely excited about the possibility (Yes, even with Sarbanes Oxley!). The common trait has always been the conversation I’ve been a part of. When people have conviction and passion, it’s easy to get caught up in it.

And that’s all you need for a knock-out podcast. Don’t worry about scripts, or characters or who’s going to say what. That all works itself out. Just get excited and get it recorded!

So during this traditional time of reflection as the calendar turns over, to not just a new year, but a new decade, think about how you can open up another channel to connect with customers and partners that share your passion.

Photo courtesy of southerntabitha.

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Nov
13th

Don’t Forget About Me

Posted by Nick on November 13, 2009 at 3:41 pm

No, I’m not talking about the 80’s anthem from The Breakfast Club, I’m speaking on behalf of the podcast. I’m here to champion its continued use because it seems, to me anyway, that many may have forgotten what a versatile marketing tool podcasting can be.

Once all the rage within the digital world, podcasting has now become commonplace. It’s a means of communication that many have used and still use on a regular basis. However, with the recent popularity influx of social media sites, it appears that podcasting has fallen off the radar to some degree. As every marketer knows, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the newest opportunities popping up everyday in the marketing world. But it’s also important to not forget about the opportunities that worked before, still continue to work, and are getting better. Like podcasting!

Podcasts, both audio and video, are still a great way for businesses to reach out to their current audience as well as help attract new ones. Whether recorded on a regular basis or reserved for special occasions, podcasts provide businesses with yet another means of informing the masses about new developments with their brand. And though it may seem that podcasting has been shunted aside recently by Twitter, Facebook, and those of their ilk, the podcast listening audience is still growing everyday.

A Combined Effort

I’m in no way trying to take away from the benefits of social media. It’s a great tool that every business should be a part of. But in my effort to restore podcasting to the forefront of marketing minds, I’d like to make sure everyone’s aware of how powerful the two channels can be when used together. You’re already reaching more and more people everyday through Facebook and Twitter updates—why not diversify those updates by posting a podcast or two?

In the end, your digital marketing strategy should include as many advantageous avenues as possible. Whatever works best to reach your audience and provide them with a worthwhile brand experience. Just don’t forget what podcasting can add to the mix.

*Editor’s Note: For more great articles about social media, check out our social media blog.

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