@stuartgh » viral

The Conservatives go viral

Stuart Hall — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:28:17 +0000

The invitation from David Cameron backing up today’s manifesto launch to “join the government of Britain” has a link to an email form where you can include up to 10 people, including friends and family. It’s an example of a viral campaign.

Next month, you’ll get to choose a new government. But don’t just choose it, be a part of it. I mean it. We’ve got big problems in this country and the truth is politicians can’t do everything on their own. We need your energy, your ideas, your passion to get this country moving.

That’s why this email is an invitation to you to join the government of Britain. It might not be embossed on a thick white card, but it’s still heartfelt. If we win this election, we’re going to give you more control over your life, more power to make a difference to your neighbourhood, more opportunities to change our country for the better.

Watch this video to find out how you can help build the Big Society

Just imagine: a country working together to dig ourselves out of this debt and get our economy moving. A country working together to protect our NHS and improve it for all of us. A country working together to mend our broken society. A country working together to make politics and politicians work better.

So come on then, get involved. The more people join, the stronger the force for change will be. I want millions to be inspired and mobilised to play their part – and that movement starts here. So please, spread the word. I’m asking you to send this invitation on to just three friends, workmates or family members. Get them involved too. Extend the invitation. Together we can build the future.

Latest feedback thoughts on LinkedIn

Stuart Hall — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:29:12 +0000

Check out the current discussion with Principal Scientist at Lithium Technologies, Dr Michael Wu, on the subject of the 90-9-1 rule, feedback loops, and the rest, in the LinkedIn Online Community Manager Group.

Viral loops as a subset of feedback loops in social media

Stuart Hall — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:00:09 +0000

I like Jeremiah Owyang’s matrix with the embedded point about the viral loop value, to drive engagement in advanced integration of one’s corporate site with your social media strategy.

Accords with my views on how to grow online communities (where I’ve seen viral loops are a subset of feedback loops) – so using such a strategy both in the viral sense as above with with users, and in terms of establishing feedback loops with top contributors.

Any circuit-design type simulators out there which could plug into your web analytics data to allow you to test out viral campaigns?

I sketched this out a bit more on a recent slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/stuartgh/feedback-loo…

It’s also worth reading the comment from Bert DuMars on the value of using consumer generated product reviews published on one’s site as a powerful feedback loops for driving performance:

When you integrate CGP reviews into your branded website you are inviting additional conversation about your products and services. You are opening up to your consumers and allowing them to begin a conversation with you about what they like and do not like about your products.

If you are open and honest (showing both positive and negative reviews) you not only learn how to improve your products and services, you are given the opportunity to show that you care about your consumers. We have seen culture change at our Rubbermaid and Dymo brands based on CGP reviews.

We can respond faster to feedback, especially negative, and reach out to consumers to learn what went wrong. We can then adjust the product or service based on that feedback. Think of it as an ongoing, near real-time, feedback loop and a gift from your consumers.

Loops – Daily, Viral

Stuart Hall — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:53:49 +0000

Great to see UK-based Nudge Social Media leading the way at the Social Media World Forum on the creation of application around viral loops in Facebook:

Learnings From Successful Facebook Social Campaigns – Nudge – Social Media World Forum 2010

View more presentations from Nudge Social Media.

easy = viral

Stuart Hall — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:50:42 +0000

How important architectural choices are in creating viral applications? Very important in encouraging retweeting for example, from James Governor’s Monkchips blog:

Tim O’Reilly says:

As one of the most prolific retweeters around, I want to give a shout out to twhirl for encouraging retweet behavior by giving a simple button to do it. I don’t think I would ever have adopted retweeting with such gusto without that easy feature.

This example illustrates just how important architectural choices are in creating viral applications.

What’s so wonderful about twitter is that its minimal interface has led to an explosion of user and third-party application innovation. It’s a bit like what Alexander Pope said about writing in rhymed couplets: the limits of the form made his creativity shoot out, as water from a fountain.