Ireland’s economy was hit hard by the global financial crisis of 2007-08 and entered into economic depression in 2009. By 2012, unemployment reached 14.6%. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-2008Irisheconomic_downturn)

In this interview with Jim Nico and Dr. J, Joanna Murphy, Chief Operations Officer of ConnectIreland, explains the effort to capitalize on the connections of 70 million persons of Irish heritage living abroad, the Irish diaspora, in getting Ireland back to work. A passionate proponent of the program, Ms. Murphy describes the creation of jobs through the participation of “connectors.” Anyone can register as a Connector on the website “ConnectIreland, our country, your opportunity”. If a business the Connector refers to ConnectIreland creates jobs in Ireland, the Connector can receive a reward of €1500 per job.

Joanna’s enthusiasm is contagious as she speaks of rolling out the figurative red carpet for visitors who come to Ireland to explore the possibilities of setting up shop. The Irish government has gone all out to favor “a green light over red tape.” This intriguing leverage of a worldwide social network among those of Irish heritage highlights the value of cooperative effort among government, non-governmental agencies, and grass roots participation of persons-with-something-in-common around the world.

Joanna Murphy is the Chief Operating Officer of ConnectIreland – an incentivised referral programme appointed by IDA Ireland to deliver the Succeed in Ireland Initiative.

She is responsible for ConnectIreland’s brand development and strives to extend its reach through partnerships with leading global organisations, such as GAA, DAA and many more.

A business development specialist, Joanna leads ConnectIreland’s international marketing growth and has worked on countless successful marketing campaigns since being appointed as COO.

Prior to joining ConnectIreland as Project Manager in 2013, where she quickly rose through the ranks, Joanna was Managing Director at two highly successful business entities, Protherm Thermal Insulation Solutions and MLCS, which she established and subsequently sold.

Her passion and enthusiasm for the ConnectIreland model is matched only by her invaluable experience in the Irish business market and she has been prominent in furthering links among the Irish, at home and abroad.

Joanna holds a first class honours degree in business studies from the Irish Management Institute.

For this interview, Dr. J asked Professor Katie Davis of the University of Washington Information School about her two upcoming studies funded by federal grants. The common theme is that learning takes place in lots of places, not just in school classrooms. They have a lot of fun discussing these ideas!

One place that is a center of learning for the whole community is the public library. Accessing information is key to learning. Now that information is more often sought online than in books, libraries are reinventing themselves as places of digital learning. Katie’s grant will allow her to help librarians incorporate digital media into their work with youth so that young people’s learning at school and with peers is supported by learning they experience in libraries. She will be funded by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), through the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.

Dr. Davis wrote The App Generation: How Today’s Youth Navigate Identity, Intimacy and Imagination in a Digital World along with Howard Gardner when she was at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. A project examining the issue of identity will be supported by an additional grant for five years by the National Science Foundation. To cultivate an identity that includes STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) skills and interests, Katie will develop and test a digital badge system in conjunction with Seattle’s science-based afterschool program. Similar to physical badges worn on a sash by members of youth groups, digital badges are a way to provide formal recognition for learning that often occurs informally in the company of peers, often working on computer-based activities. Incorporating them into the classroom would appeal to the interests, goals, and everyday technology use of students. A systematic progression of badges will provide validation of learning that can be included in applications to college or jobs. Professor Davis explains the exciting potential of such a system that would also make clear the skills required to earn a particular badge.

Dr. Katie Davis is an Assistant Professor at The University of Washington Information School, where she studies the role of digital media technologies in adolescents’ academic, social, and moral lives. She also serves as an Advisory Board Member for MTV’s digital abuse campaign, A Thin Line. Prior to joining the faculty at the UW iSchool, Katie worked with Howard Gardner and colleagues as a Project Manager at Harvard Project Zero, where she was a member of the GoodPlay Project and Developing Minds and Digital Media Project research teams. In addition to publishing and presenting her research in scholarly venues, Katie regularly shares her work with parents, teachers, business leaders, and policymakers in an effort to build connections between research and practice.

Katie is the co-author with Howard Gardner of The App Generation: How Today’s Youth Navigate Identity, Intimacy, and Imagination in a Digital World, which was published in October 2013 by Yale University Press. The book represents a synthesis of the research that Katie conducted with colleagues on the Developing Minds and Digital Media Project and the GoodPlay Project at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Drawing on interviews with young people, focus groups with the adults who work with them, and comparative analyses of youth’s artistic productions from 1990-2011, the book explores how today’s “digital youth” are different from the youth who grew up in a pre-digital era.

Links

The App Generation

Dr. J’s guest co-host Spider Graham invited Kevin M. Ryan to join in discussing the book they wrote together, Taking Down Goliath: The Digital Marketing Strategy for Beating Competitors with 100 Time Your Spending Power. Listening to this show is a great way to get to know the authors of this book, which begins with some goal clarification work to lay the basis for developing strategy and learning the tactics of using particular digital tools.

Kevin explains his desire to write a cross-disciplinary, holistic guide for small businesses in contrast to the many narrowly focused marketing books that were readily available. By emphasizing overall strategy and providing many examples, the book makes it possible to see where the various digital channels can play a role in marketing within a limited budget.

Because of the Internet, anyone can now engage with potential customers, finding out what their needs and interests are. It is no longer necessary to have deep pockets to film an infomercial—YouTube is available. You can invite viewers to let you know by posting comments what they think of your message. Because of search engines and alerts, you can find almost anyone commenting about your product or service and respond to comments, whether they be positive or critical. Personal interaction takes time but is an excellent way of fostering “organic growth.”

While Goliath-like companies can spend fortunes reaching wide, general audiences, the Davids use shrewd reasoning to identify a small target and deliver precisely aimed, individually tailored messages. And that is where digital marketing excels.

Kevin Ryan founded the strategic consulting firm Motivity Marketing in April, 2007. Kevin is known throughout the world as an interactive marketing thought leader, particularly in the search marketing arena. Today’s Motivity is a group of professionals  focused on thought leadership, innovation and exacting tactical execution in a modern digital advertising agency environment.

Over decades in the business, he formerly has served as global content director for Search Engine Watch and Search Engine Strategies, VP, Interactive Media for the Interpublic Group agency. Wahlstrom Interactive, and CEO of Kinetic Results, an Advertising Age Top 20 search engine marketing firm. Directly feeding our marketplace intelligence, Kevin has published hundreds of articles on search and interactive marketing in industry publications such as Advertising Age, iMedia, MediaPost, ClickZ and Search Engine Watch. His insights are universally acknowledged as best in class by marketers everywhere.

His former client roster and personal case history includes market-leading brands Rolex Watch, USA; State Farm Insurance; Farmers Insurance; Minolta Corporation; Samsung Electronics America; Toyota Motor Sales, USA; Panasonic Services; and the Hilton Hotels brands.Widely quoted and recognized as an industry expert, Kevin has appeared often in our most trusted news outlets: ABC, CNN, The Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times and numerous others.

Spider is an expert on many areas of digital advertising and marketing including interactive marketing, digital media sales, audience targeting and programmatic media selling and buying.

Rob has over 20 years of experience designing and creating digital advertising and marketing materials-education and training products; he has spent 18 years as an adjunct University professor teaching over 100 digital media development, online marketing, media buying and ecommerce business courses at the University of Massachusetts, Harvard University and Emerson College; Rob has over 12 years online course development; he has been a speaker at over 100 different digital marketing conferences and venues ; he is experienced in Rich Media advertising and audience targeting; he is the Author of Advertising Interactively, Fishing From A Barrel, Going Native and Co-author of Taking Down Goliath: The Digital Marketing Strategy for Beating Competitors with 100 Times Your Spending Power. He has over 8 years as a monthly columnist for ClickZ.com covering Streaming and Rich Media technologies, Behavioral Targeting strategies and technologies and targeted media buying; and Rob is presently a columnist for BizJournals.com covering online business and digital marketing best practices for small businesses.

The Social Network Show welcomes you to the first episode of The Spider Graham Series.

Much has been said about getting to know your target audience by listening to social media conversations before using the channel to offer a product or service. But how do you accomplish that?

Rob “Spider” Graham is a twenty-year veteran of digital media buying, selling, and production. He is CEO of Trainingcraft LLC, a company he founded to train and consult with publishers and advertisers with regard to digital advertising, marketing, and sales. In this interview, he shares highlights from Taking down Goliath: Digital marketing strategies for beating competitors with 100 times your spending power with you and Dr. J.

The goal is to create opportunities to start conversations that are about your audience and not your brand by • carefully analyzing needs and interests that characterize your ideal or potential customers, you can search for conversations revolving around those topics. You might respond to blog posts with a comment or join a Twitter conversation in real time. • offering your audience unique or exclusive content or information • creating forums (blog, webinars, articles, etc.) that allow you to speak directly to the needs and interests of your prospects and customers • giving your prospects a forum where they can interact with you.

Spider will return with Kevin M. Ryan, the co-author of Taking down Goliath: Digital marketing strategies for beating competitors with 100 times your spending power.

Rob ‘Spider’ Graham is a 20 year veteran of the digital media buying, selling and production industries and is currently the CEO of Trainingcraft, LLC, a company providing digital advertising strategies, marketing and sales consulting and training solutions to publishers and advertisers. They provide industry leading training specifically for publisher sales teams through their CertifiedSalesTraining.com site and have just recently rolled out a training and education community for digital marketers and advertisers at spidergraham.com.

Spider is an expert on many areas of digital advertising and marketing including interactive marketing, digital media sales, audience targeting and programmatic media selling and buying.

Rob has over 20 years of experience designing and creating digital advertising and marketing materials-education and training products; he has spent 18 years as an adjunct University professor teaching over 100 digital media development, online marketing, media buying and ecommerce business courses at the University of Massachusetts, Harvard University and Emerson College; Rob has over 12 years online course development; he has been a speaker at over 100 different digital marketing conferences and venues ; he is experienced in Rich Media advertising and audience targeting; he is the Author of Advertising Interactively, Fishing From A Barrel, Going Native and Co-author of Taking Down Goliath: The Digital Marketing Strategy for Beating Competitors with 100 Times Your Spending Power. He has over 8 years as a monthly columnist for ClickZ.com covering Streaming and Rich Media technologies, Behavioral Targeting strategies and technologies and targeted media buying; and Rob is presently a columnist for BizJournals.com covering online business and digital marketing best practices for small businesses.

Michelle Killebrew is a “social optimist.” In this episode of The Social Network Show, she speaks with listeners about her conviction that social technology is helping us be more human, rather than less, as many fear.

Ms. Killebrew leads customer-centered marketing strategy for Social Business at IBM. Since earning a BS in Economics at Santa Clara University in the heart of Silicon Valley, Michelle has worked in IBM’s Enterprise Marketing Management division, thoroughly integrating Coremetrics analytics into campaigns. She then headed up IBM’s World Wide go-to-market and demand generation organization in the Smarter Commerce initiative. Now she is refining the definition of social business and creating research-based content to guide businesses in embracing it.

Together Michelle and Dr. J discuss whether engagement with online communication seal us off from genuine face-to-face relationships. Whether we are inclined toward optimism or skepticism, it is important to realize that technology can be used for good or ill. Public engagement in debate and analysis of the issues involved, such as privacy, security, social skills, and human empathy, is crucial, while apathy and defeatism is a worse enemy than any of the threats technology presents.

Michelle Killebrew’s talk on this subject, delivered at TEDx, University of Nevada in Reno, can be watched on YouTube and you can visit her website to learn more about Michelle.

Michelle Killebrew is passionate about marketing, especially innovative online marketing strategies that deliver a superior brand experience - from initial acquisition through to loyal customer - and increase growth and profitability. She currently leads the go-to-market strategy for IBM Social Business, where her team focuses on messaging and solutions that define social business and demonstrate how organizations can embrace this next information revolution in the workforce. Previously, she headed up the worldwide go-to-market and revenue-bearing demand generation campaign strategy for IBM's new Smarter Commerce initiative, where her team was responsible for marketing B2B/commerce and enterprise marketing management solutions to meet the needs of the empowered customer. Michelle has over 15 years of high-tech marketing and holds a B.S. in Economics from Santa Clara University.

You can connect with Michelle on LinkedIn and read her recent articles on ClickZ

McGruff the Crime Dog is all about preventing crime, including keeping your home safe. McGruff’s human, Michelle Boykins, National Crime Prevention Council’s Senior Director of Communications and Dr. J discuss what to look for in home security systems, many of which are connected to you via the Internet.

Joining them is Jay Stuck, Chief Marketing Officers and Executive VP of Sales for Secure Watch 24 Security Solutions (SW24 Security Solutions).  An innovator in technology-based security services, the company was founded in 2004 by veteran law enforcement professionals. Some of the points you will learn about include:

Common sense low tech prevention

Jay Stuck, is the Executive Vice President, CMO of Secure Watch 24 Security Solutions.  Jay is an award-winning marketing and sales professional with more than 30 years’ experience in consumer and business-to-business sales, advertising, sales promotion and media relations. In addition to managing several of SW24’s sales programs, Jay is charged with spearheading SW24’s penetration into new vertical markets, enhancing its brand recognition and managing the SW24 corporate profile across all advertising and social networking media. He formerly served as Vice President, Residential Sales for Guardian Protection Services in Pittsburgh, PA. Jay was also responsible for all worldwide marketing for ADT for 10 years as VP, Global Brand Marketing and Communications. He was awarded Sales Leader of the Year by Honeywell/First Alert in 2009 and 2010. He is also currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the National Crime Prevention Council.   A veteran of hundreds of interviews, including an appearance on Fox News, Jay is a frequent speaker at security industry conferences such as ESX and ESA.

You can connect with Jay on LinkedIn

The Social Network Show presents another episode of "The Anything Digital Series", with Michael Theodore, Senior Vice President, Learning and Development and General Manager of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Education Foundation and his guest, Joanna Bloor, the former Vice President of Sales Operations and Advertising Operations at Pandora Radio and currently the Strategy Lead and Board Member at Leading Women in Technology.

Between 2010 and 2015 the way we listen to audio content has changed. We are not just turning on the radio in the car but instead listening to music, news, talk shows etc. online, especially on our smartphones. Joanna Bloor has been right in the middle of this digital transformation. In this episode, you will hear about:

The advantages of listening to digital audio content

With nearly two decades of experience in digital, print, broadcast radio and broadcast television, Joanna Bloor is a veteran of the media space. Her experience encompasses Sales, Sales Management, Operations and Advertising technology. In her leadership role Joanna built the Advertising Operations team and scaled the team and systems while preparing them for a successful IPO from $100M annual revenues to over $700M annually in less than 3 years. Joanna has worked with both start-ups and established organizations within the technology, online media, restaurant and retail sectors. Successfully leveraging early successes in sales and management, Joanna has become a nationally recognized expert in advertising operations. Excellent operational, analytic, and financial skills allow her to deliver top notch, strategically significant process system design and implementation while working with all players from coordinator to executive.

Joanna is a member of Hipower, a select group of women corporate leaders focused on accelerating member’s leadership roles from professional success to wide-ranging significance. Hipower is organized under Leading Women in Technology, dedicated to unleashing the potential of professionals who advise technology businesses and executives.

Joanna presents frequently on a wide range of topics related to the advertising operations industry. As someone who works daily with young, energetic and ambitions Millennials, Joanna speaks passionately about how to guide this new generation of workers and get the very best out of them. “They can create magic if you ask the right questions and provide appropriate structures.”

You can connect learn more about Joanna on her website 

The Social Network Show presents another episode of "The Anything Digital Series", with Michael Theodore, Senior Vice President, Learning and Development and General Manager of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Education Foundation.

"Wearable technology?" Are you one of the almost 3 million people who went out on April 10th and bought an Apple Watch? Michael Theodore tells us that the Apple Watch and other smart watches are part of the much bigger technology of "wearables" (watches, e-Textiles-devices being sewn into fabric or shoes, etc). Listen to Michael tell us why the Apple Watch is such a big deal given that it is not the first "smart" watch on the market; what exactly does the Apple Watch do that other smart watches do not do; and what wearable technology is coming in the future. (By the way, the definition of Cyborg from Wikipedia: A cyborg (short for "cybernetic organism") is a theoretical or fictional being with both organic and biomechatronic parts.)

Like many digital immigrants, Michael started his career in traditional media, with a 15 year stint in local and network television news and radio. After graduating with an MBA from Harvard, he worked as a management consultant in Arthur D. Little’s Media and Entertainment practice. That led to his introduction to the Internet, upon which he served as GM at both CitySearch and Kozmo.com. For the past 12 years he has served in a variety of senior management positions with industry trade associations, including the New York New Media Association, Connecticut Technology Council, and the Interactive Advertising Bureau, where he is currently Senior Vice President, Learning and Development and General Manager of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Education Foundation and is responsible for the Digital Media Sales Certification program and professional development workshops.

You have the chance to win $100 for answering this survey (of course, you will have to answer the first question to qualify). This survey will let us find out more about our listening audience so we can target our shows for you. Please take this very short survey for us. The first question is OPTIONAL. Thanks from the staff of The Social Network Show:  http://survey.libsyn.com/thesocialnetworkshow

Please help us find out more about you by taking the survey and be entered in the drawing to win $100. See details below.

The Social Network Show welcomes Melanie Kraintz, Social Media Channel Strategist at Cisco Systems to the April 23, 2015 episode where she tells us about the advantages of using video as a marketing tool for businesses and causes.

Video has proven more effective than print and is shared more than text, making it more social. Melanie shares the unbelievable statistics on YouTube uploads and visitors and explains the best uses of YouTube. You will not want to miss her tips on what makes the best marketing videos. And, most importantly, how do you get your video found on YouTube and other platforms. Her tips include; how to do the best title, the best description, and the best thumbnail that will get you the best search engine optimization. Another tip is to check out Wordtracker.com to find out what words are searched the most.

Melanie Kraintz is a Social Media Channel Strategist for Data Center and Software Defined Networking (ACI) and is part of the Global Social Media Marketing Team within Corporate Marketing at Cisco Systems. Melanie manages the channel strategy for all things Data Center leveraging Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube, SlideShare, blogs, and much more. Although Melanie joined Cisco in September, 2014, she has worked in high tech content development and the execution of digital marketing strategies to drive web traffic and build community among audiences around the world for Microsoft, AT&T and T-Mobile in the past 14 years.

Melanie graduated from Central Washington University with a double major in Public Relations and Video Production. Melanie also has a double minor in Mass Communications and Advertising.

Melanie hails from Monroe, Washington (Seattle area) and enjoys all things outdoorsy including hiking, camping, and running. In her spare time you can find her playing with her Shih Tzu/ Yorkie puppy or planning a future getaway with her husband of seven years to a beach in a remote location.

Melanie is passionate about video and social media, so don’t hesitate to ask any questions you may have.

You can learn more about Melanie on her website and the Cisco Blog

You have the chance to win $100 for answering this survey (of course, you will have to answer the first question to qualify). This survey will let us find out more about our listening audience so we can target our shows for you. Please take this very short survey for us. The first question is OPTIONAL. Thanks from the staff of The Social Network Show:  http://survey.libsyn.com/thesocialnetworkshow

Please help us out and take the very short survey listed at the bottom of this post.

The Social Network Show welcomes David Ryan Polgar to the April 16, 2015 episode.

David Ryan Polgar, attorney, educator, Communication Director at Copilot Family, contributing writer to The Good Men Project and TechEthicist defines the term "overplugged", meaning so plugged into technology that you may not have a good handle on life. Dr. David Greenfield at The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and David Ryan Polgar broach this topic on the website Overplugged.org.

In this episode you will hear more about what the constant use of communication technology does to our thinking ability; why stepping away from technology and deep thinking are important for creative thinking; why it is ok to be bored; and is there a dopamine and "technology feel good" connection.

Also, check out David's recent article, Is Your Family Overplugged? Time for Tech Balance on drgreene.com.

David Ryan Polgar is not your regular tech guy. With a background as an attorney and educator, he digs below the surface to examine our tech use from an ethical, legal, emotional, and sociological perspective.

A frequent speaker and featured in major media publications (Boston Globe, Financial Times, SiriusXM, Forbes), Polgar has given two TEDx talks—the most recent was an exploration of post-death communication. He is also a contributing writer to The Good Men Project and the Communications Director at Copilot Family (www.CopilotFamily.com), a startup aimed at helping parents and educators with guiding children’s tech use. He commonly discusses issues surrounding digital citizenship and ways to positively use tech to improve the human experience.

You can learn more about David on his website David Ryan Polgar

Here are a few more links to check out:

Positive Digital Footprint: http://youtu.be/DeoB6rzwcDU

How to be Human (The Good Men Project): http://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/human/

Mental Obesity (TEDx): http://youtu.be/g2pre2xnA1M

Are We Overplugged?: http://www.forbes.com/sites/francesbooth/2014/10/15/are-you-overplugged-interview-with-david-ryan-polgar/

Digital Diet TV interview (from Mad Life with Andrew Shue [CafeMom; Times Square]: http://bcove.me/ti398j8z

We would like to find out more about our listening audience so we can target our shows for you. Please take this very short survey for us. The first question is OPTIONAL. Thanks from the staff of The Social Network Show:  http://survey.libsyn.com/thesocialnetworkshow