I’m sitting here in my friend’s office at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. The first class I taught went suprisingly well. Of course I broadcasted the event on UStream but didn’t record it. Mistakes to be corrected tomorrow. I was also happy to see I had so many asking questions, staying attentive, and stopping by after the session.

A radio show just finished up and we’re waiting for the director of the show to stop by and discuss what more we can do to his site. I like the site, like the content, but already have a list in mind.

Anyway, while catching up on blogs I came across one HubSpot just posted regarding the Edelman trust barometer survey of 2010 which polled the trust people have in traditional media markets and marketing methods. The numbers were compared to the results gained in 2008.

What it showed was, across the board, that half as many people trust their news sources as compared to 2008. Even word of mouth plummeted to 25%. Here’s a link to the Edelman 2010 Trust Survey regarding media / marketing outlets.

Of course the running joke would be, “If those trust numbers are so low, would anyone trust the survey?” But assuming they might, the question would be:

How to Get People to Trust You Using Inbound Marketing 2010

I ask the question because for the most part I’m not sure about the answer. I’m looking forward to testing it out, but I have a few theories I’d love to get y’alls advice too.

Things I’m Going to Focus to Maintain Trust

1) We Are Family – continue to focus on Trust. Continuing to add links from where I get sources when the article calls for a source and then explain in the notes why the source is important. Marketing is all about fraternization and positioning. Keep the fraternity partying and don’t haze the newbies.

2) Run with Friends - As Brogan & Smith’s Trust Agents would indicate, I will continue to highlight why I publically acknowledge my friends when I acknowledge them.

3) Be the first – Trust in society usually starts again when someone lends a hand. There’s a power that stems from being the first to trust, to take the leap of faith. And if someone tries to bite that hand, their’s justification for beating them back into the depths of hell from whence it came.

4) Candid – My friends are often upset by my “freedom of information act,” when it comes to their stories. I don’t keep their secrets unless they officially call them a secret. I try to do this when marketing as well. I’m not one for hiding the warts. I’m one for lasering them off in public – usually while on ustream or something

5) Smile - These times suck a**. Might as well admit to it. Blues it. Identify it. Know that them days are gonna get better.

Trust in the day and know today will help tomorrow.

What approaches are y’all gonna take in this trust-less environment?

(photo credit by Open Your Heart via Flickr)

Popularity: 19% [?]

I’m sitting in room Seven at the Marriot in Indianapolis, IN watching Northwest Indiana Mortgage legend and friend Dave Woodson teach realitors at the Real Estate Bar Camp Indiana how to set up a WordPress blog.

I’m using the Wordpress App to show the site’s diversity.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Oh, what a night
Late into the evening at BW3s
What a very special time for we
As I remember, what a night…

Last night was my first Social Media event since I’ve been back from Ft. Myers, Margaritaville. I wasn’t sure how it would pan out. Wasn’t sure if it was going to be like riding a bike or like rehabbing.

It was a good bike ride.

Old friends, new friends found, and a with whom I should have spent more time. You’d think I could get it all in in 8 hours.

A few of those I wished I talked to more included:

• Chris Keller
• Chris Mahlmann
• Ben Fraley

I could add quite a bit to the list, but in short I only talked to a 1/3rd of the 31 attendees who braved the sleet and ice slicks to make the event in Portage.

The Week Ahead…

I head out tomorrow for Indy for a few days. See some old friends, some new friends. Watch the Colts game and make it out to Scotty’s Brewhouse downtown for the night game. Then Monday is the Indiana Rebar event. Looking forward to seeing how realtors get crazy with their online marketing.

Then the fun starts when I get back home. I’ve got two meetings, a couple phone calls, a special Blog Indiana Viewing Party #NWITWeetup to host, and then my aunt is in town for a few days to catch a couple Purdue men’s basketball home games.

It’s a family friend thing.

Hopefully, once the flurry of activity has come and gone, I’ll have a much clearer picture of where plan B will head.

Popularity: 11% [?]

While on my cramped flight to Chicago with less then amicable elders, I found my escape in the form of:
1) “Reckoning” by the Grateful Dead & 2) “Twitter Marketing for Dummies” by Kyle Lacy.

I pre-ordered Lacy’s book back in, what was it, October & I had it half-read in a few days. Then life kicked in and I didn’t get back to it so I decided to take it with me to Ft. Myers, Margaritaville. Glad I did because I was able to finish it before we got to the stopover in St. Louis.

And then the less than amicable passengers from up front left. And the positive chi return.

So as the plane refills the 8 of us remaining with 75 new Chicago-bound passengers who brush my shoulder and arms with their bags and backsides, I give, in the classic Twitter style, a 140-character review of “Twitter Marketing for Dummies:”

Definitive read. Ideal for beginners and a refresher for pros. Needs a to-do checklist & link to updated apps for be complete

Yeah, I liked it. And I learned things I isn’t know before, espeially things on Media usuage and resources to print media via Twitter.

The last of the new passengers have finished ceremonially grazing my shoulder, which means it’s time to shut down the airplane-unfriendly iPhone for awhile as we head for sweet home Chicago.

Get Kyle Lacy’s book. & for those who’ve read it, let me know what you think.

Ooh dear, I’m being a rebel. Gots to to so we can leave early…

Popularity: 11% [?]

Hey guys -

Amy Stark – innovator of the #indiana Twitter trend movement of December 10, 2009 and the founder of the Indiana Social Media Summit – just talked to a few of us on the prospect of developing one unifying Twitter HashTag  for Indiana social media movements.

I’m a fan. The topic needs further discussion and, once again, Amy’s picked up the reigns.

It’s not that state hasn’t been using them. And when I say “the state,” I mean “Indianapolis.” Not that the boys in Indy are being exclusive so much as they outreached hadn’t reached the rest of the state when they started.

Right now, they use #si for social media / SmallerIndiana things, #Indy for all things Indianapolis, & #indiana for things referring to the state.

The trick to hashtags is to try and pick things that won’t get a lot of crosstalk.

1) Take #si for example. Not only is there a famous magazine that uses those initials – Sports Illustrated – but there’s a Romantic Language who’s a fan of those two letters. Take a look:

Kinda the same problem Chevy had when they introduced the Nova to Mexico in the 70’s and 80’s. Same thing: NO GO!

Once again, in quick defense of the Indy boys, Twitter wasn’t as popular in Spanish speaking countries when they started using it.

I’ve asked them about it, but the topic doesn’t get much traction.

2) #indy is cool, but that’s pretty Indianapolis-centric and Amy’s looking for something about Indiana Social Media. I’d just as soon leave this one alone and let it fulfill its primary purpose.

3) #indiana gets traffic but is pretty broad. Plus every time Indiana Jones, Indiana Pacers, or anything Indiana University comes out – or Indiana State, Southern Indiana, the traffic dilutes

4) Now they used #in_sm for the Indiana Social Media Summit and that’s cool. It’s targeted, understood, and gets traffic. Some might bark cross

Why use #in_sm when you could use #INsm . The latter is one less character, and when you only get 140 characters.

But then a search for #insm reveals why there’s an underscore.

Damn Germans

So after frittering around the rabbit hole, I’m all a fan for #in_sm. I’ve tested it and can’t think of anything better.

What do you guys think the Indiana Social Media Hashtag should be?

Popularity: 54% [?]