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*****Editor’s Update 1/30/09*****
And the digital TV conversion saga continues. On Wednesday (Jan. 28), the House defeated the bill to delay the big switch. But the Associated Press states that the “battle over a delay may not be over, with some predicting the House will take up the measure again next week.” If you’re hungry for a complete update on the situation, check out the above referenced article.
(Original Post)
The Big Buzz in the TV world is that, come February 17th, all full-power broadcast stations in the United States are to stop transmitting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting in digital only.
www.dtv2009.gov
However, Senate voted yesterday, January 26th, to delay the big switch for nearly four months. The new deadline: June 12th.
So why the big delay? The answer, Digital Converter Boxes, or the lack there of. For awhile you couldn’t find them anywhere (not even in a back alley of New York). To multiply the problem, many of the government issued coupons expired while the consumer waited on more converter boxes to arrive. So now the consumers are yet again requesting coupons. Currently there are about 2.5 million Americans waiting on government issued coupons ($40) to offset the cost of converter boxes. The government …Read more »
So, the word is out. Social media is happening. More businesses and individuals are getting involved everyday. It’s real. It’s now. And, just like all potential marketing mediums, it’s about to get really competitive.
With the exception of the last few years, NOW is the best time to hop on the social media bandwagon and get interactive. South Dakota businesses and industries, along with the vast majority of other regional mid-west businesses, have yet to tap this vital marketing, PR and customer service resource – giving you the advantage.
As my final comment on the South Dakota Tourism Conference -I saw fantastic potential for 2009. The mainstay will be to continue building our tourism network of friends via social networks on the internet. Here are a few testimonials on how the State of South Dakota is using different partner programs to promote opportunity for all tourism-based businesses in South Dakota:
I’m excited – There’s nothing like being around people that are part of a common goal and vision for their industry – It’s great to see tourism friends and hear their perspectives on how their year went, how they are planning for the next year, and especially how their family is doing back home.
Overall, the conference had some excellent speakers for the seminars. My favorites were Garrison Wynn, Beth Terry, and Matt Baily. They were professionals that lead the way by teaching and encouraging an open forum. They also, like any good speaker, had great quotes: …Read more »
To hear top internet marketing magnates tell it, 2009 will see social media become sentient, unify and morph into a god-like being that will dominate the entire universe!
Alright, no one says that. But there *is* a lot of buzz right now, and a lot of it contains predictions of the impending explosion of social media into the mainstream business world. Are you ready? Probably not. Most people aren’t – in fact, if you’ve actually heard the term “social media,” you’re already ahead of the game. …Read more »
The term ‘video’ once meant that my techy uncle Bernard was coming with his VHS recorder to ‘document’ my birthday…the world of video has exploded since those early days of watching “America’s Funniest Home Videos” on television, to millions of people uploading their videos to video sharing websites like Youtube.com.
This is where the true beauty of modern technology comes in…people begin talking, sharing what they see with other users and the video spreads…like a virus, hence the term ‘viral marketing’.
In the wake of our shifty-eyed economy, a healthy competitive edge is certainly NOT the LAST thing that businesses need. Many companies are cutting prices, cutting employees and (dare I say it) even cutting marketing budgets to stay ahead.
Wait a second! Which one of these is not like the others?
I’ve always considered myself a fairly Web savvy individual – I stay up on the latest world happenings by logging on to the various news organizations from CNN to the Rapid City Journal. I’ve reconnected with several friends through Facebook. I’m “Linked In” with some current and past colleagues, and I’ve even started “Tweeting.”
But those Internet gods seem to always keep me on my toes. I’m pretty sure many of you have already delved into the world of Google Reader but the application is fairly new to me – hey, it’s a full-time job keeping up with Internet technology.
Imagine…as you drive along the main street of an unfamiliar city, your phone alerts you to a restaurant that your friend visited last week. It interfaces with your friends “facebook” page, where they had commented on the delicious culinary delights of the establishment to your left. “The Prime Rib was great” the screen reflects, as you drive on. An on-screen button allows you to make a reservation for two, tomorrow night at 8. The mobile device sends your name and contact details to the restaurant where a table is reserved for you.
The term ‘video’ once meant that my techy uncle Bernard was coming with his VHS recorder to ‘document’ my birthday…the world of video has exploded since those early days of watching “America’s Funniest Home Videos” on television, to millions of people uploading their videos to 
