Coupons on your cell phone, paying for products with your cell phone, you can even take a picture of food with your phone and get an approximate calorie count.

Yes, this is really happening. The U.S.  is slower in the mobile race than Asia, but we’re trying to catch up.

Swift Mob: This is a free service that can take your company or personal Web site and make it available for mobile phones. It is free because they put a small ad on your site. The ability for people to reach your content on the go can be a powerful tool. There are also pay services in this department.

The educators that attend EDB will have a different agenda from the students.

There will be a small, interactive panel that will cover how to use specific tools and  make lesson plan/assignment recommendations for social media in your existing classes. Phil Gomes will spend the day with you giving out his wisdom and knowledge of social media. You will also get the chance to observe student groups brainstorming campaign ideas.

If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? Space is limited, so register now!

For our out-of-towners: we blocked off hotel rooms at the Holiday Inn on Broad Street (the main street in downtown Athens). Rooms are set at $92/ night and have airport transportation for $40 each way. Want to cut costs? See who else from your university is going and maybe you can share a room.  (The Facebook group is a great way to network with others going to the event — connect with someone else looking for a roomie!)

(more…)

Bootcamp? What for?

My friend called me up the other day to invite me to a party on Saturday. Instinctively, I asked: “What are we celebrating?”

The truth is we can’t plan a party, an event or a campaign without a clear intention and purpose to guide us.

Our purpose in creating the Edelman Digital Bootcamp was clear: Educate students in social media techniques.

Why?

Simply put, we believe in Web 2.0. We believe in engaging in the conversation and getting back to what public relations was designed to do: build relationships.
(more…)