Martin’s blog

Social Media Video Library Launched

NEW YORK / May 9, 2008 / buzz²[ne.ws]® / The Wall Tweet Journal (WTJ) today announced the launch of the Social Media Video Library (SMVL), a user-generated video search and on-demand viewing/video sharing channel.  SMVL features video content on every topic of interest related to social media including, new media public relations, marketing through social media, micro blogging, corporate blogging, podcasting and Web 2.0 applications and services. 

"Our objective is to be the educational video destination of choice, where people can visit to learn about what's going on in the rapidly-changing world of social media and hone their skills by viewing instructional videos and interviews with leading Web 2.0 experts and social media evangelists," said Martin Diano, Managing Group Publisher. "The site is community-based -- anyone can upload a video -- and a peer review protocol and rating system to weed out poor content."

The Library has six featured Playlists:

Social Media

Web 2.0 

Public Relations & New Media

Podcasting

Blogging

Twitter

Video creators may upload their collection and add a specific category to the Playlist. And anyone can create a customized video widget for posting to their blog.

To keep its video library fresh, SMVL searches for videos across multiple user-generated video sites, then - approximately every 5 days -adds the most educationally significant videos available. The channel playlist categorizes and tags the collection by topic. From that point the peer review protocol and rating system from actual viewers takes over. Currently, the collection has over 100 videos.

"We see the impact of engaged video viewers wanting and searching for content-specific information as a significant educational opportunity. The goal of SMVL is to become the leading curator to sort out and categorize the huge volume of videos on the web focused on social media," said Diano. "The role of video curator is becoming just as important as that of creator. There's lots of great material out there; but there are also videos with low-value educational content. Now people can search, view and share some of the most popular social media videos on the Internet."

 SMVL is a knowledge base educational initiative of the The Wall Tweet Journal, a media property of Martin Diano Agency LLC.  

Participate in Poll Daddy's New Twitter Polling Application!

The Wall Tweet Journal is taking Poll Daddy's new Twitter polling application for a test drive.

The premise of the application allows you to enter a question within a Twitter message using a maximum of 110 characters. Up to 20 possible poll answers can be created.

To participate, reply to the question:
Has Twitter been useful in enhancing the branding efforts of your blog?

Respond to the poll @WTJ or The Wall Tweet Journal

Clinging and Bitter - You bet I am!

I remain clinging to hope that Barak Obama will be the Democratic nominee. Bitter at him, I am not, for his making what clearly was a huge - but unintentional - gaff at a private fundraiser last week. Mis-speaks happen to all of us.

It is Hillary Clinton's actions since the Obama gaff who remains clinging to her chances of wining the nomination. It is Hillary Clinton who is bitter that her candidacy was not an unopposed coronation to begin with.

I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I wonder if the person who recorded the Obama speech was a Clinton plant. I hope the person's name will be revealed.

The people of Pennsylvania - who are neither clinging nor bitter - will hopefully accept the truth for what it is and cast their ballot for Barak Obama.

The Wall Tweet Journal Twitterzine Set for Launch in May

To Fill Niche as an Unofficial Knowledge Base for Twitter Fans 

CASA GRANDE AZ | Buzz2[News] | March 15, 2008 - - The Wall Tweet Journal, [www.walltweetjournal.com] a Twitterzine created to help people understand the finer points of using Twitter for personal use or as a business tool was announced today by Martin Diano, Managing Partner at Martin Diano Agency LLC. "Our mission is to deliver high value informational content to a growing number of bloggers who want to benefit by learning and putting into practice the best Web 2.0 strategies, tools and technologies the blogosphere has to offer," said Diano. 

The Twitterzine will carry several features, including:

Twoogle - a Twitter-specific Custom Search Engine  

Heard on the Tweet: News of interest to Twitter users worldwide

Twitterati - Personality profiles of Twitter fans from around the world.

Tweet Me Up - Informational and instructional content to help Twitter users maximize Twitter and related social media. 

Tweet Pushers - Content will be largely provided by Tweet Pushers. The '(t)writers' whose ideas and suggestions are featured at WTJ will have experience using Twitter to communicate in a variety of social media, or who have collaborated using Twitter in numerous types of business environments. 

Tweetroll - Links to the most useful Twitter-related websites, blogs and wikis.

"With thousands of how-to blogs, books and articles to choose, videos to view, and scores of consultants offering their expertise," said Diano, "WTJ offers the very best the blogosphere has to offer and brings them under one 'Tweet Me Right' collection".

If you'd like to become a contributing Tweet Pusher, please contact: Martin Diano, Martin Diano Agency LLC.

Martin Diano Agency LLC is a multi-topic blog publisher and public relations consultancy. MDA's blogs include: Buzz2[News], Amitious Blogger, National Forum on Girls' Fastpitch Softball, National Senior Softball Forum, Softball News Service, Library of Softball, Softball Broadcast News, Softball Institute and Library of Beer.

Ambitious Blogger  is home of the finer points of blogging, podcasting and Vblogging. Our mission is to deliver high value educational content to a growing number of bloggers who want to benefit by learning and putting into practice the best Web 2.0 strategies, systems, and ideas the blogsphere has to offer.

The companies, consultants, and bloggers whose work, products and services are featured at AB have experience in affiliate marketing, social media marketing, SEO, writing, blog design, viral link building, and blog management to name but a few areas of specific expertise.

With thousands of how-to blogs, books and articles to choose, videos to view, and scores of consultants offering their expertise, AB  offers the very best the blogsphere has to offer and brings them under one "Blogger Improvement Collection".

If you'd like to become an Ambitious Blogger Guest Contributor, please contact: Martin Diano, Martin Diano Agency LLC.

Twitter And Utterz & How To Measure Their

Effectiveness On Personal And Business Blogs

As the sidebar of Buzz2[News] makes evident we make use of several Web 2.0 tools, most notably Twitter and Utterz.

Problem is we can not with any degree of certainty determine their effectiveness for either personal use or as a marketing and/or promotional tool.

We have been experimenting with Twitter and Utterz on Dianosphere, a personal blog, and National Forum on Girls' Fastpitch Softball, a business blog, but, frankly, have come up short on viable metrics.

So what we plan to do is undertake a research initiative on how personal blogs and business blogs leverage Twitter and Utterz, then publish our findings in a series of blog articles and perhaps an ebook.

If you or your company has a unique way of using Twitter and Utterz and you'd like to share how as part of our research initiative, please contact: Martin Diano, Martin Diano Agency LLC.

All contributions will be fully attributable, including a link back to your site.   

Read an interview with softball legend Jennie Finch at National Forum on Girls Fastpitch Softball.

The Most Popular Articles at the National Forum on Girls' Fastpitch Softball

Since January 2008, the National Forum on Girls' Fastpitch Softball has had visitors from 3,512 U.S. cities and 33 foreign countries. The most popular articles viewed thus far in 2008 are:   

Strength Training for Softball

The very popular article offers valuable tips to leverage strength training to improve your game. The article includes brief reviews of two strength training books: "The Ultimate Weight Training Guide for Softball" and "Peak Conditioning Training for Softball." 

Meet Rita Lynn Gilman: Softball Authority Guest Guest Coach

Coach Rita Lynn offers some very sage advice as well as links to several of her training videos.

Softball Performance Improvement Collection: Tip for Playing First base

A great article for first basemen to help markedly elevate their game.

Softball outfield Drills: Fielding grounders, Fly balls, Line Drives, and Throwing

Whether you are a coach or player these tips will have you rethinking the way play your outfield position

Evaluation Checklist for catchers

This article includes a very useful and free checklist to download in pdf format.

Click to visit >> National Forum on Girls' Fastpitch Softball

About the National Forum on Girls' Fastpitch Softball 

What we do is provide a voice for young women softball athletes to share ideas on how to improve their game, exchange opinions on what are the best products and gear available, and to promote the fitness, training and conditioning required to play the game at a higher level with reduced risk of injury, and at maximum performance.

About Softball Institute

At Softball Institute our mission is to deliver high value educational content to a growing audience of amateur softball athletes who recognize the benefits of learning and putting into practice the finer points of the game of softball.

Poll Points to Softball's Rapid Rise in Popularity Among Baby Boomers 

by Martin Diano - National Senior Softball Forum

It is no coincidence that this decade has spurred a revolution in new values and attitudes among the senior population. Today's Baby Boomers have smashed the stereotypes about the aging process and changed the way all of us will think and behave as we enter into a new stage of life. As we continue to push back the frontiers of aging there has been some interesting societal changes taking place. Seniors are searching for ways to stay healthy and enjoy their lives with diversity, energy, and a commitment to feeling good. Highly competitive masters and seniors games are growing in every sport. No where is the growth more evident than in the game of softball.

With this in mind the National Senior Softball Forum set out to find out a bit more about the profile a typical senior softball athlete. 

Players were asked "How many games annually of softball do you play?" 

53 per cent of the respondents indicated they play over 100 games annually. "I play 10+ tournaments a year, averaging about 5 to 6 games per tournament. I also play 5 days a week, on 2 different leagues, so that's over 500 games a year, plus tourneys. Plus any pickup games or practice games, which average about 4 or 5 more a month", said one poll respondent.

The poll results:

50-100 games 33%
150-250 games 29%
100-150 games 24 %
under 50 games 2%

"I play 3 days a week and most weekend tournaments, with some week days 2-3 games. For me it's 250 min to 325+ games", said another senior softballer. 

The result of the poll clearly supports the growing popularity of the sport. In the NSSF poll, 29% of senior softball athletes play over 150 games annually. With this kind of game-playing frequency, it's easy to see why bat and equipment manufacturers have taken note of softball's popularity and are eyeing this demographic very closely to capture more share of market. 

Now add to the mix bat ownership. What is evident is that Baby Boomers earmark a considerable amount of money to play the sport. The typical senior player could very easily be carrying $1,000 worth of just bats in his equipment bag. Evidenced by the poll question: How many softball bats do you own? 

Fifty Eight percent of senior softball athletes own four or more bats, revealed the poll. With softball bats costing upwards of $300 it's easy to understand why bat manufacturers compete so intensely for share of market with this highly coveted demographic. Only three per cent of the respondents said they own only one bat. 

The complete bat ownership poll results were:

Four or more bats: 58%

Three bats: 27%

Two bats: 12%

One bat: 3% 

Given the opportunity to play among their peers, the excitement stirs, and dreams of on-the-field success of days gone by are rekindled. Most senior players are able to commit to the time and cost of travel and play. Therefore, popularity and growth of senior softball has been phenomenal. The 1980s saw a proliferation of teams playing slow-pitch all around the country. Most of the original senior softball teams that appeared on the scene during this time were products of senior centers or other special senior programs run by local government agencies. 

The travel, a welcome side benefit of participation, has elevated the senior program to an important component of sport tourism. While the rules of the game remain essentially the same for seniors, the older players have developed a camaraderie special and unique to the sports world. Teams still play as hard as ever to win. Players put on their game faces and give 110 percent toward a winning effort. But after the final out is made, the special relationships become evident. Players share a special kinship, a common bond of senior sportsmanship.

About the Author

Martin Diano is managing publisher of the National Senior Softball Forum. He also manages a 60+ senior softball team in Arizona, and has played in over 200 games annually in each of the past 11 years. Martin welcomes contact from individuals wanting more information about becoming involved in senior softball. Email: Martin Diano.   

About the National Senior Softball Forum

NSSF provides a voice to share ideas on how senior athletes can improve their game, exchange views on the best available equipment, and to promote the fitness, training and conditioning required to play the game with reduced rick and at maximum performance.

McCain v. Obama: The Ultimate Fight Card

Today, McCain's my guy. Last week is was Huckabee. Before that I thought, for certain, I'd be with Mitt all the way. Oh, how I vacillate!

Thompson was never a consideration; he does not seem to want to travel the extra mile it takes to become President. Besides, I wouldn't like being referred to as a "Fred Head." 

As for Rudy, I've come to know his politics pretty well - in additional to his personal life - from living in New York and reading about it in newspapers and seeing it played out on TV. If nothing else, Rudy's a complex guy. Hard to gauge. But a street brawler he is, no doubt about it.

There was a time when I thought for the sheer entertainment value it would bring, a Rudy v. Hillary fight card was what I wanted. I envisioned a great battle of formidable heavyweights in the middle of the ring slugging it out, round after round, until their arms tired. An eyebrow cut here, a bloody nose there. A staggering left hook bringing one of them to his/her knees. It would have been glorious to behold - better that any Frazer-Ali match-up could ever be. Two New Yorkers going at with all the fury of a title fight.

But I have since come to the realization that's not what I want any longer. I get the impression neither does the country want the political version of the Thriller in Manila.

There's a growing sense the country wants - forgive me for borrowing from the McCain campaign - is straight talk! A sense that we want honest dialogue on the key issues facing our country, so we can make an informed decision on whom to vote for in November.

Here's my fight card:

McCain v. Obama. Also two heavy weights in their own right. Each candidate bringing their own unique strengths to the battle for the Presidency, the ultimate title fight. No eyebrow cuts, no blood, no sucker punches, no hitting below the belt.

Straight Talk v. Hope. Just the kind of fight card the country needs and wants.