1. Call for Creative Ideas – How would you like to see us promote our SxSW Panel "Tired of @#%ing Social Media Experts?"

    Thursday, 19 Aug 2010 View Comments Posted by: Sean McDonald

    August in Austin. Muy caliente outside and an onslaught of shameless “asking for votes” in the SxSW panel picker.

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    I’m a little different – yes, I’d still like to get your vote and ask you to recommend my “Tired of @#%ing Social Media Experts?” game-show style panel presentation to your 519 Facebook friends, but I’d also like you to get involved in the process.

    I’m talking to you, (yes, you in the red shirt, third row on the iPhone) what do you need to see or hear to get you and your friends to vote for my panel? A personalized video of a guy on a horse? A Top Ten List? A front row seat at my panel? Details are what’ll get your request heard and my co-host, the fabulous funny man himself, Sam Decker and I will give it serious consideration (which means he’ll follow through on the ideas I like). Just kidding, Sam!

    Crowdsourcing is key to our game show panel. Why a game show? Well, because they are fun, light-hearted and almost everyone has a chance to be a winner (great prizes can’t hurt either). Sam Decker and I will serve as your humble game show hosts and we’ll select audience members for an exciting battle of the wits. The winner takes the title of Master Chief of the Social Media Universe – or Social Media Expert for short.

    With a mix of 99% fun (at least for Sam and me) and 1% education – this panel will be sheer entertainment. Let’s be honest, we all deserve a break from the normal panels and presentations. And Tired of @#%ing Social Media Experts? is your chance for just that. It’s a comical break during a long educational week at SxSW.

    So here’s what we’d ask of you:

    1) vote!

    2) get your friends to vote

    3) please comment with your ideas on how to promote the panel

    Voting ends Friday, August 27. Stay cool.

  2. Welcome Shauna Causey to the Anthill!

    Tuesday, 27 Jul 2010 View Comments Posted by: Joann Jen

    She’s been called “a powerful voice for nonprofits” by the Huffington Post, voted in the top 100 women in Seattle tech by TechFlash, was among seven across the world honored as a top women in technology at the 2010 South by Southwest Conference Digitini event and was recognized by the LA Times as part of the “Female Empire of Women in Tech.” Her name is Shauna Causey and we’re proud she’s now a part of Ant’s Eye View.

    Shauna joins Ant’s Eye View from Comcast where she managed communications, community relations and partnered with Frank Eliason to lead many aspects of the company’s social media strategy.

    Having worked closely with Shauna over the past year as Social Media Club Seattle Board members, I’ve witnessed firsthand Shauna’s passion for social media and the power these new technologies afford for real change in the community. And Shauna’s combination of moxie, understated charm and sheer will power has allowed her to do just that. Whether it’s launching Voluntweetup, a summer event series where local technology enthusiasts train and educate nonprofits on how to use social media effectively or starting TechMavens, a project that highlights the stories of trailblazing women involved in technology and social media across the United States, Shauna’s helped transform the way people think of social media – from beyond technology to what technology can do for society.

    In her free time, Shauna is an avid beach volleyball player and serves on the Board for a number of nonprofits including Leadership Tomorrow and the Jolkona Foundation.

    Shauna’s new role as Senior Consultant and Ant Evangelist will have her traveling up and down the West Coast adding her corporate communications and community relations experience to the team. She’ll join the firm officially on August 9 and begin immediately supporting the company’s growing roster of enterprise clients in the Silicon Valley area.

    Please join us in warmly welcoming the talented Shauna Causey (@shaunacausey) to the anthill.

  3. The Anthill Grows Again: Meet Tyler Welch, Jenna Jantsch and Geoff Knox

    Monday, 12 Jul 2010 View Comments Posted by: Sean O'Driscoll

    A short 14 months ago, Jake, Sean M, Dustin and I were sitting at Suncadia planning to add a social listening practice to our young strategy services team. At that time, we were four ants on the anthill and over the past year, we’ve rapidly grown the team to meet a growing demand for practical, real world experience with creating social businesses. Alas, one year later, we’ve grown to 15 and we’re proud to have assembled a team of seasoned practitioners who bring depth of industry expertise, practical thinking and customer focus that will immediately add value to our clients and their customers.

    Without further ado, let’s introduce you to our newest consultants:

    tyler_colorMeet Tyler Welch. This avid West Ham United supporter joins Ant’s Eye View after spending four years at Microsoft in the Community and Online Support Team where he led the global launch of Microsoft Answers in 12 languages for Windows and Office. When he wasn’t at Qwest Field cheering on the Sounders, he worked closely with online community leaders for XBOX, Windows Phone and other consumer products and community leaders who have been awarded and recognized as Microsoft MVPs.

    Before Microsoft, Tyler was a General Manager for Gateway, leading sales, training and support for multiple markets in the Western United States. In his spare time, Tyler is a drummer in a New Wave Punk band called Groggy Bikini.  I’m not quite sure what a Groggy Bikini is, but I’m thrilled to add a new punk band offering to our portfolio if you want to hear them!

    DSC00436Jenna Jantsch, a new resident to the San Jose area, brings hands-on experience driving social media marketing efforts for Vertical Response, a large email and marketing service provider to small businesses. In addition to driving social media marketing for Vertical Response, Jenna regularly taught social media marketing best practices to small business owners through a wide variety of speaking engagements.

    Jenna joins Ant’s Eye View immediately after her honeymoon so wish her a great first day in marriage and on the job!

    geoffLast but not least, Geoff Knox comes to Ant’s Eye View from communications firm WCG, as part of their social media group optimizing listening and engagement strategies for the new online landscape. Geoff was one of the original members of the Dell customer outreach program as team lead, and brings valuable experience in customer and technical support, sales and corporate communications for companies working in the online space.

    When not herding children with his wife, Geoff spends time obsessing over professional football teams based out of Oakland, California. In fact, Geoff is such a die-hard fan, he even owns a Darth Vader Raiders helmet.

    Please join us in warmly welcoming these three ants to the team.

    Our quest for talent has not waned. We’re hiring for a Senior Consultant for our new Silicon Valley office to support a growing roster of enterprise clients in the area. For more information on what we’re looking for in a Social Business Consultant, drop us a note in the comments section.