Norm’s Suggested Readings for the Summer

Hey All!

As I wish everyone a happy, healthy & social summer ahead, I wanted to offer my suggestions for what to  “Read”  on the beach or the hammock.  I enjoyed these tremendously and HIGHLY recommend them!

  • The Thank You Economy – Gary Vay-Ner-Chuk
    • Social media explained by a guy that’s been there, done that!  A must read for anyone who wants to remain (or become) current and relevant
  • Anything You Want – Derek Sivers
    • You will not find a successful entrepreneur more eager to help other entrepreneurs than Derek.  He is one of the most unique, generous, creative and successful minds of our time.  Read it now.
  • The Money Class – Suze Orman
    • Read this book if you want to take charge of your own personal finances!
  • The Tipping Point – Malcolm Gladwell
    • The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire
  • Trust Agents – Chris Brogan/Julien Smith
    • This is a great journey through the social media jungle and how best to exploit it
  • Viral Loop – Adam Penenberg
    • Learn how all of the “house-hold name” social media and internet companies grew virally.  Lots of great insight & fun!
  • The Facebook Effect – David Kirkpatrick
    • While the movie was entertaining, this book is the “REAL” deal of the beginnings and inner-workings of Facebook.
  • The Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell
    • A great explanation, with examples, of how break-out, exceptional people became that way.  Get outside the Norm:-)
  • Ice T – Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life And Redemption From South Central To Hollywood
    • Real Talk by a REAL Dude!  He’s the ONLY Gangsta that is adored and loved by teenagers and parents alike!
  • The Icon The Memoir – Flavor Flav
    • If you want to truly get in the head of turmoil and hardship and understand the life of one of the most fascinating “Icons” of our time,  and find out what makes him “tick” (no pun intended:-) you will squirmish through each page of this book

Word of Mouth in Social Media

I played a fun game with myself and listed all of the ways that I spend my money.  When I listed my car, the restaurants I frequent, the wine that I drink, the beer flavor of the month I enjoy, the style shirts I buy, the movies I see and the concerts I buy tickets for, the incredible fact is that EACH of these purchasing decisions were in some shape or form,  based on friends’ suggestions.

More interesting is that when thinking about this, it was more often than not that I would *not* buy other products or services due to experiences shared by friends in my social circles.

It is no wonder that ad display click rates on the internet, especially on social media sites like Facebook and MySpace are so rarely clicked on.   We do not like to be interrupted and we do not typically appreciate in your face advertising campaigns and being told to buy products and services by people that we do not know, let alone trust.

What are your thoughts?  What influences you?

Norm on Mashable Panel: Social Revolution: The Internet and Social Change

http://cealineshows.com/the-conferences/

June 23rd, 2011: 2:00 pm-2:30pm:

Social Revolution: The Internet and Social Change
The Internet has become one of the most powerful agents of social change. It helped fuel the Egyptian revolution, the Wisconsin union protests, and the election of our current president. The possibilities are endless. This panel will discuss the power of social media for affecting real change in our lives, our governments, and our societies.

Moderator: Zachary Sniderman [@zsniderman], Mashable

Panelists:
Norm Levy, Founder, Shoutomatic
Ed Palumbo, Social Media Strategist, Opera Software
Jeff Ragovin, Chief Revenue Officer, Buddy Media
John Wiseman, VP of Marketing & Partnerships, Thrillist

Organic Liaison is a healthy weight loss program, complete with online diet plans and exercise tools, weight loss tips & More!

Norm’s Healthy Recommendation of the Month! Kirstie Alley’s Organic Liaison!

The Organic Liaison program is a fresh approach to losing weight. Kirstie Alley gathered the best scientific minds to create a real plan that you can follow. Our 3 easy steps give you the customized tools, resources and support to help you lose weight, feel great, and win your personal Body Game. Learn, have fun, and count on Organic Liaison for a natural, healthy, and real solution to easy weight loss and long-term control.

http://www.organicliaison.com/

Chuck D Creates New ShoutOmatic Channel for Daily Impact

Chuck D Presents “This Day in Hip Hop & Rap History” to be the first of its kind Hip Hop Almanac giving a daily dose of incredible edutainment “sound”.   Learn a bit and bounce a bit with Narration by Chuck D and music samples by the Featured daily Artist.

http://shoutomatic.com/thisdayinhiphop

Produced by: Chuck D, Duke Eatmon & Ron Maskel exclusively for ShoutOmatic

ShoutOmatic iPhone APP is Live in the iTunes APP Store

I am so thrilled to share with you that our ShoutOmatic iPhone App is live and available for FREE and immediate download at the iTunes APP Store:

Here is the link for the ShoutOmatic iPhone APP:  http://shouts.at/5C <<< Click on this from your iPhone

The ShoutOmatic iPhone App allows you to “Share” Voice / Text / Photo & Location all with one “Shout” to your Twitter and Facebook streams!

You now have a variety of ways to “Shout”:

ShoutOmatic in few words:
ShoutOmatic allows you to record and broadast “Audible Voice Status Updates” (Shouts) so your Voice can be heard in your Twitter and Facebook streams.

ShoutOmatic in a few more words:
Using ShoutOmatic adds authenticity, emotion and tonality that is not possible with 140 characters of text alone.

Best wishes for a Safe & Social Summer!

Norm Levy
Founder & Lead Shouter

http://shoutomatic.com/normlevy

Norm Levy on Mashable Panel: CE LineShow NYC 2011

http://cealineshows.com/2011/05/24/norm-levy-shoutomatic/


Norm Levy
Founder & Lead Shouter
Shoutomatic

Norm Levy has always been in the forefront of new technology.  In the year 2000, he established his first Start-up called Media Street, in which he developed one of the world’s first digital ink and paper solutions that would allow you to print digital photos that were tested and rated to last beyond 100 years before noticeable fading or color shift. Media Street sold its ink and papers to more than 100 countries before Levy sold the business.  During the height of its sales of products used for the “print” side of digital photographs, Levy had the foresight to develop and manufacture one of the first lines of Digital Photo Frames that would allow you to view, rather than have to print, your digital photos 24/7, at any time, anywhere.

Levy developed one of the first Digital Photo Frames that would allow photos to wirelessly stream to the Frame from a web platform.  LifeGoRound was demonstrated by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, at a Walter Mossberg Conference in Silicon Valley and was Levy’s first social web platform that lead to his “Aha” moment to create ShoutOmatic.

Shoutomatic, Levy’s latest start-up, allows you to record “Audible Status Updates” (Shouts) that automatically post to your Twitter and Facebook streams adding authenticity, emotion and tonality that is not possible with 140 characters of text alone. Oh, and by the way, you can also share photos to your social networks using ShoutOmatic with the added ability of telling your friends and followers all about them with your own voice.

 

CEA LINE SHOWS Returns To NYC June 22-23, 2011

Highlights Include: Conference Program, New Product Showcases and Official CE Industry Mid-year Report

WHAT: CEA Line Shows, the CE industry’s official mid-year conference and tech showcase, will be returning to New York City on June 22-23, 2011. This trade-only event attracted more than 1500 media, NY-area retailers and thought leaders from across the country this past June.

WHERE: 7 West 34th St. (just west of Fifth Avenue), New York, will feature manufacturer line shows for media and dealers, press conferences, a media luncheon and reception, and CEA’s state of the industry mid-year analyst briefing.

WHY: The New York City location and important mid-year timing are ideal for NYC-area media looking to experience the latest technology products to feature in summer vacation, back to school and holiday gift-giving previews. These events will showcase the coolest new tech products soon to be hitting stores shelves and are a can’t-miss opportunity for the local, trade, business and technology media.

WHO: CEA’s member companies will hold line shows and press conferences and CEA will unveil mid-year market research and analysis. Key industry analysts, business leaders and columnists will be presenting exclusive data and insights in presentations and on panels.