Trackur the Social Media Monitoring Tools & Reputation Tracking an interview with Andy Beal

Tell me about your Company?
Trackur provides sophisticated social media monitoring tools that start at just $18 a month and take less than 60 seconds to get up and running. You should be monitoring the web for any mention of your company, executives, products, and competitors–Trackur makes that task affordable and easy.
 
Why is social media monitoring important?
You need to know what customers are saying about your company. A single negative review, a rant on Twitter, or a scathing blog post, can undo the hard work you’ve put in to build your brand.
 
What was your first experience of social media?
I’ve been blogging since around 2003, so I guess that’s my first true experience with social media. Although, you could argue that my involvement with forums and instant messenging, in the late nineties, is technically my first social media experience.
 
Trackur the Social Media Monitoring Tools & Reputation Tracking and interview with Andy BealWhat is the biggest tip you would give to a newbie in social media?
Don’t try to join every social network or jump on every social media platform. That would be akin to walking into a candy store and trying to eat every piece of candy–you’ll just get sick of candy. Instead, pick the one that appeals to you the most and stay with it for at least 6 months before diving into another platform, Despite my awareness of dozens of social networks, I tend to focus on my own blog (MarketingPilgrim.com) and Twitter.

What do advertisers do that you wish they wouldn’t?
I wish they’d stop assuming that display ads are going to generate click-throughs and sales overnight. Banner ads, for example, are more effective at raising brand awareness–which helps with your other ads, like search ads–than driving immediate sales to your web site. On that note, if you decide to run any kind of banner ad, commit to do so for at least 3 months. Anything shorter, and you’ll be disappointed.
 
What do bloggers do that you wish they wouldn’t?
I wish bloggers didn’t publish partial RSS feeds, while also splashing ads liberally throughout the feed. I don’t mind you displaying ads, if I’m getting the full RSS feed, but when you display only a partial feed AND ads, that tells me you’re trying to be greedy.
 
Where do you see growth in the social media field?
 Repairing the problems that people create for themselves by being too open about their lives. Every time someone posts a photo of themselves smoking from a bong, another reputation management consultant gets his wings! 😉

What new ideas are advertisers coming up with to take advantage of new trends?
 I think we’re going to see a lot of creativity around mobile advertising campaigns. The iPhone, Palm Pre, and Google’s Android are growing fast and advertisers are scrambling to figure out how to capture this new mobile audience.

What do you do to improve the world?
I’m spending more of my time working with non-profit groups. For example, I’m helping the Raleigh Rescue Mission to understand and adopt to social media channels such as Twitter.

What do you do that is green?
 I recycle all cans, bottles, newspapers, and boxes. I’ve also switched out most of our lightbulbs in my house for the CFL kind.

What is one thing about you that not many people know?
A lot of people still don’t realize that I’m British by birth and grew up in Brighton, England. I moved to North Carolina in 2000 and became a US citizen a few years ago.

What’s your favorite book?
The Bible. It’s the only book that I can read over and over again.

What is on your iPod?
The most eclectic mix of music you’ll likely ever hear.  It runs the gamut from Rush to Steve Nicks, Avalon to U2. Some Jean Michel Jarre, Israel Kaʻanoʻi Kamakawiwoʻole, and Fat Boy Slim!

What are your contact details (email, company, blog, Facebook, MySpace, forums, etc)?
You can reach me at andy.beal@<no spam) gmail.com, andybeal.com, facebook.com/andybeal, twitter.com/andybeal and at MarketingPilgrim.com

What events do you go to?
 My next event is Pubcon in Las Vegas this November. I’ve also planned a quick trip to Photo Expo Plus this month–but that’s to satisfy my photography habit. 😉

How do you prefer to communicate?
 Email. I’m just not a fan of the telephone.
 
What is one thing people can do for you?
Treat others they way they think they want to be treated.