My wife often tells me I talk too much.

She jokes about my constant phone calls, texting, emailing, instant messaging, video chatting, etc., to communicate with friends, family and colleagues. Even during "down time" in the evenings long after our son has gone to bed, I'm catching up with others from coast to coast.

"Shut down, already, honey!" she frequently asks.

I've always been the kind of guy who loves good conversation, and technology has only made it easier. The only problem is, I now find myself wasting precious time "syncing up" my digital life across multiple properties to share similar information with different groups of people.

If I upload a terrific photo of my son to Facebook, a good portion of my family won't see it because they aren't signed up. And if I email that photo just to family members, close friends might miss it.

As digital communications tools and properties have evolved, they've done so largely "disconnected" from one another. The information you share online usually doesn't move across all your personal online touch points, as you create it. Basic syndication goodies like RSS have helped, but it's only been a rudimentary first step.

This week ends with some encouraging news. MySpace and Facebook have each announced new initiatives to help make the information you post on their properties more portable, and more easily shared across the many tools and channels which represent you online.

Yesterday, Myspace shared news of its wide embrace of data portability and special deals with Yahoo!, eBay, and Twitter to help make digital omnipresence a bit more possible.

And today, Facebook followed suit, announcing "Facebook Connect", a set of tools, enhancements and standards which will allow consumers to share their identity, content, friends and privacy preferences with other 3rd party Web properties.

This is a big deal for professional communicators for a couple reasons:

1.) It's removing another barrier from posting content, sharing ideas and exchanging information online. I have plenty of friends who have shied away from social communications tools because they think of them as too rigid with limited reach. That's beginning to change. Expect advances like these to stimulate even more digital dialogue by the masses, not just the "geek" crowd.

2.) The voices of individuals gain even more potential to build brands or tear them down. If you've had a bad experience at a restaurant and share it on your social networking page, data portability might also allow your quip to appear as a restaurant review on Yahoo! Local (if you permit it). The same goes for raves. Word of mouth can travel farther, and even faster than it does today!

I'm excited by the convenience and time savings these advances may bring. Who knows? With all this extra free time, maybe I'll be able to heed my wife's call to disconnect some night soon.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported on Facebook's impact on political activism in the Arab world. Over the past few months, more than 70,000 Egyptian citizens joined a group on the popular social networking site where they discuss government policies, plan protests, and form alliances to stimulate social change.

With nearly 1.4 billion humans now connected via the Web worldwide, digital communication tools have become staples of modern day activism.

Governments are taking notice, going so far as arresting dissidents for their online activities. In severe cases, security forces have even shut down electronic modes of communication in an effort to prevent discourse or civil unrest.

Last month, a student from UC Berkeley was detained in Egypt for snapping pictures of a political demonstration. Minutes after his arrest, the young man used his mobile phone to send news of his detainment to followers around the world. Using micro-blogging tool Twitter, he quickly decreed, "ARRESTED" from his mobile phone. Friends and supporters immediately contacted the U.S. Embassy and news outlets. He was released the next day.

A Snapshot of the Detained Activist's "Tweets"

Dubai has already blocked Twitter nationwide, according to ZDNET.

Efforts by governments, NGOs and big businesses to squelch contrarian voices are increasingly ineffective in the digital age, when younger citizens have literally grown up sharing ideas openly online. By closing modes of communication, groups literally fan the flames of dissenters and drive more dialogue about hot issues, not less.

This reliance on digital tools to communicate, share, and congregate will surely expand. Our own research on trusted information sources (referenced on this blog previously) illustrates the growing importance of "social" media tools and channels -- particularly for citizen influencers -- who increasingly embrace the use of technology to share thoughts with others.

Governments, businesses and all varieties of organizations need to be prepared to take part in these lively discussions online. The days of simply "pulling the plug" may be drawing to a close. With more global scrutiny on censorship and interference with communication, the only way to influence conversations is to join them.

By now many people have heard of Randy Pausch, the professor who recently gave his "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon University. Apparently, last lectures are quite common in Academia but what made this one so unique is that Professor Pausch was dying of Pancreatic cancer and only had a few months to live.

He confesses at the end of his optimistic and uplifting presentation that the main reason he agreed to do it was so his young children would someday in the future be able to know more about their dad. To that end, he made sure the school taped it and gave him a copy of the disc.

That wasn't really necessary. As of today, more than 2 million people have viewed his 75 minute lecture, complete with Power Point slides, on You Tube. That number rises to over 6 million when you include the abridged version. In fact, he became so famous on the internet that Hyperion Books published an expanded version of his story, which is already a national bestseller.

I don't know how long his video will appear on You Tube but I can say for certain that his children are going to have a very famous father. And no one is probably more surprised about what has happened than Randy Pausch. I doubt he ever envisioned that his final visit to the classroom would become a cultural phenomenon. And a few years ago it wouldn't have. Today the internet is an archive not only for the immediate family but for the whole human family. I suspect that a generation from now, Randy Pausch's grandchildren will be able to log on from their cellphones and listen to a few inspiring words from their Grandfather. This Last Lecture will last for a very long time.

So much has been written about Reverend Wright that it is impossible to add any original commentary to that dialogue. And that's really the problem.

The cable news outlets should all chip in and buy the Reverend a new car, or maybe a bigger house, because he has single-handedly provided with them with enough content to fill a news hole the size of the Grand Canyon. Last week Reverend Wright "generated more news than both Hillary Clinton and John McCain," according to a new study. The Obama/Wright relationship alone accounted for 42% of the past week's news stories. Imagine if for the past month newscasters were forced to discuss healthcare policy and social security. Their ratings would be in the toilet.

Luckily for them, or maybe because of them, this year's extended primary battle has moved from one bit of tangential news to another. Sparing the viewing public from an endless discussion of the issues.

For a while it seemed like the furor over excerpts from Wright's sermons was actually dying down. Then he decided to reignite the debate with a spot on Public Television and a press conference at the National Press Club.

It is still not clear what motivated him to make these appearances, or whether he was getting any PR counsel. At one point, it might have made sense for the Obama campaign to hire an outside advisor to help the Reverend resurrect his image, but that was clearly not the case.

The real question is, how much does all this matter? Based on the extensive media coverage and the endless discussion by pundits, one could surmise that what Wright has said is more important and more damaging than what the candidates have said.

In the end, I guess the voters will decide what weight to give Wright's rants. But one thing is certain, media advisors in the future will have to vet everyone associated with the candidate before the campaign begins. Even then, the demand for constant news will surface an errant school teacher, college roommate or neighbor to fill the daily cycle. In the real world, no one has lived a life so politically correct that they don't have at least a few friends or relatives who would embarrass them on the nightly news.

A small gardening business in the UK has managed to turn around their business into one of the most successful small businesses in the country by selling warm composts online. Wiggly Wigglers promote themselves through word of mouth, podcasting, blogging and their Facebook group, as well as their company Web site.

I learned about the amazing rise of Wiggly Wigglers at the recent BlogHer business conference, when the company’s spokesperson and co-founder Heather Gorringe got up on stage and explained that she lived in a village with fewer than 70 people. At some point, her accountant had advised her to shut down her business, but she saw the whole world of gardeners as her audience and believed there was more to achieve. She charged on, carrying her business online and expanding it with a catalogue.

Heather started with blogging but she soon realized she was better at chatting. She figured out how to do podcasts with her personal computer and brought her husband, Farmer Phil, and other friends into her show. Her real life sound bytes from the Lower Blakemere Farm in rural Herefordshire are incredibly entertaining.

There is a dotted line between being Heather’s podcast listener, blog reader and Wiggly Groupie on Facebook and becoming her customer. Heather is doing several things right from a social media marketing standpoint:

- She has a strong voice. It’s genuine and personable.
- She is passionate about what she writes.
- She informs and educates her customers.
- She offers applicable tips.
- She keeps in touch.
- She encourages product trials with discounts and give-aways.
- Her products have a social angle—they make the world greener.
- She welcomes new friends.

Here is her latest email to Wiggly Groupies on Facebook embodies all of these elements:

"Dearest Wiggly Groupy

Its SLUG time, and a top Wiggly Tip which applies to you if you garden - but NOT if you are a farmer.... is Nemaslug. It doesn't harm any other wildlife (unlike those blue pellets) and it works by watering it in...
Here's a link
http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop/foundproduct.lasso?product_id=218

A huge welcome to you if you a newbie Wigglet, I'm afraid you missed a corking giveaway to celebrate our 500 members but there is a £5 discount available just for groupies on the Wiggly Website (www.wigglywigglers.co.uk) until Wed (30th April) Details after the end of this groupy news. If you were a winner - hope you have received your prize - how about a review in the discussion topics to let others know how utterly wonderful (or not) those goat socks are!

In fact if you are in the mood the Group discussion topics are corking I think - there are now 149 great topics (and one on cats)."

Heather’s Facebook group has about 600 members and it is growing. She is winning by being direct and genuine. She has become the face of her company and befriended many around the world by chatting online.

Her case highlights the myriad of opportunities available to small business owners and solopreneurs in promoting their businesses through social media. It also suggests that larger companies who want to have such deep connections with their customers will need to appoint social media managers who personify the company brand, deliver engaging content and carry on conversations because they truly believe, live and breathe what they promote.

Like many people in the communications field, I'm a news junky. I'll take information wherever and whenever I can get it. Cable networks, a few printed newspapers, talk radio, select magazines, and Web-based sources are all part of my daily intake.

The Internet is easily the most important single source in my mix today -- and I'm not alone. In a previous post I referenced a recent survey indicating half of Americans now view the Web as the can't-live-without information channel. And while we still have much to learn, communicators have made big strides in the past few years adapting to changing modes of news gathering and improving our storytelling techniques online.

As we continue focusing energy and resources on Web-based channels, it's important not to miss the next opportunity. There's another revolution underway that's likely to stir up the marketing mix all over again: the move to wireless devices for news.

So far, getting answers on a mobile device has been clumsy, at best. Text-driven pages, slow load times and limited news content. But things are changing, fast.

First, the gadgets are improving significantly. Apple's iPhone, for example, has the processing power, user interface, and connectivity for a news gathering experience that rivals PC use. The device already holds a 71 percent marketshare for US mobile browser use, besting mobile Web offerings from Microsoft and Palm that have been around much longer. Clearly, there's an appetite for information seeking on mobile platforms and some of the hungriest news seekers are flocking to drastically improved devices which enrich the experience.

Second, mobile software and content is more readily available, with major media companies creating better offerings for wireless devices.

Today at CTIA (a wireless industry convention), Yahoo! unveiled a slick new application for wireless platforms called "OneSearch" allowing you to verbally submit any search query through a Blackberry (or other supported smartphone) and get nearly instant results pushed directly to your wireless handset. (Disclosure: Yahoo! is a GH client)

I asked, "What's the Chicago Cubs score?" and Yahoo instantly served up the dismal news of another loss on my BB Curve.

Advances like this will make consumers think twice about powering up a PC for news gathering at home or on the go. Increasingly, eyeballs will move from computer screens to wireless devices for basic news and communication.

Time for PR to expand its focus again. The battle for for wireless consumers is heating up and practitioners who become conversant in mobile content delivery will become increasingly valued in the future.

In late February, results from a new Zogby Poll emerged, confirming the continued erosion of trust in "traditional" media. These days, fully 2/3 of Americans say they're dissatisfied with the quality of journalism in the United States.

The same survey reported that nearly half of all Americans now consider the Internet as their primary news and information gathering source. It has emerged as the single most important channel, just as newspapers, radio, and television have each been regarded in the past.

As PR and marketing pros consider how to tell their stories most effectively in digital media, one of the most promising opportunities of the future is Web-based video.

Want proof that the online video market is maturing rapidly? Consider the following three news stories breaking today:

#1: Disney
At this morning's McGraw-Hill Media Summit in New York, Disney's Bob Iger decreed that broadband-enabled Web content represents the future of communication, ultimately replacing television as the prime source of entertainment.

Iger says Disney is on track to generate more than $1 billion in revenue from online channels in 2008. The company has seen early wins streaming broadcast content online, such as ABC's "Lost". Iger says his company will continue to focus on digital, direct-to-consumer distribution channels in the future.

Implication: The business case for online video exists and early adopters like Disney are beginning to see returns. Where the dollars go so too go the marketers, the media companies, their content, and correspondingly larger audiences.

#2: News Corp. & NBC Universal

Hulu.com - an online video platform created by News Corp. and NBC Universal (GE) launched today. The ad-supported online video network allows consumers to choose and watch more than 250 TV shows or more than 100 full-length movies in any Web browser, anytime, anywhere. It's a massive online library of content that's sure to grow, and requires little technical knowledge nor mammoth downloads to use.

Implication: Web video technology has finally advanced to a level making it simple enough for most consumers to use. And the content is becoming available (free!) to attract eyeballs. The two biggest factors impeding growth now appear to be vanishing.

#3: YouTube

Google makes a big move to "open" its popular YouTube technology to the outside world. Today, the video sharing giant announced a new set of developer tools (known as APIs) allowing individuals and organizations to intermix the YouTube experience into their own Web sites and online properties.

Implication: Web video isn't just for professionals anymore, nor will it be limited to a few major sites. The barriers of entry to shooting, publishing and sharing video easily are quickly disappearing.

What's at the heart of these big announcements? America's growing appetite for multimedia content fed by peppy broadband connections to an increasingly "Internet-savvy" populace.

And the market potential isn't ripe merely for media companies hoping to share entertainment content. Smart marketers and organizations are increasingly using it to advance their business objectives.

How can it be used effectively in a PR or marketing campaign? Perhaps its biggest promise is the format's potential to deliver authentic customer stories and drive word of mouth. Video "personalizes" stories and makes arguments more convincing by letting us (virtually) look into the eye of the message bearer.

PR pros can help their clients by mining customers or other stakeholder groups to identify and encourage those who can authentically tell the organization's stories.

For any global brand that aspires to embrace sustainability in a way that’s meaningful and also profitable, Nike might just be the green standard. Without even breaking a sweat, Nike has gained significant respect from core environmentalists while never compromising on the power and influence of the iconic brand. When they introduced the Nike Considered line in 2005 many Nike fans – at least the audience that Nike covets – were reluctant to embrace the shoes. Performance and style seemed to be somewhat divorced from sustainability at that point. Many expected that Nike would release the Nike Considered line with new styles each season to appease the green movement and that the products would live separately from Nike’s performance and street wear lines. And for most brands, that would have sufficed.

But with the release of the Air Jordan XX3, Nike has done something remarkable by introducing a highly anticipated performance shoe that also just happens to be eco-friendly. In this case, the sustainability factor almost seems like an afterthought, since it’s secondarily cited as a product attribute in the launch.

Innovative technology (including a proprietary 3D stitching process) helped finally integrate performance, style and sustainability and Nike made a significant financial investment to do so. That’s where Nike should be really lauded – there seemed to be little pressure for Nike to take a risk by altering a blockbuster product – the XX3 would break new sales records regardless. But this launch is a watershed moment for the green movement – Nike has found the right way to embrace sustainability without alienating its consumer base through a disciplined approach to green marketing. If Nike succeeds here in selling sustainability to the masses, other consumer product brands might not feel the need to overtly hype their own green credentials. Instead, green marketing will just be an inherent component of an overall marketing plan and, in that case, much more authentic to the brand.

Catalyst, a nonprofit research and advisory organization that aims to expand opportunities for women in business, has been long pointing to the accelerating trend of women establishing their own businesses. A study Catalyst published in 1998 listed such as lack of flexible hours, productivity and advancement opportunities among main reasons why women left corporations and started their own businesses. A decade later, we are seeing the positive ripple effects of this landscape change in business ownership.

According to recent numbers released by the Center for Women’s Business Research (CWBR), women-owned firms account for almost half (41 percent) of all privately held firms. In addition, the grand majority (83 percent) of women business owners are technology purchasers for their businesses. Women entrepreneurs mainly use technology to integrate the responsibilities of work and home (61 percent), to enable employees to work offsite (44 percent) and to have flexible work schedules.

The CWBR research continues to point out that women business owners are more likely than their male counterparts to consult with experts, employees and peers. Women entrepreneurs’ emphasis on communication, connectivity and relationship building in the workplace further explains their reliance upon technology to run and grow their business.

These trends confirm that women require suppliers’ attention not only as gadget users, but also as employers who sign off on e-CRM systems, database tools, financial software packages, laptops and wireless PDAs, among other types of technology. A lot has been said about women’s personal or household shopping habits, but we will see more written about marketing to women as business owners and technology purchasers. Those technology firms who recognize the nuances in the way women employers make business decisions and run their operations will sign them on as customers.

Anderson Cooper, beware. Seventeen-year old high school student James Brierton is about to give you a run for your money. And the folks paying your salary -- CNN -- are giving him all the tools he needs.

Today, CNN is planning to formally launch iReport.com -- a novel news portal featuring reports from everyday citizens who witness news first-hand. CNN's approach is laissez faire, providing only the platform for individuals to post, comment and rate news items from the public. It plans to exercise no editorial control, according to MediaWeek.

Mainstream media's efforts to blend "social media" with professionally reported news isn't particularly new. We've seen plenty of examples of blending news from citizen and established sources together in the past. What's unique about CNN's new iReport.com effort is that it's completely firewalled from the company's "core" news products.

(CNN's iReport Beta)

iReport blends a number of simple publishing tools and collaboration technologies into what appears to be a promising news product. Contributors who publish the most highly-regarded content (as rated by the community) most often receive the biggest accolade -- an "iReporter Superstar" designation. A quick look at early iReporter profiles unearths participants from Los Angeles to Des Moines to New York, mostly high school and college age.

James Brierton (known as "jbjimbo") is one such contributor. His brief bio on the site suggests he's a serial reporter, participating in his school newspaper, an online radio station, and more. James has shared more than a dozen stories with the world in his perspective via CNN's iReporter portal, ranging from political commentary, severe weather, local crime, to social issues.

While technology helps facilitate the growth of citizen journalists like James, it's not the primary reason they participate. Most contributors share because they have a point of view or a story to tell, and want to reach as broad of an audience as possible. Technology just makes it easier.

And technology isn't the reason why news seekers' appetites for first-person news grows, either. The reason citizen-penned content is becoming more attractive is authenticity. With the flurry of news choices at our fingertips, hungry news seekers increasingly want news without spin, direct from real people, in their own words. These unfiltered sources are now one of many key ways individuals consider different viewpoints and formulate their own opinions.

From a PR perspective, it's becoming more important for communications initiatives to help encourage or facilitate first-hand reporting. The more that practitioners can help create the environment for authentic buzz to grow through tools like iReport, the more they'll see authentic citizen reports about their companies and brands.