Repetative Results

I have been researching blogs and social media metrics a lot lately to try and better understand the dynamics of this creature. In doing so I have been reading a lot of books on the topic. One thing I have found is that the same case stories are published over and over again. You would think with time and interested and so many new joiners to new media there would be an abundant amount of case studies and lessons learned stories. This is not the case. I have now read 4 books and they had 2 things in common, the same 2 case stories. In the midst of the repetative findings there is some good information mixed in, but you really have to find it.

The second thing they have in common is that they basically write the same things about the same technologies. Such as uses of blogs/best practices/strategies and the same for podcasts, video and social software. It seems to be once you read one you have read them all.

If anyone has suggestions for original new media books I would love to know. 

Numbers Aren’t What They Used to Be

In reading a post by JoshBernoff on measuring the value of social applications he brings a great point up and one Iam currently struggling with, how do you measure social initiatives?

How can you measure something that nobody measures or truly understands? Well, you use the old fashion way of measurement, creating outcome objectives.

Numbers and statistics are great to help justify a business case, but that is not always an option and with limited meaningful numbers availiable for social projects they could be the achillies heel of the proposal. By making solid objectives and following the space you plan to enter befor hand their can be a lot of insight into a rogue venture into a new world.

I will continue the research around my project and will hopefully be able to provide some insight.