The following is a list of social content and monitoring platforms gathered from a resourceful and recommended book called Your Brand: The Next Media Company by Michael Brito. For anyone entering the tech, Media, or any other digital industry, picking up this book will be extremely useful.   

Social Media:

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

Foursquare 

Tumblr

Pinterest

Content Publishing Platforms:

Sprinklr

hubspot (Check)

expion

raven tools

spredfast

expion

Contact Marketing platforms: 

kapost

compendium

Cadence9

Relaborate

Percolate

Skyword

Contently

Ebyline

Video:

Youtube

Vimeo

Ustream

Photo Sharing:

Flickr

Snapfish

Photobucket

Picasa

Smugmug

Music sharing:

itunes

live365

Podcast alley

Presentations and Documents:

Scribd

Slideshare

Splashcast 

Brighttalk

Slideboom

Social Bookmarking:

Diigo

Digg  (Check)

Reddit (check)

Review and Rating:

Epinions

Yelp

Blogs:

Blogger

Blogspot

Technorati

Social Entertainment:

Come2play

Second life

uGame

Zynga

Definitions sites

Wikipedia

Brittannica Online

Social Commerce:

lulu.com

Cafepress.com

groupon.com

Other :

Rivalmap

Flavors.me

With the current rate of innovation, even since Ted Global first published this speech, wearable technology, cars, home-security, appliances, personal finances, eye-glasses that produce 3-D imaging, 3-D Printers that can even 3-D print objects in space, all have evolved to a point where we can control these complex systems via apps on our mobile devices; a device that has the same power used to launch spacecrafts to space 40 years ago.

Ian Goldin, mentioned in is definition of globalization, that the interweaving of societies and systems was facilitated by “just-in time management systems”; a business strategy to increase efficiency by relying on the supply to produce the demand. In comparison, users are the supply, and the product-offering is the demand; so many tech companies where social connection is at the core of the business, its necessary to get the largest following possible to gain additional interest, traffic and retention.  

Just like our mobile devices and computers, these products go through continuous updates, evolving a better product each year.  Some products such as wearable technology are already becoming social, for example FitBit has an option to post your personal health updates to your social community.  Google has been in testing phases with its new product that launched in 2014, Google Self-car.  Its only a matter of time before these products enable features that allow the users to set presets that you can alter, allowing the product to function based on a selected preset.

OpenIDEO - a global platform where users come together to design solutions for todays challenges.  From Higher Education in emerging areas, to sanitation issues in third-world countries, join your creativity to help build a better world.  Click here for updated challenges that need your help.  

While cleaning out my computer I cam across some interesting notes. One was about a cool app called Headspace, a platform already used by 5 million users to help improve the mind, creating a healthier, happier, and enjoyable life. 

An article from Jason Borbet from forbes goes into detail in its 10 tips every Independent Artist needs to know.  Check them out here.  Creating your brand, sticking to a schedule, and protecting yourself highlight the first three.  

Like traveling? Make sure you check off these places as recommended by List Challenges; a cool platform that facilitates user-generated speciality lists in a range of subjects and interests.  

Hello, hello! Welcome to the first installment of The Weekly Listen.

Here, I offer what I’ve been jamming on this week from the new to the old, and why. In return, I hope you will post comments about your own tunes of the week so we can compare and contrast.

A friend of mine recently suggested a whole mess of music for me to listen to the past couple of weeks, so I’ll start there.

Here you can check out Suffolk County on SoundCloud

My favorite tape has to be ‘Suffolk County’ by artist Cousin Stizz (Not to be confused with former PRO ERA member Captial Steez, RIP). Stizz hails from Boston, and brings a fresh perspective from the often diluted haze rap game. Boston is not typically known for their rap scene, as it seems lately Southern Rap like Atlanta trap and Houston chopped has been dominating the listening pool. Nearly every car I ride past during the day is bumping Future or a Future look-a-like. Similar yet different, Stizz stays away from the auto-tune but keeps the high hats so familiar in today’s music.

In any event, Stizz has some quality production to help his lazy flow. I recommend Fresh Prince off of Suffolk County if you want to dive in.

New music aside, I am always coming back to some ‘oldies’ that I keep on repeat. Tried and true.

Driving between Baltimore and DC for work & play, I find my go-to drive and vibe tape to be the immaculate ‘The Water[s]’ by Mick Jenkins. Jenkins, a Chicago native, captures the frustration of wanting to be better as he raps about the thirst of this nation, and the benefits of aqua rehydration. Not really, but also kind of. A complex listen, great sober and altered both. My 2014 song of the year and personal absolute favorite is ‘Dehydration’ featuring The Mind.

Here's The Water[s] on SoundCloud, do yourself a favor.

I’ll be back next week to keep chipping away at my weekly playthroughs. As always, leave a comment below to tell me what you think.

M