DISQUS

Jimmy T · 1 year ago

Bro, I luv it. I don't think her or anyone like her with listen though. Their bottom line is cash and they've got plenty of it. She doesn't care about the people, only the peoples money.

Luke Irvin · 1 year ago

This is only just the beginning. I think it just takes one celebrity to get the rest to realize what's out there. Now, will they use Twitter like most people do? The proper way? Probably not right now, but maybe a few will and then they will all branch out and try stuff out.

Evan H · 1 year ago

Unbelievably well said. We need more people like you who "get it" to go out, become successful so your voice is heard, and go either take out or redirect the players that enter the game and don't "get it." GV.com FTW.

Daniel Kemp · 1 year ago

Thank you Gary. Right now I am just using twitter for like a press release. I will try to be more "real" with it now that you recommended it.

Daniel Kemp · 1 year ago

Oh and dude it's Britney not Brittany.

Korey B · 1 year ago

TRUTH...keep beating it over heads Gary!

Tip -

Lauren Kozak | 18/10/08

Hi! I’m Britney’s Social Media Director, running the above myspace, facebook, twitter, youtube and ning communities. Thanks so much for the kind coverage and links! Hope I can make you proud!

~Lauren

http://www.quickonlinetips.com/archives/2008/10...

IanMaffett · 1 year ago

Watched it live and it's even better from this perspective but no matter what, it's still true. I am having a tough enough time believing that she even knows Twitter exists but if it is actually her (and her 'team') she should absolutely do it herself.

J3rome · 1 year ago

Gary I totally agree with you. One of the reasons you are killing it is because you do interact with your fans so much. If anyone as big as Britney did a Ustream I would almost guarantee that it would bring the server to a screeching halt with so many viewers. I agree with you that nobody wants more PR we want the real thing.

Alan Underkofler - Follow Up S · 1 year ago

This is such great advice for anyone with a brand! People want to connect with you! If you are building a brand or have a brand already social media must be a part of your personal marketing! Learn it, understand it, and use it to explode your brand exposure!

Deano · 1 year ago

Gary PREACH IT!!!! I agree 100 percent...it has to be authentic for someone to follow and give a damn about the updates.

Martin · 1 year ago

Nice video but it's not going to happen unfortunately. It's the same situation with myspace, occasionally you get the real person managing their myspace account but 90% of the time it's just managed by their pr team.

If it's not happening on myspace (which is a far bigger audience) it's not going to happen on twitter.

Jon Norris · 1 year ago

Gary, you speak the truth -- authenticity is key. As soon as the rest of the Twitterverse realizes that @therealbritney is not in fact the real Britney, it's over for her in this medium unless she changes directions as you suggest and actually handles things herself. The average human has a very sensitive nose when it comes to sniffing out BS, and we're not going to fall for a thinly veiled PR campaign.

stevengrande · 1 year ago

I am glad that Twitter is gaining so much exposure as of late. Britney and her "team" is just the beginning of starlets to make Twitter appearances. But with the imminent arrival of above-mentioned celebs, does that mean that there will now be "Twitter-azzi" stalking her every move?

Peace, love, and Tweets!!

Justin Dorfman · 1 year ago

Amen. Now time to drink some wine (http://corkd.com/wine/view/7994-Screw_Kappa_Nap...)

;)

Bryan Phillips · 1 year ago

Gary, That is why we all follow you and keep up with all you do. I really have no intrest in wine, but your web 2.0ness keeps me following what you do. I don't care to be a "web 2.0 star" but I do want to know what is happening with my world before it happens. Call it self education.
bp

OceanOfTea · 1 year ago

Gary, ne'er a truer word has been spoken (Yes, just said ne'er). Living by your words at http://twitter.com/oceanoftea and the results are amazing!

Shannon Swenson, Interactive P · 1 year ago

I work with national brands in interactive advertising and we have to go through the same learning curve. Press releases & self promotion are fine, but keep them to a minimum. Listen, engage & be genuine. Reply, DM & retweet properly. Give some link love and pimpage. Say what you're doing right now. Technology is merely a medium. Please, just be human.
http://twitter.com/shannonswenson

Brittany Bohnet · 1 year ago

I wonder how much she'll put up for my @brit username....

DrewM · 1 year ago

SAY AMEN SOMEBODY...Great video GV. If someone like Brit made Twitter her own, that rising tide would raise a lot of social networking boats...

KathyElkins · 1 year ago

So - what is the long term of twitter if this is where it's going? I own my company and am taking the time and being real. Small but important steps. Grrr.

Todd · 1 year ago

Gary, what if you gained a million fans overnight - would you be able to scale the personal touch? Just sayin.

Davide Di Cillo · 1 year ago

I totally agree, a lot of people really don't understand what social media is about. It's not about publish stuff on them or having an account with 1 million friends. it's about creating a real relationship with the people you are talking to.

Ben - frogstr.com · 1 year ago

Brit probably doesn't even know she's on twitter. That's how bad it is.

krismiller · 1 year ago

i agree, in social media/networking keep it real... or keep it to yourself.

Melanie Jordan · 1 year ago

Absolutely right Gary! There are many ways others can help you with your business, but when it comes to your words, your thoughts, your content, it's got to be DIRECTLY from you.

I read a special report from a well-known internet marketing guru on Twitter that said right out that he hands off most of his tweets to an employee, and when you watch his tweets you can totally tell.

There are also people using way too much automation of their tweets. They load up some "conversational" stuff into the Twitter tool of their choice, set it and forget it, and think that makes them look like they are interacting with others. And they have the nerve to ask questions and never once acknowledge or reply to a follower's answer!

I have personally answered my own e-mails from everyone who contacts me legitimately since I started doing business online way back in the dark ages of the internet in 2001, I still do today, and I always will find a way to do so. And I am doing the same now with Twitter! See for yourself :)

http://twitter.com/melaniejor

Susan · 1 year ago

Gary- I completely agree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People don't understand at all how to make it real and maybe they don't care??? Authenticity is key.........but do people have the goal to be authentic?? I think not. Most people just want the $$$ and don't care how fake it all is.........

Adryenn Ashley · 1 year ago

I love Brit too! This video ROCKED! Thanks for showing me that Brit was on twitter. I'm following her now too. Although not quite in the same stalkerazzi way I follow Tim Ferriss, but it's like you said. I know it's him tweeting. If it was her tweeting (please somebody show her how to do it from her crackberry) then I would do mobile updates on her too!

TJ Clark · 1 year ago

I was going to leave a comment, but I think I'll just have my "people" do it:

Awesome, GV. I would follow that shit, too, if she wrote it herself.

Mark Fitzpatrick · 1 year ago

Super Koooool vid her Gary cuz it's so DAMN true. Maybe someone will play it for Brit. And she'll take Control.

She can turn her cell phone on paparazzi and twit out "Look I turned the tables on the paparazzi. Check this out." or "I just had a chance to listen to a rough cut of my new song. Want your opinion. Please listen and let me know if U like"

Keep bringing the great stuff..."Gimme, gimme. Gimme more."

Mark

David Dadekian · 1 year ago

Gary, even though I could care less about Ms. Spears, it's a hugely valid point. The reality is it's unlikely that the "handler" situation is going to change any time soon in the case of giant media celebrities. You're looking at a lot of layers that need to be stripped away. I think it's much more likely that someone without all those layers to begin with will rise up to Britney level (and use Twitter) than the other way around.

DD

KramTV · 1 year ago

DD, you're right.

Dude, she is *not* real.
She does *not* care.
Her "team" does not care.
Her legal team is riding the beast.
F 'em!

I like social media better without celebs pretending to be real.

KramTV · 1 year ago

The false persona created by most (if not all) celebs is NOT real. Asking a celeb to be real is asking them 2 drop the mask.

You and I both know that if the hords of celeb followers *really* knew what their idols were like that they'd be appalled.

They will use it in a fuax was biut I agree with DD that someone will become a celeb for being real and rise up that way like our man GV. I hope I'm one of them!

Dethrone the divas (and the male divas too...divo's?)!
http://twitter.com/kram

Cris · 1 year ago

Yeah, you'd think she would be a natural at this. After all, any woman who has been photographed out on the town without underwear on obviously has no problem letting her guard down.

And maybe that could be the theme for this new endeavor. Britney's New Underwear-Free Twitter Page. "Because nothing comes between me and my fans."

Derek F. · 1 year ago

Is she really going to have the time for twitter...think about it....COME ON..ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!

Reverb · 1 year ago

Changing the tweet world.

I was at a church leadership conference last week and Seth Godin mentioned your name during an amazing message about Tribes. You're also mentioned in the book. I got so excited that I almost pooped...well...maybe not that excited, but it was fun to know who Gary Vay-Ner-Chuck was when the rest of my team didn't.

Don't worry...I informed.

howlr5 · 1 year ago

Twitter is about to become a joke if celebrities use it just to promote themselves. Gary, I am also a Britney fan and wish she could find a producer like Rick Rubin who would help her to re-establish the career that she deserves.

Kris Colvin · 1 year ago

I'm torn about this one. I think you're right, GV, to say that without personal interaction, this new Twitter/Blogging etc. is just a press release, or mini-update system. And that's fine, too, for fans who want that - but the name should reflect the reality, like "BritneyNews" or something. One of my fave (new for him) celebs is David Cook. He has a very recent video clip on his site at http://www.davidcookofficial.com/ where he is telling his fans that he'll be on SNL November 1st - he does these personal videos sporadically. That is his form of social media, and it is something fans love, naturally.

Both his and Britney's new site excel at one thing, and that is bringing the community of fans together to laugh, talk, play and exchange information with each other. I am not sure if we'll ever get the kind of interaction from them we do from you, Gary. Maybe someday!!

Noam · 1 year ago

I am not sure I agree. You assume that everything she will write will promote her brand. Is it true? Can it damage her brand? If you were her PR manager would you take the risk?

Lauren Kozak · 1 year ago

Hi Gary,

I'm Lauren, Britney's Social Media Director. I 100% agree with your video, and am humbled by your advice.

I am passing your video around Britney's Team because they need to see it. There are a lot of different opinions in her team on how transparent/out there Brit should be. My opinion as the social media director, of course, agrees with yours, but I'm the not a final decision maker. I already have some changes I'm going to make in my wording and strategy based on your humbling advice.

We did a survey of Britney's uber fans, and they are interested in instant updates on Britney news and happenings as well as personal messages from her. This shaped our strategy for Britney's twitter. Some people just want to know what's going on with her all the time.

Finally, does anyone here think Barack Obama runs his own twitter? 100,000 of us following him and not complaining.... Just sayin'. Twitter has a culture of authenticity, which I respect and am going to work to honor even more on Britney's twitter, but it also is an interesting tool. Lots of bloggers use it to just post links to new entries. Barack posts a location update that's public knowledge and a fundraising link. Companies use it as a customer service tool. I promise i'm one of those who "get it," but ask you to think about.. "how else can you use twitter?"

I'll be checking into answer questions and heartily debate.

~Lauren Kozak, Britney's Social Media Director

ccl1111 · 1 year ago

Gary,

Looks like she didn't take your advice. Her tweets look quite PR'ish.

Guess you could expect that with her social media director commenting. Wish they'd even fake that was in her hands by writing in her own voice.

If it would be a nightmare as KramTV mentions above, it would be at least more interesting if it was presented as coming directly from her - rather than PR machine.

Tom · 1 year ago

Goood Lawd! Please stop pandering for some young girls attention.

Jorge · 1 year ago

That's it. Social Media is about being you. If she would like to post Britney updates why not open a britneyupdates account or something like that. But if she is going to be on twitter, it better be just the original Britney.

Nick O'Neill · 1 year ago

Hey Gary,

Obama does the same thing as Britney. Is he supposed to run his Twitter as well? I think he should but why is it acceptable for him not to?

Laura · 1 year ago

Oh Gary, I would bet they don't trust her to do it herself, seriously.

I wish she would, it would be AMAZING. But it's now back to her well-oiled machine and they keep her in line and controlled.

Bloggeries · 1 year ago

Sooo true!! Re the last comment left on viddler; I wonder if she even knows she has a twitter account. If people found out it was actually Britney updating on what she was up to you're right we're looking at millions and millions.

Crazy times ahead!!

Matt · 1 year ago

Gary,
Unrelated to Brit, but related to you. I was at the game yesterday, and the B-R-E-T-T-S did not look good. The bumbling Raiders tried to give the game away.

I think it is time for you do a vid/blog entry on showing passion on the football field...
Matt

KG · 1 year ago

SO often when people try to "get a handle on this social media thing" they do it wrong. There are FAR too many corporate blogs, facebook pages, and twitter accounts which are just schmaltzy or kissing up to the fanbase, or otherwise a corporate echo chamber. this is the fastest way to get tuned out and look out of touch. Which is worse? An old man dressed in an out-of-date outfit, or an old man wearing a Paramore t-shirt, trying to look "hip"?

hillary hartley · 1 year ago

Big ups to @lancearmstrong -- updating from TwitterBerry. Real and authentic. Nice.

hillary hartley · 1 year ago

whoops... pasted my own URL in there.

@lancearmstrong corrected.

Teresa · 1 year ago

Saw that whoever's managing @therealbrit @replied you on Britney's Twitter and is trying to personalize her tweets. I love that you got her to listen!

mydailywine · 1 year ago

Think Britney will hear about the Gary school for social media?
I attend class every day.
Keep spreading the word Gary!
We want it real time.

Trisha Lyn Fawver · 1 year ago

I agree, the whole idea is lame when you have someone else posting for her. Either be yourself or have it be a feed from her blog or some such bull.

Ryan Wade · 1 year ago

Awesome dude... tell her what's up!

You Rock!

-Ryan

Sam With Traffic Is King · 1 year ago

G,

I watched this video like 4 times already. People don't understand yet and the reason why is because all of us who have commented on this blog are on the bleeding edge of technology. People who aren't as familiar with social media and web 2.0 wont get it yet. But that's changing. I notice a program on CNN where on of the broadcasters used twitter to get responses from people about the political debates. So it's happening it just take some time for people to adopt.

P.S. You guys lost to the Raiders??? That should have been a cake walk.

zach even - esh · 1 year ago

u know it GV, tell that girl how it's done!

she would KILL shiz if she did it herself from her own i phone!

--z--

Michelle / chelpixie · 1 year ago

Kinda proves how resistant they are to doing it right when her rep comes on to post to the comments.

Britney's team isn't really ready to listen, the reps are just taking a marketing strategy that they see as cool and running with it.

Can anyone really say they expected Britney to do this herself?

KrisC · 1 year ago

It doesn't get much more real than Lauren, Andrew, Britney and whoever else is posting from the Twitter account making changes to respond to Garyvee's advice. Great job, Lauren! Love the little "~From" that you're doing now, and that you're all testing the Twitter/social media waters to see what you can do and handle. Love that you took GV's advice - he's a pretty smart cookie. See you on Twitter! :-)

Ari Herzog · 1 year ago

Thanks, Gary, for calling out the Britney team... and thanks, Lauren, for calling out Barack and responding to Gary.

For what it's worth, I'd like to share with both of you (and every other reader still following these comments) a blog post of mine from the other day on how I use Twitter and why every company should care:

http://www.ariwriter.com/2008/10/how-i-use-twit...

Yu Ming Lui · 1 year ago

Woah that was an explosive diatribe against Britney and her people. But you definitely have a point there, my friend. I admire the fact that you still answer all your emails and do your social media yourself.

Shannon Nelson · 1 year ago

Dude you are so dead on (and funny!) When I saw her bio section I laughed "and Britney herself!" Give me a break. It just means that either Britney or her marketing/PR team just don't get it.

@ShannonNelson

JT · 1 year ago

I agree with you on this one, Gary. Go to twitter.com and view the introduction video. This is what Twitter is for. Above the update box in Twitter, there is a question. The question is "What are you doing?". Twitterers should never forget this. The updates need to be original!

Scott - Boston · 1 year ago

It looks like I'm in the minority here.
I know very little about Twitter, but am coming at it from the angle of : Team Britney's "misuse" of Twitter is probably equal to the smallest pimple on the Mona Lisa's ass. The fact is her Team is just promoting and sometimes it gets sloppy. Giving Britney Spears advice on how to get more people to pay attention to her just doesn't resonate with me. It's like telling Marilyn Monroe that she could have been soooo much bigger if she didn't sell out and do those Union Oil commercials that she did.
Britney Spears is THE most sought after person on the globe. Sorry for the blemish, fans of Twitter!

Scott - Boston

Jesse Andrews · 1 year ago

I work with @MCHammer at my startup, and it has been amazing to see his adoption of twitter. His followers knows it is him and he loves interacting. I only wish I was as good at twitter as him...

Love the show!

glenn · 1 year ago

she's not on twitter, her freaking PR team is trying to feed tidbits... this sucks. Its simply a britneyspears Corp feeding press (if you can call it that. Mindyou, she's hardly the online one doing this. A good example of a real celeb who's actually tweeting try following lancearmstrong(@gletham)