Alan Is Good

This is Weegee.  But let’s talk about memes first.

Overexposure and the Lifecycle of Memes

I’d like to start off by addressing the issue of explaining/archiving memes that are born on message and image boards.  On a previous post of mine I referred everyone to sites like Encyclop(a)edia Dramatica, Know Your Meme and their RocketBoom series of YouTube videos for lurking and absorbing memes.  While those are wonderful resources for learning more about web memes and the culture of online communities, I dare admit to being savvy enough to know that theres a bit of a stigma about the impact of these sites on the lifecycle of a meme.  (What?)

Think RickRolling.  When it was on 4chan and other underground communities, it was viral and funny.  When it broke free and became mainstream, it was annoying.  When this happened. . .

. . . the meme was buried and spat upon.  Why?  Because the reason memes and jokes go viral in online communities is that they are inside jokes.  Inside jokes and references are what separate seasoned community members from n00bs. People aren’t in these boards to share mainstream jokes and simple gags – an actual sense of ‘community’ is what keeps them coming back for more (moar). More »

Well, now that the whole 4chan/AT&T thing is cooled down, I can finally write about something else.

So the secret to social media marketing is. . .

Wait, there’s still more.  Erling Løken Andersen, who first posted about the AT&T block on 4chan, shares an email from an anonymous (not 4chan Anonymous) AT&T insider who supposedly has the backend explanation on the whole mess.   More »

• Always relate to new media/digital PR
• Write about topics I’d actually want to read about

If you have internet access this week, you’ve probably heard about this strange 4chan vs. AT&T situation.  If you read AlanIsGood.com regularly, great – you’re already seasoned and informed regarding trolls, lulz and the missteps of corporate America in dealing with them.  This AT&T/net neutrality/4chan/revenge story is getting far deeper reach, traffic and attention than almost any other story in 4chan history. More »

Working in Social Media Strategy?  You Should Know This Face

It puzzles me how many social media guru/expert/specialist/wizard/rockstar/dude/dudette/master/manager/scientist/aficionados out there aren’t familiar with 4chan, trolling, or the art of the meme.  I’ve found these concepts extraordinarily important to a comprehensive understanding of the virality of user-generated content as well as a must for anyone engaging with any type of online communities for market research or feedback.  The few digital marketing people I’ve met who were familiar with 4chan actually ‘get’ the internet (interwebz) and tended to have a far deeper understanding of the online space, and generally a more impressive track record in social media. More »