Shameless Plugs

It’s that time of year again: SXSW (aka Geek Spring Break)—the time when all good social media types head to Austin, Texas, to actually interact in real life with people they usually only talk to via a keyboard. While they are there, they will pinky swear that they won’t go back next year because it’s been overrun by the big brands.

This year, I go there—as I always do—looking to meet people who are using social media to do new and amazing things online, discover exciting applications and tools that are out there, and catch up with old friends to learn what they have accomplished.

It will be different for me this time. I’ll be there as part of the PayPal team, which I’m very excited about. At SXSW I’ll be running the social media team on the ground for PayPal. What does that mean? Let me share some of the things PayPal will be doing there in list form, as people like lists.

-       PayPal will have a week-long Digital Lounge at SXSW. Everyone is invited to Pop! in and play at PayPal Exchange our PayPal Developer Lounge located on the third floor of the Convention Center. Enjoy a blue slurpee (#tweetyourtoungue) and create your own personalized SuperHero Sticker – there’s something for everyone! We’ll be there during SXSW’s Interactive week from March 8-12.

-       On March 9, there will be a PayPal party. Okay, I’ll just be having a fun time there (shhhh!) We’ll be hosting a Superhero surprise at Mohawk; along with exclusive live performances from Man Man and other local favorites you won’t forget.

-       The whole week we will be using Twitter to—oh, wait, I can’t tell you that. That one is a surprise…my bad! So you might want to follow the PayPal Twitter account for something really cool happening all week.

Are you headed to SXSW? If so, make sure to stop by the Digital Lounge and say “Hi!” If you do, you might be surprised and delighted.

Dear TheDavePeck.com,

First, I want to say I’m sorry. Really sorry… I’ve taken you for granted.  I would ask how you have been, but I know you haven’t been well. I haven’t visited you, posted, or even upgraded your widgets in more than a year. I know it’s not fair. You have done so much for me, and I just tossed you aside like a MySpace page.

I want you to know that what you have done for me is not all for naught. If it wasn’t for you, I would not have accomplished what I have in the past year.  Nor would I be where I am today. Let me share with you some of the amazing things that have been going on. I’ll do it in list form, because well….people like lists.

• I wrote a book. No, really, I did! Don’t tease me like my high school friends do. It’s called Think Before You Engage. And, yes, it’s a real book.  Well, no, that doesn’t mean it’s real. You’re right. But, look here.  I even have a real publisher. One that’s been around since 1807!

• I’ve worked with amazing companies such as Dash Office. Dash created an app that allows you to have The world’s fastest mobile experience.
  I’ve worked as well with incredible people such as Antonio Sabato, Jr. , C. Thomas  Howell and Matthew Lillard.   Then I had a fun time working with  Jessie Csincsak, Natalie Getz, and David Good.

So this brings me to where I am today. I am exactly where I want to be. I have the most incredible job as the Head of Social Media for PayPal.

(Let me know when the shock and awe has calmed down.)

Yes, it’s that PayPal. The site that’s changing the way people pay and helping anyone, anywhere, anytime send and receive money. It’s the dream job for any social media expert, guru, ninja, master, black belt, buzz term.  I’m working with amazing people, doing amazing things, and changing how commerce is done.

So, I hope you can understand that I have been really busy. It’s not an excuse. I get that. And, I want to turn this around. It’s my goal to publish to you more frequently. I can’t promise my posts will always be long and helpful, but I’ll do my best.

I look forward to spending more time with you and hope you do too.

Sincerely yours,

Dave “I won’t blogfade” Peck

It has been a while since I have done one of these, so with so much going on, it seems like a good time to do one.

Let me start with a few “house cleaning” items, in no particular order. I will do them in list form, as… well.. people like lists.

-I want to thank everyone who voted for me, tweeted and shared my video  To Be Ashton’s VP of Pop Culture“. I do mean that. As  so many of people took part like, my family, friends, kids school, the Twitter community, my Facebook Community, my Blog community, folks at SXSW and so on.

- Being one of the top 3 allowed me to meet some amazing people like Jessie Csincsak from the Bachelor.  Jessie and I ave actually become “buddies for life” as he put it. I have also gotten to talk to  Diane Mizota an actress from such things as well.. here  you’ll recognize her:

-Then there is of course the  Twitter king himself Ashton Kutcher. I got to spend sometime with him on the phone. He was a pleasure to talk to and seemed really easy going.  This is the week that popchips team and Ashton will decide the winner of the contest, so send me good luck. I would be thrilled if you left a comment telling them to pick me here.

-While at SXSW Meshin demoed our soon to be in closed beta: MeshinMobile.  It got nothing but positive feedback. Wanna be part of the beta? Sign up here.

-One of the panels I took part in was  My Kindergartner Markets better than You, you can read a review here.

- I thought I would share the Crowdtap SXSW Launch Party video I go to be part of, it was really well done:

Recently, the folks at Research In Motion (RIM) were kind enough to supply me with a Blackberry Torch.  Now as an iPhone user, I was a bit skeptical about the phone. I really, really like my iPhone.

Being the risk taker I am, went to my local AT&T store to get the phone activated. While waiting in line (has anyone been to an AT&T store without a line?), the person behind me started commenting on the Torch.  “I have heard wonderful things about it, I wish I was able to get one.” Now, keep in mind, prior to getting this, I knew nothing about the Torch, so I was surprised he knew about it. Once getting home, my 12 year old son, could smell the phone enter the house.

“Sniff, sniff…. Dad, did you get something new? What is that in the box? Did you get a Torch?”

“Time out, how do you know this is a Torch?’ I asked

“I have seen ads, for them. Let me try it.”

He quickly rips it out of my hand and starts showing me the features. Are you kidding me? The kids was all over this thing.  Slides it up to display the keyboard, starting taking these amazing crisp photos and making videos!.

“Son, do you think I might be able to use it?” I humbly ask.

“Sure, but if you need any help just let me know.” he says.

I think to myself, no doubt I will be asking him for a lot of help. I quickly sit down and attempt to load some apps, take a photo, create a video & zoom in. Yep, that is correct. I needed no help for son #1!!  This thing has such simple  navigation it is crazy. Oh did I mention the flash? Love it. (hey I only had an iPhone 3).

I took the phone with me around town and tested the GPS. Now, this might sound strange, but I found it to be a lot more accurate then my iPhone. Am I the only one with issues with GPS on the iPhone? Same goes with the mp3 player..much better on the Torch.

So, overall this phone rocks.I am not saying that for the benefit of the RIM folks, it really does.  If I did not like it, I would say so.  Heck, I could go on about the cool features and scare you off, but you can just read about them here.

Also, I reached out to them via Twitter at there BlackBerry account and the response time was really good. That is something that really impressed me, as other companies seem to not be on top of it.

So, it seems that if you talk enough about something on the web, things happen. I mean it is not like I am vocal or anything on social networking sites. Right?

Recently, I mentioned my need…want.. for an iPad. They are damm cool, ..trendy.

Now to be trendy, you need something cool to carry them in. Heck, you don’t want to see my iPhone. Its covered in a brick like case and screensaver film thing. As my wife says, I am very hard on my phone. So you can only imagine what I would do to an iPad.

Well, I was thrilled to come home and find in a mail a wonderful item from the folks at Griffin Technology! A Elan Passport iPad case!!

This thing is slick! Awesome quality on the outside, pockets to put stuff in the inside. I am actually toying with idea of ditching my old school backpack altogether. Yes, I am geeky that way.

Here.. look .. video of it..cause video makes everything better:

Now, I look super cool at work, walking around with my iPad and case taking notes!!

So, yes I got this for free. No, I was not forced to write about it. I did this cause the folks at Griffin Technology rock.

So, yes I have been lagging with the blog posts and this is what I come up with? Yes, I know – weak. I have several things I want to share and one nice big fat blog post is the best way to do it.

I will do this in date order and in list form. This is because people like lists!

1. On September 11, 2010 I will be speaking at the West Coast Songwriters Conference in Los Altos, California.  Founded in 1979, the WCS has grown into one of the most active music associations in the USA. Whether your goal is personal expression or to make a living in the music industry, knowing how to write, or recognize a well crafted song is key to your success.
2. September 16, 2010 I will be speaking at the Social Media Strategies Summit in San Francisco. I will be speaking on “Creating a Solid, User – Friendly Blog to Increase Business”.
3. March 2011 I hope to be speaking at SXSW!! I need your help though! If you would be so kind please vote on my panels to be picked!  Yes,  I know its pain. I will be very grateful. The panels are

K.I.S.S And Your Brand with Barry Moltz

Kicking Community Ass: Building Better Influence with Sudha Jamthe, PayPal

My Kindergartner Markets Better Than You with Kriselle Laran, Bullfrog Media

Thanks so much!

Just two quick updates for the week of June 7-11, 2010:

- This weekend I  will be on WERS 88.9 FM “You Are Here”. This a weekly public affairs show. I will be speaking on using social networking to brand  yourself and business.

-June 4, 2010 9: CST  I will be a guest on Business Insanity Talk Radio with Barry  J. Moltz.   Call in with your questions at 347-426-3202

Blog? What blog?

I’m lagging updating my blog. The quilt is as bad as when I do not go to the gym in the morning. (No, I am not being sarcastic.)

So do I have a fantastic, earth shattering, way deep and insightful like Chris Brogan post for you? Nope…

Im just going to share with you all the things I have going on in the next 30 days. Yep, Plugs. Hey you were warned, it was in the blog title! (sorta)

-March 12, 2010 SXSW: I will be speaking with Sarah White on “Using Social Media to Score.. a Job (Obviously)“  Come join us for this core conversation. Very happy to have it covered by Austion360 as one of its panel previews!

-March 13, 2010 SXSW: I was honored to be asked to be on the Community Innovation Summit which is sponsored by PayPal. This panel is the first Community Innovation Summit of leaders of Developer Networks. It is a lively discussion about fostering innovation in online communities.  I will speaking with Dave Mcclure of Founders Fund,  Wayne Sutton (Twine Interactive), Naveed Anwar(PaypalX) and Evans Cohen (FourSquare)

-March 23, 2010 I will be doing a webinar with David Rodniski for Zubernace.  Info on the webinar can be found here

-March 24, 2010 I will be doing a  webinar for AARP with Susan Joyce of job-hunt.org.  You can sign up for it here

So these events plus my normal daily work for my clients at LSF Interactive is keeping me busy. That being said I am always easy to find on Twitter.

Okay now I need to come up with a real blog post..

Plugs..Links..Shout Outs..OH MY!! There is no avoiding it, let me just be upfront and honest. This are straight out shameless plugs and such. So let me skip the witty banter and get right into it. I will do it in list form as people like lists!!

-Peninsula Twitter & Facebook Meet-Up for August 2009!! This month the event is back at The Dutch Goose In Menlo Park. Come join at this free event to network and have a great time! As always this event is put together by the great folks at LSF Interactive.Yes, that is where I work

-September 22 I will be speaking at the 140|The Twitter Conference LA along such amazing folks like:

Biz Stone, Co-Founder, Twitter Inc

Dr.Drew, Loveline, Celebrity Rehab

LeVar Burton, Integrity Entertainment

-Oct 16-17, 2009 I will be speaking at BlogWorld & New Media Expo 2009 on “How To Socialize Your Content”. This is one of my favorite events of the year. If your anywhere near Las Vegas or want an excuse to go to Las Vegas, this is the event for you.

-I need your help. Please vote for my panels at SXSW.com. Please click the thumbs up if you find it interesting! My panels are:

Using Social Media to Score…a job (obviously)

and

Building Community Via Events: Evites Aren’t Enough

Plugs..Links..Shout Outs..OH MY!! There is no avoiding it, let me just be upfront and honest. This are straight out shameless plugs and such. So let me skip the witty banter and get right into it. I will do it in list form as people like lists!!

-Tomorrow June 24, 2009 I will be having the Peninsula Twitter & Facebook Meetup For June 2009 at the Silicon Valley Four Seasons Hotel starting at 7:00 pm poolside. Please join the 150+ people, LSF Interactive and myself for this free event!

-On July 8, 2009 I will be speaking at the International Association of Administrative Professionals in San Jose, California.

-On August 13, 2009 I will be speaking at Marketing In The Oilfield Conference in Houston, Texas.

-Some of you have asked if we  can connect on Facebook, Linkedin, etc. So since this is shameless links here are some places we can network