Tony Zeoli

Wow, where do I begin?

I’m in Miami for my first week as Director of Product Development (Music Services) with Market America, a leading network marketing company based in Greensboro, NC with a global footprint in 7 territories, including the UK, Canada, and Australia. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, as I just accepted the offer on Tuesday and Wednesday I was on a plane to Miami!

My role is to drive product development of music applications and services for Conquer Entertainment, a social music platform developed by its CEO, Amanda Ridinger, and the passionate, talented, and creative team supporting the product to date.

Main Stage at MA World 2012

The Conquer Entertainment platform for artists is a DIY software-as-a-service mechanism to allow artists to maximize the distribution and marketing of the music to fans through social media, while leveraging Market America’s transformational power of the Shop.com’s network of 190,000 direct distributors worldwide. Shop.com associates will have the ability to create and market music they believe in directly to music fans in their networks. Music fans can purchase music directly from the a Shop.com associate’s website, innovative social media widgets for Facebook and other platforms (I’ll be bringing this to WordPress and Drupal for sure!), or through the Conquer Entertaiment portal, which currently redirects to http://myworld.marketamerica.com/. That will certainly change and I’m already working on it.

The first order of business will be to ensure that music fans and artists can discover their music at a Conquer Entertainment domain name, while we prepare for the rollout of Conquer 3.0. In the meantime, we’ll be rolling out a ShopBox widget (patent pending) for social platforms providing artists with a way to publish their tracks to Facebook and sell tracks directly in social media streams. Yes, you’ll be able to complete the transaction AND download directly from a Facebook news feed or band page. It’s pretty awesome. I wish I would have thought of that myself!

Of course, just getting in the door this week, I have tons of ideas. I’ve been meeting with (and partying with) the Conquer team for the past few days, both at their booth on the main concourse of American Airlines arena and at the Market America after-party at the Viceroy 50, a lounge with an outdoor pool on the 50th Floor of the Viceroy Hotel in downtown Miami. Of course, on the way down from the party, we got stuck in the elevator for a few minutes, but it ended up working out. Although my life is dedicated to digital, sometimes digital – especially when running things as important as elevators – can be problematic.

It’s off to my 3rd day here in Miami. I’ll try and post a few more pics and videos of the Conquer team and the conference itself. Time for breakfast!

Yes, I’m one of those liberal tech geeks who want to, oh, um..like, keep the Internet FREE! What I mean by free is free from old media run by the Motional Picture Industry Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America, who want to have the right to shut down any website they deem is infringing on their content without due process. That’s like given M&M/Mars the right to shut down every 7-11 in America just because a few 3rd-graders stole a couple of candy bars. Then, 7-11 would have to prove they can prevent all 3rd-graders from stealing M&Ms, before they can open the doors again. How silly would that be?

So, if you like your Google, WikiPedia, YouTube, SoundCloud, or any other service for that matter, which provides a vehicle for free artistic expression, then you’ll call you Senator or Congressperson and tell them you’re certainly against piracy, but not at the expense of taking your liberties away! Many of these sites have gone dark or are taking a stand today against government regulation, which will stifle innovation.

Here’s a quick video on how this all works and why you should be outraged that a few big media companies and their industry organizations are trying to regulate the Internet and block you from using services like Facebook and Twitter, which if passed, could be shut down without due process. This is like saying that you’re guilty until proven innocent. That’s not the America I grew up. I hope that’s not the one you want your kids to grow up in. We might as well move to China or Russia and let the powerful control the powerless.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Over the past couple of days, I’d gotten a few phone calls from prospective clients who told me they were using the contact form on my Digital Strategy Works website to submit an inquiry about our services, but they hadn’t heard back from me. Huh, I wondered. Really? How could this be?

I did some preliminary investigating and there didn’t seem to be a problem with the Contact Form 7, which I use for my forms. WordPress itself and my server were running normally. After clicking around, it was time to test the form for myself.

I sent myself an email through the form and got back the following (removed the @ symbol to obfuscate address):

Hi. This is the qmail-send program at netmixsupport.co.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

<az(at)digitalstrategyworks.com>:
This address no longer accepts mail.

--- Below this line is a copy of the message.

Return-Path: <tonyzeoli(at)me.com>
Received: (qmail 25887 invoked by uid 110); 13 Jan 2012 21:47:22 -0500
Delivered-To: 1-admin(at)netmix.co
Received: (qmail 25882 invoked by uid 10001); 13 Jan 2012 21:47:22 -0500
To: admin(at)netmix.co
Subject: tonyzeoli(at)me.com
X-PHP-Originating-Script: 10001:class-phpmailer.php
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:47:22 +0000
From: "tonyzeoli(at)me.com" <tonyzeoli(at)me.com>
Message-ID: <4742bf2ae62bb12327fd973a8fd9380c@netmix.co>
X-Priority: 3
X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.1 (phpmailer.sourceforge.net)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

From: tonyzeoli(at)me.com <tonyzeoli(at)me.com>
Subject: test

Message Body:
test
--
This mail is sent via contact form on Digital Strategy Works http://netmix.co/digitalstrategyworks

I though, that’s odd. The qmail-send program should be sending an email from the server to the email address I’d set in the admin panel of the Contact Form 7 plugin. But, I was getting a bounce back to the email address I’d tested in the form, saying that the address I was sending to was undeliverable. Why was it undeliverable, when I get email to my digitalstrategyworks.com address all the time?

There were a couple of reasons. First, I am using Google’s hosted mail service to handle mail for a couple of my domains: netmix.com and digitalstrategyworks.com. Second, when I set up my WordPress network on MediaTemple VPS, I needed to add a “domain alias” for each domain name that would be included in the network. While I added Netmix.com and DigitalStrategyWorks.com to the MediaTemple administration panel, you’re required to access the root domain of your WordPress network and add those domain aliases.

My root domain is netmix.co and my domain aliases were added to that account in my control panel. The image below is a screenshot of the control panel. Under “Websites and Domains,” click the “Show Advanced Operations” text link at the mid point of the page, which will drop down an extended set of options. Highlighted in the red square is the link to “Domain Aliases,” where you can add or manage all of the alias domains you’re going to use in your WordPress network. Remember, just because you’ve added them in your MediaTemple account center, does not mean that they will work. They must be added as a domain alias in your primary domain’s control panel or none of your domains will resolve correctly in your network.

Websites and Domains admin in Plesk Cpanel

After you have clicked on the Domain Alias link, you can add the domain aliases. In the image below, you can see a list of domain aliases that I have added so that the domain mapping plugin for WordPress can redirect to each domain alias assigned under the primary domain.

Plesk CPanel Domain Aliases administration panel

Now, here’s what I found that was causing the inadvertent mail issue. Since I’m using Gmail hosted mail services for two of my domains, netmix.com and digitalstrategyworks.com, I am not using the qmail feature of the server to send email directly from the server. The two domains in question, netmix.com and digitalstrategyworks.com inherit the local functionality of the qmail server, but we don’t want that, because my email DNS entries are listed as Google’s and not MediaTemple’s. Aha! Therein lies the problem. The domains are not accepting mail, because they are set to use the local mail server and not the 3rd party Google hosted mail server!

If you are hosting your email through a 3rd party service and not using the local mail feature, you’re going to get this issue where mail cannot be delivered to the domain, because the server is trying to use local mail and not the Gmail system. How do you fix that? Easy, just click on any one of the domains that you’re hosting mail for using Google or another service, and then turn off the local mail service. Problem solved!

Netmix Mail Service Off

Over the Christmas break, I got the chance to check out the Newseum in Washington D.C. Two very powerful exhibits are remnants from of the Berlin Wall and the damaged antennae that sat atop one of the World Trade Center towers. The two extraordinary artifacts represent two of the most powerful, life-changing news events of the three decades.

The Newseum is a necessary stop for anyone interested in journalism or working as a journalist. There is much more to the museum than just these few snapshots, but I hope they spur on inspiration to check it out for yourself next time you’re in Washington D.C.

For me, seeing the World Trade Center antennae was very emotional, as I had stood on the roof of one of the “Twin Towers” many years ago and I watched both towers burn when I was living in New York City. On the wall behind the antennae the front page of newspaper from all over the country and around the world. It definitely brought back memories of that fateful day. When I see others viewing these sorts of exhibits or memorials, I always think to myself if they can really understand the impact of the tragedy simply by viewing photos? I doubt they can, but I’m glad there is something left to observe and reflect on.

I don’t often get the chance to post my iPhone pics. I’m not in the habit of blogging my personal stuff. So, I’m really going to try and ramp that up.

Sunset in North Carolina (RDU Airport) - January 6, 2011

Over the summer, I caught some video footage of a graffiti battle during the SPARKon art, music and fashion event in Raleigh. Not sure why they limited the artists to Sharpies and no paint, but it was interesting to see the complex caricatures developed and threaded together along the paper “wall.” I love graffiti, so this was my first chance to check out the local talent since we moved here. Digging the cool drum-n-bass rhythms in the background. Check out the video for yourself.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Recently, I launched a new job search. In this search, I am attempting to use social media to a. crowd-source an opportunity, and b. display my enthusiasm for brands or companies I might like to work for. There is one specific organization I am very interested in that just announced they are hiring. Given my support for that organization, in which I hold cult-like fanboyism (if that’s even a word) for, I set about to launch a Twitter campaign through my Twitter base to ensure the company would get the hint that I’m looking and available.

Common sense says and some recruiters and experts suggest that if you advocate for yourself in social media by announcing your affinity and support for that organization, chances are some recruiter or hiring manager will see your Tweet or LinkedIn post and make contact with you to discuss your self-advocated candidacy.

In this not-so-new socially connected and dynamic online world, many experts advise candidates to “stand out” in some way or another. If you’re applying to an Internet-based business who operate chiefly in social media or reputation management, the experts say to use social media to gain the attention of an organization in an attempt to showcase your online chops.

While this advice might sound logical, for the job seeker who may also be a “brand ambassador,” using social media to advocate for yourself can backfire. For example, what if you already know people there?

If you do, Tweeting or posting online in a forum owned by that org may be deemed “annoying,” because that organization already knows who you are. And, they are possibly dealing with an onslaught of people who have the same idea you do. You are, all of a sudden, not so unique any more. You probably didn’t really need to start a massive Twitter campaign to self-advocate. Sure, you did it because you were excited about the opportunity to stand out, but if they know you already, then just an email expressing your interest to a key decision maker would have been the wiser choice.

And, don’t ask your contact to forward your resume to the “right person.” It’s an awkward thing for some people to do for you.

Just apply and then tell you contact you did with a brief note. If they feel like they should advocate for you, they will. There might be 100 other candidates asking the same favor of someone else.

Now, the responsibility should not lie solely on the job seeker when using social tools to post announcements. I’ve gone over the implications for the job seeker. What about the employer?

So, here are five tips to consider when using social media to source talent.

1. If you post a Tweet with a link your job board telling people that you are hiring, you have to expect that you are going to get pummeled in social media with candidates advocating for themselves–people trying to stand out. If you Tweet it out, expect to get hammered back. There’s no discussion. You can’t ignore it, so have an internal response strategy

2. If there is a way to ask that respondents not contact your employees through social media, then figure it out and do that. If you’re a social media company that denies a social opportunity to connect with the candidate, you are risking your brands reputation with “brand ambassadors” who love your product. Say something like, “We know many of you and you’re going to want to blast us with dm’s or mention us in your tweets, but it’s just going to make us less productive. If you could follow this process, we would appreciate it.” At least try to limit the respondents through social. I know it’s almost impossible…but, just try your best. Something is better than nothing.

3. If you’re on the inside and you know a candidate and they are using social tools to advocate for themselves, respond to that job seeker with positive words of encouragement as you direct them to follow the process. Using words like “annoying” in a direct twitter message can be misconstrued by the candidate that they are already perceived as being annoying, because the candidate may not realize the intended meaning of that message.

One of the biggest fears any job seeker has is the fear of being annoying or aggressive. In this American culture and a tight job market, those words are like the kiss of death, especially if the job seeker loves your brand so much they will advocate for you until they take their last breathe. Choose your reply carefully. Say something like, “Your enthusiasm is noted. Apply and we’ll make sure you are considered.”

I know it’s frustrating to get bombarded with Tweets, but this is the world we live in. Both the employer and the job seeker have a responsibility to each other. It’s only right.

4. I like companies that issue a candidate a reference number and a contact email address, private Twitter account, or private Facebook group that keep prospective candidates updated on their prospects for the job. Use social tools to communicate with applicants when their applications are going to be reviewed or when they have been reviewed. There is nothing worse than a brand ambassador being ignored by the company they love.

Sure, not every candidate is going to be that enthusiastic about your brand. I would think by the resume and cover letter, it’s clear who’s invested in your brand.

Now, this didn’t happen to me with my favorite company, but I raise the point to try and set the bar higher for the employment recruiting process.

5. Please abandon these archaic human resource management system (HRMS), like the one Time Warner uses (maybe it’s Taleo?). I can’t think of the name of it. I’m writing this post on my iPhone and can’t navigate to it. Well, I tried and forgotten password screen on mobile switching between apps is too much trouble.

Update: I checked the Time Warner Careers site and can’t find the name of the product. I think it’s Taleo, but I’m not sure.

No one likes to sign-up for 30 different CMS engines that can’t share content. I know I have a ton of accounts that I just can’t keep track of.

Linked in offers an elegant single sign-on solution that pulls your data from their system and populates the recruiters LinkedIn provided dashboard. I’ve been using this tool lately in some applications and it makes the process much faster and easier for the applicant.

In today’s competitive job market, you want to be nimble and offer applicants a great user experience. That experience will set the precedent, the attitude, and shape the good will of the organization.

When I’m not toiling away in OmniGraffle, creating site maps, wireframes, and associated product documentation, you can find me creating DJ mixes using the digital audio workstation, Ableton Live. Before I got involved in building and managing really cool web products, I was a DJ in the Boston area. And, that’s where, in 1995, I launched Netmix.com. It was the first DJ culture website in the world to broadcast globally renowned DJs in the mix.

I originally ran the site out of my apartment in Brookline, MA. I paid a local web development shop about $10,000 over two-years to build and host the site and Real Audio streams. In 1996, I split up with my girlfriend at the time and moved to New York City to pursue fame and fortune as one of the first online music start-ups. After 5 difficult years working p/t to pay the bills and spending nights and weekends on Netmix, I sold the company for $3.165 Million in cash and stock. While that looks like a phenomenal sum on paper, it turned gold honey pot turned to a dark bronze.

Our deal closed on June 1st, 2000. I bought a few bottles of Moët & Chandon, then popped the cork in the office we were sub-leasing from one of my former partner’s friends on University Place at 10th Street in the West Village. I remember shedding a few tears of relief, for it was a long arduous journey from growing up in subsidized housing in the Allston section of Boston, to being handed a check for $100,000 with the next payment around the corner. Unfortunately, that payment never came. The bubble had burst and our parent company couldn’t raise a nickel to keep us alive. In fact, despite our combined traffic numbers and the dedication of our content team, our sales team hadn’t sold a dollar of advertising that summer. While Netmix was on its way to generating our first $100,000 in sales that year, our parent company folded only 6 months later. The advertising market bottomed out and the writing was on the wall.

After 6-years of continuous growth, Netmix went dark. I still have all the mixes. One day I’ll put them all online again.

It’s been 11-years since those tumultuous days of what is now called “dotcom 1.0.” In 2003, I discovered WordPress, a blogging platform that allowed me to bring Netmix back online as a blog. Since that time, I have published over 400 articles and launched my podcast, the Netmix Global House Sessions. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing–Netmix will always be live. It may not be as timely or as relevant as it once was. The inconsistent publishing schedule is evident and my mixes are the only audio on the site. But, I don’t do it for the money. I do to keep alive what I first started over 16-years ago. And, who knows where it will go.

In the spirit of Netmix, here is my latest Global House Sessions podcast. You can either listen to the SoundCloud version below, or subscribe to the podcast and download it with iTunes to your desktop or iOS device.

On November 7, my postion as Lead Developer in the Reese Felts Digital Newsroom at UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication ended. I really enjoyed working with so many talented students and look forward to seeing where they end up in their careers. As for me, I’m off in search of a Director of Digital Strategy position for an agency/brand, or a Product Development position in a news or media organization. It’s a tough market out there, but with a shiny new resume and this nice letter of recommendation from the J-School, I should land on my feet in no time.

In the meantime, I’ll be working on consulting projects through my Digital Strategy Works consulting company. If you stumble across this post and need help, training, or advice building websites with WordPress or iOS applications, I’d be happy to speak with you. Get in touch!