Citizen journalist or super hero?

Every day I marvel at the power of the web. If you know the incredible might of this 2.0 world, you also know the amazing ability we all have to force change.

My last blog post was about Romano's Macaroni Grill and how its Twitter and Facebook accounts hadn't been updated in six weeks. I also went on to mention how someone had complained about their official website's feedback form. Well, imagine my surprise when--after 42 days of social media neglect on their part--Macaroni Grill updated everything I had pointed out within just four hours after my post was published! Coincidence? I think not, good citizens of Gotham.

Although the company seemed to leave their social media presence to languish, somebody over there must be keeping up with web search.  Google alert? Technorati search? Who know what mechanism Macaroni Grill uses to scour the web, but they use something. And, there is no doubt in my mind that somebody there saw my post and updated their sites. They even answered the complaining guy that I had mentioned in my post. Kapow! Bang! Blam!

If you're new to all this search and techie stuff, maybe you think I'm full of myself. Yeah, little ole' me scared a big corporation such as Macaroni Grill. Like that happens. Well, it does. And, that is the power of citizen journalism and social media. That is the incredible influence that everyone with a web connection possesses!

If you use the internet, chances are you're a citizen journalist to some degree. Your tweets, your blog, your online complaints are getting in front of savvy companies. Not only are you making your feelings known to your online networks, but there's a very good chance your opinions are landing front and center in a company's search results!

You've got the power, my friends! You can change the world with every stroke of that keyboard. Heck, I know I personally had a hand in making someone at Macaroni Grill set down their cheese ravioli to update their sites and answer that guy. I know how the web works. Whoosh! Thunk!

So, ordinary citizens, remember you all have super powers. Wonder Woman has her invisible jet and her Golden Lasso of truth. You have 26 letters and an internet connection. Holy wifi, Batman! That's powerful stuff!

Now, don that cape and come up with a super hero handle for yourself (I'm thinking of calling myself Keyboard Broad, Alphabet Girl, or Qwerty). There's a world out there that needs to be held accountable and we're just the folks to do it! To the Bat-pole! Shazam! Up, up, and away! 

Citizen journalist powers...activate

34 comments:

  1. Alphaboy reporting for duty!

    Well Amber, you did it...you converted a regular Net Citizen into a Super Hero.

    I posted my first "Citizen Blog" today - http://bit.ly/hHJZUf and it was all as a direct result of reading this post!

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  2. I can see you as "Cyber Ninja" or maybe "Website Woman". :-)

    Based on your Twitter bio, how about "Chatterbox" or "The Scrabbler"?

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  3. I have no idea what a good name for me would be. I'm too scattered.

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  4. Now that's what I like to hear! Yay! Go Alphaboy!

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  5. Thank you, Dee! Very kind of you!

    You got it! The power of the keyboard! It's a new world out there, baby!

    What's YOUR super hero name?

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  6. Way to go, Qwerty, er Amber!! You've got the power and the "write words" to get it done! You go girl! It used to be called the power of the pen, now it's the keyboard. How exciting is that!

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  7. Aw, that's so nice of you! Thanks, Annette!

    What YOUR super hero name! You're a go-getter, too!

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  8. I vote for Qwerty :) You know how to rock a keyboard to get things done.

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  9. ill take a poll and see what my online friends think

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  10. Life's short; break the rules and live it up a little ;-)

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  11. I dont thinkn we can give ourselves our names it has to be like the editor of the paper in spiderman

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  12. Oh, I do love the Wonder Twins. Never saw him do form of a menorah, though! ;-) What's YOUR super hero name?

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  13. Sorryquoting my favorite show... you are the superhero... socmedsuperstar

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  14. An ice menorah? That must be some unique adventure you're off on...

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  15. Wonder Twin powers- form of an ice menorah

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  16. You go girl!!.... I have no idea what a good Super Hero would be for me. I am sure my teenage son could come up with a few for me now that he is furious at me...LOL

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  17. Considering your niche is medical, how about "Antidote" for your superhero name? ;-)

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  18. Wonder Twin powers- form of an ice menorah

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  19. An ice menorah? That must be some unique adventure you're off on...

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  20. Sorryquoting my favorite show... you are the superhero... socmedsuperstar

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh, I do love the Wonder Twins. Never saw him do form of a menorah, though! ;-) What's YOUR super hero name?

    ReplyDelete
  22. I dont thinkn we can give ourselves our names it has to be like the editor of the paper in spiderman

    ReplyDelete
  23. Life's short; break the rules and live it up a little ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. ill take a poll and see what my online friends think

    ReplyDelete
  25. I vote for Qwerty :) You know how to rock a keyboard to get things done.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Aw, that's so nice of you! Thanks, Annette!

    What YOUR super hero name! You're a go-getter, too!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Way to go, Qwerty, er Amber!! You've got the power and the "write words" to get it done! You go girl! It used to be called the power of the pen, now it's the keyboard. How exciting is that!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you, Dee! Very kind of you!

    You got it! The power of the keyboard! It's a new world out there, baby!

    What's YOUR super hero name?

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hey Alphabet Girl... Alphaboy reporting for duty!

    Well Amber, you did it... you converted a regular Net Citizen into a Super Hero.

    I posted my first "Citizen Blog" - http://bit.ly/hHJZUf and it was all as a direct result of reading this post!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Now that's what I like to hear! Yay! Go Alphaboy!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have no idea what a good name for me would be. I'm too scattered.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I can see you as "Cyber Ninja" or maybe "Website Woman". :-)

    Based on your Twitter bio, how about "Chatterbox" or "The Scrabbler"?

    ReplyDelete
  33. You go girl!!.... I have no idea what a good Super Hero would be for me. I am sure my teenage son could come up with a few for me now that he is furious at me...LOL

    ReplyDelete
  34. Considering your niche is medical, how about "Antidote" for your superhero name? ;-)

    ReplyDelete

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