Two weeks ago, I gave a keynote presentation titled “We Media: How Audiences Are Changing The Future of News and Information” (PDF) at the Fall Meeting of the Association of Information and Dissemination Centers in Arlington, Virgina.

The ASIDIC meeting attracted folks from organizations like ProQuest, Newsbank, Thompson, Hewlett-Packard, NARA and the Smithsonian together to talk about digital content strategies.

If my talk added anything to the conversation, it was this: Whatever your strategy, make sure that Social Media (user contributions, ratings, networks) is a central part of it.

People were clearly open to the message. But just telling people what they already know or want to hear is not actionable. So, I put together a few rules for guiding their innovation.

Why some sites like Facebook experience a meteoric rise and many others never make it off the launch pad is a mystery. But it seems clear that those who are successful have at least these 7 things in common:

1. They start with a compelling idea & simple solution.
2. They let people make their stuff better, more findable or entertaining.
3. They live by the Golden Rule - be nice to others.
4. They encourage lots of feedback.
5. They create “usable exhaust” - new things are created just by people doing stuff they want to do.
6. They let many groups form easily and quickly.
7. They recognize and encourage the good people in the network.

This list will no doubt change over the coming months as more of you help us figure out how to create a better place for you to find, share, relate and discuss your stories.

Update: Social Media Web sites are the future of the media business via CNet.

We just wanted to remind everyone that some of the Footnote team will be in Ft. Wayne, Indiana this week for the FGS Conference. We will have our booth set up next to Dick Eastman and the laptop lounge. So, if you are planning on going to the conference, we would love to have you come by and visit. Plus you can relax in the laptop lounge. We look forward to seeing you and having a great conference. Look for a future post about the conference with pictures.

We will be holding a meeting of Footnote.com members at the 2007 FGS Conference in Ft. Wayne, Indiana on Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 2pm. The meeting will be held at the Grand Wayne Center Board Room. Footnote members who live in the Ft. Wayne area or who will be attending the 2007 FGS Conference, are welcome to attend. We will discuss future plans, solicit member opinions, give out door prizes and have fun with Dick Eastman and Beau Sharbrough. Anyone who is interested may attend. Seating will be limited. If interested please contact Elizabeth.

The following is a list of upcoming Footnote Member Meetings we will be holding the remainder of 2007.

• Salt Lake City, Utah: Friday, July 20, 2007 at 3pm IAJGS 2007 Conference
• Fort Wayne, Indiana: Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 2pm. We will meet in the Grand Wayne Center Board Room 2007 FGS Conference

Footnote members who live in these areas or who will be attending any of these conferences, are welcome to attend. We will discuss future plans, solicit member opinions and give out door prizes. Anyone who is interested may attend. Seating will be limited. If interested please contact Elizabeth.

We will be holding a meeting of Footnote.com members at the 2007 ALA Annual Conference in Washington D.C. on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 2pm. The meeting will be held at The National Archives building in downtown Washington D.C. Footnote members who live in the Washington D.C. area or who will be attending the 2007 ALA Annual Conference, are welcome to attend. We will discuss future plans, solicit member opinions and give out door prizes. Anyone who is interested may attend. Seating will be limited. If interested please contact Elizabeth.

We will be holding a meeting of Footnote.com members at the 2007 Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree in Burbank, California on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at 6:00 PM. Footnote members who live in the Los Angeles area or who will be attending the 2007 SCGS Jamboree, are welcome to attend. We will discuss future plans, solicit member opinions and give out door prizes. Anyone who is interested may attend. Seating will be limited. If interested please contact Elizabeth.

We will be hosting a meeting of Footnote.com users at the National Genealogical Society Conference in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 10:00 AM. Footnote users who live near Richmond or who will be attending the 2007 NGS Conference, are welcome to attend. We will discuss future plans, solicit user opinions, give out door prizes, and have fun with Dick Eastman and Beau Sharbrough. Anyone who is interested may attend. Seating will be limited. If interested please contact Elizabeth.