Meerkat: The Hottest New Social Engagement Vehicle

Meerkat is here! The latest disruptive and addictive technology has arrived, delivering the ability to stream live video across Twitter. It started gaining steam @ SXSW last week and is now spreading like wildfire across the connected world. If you haven't downloaded it from your app store, go do that now. I will wait for you to get back. Ok, let's discuss the implications for marketers.

1. Interactive Real Time Communications! Video has fast become a preferred method of driving engagement. With buyers enduring serious email fatigue, video is a welcome tool to connect with your prospects. But in a fast paced and rapidly evolving connected world, how do you stay up to date? What's happening out there right now? In addition to being able to stream a live event, Meerkat enables viewers to make comments, ask questions, retweet an event and like that event or presentation. Last night, I watched a live presentation by Kati Kleber (@nurseeyeroll) which was taking place in Charlotte (I was in CT). Kati is a social media expert and author of Becoming Nursey. The event was 'meerkat-ed' by Social Fresh (@socialfresh). Now I am not interested in nursing, but I enjoyed learning some innovative social media and community building tips from Katie. I connected with Katie and others who attended via Meerkat, picked up 3 great book suggestions, added new followers and followed several new people on Twitter.

2. Advanced Personalization-Meerkat enables a new layer of personalization that straddles the online and offline worlds. See your Twitter followers live in action; let them see you in action. I tuned in to social selling guru, Koka Sexton of LinkedIn, answering questions on his way home in San Francisco and was able to send him a question regarding companies that are leading the way in social selling. During the Meerkat, he was able to project his personality. He appeared casual approachable and of course, knowledgeable. The two of us connected on LinkedIn shortly afterward. Likeable Media's Dave Kerpen has a daily lunch program from his New York Office or wherever he is in the world. Enjoyed a tour of Dave's office today while he slurped down his protein shake.The real-time element is what brings the engagement to the next level.

3. Greater Reach- You are doing a keynote at that marketing conference which has 1500 attendees at the event. Now there can be thousands more watching you from Meerkat in real time. Answer their questions. Find out what they think. Add new followers and potential customers. Mashable's recent Meerkat on the subject of yes, Meerkat, attracted people from all over the world including China, Denmark and the Czech Republic. Interact with those audiences in real time and build out a knowledge base as events unfold in your area of interest. It's more powerful than watching the video two weeks later. There is also greater sense of community with others that are watching.

4. Build Authenticity and Increase Trust- By Meerkat-ing on your way to the gym, with your son or daughter, you are able to reveal more of your real self, and that authenticity translates into a more human and relatable you. It's a golden opportunity to build trust with your audience.

5. Social Selling 2.0-Meerkat delivers an additional tool for the social seller. Get to know your buyers even better--what they are talking about right now. What they are thinking about right now. What challenges are they researching right now. Find a way to help them now and/or create another touchpoint on the way to building a relationship with your clients and prospects.

6. First Mover Advantage- Before the floodgates open, take your message to Meerkat and stream a live event, conversation, story, or presentation. Guy Kawasaki delivered an awesome lunchtime presentation regarding The Perfect Pitch. Meerkat is a hot new content delivery vehicle. Capitalize on the freshness and novelty; establish a presence early and get noticed before it becomes another overcrowded medium.

Have a great week or weekend, depending on when you read this.

Or better yet, I will catch you live on Meerkat!

Dan Sixsmith is a VP at Alinean, Inc. He is Founder and CMO at Trammel Marketing Group and Chief Content Officer at "The Digital Advantage by Dan Sixsmith." Twitter:@DigitalAdvantg

Meerkat: http://meerkatapp.co/digitaladvantg