A Technology Spotlight eBook / How To
Blab.IM
Share Spotlight
this eBook
Blab.IM in the Technology
by Bryan Kramer
eBook
What is Blab.IM?
Want to connect with a group of friends? Want to be part of a live chat without actually
participating in it? Want to be able to talk to a couple or more people about any subject?
Finding and Taking Part in a Blab
Finding BLAB is very simple. Type in Blab.IM on your URL tab. Several live chats will be
available to join. To find a chat all you have to do is scroll down the front page. The left side
of the page has keywords that were used as tags. The first BLABs I saw on the page were
the “on air”. As I scrolled down I was able to see the chats that are scheduled for another
time and I could subscribe to.
Joining
I decided to create an account. How to join Blab.IM is easy as using my Twitter account.
“Blab brings us back to the basics of what social media is really about: Build
relationships and engage. With Blab, we all have opportunity to go from being
just “followers” and “connections” in a massive ocean to having real dialogue
and interaction as part of a community. By comparison, Blab brings me back to
the days of AOL chat rooms when chatting with strangers late at night was fun!”
- Carlos Gil, Senior Manager Social Media at BMC
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Watching a BLAB
I clicked on the first live chat that interested me called, “Introduce yourself in 15 seconds.”
The chat had 18 viewers at the time and all four video chat spots were taken. I was able
to witness for a minute how a group of individuals introduced each other. I met a couple of
interesting people in only a minute. During Live chats, the link provides you with the amount
of viewers currently watching the BLAB. I could join the BLAB as a viewer or I can jump in
the camera if a seat is available as long as the host approves it. I noticed in some BLABs
they were encouraging their viewers to join in.
Feels
As a viewer you can also “give props” to those that are talking in the live session by
pressing the “hands up” pair of hands. BLAB refers to this part as the “Feel.” The Feels do
not accumulate between BLABS. They only last in that particular BLAB.
“Blab is as much about the comments and the viewers who can share to
Twitter as it is the 4 people on video because the people can change out so
easily it truly is the first live streaming conversation platform of its kind!”
-Brian Fanzo, Social Technology Evangelist
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Experience
When I clicked on my first BLAB, “How to introduce yourself in 15 seconds” I was
interested in meeting and knowing the people involved in it. It was interesting to see
how people described themselves in such a short period of time. I was dragged into the
BLAB by my curiosity of how people can describe themselves in 15 seconds. It was a fun
experience. I felt a pull towards wanting to know them and the reasons why they would
use this new live video experience. I felt that the BLAB was filled with a variety of people
and yet here they were introducing each other. It’s live and personal. It takes away from the
superficial and clicking on a picture and clicking like.
Seats Available
The amount of seats for the live chat is four. I noticed right away that I could join as a
viewer. I was able to see who else was connected as a viewer as well. If the BLAB was
public I could join one of the slots in the BLAB when it became available. Even if the BLAB
was not public to join the actual camera BLAB, I could still see it as a viewer.
“Unlike the one-to-many live video streaming apps like Meerkat and Periscope,
Blab.im simulates a town hall setting that allows a true conversation to take
place. As a result, real community is created. If the message boards of the old
web could speak, this is what they would look like.”
-Joel Comm, NYT Best Selling Author
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Image Above shows the Join+ box that I can click on and Join in as long as host approves as well as the comment section mentioned below.
Commenting
As a viewer you can comment on the chat. There is a comment bar on the right hand side
of the chat. I noticed that the viewers were able to comment and ask questions.
Subscribing to a BLAB
I noticed some BLAB as I scrolled down that had “subscribe” on it. I clicked subscribe on
a topic that interested me. I was under the impression I was going to see another live BLAB
but what I saw was a countdown of when this topic would start. I then noticed it was the
BLAB’s main page. I was able to see the countdown that lets you know when the chat is
going live. Also on the right hand side there is a section with list of subscribers that will be
attending the BLAB.
“Blab brings together all the media types that we have grown to love together
in one experience. TV, Radio, Chat, Podcasting, Video Conferencing, and it
does so with virtually no barrier to entry (Sorry Hangouts!) The result is a
platform that is flexible, accessible and engaging. The sercret sauce is that
engagement! While most social platforms create connections Blab creates
real engagement.”
-Steve Dotto, Founder, of Dotto Tech
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BLAB Replays
I noticed some BLABs were off the record meaning it did not allow any replays of it. I found
it hard to find the replays. According to the website, it is on the bottom of their page.
Needless to say it took me a long time to get to the bottom of their page. On the positive
note, they also have them available on their Twitter page. Moreover, having a replay option
is pretty neat since it allows you to go back to a specific conversation that you enjoyed or
learned from.
Following
As soon as I signed in with my Twitter account I was able to notice that some people from
my Twitter page where on Blab. I noticed this on my profile page. Your profile lets you see
who you follow and who follows you.
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Sharing the Blab
I can share my BLAB by using the URL to send it
to my friends or I can use keywords so they can
access faster.
Hosting a BLAB
To host a BLAB just click on the top right hand side
by your profile picture. Click on Start a new Blab.
It will ask you what your blog is about and it will ask
for you to use tags for easier finding by others. It
allows you to pick if you want the BLAB to be live
right away or in the future. If the future is clicked it
asks what time you want it at. Scheduling a BLAB
for the future allows others to subscribe and prepare
for your BLAB.
Hosting Features
As a host, I will be able to lock seats if I wanted it to.
For example, if I want to set up a BLAB for a group
of friends about a subject, such as a chemistry final,
but I did not want others to participate in the video
then I can lock the seats. However, anyone can view
the BLAB.
“Blab has become my go
source for broadcasting my
Instagram Tips & Business
advice to a room full of
passionate business owners
who are eager to learn
engage and connect in a
very intimate way.
The ease of use, and
ability to promote the
broadcast before, during
and after the event has
me hooked—it is now my
go to place to connect with
my community and reach
many new business owners
who are eager to consume
valuable information.”
- Sue B. Zimmerman,
The Instagram Expert
Recording Your Blab
The BLAB is saved only when I place it “on the
record”. Once I do so it keeps it on my replays. I can
click on off the record as much as I can make certain
parts of the chat private. You will also receive an email
with an audio and video file so that you can post the
replay on your own channels such as YouTube.
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Settings and Profile
In order to see my profile I clicked on my image on the
right hand side of the page. It has my profile image from
Twitter. Once I clicked on it several options came up and
I clicked on Profile. My profile lets me see who I follow
and who follows me. I also get to see the replays I have
saved on my replay sections. On settings I was able
to insert a bio. I also had optional settings as to when I
wanted to receive email notifications.
Tips, Tricks and Ideas for Building
An Audience on Blab
• I notice that you can always go back to the home
page by clicking on the Blab Beta icon on the top left
hand next to the search bar.
• On the search bar you can search for keywords that
will allow you to look up a BLAB that interests you.
• On the left hand of the screen on top of the word
“Tags” you can click on the icon that hides the
Tags bar.
• On the bottom of the TAG bar, to the bottom left hand
corner there are links to the company’s Blog, FAQ,
Our Story, Terms, Contact.
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“Blab is the ultimate live
casting platform that
combines all the functions
of podcasting, live mobile
broadcasting and social
interaction into one nice
little package that allows
group conversations and
even the development of
new show formats. It is the
true manifestation of social
media. I think it’s the
evolution of interaction
and every marketers should
study it carefully.”
- Michael Stelzner
Founder, Social Media Examiner
eBook
Audience
• Be Proactive. I noticed that some Hosts were alone
and they were inviting others to join their live chat.
• Pick a subject that have more than one audience.
Don’t be too specific.
• Having an introduction BLAB could pull a lot of
viewers which can lead to followers.
• Pick an instructional chat that targets a wider audience.
“Blab is a game changer
because it is quickly
bringing people together to
have ‘face to face’
conversations—something
we’ve lost in today’s social
media/technology centric
world. The access we have
to information today is
unparalleled. And now we
get to share it with everyone.”
-Vincenzo Landino
Founder, Landino Marketing
About Bryan
Bryan Kramer is one of the world’s foremost leaders in the art
and science of sharing, and has been credited with instigating
the #H2H human business movement in marketing and
social. With over 300K social fans and followers, and an
intimate understanding of the intricacies and interworking of
both social technologies and social behaviors, Bryan is both a
practitioner and authority on the subject.
In January 2014, Bryan’s first book “There is No B2B or B2C: It’s Human to Human #H2H”
rose to the #1 top selling spot in Business Books on Amazon in its first week. In January
2015, #H2H was named as the number 1 buzzword for 2015 by The Writer. His second
title, “Shareology: How Sharing is Powering the Human Economy”, published by Morgan
James Publishing was released in July 2015.
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