Q+A with the founder of Yakcy, Victor Rojas

Today I caught up with Victor Rojas, TV play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and founder of Yakcy, a social platform designed to streamline conversations about your favorite sports team or event. Yakcy provides the space and the context, while you provide the commentary.

Simple enough, right?

For more about Victor, click here. For more about Yakcy, continue reading below and be sure to visit a clubhouse.

PRC: How would you sum up Yakcy in 140 characters or less?

Victor Rojas: Live event social interaction. Log in, pick a game/event & start yakking about it in real time & in short bursts in a dedicated "clubhouse." (140 on the nose)

PRC: Good work. What problem/s does Yakcy solve?

Victor Rojas: If you're a sports fan, it clears the "noise" from your timeline while trying to interact on Twitter about an event. It also alleviates some of the guessing games with hashtags. I really enjoy Twitter, but when it came down to "talking" and interacting about a live event, I didn't want to be bothered by anything that wasn't related to what I was watching.

PRC: From a fan's perspective, what are some of the benefits of signing up for Yakcy? Can I use the service with my Facebook or Twitter log-in credentials?

Victor Rojas: It's up to the individual user. We've set it up where you can login to Yakcy using either your Facebook or Twitter credentials. What that does, obviously, is push your posts from our site back to your account so your friends/followers (depending on the platform) can see what you're talking about. There are users that may not want to "burden" their followers with their Yakcy posts and we think that's cool...that's why we've given the user the option of creating a Yakcy account instead that allows them to access the site and interact with others without skipping a beat.

PRC: Will Yakcy be available in mobile format? If so, when?

Victor Rojas: Yes...3 mobile platforms to be exact for now. I'm hopeful our mobile web browser version is completed in the next couple of days. Our iPhone & Android apps have been in development for some time and are on the horizon. We can't wait.

PRC: We know you've recently been named the play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. For us basketball fans, which one basketball game/event would you most want to Yak about? Why?

Victor Rojas: NCAA Men's Final, even though the Jayhawks are out of it. I just enjoy the living daylight out of the college game. There's so much passion that it resonates throughout each venue. We had some fun discussions about early round games on Yakcy and they were great...even a little trash-talking (Smak-Yak as I like to call it).

PRC: What's your vision for Yakcy? Next steps?

Victor Rojas: My vision is to continue to push the envelop when it comes to social interaction especially as it relates to sports. There are a number of features and monetization avenues that will be coming online soon. For example, we'll be hosting Yak-Chats where celebrities from the different sports will "join" users in an interactive "chat" for a period of time in a special clubhouse. Right now we're scheduled to have an MLB Season Preview One on April 3rd, the day before the season kicks off and I'm looking at locking up another for the day before The Masters golf tournament (Tiger Woods' return). Aside from that, we'll continue to better our service so that it becomes commonplace in the social space.

PRC: Victor, thanks for your time and for sharing insight on your new service. Good luck! I'll see you in the clubhouse.

Victor: Thank you!

Q+A with Co-Founder of Lexy.com, Tony Levitan

If you're one of the 1.1M people following Kentucky Coach John Calipari on Twitter, there's a strong chance you've heard some really cool audio blurbs about the Wildcats' March Madness experience.

That's right, heard.

Those sound bite links are called Lexycasts, a fun alternative to text-based messages from the San Francisco-based upstart Lexy.

Lexy is the privately-owned, venture-backed brainchild of Tony Levitan and Fred Campbell, both of Egreetings fame. Thanks to the kind folks at Gameday Communications, I was able to connect with Tony Levitan to learn more about the new "interactive aural network of ideas, information, rants, raves, entertainment, news and stories" that's becoming a fun addition to March Madness.

If you haven't checked out Lexy yet, please make your way over to the website. You won't be disappointed.

Below is a transcript of my conversation with Tony. Enjoy.

PRC: I fell upon Lexy.com while applying for a visiting media credential at UConn a couple of months ago. I was asked indirectly by one of their staff members if I ever heard of the service. Immediately after visiting the site, the service made sense and filled a void. How would you describe Lexy.com and Lexycasts for the unfamiliar?

TL: Think of Lexy as an audio version of "Twitter." It's meant to provide brief updates on the issues, passions and personalities in which consumers are most interested. Whether a verbal 'blog' or the latest in sports, all delivered conveniently to your phone or to anywhere on the Web— your blog, lexy.com, any other website, via any social media like Facebook or Twitter.

The Lexy platform is simple to use: media makers create new audio posts; subscribers are then alerted by text, email, and widgets distributed across the web are updated; and then fans and followers call or click in anytime, anywhere to engage.

PRC: March Madness is here. I see that you've partnered with some prominent NCAA coaches, all of whom are sharing their Lexycasts through various social channels. Aside from the obvious, what made you approach Coaches' Calipari, Dunphy, Boeheim and Huggins? What other basketball community members have taken an active approach in using your service?

TL: First, you're right, these are proven, experienced, successful coaches. They have different levels of activity in social media. For example, Coach Calipari keeps connected to Big Blue Nation through social media, and he's using his Lexycasts as yet another way to keep Wildcat fans updated on their team. The other coaches are starting to use Twitter through the Tournament. Let's face it, during these next three weeks basketball fans can't get enough information on their favorite teams. Lexy is a special way these coaches can connect with fans and donors all the way to Indianapolis. We've also been able to use as the fifth member of our lineup our "March Madness" experts, who will be giving their unique perspective throughout the entire tournament. 



PRC: What are the benefits of creating Lexycasts (from a basketball community member's perspective)?

TL: We think the two main benefits of creating Lexycasts are the immediacy and authenticity. Things change on a dime during the Tournament, and having a coach's perspective, whether it's his team or another's, is invaluable. I mean, just look at this lineup, three of the four have been to the Final Four, Boeheim has won it all, and Calipari was just in the final game. You can't get a better perspective on what it's like to live through this Madness than someone who's been there. And, with Lexy — unlike with some other social media — you know it’s Coach because of the authenticity of his voice. You can’t staff out Lexy; as a Lexycaster, each Coach 
shows up to connect genuinely with his fans.


PRC: What 3 tips would you give a beginner when signing up for the service?


TL: My three tips would be first, don't just sign up for your favorite team, but get perspectives from some of the other coaches and the awesome line-up of Lexycasters who are joining forces on the “March Madness Minute” Lexycast. Second, tell your friends! It's always best to trash talk with your buddies, especially if you can all compare notes on the latest from the coaches. Imagine the fun of leaving an audio comment for Coach Cal on one of his daily posts and having your friends hear you alongside Coach. And third, build a playlist of other Lexycasts that may interest you beyond NCAA hoops … if such advice is not too absurd this time of year!

PRC: Is brevity still king in 2010? How much, if at all, did Twitter's success impact your focus on "snack-sized audio for bite-sized moments?" 


TL: I think Twitter has taught the world that we can say a lot in 140 characters; and yet, it’s still just 140 characters. We see Twitter as a great springboard into richer media like Lexycasts, albeit still concise, immediate and timely media like a 60-to-90 second audio post. Through testing prior versions of Lexy, we learned from people that because we're all on the move, we are always doing something, the right amount of timely and relevant information in a little bit of time is perfect for the way we live. That's why these Starting 5 updates are so perfect, because you can listen on the go right from your mobile phone, a device we all now have with us 24/7. 



PRC: If I'm a marketer or brand looking to advertise my products/services, how can I share my message using Lexy?

TL: Lexy has a number of ways that brands can use Lexycasts to let people know about their products and services. That's the beauty of Lexy—our interactive, layered ad environment can fit just about any informational or brand need. Let us know what you're interested in, and we'll come up with a way to get your message to your specific audience. 



PRC: In 140 characters or less, what is your vision for Lexy?

TL: #Lexy will be big by being concise and direct. Our #mobilephones are now are appendages; our entertainment, our communication. #Lexy fits the way we live. #nextbigthing

PRC: Hashtags and all. I love it. Thanks, Tony, for taking the time to share your insight on Lexy. Keep the audio madness rolling!

Nike Basketball Leverages Facebook for "Tournament Ready Since Day One" Campaign

The attendance needle at Madison Square Garden has been stuck at 19,375 for the past few days. Bailing out on your day gig to take in some college basketball action is a true act of "sacrifice."

But it's March, right?

That's what you're supposed to do.

If you're willing to skip your 9 to 5 for the Big East Tourney, it's safe to assume you'd also give up your Facebook status during March Madness for the chance to win a Nike Basketball Pep Rally next fall on your favorite team's campus.

Agreed? If so, here are the details:

1) Visit NikeBasketball.com's Tournament Ready page
2) Click "Back Your Squad"
3) Find your favorite college basketball program on the map
4) Check out the gear or watch Jay Bilas break down your team's toughness
5) Click "Back Your Squad" one more time
6) Devote your Facebook Status*

*This allows Nike Basketball to post a status messages for you whether your team wins or loses. Are you confident in your team?

According to a Nike rep, "The team with the most backing before game time March 18 wins a Pep Rally next fall on their campus. We'll work with the school to bring food, water/soda, tees, and our Nike Basketball team (Nike iD, Nike Pro Combat, & Nike Basketball). It'll be a lot of fun..."

What say you?

Blue Ribbon College Basketball Tournament Guide

A shameless plug for my friends at Blue Ribbon Sports Media Group.

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is almost upon us, which means Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook’s popular tournament preview edition can’t be far behind!

For more than a decade, Blue Ribbon, the publication you’ve come to know and trust to give you the most accurate preseason information, has turned its attention to the greatest sporting event in the world. Blue Ribbon’s tournament preview consists of 144 pages filled with all the information you’ll need to enjoy the tournament, or win your office pool bracket contest.

The tournament edition features two pages on all 65 teams, including a 1,500-word season wrap-up and tournament outlook and a full page of statistics and tournament history. We also include blank brackets and our own fearless predictions.

Reserve your copy now at www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or by calling 1-877-807-4857 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Monday through Friday. Hurry. Supplies are limited!

The Walt "Clyde" Frazier Approach to Twitter

Slides are so 1.0, but some people still find value in having bullet points in front of them. Just in case you're one of them, I've included them below. 

This was from the first-ever New York Knicks Tweetup held on Saturday, February 27, 2010. 

New York Knicks' 2010 Tweetup: #NYKTweetup