LANGUAGE WARNING: This video is not for minors or those with otherwise sensitive ears. So don’t come complaining to me if you watch it and get offended, OK? Consider yourself notified.

Credits: I found this video by Markham Nolan on YouTube. His website is www.expad.ie.

Normally I’d have just done a quick Facebook link or tweet on this, but that was insufficient… and it took me HOURS of hunting to find enough information, explanation and links to pass on to you. Almost everything I found is in Italian, with the exception of the BBC radio broadcast – see the link below. (The bit about Partenope is about 20 minutes in, but the entire podcast is worth listening to anyway.)

For those of you in a hurry, links to more info: Citta di Partenope (at http://comunedipartenope.it) is a virtual city of, by, and for the real people of Naples (Napoli) Italy. It was created by Claudio Agrelli of http://www.agrelliebasta.it . They are on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Napoli-Italy/Citta-di-Partenope/29939687062 . Look up the channel for “agrelliebasta” on YouTube. Even if you don’t understand Italian, just looking at and listening to Claudio Agrelli is worth it I first heard about it on BBC (radio) and you can find a podcast at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/science/2009/03/000000_digital_planet.shtml , look for the February 23 2010 program.

Update March 11 2010: You can join Partenope City no matter where you live. There are people in over 100 countries who are online citizens. I will join it myself to get a better feel for the place… and maybe learn some Italian!

Here’s how it works, why it is so different from other virtual worlds and why I think it’s so brilliant.

Like any other virtual world, you can join and participate in many activities. But there’s more. Lots more.

Real merchants of Naples can join too – and interact with their real live customers when they walk through their brick and mortar doorway – with discounts, personal greetings, specials, etc. In addition, the real live citizen knows that when they visit a real live merchant who is also a member of Partenope, they will be treated with respect and a code of ethics the merchant has signed on to.

Partenope also provides ‘real’ news, as well as many ways for citizens to discuss civic issues in the Town Square and Town Hall. Citizens can ‘flag’ problems they see in their ‘real’ city of Naples. Discussions, issues, problems, and ideas are passed on to the ‘real’ government and managers of Naples.

And of course, the citizens, businesses and politicians of Naples can communicate with each other in true Social Networking style.

Citta di Partenope goes a couple of steps further.

It is an E-DEMOCRACY.

The philosophy of the entire project is to create a BETTER Naples through direct participation by its citizens. With this goal in mind, when you join, you must agree to abide by a code of ethical behavior. Nothing big brother about it, just simple things like when you’re in the virtual world you don’t double park and you actually put money in the parking meter. You use crosswalks instead of jaywalking. You don’t litter, and take care of your trash and recycling properly. You don’t swear & shout at people. In short, this is an effort to build the ‘real’ city that everybody of Naples would LIKE to live in.

It is E-BUSINESS.

This code of ethics extends into the real business world as well. As mentioned above, participating merchants have also agreed to a code of ethics. They don’t put their thumb on the scale, overcharge, or underserve. They treat their customers with fairness, friendliness and respect. So, visiting customers know they are patronizing “good” merchants. And, the business owners have an opportunity to offer specials to their fellow Partenope citizens.

The way this is accomplished is by using something similar to “discount cards” that most of us in the States are familiar with. You know, you pay $100 for a card to get discounts and specials at various local restaurants and other types of businesses. When you join Partenope you have the option of applying for a special card that, when presented to a merchant, identifies you as a Partenope citizen. Since my Italian is elemental at best, I am not sure if there is a fee (I don’t think so?) and I don’t think it includes any private personal information. Even if they did do it that way in Partenope/Naples, I am sure the same concept could be adapted to not include any info the ‘citizen’ doesn’t want it to.

THIS WOULD BE PERFECT FOR ASHEVILLE.

The Partenope world might not work in every city or town, but Asheville NC has exactly the right mix of atmosphere, citizens, businesses, technology, and hope for a better world – both local and global – that could really make this idea work here.

If you agree, please spread the word. Help me out here. Are you fired up by this idea? Do you know anybody else who might be? Anybody who could help make it happen?

I believe the original title of the video is: Throw’d TV Presents: Facebook Breakup

I’ve no idea why but I’ve been unable to embed this video in my blog.

But you can find it on YouTube under Throw’d TV and here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTwwuIn9inE

Many, many Social Media lessons to be learned here.

Next step – track and follow whoever CREATED this video. Then do something EVEN BETTER.

Sponge

You walk into a big room full of people. Most of them are happily chatting away in small groups. Obviously they know each other, and have plenty to talk about – but YOU don’t know anybody in the room.

Don’t you wish that somebody would walk up to you with a smile, and say…

“Hi! I’m Tom Ringmaster and I noticed when you came in.

Know anybody here? No? Well, let me show you around.

There’s some great appetizers over there – go help yourself anytime. We’ve also got a full-service wine bar over here. It’s not free, but we’ve got all sorts of new wines lined up if you’re interested. You can taste as many of them as you like before deciding which one to order.

What’s your name? Fiona – hey, that’s cool – Scottish – right? What do you do? You’re a wine taster? Great! You should really come on over here and talk to Sally and Joe. They’re wine importers and I”m sure they’d love to talk to you.

Hey Sally – Joe – meet Fiona here.  She’s a wine taster from Scotland. I just finished telling her about the fantastic new Rosé from the south of France you got your hands on.”

“Hi  Sally, Hi Joe, pleased to meet you! Name’s Fiona. Yep, believe it or not I’m a wine taster from Scotland. I saw a sign outside about some kind of wine bar & tasting event, so I decided to just wander in. I don’t know anybody here yet.”

“Oh Fiona, you really need to try this new French Rosé. Once you’ve tried it you’ll never drink American again. Let’s head on over to the wine bar and do some tasting, and let me know what you think.

Joe & I are importers – we don’t sell direct, but Tom thought this stuff was so good he’s already bought 20 cases from us. And he’s selling it at a great price.”

“Wow – this is the best Rosé I’ve ever tasted! Thanks Sally!”

“Well, if you decide you want a few bottles, definitely contact Tom Ringmaster – he only stocks the best, and just between you and me, he doesn’t jack up the prices like some places do. Plus he can ship it anywhere for you – guaranteed to arrive in one piece or your money back. We really like doing business with Tom, we can’t recommend him highly enough. Here’s his contact info if you need it.

Here’s our contact info too, in case you’re interested in something that Tom doesn’t carry.”

“Thanks Joe, thanks Sally! I’ll definitely be doing my wine buying from Tom Ringmaster from now on! What else is here at the wine bar you’d recommend?”

Now that was social media marketing! Now – how does this work online?

All you need to do is think of your site, or blog, or Facebook page, as being just like that room. And think of yourself, or your organization, as Mr. Ringmaster.

A web site or blog is not an empty room waiting to be filled up with furniture and the latest in interesting décor.

It is waiting to be filled with people interested in your stuff – customers, and  people who know other people of the same interests, and recommendations!

If your site or blog is not inviting – welcoming- helping newcomers find their way around and find what they want – then no amount of SEO or advertising is going to help you in the long run.

Now here’s a different scenario.

You walk into an event, all by your lonesome and you don’t know anybody there. You’re sure you’re all there for the same reason, and you’ve probably got similar interests and things to talk about. But you’re too shy to butt in on somebody else’s conversation.

Nobody welcomes you at the door. The room is crowded and hard to navigate your way through. There’s a table of free appetizers but they’re all gone by now – too bad – you were starving when you came in. There’s a long wine bar with all sorts of enticing items to try & buy – but the bartender is busy talking to the manager about getting some more appetizers in here. The bartender gives you a wave to indicate he’ll be ‘right with you’. But the discussion with the manager goes on a while…

So you decide to leave.

And you’re never coming back. Or going to recommend it to friends. In fact, you might even post your disappointing experience online.

I hope that business owners who are looking for answers about Social Media have found this helpful.

I also want you to know that the SocialFresh Charlotte event, all its sponsors, speakers, volunteers and participants were absolutely incredible.

If you want to know more about Social Media – what it is – whether it’s for you – and find some great people to follow and listen to, then go to www.socialfresh.com for all the details. Follow them on Twitter @sofresh