Social Media Consultant and Tech Geek at Heart

About

Tamar Weinberg all Dressed UpTamar Weinberg is a freelance writer and author of The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web (O’Reilly, July 2009) who specializes in social media consulting and strategy, blogger outreach, reputation management, and search engine marketing (SEO, link building, and Pay Per Click Marketing). She has been involved in the Internet since the early 90s and has dabbled in social online interactions for more than fifteen years. Tamar has been working nearly exclusively with Internet Marketing side since 2006, though she also has experience with web hosting and technical support and can handle complicated WordPress installations and configurations with ease. At the present time, Tamar is the community & marketing manager of Mashable and consults at social media marketing agency M80, in addition to working alongside other companies in her own role as a consultant.

In my own words:

I’m a passionate person. When I want something, I’m determined to get it. As a young child, I wanted to be an author. My mother told me that if I were going to be an author, I would be subsisting on small amounts of food and my luxuries would be minimal. For awhile, I was going along the path of pursuing a law degree which seemed to fit well with my personality traits of persistence as well as the ability to argue a point well when I knew it was the right thing.

But even from a young age, I became involved in computers. From my first “computer,” a Speak-N-Spell, I always had the fascination with a smart interactive machines.

When I was in grade school, it was an Apple IIgs. In middle school and ever since, it was a PC. I’ve played with flavors of Linux too. I remember “breaking” my first computer because my curiosity took me outside Windows 3.1 and I decided I should try FDISK. Oops.

Despite my interest in writing, I didn’t cultivate it publicly despite a published poem at the age of thirteen. In fact, I also stopped reading when I got a computer — that was where I was most excited. Because I was not afraid of trying new things (not much can get worse than FDISKing your MBR when you’re a preteen), I quickly became interested in everything computers and tried not to focus on one single aspect. I graduated from Barnard College / Columbia University with a degree in Computer Science just so I can have the programming background (though I don’t know how to program after all I studied). As a student, I worked as a Residential Computing Consulting, so I learned a lot about academic networking. I focused on network security as a Security Consultant. I learned Linux in 2001 while working as a Junior Unix Administrator. I designed some nice
websites. I never wanted to be in one place, because the world of computers was vast.

In the end, however, I was particularly taken by the Internet and emerging technologies therein. After the world of BBSes, my first paid online service cost me $5.95/hour on a slow 2400 baud modem (my largest monthly bill was a whopping $267.48). I joined many social networking websites even if my friends didn’t. I generally had a solid idea about the trends to follow (if only my parents, who were more stock-market savvy than I was, would have invested in my interests).

I love learning how websites work, the social communities that surround them, the news and hype surrounding websites (especially search engines!), and I especially love administering the servers upon which they reside.

techipedia.com is my blog where I journey through technology news that interests me with my personal spin. By blogging, I’m able to combine that first love of writing with love of the Internet, social networks, and technology. I hope you enjoy the journey.

More information about Tamar can be found on her official biography page, which is located at Tamar Weinberg. She is also active on many social communities, including (but not limited to):

Tamar has also contributed to numerous online publications, including the 10e20 blog, Search Engine Roundtable, Mashable, Macgasm, Real Simple Magazine, Pistachio Consulting, or on Lifehacker.

Oh, and one more thing: What’s with the funny email?

I’m assuming that those of you who know me may wonder why I have such a funny nickname. Back in ’93 when I first got AOL, I was using a super slow computer on a 2400 baud modem. The lack of RAM and the consistent fights over the phone line caused my computer to get disconnected from the online service, a term that oldies used to refer to as “punted,” numerous times a day. I fit that bill entirely. I was your classic case of being punted. Being the creative type for a 12-year-old (and since I was also dabbling in poetry at the time), I decided that it would be cute to append “runt” to the nickname. Thus, punt runt was born. I still use the name to this day because old habits are hard to break (and it’s really easy for old friends to find me!). Over a decade later, the nickname still fits: I’m still a computer geek and I love to write. However, when I can, I prefer to use “tamar” instead. (Note to the Gmail team: I’d love tamarATgmailDOTcom if you’d ever allow for 5-letter usernames!)

Notable Achievements and Speaking Engagements

{ 22 trackbacks }

WebProNews Video Blog » Blog Archive » SMX Seattle: Weinberg and Shelby on SMX Expo
June 5, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Fool Proof Sphinn-Bait Tactics to Reach the Front Page
September 21, 2007 at 5:09 am
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tips by ISM » Blog Archive » Top 6 Ideas for Incredible Viral Content by Tamar Weinberg.
October 29, 2007 at 1:19 pm
AIVOPAJA - MARKKINOINTIAJATTELUN LATAUSPISTE
January 12, 2008 at 1:21 am
Do You Digg It | Tips For All Things Tech At Techipedia
June 6, 2008 at 2:13 pm
» Guide/ Netiquette 2.0, per socializzare meglio
December 19, 2008 at 1:44 am
Comprehensive Resource List for Online Promotions « She-conomy
January 6, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Facebook: tutti amici, finché non vi cancello dalla lista? E che è? - The New Blog Times
January 29, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Personal Branding Interview: Tamar Weinberg | Personal Branding Blog - Dan Schawbel
May 25, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Book Review: The New Community Rules, Marketing on the Social Web - Online Marketing Blog
July 21, 2009 at 8:01 am
Finally, 'The' Social Media Book | WiserEarth Blog
September 12, 2009 at 2:11 am
Weinberg’s Best Internet Marketing Posts of 2009 | Social Media | Square Martini Media
January 5, 2010 at 3:50 pm
‘Vanity Apps’: YOU Get an App! YOU Get an App! Everybody Gets an App! « iPhoneBizBlog
January 6, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Win Copies of Tamar Weinberg’s “The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web”
January 28, 2010 at 12:21 pm
1,734 Uses for Social Media – Look ‘em Up in Tamar’s “Text” | Sharisax Is Out There
February 26, 2010 at 1:16 am
How to write an engaging about us section that highlights your capabilities | Lucid Lingo
March 2, 2010 at 1:58 am
MySpace is My New Space and My Big Move to LaLa-Land! « PixelBits
March 11, 2010 at 9:13 pm
How to get your audience’s attention?…from more than 35 experts, the answer is NOTHING NEW. « Posts from Jose Guerra
March 25, 2010 at 5:07 pm
3 Simple Steps To Avoid Social Media Burnout | Social Media For Real Estate Agents
April 18, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Alicia Keys Hires a Blogger: Monster Social Media Job Search | MonsterThinking
May 20, 2010 at 11:55 am
Die Kunst des Zuhörens « Social-Fundraising
July 7, 2010 at 4:46 am
Lehrreich, aber am Thema vorbei « Blog this stuff!
July 26, 2010 at 5:39 pm

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