Energetic conversations, brief comments, some confusion, and plenty of ideas are exchanged in networking groups and office cooler conversations daily. Virtual gatherings with Twitter chats create the same experience, and, in some ways, are even better. You stay in your office, read the comments, and meet people with passion for the industry who reside all over the country. Meet “PrintChat,” an industry Twitter Chat. This week marked a milestone—the original host, Quad/Graphics, passed the hosting baton to PrintMediaCentr (www.printmediacentr.com). For over a year, Quad/Graphics has hosted PrintChat on Wednesdays and has done a terrific job introducing many of us to the value and fun of a TwitterChat.  Topics change, participation fluctuates, people who have never met make acquaintances and chat. The experience can be odd the first few times. I just watched and became amazed that out of 140 character comments, an actual conversation emerges where opinions are expressed and ideas exchanged. Better yet, contacts for further connections are initiated. Eventually, I entered the conversations with a few thoughts now and then. Some people become regulars on the chats. Some people are observers, but from it all, ideas are exchanged. Can actual substance and a coherent conversation occur? Oddly, yes. Do non-business comments enter into the session? Yes, just like real life. Does it get confusing at times? Yes, just like a group discussing anywhere—one person is answering a question while a new topic starts up with the group. But with a little patience—and a sense of humor—out of the banter opinions are expressed and ideas emerge.  Deborah Corn is the person behind the PrintMediaCentr Logo. Deborah debuted as host this week after serving as a guest host several times. There were several questions related to sales calls, researching customers, getting in the door, cold calls, and other sales-oriented discussions. I jumped in where I could and picked up tips and asides from the others in the group. So, if you want to experience a real-time conversation, join the PrintChat on Wednesday at 4PM Eastern time (new time). Look for the hashtag #PrintChat on Twitter. You may choose to listen, introduce yourself, and join the passionate, fun crowd.   A big thanks to Quad/Graphics for their year+ of hosting. Best wishes to PrintMediaCentr as they pick up the baton and run with PrintChat. Maybe the next time we meet, it will be through PrintChat. ...

Recent articles in USA Today and Forbes have highlighted the growing 3D printing market. 3D printing, which has roots in industrial prototyping, is the “printing” of objects by devices that function somewhat similar to inkjet printers or plotters. Devices that create 3D models from Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) programs have existed since at least the 1990’s. Basically, 3D printers use plastic or other materials to create models layer by layer. If you’ve never seen one of these devices in action, do yourself a favor and search YouTube for videos of 3D printers. Traditionally, the major markets for these printed models (or prototypes) have been engineering, automotive, and architectural businesses. Recently, though, this process has been used in applications ranging from toy models to jewelry and even prosthetics. The research firm Wohlers Associates estimates sales for all 3D printing products and services worldwide at $1.66 billion in 2012 and approaching $3.1 billion by 2016. Stratasys, a Minneapolis company that developed some of the first 3D printers, partnered a couple of years ago with Hewlet Packard to create the HP Designjet 3D printer series. The cost of the device is reported to be in a range equivalent to about $17,500. Stratasys also offers 3D machines under their Dimension and uPrint lines. One more major vendor, the Z Corporation, which has a product line that includes a number of 3D printers, 3D scanners, and 3D software, was recently acquired by 3D Systems. Could your company expand to offer 3D printing services? It seems that many of the skill sets of digital press operators would translate well to 3D printing. There are, of course, companies that specialize in this, and checking them out might be worthwhile. A San Francisco-based company named Moddler prints 3D models, and, as you might guess from their Bay-area locale, Moddler’s primary market is the animation and special effects industry. Shapeways offers online creation and ordering of personalized products that are produced with a 3D printer. Their site has community/social media feel and their business model really is 3D web-to-print. My Robot Nation is a startup founded by veterans of the gaming industry. The site allows users to create and personalize full-color 3D models of...

So you have a Linkedin account, a Facebook Page and a Twitter account. Maybe you check in to your gym or the place you have lunch on Foursquare, post videos on YouTube and try your best to figure out how to fit Google Plus into the mix. In short, you’re doing what people like me have been urging you to do — you’re engaged in social media conversation. Congratulations. Now, what do you know about your social standing? Do you have Kred? Do you have Klout? Just as a bank uses your credit score to measure your financial soundness, and Google Analytics measures your website’s reach, services Klout.com and Kred.com measure your social media influence. If you haven’t used either of these services, it’s worth the time to head over to each site and check it out. But be warned, once you sign up and see your scores odds are human nature will kick in and you will become obsessed with improving them. Klout measures, as the language-distorting name implies, your social “clout.” When you sign up, you authorized the service to connect to at least one of your social accounts (Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus) and linking to more will yield a more accurate measure of your influence across the entire social web. Klout can also connect to Linkedin, YouTube, Foursquare, Instagram, WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, Last.fm and Flicker with half a dozen more on the way. Klout uses these connections to come up with your Klout Score, reported as a number on a scale of one to 100. The average score is in the 20s and as one’s score moves up the scale, it’s much more difficult to increase one’s Klout Score. Klout defines influenced as “the ability to drive action” and looks at interaction through social networks over a rolling 90-day period. Engagement is key, and Klout will rank a person with fewer connections but more engagement (via Retweets, Mentions, new Follows, Likes, Wall Posts) higher than one with many connections but little interaction. Klout also lets you compare your score, side by side, with anyone else using the service. Depending upon whom you choose, this can be an uplifting or depressing activity. How does Klout make money? By hitting up vendors, of course. Brands pay Klout to offer Klout Perks to Klout users in an effort to get these “influencers” to talk nicely about specific products. As a Klout user, I’m told there are no strings attached to this Klout swag and just like the material world, the people with the most Klout, get the biggest Perks — we’re told this can be a great gift like airline tickets or computer gear. Personally, all I’ve gotten so...