Big Bad Social Media

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Social Media? Uh oh… we said the S word. Stop! Don’t head for the door. Social media may seem “trendy,” but it also facilitates the easiest and cheapest exposure you can get for your business. Why then, are so many companies afraid to take the plunge into all things…

It’s hard to believe that it’s been only five short years since Apple entered the mobile phone market with the release of the iPhone.  I remember the very first time I saw one. I kept poking it and shaking it like a Neanderthal. Five years later, with 200 million of them sold and over 30…

Phase One: Planning So you’re ready to jump into the world of endless opportunity that is social media. Awesome. But where to begin? One mistake many businesses make when planning their social media strategy is – well – not planning it at all. In fact, many companies are in such a hurry to establish their…

In the world of social media, determining it’s value may seem to be an impossible task. So how should you value your social media efforts? Social media, leads, and sales. Social media is the ideal place to generate leads, and since leads turn into sales, it is important to know where those sales started. Here are…

Don’t worry; we’re not about to give you a Mel Gibson-esque spiel of profanity and insults; the language we’re most offended by these days is plain old English – or rather social media’s interpretation of such. In a day when content is delivered in the blink of an eye (or the rap of the keyboard),…

As the East Coast regroups from the after-effects of last week’s hurricane, one thing is certain – a storm may close down businesses, stop public transport, and evacuate entire cities, but it sure doesn’t slow down social media. Hurricane Irene, in fact, seemed to prove just how socially in-touch we really are. Warnings and updates…

It may not be the age-old question, but it’s certainly an important one. Who’s using the world’s top social media sites (besides everyone)? Joining the Movement. Last week, President Obama officially joined Foursquare, the popular location-based social networking site. The White House claims that their involvement with Foursquare is natural, with more than 10 million…

Ditch the weather balloons, confetti streamers, and searchlights. Marketing for car dealerships doesn’t have to be gimmicky to work – the digital marketplace has changed the game forever. In the current market, buyers of commodities like cars are more likely to do their research before shopping or buying – and that research is primarily an…

Social media is proven to be incredibly important in today’s digital world. People create accounts for their pet dog, where’s your profile?

If you’ve spent some significant time on a comfy chaise lounge at your therapist’s office, don’t be ashamed (we don’t think you’re a nut job, we promise….). In fact, everything you learned doing couch-time can actually help you in an unexpected way – your social media campaign. Social Media Today writer Bill Rice is opening…

If you needed one more reason to set up your business on Twitter or to get an iPhone, we’ll kill two birds with one stone—well, as long as those birds aren’t tweeting. The popular social media mogul will now be a prime feature of Apple’s new operating system, iOS 5, to be released this coming…

You probably thought the ubiquitous Twitter couldn’t get much more pervasive, right? Wrong! Last week, Twitter announced a new feature – email notifications letting you know when your Tweet receives a reply or someone reTweets you. What’s that mean for you? Now it’s easier than ever to keep your social media current, constantly engage your customers,…

Don’t wait for People’s Most Influential People issue to break out onto newsstands to determine just how much impact you’re having on your fans (and believe us, it’s probably not as much as Lady Gaga has). Sneak Peek App. Sneak Peak, a new web analytics tool from Visibli, measures the amount of influence your Twitter…

In case you haven’t seen the over-crowded flower-shop windows or the glossy ads at the department store fragrance counter, you may not have heard; Mother’s Day is this Sunday. No, we’re not here to remind you to pick up the phone or stamp that envelope (although you should). We’re here to remind you of one…

In case you’re wondering how to launch a presidential campaign in 2011, we may have the answer. Channeling Barack Obama’s affection for social media marketing, Mitt Romney has thrown his hat in the ring – via social media. Social Media exposure. Gone are the days of press releases and CNN interviews. These days, the best…

You know that social media is here to stay when business gurus begin publishing books on the subject. And we’re stoked this week to pick up Larry Weber’s fourth book Everywhere: Comprehensive Digital Business Strategy for the Social Media Era. What can we say – he’s a man after our own heart. Larry Weber Larry Weber…

Listen, we’re not trying to be dramatic here, but your business is at risk. Okay, that was a bit dramatic. But according to Fox Business this week, resisting the urge to utilize social media in your company can be as good as death wish for your business. As you’re probably realizing about now, this whole…

Here are few quick tips for you business folks that use Twitter. First off, don’t be a Twitter snob! Unless you are a rock star like Michael Jackson, you want to “follow” everyone within your industry. Following others will keep you updated on developments in your market and enable you to network with other professionals…

It may not be the Ritz Carlton, but checking in to Facebook can be just as prestigious – especially for your business. If your desire is to build your brand online, you should be checking out the check-in. What began as a geographical feature – facebookers checking in to businesses or locations – has now…

Sure, you’ve adjusted your business to the times and have started Tweeting. But social media isn’t just about building a presence – it’s about creating conversations. That can be tough, even for the more seasoned Tweeters. In fact, without a genuine conversation, your Twitter account may just be a stream of useless chatter that your followers may or…