Social Media

5 Lies Social Media { fill in the blank } Tell Their Clients "I've been doing this a long time." "Do you have anything new going on?  That's what we need to focus on." "It's okay that the folks in <xyz department> don't 'get' social media. We don't need them." "I can have <your brand> up and running in no time." "Once I've set everything up, its pretty minimal upkeep from there." First, the terms {"expert," "guru," "maven"} and the like just don't belong in a job title. ...

A colleague and I were recently discussing some features of Facebook pages.  An example frequently cited as a well-designed page (in the creative/app sense) is PINK by Victoria’s Secret.  With 1,702,953 fans, this branded page certainly has an audience with its target demographic – late teen-to-mid 20-aged women and to a lesser extent, the males in their lives (not to mention males who simply appreciate the lingerie maker’s, er, assets). If you notice the brand’s wall, you’ll see a host...

This is a post about righteous behavior, serving as good examples, leading with your gut, and listening to your heart. The concept of community benefit and an innate need for social interaction help make these things possible (and most definitely searchable!). The (momentarily)Disadvantaged Image by Getty Images via Daylife Teresa Basich(@transitionaltee) writes at her blog Overcommunicated. I forget how I came to follow her, but my first introduction to her thinking/writing came with a post...

Here most of us are, trying to explain the value of cultivating connections with our customers and forging a community of users built on solid product, stellar experience, and authentic communication. For the average marketer (and the average business), the road is a long one full of incremental baby steps and the occasional delay or detour. Still, that beacon of social business shines brightly and encourages us to travel on. But what if you're Ashton Kutcher? An acclaimed actor whose charm and charisma...

Eating lunch out is a treat, a nice respite from your packed day and a way to gear down for awhile. But it comes with drawbacks and risks. It can take awhile to get back on track after a noontime detour. Distractions and diversions are like that; we all know that a Friday lunch date with pals means the afternoon is a sure bust. Maybe we subconsciously enable that PM decline. Bandwagon, Meet Your Passengers. Last week we talked about diner-style social media services, how a reputable agency seemed...

We've likely all visited a diner, where the operative word is "fast" with a slice of convenience. Yes, it's technically "sit-down" dining, but the expectation of experience is wholly different than other casual dining establishments. Common characteristics of a diner: Quick seating. Lots of menu items (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Fairly typical outcomes. (breads/starches, meats, and token fruit/lite). A pretty modest price, in line with these commodity meal types. You eat in a diner...

Shut Up When I'm Talking To You! Now those companies wouldn't create marketing campaigns full of print ads, radio spots, direct mail, and online banners announcing their "La la la la, I can't hear you, la la la la" position on social feedback, would they? Of course not. But if they didin't, what do you want to bet their customers automatically assume some level of online listening, if only from the proliferation of corporate Web sites bearing "Follow us on Twitter!" badges, not to mention the astro-adoption...