Posted in B2B, Marketing, Social media, Social media marketing on 26. May, 2010
Survey: B2B businesses are beginning to embrace social media KoMarketing Associates The survey, conducted by White Horse, says that 86 percent of B2B firms are using social media for B2B online marketing . However, they still aren't engaging …
It’s essential that you take the time to track the performance of your business blog to ensure your audience is growing and your content is actually being seen. Fortunately, there are a number of free and paid Web analytics tools that can help you track traffic, referrers, top performing content, keywords, underperforming content, user paths, and more. Stay tuned to BusinessLogs for a post later this week that will help you learn what to track! In the meantime, take a look at the five Web analytics tools listed below to begin researching in order to find the best tool to help you meet your business blogging goals and budget. 1. Google Analytics I use Google Analytics for my blogs for a couple of reasons. First, the statistics provided are fairly comprehensive and second, it’s free. That’s a combination that’s hard to beat. 2. Omniture This is an expensive tool, but it’s one of the best if you have the budget. Many large companies and Web-based companies choose Omniture’s Site Catalyst tool. 3. StatCounter StatCounter offers a free and paid Web analytics tool. The free tool offers basic information on a limited number of recent visitors at a time. For full site performance statistics and history, you need to pay. 4. SiteMeter SiteMeter offers a limited free tool and a paid tool that offers more comprehensive data. 5. AWStats AWStats has dropped in popularity in recent years under an online buzz among users that questioned the accuracy of the data provided by the AWStats tools. However, it is a free tool and might be worth testing before you make a judgment. Remember, no Web analytics tool is perfect. Therefore, don’t “bet the farm” on the data provided by these tools. Instead, use them for trend analysis and strategic planning. Image: stock.xchng
Posted in B2B, Marketing, Mobile, SEO, Social media, Social media marketing, Technology, Twitter, UK, USA, World on 24. May, 2010
It’s a brand new week, which means it’s time for Mashable’s guide to upcoming social media and web events, parties and conferences. For more upcoming event listings, check out Mashable’s Events section . Is your event not on this list? Contact us at least one month before your event to establish a media partnership. Mashable’s Weekly Social Media and Marketing Event Guide is proudly supported by Eventbrite , the Web’s Event Marketplace. Mashable Media Summit June 8, 2010, New York, NY : Mashable is hosting its first annual Mashable Media Summit 2010 , which is focused on the impact of social media on the news industry, big brands and advertisers. It’ll be unlike any other conference you’ve attended. We’ve eliminated panels, packing the day full with exciting announcements, incredible presentations, powerful interviews and a great deal of surprises. Grab your conference pass now before the event is sold out! Upcoming Social Media Events May 24, 2010, London, UK : IMMERSION is the leading international Forum & Showcase, focused on the business of games and immersive & social media. Ground-breaking sessions, leading strategy, world-beating developers and commissioners, exclusive networking. Virtual goods, micro-transactions, iphone, funding .. just some of the topics. Speakers include: Playfish, Electronic Arts, Rivers Run Red, Square Enix, Bing, Sony, Facebook. Register with promo code MASH15 and save 15%! May 24-25, 2010, San Francisco, CA : The 2010 (fourth annual!) Ypulse Youth Marketing Mashup is a two-day conference where today’s top brand, corporate and social marketers, media professionals, educators and non-profit organizations gather to share best practices, research and the latest strategies on marketing to youth with technology. Don’t miss this year’s keynotes Neil Howe, who coined the phrase “The Millennial Generation,” and anthropologist/Intel Fellow Dr. Genevieve Bell! Register here and receive a 10% discount with the code: MASHABLE . May 24-26, 2010, Chicago, IL : If you want to learn how to create a Twitter account or Facebook Fan page, then School of WOM is not for you. This conference will equip you with the knowledge you need to ensure “no consumer gets left behind.” The curriculum will focus on the power of how great customer service leads to customer recommendations resulting in driving sales, building brands, fostering community, sparking conversations and influencing a company’s culture. School of WOM will ensure that your brand becomes talkable across all consumer touch points. Visit womma.org/schoolofwom and save $200 and receive the early bird rate by using the code: MashableRocks . May 24-26, 2010, Chicago, IL : Human Resources IQ brings you the two-day Social Media for Recruitment Summit on each of the key social media channels. You’ll learn proven success strategies & tactics for recruiting top talent through the hottest online communication tools. You’ll find out how to demonstrate the ROI of your social media programs to your executive team. Mashable readers get an exclusive 20% discount off the standard All Access price with special code IUS_MASH_#1 when registering! May 24-27, 2010, Princeton, NJ : Attend the Advanced Learning Institute’s Forum on Social Media for Pharma : How To Develop, Execute And Evaluate Web 2.0 Strategies To Engage Your Audiences And Drive Business Results, to learn how to incorporate social media into your communications and marketing plans and leverage the latest interactive Web 2.0 tools and techniques to advance your organizational goals. Hear practical advice, firsthand, from leading organizations such as: AstraZeneca; Johnson & Johnson; Pfizer; Daiichi Sankyo; Acorda Therapeutics; Novartis Diagnostics; Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals; Novo Nordisk; Lundbeck; Fleishman-Hillard Digital; Porter Novelli; National Organization for Rare Disorders; Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness; and more. Mention Mashable when registering to save $200. May 25, 2010, Philadelphia, PA : SocialMediaPlus is a 1 day Social Media and Web 2.0 business conference for business leaders throughout the Mid-Atlantic area. SocialMediaPlus focuses on 4 types of business professionals that most need to understand the effect that Social Media is having on many businesses across the area. Four specific business Tracks include: 1) Executive Track; 2) Marketing and Sales Track; 3) IT Track; 4) Human Resources Track. It’s like 4 conferences in one. Business owners, Executives, Vice Presidents, Directors and Managers from all 4 business units will learn proven strategies and tactics for utilizing Social Media and the technology that drives it. Attendees will learn from some of the industry’s best and brightest minds and hear from business owners and professionals who have succeeded in implementing programs and campaigns built around Social Media and web 2.0 technology. Use promo code MASH15 for a 15% discount. May 25-27, 2010, The Sage Gateshead, UK : Thinking Digital attracts more than 30 of the world’s most innovative, creative, insightful and/or accomplished people to come to The Sage Gateshead, United Kingdom annually in May and talk about their work, inspirations, insights and ideas. Our venue and speakers thereby attract a wonderfully eclectic mix of people from around Northern England, Europe and the world. Mashable readers save 25% using code tdc_mashable here . May 25-27, 2010, Washington DC : Gov 2.0 Expo is THE technology conference and expo for 21st Century Government. It’s the premiere event that — in just three days of sessions, workshops, keynotes and rapid-fire presentations — gives government employees and contractors the practical tools, in-depth technical training and industry contacts critical to implementing new standards of transparency, collaboration and cost containment. Topic tracks include Agile Government, Cloud Computing, Open Data and Web Services, Social Networks and Collaboration and Emerging Topics. Gov 2.0 Expo will showcase the real-world application of Web 2.0 technologies in government and municipal sectors. Register Now & Save 15% using Discount Code: gxp10mp8 at www.gov2expo.com . Gov 2.0 Expo is giving away free Expo Hall Only passes! Use code gxp10mx8 . May 27-28, 2010, Greenville, NC : The Shift Conference is a free, two-night event for businesses to learn how to effectively use social media for cultural and economic influence. Bringing together speakers who are ‘in the trenches” { no big names here! }, businesses who are using social media on an everyday basis and a few other surprises, attendees will receive practical information that they can use for immediate real-world application. Please visit CityShift.org for more information. May 28-29, 2010, Dallas, TX : The Big Design Conference is an intense day of learning within the scope of Strategy, Social Media, User Experience and Code Development. Experts from across the country will gather to present theories, research, experiences and best practices to students, professionals and executives looking to stay on the bleeding edge. Speakers include Jared Spool (founder, User Interface Engineering), Bill Scott (Netflix/author of Designing Web Interfaces: Principles and Patterns for Rich Interactions), Russ Unger (principal, UserGlue), Ryan Merket (founder, Ping.fm), Chris Bernard (UX Evangelist, Microsoft) and many more (full list at http://bigdesign10.com/speakers/ ). Mashable readers receive 10% off conference registration by using the code MASHABLE during the checkout process. June 3, 2010, New York, NY : Hatch Match Columbia 2010 : A great investor and industry event for one-on-one meetings with people you want to meet and have great conversations that stimulate action. This yearly event draws crowds of 400+ with 30+ investors including Union Square Ventures, Bessemer Ventures, Greenhill, Zelkova, NYC Seed, Metamorphic Ventures and more. Additional experts are made available in the areas of mobile, digital, advertising, legal, etc for you to access in the main room. For more information and sign up go to: hatchmatch2010.eventbrite.com to meet one-on-one with NYC investors. Mashable readers can receive 25% off registration with promo code MASH10 . June 4, 2010, Seattle, WA : Bigfoot – The Northwest’s social networking/social media conference is focused on new and modern business concepts. The focus of 2010 is Internet social networking and social media for corporate execs, entrepreneurs, nonprofits and gov’t. In this don’t miss, one-day event, we feature 3 nationally known keynoters and 10 expert breakout presenters (including a Microsoft exec), each providing key social networking/social media takeaways that can be immediately put to use. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit http://bigfootsnc.com for complete details. Use registration code mashable for 10% off. June 4, 2010, Toronto, Canada : Branded Content Summit (BCS) 2010 is an annual gathering where marketers, content producers and media convene to understand and profit from the shift towards branded content. Explore branded entertainment, content marketing, the future of video consumption and more. Join us; register now and use the discount code mashable to receive $100 off. June 4-6, 2010, Washington DC : The iPhone/iPad Boot Camp : a 24 hour workshop on iPhone/iPad Development covering basic to advanced features. It is an established certificate training program that trained over 300 iPhone developers since 2008. The D.C. instructor is Dan Pilone, author “Head First iPhone Development” for O’Reilly Press. Developers are able to develop an app after the training. The workshop offers a money-back guarantee after the first day. For limited time only – a 10% discount off the discounted early bird rate – a $400 savings – is offered on the registration page using the discount code mashable . June 4-6, 2010, Hutchinson, KS : Small Business Social Media Summit – A live, rub elbows, shake hands and sit down across a table from other small business owners event. Some of the most respected social media, internet based marketers and small business peers have come together to share their proven strategies. They will give you real life, no hype and the nitty-gritty details you need to know how to take advantage of the benefits social media has to offer any small business. This is your chance to develop a plan and take what you learn home with you. Register now and save at: smallbizsocialmediasummit.com . Special pricing of $180 for Mashable readers is available here . June 4-6, 2010, Chicago, IL : The future of sports media gathers for Blogs with Balls 3 in Chicago at legendary Wrigley Field. This third installment of the conference will focus on sports and local media, the ever-changing face of traditional media, as well as all the ways that mobile and emerging technologies are changing the world of the sports fan (and the companies trying to reach him or her) today. Panels will feature speakers from companies like ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, The Sporting News, emerging blogging and new media personalities and former professional athletes. Register before May 15 and save more than $50 off the full ticket price at blogswithballs3.eventbrite.com . Use code WRIGLEYMASH . June 4-6, 2010, Philadelphia, PA : The iPhone/iPad Boot Camp : a 24 hour workshop on iPhone/iPad Development covering basic to advanced features. It is an established certificate training program that trained over 300 iPhone developers since 2008. The D.C. instructor is Dan Pilone, author “Head First iPhone Development” for O’Reilly Press. Developers are able to develop an app after the training. The workshop offers a money-back guarantee after the first day. For limited time only – a 10% discount off the discounted early bird rate – a $400 savings – is offered on the registration page using the discount code mashable . July 7, 2010, Melbourne, Australia : Digital Sport Summit is Australia’s premier sport and digital media event. Hear from social media pioneers who are changing the face of Australian sport. Learn how social media and mobile technology is taking fan engagement to a whole new level. Featuring leaders in Australian sport and digital media – including Australian Football League star, Harry O’Brien – there is something for everyone. Mashable readers get $20 off the ticket price with the code dssmash . June 7-8, 2010, New York, NY : Kicking off New York’s Internet Week, the CM Summit brings together the leaders of digital media and marketing for two days of thought provoking case studies, insights and conversations. Join major brand advertisers from Fortune 500 companies like American Express, AT&T, Cisco, Starbucks; leading agencies like Group M, Moxie and Razorfish; innovative platforms like Facebook, Foursquare and Twitter; and media companies like Paramount and the New York Times. Mashable readers register now using code MASHPOP for $100 off regular admission price. June 7-10, Baltimore, MD : RailsConf, the largest official conference dedicated to everything Rails, is the meeting place for the most innovative and successful Rails experts and companies. Learn useful information, ideas and techniques you can put to work immediately with a program designed for all levels of expertise. Save 15% with Discount Code rc10mash at www.railsconf.com . June 8-9, 2010, Seattle, WA : Free Sessions, Networking and More at SMX Advanced Seattle. Meet more than 20 leading solution providers. Access 4 sessions on emerging search engine marketing topics. Attend 3 networking events and meet your next client, employer, vendor or mentor. Search Marketing Expo – SMX Advanced hits the Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle June 8-9. Be part of this exclusive event – for free – when you register for an SMX Expo+ Pass. Learn more and register today at SMX Expo+ Pass . June 9, 2010, Mountain View, CA : The Online Community Unconference is a gathering of online community professionals – managers, developers, business people, tool providers, investors – to discuss experience and strategies in the development and growth of online communities. As we have found with our past events, the best source of information on all of these challenges is other knowledgeable practitioners. Get $20 off by registering with discount code mashable . June 9-10, 2010, Chicago, IL : Making Media Connections . This annual conference will explore story telling in a digital age bringing together social media experts, nonprofit communicators and media for two days of trainings and panels. Keynoter Deanna Zandt, author of Share This! How You Will Change the World With Social Networking. Use promo code Mashable2010 for 20% discount on conference. June 9-11, 2010, San Jose, CA : No longer a shiny new toy, social media is simply the professional communicators reality. This Social Media Summit brings together today’s top brands and most dynamic presenters armed with cast studies and tested social media applications. Hosted at Cisco Systems headquarters, the conference will deliver practical, proven and innovative strategies and tools for corporate communicators. We invite you to come learn from the best and sharpen your skills in beautiful San Jose. Register today by visiting ragan.com/summit-MASH10 and you’ll save $200 off the standard registration price! June 10, 2010, Los Angeles, CA : The Sales Innovation Summit is a collaborative event bringing together leaders from the sales, marketing and academic world to rethink the sales cycle. We will explore together how to execute in the new market reality in order to win market share and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. Tickets are free. June 10, 2010 Manchester, UK : jist, the north west’s leading synchronised communications company are hosting a UK tour of introductory events for businesses looking to use social media as a communication tool. Communicate more effectively with your customers, prospective customers and other major stakeholders! Take a look online http://email.jistuk.com/T/ViewEmail/r/9961002AAB0F3900 – Use discount code mashable1 to get 10% off your ticket. June 11-20, 2010, Washington, DC : Digital Capital Week (#DCWEEK) is a 10 day festival in Washington DC focused on technology, innovation and all things digital in our nation’s capital. Modeled after Internet Week NY, Social Media Week, FotoWeek DC, Fringe Festival, etc. — DCWEEK will consist of a series of distributed events produced and hosted by individuals, organizations and community groups. Technologists, Artists, Entrepreneurs, Communicators, Govies and social capitalists of all kinds will participate in panels, workshops, projects and parties. Register at dcweek.eventbrite.com – general admission is FREE. June 13, 2010, Los Angeles, CA : Fashion Camp: Fashion Industry’s First UnConference presented by Mashable, FashionablyMarketing.Me and XCVI Clothing. Fashion Camp LA is an interactive one-day conference, that brings together fashion industry professionals, bloggers and designers and teaches them how to use technology as a marketing and business development tool. Tickets are $10-20.00; use code MASH for 25% discount! June 14, 2010. New York, NY : Join the Real Time Revolution at TWTRCON NY , the Twitter for Business conference. Hear case studies and learn best practices from top organizations using real-time tools to deliver bottom-line results. Learn how to drive revenues, build your brand and listen and respond to customers and stakeholders using Twitter. Register today with code DVYN301 and save 20%. June 14, 2010, Seattle, WA : Online Marketing Summit (OMS) is coming to Seattle with all new B2B and B2C case studies and social media integration tracks, unparalleled networking opportunities and an exclusive “Social Media and Content Marketing Workshop and Breakfast,” brought to you by the Online Marketing Institute and Wharton Interactive Media Initiative. Learn search, social media and integrated marketing from leading experts such as REI, SEOmoz and Web Analytics Demystified. Register now with promo code MASH20 for 20% off. June 14-15, 2010, San Diego, CA : Bring your agency knowledge about emerging media, digital media buying/planning and the latest in analytics, usability and testing. These 2-day agencyside workshops provide hands-on training for digital marketing experts in the fields of social media, mobile marketing, online media buying, usability and web analytics. Workshops are held on June 14-15 at the Andaz Hotel in San Diego, CA. All workshops are designed specifically for the agency audience. Use discount code mashable to save 15% off registration at any time. Learn more and register today . June 14-16, 2010, New York, NY : Arm yourself with the best digital and direct marketing strategies at Digital Marketing Days. You’ll learn the latest strategies and best practices to acquire and retain customers in the digital era. Be privy to over 40 educational sessions on email, mobile, search, b-to-b strategies, international marketing and more, as well as keynote presentations, intensive workshops, a multichannel exhibit hall and fun networking opportunities. Mashable readers get $100 off the full access or daily conference pass with key code MASH1 . Exhibit Hall Only passes are free until 5/28/10. Sign up today at www.dmdays.com . June 14-17, 2010, Boston, MA : Attend Enterprise 2.0 Boston to learn how to use collaborative tools to accelerate information flow, drive revenue and increase productivity. Visit a bustling Expo Pavilion featuring technologies from 50+ established leaders and innovative start-ups, network with Enterprise 2.0 visionaries and gain comprehensive thought leadership —from strategy to execution and performance monitoring—bringing the power of collaboration to your organization. Register today with code CNRNEB26 for a FREE Expo Pass ($100 value) or save 30% on the on-site price of any Conference pass. June 15-16, 2010, Chicago, IL : Building on the success of the 2009 event, The 2nd Annual Health Care New Media Marketing conference will feature presentations from healthcare executives that implemented Web 2.0 strategies and developed quality metrics for evaluating the success of new media campaigns. Over the course of two days, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from thought leaders from major hospitals, healthcare institutions and social media outlets. Through a series of case studies and forums, attendees will walk away with the tools needed to ultimately reach consumers through new media in an accurate and appropriate. Discount code: MASHABLE get $50 off. June 15-16, 2010 New York, NY : How your business can use social media for better marketing and communications: learn best practice through practical case-studies from corporate peers at 20+ experts from big businesses like McDonald’s, Dell, GM, PepsiCo and Adidas share best practice at new conference designed for large businesses. Companies like General Mills, Sears, Timberland and Merck are already attending. You can download a PDF brochure, book a ticket or even read our free white paper at our website here . Mashable readers save $200 if you quote MSH200 when booking. June 15-16, 2010, Wilmington, DE : Join the sharpest minds in the investment community at the 2010 Early Stage East Venture Conference, the exclusive venture capital showcase for promising young companies. Listen to these high-growth startups present in the areas of Financial Services Tech, Cleantech and Media Tech and connect with an audience representing over $5B in capital. Our featured guests and panelists include keynote Daymond John, Founder of FUBU, Josh Kopelman, managing partner of First Round Capital and Jeff Pulver, founder of the #140 Conference. Register now to get the early bird discount. Mashable readers please use ESEM for $100 off. June 16-18, 2010, New York, NY : Like every other industry, financial services is being transformed by the power of social media. We’re covering every topic of interest to PR, Marketing, Investor and Media Relations professionals. You’ll discover the best way to pitch stories to the media about your company on Twitter, how to get the C-suite to buy into an aggressive social media plan and how NASDAQ Corporate Services helps companies track their online brand to make better decisions about their corporate strategy–the ideas go on and on! Register today by visiting http://www.ragan.com/finance-MASH10 and you’ll save $200 off the standard registration price! June 17, 2010, London, UK : Social Media Marketing 2010 will bring together some of the finest social media minds to discuss the latest campaigns, techniques and theories for achieving viral marketing success. From blogging to video-sharing, Flickr to Twitter, social media marketing is delivering impressive returns. Social Media Marketing 2010 will allow attendees to question the world’s leading social media experts, including Chris Brogan & Brian Solis (via video), Mat Morrison, Andrew Walker, Charlie Osmond, Richard Sedley, Murray Newlands, Luke Brynley-Jones, Sue Keogh and Nadeem Azam. Register with code mashable to get a 10% discount. June 17, 2010, New York, NY : Untethered 2010: Profitable Media in the Tablet Era. How will tablets and e-readers change the media, publishing and advertising business? Join the media and technology experts who are shaping this quickly evolving market for an intense day of discussion and debate. Featured participants include top executives from Simon & Schuster, NPR, Google, Sony, The Washington Post Company, HarperCollins, Ogilvy & Mather, Condé Nast Digital, Starcom MediaVest, Razorfish, Hearst and more. For full details and to reserve your seat today, please visit http://untethered.thebigmoney.com . Use special code MASHABLE for a 20% discount at registration. June 18-19, 2010, Washington DC : The third annual Blogging While Brown Conference gives Bloggers of Color an opportunity to meet, network and learn about the latest technology to assist them with creating and distributing their content. During tremendous economic uncertainty and evolving technology, maintaining cutting-edge skills and strengthening relationships are more important than ever. As digital media content creators and distributors, bloggers rest at the intersection at some of the most challenging policy issues of our time, including broadband internet access, net neutrality and an evolving business environment for content providers. Register today and save 10% with promo code BWBMASH2010 . June 21-23, 2010, Denver, CO : Hosted by WebmasterRadio.FM, AffCon 2010 is a conference series designed specifically to meet the needs of affiliate marketers. As such, admission is FREE for all working affiliates to attend! Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to meet and share ideas with the brightest business people in the affiliate marketing industry. Pulling together an amazing lineup of session panelists and speakers (including super affiliates), AffCon 2010 – Denver also features an exhibit hall, general and targeted skills sessions, networking and WebmasterRadio.FM’s epic AffiliateBash. Get registered today! June 21-24, 2010, Ottawa, ON : Attend the Advanced Learning Institute’s Forum on Social Media for Government : How To Engage Your Employees And Citizens By Using The Latest Web 2.0 Technologies To Drive Communication Results, to learn how to capture the power of social media in your organization, along with helpful tools, tips and techniques to get started. Hear practical advice, firsthand, from leading organizations such as: City of Ottawa, ON; Public Safety Canada; U.S. Department of State; Norfolk County, ON; Canadian Internet Registration Authority; Office of the Ombudsman, ON; Alberta Environment; Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada; Public Service Commission of Canada; Ottawa Public Library; Department of National Defence; Corporation of the City of London, ON; Thornley Fallis Communications & 76design; and more. Mention Mashable when registering to save $200. June 22-23, 2010, Atlanta, GA : The Business Of WordPress Conference is focused on providing generally non-technical business people with a roadmap for how they can leverage WordPress to establish or advance their business’ presence on the web. This two-day event will include a Workshop Day on June 22nd for hands-on WordPress training. The second day will be an all day conference to learn what’s possible on the web today with WordPress, which now makes it easy for almost anyone to launch a world-class website. Register now and save 15% off of the June 23rd Conference. Use discount code mashable . June 22-24, 2010, Santa Clara, CA : Now in its third year, Velocity – the Web Performance and Operations Conference from O’Reilly Media – is dedicated to helping people build a better Internet that is Fast by Default. Join hundreds of web developers and experts under one roof, Velocity packs a wealth of big ideas, know-how and connections into three concentrated days. You’ll be able to apply what you’ve learned immediately for high impact results and you’ll come away prepared for what’s ahead. O’Reilly Velocity 2010 is the premier conference dedicated to building industrial strength sites, at internet speed. Register Now and save 15% with Discount Code vel10msh at http://en.oreilly.com/velocity2010 . June 23, 2010, San Francisco, CA : The B2B Search Strategy Summit is designed by B2B Search Engine Marketers for B2B Search Engine Marketers to provide strategic and tactical Marketing knowledge and bring together the best minds in B2B search engine marketing, email, PR, social media and lead generation to share leading-edge information and experience. Conference attendees will walk away with a toolbox full of new strategies and tactics to apply immediately to current B2B Marketing challenges and opportunities. Register today and save 30% when you use the code MASHABLE . Attendance is limited to 150 B2B marketing professionals. June 23-24, 2010, Boston, MA : Join us for the USENIX Conference on Web Application Development (WebApps ‘10) which will be part of the USENIX Federated Conferences Week. WebApps ‘10 is a new technical conference filled with the latest research in all aspects of developing and deploying Web applications. The diverse 2-day conference program will include invited talks by industry leaders including Adam de Boor, Google, on “Gmail: Past, Present and Future,” a variety of topics and new techniques in the paper presentations, WiPs and a poster session. Since WebApps ‘10 is part of USENIX Federated Conferences Week, you’ll also have increased opportunities for interaction and synergy across multiple disciplines. Learn more at http://www.usenix.org/webapps10/mash . Receive $100 discount by entering CONW10MASH upon registration. June 23-25, 2010, Boston, MA : Join us for the 2010 USENIX Annual Technical Conference (USENIX ATC ‘10) which will be part of the USENIX Federated Conferences Week. Don’t miss the 3-day conference program filled with the latest innovative work in systems research, including invited talks by Ivan Sutherland on “Some Thoughts About Concurrency,” Ben Fry on “Visualizing Data,” and Matt Welsh on “RoboBees.” Find out about the latest in groundbreaking systems research in the paper presentations, WiPs and a poster session. Since USENIX ATC ‘10 is part of USENIX Federated Conferences Week, you’ll also have increased opportunities to network with peers across multiple disciplines. Learn more at http://www.usenix.org/atc10/mash . Receive $100 discount by entering CONW10MASH upon registration. June 24, 2010, Oklahoma City, OK : Get Social Conference is hosting a groundbreaking social media business event in Oklahoma City. GSC is a traveling half-day unconference focused on the business case for social media. This cozy unconference is limited to 150 attendees at a cost of $100 & includes VIP all-access to the legendary OKC Tweetup boasting 400+ attendees. Mashable readers receive a 25% off discount by using the code Mashable. June 24, 2010, Seattle, WA : Deploy is the premier event to learn about the technology and techniques to get your software product or web application built and shipped faster and cheaper. Hear from technology leaders who have delivered, like Vanessa Fox, Brady Forrest and Cheezburger Network’s Scott Porad. You’ll learn the latest effective technology to meet your product goals. To see all of the topics and speakers go to http://deployday.com . To save an additional 10% use the promotion code mashable . Don’t miss it! June 24-25, 2010, New Orleans, LA : At The Customer Centric Solutions Expo we’ll discuss how health plans should re-assess their customer service practices to ensure they implement “new” service models that meet the needs of their members. As health plans implement strategies to transform their business into customer centric organizations, essential to their success will be new customer service models supporting marketing, communications and benefit design strategies. Remain competitive in this new marketplace, register today to SAVE $200 on the current registration rate, mention PROMO CODE: XCX344 to qualify (not valid for gov’t rate). June 25, 2010, Walla Walla, WA : The Wine Bloggers Conference is now in its third year, with wine bloggers, social media experts and wine industry insiders gathering in Walla Walla, the heart of Washington’s wine country. The conference is limited to 300 attendees and content will focus on blogging and social media as related to the wine industry. Sponsorships are still available for wineries or other companies wishing to promote their product or service to wine bloggers. Mention mashable on your registration form to receive a $10 discount, not combinable with other discounts or for those already registered. June 25, 2010, London, UK : Cleaning up communications : Let’s face it. For reputation makers – from ’social media experts’ to ‘communicators’ , PR folk and ‘reputation managers’, that ’spin doctor’ tag is never too far away and our collective reputation is less than pristine. In an environment where trust is vital, what can be done to clean up communications? An informal, conversational event, with speakers including the PRCA. Free event. July 26-28, 2010 Chicago, IL : Celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the eduWeb Conference , a premier annual event for higher education. We have 4 tracks, 46 presentations, 4 pre-conference workshops, 2 receptions and a dynamite program. Professionals in marketing, PR, alumni, admissions, advancement, student affairs, IT, athletics and other HE departments attend eduWeb to learn how to strategically communicate through their online presence. Register now and save an additional $50; use discount code: 10eduWebMash . June 28–29, 2010, Sydney, Australia : Crime and Legal Issues in Social Media will advise and assist professionals on the utilisation of social networking without fear of the risks. Some organisations are still hesitant to maximise their use of online networking. Risks such as breach of privacy, fear of legal action, developing a negative reputation and lack of control have given way to avoidance of this important medium. The event will explore the legal implications of using social media and the policies that manage the risks. Save 15% when using code CrimeSocialMash or call +61 1300 550 662 June 29, 2010, San Francisco, CA : Whether it’s social games, social news, social discovery, social search or other forms of social solutions, developers today are facing new hurdles in building instantly scalable products. As new technologies emerge to address the challenges faced by social application developers, it’s increasingly important to come together for knowledge sharing purposes. The first Social Developer Summit will bring together social application developers to discuss the challenges, solutions and best practices for building applications in the rapidly expanding social web economy. At the Social Developer Summit, industry experts will share tips and case studies for building high performance social web products. Register with promo code SDSMASH and save 20%! June 29-30, 2010, London, UK : The 2nd annual Cloud Computing and Enterprise 2.0 World Forum is the perfect event to learn and discuss the future development and integration of cloud and enterprise 2.0 services and products. Building on the success of the 2009 show, this two day conference and exhibition will provide a focused platform for the global cloud computing and enterprise social media industry. The 2010 show will include a free-to-attend exhibition with scenario based workshop area and key service providers demonstrating their products. July 1, 2010, London, UK : Brand Republic’s Achieving Maximum Value From Your Social Media Strategy conference. Learn which social media strategies have yielded proven results, how to build brand awareness, deal with negative PR, gain senior buy-in, measure and monitor your success and integrate your social media campaign with traditional marketing and PR. Roundtable discussions, case studies and presentations from social media experts including: BT, Photobox, Speedo, BSkyB, Facebook, Lastminute.com, Labour Party, Amnesty International, Mirror Group, TripAdvisor, Fatface, Space.NK, SeaFrance and many more. Register online quoting MASHABLE50 and receive an extra £50 off the early booking discount at www.socialmediastrategyevent.com . July 2, 2010, London, UK : Social Media and the Social Web are two of the most dominant web trends today. BrightLemon are bringing together a number of leading figures in this field to discuss why, how and who should use the “Social Web”. The focus for this event will be on building online communities, social web tools and how they benefit organisations and brands. Register for FREE now. July 12-13 & 15-16, 2010, Singapore & Hong Kong : Join us at this Media Relations conference. This 2-day event will see leading PR practioners gather to share more about the integration of social media & traditional media. PR professionals can look forward to discussing strategies that help you achieve your communication objectives and enhance your media relations & positive coverage. Learn how top B2B and B2C companies integrate new media tools for an all-rounded approach. Register today. Save 10% when you enter Mashable under ‘Additional Info’. July 13, 2010, London, UK : This senior level forum offers SVPs, VPs, Directors & Heads of eCommerce, Online, Marketing, Digital and Customer Experience the opportunity to discuss strategies, solutions and best practice for enhancing the customer experience and delivering competitive differentiation by effectively managing and integration online, social and mobile channels. Offering a unique mix of keynote briefings, interactive discussions and one-to-one meetings Customer Experience Online will provide you with a unique opportunity to propel your online initiatives to success and position yourself at the forefront of the industry. Spaces are limited and by invitation only, click here to find out if you qualify. When booking your place, please use discount code MASH_BAN for a 10% discount. July 19-23, 2010, Portland, OR : OSCON takes place at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. In its 12th year, OSCON continues to be the premier meeting ground for everyone using open source. At OSCON, you’ll participate in hundreds of sessions covering open source languages and platforms, practical tutorials that go deep into technical skill and best practices, inspirational keynote presentations, an Expo Hall featuring dozens of the latest projects and products, fun networking events and activities and the best “hallway track” around. No matter the economic climate, a strong technology foundation is the key for moving your business and projects forward. In just five information-packed days (and nights) OSCON gives you the tools you need to succeed. Join over 2,500 people passionate about open source and register now and save 15%. Use discount code os10mash when registering at: http://www.oscon.com/oscon2010 . July 20, 2010, New York, NY : Word of Mouth Supergenius is where you’ll learn to be a fantastic word of mouth marketer with 12 how-to classes, 12 real-world case studies and six brilliant authors. You’ll learn practical, hands-on techniques to get started, grow your program and earn amazing word of mouth. Save $75 off registration by using the code ILoveMashableWOM . July 21, 2010, New York, NY : Social Convergence & The Enterprise: Case Studies & Roundtables . The conference will demonstrate how leading consumer and B2B brands are embracing social media and networking across the enterprise. The case studies will be followed by moderated interactive roundtables. Use promo code MASH for a discounted rate of $155. July 21-23, 2010, Sydney, Australia : KM & Collaboration Australia will feature renowned and respected international keynote presenters and Australian industry practitioners who will explore prospects and challenges in networking and collaboration, social media and Web 2.0, sustainability and profitability, and will outline and explain best practice tools, techniques and advancements in these critical areas. The event will provide you with useful, practical and timely lessons that you’ll be able to implement within your organisation as soon as you return to the office! Save 15% when using code KMAusMash at http://www.kmaustralia.com/registration.htm . August 13, 2010, Nashville, TN : At Big South Social Media Summit , come listen to some of the most forward-thinking business giants from companies like Southwest, SAP, Comcast, Domino’s as well as social media loving celebrities who will speak directly on how they drive ROI through social media. Speakers will share real-world success stories, pit falls and case studies to demonstrate the true value of social media. This summit will allow business leaders to finally understand how social media can propel their business and how to produce real results. More than the mechanics, this is a relatable summit that will open eyes to the power of social media in business. Get 15% off the ticket price by using the vacomash discount code. August 15-17, 2010, New York, NY : Affiliate Summit East , the premier affiliate marketing conference, is taking place August 15-17, 2010 in New York City. This three day conference includes an exhibit hall with affiliate merchants, vendors and networks, as well as multiple tracks of educational sessions covering the latest trends and information from affiliate marketing experts. Use discount code mashable for 10% off any pass type. August 16-20, 2010, San Francisco, CA : Discover the tools of engagement at this year’s SES San Francisco . No longer just lecturing your customers, learn to listen and converse in a more social world. Our experts will show you how integrating search, social media and video in even basic ways will transform both your site’s visibility and profitability. Packed with sessions on PPC management, information architecture, social media, local search, mobile application development, video optimization and other advanced topics, we have created an educational and networking environment designed for both beginners and veterans in digital marketing. Register by July 30th and SAVE up to $554 with code MHNY15 . August 26, 2010, Galway, Ireland : Attend BlogTalk 2010: the 7th International Conference on Social Software . Join developers, researchers, practitioners and others who share, analyze and enjoy the benefits of social software and social media. Keynote speakers including Stowe Boyd, Dan Gillmor and Don Thibeau will share insights and discuss future developments. There will also be a one-day workshop on microblogging as part of the event. The cost is €200 for early birds and €250 for regular registrants. Use the mashtalk promotional code when registering to save 10%. We will also have a medieval banquet, but space is limited so register early. September 7-9, 2010, Las Vegas, NV : The Global App Show is focused on delivering the optimum network environment for app developers, mobile manufacturers, businessmen and users alike. If you are serious about your app, if you want to increase your downloads, users and audience growth rate, improve your development skills, quality or functionality of your app, if you want to influence decision makers, find experts, sell a product or service, if you want to promote yourself as an industry expert, or build your brand, then you cannot afford to miss the Global App Show. Go to GlobalAppShow.com , mention MASH and receive $25.00 off your show pass. Early pricing ends June 15th. September 16-17, 2010, Dallas, TX : This year’s 2nd Social Media Optimization Summits event, presented by Multifamilypro, brings together small to mid-sized business owners with an interest in putting social media to work successfully within their organizations. The event offers two full days of intensive, hands-on workshops from the intermediate to advanced level, led by top social media experts including Brian Solis of FutureWorks, Jason Falls of SocialMediaExplorer.com, Shama Kabani of The Marketing Zen Group and Shama.TV, Geno Church of Brains on Fire and more. The unique “See it. Hear it. Do it.” approach allows attendees to learn by doing and begin applying newly-acquired skills and knowledge while the event is underway. Register now and save $125 at: http://optimizationsummits.com/ . Use discount code Mashable . September 21–22, 2010, London, UK : ad:tech London is the UK’s essential free to attend event for professionals seeking to stay ahead of the latest interactive media, advertising and marketing trends. The event unites advertisers, media owners and agencies to harness the power of digital and deliver real marketing ROI. Alongside the exhibition, there is also a conference featuring 100+ international speakers for serious digital innovators and marketers. Mashable readers can take 20% off their conference ticket price – call John Corrick on + 44 (0) 203 180 6595 and quote Mash10 . Register online now at: www.ad-techlondon.co.uk . September 22-23, 2010, Singapore, Asia : At Social Media World Forum Asia , become educated, discover, engage, network, share and collaborate in the world of social media. Ideal for those looking to embrace the latest in brand engagement, monitoring, ROI, advertising and building communities. learn from social networks, brands, advertisers and analysts. Mention you are a Mashable reader to receive 15% discount September 27, 2010, Miami, FL : Calling all Affiliates, Merchants, Advertisers and Social Media Strategists looking to CONNECT to the right people, LEARN from the experts, increasing their EARNING potential and GROW their business! The Performance Marketing Expo is the premier event for best-in-class educational sessions (become an expert at Landing Page Optimization, Search, Social Media Strategies and Relationship Management), highly effective facilitated networking (in the Tune-Up Shop, Idea Factory, Masters of the Universe Roundtable sessions) and access to the leading Super Affiliates (Stephanie Nelson, Coupon Mom – Zac Johnson, MoneyReign, – Todd Martini, Alex’s Coupons – plus, eCoupons, MarketAmerica, TrialPay, Parent Media and more). Save 15% when using code PME2010MASH at www.iirusa.com/performancemarketingexpo . October 14-15, 2010, London, UK : Creating and distributing video online? Join us at Online Video Strategies this October in London and learn how to choose the online video solutions that meet your needs, increase audience engagement with interactivity, use video for marketing, promotion, and branding, deliver video to the iPad, iPhone, and other mobile devices, leverage video for internal and external corporate communications, make sure your video gets seen by viewers and search engines, and measure the ROI of your video projects. In addition, Online Video Strategies is a featured event at Streaming Media Europe and all delegates enjoy unlimited access to the Streaming Media Expo as part of their registration. Register at www.streamingmediaglobal.com/ovs . Quote priority code MASHABLE20 for a 20% discount. October 17-19, 2010. New York, NY : Pivot Conference is the only industry conference to explore and evaluate the attitudes, technologies and preferences of the “always on” 18-34 year old consumer. Attend Pivot Conference and hear from those successfully engaging with today’s emerging consumer and create your own action plan for success. Register today with code MASH101 and save 20%. October 17-20, 2010, Scottsdale, AZ : agencyside presents one of the only digital marketing conferences exclusively developed for agencies. BOLO 2010 brings new ideas, new knowledge and actionable next-steps to both help your bottom line and achieve the goals of your clients. We realize time and money are both tight. That’s why we’ve designed a conference that’ll expand how you think and at the same time teach you hands-on how to manage digital more efficiently. You’ll hear from industry thought leaders through keynotes, panel discussions and one-on-one meetings. agencyside has a proven track record for helping agencies become experts in the digital space. Build a team of subject matter experts. Fine tune operations to sustainable profitability. Generate new business for digital marketing services. This event will show you how. Early Bird of $699/person through June 18th. Use discount code mashable to save 15% off registration at any time. October 26, 2010, San Jose, CA : Get real about social media at SocialTech 2010 —the only conference dedicated to teaching B2B high-tech marketers how to harness the power of social media. You’ll learn from B2B marketing leaders at companies like IBM, Intel, SAP, HP, Adobe and Cisco how to use social media to achieve real, measurable business results. Enjoy networking and keynotes from Guy Kawasaki, Robert Scoble and Jeremiah Owyang. Can’t make it to San Jose? You can join us online. Register today and save 10% with coupon code MASH10 ! The Mashable Weekly Social Media and Marketing Event Guide is proudly supported by Eventbrite , the Web’s Event Marketplace. Eventbrite is an online events marketplace where tens of thousands of individuals, businesses and organizations of all sizes manage, promote and sell tickets to their events. Make your event a success on Eventbrite. Reviews: Australia , Bing , Facebook , Flickr , Forum , Foursquare , Gmail , Google , Internet , Mashable , Ping , Twitter , WordPress , social media , sports , timberland Tags: conferences , Events , mashable
Posted in Apple, B2B, Marketing, Social media, Technology, Twitter, World on 24. May, 2010
Suaad Sait is co-founder of Workstreamer , a business listening platform that delivers actionable, real-time information to business professionals. As businesspeople, we now have an unlimited amount of constantly updating information at our fingertips. It holds the promise of great value (and more importantly, profit), but it is also voluminous and fleeting. Powerful new search engines, newfangled social CRM systems, and a preponderance of social sites and services leave us sitting at desks, feverishly fetching news and updates throughout the day in an attempt to stay up-to-date. The trick, of course, is making sense of all that data, and putting it in context of what companies — and who exactly at those companies — matter most. Increasingly, we have the palpable desire to turn good data into good decisions and profitable relationships. But how can you take advantage of that tsunami of information without risking death by data? How can everyday businesspeople get value out of these data-heavy services and sources? Relationships Still Rule The answer to these questions starts by first acknowledging that it’s the same as it ever was: Business is still all about relationships. This should be soothing to many for whom the data web is a brave new world. The business world still runs on relationships, and data is as much at home at a cocktail hour or on a conference call as it is in a slide deck. The game has not changed much at all. The difference is that today’s business data has put everything in stark relief, at very high resolution. Opportunities and risks have been amplified. For example, if I notice a partner’s company’s stock surge at the opening of the market and tie it to a news item on quarterly earnings, I can now send a timely congratulatory note and schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss leveraging that momentum for a proposed joint venture. Or, say I am alerted to an old college friend changing his contact info on a social network, and as a result, track down a few details on his role at a new company. I might subsequently notice via a status update that he is departing for my home city in a few days, and now I can initiate a reconnection and invite him to participate on a panel I’m organizing. Today’s most actionable business data comes from living and very human sources like social networks, wikis, microblogs, crowdsourced contact directories, collaboratively filtered finance communities, real-time search engines, hyperlocal news sites and more. Managing that data can involve a lot of mixing and matching, comparing and contrasting. Relationships Run on Data Strategic relationships with colleagues and contacts both create and consume data. In fact, data isn’t cold and impersonal at all — that’s an important misconception to put to rest. Many of your most successful and trusted business relationships now likely run on data. “Networking” in the traditional sense used to take a lot of time and effort. But in truth, all networking has ever been is the act of information-gathering — of scouting and collating. We used to start with an idea of a person we were trying to do business with, without nearly enough relevant information about them. That has changed as a result of the personal data now available via social media sources. Now, when you finally meet someone in person, or run into them at a conference, the interaction can be immediately more rich and productive precisely because of data — you can get right to the heart of the matter because you’re having a more informed, in-depth conversation that matters. From crunching data and doing your homework, to finding a path through your existing relationships, to setting up that first meeting with a timely and well-researched missive, the new data-driven way of doing business can be infinitely more productive. Conclusion Remember the under-the-table note sharing going on in high school? Well, imagine having the smartest kid in school organize, prioritize and collect notes for you, no strings attached. That’s the kind of information advantage that is now available to us, through an ever-growing array of new social business tools. And it’s not considered cheating, either. But even despite all this new data and these new tools, relationships are still the beginning and the end of every business decision. There is little doubt that there will be a fundamental overhaul in the skill-set of the average businessperson in the next five years as companies grapple with, and realize the upside of making better use of data, both internally and externally. Today, the technologies and techniques that were once the exclusive domain of Wall Street analysts and Silicon Valley engineers are finally trickling down to everyday businesspeople. But no matter how the world has changed, listening is still paramount -– listening to customers, listening to prospects, listening to colleagues, and listening to entire companies –- indeed, listening to data. For more business coverage, follow Mashable Business on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook More business resources from Mashable: – How Data Will Impact the Way We Do Business – HOW TO: Make Sure You’re Tracking the Right Data – 4 Tips for B2B Marketing on Facebook – What Facebook’s Open Graph Means for Your Business – HOW TO: Cultivate Your Brand’s Super Users Image courtesy of iStockphoto , Sportstock , stevecoleccs Reviews: Facebook , Twitter , iStockphoto Tags: business , data , small business , social media , social networking
If you decide that hiring a professional blogger to write your business blog is the right choice for you and your company, then you need to put together a job posting and publish it on sites where bloggers search for job opportunities. For example, be sure to include a list of requirements in your blogging job posting such as: How often the blog should be updated. If the blogger needs to monitor and respond to comments. If the blogger is expected to promote the blog and drive traffic to the blog. If the blogger is expected to include images in posts. If the blogger is expected to research and come up with blog post topics or if topics will be provided by you. Each of these requirements affects the amount of time it takes a blogger to write a post, which means they also affect the rates bloggers are likely to charge. It’s also important that you ask applicants to provide samples of their blog post writing and links to their work online as well as their social Web profiles so you can learn more about their skills and experience. You have two options when it comes to addressing payments in your blogging job posting. First, you can leave it open to negotiation if you’re not sure what to charge. You’re likely to get a wide variety of payment requirements from applicants, and you’ll quickly learn to correlate experience and skills with reasonable payment requests. Alternately, you can include a per post or per word payment structure in your blog post (which is recommended over per hour since it takes some people longer to write than others). For example, you might find a capable blogger with little experience who charges just $5 per post (blog posts should usually be between 300-600 words for maximum effectiveness). On the other hand, a highly experienced blogger might charge $50 per post. The most influential and popular bloggers might charge hundreds of dollars per post. Just make sure that the rate matches the blogger’s experience and abilities. With those tips in mind, following are a number of places where you can publish blogging job openings and attract a wide variety of applicants: BloggingPro: Splashpress Media offers a blogging job board on BloggingPro . There are three types of listings: the first is free and the second two are paid featured listings and 30-day listings. Problogger: Darren Rowse offers a blogging job board on his Problogger blog. All listings are paid. About.com Blogging: The About.com Blogging forum includes a Blogging Jobs discussion folder where job opportunities can be listed for free. Job Listing Sites: Sites like Indeed.com , SimplyHired.com , Monster.com , CareerBuilder.com , etc. provide places to list open jobs for a fee. Freelancer Sites: Sites like Freelancer.com , iFreelance.com , Elance.com , Odesk.com , Guru.com , and others provide a way to list an open job for a fee for freelancers to bid on. Craigslist: Believe it or not, a lot of bloggers search for jobs on Craigslist . Most job postings on Craigslist are free, but a few local Craigslist sites do charge a fee to post a job. Don’t be afraid to ask applicants to write a sample post for your blog (which you agree to publish only if the blogger is hired), so you can get an idea of the type of content they could bring to your blog.
Posted in B2B, Marketing, Social media, Technology, Twitter, USA, World on 23. May, 2010
Dallas Lawrence is Managing Director of Burson-Marsteller’s Proof Integrated Communications . He is a Mashable contributor on emerging media trends, online reputation management and digital issue advocacy. You can connect with him on Twitter @dallaslawrence . The recent firestorm over Facebook’s approach to securing the privacy of its more than 450 million users continues to reverberate around the globe this week as thousands of news outlets cover the unfolding drama with almost breathless zeitgeist. And while traditional outlets are grappling with what it all means for the future of Facebook , online denizens have trumpeted their angst about the company’s most recent changes with more than 25 million blog posts . The current crisis of confidence leveled against Facebook once again centers on the core issue of how the social networking platform manages access to its users’ information. PC World columnist JP Raphael noted earlier this month that with the significant new changes announced by the Palo Alto-based social giant, “achieving maximum privacy on Facebook now requires you to click through 50 settings and more than 170 options — and even that won’t completely safeguard your info.” According to news reports this week, the company may finally be reversing course (again) and returning to a streamlined security process . To be sure, Facebook is no novice when it comes to navigating the controversies of privacy in the online marketplace, and it will very likely emerge from the current crisis singed, but not terribly worse for the wear. What is surprising however, and perhaps most troubling for a company that nearly all watchers agree must prove its mettle with a public offering in the next 18 months, is the voraciousness of the global opposition the recent controversy has sparked, and the apparent lack of corporate agility at Facebook to respond effectively to even the most basic crises inherent to an organization so intertwined in the daily lives of half a billion users. The Lessons Facebook Can Learn from Google Purported 7-year old texts from CEO Mark Zuckerberg are now lighting up the online community with an amusing, and some may say prescient peek into the then 19-year old’s views on privacy. The constant and steady drip of opposition forming around the most valuable social media property in the history of the Internet is beginning to paint a picture of a company that has failed to fundamentally understand that what got it to where it is today will not make it into what it wants to be: A wildly profitable public company rivaling the reach and prominence of Google . The $200 billion search behemoth learned these same painful lessons of accountability earlier in the past decade as they became the public whipping boy for privacy issues. Regular Congressional hearings, editorial columns and tech-savvy thought leaders all lampooned Google for their approach to user information. Many began questioning its very core mantra of “ don’t be evil ” that had mightily bound Googlers for more than a decade. Google’s response was to aggressively educate global regulators and privacy experts while dramatically expanding their Washington, DC footprint. They further ramped up public policy and communications outreach efforts to ensure they were accessible and accountable to those most concerned about their industry and how they as a company approached the prickly issue of online privacy. Transparency is Key to Facebook’s Maturation As regulators and privacy watchdog groups from the EU, Canada and the U.S. begin to catch up to the social media revolution and the inherent policy concerns that came with it, Facebook’s maturation has reached a seminal moment in the platform’s life cycle. For a brand built on the ideals of transparency (sharing your life updates with your friends and family), Facebook must begin to embrace the mantra of a transparent and accountable organization while remaining free from the constraints of life as a publicly traded, heavily regulated, investor-driven company. Facebook’s chief policy guru Elliot Schrage appeared at least to grasp the challenges that lie ahead for the company during a question and answer session with The New York Times last week. “Another painful element comes from professional frustration,” Schrage wrote. “It’s clear that despite our efforts, we are not doing a good enough job communicating the changes that we’re making … We may not always agree about the speed and comprehensiveness of our response but I’m here because I’m confident Facebook’s future success depends on our ability to respond.” Tough words and sound perspective from a smart, well-respected industry insider. If heeded, they may finally drive the internal changes necessary for Facebook to complete its startup evolution and graduate into the world’s most dominant — and profitable — communications platform. For more social media coverage, follow Mashable Social Media on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook More Facebook resources from Mashable: – How Facebook Can Become a Money Making Machine – Facebook vs. Google: The Billion Dollar Battle to Be Your Default Social Profile – 5 Essential Facebook Privacy Tips – 4 Tips for B2B Marketing on Facebook – The Local Advertising War Will Be a Clash of the Internet Titans Image courtesy of iStockphoto , malerapaso Reviews: Facebook , Google , Internet , Twitter , iStockphoto Tags: analysis , facebook , privacy , social media , social networks
Your products and services will always be subject to those who like to gossip and share information on their blogs, Facebook accounts, and tweets.
Posted in B2B, Computer, Marketing, Social media, Social media marketing, Technology, Twitter, USA, World on 21. May, 2010
Rick Burnes leads the content production team at HubSpot , a marketing software firm that produces the Inbound Marketing Blog and Inbound Marketing University . Chances are, most of the businesses you interact with as a consumer are on social media. Your local restaurant is blogging, your grocery store is on Twitter — even your favorite candy is on Facebook . Companies in mainstream, consumer-facing industries are all over social media. But how about other businesses? Manufacturers? B2B service providers? Equine dentists? Are they experimenting with social media? You bet. Here are five examples, all at different stages of their experiments, and all indicating the breadth of business use of social media. 1. Equine Dentist Builds Relationships With Facebook How do you turn a regional service business into an international destination for industry thought leadership? Facebook. At least that’s what worked for Geoff Tucker, an equine dentist based in Palm City, FL. In a business driven by relationships, Geoff says that Facebook allows him to build new ones. “People do business with people who they’re friends with. Period,” he says. “And Facebook is a great way to get to know people. It allows people to see that I’m a person.” As he builds these relationships using social media, Geoff is also expanding his company’s reach. He says it was his blog , his Twitter feed , and his Facebook account that helped him win appearances on Horse Talk Radio and HorseGirl.tv . So what’s this done for his business? Geoff says that over the last year, Facebook alone has generated about 100 leads and 10-to-15 customers. 2. Steel Building Manufacturer Taps New Verticals As a manufacturer of prefabricated steel buildings, SteelMaster was initially hesitant to get involved in social media. “It’s steel buildings,” explains Michelle Wickum, director of marketing for the Norfolk, VA company. “How is that going to tie to Facebook? It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but when we looked at the growth in Facebook and social media, we felt we had to get our arms around it.” About a year ago, SteelMaster put its first toe into the social media water . The company discovered two important applications for their business. First, they found that Facebook is an excellent way to post pictures of customers’ steel buildings. Not only do the pictures engage existing customers — they also demonstrate to prospective customers the range of uses for SteelMaster buildings. “Photography for us is the hook,” Michelle explains. Perhaps more importantly, SteelMaster found that social networks like Twitter and Facebook gives it exposure to and create demand in specific verticals where it previously had little traction. Chicken farmers and woodworkers don’t typically think to use steel buildings, but when friends and colleagues share pictures of their SteelMaster buildings on Twitter and Facebook, the farmers and woodworkers become interested. 3. Full Social Media Integration for Marketing Paint Idea Paint is a Boston-area startup that sells paint that turns surfaces into dry-erase boards. The company uses social media throughout its sales and marketing process. The company blog , where employees publish videos, images and stories of product installations, is the hub of Idea Paint’s social media activity. The company uses Twitter and Facebook to share content published on the blog — then to listen to, respond to, and interact with the community that content engages. Marcus Wilson, Idea Paint’s head of marketing, says this system gives the company a level of customer intimacy and global reach and that was unheard of 10 years ago. What’s this mean in terms of business results? Social media is now one of Idea Paint’s largest sources of leads and traffic — and it is growing steadily. Meanwhile, the company’s Twitter and Facebook reach grew 70% in Q1 2010, and is expected to grow an order of magnitude in Q2. Idea Paint produced this video on their social media strategy, exclusively for Mashable readers: 4. Integrating Twitter Into the Paper Selling Process One year ago, the marketing team at Neenah Paper , a manufacturer of high-quality paper products, confronted a growing problem: It was becoming harder and harder to reach new potential customers. Their traditional channels — phone conversations and in-person meetings — were not working as well. Prospects were tuning them out. Jamie Saunders, Neenah’s marketing communications manager, noted that most of the company’s potential customers — designers, graphic artists and printers — were spending their time in front of their computers, and that social media could be a way to better engage them. So Neenah took a step into the social media world. While the experiment started with Neenah’s marketing team, its sales team was one of the biggest beneficiaries. They discovered they could do prospecting and nurturing via Twitter . Today the company has 10 sales representatives across the country using their personal Twitter accounts on behalf of Neenah to close new business. Jamie says these sales reps are finding that social media is simply a more effective way of engaging with their prospects. “It’s an invitation to have a conversation. You’re getting permission to have a conversation — a conversation that used to happen in person.” 5. Leading the Online Aviation Maintenance Discussion In November 2008, a handful of auto executives flew their private planes to Washington, DC to testify before Congress in support of federal aid for their industry. This perception of corporate excess created an outcry, and the private aviation industry’s image was damaged. At that time, aircraft maintenance and support company Duncan Aviation had just started using social media . The company discovered that the new medium could be a way to positively shape the conversation — to add its perspective and improve the industry’s damaged reputation. Beth Humble, now Duncan’s social media lead, explains that while social media is an important part of Duncan’s strategy, the company doesn’t aspire to create a Comcast- or Coke-like presence on the social web. Instead, the goal is simply to influence the right people. “There are a lot of industry people that we network with that are on Twitter: Journalists, other aviation bloggers, and industry and media outlets,” Beth explains. “If you connect with the right few people, you can really get in there and connect with thousands of people.” For more business coverage, follow Mashable Business on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook More business resources from Mashable: – HOW TO: Market Your Small Business With No Budget – 13 Essential Tips for Landing a Job on LinkedIn – How Venture Capitalists are Using Social Media for Real Results – Why Co-Working Makes Sense for Small Businesses – What Facebook’s Open Graph Means for Your Business Image courtesy of iStockphoto , FANDER09 Tags: business , facebook , List , Lists , small business , social media , social media marketing , twitter
Who is writing your business blog? If it’s not the right person, you won’t get the results you want and need from your blog. That’s because no two people are alike on the social Web and different bloggers have a wide variety of skills, experience, and natural aptitude for conversing on the social Web, particularly via a business blog. There are three primary options for choosing a business blogger: Write your business blog yourself. Enlist an employee to write your business blog. Hire a professional blogger to write your business blog. Each of the options above has pros and cons. First, there is no one who knows your business, customers, and goals better than you do, but finding time to write great content doesn’t come easily to everyone. Second, employees can be great bloggers, particularly if they’re familiar with the social Web and are vocal advocates of your brand and business. However, you have to monitor your employees’ conversations and behaviors online to ensure they adequately represent your business and brand and don’t disclose any proprietary information. Third, hiring a professional blogger is an excellent alternative, but not all bloggers are what they claim to be. You’ll find a huge variation in writing abilities, social Web experience, and technical knowledge, and those differences are usually very visibile when it comes to the rates that bloggers charge. There is a reason the old adage, you get what you pay for, is still around. Following are five skills you should look for in potential business bloggers to ensure you select a blogger who is willing and able to develop a successful blog for your business: 1. Has a knowledge of blogging and the social Web Just because a person knows how to use WordPress doesn’t mean he or she understands how to effectively write, publish, and promote blog content to build a successful blog. He or she should have active social networking, social bookmarking, and microblogging accounts and understand how to drive conversations, sharing and traffic to a blog. 2. Has excellent writing skills The person who writes your business blog should have excellent writing, grammar, spelling, and proofreading skills to represent your brand well and alleviate the need for you to edit his or her work. 3. Listens and understands your wants, needs, and goals for your business blog. The person who writes your business blog should aggressively learn about your business, industry, competitors, customers, and so on in order to be able to effectively write interesting blog content that attracts an audience and sparks conversations. 4. Is responsive, responsible and ethical. The person who writes your business blog should actively respond to comments and emails related to your business blog and they should be responsible enough to publish blog posts without being micro-managed. They should also understand what content is and is not appropriate for your business blog without having to run every post topic by you for approval, and they should understand the ethics and laws of the social Web, so your business blog doesn’t attract a negative reputation or legal trouble. Otherwise, you might as well write your business blog yourself! 5. Has search engine optimization knowledge The person who writes your business blog doesn’t have to be a search engine optimization expert (that’s a career unto itself), but he or she should understand the most important do’s and don’ts of search engine optimization and search engine reputation management to effectively write posts for maximum search engine referral traffic. Keep an eye on Business Logs next week for tips for finding professional bloggers to write your business blog for you. Image: stock.xchang
Does your business Web site run on WordPress or another blogging application? I highly recommend using WordPress, not just for business blogging, but for your entire business Web site. I use it for mine (see the image to the left), and I’d like to start a new series here on BusinessLogs that highlights businesses that use WordPress or another blogging application to create their Web sites. I’m looking for business sites that look like Web sites , not like blogs, on the home page at least (of course, a blog can be attached to the site, and it should be). The goal of the series is to not only show how flexible blogging applications like WordPress are, but also to show how great a business Web site can look when it’s built on WordPress (or another blogging application). Plus, really cool submissions might even be featured in my upcoming book coming out in 2011, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to WordPress”, but the first priority is sharing the great work businesses are doing in leveraging blogging platforms to create awesome Web sites here on BusinessLogs. To submit your business site for consideration in the series, just leave a comment on this post with your site’s URL. Chosen submissions will appear in a future blog post with screenshots of your site and links back to your site. Note that the series won’t critique sites but rather provide an overview of the cool things site owners are doing with WordPress, etc. to build their businesses and brands. Feel free to share this request with your own audiences via Twitter, Facebook, your business blog, etc.! Let’s find some really great business sites built on WordPress, etc. to highlight here on BusinessLogs!
