 Your new post is loading...
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
At its first Smarter Commerce Global Summit this week in San Diego, CA, IBM is announcing new software and services that address a broad spectrum of enterprise commerce activities -- new ways to buy, sell and secure greater customer loyalty in the...
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
The most detailed study of social media ever conducted
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
Influence is such a hot topic in the digital industry yet there remains widespread misunderstanding over how it works, argues Dr Michael Wu, Chief Scientist at social community specialists Lithium Technologies...
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
This is a great piece by Heidi Cohen on why your marketing needs content curation and 12 attributes of a successful curation strategy. This is one of the best articles I've seen on this topic in a very long time.
As I said, I've seen many pieces on curation but if you're like me, everytime I read about this, I always find something new or am reminded of ways I can polish what I'm doing.
Here are some of the highlights.........
Intro:
Why Your Marketing Needs Content Curation
At its core, content curation is like a great editor or blogger who brings his unique taste and understanding of his target audience to his selection of the best content for his readers.
**He provides context for the content so that it's more than a collection of information
3 Reasons your content marketing strategy needs content curation:
1. Offering your audience a combination of original and third party content provides a branded context for your work
2. Curating other people's content positions you and/or your organization as a tastemaker in your field
3. Creating sufficient content is a marketing and business challenge
12 Attributes of a successful content curation strategy:
Here are a few things that caught my attention:
*Has defined measurable goals
As part of your content marketing strategy and by extension your marketing plan, content curation needs objectives that are associated with your business.
**Targets a specific audience
. *Content curation like other forms of content marketing requires understanding your readers' marketing persona
** Involves a community
*As with any social media or content marketing, your audience should be at the heart of your content efforts.
**Clay Shirky says it best:
"Curation comes up when people realize that it isn't just about information seeking, it's also about synchronizing a community"
Selected and reviewed by Jan Gordon covering "Curation, Social Business and Beyond"
Read full article here: [http://bit.ly/SpJEfQ}
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
This inforgraphic from Mediabiestro is a great visual of the mobile revolution. Here's an excerpt: The digital revolution has made an enormous impact on photography, and smartphones and social media have been hugely instrumental in this massive growth. ** 300 million photos are uploaded to Facebook daily **Facebook has 10,000 times more photos than the Library of Congress **Twitter (6.9 million daily active mobile users) and Instagram **(7.3 million daily active mobile users) combined account for hours of photo-taking usage each month, and photos make up 42 percent of all posts on Tumblr. **The money stat? 741 million mobile phones worldwide have some kind of photo capability. Selected by Jan Gordon covering "Curation, Social Business and Beyond" See article and infographic here: [http://bit.ly/SLt2Nz]
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
This piece is from MITSLoan Management Review with some great findings about the benefits of social business.
What is really happening in social business?
Intro:
A study by FedEx and Ketchum found:
** 52% of respondents said social business was strengthening relationships with the general public
**51% said it was strengthening relationships with clients
**40% said it was strengthening relationships with partners and suppliers
Here are some highlights:
**connections between social business and improved stakeholder relationships is supported by other researchers in the field.
In a recent interview with MIT SMR, strategy and management consultant Nilofer Merchant discussed how her research found that social enhances a firm’s relationships with employees and customers.
Jacob Morgan, principal of Chess Media Group, a management consulting and strategic advisory firm on collaboration and the author of The Collaborative Organization (McGraw-Hill, 2012), told us that based on his observations, the benefits of collaboration even positively impacts the quality of life of employees at home, outside of the workplace.
Dion Hinchcliffe, in his four-stage Capability Ladder of Social Business, says that the highest level in the ladder is also relationship based, what he calls the ability to “partner with the world.”
Takeaway:
**Some benefits, like good relationships, don’t require an ROI study.
Selected by Jan Gordon covering "Curation, Social Business & Beyond"
Read full article here: [http://bit.ly/VNuPHT]
Image from marketingbrainfodder.com
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
This piece from Reuters declares Twitter and social media an important part of the election process after last night's twitterverse actvity.
Here are some highlights:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama called it - in less than 140 characters.Around 11:15 pm EST, just as the networks were beginning to call the race in his favor, Obama took to Twitter to proclaim himself the winner over Republican candidate Mitt Romney. (I'm sure someone from Obama's team tweeted this) but nonetheless, the bottom line is the explosion on twitter and how important it was in this whole process.
Hopefully many businesses who have not understood the power of Twitter capturing the immediacy of feelings, trends, emotions from those who frame what's happening, to your advocates, fans, clients and customers will now understand how it can be used effectively for your cause, products, services and organization.
Here's what caught my attention:
**The fact that the president would take his message to Twitter before taking the stage in Chicago underscored the tremendouss role social media platforms like Twitter played in the 2012 election.
**"Twitter brought people closer to almost every aspect of the election this year," Horwitz said. "From breaking news, to sharing the experience of watching the debates, to interacting directly with the candidates, Twitter became a kind of nationwide caucus."
Selected by Jan Gordon covering "Curation, Social Business and Beyond"
Read full article here: [http://reut.rs/WApMff]
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
This wonderful piece is from Ignite who has given us some excellent tips on how to develop a voice for your brand that is clear, unique and speaks to your clients, customers or audience in a way they understand.
Whether you're new to social media or have been around for a while, this article can help you polish and clarify who you are and why people should buy your products or services, read your blog and be part of your community.
Do a Self-Evaluation
Here are a few good starter questions:
*What are the qualities/attributes that I want to be associated with my brand?
*What are my goals for communicating with fans on social channels (forming favorable impressions, providing technical expertise, etc.)?
*What are some of the strengths of my business/why does my product appeal to consumers?
Here are some highlights:
Compile Your Brand Lexicon - Terms or Phrases that you (the brand) use to talk about yourself.
The list should include:
*Current Advertising taglines & trademarked phrases
*Terms you use as a brand to describe your product
*Words you would like the consumer to asociate with your product
Listen to your fans & adapting your communication strategies will be key in the evolution of your brand voice over time.
Takeaway:
A successful brand voice will be one that stays true to your core values & messaging while encoraging dialogue from your fan base
After engaging with your community, your brand voice should adapt based on feedback from them but always be a reflection of your brand identity.
Selected by Jan Gordon covering "Curation, Social Business & Beyond"
Read full article here: [http://bit.ly/RLOnGf]
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
Conversation Agent quotes on Influence from Valeria Maltoni It's the age of the connected customer and people are now comfortable using technology to share -- privately or in public.
Here are some highlights:
How social currency influences behavior
**Social influences include peer pressure and social exchange. The latter is stronger than an economic motive.
**Most human interactions consist of an exchange of value. From a psychological standpoint, actions like sharing signal desire for self expression, need for validation, and social status recognition, and also simply altruism and affinity with a group or cause.
**Both social influences are amplified in public settings.
Psychologist Robert Cialdini documented six principles of ethical persuasion:
**social proof
**authority
**affinity
**commitment
**consistency
**reciprocity
Selected by Jan Gordon covering "Curation, Social Business and Beyond"
Read full article, see slideshare, images here: [http://bit.ly/VySDuu]
|
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
Between the endless Euro drama and the Bitcoin brouhaha, currency has been much in the news of late. Most people would probably name the US Dollar as the dominant currency in this day and age.
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
Data can’t account for everything in our experience, nor serve as the only guide for our thinking, planning and decision-making.
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
Infographics have become more popular with the rise of social media, fuelling the need for instant results by providing content in bite-size chunks.
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
Marketers are all over big data - but are they looking to big data at the expense of true insights and missing the heartbeat of their customers?
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
Your content is good. You know your material. You know how to put words together in a way people want to read. You're nearly there. But the game isn't
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
What’s a social business all about? Is it about having your brand on Twitter or Facebook? Is it about private social networks? Certainly, these all play a part.
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
Trend BriefingClick here to edit the content...
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
This a timely and important piece from Mark Schaefer of {grow} in which he touches upon several issues which confront all of us who are trying to keep our heads above water in the ever-evolving world of Social Media.
To quote: "Not only do the platforms shift every day, the rules of engagement change constantly, too. Can anybody keep up with the real (and rumored) changes just to Facebook's EdgeRank formula? What we considered best practices six months ago are passé today. Social media is overwhelming, especially when there is pressure to master every new platform that comes along How do you keep up?."
Remember:
** Platforms may change but marketing fundamentals remain the same
** Absolutely nobody can navigate this changing world alone as there are too many facets to it, so form a mutually beneficial support group.
** There's too much informationfor any one person to keep on top of all of it, so pick a main focus and try really hard to keep mainly to that.
** Know your audience and go where you will find them. This might mean giving up on one of the major platforms. Swallow hard and do it!
** The more successful you become and the more your reach grows, the less time you will have to engage one-on-one with people. Don't let yourself feel guilty about this as it is inevitable.
** Go to a trusted source for information but be warned: Such a place may not (yet) exist.
Curated by Jan Gordon covering "Curation, Social Business and Beyond"
See article here: [http://bit.ly/VcYLb]
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
This piece is from Fastcompany it's from The World Vision Activism Network. (October 2012) I selected it because there are some great takeaways whether you have a community or are starting one from scratch.
Intro:
When you build a brand, one of the most important measures of success is the actual engagement and connection of your loyal customers, followers, supporters, partners, fans and friends--your community.
The digital age and 24/7 connectivity, social platforms are forcing companies to find new and compelling ways to keep up with daily communication and connection with the people who matter the most
Here are a few highlights:
Create a long-term relationship
**You must understand your audience's interessts
**Use the most popular form of communication
**You have to be available and ready to interact to keep them actively engaged.
. Listen to people
**Pay attention to where and how your key people want to communicate, what they want to talk about and what they actualy do.
**Build the community they demand - use posters, art, videos and whatever connects with your audience on a digital platform that is eaily accessed & shred through a space where your audience is already spending time
Create it & Continually Influence Your Audience
**You must be an active participant on a regular basis ] **By continually sharing, creating, leading and converse with the people you want to influence to establish a long-lasting relationship.
**By staying actively engaged, you will become easy to relate to and your audience will learn more about you, creating a closer relationship
Selected by Jan Gordon covering, "Curation, Social Business & Beyond"
Read article here: [http://bit.ly/TEKl4n]
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
This article is by Gregory Ciotti for Social Fresh, along with an infographic with data that contains some very important information. (credits at the bottom).
Understanding your customer from a psyhological point of view will help you to engage with them, serve them better and potentially build a loyal customer base.
Here are a few highlights:
Understand the 3 Types of Buyers
Help customers break through "Action Paralysis" by setting minimums
for example: remind your customers how easy it is to get started (No payments for the first month)
Understand the 3 types of buyers -
By understanding the psychology of these 3 types of buyers, you can package your products, articulate your message in ways that speak to their listening
**15% spendthrifts **24% tightwads **61% average spenders
Use Urgency the smart way
**Urgency and scarcity are known to drive up sales, but according to research from Howard Leventhal, people are prone to block out urgent messages if the are't given information on how to follow up. More data on this.....
Selected by Jan Gordon covering "Curation, Social Business & Beyond"
Read article and see infographic here: [http://bit.ly/SAchFm]
Infographic by HelpScout Data by Gregory Ciotti
|
|
Scooped by
janlgordon
|
This article is from Eloqua and infograph from Eloqua and JESS3 marketing as we know it has changed quite a bit.
As technology has advanced, the industry has turned its eye towards more precise ways of measuring performance and engagement.
With the rise of the internet, mobile and social, you could see results as they came in. Science is the new buzzword. You know the old lines and adages. “Marketing is a dark art.” “I know half my marketing budget isn’t wasted, I just don’t know what half.” These are common refrains of the marketing world.
Special announcement by Eloqua:
They're launching Eloqua Experience tomorrow, when modern marketers from around the globe will gather to show how they are using science and art.
Selected by Jan Gordon covering "Curation, Social Business and Beyond"
Read article and see infographic here: [http://bit.ly/SPP0As]
|
It is the act of going back and forth between scanning quickly - and then going in for a deep dive and reflection. I watch the stream. I check things out and if I find something that is like "wow" - my audience would love this - or "wow" slightly different take or framing on the topic - then I add in my collection,think about it, and share.
The thing I'm trying to fight - in part because I curate many different topics. I tend to focus on different streams of keywords or sources for particular topics. But I might find something through serendipity that is on another topic I curate and it is good, but I'm not focusing on that topic now. So, sometimes I grab and have in a holding place until I look at it in more depth.
All this to ask you about:
What is your practice for curating multiple topics?
What do YOU do to avoid meaning overload?
For me, it all begins with managing my attention and establishing criteria for selecting content that aligns with my brand message and my purpose for being online. This is my compass. My focus for the day that fits this framework and everything flows from there. I love Howard Rhinegold’s work and the mindmap is brilliant. I’m finding these to be excellent resources in helping me to refine this process and I feel I'm definitely on the right track.
I have some quiet time before I ever go to the computer and focus on my agenda for the day. It’s like going into a library. Everything you could ever want is there but if you don’t have a hypothesis, you can drown in the sea of knowledge and information.
I cover lots of topics but there’s a recurring theme that connects them and it revolves around the evolving world of curation and the many forms it takes; how we have to learn to curate our selection not only of content and information but activity such as social networking as well. It's learning to manage my time and evaluate how I spend it. I ask myself if I do this, will it take me towards or away from my overall plan, the answer always gets me back to where I need to be.
As you know, we can schedule priorities and life comes charging in and sometimes I have to shift to do something that needs to be taken care of. Even if this happens, I can get back to my theme for the day at some point. I don't hold the reigns too tightly on this, it's just there to keep me grounded. If I find something as you say serendipitously and it’s off my daily plan, if it’s really a "wow", (again, here I've established some criteria for this, otherwise, I'd find many wows throughout the day), I stop and pay attention to it to see if it’s something I should work on. For me, there’s a certain rhythm to all of this and intuition plays a part. It takes practice and trusting yourself and not over-thinking things.
As for meaning overload, there are two things I will do If a piece is particularly heady or difficult to read, I will search for the simple thread that relates to the message I am seeking to put out to my audience. The other aspect is more simple. If I feel that my head is just too full, I have to step away for a few minutes, take a few deep breaths, maybe grab a drink of water. Sometimes meaning overload is just brain overload, and I really need to know when to step away and find my way back.