Social Media Strategy by Carmine Media

Nice infographic-methods, techniques tips on coming up with compelling content when the well is runnnig dry, a constant battle for most marketers, social media types and even writers. 

The Rise of Content Marketing: This infographic shares how important is content as a marketing segment and why you should take a hard look at your social content strategy...

Below are some of the expected trends this year about Content Marketing.

- Crowdsourcing for Content Creation:

It became a valid business model to tap into people's willingness to create content for free or for low pay in return for online exposure. Now, companies of all sizes are eager to try such crowdsourcing to generate content.

- Content Curation, Aggregation and Syndication:

Content curation also will be hot in 2012, but content aggregation and online syndication are losing some heat with the release of the Google Panda Farmer algorithm changes last year.

Unlike aggregation and syndication that simply republish links or content, human beings select what they consider the best content in their areas of expertise, share links to the original content and add their own commentary. It's such added value, along with convenience, that is giving content curation momentum.

- Brands as Media:

More companies are beginning to understand that social media sites and tools aren't the place for their usual marketing pitches. Instead, companies realize they need to think like publishers, not marketers, to connect their brands with online audiences.

- Content Marketing Integration:

Silo marketing is out in 2012, and complete marketing integration is in. There has never been a more pivotal year for companies to take off their blinders and fully mesh all aspects of their marketing--online and offline, traditional and social.

Curated by Giuseppe Mauriello

[read full article http://j.mp/zpZ5k4]

Guest post written by Duncan Heath Duncan Heath is Senior SEO Engineer at Fresh Egg SEO, a leading UK-based SEO and web design company. Duncan Heath: Optimizer.

This piece was written by Om Malik for Gigaom

The author says "Pinterest is one of the hottest startups around these days and represents the latest buzzword in the Valley: curation".

Here's what you need to know:

2012 will likely see an acceleration of structured, push button, social curation across the web. Why? Because most users don’t want to take much effort to produce content, and consuming content in a structured manner (especially photos) is also much faster.

**Just as the first wave of social media has transformed the consumption of information,

**this next wave of social curation will fundamentally change how users find and interact with content over time.

My commentary:

 As a business person, I see tremendous value in Pinterest because as the title of this article suggests, what we post online tells a story about who we are, what we represent and shows a human side through our curated topics. This allows others who may be potential customers to find points of connection which is a great way to start a relationship. It also gives me a chance to listen by observation to what my audience wants at a deeper level. This is a great starting place and can lead to many opportunities that lie ahead.

Excerpt:

**platforms — YouTube, WordPress and Tumblr — have had more success, thanks to faster, cheaper broadband connections. Twitter and Facebook are the big winners of this sharing.

**Are thinking about building a product, evaluating a company or just wondering why early adopters are so crazy about Pinterest, Instagr.am or Quora?   

**we’re playing a role in a movie: edited, directed and starring us.

Curated by Jan Gordon covering "Pinterest Watch"

Read full article here: [http://bit.ly/wEnbpQ]