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Issue 19: January 14, 2011

ENCORE!!


 

2011
MARKETING TRENDS WEBINAR
 

 

Jan. 25, 2001

11:00 a.m. CT
 

We had such a great response from our December marketing trends webinar, that we're offering an encore.

There are nine trends we discuss and not only how they fit in your PR and marketing plans, but how you can take steps to execute.

It's the final recap to your 2011 planning.

Reserve your spot and register today by clicking here.

By the Numbers

50%

The percentage of people who read blogs more than once a day

The Science of Blogging

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Keeping It Fresh: Attributes of a Social Company

The idea that social media is a fad is long behind us and companies are looking for ways to include it throughout their organizations. It's no longer about testing a few ideas or dipping our toes in the water.
 

Enter 2011 and the socially engaged company. Employees are no longer happy with the top-down approach; we have to be looking at our companies and figure out how to build in order to have a starfish organizational chart instead of the spider of the past.


The five attributes for a socially engaged company include:

  • Culture: Give people what you want them to offer
  • Mindset: Show up with a creative, open mindset
  • Group wisdom: Listen and make space for various voices
  • Environment: Approach space creatively to serve the purpose
  • Vision: Make your work about something bigger

You can read more about each of the attributes in Mashable.

Quick Tips: Using Twitter for Business

In April of 2009, an article ran in USA Today, written by Steve Strauss in his "Ask An Expert" column titled, "Should Entrepreneurs Twitter? Uh, No."


His points for not using Twitter as an entrepreneur were: You are in business, it offers just too much information, it requires too much time, and what can you say in 140 characters?


Well, as an entrepreneur who uses Twitter for business, it was hard for Gini to let it sit. Her response follows.


"Try to understand the true value of Twitter, which is not what someone had for lunch or when they're taking a coffee break.

  1. I run a business and I use Twitter to network daily with potential partners, clients, and talent. It's like going to a networking event, but instead of for two hours once a month, I spend 30 minutes a day mining for information that is helping me grow my business.
  2. I get all of my news from Twitter. By the time it reaches even the online news sites, I've known about it for a good hour or more. I also find tips, pointers, and tools from other CEOs that I haven't yet considered. If I'm looking for an answer for something I've never encountered, I first ask my followers if they have experience. It's an advisory board and focus groups rolled into one.
  3. It takes as much time as you allow it. I've set up groups in TweetDeck that allow me to quickly scroll through information I want in as little as five minutes. I look at TweetDeck in the morning, at noon, and at night. I spend as much time as I see an ROI for my business.
  4. The 140 character limit forces you to be concise, to write in headlines or soundbites, and to include only pertinent information. It also allows you to tease to your latest blog post, article, interview, or company information.

In a time that all business leaders need to look for ways to innovate, not using the Web for networking and prospecting for business will leave you in the cold. It's time to join the 21st Century!


Plus, I found this article on Twitter...not in the paper or by reading your Web site."


That response prompted a call from Steve, who admitted he didn't use Twitter and wanted to learn more.


And so began a long and fruitful relationship. They talked that first time and started off with a simple education on the value of Twitter, from an entrepreneur's perspective and then went "on the record."


From that conversation, he wrote, "Twitter for Small Business...Reconsidered."  Since then he's gotten on Twitter himself and he's hired a CTO (chief Twitter officer).


He recently wrote, "Why I Was Wrong About Twitter" and included 12 reasons businesses should be using Twitter. They include:

  • Prospect
  • Generate word-of-mouth advertising
  • Learn new things
  • Get new ideas
  • Meet new people
  • Build a better brand
  • Turbocharge your customer service
  • Go viral
  • Get more business
  • Notify customers

The lesson here is two-fold: Commenting professionally on other's blogs and articles leads to a long and fruitful relationship where you learn from one another and Twitter still has not lost its ability to connect people, to build relationships, and yes, to grow your business.

Digital Marketing In Practice 

Gini is an entrepreneur blogger for Crain's Chicago Business, where you can find her every Friday. Read her latest article, How the FCC Ruling on Net Neutrality Could Affect Your Business.

Discover how Wholesome Tummies used Facebook ads to increase their franchise locations in the Social Media 101 column in the December issue of Franchise Times.

Spin Sucks is one of 10 finalists for a prestigious social media award. We hope we win! We really hope we win!

We are on the road speaking at industry conferences and CEO groups, hosting workshops, and doing digital marketing consulting. If you'd like to have us visit you, please contact Patti Knight at 312 787-7249 or [email protected].