User-Friendly Social Media Monitoring, Measurement and Engagement

via radian6.com

Delving more deeply into the metrics tools that corporations are using for their social media efforts, I found Radian6 to be a very engaging platform, complete with customizable dashboard capabilities, accessible through web access, vor a completely virtual experience. I am including this video that WOWed me. Check the short clip out.

Then be sure to check out the blog (http://www.radian6.com/blog/), complete with podcasts from innovators and thought leaders in the industry, in the area of social media. I loved listening to Brad Dancer of the National Geographic Channel and his thoughts on not just engaging his audience with social media, but also using the platform in other ways, such as searching for consumer generated content.

It is an eye-opening look at the way consumers are going to continue tip the buying power scale by using the tools that democratize the system. I highly recommend you take a peek into a "Long Tail" company, existing because of the consumer pull for these technologies. Fascinating.

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Deliver WOW Through Service | about.zappos.com

via about.zappos.com

Posted via web from vickie_smith's posterous

Social Media Marketing at its Best: Amazon Steps into Zappos’ Shoes + top 10 leaders

via emarketer.com

This is a great article from eMarketer, all things digital intelligence, that primarily focuses on Zappos success, and how its success led it to be swallowed by media giant Amazon (that's a pretty major accomplishment!).

But how can you leverage social media and turn it into ROI? Especially when social media is only part of the marketing mix, and its analytics compared to other traditional methods, are only starting to emerge.

I am a true believer that there should always be an effort to eliminate duplication, especially when others have already done it successfully. I don't mean COPY, but use it as a tool to include in your own social media efforts and ADAPT and MODIFY them.

So I share with you this article, which also lists the top 10 companies who have done it successfully.

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Beyond Social Media: You've Got the Interview - NOW WHAT?

So, I’ve used the social media tools I’ve been sharing with you through my job search experience. It’s great to use the tools to get to know the people on the inside, and now it’s time to learn more about the outside, and about the big picture. Let’s face it, you will be working with these people, but unless you do your homework about the company and the industry environment, how much value can you add over another candidate? And when the tools to do it are FREE, you’ve got NO excuse! So here are five tips for you (my other tips must have worked, right? I interview Thursday!):

1. Library Internet Resources.

I don’t know if your library has free home internet access available, but my local Wayne Public Library, has loads of free online databases, where you can look up company information, and maybe a little bit more about who works there. If you want to be in the game, don’t you want to know who else is on the team? I think the most helpful tool that came up for me was a SWOT analysis (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats) of the company, so I could learn more about issues they are facing on a larger scale.

2. Industry resources.

Another FREE tool is given to you by our U.S. government’s Census Bureau. You can pull up information on an industry, and there’s a search on the upper right that can get you started.

3. Your company in the news.

Ok, so you’ve probably googled the company and maybe came up with their website first (if they’ve got a good ranking, that is!), and then some news items further down the list. But have you clicked on the “News” tab? See what comes up…but if it’s not good news, I really wouldn’t share it in any communications, especially on an interview! Keep it in your back pocket if you need to, if at all. Or if it’s too shady for your comfort zone, then maybe it’s best you found out before your interview so you can decide if this is the right company for YOU.

4. Trade publications.

There HAS to be some industry-specific trade publication for your organization. See if your librarian can help you find it when you’re getting your library card to use tool #1 in this post, or maybe it’s online. Search for the company’s industry + publication, and see what comes up. Or maybe you already pulled it up in google on your first search. Learn what issues the company is facing. Is their business cyclical?

5. LinkedIn Groups

Do you know any of the people in the organization? You could look them up, but not just stop there, and look at the places they might have worked, but what about the groups they belong to? What better way to use social media than join the conversation where you know you have a better chance of being heard?

So, I’ve got an interview lined up on Thursday with a company I very much want to work for. When I’m up at bat, I know I’ve gotta aim to hit it out of the park (nothing but “lot” if you’re a ball fan), and you can, too. I don’t think any MLB player gets where they are because they’re the #1 team fan, right?

Free marketing research tool on LinkedIn

Today I found another yet FREE and valuable social media tool. Only this one isn't just to help with a job search marketing campaign, but it's to track the ROI of your social media efforts on LinkedIn.
Wow - did you know you can track who visited your LinkedIn profile by going to the Profile views on the right side of your home page?
I saw that 7 people had visited my profile yesterday, and three of them were from companies I applied to for open positions. The others were in the career coaching area so I guess my social media efforts in helping others is getting notice, too.
So make use of the page view tool on LinkedIn and either do more of the same or kick it in high gear.
You can shout all you want, but if you fall in the forest, will anybody hear you?
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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Optimize your job search with SEO and Social Media

Take advantage of all the FREE tools we have access to with social media when looking for a job. Not sure how? Here's 5 tips to get you started:
 
1. SEO - Ess ee WHO? Search engine optimization CAN be good for the faint of heart - all you have to do is make sure the types of jobs you want to attract are in the text of your profile.
2. LinkedIn
What? You mean you don't update your profile on a daily basis? If you get linkedin status updates, you might see every time I scratch my nose- well maybe not THAT extreme - but take advantage of it all - look at all the things you can do. it's FREE! What could be better?
3. Do you blog?
Blogging is a great way for you to establish yourself in this sea of job searchers...open up a FREE account on blogger and put in on your linkedin profile! Yep, still free.
4. Tweet tweet.
It's not so scary once you have a plan! Use SEO (remember those keywords?) to customize your search but ALSO to include in your tweets, because recruiters or at least people searching for those same words can now find you! Free. Hmm one more tip:
5. Facebook
 Yes, the giant continues to grow, so take advantage as everyone moves over!! And you can install an app to pull in your tweets in status updates. Free, yes and just keep active! - we'll complete this job search just yet!
 
If you throw out more hooks, don't you think you're chances are better at catching a fish? :)
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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Social Media Marketing is on the rise!

Advertisers are having a tough time now - well, at least with traditional methods.

Having been involved in traditional marketing/advertising, I was captured by this social media marketing article:

destinationCRM.com: Amid Budgetary Bloodshed, Social Media Marketing Is Spared

The chart shows the finding of a Forrester Research study on spending marketing $ and it clearly shows an almost 50% increase in social media, with a close trail by e-mail marketing. Both showed only a slight decrease compared with traditional methods.

From my own experience, having been involved in my own career in more traditional methods, I definitely saw these areas take a hit - most recently in my position in radio advertising. Advertisers wanted to go more on the internet, with web banner ads - which are helpful, but with a more wholistic well-rounded view, with as many touchpoints for your audience as your budget will allow.

That's why I am FASCINATED with social media, and all the ways that people can have a conversation, and develop business. I think it makes business more of an exchange between friends than just putting down your money on the table and getting something in return.

As least that's what businesses that are reaping the rewards of social media are finding - and spending more in these areas.

If the formula works, just do more of the same! And we'll keep listening - we're ALL consumers, right?

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