David Alston – The Twitter 20 Interview about Social Media Listening
David Alston is a singer. A photographer. The former host of an improv comedy show. He’s also a vastly experienced technology marketer – currently the Vice President of Marketing for the conversation monitoring software company Radian6. He’s also Canadian, so is helpful and kind as a default setting. I first met David at the excellent […]
AdAge Social Media Blindness
Ken Wheaton penned an acidic column in AdAge that discounted the impact and legitimacy of social media. And not just in a “I’m not sure this social media thing is all it’s cracked up to be” kind of way, but with snarkiness, derision and hubris. Here are excerpts from the piece, titled “Web 2.0 cured […]
9 Blog Failures and Remedies
Are you maximizing the potential of your blog? I’m not. After 7 months with this version, I’ve embarked on a redesign of the Convince & Convert blog. I have three goals for this new design: – Make the blog easier to use for you – Encourage conversation – Make the connections between me and the […]
A Social Media Slam Dunk
This is a case study about social media usage by the very tall. To the coverage of H&R Block, Dell, Comcast, Southwest, Papa John’s, Whole Foods and other brands for their successful use of social media, I offer another: The Phoenix Suns. Led by Suns’ Director of Digital Media Amy Martin (@phoenixsunsgirl) the NBA team […]
A Trickle of Transparency
Can the principles of social media work offline? Many brands are unsure of how (or whether) to dive in to the social media pool. That’s not surprising. To fundamentally reconsider the relationship between brand and its customers isn’t a course correction that can be accomplished over a plate of chicken nachos and a margarita. After […]
Brands Must be Social Media Selfish
Are you protecting your social media brand? I was followed on Twitter last night by @trynetflixfree As a long-time Netflix member, I clicked the link to determine whether I should follow back. Much to my surprise, @trynetflixfree is a Netflix affiliate, trying to drive new subscribers via banal appeals on Twitter. I don’t begrudge the […]
Mack Collier – The Twitter 20 Interview about Blogging and Being Helpful
Are you as good at social media as Mack Collier? Probably not, as proven in this sweeping, live Twitter20 interview. Mack opines on how to write a good blog, how to help others in social media, and why you need to know where your traffic comes from. Mack is a social media consultant and trainer, […]
The Loneliness of Social Media
Is social media creating confusing collisions and separations in your life? It is for me. I sometimes feel like Jason Bourne. I can’t remember who I know, what I know about them, or what they know about me. I spend more time on Twitter than in other social media outposts, so people on Twitter know […]
Is Email Killing Your Company?
Are you looking at your email program as a long-term investor, or as a day-trader? A lot of marketing tactics aren’t succeeding. It’s a combination of fundamental shifts in how audiences congregate and where they can be reached, and consumers that are too scared about an uncertain future to buy anything other than potatoes and […]
Strategy Destroys Social Media Tools
I’ve written a lot about social media strategic planning and how to find the “hook” for your social media efforts. Why do I write more about strategy than I do about social media tools and tactics? First, because I’ve been an Internet marketing strategist for 15 years, so that perspective is my home turf. But […]