Thanks very much for your support of Convince & Convert while I was on vacation in Denmark and Norway.
I really appreciate the readership, tweets, and comments about the fantastic guest posts that ran during my absence. Great job by the excellent team of guest bloggers. It just goes to show, Convince & Convert isn’t about me, it’s about us. We’re all teachers, and we’re all students here. If you’d like to write something for C&C, let me know.
Meanwhile, I accumulated quite a collection of interesting social media tidbits while I was gone. I spent many hours over the weekend catching up on my reading. A couple weeks away can seem like a lifetime in this business, as evidenced by these 11 social media takeaways. All of these happened (or were reported) either while I was gone, or just before I left.
1. Wall Street Journal Building “Linkedin Killer”
Not sure if they’ll be able to pull it off, but there’s no question Linkedin is vulnerable. They’ve played the “serious social network” card well, but with their members enjoying FAR greater functionality on Facebook, Ning, and many other communities, Linkedin must continue to evolve. If it doesn’t, somebody is going to knock them off their perch, and soon. Meanwhile, LInkedin remains a valuable, and underutilized social media opportunity, especially in B2B. (see my 22 Ways to Dominate Linkedin post).
Takeaway: Evolve, or Die
2. Taco Bell to Embrace Social Media
It’s about time. Given the Taco Bell demographic, you’d think they would have gotten serious about social media a while ago. Now, they’ve retained R/GA as their digital agency of record. The plan is to revamp the Web site for the rest of 2009 (yawn), with new social outreach efforts next year. I’m all for having a social media strategy before jumping in the river, but Taco Bell and other companies that have natural social media strength need to get with the program, pronto. They have 500,000+ fans on their Facebook page, but the content is mostly unilateral photo and video regurgitation. They can, and should do better.
Takeaway: The Clock is Ticking
3. Baja Fresh Botches Social Promotion
In other failed Mexican restaurant news, Baja Fresh massively underestimated the power of social couponing, having to redeem 50,000+ free burrito offers for a promotion intended to reach the chain’s 1,800 Facebook fans. If you’re going to put a strong offer into the social media universe, you must plan for it to go viral. Communicate to your field operations, determine your customer communication protocol, etc. In short, follow the guidelines for social media crisis preparedness.
Takeaway: A Failure to Plan is a Plan to Fail
4. OneUpWeb Releases Social Search Eyetracking Report (PDF)
This excellent study about how social networkers’ eyes move will be delightful for data hounds. For the data averse, the summary is that sponsored ads on Facebook and YouTube are effective because the ads are viewed with the same gaze sweep as the top of the unpaid search results. On Google, the right hand paid search ads are often ignored. This is not as true on Facebook and YouTube. Possibly due to layout, possibly due to fewer overall ads. Have you experimented with Facebook or YouTube ads? I have, with good results.
Takeaway: Targeted Social Media Ads Have Potential, Despite Media Reports to the Contrary
5. 10 Ways New Hampshire Businesses are Using Social Media
I like this article from the New Hampshire Union Leader, because it illustrates how small businesses of all types and descriptions can use social media for a variety of relevant purposes. One size does definitely not fit all in social media, and this reinforces that perspective.
Takeaway: Social Media is What You Make of It
6. Spiral 16 Compares iphone and Palm Pre Social Mentions
Very interesting report from social media monitoring company Spiral 16 (one of the companies I recommend in that industry). The study shows how social reaction to the iphone and Palm Pre launches differ, and narrowly gives iphone the “win”.
Best part of the report is the demo of the Spiral 16 data visualization tool, which is my favorite component of their service. (check out the visualization for iphone mentions – give it a little time to load)
Takeaway: “Victory” Can be Difficult to Define in Social Media
7. Lane Bryant Launches Plus-Sized Community
Great example by Lane Bryant of understanding their “one thing” and building a social media strategy around it. More than 5,000 registered members are already signed up for the Inside Curve community, which isn’t as much about Lane Bryant, as it is about how Lane Bryant’s products make plus-sized women feel. Bravo.
Takeaway: Making Your Customers the Star is Almost Always a Good Strategy
8. Discovery Channel Launches Shark Week Promo using Facebook Connect
Strategized by the guys at The Advance Guard (I interviewed principal CC Chapman on Twitter here), this interactive promo for Shark Week is a great example of what can be done using Facebook Connect. Namely, personal, relevant, interactive, engaging content that makes a difference.
Check it out for yourself. Click on the floating bottle that says “My Story”.
Takeaway: Social Graph Portability Will Drive Enhanced Relevancy
9. Cattlemen Using Social Media for Outreach
Short piece, but very interesting about how industry groups (in this case cattlemen) can use Twitter to monitor the conversation and contextually outreach to the public.
Takeaway: There’s a Lot of Potential for Social Media in the Public Affairs Arena
10. JetBlue and United Give Fare Specials to Twitter Followers
Excellent example of activating your fans/followers, rather than just collecting them like baseball cards. Only problem I have with this initiative is that it might be better as an SMS alert. That way, you’d have tracking data, a customer database, and other elements that would give this program longer term potential.
Takeaway: Activate, Don’t Collect. But, Consider Tying Social Media to Other Initiatives
11. Businesses Turn to Facebook for Word-of-Mouth
I love this piece in the USA Today, because it codifies an important element of social media – tying online and offline together. The best example is the bar Baja Sharkeez in California, where the bartender updates his Facebook friends on nightly specials, driving significant drop-in business. Relevant. Helpful. Timely. Personal. Easy.
Takeaway: Word-of-Mouth Happens Offline More than Online. Even Now.
(photo by Me and the Sysop)
Twitter Comment
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Another social media writer thinks Inside Curve is a good thing [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Jay – Thanks so much for listing Spiral16. That is one of our favorite case studies. The virtualizations really told a strong story about each product’s online community.
As someone who is Shark Week obsessed, I have to say I was royally confused by the “frenzied waters” promotion. I knew it used FB connect, but didn’t get that it was about Shark Week until I saw this blog. Could be because I saw the website awhile back and put it out of my mind, because I didn’t connect the dots.
Hope you had a wonderful vacation!
Whitney
Social Media Manager
Spiral16
@spiral16
http://www.spiral16.com
.-= Whitney´s last blog ..Spiral16 featured on CBS (KCTV5) =-.
I’m the same – I had no idea it was about Shark Week (or that there WAS a shark week!). I had many folks ask if it was a new movie promotion.
So, a 12th takeaway: make sure your efforts are meeting objectives, not just getting eyeballs with no impact.
.-= Andrea Hill´s last blog ..Social Media is not Web 2.0. Or Web 3.0. =-.
Twitter Comment
RT @spiral16: We just left a comment on “11 Timely Social Media Takeaways.” Another good post to check out today: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Thanks for this post! RT @lizhover11 timely social media takeaways [link to post] (via @tweetmeme @StuartFoster) #fb
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 timely social media takeaways [link to post] (via @tweetmeme @StuartFoster) #fb
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
We just left a comment on “11 Timely Social Media Takeaways.” Another good post to check out today: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @tweetmeme 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | Social Media Consulting – Convince & Convert [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @jaybaer: I’m back from vacation with 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways [link to post] | MYM likes #10 & 11
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @VirtualMR: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways [link to post] Great little tidbits and links!
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Welcome back Jay! Hope you enjoyed your vacation. I really enjoyed all of the guest posts while you were gone and being introduced to some new faces. Even added a few of them to my RSS feed.
Thanks for the head’s up on the JetBlue / United article; I hadn’t read it. It’s interesting to see what United is doing right (and wrong) in SM. And, I agree with you that it might work better as an SMS alert as the deals seem to be time sensitive. While we all might be on Twitter ALL the time, I can’t imagine all of United’s customer base would be. They’re much more likely to be tethered to their mobile devices.
Sara @iGoMogul
Twitter Comment
check out # 8 . . .if you dare! RT @jaybaer I’m back from vacation with 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Timely #SocialMedia Takeaways – Convince & Convert [link to post] #Marketing
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Entertaining Blog: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways – [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @jaybaer: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | Social …: Social Media Strategy Blog Social Media .. [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
reading @jaybaer – 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways [link to post] (love “A Failure to Plan is a Plan to Fail”.. it’s like Mystery Men)
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Wow! Looks like you had a quite a productive vacation..
Thanks for sharing this great info.
These resources are great! My fave is #1, “Evolve or Die” I’m still amazed at businesses and professionals who refuse to go with the flow and build their own blue ocean.
.-= Maria Reyes-McDavis´s last blog ..Social Media: Awareness versus Engagement =-.
Twitter Comment
RT @jaybaer: I’m back from vacation with 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways [link to post] – loved geeking out on the Spiral 16 tool
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Fabulous list of resources that highlight important social media takeaways, my fave “evolve or die” [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Interesting Social Media Takeaways (Case Studies) [link to post] #socialmedia
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | Social … [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @jaybaer: 11 timely takeaways from Social Media [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Convince & Convert [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @tweetmeme 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways -Convince & Convert [link to post]. Great examples.
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @Alvin: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | Social …: They’ve played the “serious social n.. [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @thebuzzfactory: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | Social … [link to post] Me: GREAT piece on giveaways
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 timely social media takeaways: [link to post] Be sure to read #6 http://bit.ly/KjeeD
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @TheRealPRMan11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @TheRealPRMan 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT TheRealPRMan 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | [link to post] #smsurvey
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @TheRealPRMan: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @JeffHurt: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways by @jaybaer [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | Social Media Consulting – Convince & Convert [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways by @jaybaer [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
RT @JeffHurt 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways by @jaybaer[link to post] + There are some good bits in this one
– Posted using Chat Catcher
RT @TheRealPRMan: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | http://ow.ly/jLvT
RT TheRealPRMan 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | http://ow.ly/jLvT #smsurvey
RT @JeffHurt: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways by @jaybaer http://ow.ly/jOiA
RT @JeffHurt: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways by @jaybaer http://ow.ly/jOiA
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | Social Media Consulting – Convince & Convert http://bit.ly/Dpy86
[...] Sedota (Product) This is a good list from Jay Baer on 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways. It’s basically a short-list of 11 recent social initiatives or planned initiatives by [...]
11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | Social Media Consulting – Convince & Convert http://ow.ly/jWgJ
RT @tweetmeme 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | Social Media Consulting – Convince & Convert http://bit.ly/Dpy86
11 Timely social media takeaways – http://bit.ly/RkAq6
RT @TheRealPRMan: 11 Timely Social Media Takeaways | Social Media Marketing | http://ow.ly/jLvT