Below is a post I recently wrote for Social Media Explorer. Hope you enjoy! --------------------------------------- Social Media Strategy In Four Steps Building a social media program is an exciting opportunity and chance to dramatically change the way you connect with consumers. It is a tool that allows you to tap into conversations, learn more about how your brand is perceived, promote your product/service in new ways, and ultimately grow your business. Often the things you learn in your social media program can inform your more traditional marketing efforts, as you engage directly with your audience and learn more about what makes them tick. Social media – while trendy – is a fully mainstream communications tool. Properly preparing a social media strategy, including goals and measurement, will ensure you get the most out of your program. Taking a simple four-step approach to prepare for the launch of a successful social media program can ensure that you're set up to interact in social media venues before you get started. This process includes: Identifying your goals Finding your audience Setting your key performance indicators Scheduling and resource management Program building gives you a chance to focus ...

Last week I visited with Thomas Jones (aka Niketown588) to discuss social media, football, gaming and a host of different topics. I have been a guest on several other podcasts and I was particularly impressed with Thomas. He asked great questions and has a terrific sense of humor which made it very easy for us to chat. Needless to say I have a blast talking to Thomas and I hope you enjoy the content as well. Click here to check it out: "Coffee with Thomas Episode 24 - Awareness, Inc's Frontman"Some of the things w discussed include: Why Companies shouldn't focus on Social media metrics The over complication of social media 3 types of individuals you'll run into on twitter Awareness Inc's Social Marketing Hub Effectiveness of passion in online conversations Transparency in Social Media How companies can prove value in social media before committing resources and much much more I'd love to get your feedback. Let me know what you think.

In 2010 Awareness hosted 24 webinars featuring a wide range of marketing topics presented by a host of social media authors and thought leaders. The sessions continued to grow in popularity over the course of the year, attracting thousands of viewers and featuring entertaining and thought-provoking conversations. Every session offered a ton of value but here is our list of the Top 6 #Awarenessinc Webinars of 2010: #6: "How Enterprise Marketers Keep up with Facebook" with Cappy Popp - July 30, 2010 Special Recognition "Most Positive Feedback" In 60 minutes, Cappy taught me more about Facebook than I ever thought possible. This session was both for the Facebook novice and 'uber-facebook-geek'. Cappy discussed key issues facing brands as they begin marketing on Facebook as well as drilling into how to execute, on a tactical level, within Facebook. Cappy's session gets 2010 the award for "Most Positive Feedback". Of the 24 sessions we held over the course of 2010 Cappy not only received the most feedback during his session (measured by number of Tweets, emails, and comments) but he also had the highest percentage of positive feedback for his session. #5: "Are you answering the 'social phone'?" ...

There are plenty of competing marketing theories out there, but everyone agrees about one thing: You need to operate in REAL TIME. The Power of Real-Time Social Media Marketing helps you master all the tactics and strategies the world's leading companies have used to build brands, get customers, and increase the bottom line.In an era when information travels at phenomenal speed along the "real-time Web," a brand can explode into popular culture overnight--and die just as quickly. As a marketer, how can you stay ahead of the curve? How do you control the chaos? Two words: Social Media.With The Power of Real-Time Social Media Marketing, you'll learn how to take advantage of today's "fluid" business environment and develop innovative ways to meet market demands.During this session you will learn how: - The American Red Cross turned a single "tweet" into $33 million worth of donations to earthquake victims in Haiti - Orange County Transportation Authority engaged citizens to participate in transportation planning and use - DIRECTV boosted customer loyalty and trust by finding and solving complaints in real time EMC transformed business processes by leveraging workforce social media proficiency and "open" behavior models Market ...

To be effective in content marketing, a brand must produce valuable, compelling and RELEVANT content on a consistent basis. If we don't first understand what is important and relevant to our customers from an informational standpoint, we can't be successful.Publishing has been around for hundreds of years, but it now is taking center stage in all companies around the world. In North America, more than 25% of a company's total marketing budget is now allocated toward content marketing. Content marketing is the concept that brands are now publishers today - they are media companies - producing their own valuable communication leveraging magazines, newsletters, social media and blogs, videos, research and more. We are right now seeing an evolution of the marketing department transforming into a publishing operation.Joe Pulizzi, content marketing evangelist, will share why this is happening, and what you need to do now to attract and retain customers using the process and practice of content marketing.Key takeaway's: Attendees will understand what content marketing is Attendees will understand why content marketing is one of the, if not, the fastest growing area of marketing in the world Attendees will gain information on how to de ...