Over the past week, the social media blog Mashable has posted a couple of really great articles with valuable information.
The first post,
“10 Essential Social Media Tips for B2B Marketers”, goes a little bit more in-depth into how to better leverage many of the social media platforms we already use (i.e. Twitter and LinkedIn). The article gives some great pointers on how to utilize these tools effectively for B2B clients.
The next post,
“Facebook Proposes Revisions to Privacy Policy, Hints at More Location Features”, is a quick update on a few new privacy changes Facebook is considering – in addition to its recent privacy settings overhaul.
Have a great weekend!
Posted:
3/26/2010 5:47:17 PM by
Erin Lehr | with
0 comments
March Madness is in full swing, rolling into Houston for the South region’s Sweet Sixteen showdown. Much to local basketball fans’ delight, No. 1 seeded Duke will hit the hardwood on Friday night, and Baylor, a home-state Cinderella story, will also compete for a chance to advance to the next round in our own backyard.
Unfortunately, I’m not lucky enough to have tickets to either of these highly-anticipated games, but thanks to social media, I’m still in the middle of all the action. In fact, I’d argue that some may prefer the virtual experience over the real thing.
Through mobile applications on my smartphone, scores, highlights and even live streaming video can be delivered directly to the palm of your hand – meaning no obnoxious fans or long lines at the restroom during halftime. The freedom granted through online and mobile access is far too appealing to pass up.
In the business world, we’ve seen a similar pattern. New media – online content, social networking sites, etc. – continue to gain popularity and consumer mindshare. Luckily, CBS was an early adopter of live, online video streaming, bringing more than 3 million unique viewers to their March Madness on Demand site on just the first day of the tournament.
CBS knew how to hook their viewers – live sports coverage with no charge. I’m not suggesting that free online content is appropriate for all entities (in fact, I’d recommend against it in many instances), but this type of intimate audience knowledge is what separates successful organizations from the rest of the pack. What if NBC had done the same thing with the Vancouver Olympics, instead of airing events after hours of tape delay and editing?
Whether it’s through Twitter, Facebook or March Madness on Demand, you can bet that basketball fans across the country will remain connected from tipoff to the final buzzer. What would you do with hours of undivided attention from your perspective customers? Engage with them in a way that speaks to their true passions, and you’ll find out.
Posted:
3/25/2010 4:52:29 PM by
Brittney Cochran | with
0 comments
It finally happened to me last night. The thing 20-somethings dread most.
My mom Facebook friended me.
Do I accept? If I do, she will have a level of insight into my life that I am not sure I’m comfortable with her having. My mom is a worrier, after all. If I don’t accept, her feelings will be hurt. What to do?
Because of the viral, open nature of social media, you usually end up engaging with multiple social circles on the same site. This makes things tricky when you are using your Facebook profile to keep in touch with friends and family members, while at the same time connect with clients and business contacts. You wouldn’t want your boss or a potential client seeing photos of you lounging on a beach in a bathing suit, after all.
Luckily, the fine folks at Facebook have added a multitude of privacy options to the site that allow you to designate who is allowed to see what on your profile page.
Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Friend Lists
Friend lists allow Facebook users to create “groupings of friends based on your personal preferences.” For example, I have three Friend Lists that I funnel most of my Facebook contacts in to: friends, family and business. The best part about Facebook’s Friend Lists function is that you can ascribe specific privacy policies to each list. For example, I can change the privacy settings so that only those on my friends and family lists can see the photos from my vacation in the Bahamas (I wish. Anyone want to actually send me to the Bahamas?)
Friend Lists are a great tool that helps you keep the appropriate persona without having to create separate profiles for business and personal purposes.
2. Photo Tagging.
Let’s get back to the photos from my hypothetical Bahamas vacation. Let’s say, hypothetically, that I called in sick, rather than use vacation days to take my trip to the Bahamas. If my vacation buddy posts picture from the Bahamas to Facebook, and tags me, there is a chance that my boss will see them and I’ll get busted.
Facebook has a privacy setting that will prevent mishaps like this. Just go to Account: Privacy Settings: Profile Information and click on the Photos and Videos of Me setting option. Here you can designate who can see tagged photos and videos of you. You can even get as specific as hiding tagged photos from certain people on your list, like a nosey mother, for example.
3. Wall Posts
Just because you are using Facebook to connect with business contacts, doesn’t mean that your friends and family do too. I’ve had several cousins post something completely inappropriate to my Facebook wall that I’ve immediately had to delete. Luckily, there are a couple of privacy settings that help you manage instances such as these. Again, go to Account: Privacy Settings and Profile Information. On this page, you will see options to control who can see your wall posts, who can comment on posts and even an option to disallow posting completely.
There are a number of other settings that you can fiddle with to limit access to your profile and I highly recommend you click around Facebook’s Privacy Setting menu to see what they are.
As for me, I need to figure out what privacy settings to set for my mother and pray that she doesn’t discover Twitter!
Posted:
3/9/2010 4:09:59 PM by
Helen Rodriguez | with
0 comments
Rodeo Houston Offers the Best in Livestock, Entertainment and Networking
As a native Houstonian, I’m no stranger to the
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo — in fact, I’ve been coming to the show since the age of two! As a kid it’s all about the carnival and the clowns, but now that I’ve ventured into the working world, I’ve noticed that the rodeo offers much more than thrills and chills — it’s an excellent business development and networking venue.
This year, I opted to join the
Rodeo Houston Merchandise Committee, a group of volunteers who sell the “bowlegged H” branded items, benefitting the
children’s scholarship programs that the Rodeo supports. In our meetings, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk business with several of Houston’s biggest entrepreneurs and executives, engaging them in discussion spanning from politics to rodeo to, of course, business.
In doing this, I realized the importance of representing your company and your brand wherever you go. Whether you know it or not, every time you step out in public is a networking opportunity — a chance to bring in new business and make connections that could lead to sales or other business goals. While formal networking events are great — such as luncheons, seminars or happy hours — it’s often these non-traditional gatherings that lead to the most promising prospects, as they allow you to connect in a comfortable, relaxed environment.
So think of yourself as a walking billboard for your company, and be sure to represent the following qualities wherever you go — whether it’s the Little League ballpark or the next
AMA Houston luncheon:
• Core values. If your company brands itself as innovative, creative and cutting-edge, let that portion of your personality shine at industry and social events. Employees who embody the organization’s core values exhibit a passion that is tangible — and it’s something that inspires prospects to learn more.
• Industry relevance. Genuine conversation is key to relationship building, and if you can’t speak intelligently about your potential client’s industry and its unique challenges, why would they want to do business with you?
• Genuine interest. No one likes to be sold — especially not at social or “fun” events. Spark conversations with people because you genuinely care about them and their business, not because you’re looking to sell them something. Relationships are the key to business success, and being seen as pushy or surface-level is no way to build your network.
At this year’s Rodeo, boots and hats are encouraged, but business cards are a must! See you at the show!
Posted:
3/3/2010 12:43:53 PM by
Brittney Cochran | with
0 comments
It’s nearly impossible to be on a social network like Twitter or Facebook during an awards show and not see commentary on the winners, the gowns and whether the host is making the audience laugh….or bombing. After years of declining ratings, awards shows are making a comeback by using social media to reach their audiences. These shows are using social media to change what used to be a passive act of just watching to show into an interactive and engaging viewing experience.
The Academy Awards is a great example of how social media is changing the award show experience. For the first time, The Academy streamed nominations live online via its Facebook group, http://www.facebook.com/TheAcademy, and its website, Oscars.org
In addition, The Academy has created several interactive mediums to get viewers excited about Sunday’s show, predict winners, compete with friends and view nominated video clips and pictures. Below is a list of some the new ways to interact with The Oscars:
The Academy Facebook group: members can take part in prediction surveys, watch online promotional videos and see pictures from dance auditions
Live From the Red Carpet: viewers can submit questions via Facebook to the hosts to ask the stars as they walk the Red Carpet. For more information visit Live From the Red Carpet
Oscar.com Play Along: Consumers can predict winners, compete against friends and answer trivia questions. Visit here to Play Along
Oscars Designer Challenge: people can vote for one designer to win the opportunity to create a dress which will be worn on stage during the awards. Meet the models and designers here.
This Sunday if your home watching The Academy Awards don’t forget to check your Twitter feed for #Oscars updates. As hip-hop drummer Questlove tweeted: "Watching twitter tweets are better than watching the actual event."
Posted:
3/2/2010 6:58:23 PM by
Sarah Zomper | with
0 comments