Simple Marketing Blog

Merchandise Your Content Marketing

2010-07-29T08:02:00.001-04:00

How To Merchandise Your Content Marketing

My latest post on Content Marketing Institute has been published. It's titled "How To Merchandise Your Content Marketing".

Not sure what I'm referring to when I say merchandising? From Wikipedia, "Merchandising is the methods, practices, and operations used to promote and sustain certain categories of commercial activity. In the broadest sense, merchandising is any practice which contributes to the sale of products to a [retail] consumer."

Pretty relevant to what we do on an ongoing basis, wouldn't you say?

I bet you, too, 'merchandise' your marketing.

Read the post and let me know.

Would you share some of your examples?

Thank you for reading!

Best,
C.B.

P.S.: I would be remiss if I didn't tip my hat to Gary Petersen, who hired me out of Columbia Business School into my 'merchandising' role and has since become not just a wonderful colleague, but also a friend.

David Weinberger, MarketingProfs B2B Forum, Power of the New Digital Disorder

2010-07-27T08:03:00.001-04:00

David Weinberger spoke at the 2010 MarketingProfs B2B Forum in Boston. His topic: The Power of the New Digital Disorder.

To put things into perspective, David Weinberger is co-author of the The Cluetrain Manifesto written in 2000, and considered profound in its exhortation to think differently about markets and connection. It is from this book that "markets are conversations" comes.

As MarketingProfs described,

"The Cluetrain Manifesto ... outlined how people needed to change their way of thinking to take advantage of the opportunities created by the connectiveness of the Web. It's now 10 years later and marketers continue to think of the Web in traditional terms that can obscure the depth of the change our businesses and culture are going through. In this provocative keynote presentation, David Weinberger will show how the Web has rewritten our most basic understanding of how business works ... and how, by embracing these changes and thinking differently, businesses can build stronger relationships with customers and partners than ever before."

Weinberger explained that, for the past ~100 years, we've treated business as a fort where walls control information, people and supplies. The Internet knocked down these walls because people talk to one another. As a result, people outside the walls became better sources of information about the business than those within specifically because they were engaged in conversation with those with experience.

Markets and businesses are actually networks mixing people together via the Internet.

These networks are:

1. Unfathomably large [ trillion pages+?] filled with links, opportunities for engagement, where conversation takes place around points of brilliance which lead to new ideas

2. Always different, always changing, fluid and have nothing to do with traditional markets which are stable chunks based on sameness so you can send the same messages and easily manage them.

3. Transparent because of links that are built into the proprietary nature of the network. It means:
= transparent sources [e.g., Sarah Palin/Wikipedia can see exactly source]
= self transparency
= transparent humanity [=credibility] acknowledges fallibility
= transparent interests

4. Integrated channels: for the first time in human history, the information medium = communications medium = social medium, all happening at the same time. The web doesn't respect boundaries [like life]; it's connected, and looks for shared interests. Interests level rank, making rank less visible. When rank does appear, it's inhibiting.

To make use of these networks, Weinberger recommends:

Doing social media, but be sure to get some things right! Admit you're human. Engage in the political model [love/hate you]. Stand for something and explain why. Consider advocacy marketing which is transparent about sources and interests, and committed to better conversation. It's much better to be transparent about disagreement rather than dripping with phony agreeableness.

Business sites need to be truthful, reliable, clear about specifics and offer exact information. Don't fake it! Be sure to have a strategy in place so you can say something meaninful.

Here's an interesting twist: markets are conversations, however, not all conversations are markets. It's critically important to resist opportunities, resist always engaging, keep it human, and respect the conversation.

The Internet and its ensuing digital disorder represent plenty of opportunities as long as the Internet remains open and those using it fully embrace it.

You can follow David Weinberger via his blog, www.JoHotheBlog.com and via Twittter @dweinberger.

For a terrific summary of Weinberger's presentation, read David Weinberger to MarketingProfs B2B Forum 2010: Not All Conversations Are Markets (#mpb2b) by Peg Mulligan at Content for a Convergent World.

You might enjoy some Weinberger Wisdom as well as hearing David Weinberger talking on the subject of Everything in Miscellaneous on YouTube.

Photo Credit:
David Weinberger @ Veneziacamp2009 - 3 originally uploaded by ialla

#TalkFloor Social Media Marketing Series: LinkedIn

2010-07-20T08:06:00.144-04:00

TalkFloor's Dave Foster and I continue to explore social media marketing. From Advanced Twitter, we have moved on to LinkedIn.

Before I go further, are you on LinkedIn? How do you use LinkedIn? What do you like most and least? I'd love to hear.

Both Dave and I are on LinkedIn. I invite you to connect with us. Here are links to our profiles:

Dave Foster
Christine Whittemore

Of all of the social networks, I've been on LinkedIn the longest having joined shortly after it was launched. However, it's also the network that has taken the longest to evolve beyond a resume posting site into an actual social network with interesting and useful interactive resources. Dave and I explore some of those features in the following TalkFloor interview about LinkedIn which you can access by clicking on this link.

Dave describes the three-part interview as follows:

Christine Whittemore, Simple Marketing Now, in the third segment in an ongoing series on social networking talks about LinkedIn the professional social network, the host of tools and applications and tools it makes available and how newcomers can quickly initiate business contacts using the platform.

Here are shownotes and details relating to our discussion about LinkedIn.

What is LinkedIn

It's a professional social network, launched in 2003, which now claims 70 million members in 200 countries in all 7 continents.

Demographics:

72% college grads
66% over $60K/year
68% 35+ years old

Visitors to the site have jumped 31% from last year to 17.6 million in February 2010. Every Fortune 500 company is represented and 81% of business-to-business marketers use LinkedIn.

Here's what I find particularly valuable: new networking functionality has been recently added - particularly as it relates to groups [for more information read: Welcome to a whole new way of experiencing LinkedIn Groups]. Pretty exciting!

LinkedIn used to be quite static – primarily a place for resumes. Although it is considerably more interactive, LinkedIn is a much calmer, corporate like environment compared to Twitter or Facebook. It's a wonderful environment for keeping track of people you know and connecting with people you meet professionally. It's valuable for networking, researching and connecting for business purposes.

What's important to remember is that search engines such as Google like LinkedIn profiles. If you have a LinkedIn profile and Google yourself, you'll notice that your profile appears prominently on page one of search results, making it an important element of your personal and professional brand reputation management. Manage your profile and control what people find about you and your company.

Within LinkedIn you can search people, companies and groups. You can see how you are connected to others; you can learn more about the person you’ll be having a business meeting with and have a more productive session. You can also send personal messages.

What to do first on LinkedIn:

Definitely, your personal profile. Set it up; complete it 100%. Add a photo, import your contacts and browse through your connections’ connections to find others you know. LinkedIn will also suggest people for you to connect with. NOTE: when you invite others to connect with you, be sure to customize the invitation so it sounds like it came from you. This makes a difference!

Once you have your profile created, be sure to claim your vanity LinkedIn URL [e.g., mine is CBWhittemore]. To do so, go to settings/public profile; you'll see the prompt to customize your LinkedIn profile URL. Be sure to note the other options available.

I recommend that you look into several neat features that LinkedIn offers for enhancing your personal profile: You can add a feed from your blog. Embed your Slideshare presentations. Add link to files like resumes and marketing kits [via Box.net].

To find these applications, on the LinkedIn Nav bar, look for MORE – you’ll notice many options including the apps directory. [Others include: polls, private collaboration space, track travel via TripIt..]

How to increase your LinkedIn visibility:

Definitely complete your profile. Include in your profile links to your website, blog, etc. Be sure to use relevant keywords in your headline, your current experience, your summary, your specialties... Don't forget to issue status updates on a regular basis.

Note: your LinkedIn updates can be connected to your Twitter account.

Consider creating events in LinkedIn to raise awareness for what you are doing.
Definitely, recommend others and request recommendations [again, be sure to customize your request message].
Explore the other valuable LinkedIn features.

How to use LinkedIn for business?

In addition to your personal profile, you should also be sure to claim your business profile. There, too, you should use keywords. You can now track companies of interest – new feature – find out when they move locations; upcoming big events; new employees…

I recommend that you integrate LinkedIn into your other activities online and offline. For example, on your website, add link to your LinkedIn profile on your about us page. When you meet new people, connect with them on LinkedIn. Add a link to your LinkedIn profile in your email signature. Include a reference to it on your business card.

Demonstrate thought leadership by participating in LinkedIn Answers: ask questions/provide answers – Caution: don’t shamelessly self-promote! Find relevant groups to contribute insights to. You can also use LinkedIn’s DirectAds to push relevant ads to LinkedIn subscribers targeted by profile demographic info.

For more information, check out LinkedIn’s Learning Center [click on More in your LinkedIn navigation menu], the LinkedIn Blog, MarketingProfs has put together a case study collection, and see the resources below.

Here's your LinkedIn assignment:

Set up your profile
Complete it 100%
Invite people to join both from your own email list as well as by checking out connections of connections
Explore groups and join one.
Update your status on a weekly basis

LinkedIn resources for you:

What LinkedIn questions do you have? How do you make LinkedIn work for you?

Next: Getting practical with LinkedIn.

Practical Simple Marketing In The News I

2010-07-15T23:28:00.001-04:00

As I come across articles of interest, I've started sharing them on Twitter identified with the hashtag '#PracticalMktr'. I'll also share them here periodically identified as 'Practical Simple Marketing In The News.'

Simple & Practical Marketing Data

quorus: Great data from EPiServer on how ineffective some are at engaging customers w soc med (thanks @cbwhittemore @bizreport): http://ow.ly/21TY8
Terrific social media tidbits fr @dannybrown in 52 cool facts about social media http://ow.ly/27RXM #practicalmktr
Fascinating to observe how different countries associate trust based on brand microblogging http://ow.ly/27U32 #practicalmktr
Lots of fascinating data re: how peeps use non-voice mobile features http://bit.ly/aCeJhm Which is yr favorite? #practicalmktr
Trends for location marketing http://bit.ly/bzTmuw - will be interesting to see how it evolves esp for #practicalmktr

Practical Marketing Advice

#practicalmktrs realize that We R all hybrid consumers: http://ow.ly/27Uxm as @dbreakenridge reminds us
Great #practicalmktr advice from #cmi @diannahuff on using Google analytics keyword report for content ideas http://ow.ly/27Uv1
What more can a Chief Simplifier do but agree w/ "Simplify and Package The Sale" fr @chrisbrogan http://bit.ly/d5Z2ll #practicalmktr
"Service is the new marketing" from a travel perspective. Lots of #practicalmktr advice http://bit.ly/9kpUlh
Four steps for online reputation management from SearchEngineLand http://selnd.com/aLjP8S Good #practicalmktr advice
Mixing and measuring social media - I like this #practicalmktr perspective http://bit.ly/bYE07C

Simple Marketing Inspiration

Imagine 'art of possibility' 2 inspire yr org with! Fr Boston Philharmonic's Benjamin Zander via Wharton http://bit.ly/dem2xo #practicalmktr
It's not just simplicity v. complexity, but also self-inflicted complexity http://bit.ly/cb3Zgt Awesome #practicalmktr!
Real #practicalmktr Advice RE: h2 recognize & reward your brand's top fans: http://ow.ly/29YCg
Will U support charity:water? Wonderful cause supported by #practicalmktr @sernovitz http://bit.ly/bhPpwc & @pchaney http://ow.ly/2avA

Brands Being Practical With Social Marketing

Love hearing how LEGO supports growing network of fans: http://bit.ly/dxJrC4 #practicalmktr
Fabulous #practicalmktr advice fr TurboTax's chelsea marti re: using Twitter, becoming service all-star http://bit.ly/cW4KzR

Thank you for reading!

Image credit: “#PracticalMktr” Wordle by CB Whittemore

AOC2: Don't Be Myopic About Social Media!

2010-07-13T08:01:00.008-04:00

Recently, I announced the third book in the The Age of Conversation (AOC) series. [See Press Release: Age of Conversation 3 Highlights Social Media Best Practices.]

All three books in the series feature chapters written by bloggers from around the world who share unique perspectives and valuable insights.

The first Age of Conversation, published in 2007, included 103 bloggers from 24 states and 10 countries participated. Age of Conversation 2: why don't they get it? came out in 2008. 237 bloggers from around the world contributed.

It's marvelous stuff.

You don't believe me?

Here are a few tastes: my chapter from the first Age of Conversation, The Conversation Age Enabled and, in this post, my chapter from the second Age of Conversation (AOC2): why don't they get it? It was featured in the Business Model Evolution section.

I've also included an audio file I recorded of my chapter.

Business Model Evolution – Why People Don’t Get It

Don’t Be Myopic About Social Media!

By: C.B. Whittemore
FlooringTheConsumer.blogspot.com

Do you remember Theodore Levitt’s Marketing Myopia about defining something too narrowly? Move forward to today’s Age of Conversation, enabled by social media tools - like wikis, blogs, social networks, and RSS - that many define too narrowly.

Rather than embrace such tools to facilitate interaction, create conversations, enable collaboration and democratize knowledge, many shut their eyes/ears/brains. They become myopic forgetting how things were done – not that long ago – before email [remember memos and carbon copies?] and cell phones [vs. pay phones?]. Those tools radically changed how we conducted business. We became effective beyond a desk and outside an office. Our reach grew, our productivity increased.

Imagine going even farther, becoming more relevant to customers and end users, developing solutions once impossible. Imagine going from myopia to ever improving vision, by taking part in the Age of Conversation!

The Age of Conversation engages those interested in participating, transforming customers once antagonistic toward your sales efforts into advocates willing and eager to promote you and offer new input, serendipitous examples and unexpected suggestions. Social media becomes the means to bringing together those passionately interested, creating a community rather than an indifferent audience, quality over quantity, holding even greater potential for revolutionizing business and strengthening brands. So why don’t people get it?

Luckily, a few start experimenting. They highlight best practices in the industry, showcase passionate voices and invite new perspectives in. Before you know it, their efforts are no longer scoffed at, although skepticism remains. Although mass communication tools aren’t abandoned, you begin to see interest in developing conversations with consumers and customers. I consider this step 1.

Those too traditional in mindset to appreciate the difference between having a blog and engaging in the conversation continue not to get it. The larger the organization, the more entrenched in traditional communication approaches, the greater the resistance and the confusion.

However, the nimble ones, often with limited resources, take note. They take those concepts to another level, becoming personally invested in content quality, integrating efforts and demonstrating the joy inherent to better vision, to shedding myopia and seeing forever. I consider this step 2.

Conversations that had never before taken place happen, between neophytes and experts, unrelated specialists, end users and creators, all working together in the Age of Conversation to bring meaning and value to an otherwise old economy industry. They start to get it. I consider this the beginning.

Jay Miletsky, Rich Becker, CB Whittemore: Jay Ehret's Marketers' Roundtable

2010-07-07T08:01:00.003-04:00

Jay Ehret has published on Power to the Small Business! his latest podcast featuring Marketer's Roundtable 6 during which Jay Miletsky, Rich Becker and I sat around a virtual roundtable and discussed current marketing issues with Jay Ehret, our host.

I had a blast!

We each brought to the table our very own hot marketing topic or issue. We each had the opportunity to voice opinions and ideas on one another's topics. Jay Ehret kept us on track as he added his own perspectives!

Jay Miletsky, CEO of Mango! Creative Juice, started us out with the first topic: On Marketers and Social Media Reality.

Rich Becker, President of Copywrite, Ink, went next and introduced On Managing and Measuring the Marketing Mix.

C.B. Whittemore, Chief Simplifier of Simple Marketing Now, [that's me :-)] introduced On Blending Online and Offline Marketing.

Finally, Jay Ehret, Chief Officer of Awesomeness at The Marketing Spot, brought up On Being Different vs. Being Better. His source of inspiration for the topic was Different: Escaping the Competitive Herd. [Have you read it? It sounds fascinating!]

Please do listen to the podcast. It lasts 34 minutes and is available by clicking on this link to Marketers Roundtable 6 - Current Marketing Issues. The link also includes show notes and selected quotes organized by marketing topic.

If you'd like to download an MP3 copy of the podcast [for personal use only], you can do so by clicking on this link to Power to the Small Business #59.

More information on my fellow roundtable marketers:

Jay Miletsky:
Blog: Jay Miletsky
Twitter: @JayMiletsky

Rich Becker:
Blog: Copywrite, Ink
Twitter: @RichBecker

CB Whittemore:
Blog: Flooring The Consumer & Simple Marketing Blog
Twitter: @CBWhittemore

Jay Ehret:
Blog: The Marketing Spot
Twitter: @TheMarketingGuy

Thanks, Jay, for the opportunity.

Thanks, Jay, Rich and Jay, for a thought-provoking marketing discussion.

Special thanks to Rich for his nice 'simplifier' comments!

I'd love to hear what you think - including what topics you suggest that Jay address in his next Marketers' Roundtable Discussion!

How Do I Do Twitter?

2010-07-01T08:04:00.002-04:00

The recently completed series of interviews done with TalkFloor's Dave Foster about Twitter belongs in the How Do I? social media marketing series.

After all, all three parts go into great detail about Twitter itself, how to make sense of it, how to use the tools, and how to apply Twitter for use in business.

Here, then, are links to the three parts.

Part I: #TalkFloor Series on Social Media addresses What is Twitter and Why Should I Care?

Part II: #TalkFloor Series: Twitter & Social Media explains How To Get Started With Twitter.

Part III: #TalkFloor Series: Advanced Twitter discusses how to become a Twitter power-user.

Included in each section you'll find recorded interviews and detailed notes with links.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter!

Press Release: Columbia Business School Alumni Club of NY Holds 2010 Elections

2010-06-29T08:16:00.002-04:00

For Immediate Release: June 28, 2010

Columbia Business School Alumni Club of NY Holds 2010 Elections

Whittemore Elected to Board of Directors

Kinnelon, NJ – The Columbia Business School Alumni Club of NY (CBSAC/NY) held its 2010 Elections for officers and directors on June 21, 2010. Christine B. Whittemore, chief simplifier of Simple Marketing Now LLC, has been elected to the board of directors for a two year term expiring May 31, 2012. She had previously served out the remaining year of Geoffrey Southworth CBS ’74 which ended May 31, 2010.

Whittemore ’93 joins Mary Reilly ’93, Craig Evans ’81, Penny Hammond ’02, Stephane Goldsand ’01, Dan McCarthy ’87, Rafael Rodas ’05, Joe Pucci ’05, Edward Rashba ’04, Frank Graziano ’82, Deborah Sanders ’91, Stacy Gilstrap ’04, and Bruce Crawford ’86 on the CBSAC/NY board of directors.

Candidates for director positions are selected from club members who have been actively involved in club operations and are graduates of the Columbia Business School. Whittemore has been active in the CBSAC/NY’s Membership Committee since 2002 and has served as Chair of the Greeters Subcommittee since 2004. In that role, she coordinates greeters for club events with the goal of ensuring peace-of-mind for the event organizer, a welcoming presence for event attendees and total focus for the event presenter.

"In recognition of her thoughtful leadership and outstanding organizational skills", says Dan McCarthy, retiring President of the CBSAC/NY, “we are delighted to welcome Christine to the Board for a new, full two year term. Her record of demonstrated commitment and exceptional service are invaluable for our all volunteer organization. Congratulations, Christine!”

Directors of the CBSAC/NY have a fiduciary responsibility to oversee the proper management of the New York alumni club. The club’s mission is to strengthen the alumni network and to serve as a positive and valuable resource to the alumni of the Columbia Business School. The board of directors also selects the club executive committee, consisting of two co-presidents, treasurer and corporate secretary.

For more information about the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York (CBSAC/NY), please visit http://www.cbsacny.org.

For more information about Simple Marketing Now LLC, contact chief simplifier Whittemore at CBWhittemore@SimpleMarketingNow.com or visit the Simple Marketing Now website [http://SimpleMarketingNow.com] and companion weblog & newsroom – Simple Marketing Blog [http://SimpleMarketingBlog.com].

# # #

About Simple Marketing Now LLC

Simple Marketing Now is a marketing communications consultancy. It helps organizations integrate social media and content marketing with traditional marketing to improve the customer experience and strengthen brands. For more information, visit http://SimpleMarketingNow.com.

About The Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York

The Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York (CBSAC/NY) was founded by alumni for alumni in 1975. It acts as a unique educational, business networking, and social resource for all Columbia Business School graduates, students and faculty in New York City and the surrounding tri-state region. For more information, visit http://www.cbsacny.org.

Social Media For Business & Entrepreneurship - CBSAC/NY Panel Discussion

2010-06-25T08:03:00.003-04:00

The Columbia Business School Alumni Club of NYC [CBSAC/NY] launched its Social Media for Business series on June 16, 2010 with its inaugural panel discussion event aptly titled "Social Media for Business and Entrepreneurship. It's Here to Stay—Now What?"

Here's the description:

"Please join us for a very informative panel about social media, for the corporate marketer, the small business owner, and the “newbie” social media user. This will be the first of a seven–part educational series of social media events which will cover the full spectrum of issues regarding social media (e.g., how to utilize it to promote business and build a brand/franchise, personal branding for your career, measuring ROI , etc.). At the end of the event, volunteers will be stationed at the Samsung computers for hands-on show-and-tell."

It took place at The Samsung Experience at 10 Columbus Circle in New York City, the ultimate in digital experience and presentation spaces - and perfect for hands-on and 1:1 consulting sessions.

We started out with the perfect introduction to a session on social media for business, Erik Qualman's Social Media Revolution 2 (Refresh):

[also see my post Social Media: Fad or Revolution?]

From there, the panel discussion.

The CBS AC/NY event featured four seasoned and successful entrepreneurs - Dorian Benkoil, Marshall Sponder, Jeremy Merrin and Lawrence Sherman - who actively use social media in their businesses. They described how they have applied the tools of social media to support their business goals .

They share with us here recommendations on how to best use social media for business and entrepreneurship.

Dorian Benkoil, our moderator, has an impressive background in the media business creating strategies and leading teams to develop multiple new content and revenue streams across platforms, attract and retain millions of users and generate explosive growth in industry blogs, memberships, email newsletters, video and paid content, resulting in millions of dollars in revenue. Think mediabistro.com, ABCNews.com, Fairchild Publications, CNET.com...

He's also an award-winning journalist [i.e., a reporter, editor and foreign correspondent for ABC News, Newsweek, and The Associated Press], an expert commentator on media and a regular contributor to the Poynter Institute’s e-media Tidbits. He blogs at mediaflect.com, writes for Bob Garfield’s The Chaos Scenario blog, and has written for Jack Myers Media Business Report, the Economist Intelligence Unit, PaidContent.org and been quoted widely in leading publications around the world.

Dorian's company, Teeming Media, is a New York based strategic digital media business and editorial consultancy focused on helping companies manage their digital media and events toward specific business objectives.

Here are Dorian's words of social media for business wisdom:

1. Align your marketing communications/outreach strategy with your social media. SM are big tools in the arsenal.
2. Assign someone with enough “heft” to properly execute number one. (Don’t leave your social media to the youngest person in the office, just because they’re young and use Facebook.)
3. Listen. Remember to take very seriously what folks are saying.
4. Respond. See # 3.
5. Just do it. Then measure, and adjust.

Email: dorian@teemingmedia.com
Twitter: @dbenk

Marshall Sponder is a Social Media and Analytics Consultant and Founder of www.WebmetricsGuru.com – a blog renowned in the industry for its insights into analytics and social media. Marshall understands data having worked at Insights Group at MONSTER Worldwide, Inc. and IBM.com. His clients range from award-winning agencies such as Porter Novelli and Converseon to businesses such as Havana Central. He also co-leads the Meetup Group: NY Data Stories. Definitely read his blog if you want to better understand social media monitoring and tracking, and how to make business sense out of analytics.

Marshall's recommendations focus on his area of expertise: monitoring, tracking, aligning goals to tactics and measuring to ensure that your social media campaign delivers business results:

1. Before starting a social media campaign (or social media monitoring of the campaign) determine what your business goals are and write them down.

2. Create campaigns and marketing tactics that align with your stated business goals (i.e., be able to explain how and why they align) while still in conceptual stage (don't implement yet - just consider the campaigns)

3. Assess paid/free tools for analytics and monitoring; I suggest auditing the business goals, campaigns and tactics against the willingness and ability to monitor and track. For example, what do we need to change in order to be able to track a business goal that becomes a campaign that employs tactics.
- Determine if there is enablement budget to put those "hooks" in place to monitor.
- Choose the set of tools that work the best for your organizational needs (i.e., do you need daily reporting, historical database, geo local targeting - etc.).

4. Assess what additional training might be required by staff to act on the information collected by the tools - budget for training and enablement work here.

5. Put campaigns into place, ideally, once you're able to track them with analytics and listening systems which will then give you an ROI type of number you can work with.

6. Report weekly or monthly, depending on your organization's cadence and tune your campaigns and tactics as needed.

Email: now.seo@gmail.com
Twitter: @webmetricsguru

[Pictured here: Cecilia Pineda Feret and Jeremy Merrin]

Jeremy Merrin, EMBA ’00, is Founder and CEO of Havana Central, a New York City based restaurant and bar with three locations. Havana Central captures the essence of "classic Cuban food with the energy of old Havana" and has embraced the tools of social media to build a loyal customer base. He works with Marshall Sponder for social media analytics and monitoring. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur he was Executive VP of Business Development at iParty.com.

Jeremy recommends the following:

1. Do as much testing and experimentation as possible

2. Start recording and keeping statistics on each part of your program

3. Begin to analyze the statistics as early as possible

4. As a company owner, I need to remember that this is a very new field that is rapidly changing. Nevertheless, I stay focused on learning how to monetize our efforts spent in this area.

5. Bite off only as much as you can chew. Only add on additional platforms when you have the bandwidth to handle them.

Email: jmerrin@havanacentral.com
Twitter: @jmhavana

Lawrence Sherman, FACME, CCMEP, brings an unusual perspective to the discussion of social media for business: that of medical educator. He is a medical educational professional known worldwide for using new and unique approaches such as social media in medical education. He works for Prova Education, an evidence-based continuing medical education organization for physicians and healthcare professionals, as senior vice president of educational strategy. You can get a taste for Lawrence's take on social media and medicine via this 29 min video clip.

Lawrence's advice consists of the following:

1. Know your audience(s) and their needs and preferences. Sometimes you have to ask them!

2. Think about where in your business model social media can fit - in medical education we can assess educational needs, promote educational programs, and create private environments for assessment of impact.

3. Many times the users don't know what they don't know or what they can do, so you often have to point things out to them. Social media fits many communications needs but may not be obvious to them.

4. You can't treasure it if you can't measure it, so design social media strategies and uses that have measurable objectives.

Email: LS@provaeducation.com
Twitter: @meducate
Join the LinkedIn CME Group

Additional Social Media For Business & Entrepreneurship Resources:

If you attended the Social Media For Business & Entrepreneurship Event, you received a reference sheet listing contact information and additional sources for social medial information. I list them here.

From Cecilia Pineda Feret, the event Co-chair:
Mashable.com
AllFacebook.com
SocialMediaToday.com

From the event Hands-On Volunteers:
Benjamin Bloom, Digital Strategist at Wunderman, social business strategy, mobile platforms, digital innovation
Email: benjaminbloom@gmail.com
Twitter: @bsbnyc

He suggests that you follow: @bpglobalpr, @fredwilson, @pkedrosky, @twelpforce

Brad Jobling, Social Media Manager, Columbia University Department of Surgery, Office of External Affairs
bjobling@gsb.columbia.edu
Twitter: @bradjobling
His blog Curiously Social

Mo Krochmal, Assistant Professor of Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations, Hofstra University
Email: mo.krochmal@gmail.com
Twitter: @krochmal
Blog: krochmal.posterous.com

Mo suggests checking out: "Open Leadership" by Charlene Li and "Get Seen" by Steve Garfield

Visit these URLs: bit.ly/jrnlmo [his Facebook social media page], Hyperlocal Community News: nassaunewslive.com and ustream.tv/krochmal.

Follow on Twitter: @amyvernon @lizstrauss

Amy Vernon, Freelance writer, editor and digital strategist. And Bacon Queen.

Email: mail@amyvernon.net

Twitter: @amyvernon

Her site: AmyVernon.net

Carmina Perez, Writer/speaker/Internet marketing consultant - "Social Media Strategies for Small Businesses"
Her website: carminaperez.com
Her blog: Mogulette in the Making
Twitter: @mogulette

Christine B. Whittemore [aka CB -- yes, me, and that's also me deep in conversation during the 1:1 hands-on session], Chief Simplifier, Simple Marketing Now LLC
Email: CBWhittemore@SimpleMarketingNow.com
Twitter: @cbwhittemore
Facebook: SimpleMarketingNow

A few resources I've put together on Getting Started with Social Media:
+ How Do I? Series
+Simplifying Social Media. For Research, Connection & Differentiation which includes links to my Twitter and social media series and other resources.

From the event itself:
Flickr slideshow of the Social Media For Business and Entrepreneurship event.

Twitter list for those involved in CBSAC/NY and social media. [Thank you, Mo!]

I've created a Twitter transcript of the #cbsacnysm tweets.

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Many thanks to the CBSAC/NY Social Media Committee, Sobel Media Events, a digital media connections company, and Samsung with special thanks to Cecilia Pineda Feret ’92 and Bill Sobel [Twitter: @bsobel226] for making this event happen.

The CBSAC/NY social media committee includes:
Co-chairs: Laurie C. Moses, Ashish Sharma and Cecilia Pineda Feret and Members: Mary Reilly, Alison Rooney, Christine B. Whittemore
Twitter: @cbsacny
Facebook: Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York
LinkedIn Group for the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York

Special thanks, too, to Dorian Benkoil, Marshall Sponder, Jeremy Merrin and Lawrence Sherman for so graciously sharing their wisdom in this post. I really enjoyed meeting Brad Jobling, Ben Bloom, Mo Krochmal, Amy Vernon and Carmina Perez.

----------------

If you attended, what were your takeaways? What ideas and questions do our panelists' recommendations trigger?

I hope you'll join us for the next event.

Making Customer Service More Social On MarketingProfs Daily Fix

2010-06-22T10:48:00.000-04:00

If you haven't yet had a chance, you might check out 'How About Making Customer Service More Social?', my latest post on MarketingProfs Daily Fix.

The discussion in the comments section has been robust. Perhaps you'd like to add to it?

Here's how the post ends:

"Humility, respect for customers, a willingness to appreciate individuals within corporate walls as well as outside, a desire to improve and truly delight, proper training, openness to a variety of perspectives, a willingness to empower and be human and a strong desire to listen. All characteristics of a social customer-service company.

What would you add?"

Thank you for reading!

Best,
C.B.

Press Release: Newly Launched Content Marketing Institute Offers Practical Content Marketing Advice

2010-06-21T08:15:00.001-04:00

For Immediate Release: June 21, 2010

Newly launched Content Marketing Institute Offers Practical Content Marketing Advice

Brightest Content Marketers Contribute How-To Insights

Kinnelon, NJ – The newly launched Content Marketing Institute (CMI), developed by Junta42, offers B2B and B2C marketers practical, no-nonsense content marketing advice from the brightest content marketing professionals in the industry. Christine B. Whittemore, chief simplifier of Simple Marketing Now LLC, is a contributor.

Content marketing, the art of communicating with customers and prospects without selling, is a form of non-interruption marketing. Instead of pitching products or services, a marketer delivers consistent, ongoing valuable information to buyers. In turn, buyers are more informed, and., they ultimately reward organizations with their business and loyalty.

The Content Marketing Institute focuses on content strategy, content creation, content promotion and distribution, content management, and content measurement and analysis. The site features a daily blog that shares how-to tips on executing content marketing, samples of great content and case studies of how companies are executing their content marketing strategies.

“The Content Marketing Institute offers marketers and business owners how-to information about content marketing in any venue: online, mobile, in-person and print,“ says Joe Pulizzi, CMI founder, co-author of THE handbook on content marketing, Get Content Get Customers “Thanks to expert contributors such as Christine, the CMI is able to equip marketers with practical DIY advice that they can implement into their overall marketing programs."

Content marketers and business owners can sign up for CMI posts for free. Simply go to http://www.contentmarketinginstitute.com/email/.

For more information about the Content Marketing Institute, contact Joe Pulizzi at joe[at]junta42.com.

For more information about Simple Marketing Now LLC, contact chief simplifier Whittemore at CBWhittemore@SimpleMarketingNow.com or visit the Simple Marketing Now website [http://SimpleMarketingNow.com] and companion weblog & newsroom – Simple Marketing Blog [http://SimpleMarketingBlog.com].

###

About Simple Marketing Now LLC
Simple Marketing Now is a marketing communications consultancy that provides organizations with the right combination of traditional marketing and new and digital tools to improve the customer experience and build brand. For more information, visit http://SimpleMarketingNow.com.

About Junta42
Junta42, the independent authority on content marketing, brings clients and vendors together through its custom publishing service, replacing the lengthy RFP process. Project posting is free and includes custom magazines, content microsites, blogs, white papers, enewsletters and over 20 other custom content project categories.

Flooring Your Consumer: Luxury Marketing Council Presentation

2010-06-17T08:03:00.081-04:00

Many thanks to Chris Ramey, president of Affluent Insights and chairman of The Luxury Marketing Council Florida, and Victoria Cerrone from Bobosart, who invited me to present "Flooring the Consumer: Developing Community and Delivering Wow!" at the April 28, 2010 Luxury Marketing Council in Orlando.

[Details listed in Press Release: Whittemore Addresses The Luxury Marketing Council Orlando.]

Here's how Chris described the presentation in his meeting invitation:

It's a wow or woe world for marketers.

Women, who make or influence over 80% of purchase decisions, are rethinking their relationships with brands, products and services. They're searching for meaningful relationships. Are you prepared to serve them? As their purses slowly open again it's imperative to provide a community to which they have an affinity. Christine will share the best of the best, and then discuss how you can develop your community and deliver Wow! to ensure your success.

In this presentation, I address many of the points that I write about in Flooring The Consumer, my marketing blog about the consumer retail experience and marketing to women. These are also themes that I've developed in my Flooring The Consumer column with Floor Covering Weekly. We have so many opportunities for building relationships with our customers when we carefully craft a memorable brand or retail experience that truly focuses on our consumers' needs.

Here is the Slideshare of my presentation:

Flooring The Consumer: Developing Community & Delivering Wow!

View more presentations from Simple Marketing Now LLC.

For your reference, here are a few books specifically about Marketing to Women that I recommend for further reading:

I'm particularly honored that, as a result of my experience with The Luxury Marketing Council, I have become a member of the distinguished Luxury Marketing Council Florida Fellows. Here's more:

The Luxury Marketing Council Florida Fellowship was created to recognize those who have demonstrated distinction in the luxury segment and to The Luxury Marketing Council Florida. Elevation to Luxury Marketing Council Florida Fellowship requires and acknowledges:

Professional achievement
The highest level of ethics
Respect bestowed by colleagues
Leadership and mentorship across categories
Open sharing of knowledge, research and insight for the advancement of effective marketing and seat-holders’ business acumen

Thank you, Chris and Victoria, for this honor!

Thanks, too, for the opportunity for insightful conversation and questions about the importance of listening carefully to customers to develop a loyal community and deliver consistent Wow!

#TalkFloor Series: Advanced Twitter

2010-06-15T08:05:00.145-04:00

Are you ready for Advanced Twitter and How to Make Sense of Twitter for Business? TalkFloor's Dave Foster and I are continuing with our special #TalkFloor social media series and ready to discuss that very subject. You can participate with us via Twitter as you listen to the recorded interviews.

Part I was titled #TalkFloor Series on Social Media and addressed What is Twitter and Why Should I Care?

Part II was titled #TalkFloor Series: Twitter & Social Media and addressed How To Get Started With Twitter.

This segment covers Advanced Uses For Twitter.

Dave's Twitter handle is @DaveTalkFloor and mine is @cbwhittemore. Consider following us. Feel free to practice some of what we discuss. If you want to Tweet us questions, simply use #TalkFloor and the '@' to direct the question to us. I'm listening!

Dave's introduction to this interview reads as follows:

Christine Whittemore – All About Social Networking - Part 3
Christine Whittemore, Simple Marketing Now, in the third segment in an ongoing series on social networking talks about advanced uses For Twitter, setting up TweetDeck and conducting multiple parallel searches as well as the prime benefits of Twitter and the prime differences between Twitter and LinkedIn and Facebook.

This segment is in three parts, each approximately 10 minutes long.

These are my show notes for the segment.

Advanced Twitter Introduction

At this point, you’ve set up a Twitter account, you’ve experimented with it, done searches using search.Twitter.com and Bing.com/Twitter, and you’ve shortened some URLs using Bit.ly. If you’ve done it enough, you’ve started to get aggravated with the inefficiency of working with 3 browser tabs, going back and forth. That’s when you know you are ready to go to the next step and set up TweetDeck.

What is TweetDeck? How Do You Use It?

TweetDeck is a free, third party Adobe Air desktop application. The best part about TweetDeck [some others are Seesmic, HootSuite, Twhirl, …] is that it allows you to create multiple parallel searches that you can easily edit and monitor so you can make sense of the Twitter Stream of the people you follow. You can filter based on the keywords or terms that matter to you.

When you download it [just go to a search window and type in TweetDeck; you can also get a version for your iPhone. For your Blackberry, an equivalent tool is UberTwitter..], you’ll see 3 columns:

- All Friends
- Mentions
- Direct Messages

Go ahead and add more columns! You might add a column for #TalkFloor or flooring, perhaps a brand name or a company name.

You might create a group and have a column for tweets made by those in the group [e.g., all those involved in home interiors or green based on their profiles].

As you filter, you can start to pay attention to who says what, and then start interacting by: RT or addressing someone directly with @. Then share some links. By the way, TweetDeck automatically shortens links - a marvelous feature!

Making Meaning out of Twitter

Twitter is different from LinkedIn and Facebook where you connect based on who you know professionally and casually. Twitter allows you to connect based on AFFINITY and shared interests. Similar to an in-person networking event except that you have a better chance of quickly finding people with whom you share a lot in common. I find it extremely beneficial as a B2B tool whereas others have found it extremely useful as a customer service tool, or for special offers, for ordering, to communicate specific information [e.g., the Red Cross], for focus group type research, for conversational marketing or generating word of mouth. It all depends.

Whole Foods, for example: each store has its own Twitter account. There’s also a Whole Foods Twitter account for cheese and one for wine. [For more about Whole Foods and other Twitter success stories, read Twitter Success Stories From MarketingProfs Digital Marketing Mixer.]

If you search under keywords or terms that are relevant to you, you’ll notice people whose tweets appeal to you. Consider following them.

Word of Caution: Don’t plan on building your following over night. Focus on quality rather than quantity. Build it slowly, consistently over time. Beware of schemes that promise you 10 million followers. You will regret it.

I build my network by connecting with folks I meet at conferences or in anticipation of a conference by following the # for that conference. During webinars, I follow and share observations via Twitter and meet liked minded professionals.

There are events called Meetups and Tweetups – ie.., meetings organized online. At Coverings, I participated in a Tweetup and met several fascinating people with whom I continue to exchange updates and relevant information. [If you are in the Northern New Jersey area, consider attending a Meetup of New Jersey Open Coffee - Montclair.]

Meetups address - Meetup.com
Tweetups address – Twtvite.com

Check Out a Twitter Chat!

Another fascinating event that takes place on Twitter is a Twitterchat - a regularly occurring conversation on a specific topic usually weekly and at a set time. There are a whole range of Twitter chats available. For example: #PRchat #carchat #booktweet or #BlogChat.

Here’s how it works.

The organizer will put together a summary blogpost in anticipation of the event listing discussion topic and questions for the Twitterchat.

On the day of the event, you can participate by creating a search column with the # for the event in TweetDeck, or use another application such at WhatTheHashtag. At the start, the moderator will do introductions and start the conversation by asking questions sequentially and responding to participants. Event can last 1 hour+. When it’s over, the moderator will summarize key points in a recap and include a transcript.

How to Build Your Twitter Following:

Other ways to build your following:
Use the Social Flooring Index to explore other Twitter accounts in the flooring industry.

You can search on ExecTweets and explore those accounts.

Two resources – WeFollow and Twellow – allow you to find users by subject area. There’s also Twellowhood which is geography based.

Ideas on How to Use Twitter for Business

WiseGrass uses Twitter to exchange perspectives and get advice from fellow businesspeople.[See Small Businesses Marketing With Twitter: WiseGrass, NakedPizza, Berry Chill.]

Let’s say you are a big supporter of Girls Scouts. The Girls Scouts has several active Twitter presences. You can connect with them on Twitter and help them get the word out.

Street food vendors around the country use Twitter to announce where they will be selling, and what they have available. [e.g., talk about a fascinating mobile/geo location based use of Twitter].

Laura Gainor used Twitter in combination with a few other tools [Twitpik and Twitvid + Foursquare] to stand out for a position when she was relocating from Charlotte to Milwaukee. [See Simplifying Social Media. For Research, Connection, Differentiation.]

Be sure to integrate your Twitter activity with LinkedIn and Facebook

What’s the point of all of this Twitter stuff?

Digital visibility! Twitter is search engine visible. It’s a way for you to differentiate yourself, it’s a way for you to be visible, to reach out and provide value.

Common Twitter Mistakes To Avoid:

At the recent MarketingProfs B2B Forum, I offered 20 minute 1 on 1 Twitter consulting advice to corporate marketers. My sessions started out with a quick evaluation to find patterns that got in the way of effective Twitter engagement. Here are some of the patterns I was on the lookout for:

- Unequal follower/following numbers
- No engagement - as in all tweets coming from you without any kind of interaction with others. May include a lot of 'shouting', too. It's usually because someone is tweeting from the web and has no idea conversation is taking place! This may make sense for a news organization, but not really for individuals.
- Tweeting as a corporate entity rather than as a person with a human voice.

What's Your Twitter Assignment?

Here's your assignment: Go explore! Think about how Twitter can create value for your business by thinking how you can offer value to others using the tool.

You may find the following links interesting:
+ 21 Tips for Using Twitter for Business
+ How to Use Twitter Events to Grow Your Network

Questions or comments? Please send a Tweet to @cbwhittemore or email me at cbwhittemore @ simple marketing now.com

Think Like A Content Marketer: Content Marketing Institute's How To

2010-06-10T14:13:00.000-04:00

Published yesterday on Junta42's new Content Marketing Institute, my first post. It's titled "How to Think Like a Content Marketer."

I'd love your reactions.

Even more, I'd love to hear what ah-ha moments you've experienced that led you to think like a content marketer!

Thank you for reading.

Best,
C.B.

How Do I? Prepare For Social Feedback

2010-06-08T20:47:00.001-04:00

For a while now, I've been thinking about social feedback -- i.e., customer feedback in a social world [for more background, see Social Media Club North Jersey: Customer Feedback In a Social World]. Yes, it can be scary and possibly even unpleasant. But feedback is gold. It indicates that someone is paying attention and cares enough about you to take precious time and communicate with you. That effort, though, comes with expectations about your response. How best to prepare yourself, then?

How Do I Prepare For Social Feedback?

The best starting point, in my mind, is to strip away all of the distracting technology angles. Focus simply on your customers or readers and determine what it is that you want to accomplish with them? Do you intend to sell them something? Educate them? Build a relationship? Exchange ideas?

Next, think about all of the channels you have available for communicating with your audience: telephone, email, website, social channels, in-person: what kinds of conversations are already taking place [sales, problem resolution, education, relationship-building, ...]? Are you consistent in your customer messages across those channels and those conversations? Consistency is critical because the channels themselves are irrelevant to your audience. Regardless of how, customers expect to reach you, they expect you to acknowledge and that you will interact consistently.

This is where guidelines are invaluable [see How Do I Start With Social Media Guidelines?], internally to reach consensus across functions, roles, locations, etc. on how to respond, the frequency of response, and the consistency of response, as well as externally so your audience knows what to expect from you.

But, what about worst case scenarios? Have you thought through them? What if one were to happen? How would your respond?

PR News in Take a Public Relations Crisis by the Horns from the 1/11/10 newsletter says that "avoidance is no longer an option" and recommends the following steps which are as relevant offline as they are online:

1. "Own it": be proactive with your news.
2. "Act quickly, but tread carefully"
3. Be simple, consistent and honest in the message you communicate.
4. If you have news to communicate, better to get it out [reinforces step #1: own it].
5. Don't avoid those who are critical of you. "Not allowing access only allows for additional animosity and potential false reporting."

The Zen Way to Deal with Negative Commentary Online from Liz Strauss' Successful and Outstanding Blog offers valuable advice for responding to online negative comments: do so "publicly, honestly and as quickly as possible. Don't ever think about creating an alias... you will get caught and it will cause more damage to your reputation."

The author, Shama Kabani, suggests checking the facts and offering to resolve issues at a high level. "Becoming an active part of the conversation that is already taking place among your customers, employees, prospects, and competitors is the best way to prevent negative comments from taking over your online reputation."

Note her comments about establishing a policy; they echo Penalty Cards in Social Media Communities' recommendation to have "a policy that is viewable by the public." The policy requires that you have considered various outcomes and making it public means that you are transparent about how you do business - and increasingly critical business expectation.

Speaking of expectations, Denise Zimmerman makes several valuable points in When to Respond to Negative Buzz. First, about reviews. They are valuable for your business and provide you with invaluable feedback. Second, about expectations. She says "...but then you've got Twitter and Facebook. They have grown exponentially in scope and in speed. The additional element is that there is an expectation from the customer that you're going to respond..."

I touch on expectations in Social Media Club North Jersey: Customer Feedback in a Social World; here are a few more I received in response to that post on June 2nd:

KseniaCoffman
@CBWhittemore RE: response via SM -> Within 1 biz day if it's an SM company (biz related to SM); 2 days to never if others :-)

agardina
@CBWhittemore Great post! Really surprised at some of the responses - a few hours? The person on SM might not have your answer that fast.

ggert
@CBWhittemore interesting to me that I recently started complaining LOUDLY about @USAirways and have rcvd 0 response in 144 hours

[and none as of 6/8/10. Not impressive.]

Customers expect a response. If they don't get it, they have reason to resort to more public forums to force a response. The lesson: be listening, be paying attention and be ready to respond consistently. The social feedback you receive is rich and conducive to insightful conversation, but you must be prepared and willing to welcome it.

Given that many of us are entering into unchartered territory when we engage socially, it's important to remember that, despite being part of sometimes large corporate entities, when we engage socially we do so as individuals wanting to interact with other individuals. Mistakes happen. Yet, if we remember that we're 'all in this together', we have the opportunity to learn from mistakes and strengthen relationships. Here's a great example: Boeing as described in The Right Way to Make Your Social-Media Mea Culpa which reminds us that:

1. One is many: A conversation with one unhappy [or happy] customer can easily become a conversation with many.
2. Engage immediately.
3. Be honest and take responsibility.
4. Lose the corporate-speak.
5. Put a face on it.
6. Let the fans talk.
7. Learn from it.

Finally, read Seven Things Your Organization Must Do Because of Social Media. The examples - Greenpeace vs. Nestle and Dave Carroll vs. Airlines - are classics. The lessons even moreso:

1. You must be proactive.
2. You must improve customer support.
3. You must listen.
4. You must participate.
5. You must respond.
6. You must move faster.
7. You must realize every employee is a marketer.

Social feedback enables interaction with people. Are you prepared? What would you add?

Check out other posts in the How Do I? series.

Twitter Success Stores From MarketingProfs Digital Mixer 2009

2010-06-04T12:06:00.005-04:00

There's something about Twitter Success Stories that makes my practical soul dance a jig. Even more so when the success stories address real business needs, come moderated by the likes of Paul Chaney, Social Media Handyman, take place at a MarketingProfs event - this one the 2009 Digital Marketing Mixer - and offer a firsthand opportunity to learn from brilliant marketers!

Imagine hearing from Marla Erwin from Whole Foods, David Deal from RazorFish, Ramon DeLeon from Domino's and Allan Schoenberg from CME Group. Cool!

Marla Erwin, Interactive Art Director, Whole Foods Market

Follow her on Twitter @MarlaErwin.

Whole Foods has embraced Twitter. The @WholeFoods HQ Twitter account is primarily a retail account. As of 6/3/10, it has 1,764,325 followers and has published 8,720 tweets. Definitely visit the account and you'll observe how active it is - issuing 'fresh organic tweets from HQ in Austin, TX' - and how much interaction takes place between Whole Foods and its followers.

What I love is that Whole Foods Market has created a landing page for all of its Twitter accounts. Not only is there the HQ account, and accounts for major metropolitan areas, and individual Whole Foods stores, but you will also find topical resources such as....

@WFMCheese - with global cheese specialist, Cathy Strange
@WFMWineGuys - with wine & beer experts, Doug & Geof
@WholeRecipes - the automated recipe feed

As Marla explained, approximately half of Whole Foods stores are online [as of October 2009], but the list is growing fast. The Twitter accounts are promoted everywhere - via print and digital assets, including recipes which include links.

I found interesting that in addition to Twitter accounts that epitomize social, Whole Foods has chosen to automatically feed recipes on one account. Not too dissimilar from a news account automatically feeding headlines with links to articles.

Here are Marla's recommendations on what to do to be successful on Twitter:

DO offer value. It can be customer service value [e.g., incentives] as well as content [news, soft content, film reviews].
DO create community.
DO interact: answer questions [95% of @wholefoods interaction is in response to questions], ask questions, monitor mentions
DO stay tuned in [otherwise, you might experience a 'Google Bomb' such as #amazonfail].
DO banish PR and legal.
DO use Twitter features [for example: @ # RT, please]
DO experiment.

Marla considers the following sure-fire ways to fail with Twitter:

If you do nothing but self promote.
Don't use bots. Autoresponders are conversation killers.
Don't outsource! Your tweeting should come from the heart with understanding and knowledge [i.e., an authentic belief and understanding of your brand].

She encouraged the audience to think in terms of creating a hub around common issues and concerns. For example, Newell Rubbermaid has created:

+ With Graco Baby a hub around parenthood
+ With Rubbermaid Adventures in Organization, a hub around getting organized
+ With Sharpie Uncapped, a hub around creativity

David Deal, VP Marketing, RazorFish

Follow him on Twitter @davidjdeal.

David explained that Twitter supports the Razorfish brand and business. All employees are encouraged to participate in Twitter [the company provides guidelines]. After all, employees represent the brand and the company wants to practice what it preaches.

The @RazorFish Twitter account has 25,394 followers and has posted 2,276 updates. You'll notice that David and 3 associates primarily manage the account and it is rich in content, updates and ideas relating to creating engaging digital experiences.

As David explained, success for Razorfish on Twitter is a function of talking about what the company is passionate about: how to be a better marketer and breakthroughs in design because that relates to digital. He considers it critical to be personal and practical. Notice that the tweets are signed so readers know who they are interacting with [it also combats the feeling of being 'stalked'!]. Twitter also helps enhance events and make events more engaging.

Ramon DeLeon, Operating Partner, Domino's Pizza

Follow him on Twitter @Ramon_DeLeon. As of 6/4/10, Ramon has 5,227 followers and has published 10,852 tweets single-handedly all relating to Domino's, pizza and his customers. Pretty cool.

If you haven't heard of, read or met Ramon DeLeon, you are missing someone who truly 'gets' what communicating with customers is all about. Plus, he is salt of the earth and practical to boot!

Ramon's suggestions for success: he says that it's critical to give people something to talk about. You definitely need a plan. Make sure to interact in real life [note in the articles below examples of those interactions including with Foursquare participants!]. Search for events to be involved in. Be ready to share and everything is content worthy.

A few links you will find interesting that bring Ramon's approach to life:
+ Chicago's Ramon DeLeon live on CNN for Gravity Summit Social Media Conference
+ How Local Pizza Franchise Owner Ramon DeLeon Is Rocking It Using Social Media: SMSS10 Day 2
+ Tweeting Pizzas
+ Case Study: Ramon De Leon Turns Passion and Social Media into Success
+ Andy’s Answers: How Ramon De Leon of Domino’s engages in nonstop brand conversations

Allan Schoenberg, Director, Corporate Communications, CME Group

Follow him on Twitter @AllanSchoenberg. He has 5,388 followers and has issued [yikes!] 14,908 tweets as of 6/4/10. However, check out the CME Group Twitter account with 755,984 followers and 7,285 updates.

CME Group is not your typical social media company. Per the website, CME Group builds "on the heritage of CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX, [and]... serves the risk management needs of customers around the globe. We provide the widest range of benchmark futures and options products available on any exchange, covering all major asset classes, including interest rates, equities, FX, commodities, and alternative investments such as weather and real estate. CME Group's vision is one of ongoing global growth, innovative product development, continually enhanced technology and the highest level of service available on any exchange."

In other words, CME Group operates in the highly regulated financial industry and yet has found a way to engage via social media.

As Allan explained, Twitter is a beacon, increasing awareness and drawing interested parties to private groups on LinkedIn [more specifically, Equity Index Products, Careers in the Futures Industry, Journalist and bloggers, Interest Rates, and CME Group Forex Products] or its Facebook fan page.

What's critical is demonstrating brand enthusiasm, loyalty and advocacy. Simply read through CMEGroup's tweets and you'll get a feel for it!

Allan says that Stock twits and bookmarking are a big deal. You'll notice on the left sidebar of CMEGroup's Twitter page icons for Digg, StumbleUpon and Delicious - all bookmarking resources.

His words of advice: know your limits and focus on your audience.

Twitter is not a silver bullet, but it is effective when integrated with your overall strategy!

-------------
Paul, thanks for putting together such a dynamic panel with such relevant Twitter Success Stories to Share!

Do you have Twitter Success Stories to share? I'd love to hear about them.

Added 6/5/10: Reach Customers in 140 Characters, All of Them Free

-------------------
Photo Credits:
Both from Britopian: MarketingProfs Digital Marketing Mixer, 2009 and Ramon De Leon w/Dominos - MarketingProfs Digital Marketing Mixer, 2009

Social Media Club North Jersey: Customer Feedback In a Social World

2010-06-02T08:01:00.001-04:00

My Social Media Club North Jersey presentation, titled "I love you. I hate you. Customer Feedback in a Social World." attracted an intimate yet passionate crowd on May 25th, 2010 in Secaucus, NJ. Many thanks to those there for participating and contributing such valuable perspectives and insights!

Janet Sullivan from JKS Webdesign shared her experiences with Viking. Chris Kieff from 1 Good Reason took us through the Nestle Social Media Meltdown Case Study and Devon Valenti shared learnings and best practices from CoPilot Live North America. A very special thank you to Carly Pearson from Axiom Communications Inc. for her help in making the event a success! Thanks, too, to Mike Menche, whom we missed, for his gracious support.

We touched on learnings from past Social Media Club North Jersey events. Namely, Urban Outfitters and Why Companies Should Consider Adopting a Social Media Policy, as Suzanne Herrmann Brock explained in April.

We also had a fascinating discussion around expectations of customer service responsiveness via social media - as consumers and as business people. Chris Kieff [Twitter: @ckieff] asked his Twitter followers who offered the following feedback:

From @AGARDINA:
@ckieff Depending on the industry, 2-3 business days. Some longer, especially if you know there's a lot of red tape around your answer.

From @kimberlydenz:
@ckieff If they have twitter and fb, they need a social media policy. I expect a response within a few hours. Making me wait a day is rude.

From @SweetSoaps:
@ckieff answer in 24 hours no excuse

From @sherrilynne:
@ckieff 24 hours tops.

From @ggertz:
Less than 4 hours - or they are dead to me RT @ckieff: Any more comments on how quickly you expect a company to respond via social media?

@ckieff Familiar with the sunset rule? Respond to all incoming communications before the end of they day

From @mattyouens:
@ckieff my experience has been a response in either a few hours or not at all.

Our offline group expressed a bit more time tolerance, although we all emphatically stated that we expect acknowledgment and followup.

What's your take on the question?

While you're thinking, here is the presentation itself. I hope to add a video link with highlights from the presentation in the near future.

I love you. I hate you. Customer Feedback in a Social World

View more presentations from Simple Marketing Now LLC.

Note: you can find links to the videos I played in Simplifying Social Media. For Research, Connection & Differentiation.

Social Media Marketing GPS: A Must-Read Guide

2010-05-28T08:02:00.002-04:00

Leave it to Diva Marketing's Toby Bloomberg to deliver on the ultimate social media marketing experiment: an insightful business book written on Twitter, 140 characters at a time. She has just published it: Social Media Marketing GPS, A Guide to Social Media, 1 Tweet at a Time and I urge you to read it, savor it and learn from it.

Social Media Marketing GPS Background

The book is based on interviews that Toby conducted last summer 2009 via Twitter with 40 prominent marketers from Canada, England, India and the United States on specific topics relating to "how to leverage social media, not in terms of the technology, but as a vehicle to build and nurture stronger business relationships."

I'm particularly honored that she invited me to participate [check out Chapter 3 about listening]. I found the experience unlike any other Twitter interaction; it was intense and required deep focus. It was also exhilarating and I felt renewed appreciation for brevity and concise thinking.

Click here to download the 91 page eBook Social Media Marketing GPS. Toby has organized each chapter into a 'tweet intro' followed by the relevant Twitter interview[s], a review of key concepts and suggestions on how to continue the conversation.

The chapters and their contributors are as follow:

Foreward: Shel Israel
Introduction: Toby Bloomberg

Chapter 1: Why Social Media?
Interviews with Paul Chaney, Ann Handley

Chapter 2: The New Enterprise Direction
Interviews with Geoff Livingston, Marc Meyer

Chapter 3: Social Media Research: The 1st Listening
Interviews with C.B. Whittemore, Joel Rubinson

Chapter 4: Social Media Ethics
Interviews with Wayne Hurlbert, Mack Collier

Chapter 5: Strategy First
Interviews with BL Ochman, Rajesh Lalwani

Chapter 6: Tactics Second: Blogs, Twitter, Social Networks, Podcasts, Vlogs, RSS, Widgets
Interviews with Julie Squires, Yvonne DiVita, Connie Reece, AV Flox, Nancy White, Neville Hobson, Jim Turner, Roxanne Darling, Bill Flitter, Nick Burcher, Marianne Richmond

Chapter 7: Social Media & Branding
Interviews with Dana VanDen Heuvel, Beth Harte

Chapter 8: Blogger Relations
Interviews with Susan Getgood, Elisa Camahort

Chapter 9: Sponsored Conversations
Interviews with Scott Monty, Melanie Notkin

Chapter 10: Metrics That Make Sense
Interviews with Peter Kim, Kate Niederhoffer

Chapter 11: Solving Business Challenges
Interviews with Lionel Menchaca, Frank Eliason, Donna Lynes Miller, John Maley

Chapter 12: Relationships 1st, 2nd & Last
Interviews with Tim Jackson, Liz Strauss, Lucretia M Pruitt, Kimberly Coleman

After Foreward: David Meerman Scott

Don't wait! Download your own copy of the book and please let everyone else you know about this must-read guide titled "Social Media Marketing GPS"!

Thank you, Toby, and Congratulations!

Simple News & Insights - Spring 2010

2010-05-26T07:58:00.003-04:00

The latest issue of Simple News & Insights, Now Available!

Released yesterday 5/24/10, the Spring 2010 issue of Simple News & Insights from Simple Marketing Now. You can access it by clicking on this link to the 5/24/10 archive of Simple News & Insights. I'd love to hear your reactions.

The issue was inspired by my Social Media Club of North Jersey presentation that took place yesterday morning about customer feedback in a social world...

[I'll recap the presentation separately, but have to share with you that "I love you. I hate you. Customer Feedback in a Social World." was a resounding success with just the kind of intense discussion and sharing of perspectives that I had hoped for. Special thanks to Devon Valenti and Chris Kieff, too!]

If you like what you read in the Spring 2010 issue of Simple News & Insights, please consider subscribing. To do so, simply click on this link to subscribe or look for the eNewsletter subscription form in the right sidebar of this blog.

You can review archives of Simple News & Insights by visiting the Simple Marketing Now News page and scrolling down to the left sidebar.

Thanks for reading!

Press Release: Age of Conversation 3 Highlights Social Media Best Practices

2010-05-24T08:10:00.002-04:00

For Immediate Release: May 24,2010

Age of Conversation 3 Highlights Social Media Marketing Best Practices
171 Authors, 7 From New Jersey, Contribute Global Perspective

Kinnelon, NJ – Age of Conversation 3 (202 pages; hardcover; paperback; Kindle; ePub), third in the one-of-a-kind global collaborative series, is now available through all major online retailers, as a Kindle e-book, and soon as an ePub for other digital readers. Published by new digital publishing company Channel V Books (www.ChannelVBooks.com), the book highlights social media best practices with perspectives from 171 authors from around the world, constituting a veritable “who’s who” of the world’s leading marketing bloggers. Seven authors hail from New Jersey. Sales of the book benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Age of Conversation 3 captures the distinct shift from social media as hypothetical consumer loyalty tool to staple in the modern marketing toolbox. Although the book covers more than just social media, the topic is ubiquitous among the book’s 10 sections: At the Coalface; Identities, Friends and Trusted Strangers; Conversational Branding; Measurement; Corporate Conversations; In the Boardroom; Innovation and Execution; Influence; Getting to Work; and Pitching Social Media.

“We have seen an incredible shift in the role of social media over the past three years. It has moved from an outlier in the marketing mix to one of the strategic pillars of any corporate marketing or branding exercise,” says Drew McLellan. “And it doesn’t end there,” adds Gavin Heaton. “As the many authors of this new book explain, the focus may be on conversation, but you can’t participate in a conversation from the sidelines. It’s all about participation. And this book provides you with 171 lessons in this new art”. McLellan and Heaton are co-editors and contributing authors of the Age of Conversation series.

The first Age of Conversation raised nearly $15,000 for Variety, the international children's charity, and Age of Conversation 2 raised a further $10,000 for Variety. This year’s proceeds will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Christine B. Whittemore, chief simplifier of Simple Marketing Now located in Kinnelon, NJ, has participated in the Age of Conversation series since its beginning. Her contribution to Age of Conversation 3, titled “Extreme Foreignness, Innovation and Execution”, appears in the Innovation and Execution section. Other New Jersey authors include: Steve Roesler, Eric Brody, Steve Woodruff, Mark Levy, Marilyn Pratt and Rick Liebling.

Whittemore has been immersed in social media marketing since 2006 – personally, for a brand and for her business. She is the author of Flooring The Consumer – a highly acclaimed weblog about the customer retail experience and marketing to women and an AdAge Power 150 Marketing Blog. She also writes the Simple Marketing Blog, a Junta42 Top 42 Content Marketing Blog.

For information about Age of Conversation 3 or to purchase a copy, visit http://www.ageofconversation.com/.

# # #

About Simple Marketing Now LLC
Simple Marketing Now is a marketing communications consultancy that provides organizations with the right combination of traditional marketing and social media marketing to improve the customer experience and build brand.

For more information, visit http://SimpleMarketingNow.com.

Simplifying Social Media. For Research, Connection & Differentiation

2010-05-20T07:58:00.003-04:00

On 5/12/10, I shared with Right Management executives in transition the following presentation titled "Simplifying Social Media. For Research, Connection & Differentiation."

I described the session as follows:

"A social media revolution is upon us, with no sign of abating. Rather than ignore it, consider embracing it and all that social has to offer you for research, connection and differentiation. Come to this presentation for a perspective on how the social media revolution has changed the business landscape and how to make sense of the tools of social media for your job search."

It shouldn't come as any surprise that I care deeply about this subject. I have infinite respect for what the tools of social media offer business people. You see, I've had the luxury of having spent sixteen corporate years in a near-constant state of recessionary operations. As a result, I developed an affinity for discovering and making use of alternative, cost effective and creative approaches so I could continue to add value in my marketing and business roles regardless of whether my budget had been approved, reduced or slashed to nothing.

That's why I love sharing my experience in these type sessions. I've discovered that the larger, more successful and established an organization and industry are, the less likely their employees are to have been exposed to new and social approaches for research, connection and differentiation... Many in transition come from those large entities. My presentation, then, represents a practical introduction to the many possibilities available.

I promised my audience to share with them the presentation and the links within. I'm hoping they go explore and experiment.

Here goes...

The presentation:

Simplifying Social Media. For Research, Connection & Differentiation

View more presentations from Simple Marketing Now LLC.

The links:

Two video clips:
+ The updated version of Social Media Revolution
+ The Breakup

For more information about Social Media Revolution, I recommend that you read Social Media: Fad or Revolution?

Social Media for Research & Connection
Remember, Google is your friend. Definitely explore these tools:
www.Google.com
www.Google.com/alerts
www.Google.com/reader
http://blogsearch.google.com

These tools are valuable for researching words, themes and topics and the blogs that cover them:
http://alltop.com
http://www.blogpulse.com/
http://technorati.com

I strongly recommend that you read this article from John Jantsch, DuctTapeMarketing, titled 7 Insanely Useful Ways To Search Twitter For Marketing. Print it out and keep it for reference.

Twitter Resources:
http://twitter.com
http://search.twitter.com
Bing.com/twitter
@username, #eventname
www.twellow.com & www.twellow.com/twellowhood/ & http://wefollow.com
http://bit.ly/
TweetDeck: download to desktop
http://wthashtag.com

For more about Twitter and getting started with social media, I recommend: How to get started with Social Media: ‘How Do I?’ series and #TalkFloor radio interview series.

[Added 5/21/10: Top CMOs on Twitter]

On the subject of communities and patients taking medical information into their own hands, I came across these four sites:

– http://www.askapatient.com/
– http://www.medhelp.org/
– http://www.patientslikeme.com/
– http://exchanges.webmd.com/default.htm?

What they highlight is that end users [patients, customers, visitors, etc.] aren't waiting for legislators and legal organizations to find the health information they need. What other similar groups and communities exist in other industries? What can you learn from them? Who might you connect with as a result?

If you are interested in taking part in a Twitter Chat, here is a link to a spreadsheet that lists details on many of those taking place.

Social Media for Differentiation
I referred to the following examples:

+ Laura Gainor's presentation on how she used social media to be considered for a position at Comet Branding. Here is the link to her Comet Branding post [yes, she got the job!].

+ Absolutely Abby - aka Abby Kohut - shared her story at the . In April 2009, she launched 'Absolutely Abby' based on the concept of the never ending interview. Blogging everyday, with a different theme per day of the week, she posts links on LinkedIn, Twitter and her Facebook Fan page to drive traffic. As a result, she published a book in January 2010.

+ Social Steve - aka Steve Goldner - does a beautiful job using LinkedIn to promote his blogposts.

For additional perspective on marketing with social media, consider reading my e-book: Social Media's Collective Wisdom: Simplifying Marketing With Social Media.

Based on the comments I received on the presentation, I gave my audience something to think about and consider as they go about doing research, connecting and differentiating themselves.

Here are a few of them: "It's a great introduction to many social media platforms." "Great training about social media." "Great overview of value, purpose and navigation of social sites." "Best way to get intro to social media." "Good introduction to a whole new world for communicating and building relationships." "Go with an open mind." "Good overview and possible uses for a variety of web tools/social media."

Here is an article you may find of interest. My friend Linsey Levine brought it to my attention: Question of the week: How should I let my network know that I'm looking for work? I like the suggested alternatives that highlight how the tools of social media enable you to share value with and add meaning for others.

What you would you add to the list?

Many thanks to my audience for participating in my session and asking so many excellent questions.

All the best to you!

Social Media Club North Jersey: 5/25/10 Customer Feedback Event

2010-05-17T07:51:00.005-04:00

Have you marked your calendars? Have you purchased your tickets? I'm talking Social Media Club North Jersey on 5/25/10 for an event you do NOT want to miss! It's titled “I love you. I hate you. Customer feedback in a social world.” I'm leading the discussion about the dynamics of engaging with customers via social networks.

Here's a link to the press release: How To Manage Social Reputation.

Here are the nitty gritty details on Customer Feedback In a Social World:

+ Date: Tuesday May 25, 2010
+ Time: 8am to 10am
+ Location: Houlihan's in Secaucus

Most important, here is a link to the EventBrite site so you can register to attend “I love you. I hate you. Customer feedback in a social world.” Click on it! You might even still be eligible for the Early Bird special!

To get you thinking about customer feedback in a social world [and there have been some terrific articles circulating, most recently from AdAge re: Boeing and The Right Way to Make Your Social-Media Mea Culpa -hat tip to Toby Bloomberg], here's a link to How Do I? Deal With Negative Comments...

I bet you have other interesting ones to share that you've either experienced personally or encountered. Some that come to mind include [from BRITE '10] Dave Carroll and United Breaks Guitars and Nestle and, from Coverings '10, The Main House which dealt with negative traveler reviews thanks to a groundswell of fan support - hat tip to Veronika Miller at Modenus.

Will you be there? Click on this link to register.

I can't wait to see you!

MarketingProfs B2B Forum 2010 Recap

2010-05-13T08:05:00.004-04:00

I'm just back from the 2010 MarketingProfs B2B Forum in Boston and am, once again, in awe over the intensity of the experience.

The intensity comes from a confluence of marketing forces.

One: intellectual. Inevitably, MarketingProfs keynote presentations stretch my mind and imagination, have me reconsidering paradigms and dreaming of the impossible. David Weinberger and Mitch Joel both delivered!

Two: practical. MarketingProfs puts together some of the best quality, most relevant and practical case studies and presentations that I've experienced. [Check out the program schedule for this B2B Forum.] They do so consistently. New this year were pre-conference workshops and I had the honor to sit in on Christina (CK) Kerley's session on Integrating social media into your marketing plan to improve ROI. It was outstanding! Patrick Prothe has a terrific writeup in Showing the ROI in Social Media. What I learned at the Marketing Profs B2B Conference.

Three: social. MarketingProfs events offer so many natural opportunities for participants to have meaningful conversations, interact, learn from one another and deepen relationships developed online. I got to spend time with Sharon Mostyn and Donna Tocci, both Twitter friends, finally met Ron Ploof in person [the firetruck in the picture below is what interrupted his fantastic Video Hot Seat Lab session], reconnected with favorite conversationalists such as CK and Allen Weiss, didn't get enough time with Ann Handley, Deirdre Breakenridge, Beth Harte, Lee Odden and Aneta Hall, and also met new friends.

Four: serendipity. I was unexpectedly invited to offer One on One Twitter Therapy on May 4th. I had the time of my life meeting with four B2B Forum attendees and offering perspective, advice and ideas on how best to use Twitter for business. Thank you, Kathy Bushman!

I'll be covering in more detail several of the sessions I attended.

In the meantime, here are a few links that will give you a taste for this event:

+ Definitely read through Ann Handley's recap of the 2010 MarketingProfs B2B Forum: Overheard at the Forum: 30 Lessons for B2B Marketers.

+ Laurie Kinsman writes Why MarketingProfs and #mpb2b need to get their act together*.

+ Peg Mulligan offers MarketingProfs Cinco de Mayo Fiesta: A Case Study on Being Memorable.

+ Christopher S. Penn describes The State of B2B Social Media from MarketingProfs B2B Forum

+ David B. Thomas summarizes B2B case studies in MarketingProfs B2B: Proven Success Stories Integrating Social Media into Overall Strategy.

MarketingProfs, you rock!

Press Release: How To Manage Social Reputation

2010-05-10T08:09:00.008-04:00

For Immediate Release: May 10, 2010

HOW TO MANAGE A COMPANY’S REPUTATION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA?
Social Media Club North Jersey Shares Crucial Tips

Kinnelon, NJ – Social Media Club North Jersey presents “I love you. I hate you. Customer Feedback in a Social World” to explore the dynamics of engaging with customers via social media and social networks on 5/25/10 at Houlihan’s in Secaucus, NJ, from 8am to 10am

“So many businesses are afraid to enter the conversation via social media marketing tools because they fear negative comments so they miss the opportunity to increase their digital brand visibility and connect with potential customers,” says Christine B. Whittemore, organizer of the event and chief simplifier of Simple Marketing Now LLC. “This session will explore the positives and negatives associated with engaging in social media marketing, and outline best practices so businesses can make the most of customer feedback and manage their online social reputation for the better.”

Whittemore will lead the discussion, which will feature perspective from her client, Devon Valenti, marketing manager North America, ALK Technologies. Valenti is responsible for marketing and promotion of CoPilot Live consumer and business navigation solutions. She has extensive experience across the marketing spectrum—from interactive and online to creative writing—and manages the social media presence for the brand--a smart phone and iPad based GPS application.

Whittemore has been immersed in social media since 2006 – personally, for a brand and for her business. She is the author of Flooring The Consumer – a highly acclaimed weblog about the customer retail experience and marketing to women and an AdAge Power 150 Marketing Blog. She also writes the Simple Marketing Blog, a Junta42 Top 42 Content Marketing Blog.

To attend the May 25th Social Media Club North Jersey event “I love you. I hate you. Customer Feedback in a Social World”, register at EventBrite. An early bird rate of $15.00 is in effect through May 18th, $20 from May 19th through 24th, and $25 at the door.

# # #

About Social Media Club
Social Media Club brings together journalists, publishers, communications professionals, artists, amateur media creators, citizen journalists, teachers, students, tool makers, and other interested collaborators. Essentially the people who create and consume media who have an interest in seeing the ‘media industry’ evolve for everyone’s benefit. We are more than just USERS, we are the reason the tools exist - we are the people who communicate our thoughts and ideas near and far. Join us and let’s shape the future together!

Become a fan of Social Media Club North Jersey on Facebook.

About Simple Marketing Now LLC
Simple Marketing Now is a marketing communications consultancy that provides organizations with the right combination of traditional marketing and social media marketing to improve the customer experience and build brand.

For more information, visit http://SimpleMarketingNow.com.

"How Do I?" - The Social Media Marketing Series

2010-05-06T08:05:00.005-04:00

Do you have questions about applying social media marketing to your business? You've come to the right place! This "How Do I?" series is based on questions that have come up in conversation, during presentations and in one-on-one consulting sessions.

If you don't see your question covered here, please let me know. Send me an email at cbwhittemore [at] gmail [dot] com or leave a comment on this post.

As other questions arise and I add posts to the "How Do I?" social media marketing series, I'll include a link here.

How Do I Evaluate A Blog?

How Do I Make Social Media Relevant To Categories Like Flooring?

How Do I Create Content?

How Do I Start With Social Media?

How Do I Listen With Social Media?

How Do I Start With Social Media Guidelines?

How Do I Craft a Blog Welcome Post?

How Do I Deal With Negative Comments?

How Do I Prepare For Social Feedback? added 6/8/10

How Do I Do Twitter? added 7/1/10

Thank you for reading and contributing!

Simple Marketing Blog

Merchandise Your Content Marketing

David Weinberger, MarketingProfs B2B Forum, Power of the New Digital Disorder

#TalkFloor Social Media Marketing Series: LinkedIn

What is LinkedIn

What to do first on LinkedIn:

How to increase your LinkedIn visibility:

Other valuable LinkedIn features:

How to use LinkedIn for business?

Here's your LinkedIn assignment:

LinkedIn resources for you:

Practical Simple Marketing In The News I

Simple & Practical Marketing Data

Practical Marketing Advice

Simple Marketing Inspiration

Brands Being Practical With Social Marketing

AOC2: Don't Be Myopic About Social Media!

Business Model Evolution – Why People Don’t Get It

Don’t Be Myopic About Social Media!

Jay Miletsky, Rich Becker, CB Whittemore: Jay Ehret's Marketers' Roundtable

How Do I Do Twitter?

Press Release: Columbia Business School Alumni Club of NY Holds 2010 Elections

Social Media For Business & Entrepreneurship - CBSAC/NY Panel Discussion

Making Customer Service More Social On MarketingProfs Daily Fix

Press Release: Newly Launched Content Marketing Institute Offers Practical Content Marketing Advice

Flooring Your Consumer: Luxury Marketing Council Presentation

#TalkFloor Series: Advanced Twitter

Advanced Twitter Introduction

What is TweetDeck? How Do You Use It?

Making Meaning out of Twitter

Check Out a Twitter Chat!

How to Build Your Twitter Following:

Ideas on How to Use Twitter for Business

What’s the point of all of this Twitter stuff?

Common Twitter Mistakes To Avoid:

What's Your Twitter Assignment?

Think Like A Content Marketer: Content Marketing Institute's How To

How Do I? Prepare For Social Feedback

How Do I Prepare For Social Feedback?

Twitter Success Stores From MarketingProfs Digital Mixer 2009

Marla Erwin, Interactive Art Director, Whole Foods Market

David Deal, VP Marketing, RazorFish

Ramon DeLeon, Operating Partner, Domino's Pizza

Allan Schoenberg, Director, Corporate Communications, CME Group

Social Media Club North Jersey: Customer Feedback In a Social World

Social Media Marketing GPS: A Must-Read Guide

Social Media Marketing GPS Background

Table of Contents

Simple News & Insights - Spring 2010

The latest issue of Simple News & Insights, Now Available!

Press Release: Age of Conversation 3 Highlights Social Media Best Practices

Simplifying Social Media. For Research, Connection & Differentiation

Social Media Club North Jersey: 5/25/10 Customer Feedback Event

MarketingProfs B2B Forum 2010 Recap

Press Release: How To Manage Social Reputation

"How Do I?" - The Social Media Marketing Series