We live in a world where consumers actively resist marketing. So it’s imperative to stop marketing at people. The idea is to create an environment where consumers will market to each other. (from Seth Godin’s Super Ideavirus Vook)

The word catalyst is a great definition for social media these days. The dictionary defines catalyst as “something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected.” For the majority of us, there is enough evidence to support the value of social media as a key marketing channel. Most businesses understand and know about the tools most used. But for many, the one aspect of social media that still lacks clarity is the implementation aspect. Many still need guidance on how to go about incorporating social media so that they can reap the benefits and build a community of brand evangelists that understand who and what their brand stands for. With the right implementation, this can ensure that you are speaking to and building your “tribe members” to spread the word.
Read the rest of this entry »

In light of the Olympics taking place in Canada, I thought today’s post was definitely apropos! Virtual meet-ups and friendships are one of the great benefits of social media. Communities are being created in the online world and relationships are being extended into the real world. I know for myself—and many of my friends—that new friendships have begun on Facebook that have extended into the real world. Same goes for Twitter. Tweet-ups are popping up all over—where those on Twitter are getting together with their followers and fellow tweeters in real life. ING Direct Canada’s online bank has had a few “tweet-up” meet ups!
Read the rest of this entry »

The best way to show our readers that a serious, planned approach to social media as a key marketing channel can lead to success (when integrated with offline channels), is to provide case studies or corporate examples of triumph and prosperity.

Today’s post is going to do just that. In 2008, Starbucks (YES, I am one of their devotees ) found themselves in some serious hot water. Sales were down, there were major corporate management changes (which included Starbucks former CEO Howard Shultz returning and some management being let go), store closings, and some of the rapid rate expansion was slowed so that the company could go back to basics. The challenge? “How do they get back their relationship with their customer — the one they had when they first began?” Shultz claimed that, “Starbucks had lost its soul.”
Read the rest of this entry »

When we created SHARE, it was founded on a basic idea: that as successful, bright, creative women who are key influencers and decision makers for point of purchase (across so many categories and channels), we could really make a difference with our knowledge, based on who we are and the clients we work with. One of the reasons we focus on social media, is because of the ease in which we understand the parallel between social media and the way women naturally connect and engage with one another. Of course, we’re always clear that what is good for women is GREAT for men.
Read the rest of this entry »

Measurement has been at the epicenter of marketing for many, many years. Traditional marketing and advertising as well as public relations all have concise ways of measuring the success of a campaign. That success becomes  an ROI for the client – as is mandated by the goals and milestones created for their brand, products and or services.
Read the rest of this entry »

It is social media week in Toronto as well as New York City. Two of the cities for which I have spent half of my life thus far. Yesterday I spent the day in a all day seminar of speakers called Case Camp. Thank you to Eli Singer for putting together such a great event. I met some wonderful new friends and learned alot about what some very interesting companies – are doing in the world of social media.
Read the rest of this entry »

Not sure if you heard but Bill Gates joined Twitter and already has 300,000 followers. I have been on Twitter for a year and we have about 1170 followers which is pretty good, as I like to read most of my tweets throughout the day and that is a lot of info to go through and absorb.
Read the rest of this entry »

I was at lunch last week with a new friend and he asked me what is social media? I said to him it is a form of networking that is leveraged using social media tools online such at Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Linkedin and so on. Yes—all things that most of us know!
Read the rest of this entry »

Today’s post is a great reason to love and embrace social media. I am very saddened by the latest turn of events in Haiti. This country—which has been saddled for so many years with being one of the world’s poorest countries—now has to endure this latest catastrophic earthquake.
Read the rest of this entry »