Lately you may have seen news story about the fast growth of Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc… these are a few of the new Social Media networks that are changing who we all interact on the internet.

Many can tackle social media marketing, but few approach it like onlineLINK Marketing, a new business unit of carreñogroup.

onlineLINK Marketing can help you climb the social media mountain by first developing a SMO (Social Media Optimization) strategy. Next, we work with you to identify desired outcomes traffic/page views, sales, reputation, social responsibility, influence, credibility, and brand awareness.

Once we understand the desired objective, we choose tactics wisely, while cognizant of what actions will influence the desired outcome with the most impact.

Social Media Marketing is characterized by communities that allow users to do many or all of the following:

· Create profiles/accounts

· Grow a network of colleagues/friends

· Collaborate with other community members

· Submit content

· Vote on content

· Tag content

· Comment on content

With the overabundance of social media options, onlineLINK Marketing ensures that you embark upon the right channels with the right content!

I was lucky enough to hire an intern from UTSA for the summer.   I wrote and outline on what projects, skills and resources I believed would enhance her learning in the last year of school.  As we worked together merging concepts from her studies to the real world application I came across this article from John Maeda (RISD)  in the HBR. By now many of you know I am a fan of John Maeda and the Harvard Business Review.  Both have helped me in my profession, adult education and case studies.

For more information read this: Academia VS. Industry: The Difference Is in the Punctuation Marks

Stop the Madness People!  If you have heard my presentations, TIME is a precious commodity not just in business, but in life.  When I facilitated the Franklin Covey Time Management course, the top three detractors were email, voicemail and managing the daily interruptions.  Today lets add LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter,YouTube along with blue-tooth technology to keep you connected.

Second point in my presentation is understand your Behaviors and recognize your Patterns above all else in a decision making process.  When deciding to add technology to help you become more efficient, there is no need to incorporate every available gadget and software into your life at the same time.  Assess what tools you really need and be conscious of your daily work patterns and behaviors.  It’s about you and your needs versus what everyone in the world is using, without this approach technology will only become one more thing for you to manage.  

Case in point in a recent face to face meeting with a client (which she arranged) who was constantly checking her Blackberry every time it vibrated, it occurred to me is this self proclaimed efficiency or just plain rudeness on her part?  The reason my client called for a consultation was to discuss her inability to close the deal with clients.  After much discussion and constant interruptions, I pointed out the only deals getting attention were on her blackberry and we may have accomplished more had we just texted each other.  My client did not realize she had picked up her Blackberry 16 times in 30 minutes until I showed her the tally I was using to keep count.  She said she did not realize how much she was using her phone and was worried she might miss a call from a potential client.   Like her client, my time is also valuable and my face time deserves some respect, courtesy goes a long way, and undivided time and attention to a client goes even further.

Based on discussions and observations her behaviors reflected a lack of focus and social etiquette as well as an immediate need to respond to technology creating patterns that were jeopardizing building relationship with potential clients.  She had made technology the priority instead of the tool to prioritize what is important to her business and her life.   Technology is always changing, your behaviors can be modified, however time does not stand still for anyone and that potential client may not either.

Harvard Business Publishing

 Former Chevron public affairs guru Jay Stuller has offered some interesting insights in Chief Executive Magazine regarding the good and bad of the corporate world’s efforts to highlight their environmental initiatives.  Just about every company, large and small, recognizes the need to develop and effectively publicize their implementation of environmentally friendly business practices.  Stuller’s issues a proceed with caution to those organizations considering a program, adding that a corporate sustainability program must be able show the public that it provides a significant contribution to saving the planet.   Read the full article from Chief Executive Magazine

 

Today every sector, public and private, are feeling the pressure to do something green. Research clearly shows that consumers want to feel comfortable with the products they purchase and investors consider the soundness of a company’s reputation as a critical factor in their decision-making process. Even current or potential employees want work for a company they can stand behind and feel good about. However, as this story points out, going green may not be a good fit for every organization and the danger of a poorly conceived or inaccurately conveyed program can become a public relations nightmare. Companies must be prepared to demonstrate the authenticity of their green practices, actively seek the input of environmental advocates, and recognize that if they make a claim - be ready to verify and defend – especially among environmental bloggers and social media players - they will move quickly and en masse to attack the truthfulness of the program and the credibility of the company.