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When I talk to friends about what I do, they frequently ask "when are businesses going to stop cramming their sales messages down our throats." 

I think the essence is, will there ever be a social network that's about being fun and social, not just another place for the used car salesmen of marketing to make us feel awkward. 

I agree with the essence of the message. While I try to help people understand how social media is used for marketing purposes, I focus my message on the importance of being genuine, social and building relationships. That means most of you shouldn't ... Continue Reading

Content is King and Relationships Freakin' Rule!

And thanks to social media this applies online more today than ever before. If this is a new concept for you then you need to pull your head out of the sand and get moving.

Web marketing is no longer just brochure marketing. You don't just need a website, or just need a Facebook profile. You need to work at it to make it work. Consider your online marketing in the same terms of your Chamber of Commerce membership. You can't just join and expect your membership to deliver. It's what you put in that ... Continue Reading

If we don't evolve we fade away into obscurity.

For the last few years we've see social media as the new evolution in marketing but it's hard to pinpoint exactly why or how it works.

It is helpful to think about this evolution in the context of the overall evolution of the economy.

The participatory concept isn't new. It involves having a relationship and interaction in the decision making of the businesses that you work with and it's actually as old as economies themselves.

I recently participated in a webinar with leading marketing specialists about the evolution of marketing and what appears to be ... Continue Reading

From Mashable - HOW TO: Deal With Negative Feedback in Social Media

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

We often say that social media is a conversation, and what we mean by that is unlike traditional broadcast and print mediums, which are often one-directional, social media is very much a two-way channel. Not only can businesses communicate with their customers, but their customers can communicate with them and with each other, as well. By and large, ... Continue Reading

From Mashable - How Social Media Is Changing the Super Bowl

2010 is the year social media and the Super Bowl are officially converging.

Everyone from the advertisers and the NFL to fans and athletes are getting in on the social media Super Bowl action like never before.

In fact, we're seeing advertisers play up their controversial Super Bowl spots in social media channels, with online denizens weighing in with their candid thoughts. Of course there are also advertisers who are taking the straight and narrow path via their Facebook Fan Pages, offering fans the ability to share and and participate ... Continue Reading