Community Marketing Blog

Book Research: Q1. What Social Media/Networks Work Best For You?

I'm in the process of writing a book for Pearson on best practices for monetizing social media as part of a company's holistic growth strategy. I'm interested in learning what works for your business. Thank-you sharing with me and many others the good things you have learned and accomplished.

Book Research Update:
- Thanks for everyone's support. There are over 120 comments in response to "What Social Media/Networks Work Best For You? Futher additions are welcome. See details below.
- Q2. New - What Works?  What Principles Have Helped You Make Money Directly Or Indirectly With Social Media/Networking? Not yet publicised: feel free to add your input.
- Q3. New - What Are Your Business Social Media/Networking Successes?

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Please share your views for "What Social Median/Networks Work Best For You" in the Comments section below. Thanks for your contribution. 

Walmart Hates Children?

Is Walmart out to rip off the Girl Scouts? According to CV Harquail, the corporate behemoth is allegedly out to snuff out the dreams of little girls everywhere by marketing cookies that are similar to the ones the scouts sell every spring - stealing the product's exclusivity, cheapening the product, and taking away profit share that supports children's programs - and doing so at a fraction of the scouts' prices.

Woah.

I'd hardly call myself a fan of Walmart, but Ms. Harquail's claims are taking this to the extreme, going so far as to call Walmart's attempts at corporate responsibility disingenuous - Ms. Harquail goes on to write, "just when you think they've mended their evil corporate ways, they do this to children."

While I disagree with much of what Ms. Harquail wrote, I think she brings up an interesting question about brand authenticity. So what makes a brand authentic?

Authenticity is the glue that holds an organization together and ensures consistency between what a brand does and says - it's practicing what you preach, being totally clear about who you are and what you do best, yet authenticity can't be faked or forced. For a brand to maintain its integrity, it has to stay true to its values and remain relevant by being as dynamic as change itself. The key lies in reconciling those two conflicting impulses and being original within the context of the brand's history.

How to Lose 10 Followers in 5 Days

Last week I set out on a challenge to reach five thousand followers in five days, the 5in5 project.  I was of two minds in terms of the outcome of the project.  In one way, I had high hopes for dramatic growth and to see if there was any truth in the hype perpetuated by a number of people on Twitter when they talk about growing their followers by the thousands in hopes of monetizing them.  In the other, and possibly more realistic case, I hoped to validate some suspicions about Twitter and learn in the process.

E-mail Signatures: How Long Should It Be?

I wear many hats and take on various roles in my life both personally and professionally. Right now, I have one e-mail address that I use for business and personal purposes. I was told that your e-mail signature is an important part of personal branding: you should have one that says constant.