Open The Dialogue

Website, Facebook, Twitter and How to Use Them

Guy Kawasaki interviews Dan Zarrella on how to use social media.  Key insights for companies include: when to implement a Facebook presence, the difference between a retweet and a Digg, and so on.

What are Company Obligations Under FTC Endorsement Guidelines

This article specifically addresses the issues at play for a company, its employees and any affiliated organizations under the new FTC endorsement guidelines.  Documentation of steps taken to comply with the guidelines is key to any future enforcement action.

The Evolution of Social Media Marketing to Social Business Design

David Armano and Jeff Dachis talk about social media marketing’s evolution in becoming integrated into all aspects of a business.  This is the creation of a social business model.  They provide early examples in the accompanying slide presentation but also some of the challenges they also pose.  This is as much a change to the approach to social media as it is to the way a business is organized.

Socialnomic’s Social Media ROI Video

Here’s a great video by Socialnomics on Social Media ROI that features one of our clients, Volkswagen, which with the help of MWW Group, launched its GTI exclusively through an iPhone/iPod Touch app.

Check it out:

Media Mogul to Build Wall around News

At the same time when the world celebrates the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, media mogul Rupert Murdoch states that the News Corp websites will have its stories de-indexed from all search engines.

Droid Army Seeks to Dominate Mobile Ad

With the invasion of the Android mobile OS devices, Google acquires AdMob, a mobile display ad serving platform, for $750 million.  As 2010 is destined to be the year for mobile internet, Google is positioning itself to dominate the lucrative mobile ad business.

Five Future Gaming Trends Predictions

Ben Parr at Mashable makes six predictions for the gaming industry.  Among those that make the list: social gaming acquisitions, monetizing of social gaming and social gaming on traditional console.

Want to Promote a Real Time Event?

Chris Brogan has some wise words for those in need of advice.  They include building a webpage or using Eventbrite for single events, use of other events announcement websites, and other social media platforms.

Mobile Web is on the Verge of Greatness

This will be a significant trend for the next year with an explosion of smartphones to be available across all carriers.  Wordpress, the popular blogging platform, released a mobile web optimized theme suggesting user generated content will be a significant player in the field.

Success in Social Media for Small Businesses

Here are five examples of some great social media use by small businesses.  They involve 2 restaurants, one of the oldest cinemas in the UK, worm composters and active wear.  Do check them out.

Managing Facebook Groups

Here are some essential tips from Mashable on managing a Facebook groups for clients.  Some top recommendations include making the group open and public, filling out all information fields, and so on.

Organizational use of Social Media

Deloitte released a new study on organizational use of social media.  Of note, 32% of respondents (organizations) are lurkers – “people who observe the community, but don’t participate in the discussion.”

Social Media and Health Information

Study says 80 million people use social media for health and medical information.  According to the study, “user-generated content is an influential resource for therapeutic segments, suggesting social media is more of a priority for some brands than others.”

Washington Post Cracks Down on Dissident Journalists

Reports have come in that the authorities at Washington Post have launched a severe crackdown on journalists’ use of social media after news broke that one of its editors, Raju Narisetti, used the popular microblogging website, Twitter, to send personal opinionated comments to the public.  The crackdown includes never before seen levels of censorship by shutting down Narisetti’s independent Twitter profile and new edicts outlawing similar uses by all WaPo writers.  These actions have been severely criticized by other member websites such as TechCrunch with limited discussion on the subject coming from within.  Narisetti’s conditions and whereabouts within the WaPo HQ are as yet unknown.

Brand Websites Under Attack by Google Sidewiki

Correspondent Steve Woodruff reports that brand websites are facing a critical threat to its image by the emergence of Google’s new tool called Sidewiki.  The wiki allows rogue agents to leave unflattering comments in direct contradiction to the careful messaging on the branded websites for all others to see.  Woodruff highlights the effects it is having on pharmaceutical blogs and websites.

Google Wave or a Google Tsunami?

Reports indicate that there are high levels of chatter surrounding Google Wave to be unleashed today.  Some are predicting it to be a Google Tsunami in its “potential to redefine the web and how we interact digitally.” Experts are still waiting to see what effect it will have for brands and social media strategy.