Social Media Examiner on "action-gating" in Facebook

This Social Media Examiner post shows how to use "action-gating" in Facebook to increase leads and grow lists.
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/facebook-gated-campaigns/

When Ryan Block tried to cancel his Comcast Internet service

The problem with bad service is that the stories have the potential to go viral over the Internet.  Check out what happened to Ryan Block when he tried to cancel his Comcast Internet service. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/14/the-comcast-call-from-hell_n_5586476.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/07/15/331681041/comcast-embarrassed-by-the-service-call-making-internet-rounds

https://soundcloud.com/ryan-block-10/comcastic-service

B.L. Ochman on Google+ Hangouts, YouTube Live Events, and Google search results

In this post, B.L. Ochman maintains that those who  use Google+ Hangouts and YouTube Live Events will be rewarded with better placement in Google search results.

https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140723034818-496210-google-to-reward-users-of-google-hangouts-youtube-live-events-with-more-prominent-search-placement?trk=hb_ntf_MEGAPHONE_ARTICLE_POST

Social media manager was number 5 on this list of jobs with a good work-life balance

Based on data from Glassdoor.com, social media manager was number 5 on this list of jobs with a good work-life balance.
http://mashable.com/2014/07/18/jobs-work-life-balance/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

Mashable on using SnapChat, Vine, and Instagram for marketing purposes

This Mashable post by Seth Fiegerman provides helpful insights about using SnapChat, Vine, and Instagram for marketing purposes.
http://mashable.com/2014/07/17/visual-social-marketing-101/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

Tailoring social media tactics to various stages in the buying process

This Social Media Examiner post by Luke Summerfield points out that it makes sense to tailor your social media tactics to various stages in the buying process -- information gathering, consideration, decision, and post-purchase evaluation/repeat purchase.
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/get-more-leads-creative-social-tactics/

Applebee's tabletop technology

Applebee's tabletop technology sounds really interesting.  Open this Nation's Restaurant News link and scroll about 2/3 of the way down to read about it. 

http://nrn.com/technology/applebees-reassures-guests-no-tech-tuesday

Forrester Research on earned, owned, and paid media

This is an excellent post from Forrester Research on earned, owned, and paid media.
http://blogs.forrester.com/interactive_marketing/2009/12/defining-earned-owned-and-paid-media.html

PostPlanner article on companies that appear human when marketing on Facebook

This is an interesting PostPlanner article on companies that appear human when marketing on Facebook.
http://www.postplanner.com/how-to-appear-human-when-marketing-on-facebook/

Is social media moving the advantage away from the big brands?

Are online reviews and information communicated through other forms of social media moving the advantage away from the big brands?
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2014/02/17/140217ta_talk_surowiecki?mobify=0

Fake "likes"

Fake "likes" also appear to be a problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVfHeWTKjag

US News article on fake online reviews

Fake online reviews appear to be a growing problem according to this US news article.
http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2014/07/08/dont-fall-for-fake-online-reviews

Competitors can digitally sabotage a business

Competitors can digitally sabotage a business.  This is one example involving Google Maps.  Thanks to Victor Raj for calling this Wired article to my attention. How do you defend against it?  Begin by "claiming your site" on Google My Business (http://www.google.com/business/). Then, monitor it to make sure that everything is correct, accurate, and up to date.  Then, claim your site on such other social venues as TripAdvisor, Yelp!, UrbanSpoon, etc.
http://www.wired.com/2014/07/hacking-google-maps/

Search Engine Watch provides examples of how boring companies/industries can effectively employ social media

How do you leverage social media if your company/industry is boring?  Search Engine Watch provides some good examples:
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2352618/5-Boring-Companies-With-a-Fascinating-Social-Strategy

Procter & Gamble used its "Like a Girl" campaign to build the brand for its Always product

Procter & Gamble used its "Like a Girl" campaign to build the brand for its Always product.

http://blogs.wsj.com/cmo/2014/07/01/viral-video-of-week-an-ad-that-challenges-what-it-means-to-throw-like-a-girl/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs

According to Poets & Quants, the Harvard Business School may be bypassing the MOOCs with it's Credential of Readiness program

According to Poets & Quants, tt appears that the Harvard Business School may be bypassing the MOOCs with it's Credential of Readiness program.
http://poetsandquants.com/2014/03/21/hbs-bold-entry-into-the-digital-market/

More on the power of word-of-mouth and word-of-keyboard from TheAge.com.au

More on the power of word-of-mouth and word-of-keyboard from TheAge.com.au :
http://m.theage.com.au/comment/people-power-dominates-in-battle-of-the-brands-20140426-zqzu6.html

Mashable post on how to keep your personal and private information out of "big data"

This is an interesting Mashable post on how to keep your personal and private information out of "big data."  (It isn't easy!)
http://mashable.com/2014/04/26/big-data-pregnancy/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

Marketing Science Institute article on varying mobile marketing content from day-part to day-part

This Marketing Science Institute article suggests that, for maximum effectiveness, mobile marketing content should vary from day-part to day-part.
http://www.msi.org/articles/study-shows-how-to-create-ideal-mobile-strategy/?utm_source

SimplyMeasured post provides guidelines for handling negative feedback on social media

If you are using social media for business, you have probably had to deal with negative feedback.  This SimplyMeasured post provides guidelines for handling negative feedback on social media.
http://simplymeasured.com/blog/2014/06/16/a-quick-guide-to-handling-negative-feedback-on-social-media/

Chronicle of Higher Education article provides insight into MOOCS

A lot of discussion has centered around Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS) as educational delivery mechanisms.  In fact, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is backing the MOOC Research Initiative. This Chronicle of Higher Education article provides insight.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/5-things-researchers-have-discovered-about-moocs/53585?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

Social Media Examiner on how to use Twitter for marketing purposes

This Social Media Examiner post provides insight into how to use Twitter for marketing purposes.
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/twitter-marketing-resources/#more-64191

Harvard Business Review blog post on Chief Marketing Technologists

This Harvard Business Review blog post talks about a new kind of executive - the Chief Marketing Technologist.  This person is a combination strategist/creative director/technology leader/teacher. 
http://hbr.org/2014/07/the-rise-of-the-chief-marketing-technologist/ar/1

Mashable on how to spot fake online reviews

Fake online reviews are a problem.  This Mashable post gives pointers for how to spot them.
http://mashable.com/2014/05/29/fake-online-reviews-tips/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

The balance between physical ("bricks-and-mortar") stores and e-commerce

Could it be that omnichannel retailers are beginning to find a balance between physical ("bricks-and-mortar") stores and e-commerce? 

http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/moody%E2%80%99s-physical-stores-key-retailers%E2%80%99-online-growth-strategy

http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/online-retailer-bonobos-raises-55-million-funding-open-more-stores

http://chainstoreage.com/article/omnichannel-so-seamless-customers-don%E2%80%99t-even-know-they-want-it

Social Media Examiner guidelines for making your company stand out on Instagram:

Social Media Examiner provides guidelines for making your company stand out on Instagram:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/stand-out-on-instagram/

Social Media Examiner provides guidelines for writing a corporate social media policy

Social Media Examiner provides guidelines for writing a corporate social media policy:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/write-a-social-media-policy/

Business Insider on the social media planning process that goes on at digital design and advertising firm Huge

Business Insider discusses the social media planning process that goes on at digital design and advertising firm Huge.
http://www.businessinsider.com/huge-social-media-manager-does-all-day-2014-5

Mobile Marketing Association is a great resource

The Mobile Marketing Association is a great resource for knowledge about mobile marketing.
http://www.mmaglobal.com/

Improving the digital customer experience

Marketing Insights' Lauren Drell on improving the digital customer experience:

https://www.ama.org/publications/MarketingInsights/Pages/The-Experience-Economy.aspx

Customer journey map example from MMR Strategy Group

What does a customer journey map look like?  This is a good example from MMR Strategy Group:
http://mmrstrategy.com/expertise-2/customer-journey-maps/what-does-a-customer-journey-map-look-like/

Social Media Examiner on how to get maximum engagement when publishing on LinkedIn

This is great advice from Social Media Examiner on how to get maximum engagement when publishing on LinkedIn:
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/publish-on-linkedin-for-engagement/