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/

Should social media be under advertising, public relations, or marketing?

Should social media be under advertising, public relations, or marketing?  Here are some interesting thoughts from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2014/03/26/social-media-marketing-responsibilities/

Scott Stratten on handling customer complaints

Scott Stratten has a great blog post on how to handle, or not handle, customer complaints --
http://www.unmarketing.com/2014/05/12/dont-be-the-benchmark-for-veiled-threats/

Entrepreneur post on how men and women use mobile and social media differently

According to this Entrepreneur post, men and women use mobile and social media differently...but not as differently as you might think.
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233184?e365_post_id=411#

Southwest Airlines gets social media right

I've long been an admirer of Southwest Airlines.  This SocialMediaToday post by Ric Dragon explains how Southwest gets social media right.
http://socialmediatoday.com/big-brand-theory/southwest-airlines-social-business-and-fun

What is it that successful people never do?

I do not normally use this link blog to motivate or inspire others.  But, for this post, I am going to deviate from the blog's primary purpose ... just this one time.  That is because this LinkedIn post by Bob Marr is important.  It tells you about "the one thing successful people never do."
https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130715085900-64875646-the-one-thing-successful-people-never-do?fb_action_ids=10203430130217847&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=[223398931142423]&action_type_map=[%22og.likes%22]&action_ref_map=[]&_mSplash=1

Tips for optimizing your website for Pinterest

Tips for optimizing your website for Pinterest from Seb Atkinson and Jason Falls' Social Media Explorer blog:
http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/5-ways-to-optimize-your-website-for-pinterest-marketing/

Where young people are going when they leave Facebook

This is an important Forbes article that talks about where young people are going when they leave Facebook.  It pretty much explains why Facebook recently bought WhatsApp for nearly $19 billion (some sources say $16 billion).
http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2013/11/12/heres-where-teens-are-going-instead-of-facebook/

Mashable post on what the job market may look like in 20 years

This Mashable post provides some interesting insight into what the job market may look like in 20 years or so.  I would note that I do not necessarily agree or disagree with it.  I would also point out that projections of this type have been notoriously inaccurate over the course of my life time.  It seems that we just do not have the ability to predict that far into the future. 

http://mashable.com/2014/02/12/job-market-guide-2034/

Absolute Value by Itamar Simonson and Emanuel Rosen is a really important new book

Absolute Value  by Itamar Simonson and Emanuel Rosen is a really important new book that came out last week (ISBN: 978-0-06-221567-3). The links below give you some information about its contents. In my opinion, this book is going to change the way we think about markets and marketing.

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2014/02/17/140217ta_talk_surowiecki?mobify=0

http://www.thestreet.com/video/12315423/will-yelp-put-olive-garden-out-of-business.html

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/3166702657001/how-to-make-customer-reviews-work-for-your-company/#sp=show-clips

Super Bowl ads and social media are going hand-in-hand

Many of the Super Bowl ads are hand-in-hand with social media.  Check out these CNBC links to see the advertising's tie-ins to social media:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100410648
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101377897
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101377893
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101377632
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101380031
http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000241654&__source=yahoo|headline|other|video|&par=yahoo
http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000241296
http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000241296
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101369896

Some advertisements are more likely than others to drive viewers to a company website

Evidence suggests that some advertisements are more likely than others to drive viewers to a company website:
http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/01/research-shows-which-tv-ads-are-likely-to-make-multitaskers-buy/

HBR blog post on the dark side of big data

This HBR blog post addresses some issues relating to the dark side of big data:
http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/01/big-datas-dangerous-new-era-of-discrimination/

Wall Street Journal Online article that focuses on the diversity of various social media venues

This is a Wall Street Journal Online article that focuses on the diversity of various social media venues.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304419104579323442346646168?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304419104579323442346646168.html

Demographics for major social media venues

These are interesting demographics for major social media venues:
http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Social-Media-Update/Main-Findings/Demographics-of-key-social-networking-platforms.aspx

The concepts of brand, loyalty, and positioning may not be as relevant as they used to be

This HBR blog post by Itamar Simonson and Emanuel Rosen suggests that the concepts of brand, loyalty, and positioning may not be as relevant as they used to be. A new book by the authors will be available soon.  It is entitled  Absolute Value: What Really Influences Customers in the Age of (Nearly) Perfect Information .  I have it on order from Amazon.com and I am anxious to get it and read it.

http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/01/three-long-held-concepts-every-marketer-should-rethink/

Guidance from a company that has totally eliminated paid advertising

This is some very interesting guidance from a company that has totally eliminated paid advertising.  Surprisingly, it's Krispy Kreme donuts!
http://www.marketingpower.com/ResourceLibrary/Pages/newsletters/mne/2013/11/krispy-kreme.aspx

"Big data" and the hiring process

It looks like "big data" is coming to the hiring process, according to this article in The Atlantic. Thanks to Dr. Sandy Miles for forwarding it to me.
http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/12/theyre-watching-you-at-work/354681/

Why companies should control their social media accounts and develop a policy regarding their use

This restaurant owner found out the hard way why he should have control over his social media accounts and develop a policy regarding the accounts' use.
http://mashable.com/2013/12/16/fired-restaurant-chef-twitter/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

The importance of having a social media policy and being careful who has access to your accounts

This anecdote from Mashable underscores the importance of having a social media policy and being careful who has access to your accounts:
http://mashable.com/2013/12/16/fired-restaurant-chef-twitter/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

Targeting "influentials" vs. targeting everyone

Should you target the "influentials" or everyone?  Duncan Watts shines light on this important topic in this MSI article:
http://www.msi.org/articles/why-marketers-should-aim-for-ordinary-influencers/?utm_source%2013-Nov&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=WebSignupEmail

Guidelines for developing a social media strategy

Douglas Karr provides guidance for developing a social media strategy in this Social Media Today post:
http://socialmediatoday.com/douglaskarr/1920396/infographic-4-steps-social-media-marketing

Paying for retail purchases with mobile devices

You will soon be using your mobile devices to pay for the products you buy in retail stores:
http://www.mcx.com/
http://www.google.com/wallet/

Search Marketing Map from OverDrive Interactive

This is a very useful Search Marketing Map from OverDrive Interactive:
http://www.ssm-responder.com/Overdrive/resource-library/pdf/SearchMediaMap_LIVE.pdf

Social media and Human Resource Management

Social media is impacting Human Resource Management as well as Marketing:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbersin/2013/10/21/the-9-hottest-trends-in-hr-technology-and-many-are-disruptive/2/

Supermarkets will be engaging customers through their mobile devices

Supermarkets are soon going to be engaging their customers through their mobile devices while they are in the process of shopping. 
http://supermarketnews.com/technology/data-deluge-creates-privacy-issues?eid=forward
http://supermarketnews.com/blog/sn-poll-results-retailers-split-big-data?eid=forward
http://supermarketnews.com/technology/smartphone-use-prevalent-grocery?eid=forward
http://supermarketnews.com/technology/smartphone-technology-puts-mobile-scanning-power-customers-hands?eid=forward
http://supermarketnews.com/blog/sn-poll-results-retailers-split-big-data?eid=forward
http://supermarketnews.com/blog/sn-poll-results-2022-predictions?eid=forward
http://supermarketnews.com/private/just-facts-2013-technology-survey?eid=forward

Forbes Human Resource Management article focusing on technology that is driving the marketplace

This Forbes article is about Human Resource Management rather than Marketing, but the technology discussed is driving the marketplace for products and services as well as people. 
http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshbersin/2013/10/21/the-9-hottest-trends-in-hr-technology-and-many-are-disruptive/2/

Search Engine Land's "The Periodic Table of SEO Success Factors"

Thank you to Dr. Terry Holmes for bringing Search Engine Land's "The Periodic Table of SEO Success Factors" to my attention.  It is really quite good if you are trying to understand what Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is all about. 
http://searchengineland.com/seotable?goback=.gde_62352_member_5797923280497160195#!

Adweek article about "the millennial male"

This Adweek article is about "the millennial male."  While it is not about new media per se, millennial males are an important part of that ecosystem and a target market for many new media efforts. 
http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/millennial-male-not-who-you-think-he-152929?page=1

The future of social media and the social media manager position

This is an interesting article on the future of social media and the social media manager position: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2013/10/01/social-media-manager/

Since this is a link blog, I don't usually provide commentary, but I think I'll make an exception in this case.

This article can be taken several ways.  It talks about the death of the social media manager.  But, it also says the growth in social media manager positions has slowed to 50%... that’s still pretty good.  It also says that social media is now becoming everyone’s responsibility and “Compared to a year ago, there are 13 times as many jobs on Indeed that involve the use of social media in some way.”  Also, according to the article, “Last year, IBM (IBM) saw a 400% surge in sales after implementing a social selling program, and 61% of U.S. marketers now use social media to generate new business.”

 

Maybe the key is in the quote  by William Ward -- "’Business requires people with the skills and understanding on how to use ... social media professionally in an integrated and strategic way,’"  I think I agree that social media manager positions may tend to fade as the media becomes more integrated into every aspect of business life … and that’s probably the way it should be.

To me, the bigger issue is about interpersonal influence and ways to stimulate it, often by creatively engaging customers and often through the use of social media.  Social media is just a set of tools that enable us to do that more and better than ever before.  As the 2008 book Groundswell pointed out, the social media technologies come last.  People, objectives, and strategy come before. 

For me, the big question is “What does this mean in terms of teaching and research?”

How to get customers to talk about your brand

This is a great Entrepreneur.com article on how to get customers to talk about your brand:
http://m.entrepreneur.com/article/227997

This New York Times article suggests that many of the product reviews in the marketplace are fake.

This New York Times article suggests that many of the product reviews in the marketplace are fake.  The problem seems to be especially prevalent in the market for books.  According to the article, a data-mining expert at the University of Illinois, Chicago,"estimates that about one-third of all consumer reviews on the Internet are fake."


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/business/book-reviewers-for-hire-meet-a-demand-for-online-raves.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1380301261-FkvNsI3h7TZgXR6wLG2Vqw&_r=1&

Harvard Business Review blog post on creating a climate of organizational transparency

This Harvard Business Review blog post makes a good argument for creating a climate of organizational transparency -- "In the absence of information, the brain works overtime. After all, we’re programmed to anticipate harm and protect ourselves from it. "
http://hbr.org/tip?date=092313&utm_campaign=Socialflow&utm_source=Socialflow&utm_medium=Tweet

Entrepreneur.com on what to ask yourself when creating a social media marketing plan

Entrepreneur.com identifies questions to ask yourself when you create a social media marketing plan
http://m.entrepreneur.com/article/228324