I recently did an interview with Michael Stelzner at Social Media Examiner about how big brands use social media and word of mouth marketing. A few excerpts: Word of Mouth vs. Social Media: Mike: Let’s go ahead and start with the first question. What exactly is word of mouth marketing, and how, if at all, […]
Job: Help big companies succeed with social media
August 9, 2010
We’re hiring for SocialMedia.org — our community for heads of social media at big companies. It’s an extraordinary group of people who believe that social media forever changes businesses for the better. Members include P&G, Microsoft, The Home Depot, Ford, and 125 other extraordinary brands. You should apply if you know social media (in a […]
We’re opening up an Austin office
January 20, 2010
I’m excited to announce that my companies, GasPedal and the Social Media Business Council, will be opening up an Austin office and I’ll be moving down there this summer. Our Chicago office remains home base. All of our awesome people are still here. Kurt Vanderah is stepping into the role of General Manager for the […]
How to create your word of mouth marketing plan — live with the SMBC’s Bob Pearson
December 2, 2009
We’re bringing together an all-star group of word of mouth marketers for Word of Mouth Supergenius: The “How to be Great at Word of Mouth Marketing” Conference on December 16 in Chicago. We’ll feature 12 how-to classes, 12 real-world case studies, and 6 brilliant authors. You’re going to learn practical, hands-on techniques to get people […]
FTC to Social Media Marketers & Bloggers: Y’all play fair now!
October 7, 2009
Marketers are dumping cash and gifts on bloggers. Bloggers have been hoovering up freebies. And everyone has complained about the idea of FTC regulation. The truth: False advertising and fake endorsements have always been illegal. Just because it’s social media doesn’t mean you get a free pass. Now that the FTC has clarified the rules […]
What do the “FTC Guides re: the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials” mean for Social Media Marketers?
October 5, 2009
Yesterday the FTC issued its “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising“. This is the new regulation that covers social media and word of mouth marketing. As you know, I have been a leading advocate for ethics in word of mouth. After a detailed read of the document, I can say: I’m […]
8% of companies have fired someone for Facebook idiocy
August 19, 2009
When we’re in college, we can do whatever we want on Facebook. Then we get hired. Nobody explains how the rules are different or what’s acceptable and professional. The change in culture, plus the lack of information, is what causes trouble for the employee and employer. Here’s a great article with the details from Mashable […]
Dell’s video case study: How we’re working to blend community and e-commerce
August 6, 2009
Come to BlogWell: How Big Brands Use Social Media on August 13 in Minneapolis — hosted by General Mills — where you'll hear McDonald's, Mayo Clinic, H&R Block, CME Group, General Mills, Ford, Progressive, and Walmart share case studies on how to create a fantastic social media program. You'll learn how to get started, get […]
Can I save your logo?
August 5, 2009
If I can't save the logo off your web page, I'm not going to include it in a blog post. Too many web sites make it too hard — the company logo is on a complicated background or hidden in a flash animation. Lesson: If you want people to spread word of mouth about you […]
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