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On Twitter Bios Show Exponential Increase – to 181,000 – Self-proclaimed Social Media Gurus

I would put money on the fact that there are, generously, 150 people in the world who might be entitled to call themselves social media gurus - and none of them ever would.

There also are a couple of "social media vixens" on Twitter :)

On Social CRM - Thank you Ben & Jerry's: a brand that's social, for real

Friends with freezers full of Ben & Jerry's are my kind of people. :>)

On Social CRM - Thank you Ben & Jerry's: a brand that's social, for real

Sara - the initial support WAS inadequate. he was NOT a tech support person. it took 30 minutes to get switched to a tech support person.

It was NOT escalated to an administrator until the next day, after I started communicating about it on Twitter. THE ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED.

Your Twitter team is indeed attentive but that is meaningless if the rest of the team isn't also.

One way to make this good with me is not to publish messages that don't tell the truth. sheesh!

On Three Top Reasons Why Social Media is Still a Tough Sell

Jeremy: You are so right. Social media tools are nothing on their own. The point is to drive traffic to a well-designed, interactive site where the company can build community, enhance reputation, put a human face on the brand.

Topher - the consultants who don't consider the business model are usually members of the legions of self-declared SM gurus. Social media has to be part of a well-conceived, results-focused marketing mix.

 

On Three Top Reasons Why Social Media is Still a Tough Sell

John: thanks for your comment. sorry to hear that one word could cost me my credibility in your eyes. :>)

On Three Top Ways to Damage Your Brand With Social Media

Rebecca - since i wrote this post, and Tweeted some 25 times about the issue, I have indeed heard from Time Warner Cable, who also commented on my original post at What's Next Blog (I cross post to Ad Age)

 And while it's true that anyone can impersonate a brand, and often does, the key is monitoring the brand 24/7. Bottom line, it took almost a week for Time Warner Cable to respond to repeated trashing of their brand on the Internet. That's like playing with fire - not good strategy.

 "Time Warner does have a real Twitter account, @twxcorp, which actually seems to be fairly robust." But it wasn't monitoring "Time Warner Cable" on Twitter, on my blog, or on Facebook. Neither, apparently, were the ad agency, the PR firm, or anyone in corporate communications. Which is what led me to write this post. :>)

End of the story: A field foreman and a sr cable repair person from Time Warner Cable just left my house. They found the source of the problem, and they fixed it.

Now TWC needs to work on its online image.

 

 

On The Top Six Reasons Companies are Still Scared of Social Media

Nadine - "The haters thing also scares them. I try to explain that people are going to hate you anyway, but at least with social media you broadcast your own point of view" So well stated! And in my experience, the stronger your community, the less impact the haters will have on your brand. Starbucks is a perfect example of that.

 Lynn: I will be quoting you to clients forever :>)

"Well, two years later, we hit our 1 millionth hit on the blog.  We have resident haters who comment regularly, but sometimes someone else will tell them to pipe down.  Many of the things people were scared about didn't happen.  And we've been able to bust some myths that have popped up over time. "

 Thank you so much for sharing that!

 

On The Top Six Reasons Companies are Still Scared of Social Media

Thanks for these thoughtful, and spot on, comments. This post really seems to have hit a chord with a lot of people.

 Yes, education is important, but it's exasperating, at this late date, to be met with skepticism in the corporate suite. The social media train has left the station.

 It does seem that non-profits have embraced social media, often with stellar results, and corporations can't be far behind.

Me, as always, i'm looking at what comes next.

 

On The Top Six Reasons Companies are Still Scared of Social Media

This post really seems to have struck a chord with a lot of people.

Really, i think it's more than loss of control. It's worry about doing it wrong and being thought foolish; fear that sr management won't allow enough time for a groundswell to grow.

 It's been exciting to see so many thoughtful comments from so many smart people all day today.

Thanks guys! you rock!

 

On People of Walmart - a runaway hit Wal-mart can't (& shouldn't) stop

Right you are! Typo! The brother who is 25 is named Adam.