Since I began working at Maples Communications last year, I have become more and more enthused about social media marketing and how it can impact a business.  While I had a basic understanding of how to build a Twitter profile, YouTube page, etc. before I started working here, my goal at this position was to [...]

Along with millions of other Americans, I enjoy following college football. My team? The Nebraska Cornhuskers. I recently attended a game in Lincoln and couldn’t help noticing (and evaluating) their social media content and implementation leading up to, during and after game day.

Here are three more guidelines on keeping things simple when dealing with social media.

The bottom line for a business engaging in social media is to give their audience/customers/fans, etc. what they want.

There’s a simple social media rule I’d like to get across today: Before starting any social media program, make sure that your customers have not already assembled themselves on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. in support of your brand. If they have, DROP every thing else you are doing and go talk to them.

Like a lot of health-conscious consumers, I’ve long been a fan of the organic superstore Whole Foods Market. And now, with the proliferation of social media in today’s cyber-connected world, I have another reason to admire Whole Foods: their social media strategy!

In this segment, New Media Evangelist Ron Ploof introduces how social media tools such as WordPress, iTunes and YouTube have removed the traditional economics of influence by placing publishing capabilities in the hands of anyone and everyone with an Internet connection.
These free tools have led to a major fragmentation in the audience, with people no [...]

The two most important sites for restaurants looking to delve into the world of social media are Twitter and Facebook. In the case of small restaurants, the use of both is arguably more important than having a Web site for the restaurant. Why? Because…

While working my way through my social media RSS feeds, I came across Mashable’s top 10 list of the smartest brands in social media. The companies highlighted in the piece have managed to succeed where many social media newbies struggle: viewing social media tools as a means, not an end, to accomplish a specific goal.
As [...]

While I was driving to work this morning, Queen’s “Keep Yourself Alive” came on my favorite radio station. It immediately made me think of how companies need to stay alive by keeping their brands alive – especially during times of economic uncertainty.
Back in March, Harvard Business School published a piece about how to market your [...]