Mnemos 2.0, the social network where professionals share their tips and knowledge by Balthazar recently launched a new version for its users. The new version comes as improvement of the previous release. It presents members with faster navigation to answers to questions in the cases database, which is a unique feature on mnemos using vidoes cases tagged situations.

Members can now access cases directly from their profile page. Other improvements include …Read more

Looking at the speed of growth of web services, social media is undoubtedly the fastest moving trend today. To business, it is offering an appealing sense of belonging. The smart and innovative top level executives are exploring the potentials this tool could bring to the business world. Although a few blind ones feel it’s just another marketing gimmick. It is short minded to actually view social media as just a marketing tool.

Within any enterprise social media serves as a bridge to untapped knowledge, information sharing and support. Be it from consumers or internal employees. It is a ‘Virtual Business World with Fun Mix’. For a successful implementation of social media one word stands out clear; “Change”.

Social media in business will bring about a retransformation of how daily affairs are carried out and to set the ball rolling a retransformed mindset is required. If your organization is considering a social media project, I have listed a few changes that must be considered from my experience with dealing with big brands:

Social media is 2-way not 1-way: Accepting first of all that you are no longer the only one with the mic but you now share and listen to the voices of others is a very first step.

Be Proactive: During project initiation it is not uncommon to find executives worried about the negative comments that will ensue from the use of social media as a medium to express dissatisfaction. That fear must be combated. Willingness to accept even a more bitter feedback should get you ready for another change. It is best to hear a terrible comment directly from a customer and act promptly than to read it from the press. Be ready to respond to feedbacks and queries with a positive attitude.

Commitment and Time: A long time commitment is required to reaping the rewards of your social media project. Time investment should be placed as an important item during project planning. Social media is a long term investment but also with good long term benefits.

Balance work and play: A listening attitude is also required as key to getting the best of opinions and views off your customers or if used only internally your employees. Remember the word social brings about a more relaxed environment to bringing out the “real” person behind.

Get ready for the flexibility: Social media offers a more flexible working pattern as such employees must approach and appreciate this new tool not with a different mindset as to the job but as to the manner of getting the job done.

You should find these key changes helpful as you embark on your enterprise social media project.

-Paulette.

Back in November, people-search sites Reunion.com and Wink announced that they would be merging, and now it’s happened: the sites have rebranded as MyLife, which can search over 60 social-networking sites (over 750 million profiles, the company says) and other information resources on the Web.

Among those social networks it can search are MySpace, Facebook (well, the public profile listings thereof), LinkedIn, Friendster, AOL’s Bebo, Microsoft’s Windows Live Spaces, Yahoo, and Twitter…Read more

Of late some of the top airlines have been in news for setting up or planning travel communities.

While Air France-KLM has already launched its own social networking site for passengers to hook up with other passengers ahead of flights, Virgin Atlantic is planning to launch Vtravelled, a dedicated travel portal which aims to tap into the `inspirational’ travel market and will allow visitors to organise and share their travel plans with friends and family…Read more

As micro communities grow online through social media – how does your tourism marketing strategy evolve to reach a changing consumer?
The population explosion that has occurred in the mega social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter is beginning to resemble a city that did not lay an infrastructure for the number of people who have moved there!…Read more

Engauge, a total marketing solutions agency, has tapped digital pioneer Chad Israel as the agency’s Director of Social Marketing. Israel will lead the social and emerging marketing initiatives for Engauge Digital in Atlanta, Georgia.

“Chad is a unique talent who brings a deep understanding of how brands can connect with their customers using social media…Read more

The article “Why Big Brands Struggle With Social Media” on mashable by Tom Smith is a very interesting read. I particularly left reading all the comments till today. Big brands will gain tremendous benefits from social media if the right approach is followed. I wouldn’t speak too much here, because you have one long interesting reading to do. Hey! make sure you read every comment contributed. There’s a lot to digest, drop me your feedback. Read more…

-Paulette.

Social media is not the exclusive domain of the young. EyeforTravel research shows when it comes to user-generated content, age isn’t a boundary. Roughly as many customer reviews are read by young and old alike with 54% of 18-34 year olds having read customer reviews in the last 30 days, compared with 58% of 35-49 year olds and 57% of 50-64 year olds…Read more

Most people see Facebook as another way to reach out to friends. Research has shown that Facebook is fast becoming one of the addictions for people living in the United Kingdom (along with beer, coffee and free newspapers… sounds familiar?).

However, I am not sure that many people see Facebook as a tool for reaching out to their (existing and new) customers. The fact is, Facebook (and other networking sites) have become indispensable tools for growing your business today. And this applies to large multinationals, FMCGs or even the High Street Shop….Read more

Despite the fact that the current social media ecosystem supports near-instant vilification of people and companies, few organizations have put systems in place to either identify an issue or respond in a manner timely enough to offset the potential damage. Implementing social media channels is no longer just a cool thing for a company to do. It could be a matter of survival…Read more