Social Media Marketing Channel

The larger a company is, the more it may feel it has to protect itself.  This is a valid first reaction, but don't let it keep your company out of the conversations that could be building your brand.  If Ford, Starbucks, Pepsi and even Old Spice can find ways to win by reaching out to consumers online, then you have everything to gain by jumping into the waters of social media marketing.

The largest perceived threat of social media to companies is loss of control around content.  The reality is that there is no control over content created outside the company that shines either a positive or negative light on the company.  But monitoring, listening, and engaging in the conversations about your company, your industry and your community pays ongoing dividends that only help if negative conversations ever arise.

Geo-location or Location Based Services (LBS) are gettting more press all the time.  In the same way we have heard for a few years that mobile computing would be the next huge thing, we are now hearing about Foursquare, Gowalla, Wrrrl and Brightkite.  On a side note, only 42% of Americans currently use smart phones.  This doesn't mean that mobile computing won't eventually be predominant, but that people ususally overestimate how quickly adoption rates of new technology will reach a mainstream tipping point.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.  Influencer Marketing is the 'new black' in advertising because it meshes the trust that influencers have built over time with ad dollars from brands who don't have that level of trust with their audience.