Posts over the last week ranged from actionable ideas for marketers and Social Media users to how to live life more fully to how to make a real difference in the world. I really enjoyed each and every one of these posts and am proud to showcase them here. I hope you enjoy them!
1. Mark Schaefer wants to know when we all forgot about strategy. This is an issue near and dear to my heart. If you want to see how you can save money, act as a smarter marketer, and find more success, you’ll want to read this post. If not, then you could probably skip it 😉
2. Cyndi Lauper once sang a song about how girls just wanna have fun. This week Cidnee Stephen noted that marketers may also want to have fun. The really good news, based on the case study Cidnee presents, is that adding a dash of personality can be highly beneficial across the board.
3. Since I’ve been working on my engagement series, this post by Danny Brown caught my attention – the difference between engaging and being engaged. Are you out there just talking? That’s *ok*, but that’s not engagement. Read Danny’s post to learn more about this distinction.
4. Normally, book reviews just sort of, well, review books. Ted Coine, however, takes this particular book review one step further. When Ted asks, “How is your vision,” he means much, much more than “are your glasses working.” Check out this fantastic post, which also happens to be a book review!
5. When you engage on platforms like Twitter, it can seem like everyone in the world a) uses Twitter and b) would know all of the ins and outs. However, Marcio Saito points out that only 2% of the world’s population uses Twitter, and very few of those peoples are in sales. This seems like a disconnect to Marcio. What about to you? Go visit Social Media and B2B Sales – Change is Coming, and voice your opinions!
6. What are the pillars on which digital marketing depends? According to the fabulous Heidi Cohen, there are 4 pillars: Content, Communication, Community, and Commerce. This post breaks down each of the 4 pillars in easy-to-understand, comprehensive fashion. Good stuff!
7. Jay Baer suggests that you need to actually inform people of why they should make an action that would benefit you. It sounds obvious, but how many times have you said something like, “visit my blog” or “visit our website.” Always have an answer to the “why?” question. Check out Jay’s post, Promoting Social Outposts with Specificity. It may make you realize some weak spots in your own armor!
8. I love this post by Lauren Gray. Similar thoughts were plodding through my brain when I found her post called “Are we enjoying life or just ‘checking-in?‘. Lauren notes that between checking in on Foursquare, tweeting, Facebooking, Grouponing, and everything else folks do when they’re out, we all might be missing life rather than living life. Head on over to this post and voice your opinions!
9. Mistakes happen. It’s a true statement, but do we really think about what that means? Lou Imbriano reminds us to learn from our mistakes, make amends, and then – move on. Great advice for business, life, and all things in between 🙂
10. I really adore Ingrid About of Nitty Griddy Blog. Her personality shines through on Twitter, and her blog is like walking into your fun friend’s house for a party. This post on commenting not only expresses the value of comments, but it also offers a great idea on how to promote the people who take the time to comment on your blog. I might have to look into doing something similar for you folks! (warning, a couple of bad words are in there if you’re worried about that sort of thing)
11. This post is really kind of crazy. Written by Eric Goldstein over at Social Media Today, The Most Complete Twitter Application List Available, 2011 Edition is kind of mind-blowing in its depth and detail. If you want to know about the latest web apps, follow apps, or anything else, really, hit up this post!
12. Do you want some no-nonsense advice about when it might be time to stop digging into a new business idea? Nicole Fende has got you covered. Check out her 5 signs you should stop spending and move on in business. Very sound advice here!
13. Are you on the fence about buying Darren Rouse’s (@problogger’s) newest e-book? Kristi Hines (aka @kikolani) does an excellent job of reviewing this book and making a strong case for it. Check out her post, A Guide To your First Week of Blogging and Beyond and see what she has to say about blogging and this new e-book!
14. We had fun last Tuesday discussing the Kitchen Table Talks question of the week – which is more important, product or process? It was very interesting fodder for conversation. Bob Burg took the question to his blog post and voiced his opinions on the question. Head on over and weigh in yourself!
15. Brankica over at Live Your Love did something really neat. She interviewed 25 bloggers about some of their favorite things. It’s a great resource for learning about movies, music, and books to explore, and it’s also refreshingly different. Check it out!
16. Mark Schaefer tweeted this post out, which was enough of a reason for me to check it out right off the bat. The title was also quite interesting though. Here come virtual people online, written by Neicole Crepeau, this article suggests that there may come a time when you are followed or are following a virtual person. Could that “person” be just as valuable to you as a real person? Neicole makes some interesting arguments!
17. Matt Martin argues that sometimes the best way to grow is to show up. Compelling, eloquently stated thought.
18. Suzanne Vara issues more extremely interesting food for thought in her post, earning the title…quietly. In this post, Suzanne notes that in the world of Social Media, we sometimes give ourselves titles (guru, ninja, jedi), or we do things we normally wouldn’t to win such titles. But is that kind of self-aggrandizement sustainable? Head on over and share your thoughts.
19. This post by Lauren Dell over at Mashable.com is nothing short of crazy! 73 Essential Social Media & Tech Resources for Small Businesses. Holy cow. Going to have to bookmark that one!
20. I really respect Ty Sullivan’s post about the “tweet heard round the world” experiment. A lot of bloggers would not be so honest about something that didn’t go well, but Ty not only does so but also offers an important lesson (or 3) on how to be graceful online. Check out The Tweet Heard Around the World: Epic Fail or Success?
21. This is a fantastic post by @jennybbones, which I saw tweeted out by @bolaji. In Why I don’t want your help, Jenny uses a unique and enchanting story-telling tone to explain why customers want to be inspired, not necessarily helped. This is a terrific read!
22. I really like what Amy Schmittauer is doing over at SavySexySocial.com. Her method of blogging is unique (lots of vlogs or video blogs) and she almost always highlights great material from *other* people. In this episode, she highlights posts from Heidi Cohen and Social Media Explorer!
23. This is an interesting post that my friend Kyle (@ToyotaEquipment) tweeted out this week. In Objective-Oriented Marketing, Dave Van de Walle points out that if you can establish your objective, then your strategy, you may find that Social is not the best answer for you. However, it also seems like Dave argues a bit for the “silo” treatment of Social within a corporation. What do you think about his post? Let him know!
24. Linda Perry Barr tweeted out a link to this post. It’s not an easy read. It’s not a short read. But it’s a vitally important read, in my opinion. Please check out Himanshu Suri’s post called Post-9/11 All Over Again: The Hate-Mongers Who Bombarded the Internet After Osama bin Laden’s Death. Talk about thought provoking.
25. Is there an echo chamber in the blogosphere? Do the same stories get retold by different people because it has meaning for all of them or do those stories get retold because it got the original author a lot of comments or tweets? These are some of the questions Geoff Livingston poses in Copycats: The Oral Tradition of Blogging. Check it out and voice your opinions!
26. What can bloggers learn from something as crazy (and useful) as Vibram Five Fingers Shoes? Jason Sokol has some excellent ideas. Go on over share your thoughts on this great post!
27. In which I discover that Molly Campbell is my soul mate. In this post, Molly wonders why people never eat their delicious meals on television, and why no one on any television show or in any movie seems to close the door. A charming read that also gets you thinking.
28. Few people in the online world are more genuinely good and kind than Mr. Marc Pitman. I found this great post on his fundraising site that I thought might help you if you’re in a nonprofit or if you are trying to fundraise for a school or something like that. Check out 5 email fundraising tips I had to relearn this spring, and get to know Marc!
29. This is a topic near and dear to my heart. In The Declining Value of a College Education, Bill Paarlberg wonders whether his daughter should invest in a private school college education. The prices are only going up. Is the value following suite? Fascinating post over at Katie Paine’s website.
30. Finally, another concept close to my heart – using Social Media for social good. Gini Dietrich over at SpinSucks notes that you can show your support for refugees by purchasing a blue key or pendant and spreading the word until June 20, World Refugee Day. Make a difference!