Supercharge Positive Word-of-Mouth
Via Social Media

“The Holy Grail for a marketer is positive word of mouth, ” says Dan McCarthy, CEO of Network Communications. “If you can capture this, it is the highest means of converting prospects to sales, and at the least expense. Social Media is a way to supercharge word of mouth.”

These observations–as well as findings that show an interesting shift in social media strategies as more businesses discover its value as a powerful tool for finding, engaging, and connecting with customers–are detailed in a new white paper survey report, The Coming Change in Social Media Business Applications: Separating the Biz from the Buzz, from .US.  You can access the full report for free here.

Word of Mouth 2.0

Word of Mouth — good old fashioned peer-to-peer opinion sharing — has consistently been rated by consumers as the most credible source of information when making buying decisions. The phenomenal popularity of social media and social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and online communities is transforming the way this information and people’s opinions are shared–spreading “the word” quicker and wider than ever before. When used effectively, these online social tools present huge opportunities for brands who want to authentically reach, listen, and connect with existing and potential customers, as Jonathan Yarmis observes in his Business Week article, “How Facebook Will Upend Advertising”. Read the full story here.

Social Media Marketing Survey Results–
Free Download

What are the top three business benefits of using social media? How can you measure social media marketing’s effectiveness? What are the most used and most effective social marketing tools? The answers to these questions and many others are revealed in Michael Stelzner’s insightful new white paper, ”Social Media Marketing Industry Report”, available as a free PDF download here.

Grab your own copy of this valuable social media marketing resource here

Starbucks Serves Up New Integrated Ad Campaign

Starbucks is brewing another one of its unique blends–this time, combining traditional print advertising–such as newspaper ads and billboards–with a double shot of social media strategy in a new branding campaign launched Tuesday in six major cities. Aimed at reaching a new, younger generation of coffee drinkers, the outreach campaign challenges people to find the new outdoor advertising posters and then post messages and photos of them on Twitter. 

Continue to read the full New York Times story