Part of the whole web2.0 and social interactive marketing buzz is about user generated content, word of mouth recommendation and the authority they bring.

It appears, at least in New York State, USA, that posing as a regular punter and putting up your own positive reviews constitutes the equivalent of false advertising.

So along with risking SEO purgatory, you may also be risking $$$ and lets not even talk about the brand value statement…

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO SECURES SETTLEMENT WITH PLASTIC SURGERY FRANCHISE THAT FLOODED INTERNET WITH FALSE POSITIVE REVIEWS

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To blog or not to blog, that is the question.  Most the larger companies I have worked with have held the idea of a corporate blog at arms distance.  There’s a lot of concern about being targeted,  or having unpleasant issues brought onto their ‘turf’.

Its not an outright rejection, but a ‘we’ll keep an eye on the issue, maybe next year’ kind of thing.

Tell them about Sun, Dell, and a whole other raft of good news examples, but its still, ‘next year, maybe…’

The bigger they are, the slower they move.  Too many trying to cover their asses, too few trying to shake it!

Here’s an example of several trends and applications of corporate blogs to crank up the music and maybe get the dance floor rocking!
And, say hello to some leaders, brands that are engaging, building collateral and embracing the future.  Ones you can bet will persevere, good investments…

Corporate Blog Design: Trends And Examples

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Still on my Social Media topic:

A great presentation to put the size and viability of social media into perspective.

Think paradigm shift is search, customer relationship management, customer engagement and product development.

Statistics Show Social Media Is Bigger Than You Think

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Still on the social media topic, the title says it all!

Has google page rank and Alexa ratings next to them…

Social Bookmarking Sites – All Of Them

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Social Networking is the buzz, and twitter is flavour of the (month, year, ???).  Regardless of your opinion, it certainly is a happening place, and considering the success and evolution of instant messaging one to one, this instant messaging, one to many certainly should catch your attention.

Here’s a great post on corporate tools to twitter.

Corporate Twitter Toolbox: Twitter Tools for the Enterprise

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Following my current theme of social networking, here’s a great list, with links, to 26 social networking sites, most of which are special interest, for all you niche marketers out there.

Social networking from A to Z

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Social Interactive Marketing, beyond SEO, Beyond SEM.  All about extending the tentacles to pull traffic back to the head.

This is something that take work, constantly, and dovetails nicely with any optimisation effort.  The growth of opportunities makes for a growth in efforts to capture them.  Get used to it.  If you’d like some detailed help in putting together a plan, let me know.

The attached article gives you a nice overview, but for each and every enterprise, its a different basket of goods in detail.

Social Media Optimization: 16 Rules Revisited - Online Marketing Blog

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Following up on my earlier post about new music data formats with extra meta data, now there’s a rumor Apple is going to integrate Social Networking into iTune.

Rumor: Apple to Take on Social Networking App, iTunes Integration | Cult of Mac

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A new music file format is being developed that not only contains the music data, but additional meta data beyond the current name, artist, year, etc.  The files will also contain lyrics, photos and ‘other’ information.

It is the ‘other’ information, the opportunity and the capability that stimulates my imagination.  Value added content, interactive content, promotional content.  I sniff an opportuity here….

Apple, Record Labels Diverge Over Next-Generation Full-Album Music Format | Epicenter | Wired.com

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For the 5th year running, Razorfish, the interactive powerhouse agency of the megaverse has released its crystal ball gazing “Digital Outlook Report” for 2009. I’ve been following these for a couple of years and found them to be very insightful, and truly inspiring.  If you have anything to do with interactive strategy, either as a marketer or a manager, it really is a must read.

Some highlights:

1. Advertisers will turn to “measurability” and “differentiation”
in the recession.

2. Search will not be immune to the impact of the economy.

3. Social Influence Marketing™ will go mainstream. This is a biggie!

The increased potency of social networking: people are influencing each other — online, in small groups, through peer pressure, reciprocity or flattery — giving rise to a whole new form of marketing that we called Social Influence Marketing™ (SIM).

4. Online ad networks will contract; open ad exchanges will expand.

5. This year, mobile will get smarter.

6. Research and measurement will enter the digital age.

7. “Portable” and “beyond-the-browser” opportunities will create new touchpoints for brands and content owners.

8. Going digital will help TV modernize.

9. Business model innovation is increasingly popular.

10. move from scarcity of media to scarcity of attention. Note: Email Marketing.

11. Digital Moms are ultimate time poor multi-taskers.

You really should take the time to go through this 180 page report. Its packed with insight and inspiration.

Get the full report here

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