Raise your hand if you’d rather tweet than talk to someone on the phone, getting your ear hot and possibly getting a cramp from holding your cell phone in place with your shoulder.  Yeah, me too.

It’s no mystery that EVERYONE uses social media for their personal and business communications, often to the exclusion of live, physical, in-front-of-another-person communication. Friends find out where and when to meet their friends via Twitter mobile apps. Celebrity tweets keep you informed of the latest news, scandals and rants. Investors get their skinny via stock tweets. Shoppers find the latest deals via Facebook and Twitter feeds. Welcome to the 21st Century.

Social media is so integral to our daily lives that the threat of not using it for even a day is almost unthinkable. Which is exactly why that threat is being used to now raise $1M for charity.

Justin Timberlake, Ryan Seacrest, Lady Gaga, and numerous other celebrities have joined forces in a charity called “Buy Life” which is the brainchild of Alicia Keys. These stars have decided to ban their own use of social media until $1M is donated to this charity, which is dedicated to providing treatment, care and support to those in Africa and India affected by HIV and AIDS.  These celebrities are taking a stand about something they feel is more important than their own lifeline to humanity via the internet, thereby giving up their own “life” for that of others.

Ok, they’re not really giving up their own lives, true. But when this is your main means of communication to the public and your entire career is based on your communication to the public, it’s kind of a big deal. And those of us whose careers are based on internet traffic know how big of a deal this actually is.

If you’d like to help restore the digital lives of your favorite superstars, you can make a donation now or on World AIDS Day, December 1st, by going to keepachildalive.org.

People who are serious about their social marketing via Twitter use some sort of tool to be able to send tweets from their smart phones like Tweetdeck or Twitterrific, both awesome tools that I’ve used extensively over the past few years.  These serious Twitter users may also use a desktop application of some sort to organize their tweets, users, etc., and quite often a tool to integrate all their social media to update statuses across multiple networks at once like Ping.fm.

Then there’s the next level up of “serious” for social marketing. These people use Hootsuite. Hootsuite has both free and paid versions, and is a complete social media interface to organize all your social networks into one place, as well as organize tweets, followers, track statistics to the level of the stats of a single tweet, to see what kinds of tweets get you the most followers, etc.

For companies that have multiple social media accounts with multiple users, all can be added to Hootsuite and tracked…multiple users, multiple social networks: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Ping.fm and WordPress. This is the most robust social media tool I’ve found, so I definitely felt it was worth mentioning.

The difference between the free and paid versions price-wise is negligible ($6 a month) and depending on your company’s size definitely worth it. If you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for ways to make social marketing more efficient, as it’s VERY easy to make updating your social networks, tweeting and commenting a full-time job. So there you go, just trying to help.

Part of the issue is whether or not employees are using social media sites to enhance the company or are they on these sites wasting time and costing the company money in lost production.

Is the solution to block the sites? Can you get around all the “get arounds” your employees use to figure out how to post on FB anyway?

Is it worth the hassle?

I don’t see how it is possible to stop people using Social Media sites like FB or twitter.It just isn’t a realistic goal.

But I do see urging your employees to talk about your company in a positive light. to shed some light on your products and services. share their positive experiences while at the workplace.

Every one has stock in how successful your company s and your employees only have a job as long as your company stays productive and gives the public what they are looking for.

Every employee has the responsibility to see that the company grows.

Have your employees promote your business enthusiastically through stories and experiences that shed a positive image.

Did you have a company lunch or outing lately?  Did one of your clients contact you to share a benefit the received using your services?

Did one of your managers go around and pat everyone on the back for doing a good job, making everyone feel good?

These are the types of communication that day after day creates a strong positive image of your company to the millions online!

What better method of business growth is there other than word of mouth?

There isn’t any… So create it.

Also you need to have policies in effect for those that abuse the use of company time (they are getting paid to WORK) computers are easy to monitor as to time spent on certain websites. Do routine inspections. It will be easy to see who thinks being on FB all day is why they get a pay check.

Be smart use social media don’t wonder about it!

Is banning social media in the workplace the right approach …

This morning whilst I was out in the car (not driving BTW) I read a tweet from JudithELS that said: “Naughty employees – well rules are there to break, aren’t they? http://tinyurl.com/28r8mvg” The link took me to a Mashable post, …

Publish Date: 07/24/2010 7:33

http://janeknight.typepad.com/socialmedia/2010/07/is-banning-social-media-in-the-workplace-the-right-approach.html

Social Media Law News » Blog Archive » Social Media Effects …

Social Media Workplace Pitfalls Many of my articles stress the importance of creating and implementing a workplace social media policy. John Cruickshank, a national labor and employment attorney based in. …

Publish Date: 10/12/2010 14:38

http://socialmedialawnews.com/2010/10/12/social-media-effects-protected-activity/

Is social media allowed in your workplace?

Is social media allowed in your workplace?. Fill out our poll! You’ll be glad you did. How much social media is too much or when is it too little? Free and fun poll. – PR10980148.

Publish Date: 10/06/2010 8:47

http://www.prlog.org/10980148-is-social-media-allowed-in-your-workplace.html

Steve Ballmer – Closing Statement on Social Media in the Workplace

Steve Ballmer’s closing comments on social media in the workplace, from SharePoint 2009. More on blog.webworldtechnologies.com

O’Reilly Webcast Preview: Creating Your Social Media Policy

This is a 9-minute preview of the full webcast. The Social Web is about communities, collaboration, peer production and user-generated content: where business reputations are defined by customer opinions and ratings, where press is delivered by indep…

Article by Carlos Gamez

Image by : Phillie Casablanca

Bing has finally figured out a way to pull some traffic for themselves, right under Google’s nose.

With several reports going out confirming the advancement in the relationship between FaceBook and Microsoft’s Bing we can now see their goal to make web searching more social.  This is very interesting as it will give us the opportunity to get advice and opinions from friends and family prior to purchasing a product or service online.  So right off the bat you can see the pros and cons about that ability, depending on your family and friends.

According to Computerworld as of last month in September Google was still standing strong as Yahoo and Bing both took a hit.  So I am sure that Bing is hoping that this upgrade with FaceBook will start to change those statistics.  Suprising as this would be, people seem more surprised by FaceBook turning to an underdog like Bing rather then go for a monopoly with Google.  Google is using this news as a way to push positive PR about pushing the “Google Gods” to strive for even better service for their users.  When Yahoo and Bing merged back in August it didn’t raise a concern simply because, well Zeus Kerravala, an analyst at Yankee Group Research said,

Let’s face it, Bing has been a big disappointment, but this could act as a differentiator, people prefer Google to Microsoft, but they prefer Facebook to Google. If the partnership makes Facebooking better, then it could pull users away from Google.

So, with reputable companies like TechCrunch quoting that Google Me is being “modeled” after FaceBook” it leads me to wonder, is Google Me still be a huge rumor OR could it be the next best thing since FaceBook?

I hear too often:

“Is social networking important for a business? Is it something  I really have to do?”

“Do people really pay attention ?”

To you I answer this “YES” !

Social Media is has woven itself directly into the fabric of our culture.

Check this out . Starting Sept 5th 2010  Target will begin selling gift cards that can be used on Facebook!

ref: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6803HU20100901

How much more mainstream can you get than Target?

And really how much more mainstream can you get than Facebook?

Social Media is here to stay and grow and change our world in ways we haven’t even imagined yet. The future will be shaped through the social networks.  And businessmen beware, your future lies here also!

In a very good article :  What does 10 million Facebook fans mean?

Bryant Simon professor of American history and culture at Temple University states:

“Facebook helps, then, to affirm brand loyalties. And Facebook does serve, as Howard Schultz suggested, as a barometer of Starbucks enduring value and its customers’ fidelity. So do the numbers. Last week, Starbucks announced a 9-percent quarterly jump in sales and 6-percent hike in store traffic. But these numbers pale in comparison to the company’s soaring fan count on Facebook.”

As my good friend Bill McIntosh has been saying for years, ” The world is going Social, Mobile and Local.”

Jason Hirschhorn: What Do Goodfellas, Social Media, MTV, The …

Entertainment and technology is not only a hobby; it’s been my job for 15 years. That love is rooted in my admiration for the creativity and art that propels all forms of the industry — music, television, movies, video, games and apps.

Publish Date: 09/01/2010 5:33

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-hirschhorn/what-do-goodfellas-social_b_701181.html

Google Buys SocialDeck: It’s form of Social Media Marketing …

Dawn Kawamoto writes for DailyFinance about Google’s social media deals. Now they have acquired social games developer SocialDeck, Angstro, which gathers search results from social networks, and Slide, a developer of photo sharing …

Publish Date: 09/01/2010 6:01

http://www.onlinesocialmedia.net/20100901/google-buys-socialdeck-its-form-of-social-media-marketing/

The 50+ crowd flocking to social media – Holy Kaw!

Social media may be seen as a trend among young people, but more and more older adults are using the sites as well, according to a new survey by Princeton Survey Research Associates on behalf of the Pew Internet & American Life Project. …

Publish Date: 08/31/2010 23:46

http://holykaw.alltop.com/the-50-crowd-flocking-to-social-media

Making Social Media Worth Your While

Is social media really worth all the effort? That’s the question that many CEOs ask their marketing teams. It’s hard for the C-level executives to understand where the true value of social lies since the results take time and are not always in dollar…

Article by Carlos Gamez

Business Development Manager

McIntosh Marketing

Carlos@mcintoshmarketing.com

Image by: Ben Stein

Facebook just launched Facebook Places, their new location based check-in app.  This will allow you to “check-in” at any location and broadcast your whereabouts directly to your Facebook friends.

It uses a combination of the Bing mapping service on Facebook.com and Google maps on the iPhone to show check-in locations.

Fired straight across the bow of Foursquare, the #1 application in this arena, Facebook will probably overtake Foursquare’s several year lead in a matter of days.  But don’t count out Foursquare. As SAI put it:  “Because of Facebook’s scale, Facebook Places will be bigger than Foursquare. Facebook Photos is bigger than Flickr. This doesn’t mean Foursquare is dead.”

Although Facebook has released an update to their iPhone application, they are still rolling out the ability to actually use it.  When I clicked on the Places icon inside the Facebook application in my home town of Los Angeles, I was met with a message “This feature will be available in your region soon.  Thank you for your patience.”

There are many theories about your brain getting fried because of the Social networking. Or Losing your sanity because you are obsessively connected to your devices… Phones, Laptops and tablets.

I don’t think it’s true outside the foolishness of texting while driving.

The social nature of modern technology is opening up channels of communication between business owners and prospective new clients and customers that have never existed before and that make it easier for the customer to find what they are looking for.

Yes it is the Business owner that is investing in building a social presence to help promote his company but in the end it is he consumer that makes out the best. He can now find whatever he is looking for in whatever configuration at his finger tips.

I believe that the more involved in Social Networking and Marketing business owners get the better it will be for consumers . I love it when I want something that I can access my smart phone ask a question and instantly get recommendations for what I am looking for.

If you are a business owner try this link for a great Social Media Marketing resource.

How to Use Social Media to Make Make Money | Social Media Marketing

Do you know what social media marketing is and to go about making money with social media? First of all before you can make money at something you need to know.

Publish Date: 08/11/2010 3:48

http://www.socialmediamarketing.co.cc/social-media/how-to-use-social-media-to-make-make-money

Social Media Marketing Tips for Beginners | Webmaster 9

If you are familiar with words like Youtube, Facebook, Linkedin etc then understanding the concept of social media marketing is not a big deal. It is one of the.

Publish Date: 08/11/2010 15:54

http://www.webmaster9.com/2010-08/social-media-marketing-tips-for-beginners.html

Social Media Marketing Case Studies « Piranet

A great resources for finding Social Media Marketing Case Studies around the web. Related posts: Services Marketing Case Studies| Marketing Case Studies In Management Source: http://www. ibscdc. org / services-marketing-case studies. …

Publish Date: 08/11/2010 5:04

http://www.piranet.com/case-studies/social-media-marketing-case-studies/

By jimmywarren1 at 08/11/2010 16:45

Social Media Revolution

Social Media Revolution: Is social media a fad? Or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution? This video details out social media facts and figures that are hard to ignore. This video is produced by the author of Socialnomics.

Author:Carlos Gamez

Business Development Manager

McIntosh Marketing

carlos@mcintoshmarketing.com

Image by Mark i Geo

Since Google is trying to continue to dominate the “online world” of social media networking they must attempt to acquire any company that can provide a service that can help them compete with Facebook.  Although that is not what Google is stating.  On the contrary, Google is focused on coming up with something so different that it will not even compete with Facebook but will make Facebook obsolete.

The New York Times is confirming Google’s acquisition of Slide for a hefty sum of around $228 Million.  With many observers saying that it seems to support the rumors of Google creating a casual gaming site, aptly named “Google Games” but at this point, no one knows for sure.

Almost confirming the merger in a recent interview, CEO Eric Schmidt said, “We have understood for a long time that social stuff is very important. The question that’s in everyone’s minds is why are we trying to create a competitor to Facebook, and the answer is we’re not going to create a competitor to Facebook. It’s something different.”  Since Google has already invested over $150 million into the successful Mafia War/Farmville company, Zynga, this comment from Eric Schmidt really adds fuel to the fire of ever constant Google gossip.

This just leaves us with one more question…   Is this the birth of Google Me?

Learn how to build a Facebook landing page, how to use “like”, which Facebook applications to use and how to use them, how to promote your page, how to get traffic, and even how to get tracking to see how it is performing.

If you don’t want to read through the incredibly detailed list, here are three resources you should start with:

• Part 1: The Super Simple Guide: Getting Started
• Part 2: The Super Simple Guide: Enhancing Your Page
• Part 3: The Super Simple Guide: Using Photos and Videos

I encourage you to view the full Ultimate Facebook Guide.  There is no way to digest it all at once, but even if you get through a fraction of it, I think your page will be pretty successful.

As long as politics have existed, propaganda has existed, and very aggressive attempts to undermine one politician or another has also existed. That is not new. But the media used to disseminate slander has now changed.

So how would one keep this honest and ethical? How can a candidate control the slanderous statements of an opposing candidate?

Well, The State of Maryland has decided to implement some social media regulations for those running for office. And in today’s hearing, the Maryland General Assembly’s joint committee on administrative, executive and legislative review voted 11 to 1 in favor of these regulations.

From now on, candidates must include an authority line on any social networking site they are using for their campaign.

According to the VP of Public Policy for AOL, Maryland will “absolutely be a model” for state social media policies.

Let’s see what other states do now…