With the social media landscape changing daily, it’s hard to keep up… For some, more than others. The introduction of Google+ has Facebook running for its money, which in turn sent MySpace packing that originally pulled the plug on Friendster. (Are you following?) Recently it’s been reported that both Yahoo and Hulu are for sale. So what does that mean, not only for these companies, but their customers as well?

According to this article in the Washington Post, Yahoo’s controversial CEO, Carol Bartz was fired over the phone, causing pandemonium amidst standing chaos. Hulu is currently run by the parent companies of NBC, ABC and Fox, which contribute their own shows to the site. Now, with sale signs on the doors of these multi-million dollar companies, what, if anything, can Hulu and Yahoo bring to the tables of their respective buyers?

Yahoo has been accused of “living in the 90’s”, a content-heavy site with no core business focus (e.g. Facebook for photos, Google for search.) Hulu would also lose leverage if the content providers remain unwilling to contribute their shows post-purchase. Advertising has been the main driver and perhaps the main draw of both sites. Bidders, however, include Amazon, Dish and Google.

Will it be the end of an era for Yahoo or Hulu?

With bated breath, I await my Google+ invitation.  I am curious as to whether or not Facebook will have real competition with this “project” (apparently they are leery to call it a product since most of their social networking attempts, like Buzz, have flopped.)

So what exactly is Google+?  Simply put, it’s Google’s answer to Facebook (and I for one have been counting the days!)  This Pocket-lint article delves into the details, but the basic premise is set around a stream, or news feed, where your “circles” and “hangouts” can respond and interact.  But where does this network fit exactly?  Furthermore, will loyal Facebook users be willing to switch, despite Facebook Fatigue?

The major differences are increased privacy, multiple-user chat function and the “real-life sharing” component. Google wants to fix what is broken. Can they do it? The answer is yet to be determined, but I for one am anxious to explore the possibility!

Have you tried Google+?  What are your thoughts?

So, you created a Facebook profile ages ago…  You have 1,264 friends (half of who you don’t even know personally) a quarter you’ve had only a few conversations with, but haven’t talked to in months and the rest are family or friends you mostly connect with via email or Skype.  In fact, you haven’t uploaded any pictures or posted an update in days…  Come to think of it, when is the last time you actually USED Facebook (other than just receiving an annoying message alert.)  Not only that, but you’re still harboring resentment towards Mark Zuckerberg for taking away your privacy rights behind your back!!

If you’re suffering from any (or all) of the above, don’t worry; you’re not alone.  What you may be experiencing is Facebook Fatigue and it seems to be sweeping the nation….  At least Great Britain, according to this Science & Tech article.

I recently watched, “The Facebook Obsession” a CNBC documentary that raised a lot of interesting questions.  It took a hard look at the good, the bad and the future of Facebook.  On the one hand, it reunites long lost friends, family members, colleagues and the like.  It allows photo sharing and provides intimate details about the lives of those you can’t be close to.  On the other, it has actually destroyed lives; people have lost jobs, or loved ones, to the mass exploitation of demographic information that is Facebook.   In the middle, you have those who simply use it to keep in touch.

So, where does that leave Facebook?  There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle, particularly based on your feelings about Facebook and Privacy.  We all know, when we go online – we’re putting it out there, so to speak.  No matter WHAT you say, you’re assuming a certain amount of risk.  Therefore, necessary measures must be taken on your part to ensure privacy.  But Facebook went beyond that by falsely alluding their customers into believing their information was completely safe.  Another theory is the “novelty” factor, which the aforementioned article addresses in depth.  Perhaps it is merely leveling off and becoming commonplace.

In any event, the honeymoon appears to be over, and whether or not Facebook will join MySpace and Friendster in going the way of the Dodo is still TBD.  No matter what you’re feeling about Facebook, fatigue is just one possible side effect created by Google’s biggest competitor.  As for me, I’m still waiting for the next big thing;-)

Are you suffering from Facebook Fatigue?

With literally thousands of social media tools at your disposal, it is not only important to know WHO your audience is but also WHERE they are. So much of the focus lies on, what I like to call, the Fab 4: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. But a true social media strategy is developed by working backward INTO the tools, rather than starting with them.

First, define your objectives. Once they have been delineated, start researching!! Who is your target market? Where do they hang out online? And what is the best campaign to reach out to them? Remember, establishing an online presence isn’t about YOU it’s about THEM!! And it’s not short-term… In the late 90’s Yahoo had the lion’s share of the search engine market while Google was nowhere to be found… Just because Facebook is the biggest thing today doesn’t mean it will be in 5 or 10 years.

Finally, engage your audience. The beauty of social media, when properly integrated into a campaign, is the ability to listen to what your customers want; even if the feedback is negative, this is the perfect opportunity to improve your offering. Ironically, we often become so engrossed in what is good for our business, we forget to focus on what is good for our customers… So define them, find them and LISTEN to them. Your business and your customers will thank you;-)

Popularized by the Oscar-winning movie, social networking is fast becoming the standard of networking today.  LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter allow you to forge business relationships from the comfort of your home or office, and suddenly your world is opened up exponentially!  Although that’s not news, the IRL (in real life) component of social networking is new to me and, as I’ve pleasantly discovered, it’s the critical piece of the puzzle!

Taking your social network offline and into real life is like pulling back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz.  What you will discover is the person behind the avatar… And – as real people in real life – you will gain invaluable insight into your followers/friends that social networking just can’t provide.  This doesn’t mean you need to schedule meet-ups with all 2,000 of your connections but what it does mean is once your online conversations start piling up, make time outside of Twitter to sit down and network in-person.  Although the breadth online is vast, the depth of traditional networking is key to building lasting business relationships.

Just remember, not every follower needs to be a friend and not every friend needs to be a follower.  Also, if you don’t have time to meet on an individual basis, tweetups or workshops are great ways to connect with a group of people at once.

Are you socializing IRL?

***A big thanks to my new Tweeps IRL @alexjvasquez, @edwardlawrence, @oakleyOC, @lorennason, @HealthOC and @thebigdebowski (for teaching me the acronym;-)

It’s the same old song – the New Year started off with a bang… You updated your facebook business page, attended a few social media workshops and webinars, wrote several blog posts and even tweeted them! Well, now we’re three months in and already your blog has cobwebs, you haven’t tweeted in weeks and the last place you checked in on foursquare was New Year’s Day brunch!

You keep asking yourself, who has the time for this?! The answer is, even social media junkies hit a wall at some point. It’s information overload (even for the experts;-) So how do you get back on track and furthermore, how do you maintain a consistent social media program so you’re not constantly falling off the wagon?

First and foremost, make sure you’re using the best tools for your business as well as a social media management tool. Then, create an action plan. I found equating this concept to an exercise regimen seemed like a “fitting” analogy;-) By applying the same principles you would to get in shape, I made a checklist for getting your social media strategy toned in no time!

Here’s the skinny:

• Set a realistic goal – as with exercise, too much too soon is just setting yourself up for failure. Decide on a weekly schedule and stick to it, no excuses.
• Write it down – by putting things in writing you are making yourself accountable. Like counting calories, become aware of what it takes to reach your goal and keep track of it.
• Don’t punish yourself – we all make mistakes but there’s always tomorrow. So if you miss a post, don’t stress. Just make sure to get back on track as soon as possible.
• Reward yourself – when you DO stick to your program, give yourself a just reward (and since you’re NOT on a diet – chocolate is completely acceptable in this case;-)
• Everything in moderation – extreme exercise can derail even the toughest athlete. Make sure you’re doing social media in moderation and you’re sure to be a winner!
• Buddy up – in the case of social media, don’t take it all on yourself. Ask for blog topics from friends and co-workers, schedule tweets, use lists and, if possible, divide and conquer. If that’s not an option, use your online pals as inspiration to keep going – they love to help each other out!

What are some other tips to keep your social media program up and running?

Or it’s having a heck of a time at the wake! Last week we showed you how to use both twitter and facebook more effectively. Today I want to discuss traditional forms of marketing and how a hybrid combination of both traditional and non-traditional methods can be key to a successful marketing plan.

Traditional Marketing, typically associated with advertising, is still very much alive and well – at least it should be. With the popularity of social and interactive media omnipresent in the marketplace, it is often assumed that these non-traditional methods have replaced traditional marketing altogether. However, as evidenced in this thoughtful blog post (no, not the one I’m writing now;-) you can see integration and interaction are key elements when creating an effective marketing mix.

Marketing, as a strategy, is about reaching an audience with the ultimate goal of making a sale. As a science, it is a bachelor’s degree. Just as you wouldn’t trust Dr. Dre, the rapper who uses the pseudonym of ‘Dr.’ to perform your heart surgery, you wouldn’t want a 13-year-old “twit” branding your business. Qualified professionals run agencies and although social media is an excellent marketing tool, you simply cannot rely on it as your sole solution to sales generation.

As we face the future of business with ever-evolving technology and media, adding value to your brand by implementing new marketing tools and staying updated with trends in the marketplace is important. But using the tried and true marketing methods proven time and again is imperative. So tweet, blog and facebook but remember, nothing says BUY ME like a good old-fashioned billboard!

How are you integrating both traditional and non-traditional methods into your marketing strategy?

Yesterday, we discussed the 5 steps to using twitter more effectively. Today, we are going to discuss the 5 steps to make facebook more effective.

Create a business page people actually care about.

If all your business page does is ramble on about who you are and why you’re so cool, people are not going to want to get involved. However, if you ask questions, start conversations and provide new and interesting information, it will be much easier to keep an audience interested. Participation is the key to the success of a facebook page.

Provide them an offer they can’t refuse

Not to go all godfather on you, but really, people like offers…they like feeling special. Put together something just for your facebook fans and give them a reason to come ‘like’ you! It doesn’t have to be big, but make sure it is about them not about you. Gift cards, special invites…not sales pitches disguised as a free offer.

Keep your information consistent

With so many social platforms, life can be confusing. But, if you use the same headshot/logo and explaination of who you are and what you do in all places, it can make it easier. People want to know they have found the right person or company – and that can be difficult when the pages are not filled out properly. Don’t forget to put your email and contact information there too!

Connect your blog

Networked Blogs is one of the easiest to use and most aesthetically pleasing blog connection applications for facebook. It will pull the post in as soon as it is published, allow people to subscribe and even shows images embedded into the content. Set it up once, and your blog content will publish to your page automatically, providing easier access to your intelligence for your facebook fans.

Don’t give up

One of the biggest pitfalls that companies fall into is not seeing results fast enough and giving up on different tools. Today, remind yourself that social media is about conversations, discussions and building awareness…not selling your stuff. Then remind yourself tomorrow, and the day after that, and on until you understand the reason that we are using these tools. Once you understand the why, the how becomes much easier to comprehend.

There are just too many social media tools for anyone. Ever. Yesterday, we discussed taking a step outside of the digital distractions, but at the root of those distractions are the huge number of social media tools breathing down your neck…we all want to participate in everything we can. We all want to make sure that our business isn’t missing out on something that could possibly help – or worse, we don’t want to feel left out.

“At some big or small level, it’s nagging all of the people who are mired enough in social networking to bother following the latest developments. This isn’t everyone — despite the fact that institutions from your local radio station to your dry cleaner beg you to follow them on Twitter, there are whole swaths of people who just don’t give a flying friend request. But consider this: At one point in their centuries-old history, the Amish were not the technological relics they are today. Everyone else was churning and buggying right along with them. At some point, electricity was invented and the Amish had to reject it. Cars were invented and they took a pass. We’re good with the buggy, they said. Motor on without us. Now, in an onslaught of sites designed to aid connection, communication and cross-promotion, individual stopping points must be declared. When will you go 21st-century Amish?” – Washington Post

Social media tools are great when they are used right, but just as too much work can be overwhelming and cause nothing to get done, so can too many social tools. I recommend that a business use no more than the 4-6 most important, which usually include: blogging, twitter, facebook, linkedin, and a geo-location service. Over that is overkill – and not every business will even need these. Some other tools to consider are ning, myspace (yes, it can still work), youtube, posterous, and tumblr.

What tools do you use? What have you found to be the most useful?

We’ve all seen the lovely fail whale a few too many times…or like yesterday, watched the Facebook server crash. So, what do you do if one of your beloved social sites goes down?

Here at Motor Creative, we have put together just a few ideas:

1. Complain about it going down on any site that is still up.
2. Start commenting on every post that is talking about the outage.
3. Continually hit refresh until you have carpal tunnel.
4. Start a conspiracy theory that Myspace is taking out all other social sites.
5. Stock up on water and food, because obviously, this is the first sign of the apocalypse.
6. Actually call your clients.
7. Decorate your office with sticky notes and paperclip art.
8. Do real work – any real work.
9. Play minesweep.
10. Write a list of the 10 things to do when your social media sites go down.

What other ways can you come up with to spend your time when twitter and facebook go down?