Blogging had been steadily climbing as a corporate communications tool — 19% of the INC 500 blogged in 2007, 39% in 2008, 45% in 2009, 50% in 2010 and just 37% last year. Are America’s fastest-growing companies shifting away from blogging as a primary social media platform?  ”Maybe” could be a conclusion based on new research examining the INC 500 from The Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts. For the first time in the five years that this research has been conducted, the use of blogging declined. Is corporate blogging really declining? MORE >>

The total I am reporting represents the new value I created for Amachi by establishing an effective social media presence and creating new connections that did not exist prior to the time I started blogging in 2009. From a standing start in 2009, I have been able to create a global community that responded to an appeal in one blog post and contributed $4,352 in 48 hours. As many of you know, I recently asked fans of {grow} to support a charitable cause through a post entitled “ The kid who wanted a door for Christmas.” In short, it usually doesn’t work. The results. MORE >>

By 2009 companies both large and small joined the social media frenzy trying to make sense of the unprecedented amount of direct consumer information that was flooding the airwaves. It’s all about the conversation. Have you heard that a thousand times?  It’s a ubiquitous mantra of the social web to the point where sometimes I think it takes over as the ultimate goal. It’s not the goal.  The goal of any organization is to increase shareholder value … a.k.a. make money. Even non-profits. So how did we get hung up on the social media “conversation” as a goal of its own?  What MORE >>

While the case for social media as a marketing channel is compelling for consumer products companies, I’ ve been particularly interested in how it is being used … or not … by mainstream industrials. Over the last month, I’ ve assessed the social media presence of most of the major Fortune 500 B2B giants looking for case studies to report to you, my gentle readers! found some great examples, but for fun, I’ ve decided to start out with the WORST companies I found out there. An example: “Back off weeds! new herbicides are coming to get you.” 3M Corporation – I love 3M. Where are you guys? MORE >>

Spammers almost killed Twitter in 2009 and Quora in 2010. Klout announced a radical overhaul to its scoring system, site design, and score transparency. But what is the real impact? Will it make a difference? had a chance to speak to Klout CEO Joe Fernandez to try to determine the depth of the changes that were announced today … and answer the question on everybody’s mind — “Will my Klout score drop?” ” Substantially more data points. Joe Fernandez of Klout. Tempering the vacation effect. Transparency. Privacy. ” The Bieber versus Obama debate. MORE >>