For example, if your goal is to improve your brand’s image among bloggers, your tactic might be a blogger outreach program that involves one-on-one dialog and support. Guest writer Jamie Lee Wallace contributes this post on our series of social media marketing measurement. good bartender earns repeat visitors by remembering the names and drinks of the regulars, engaging new visitors in friendly discussion, and sharing news and insights about the local scene. It's not all about how many sales he can make in an hour. Were your messages communicated? Did the right people show up? MORE >>

So what do I think will be top trends for 2009? While this will provide immediate cost and time savings by reducing travel and hotel costs, I think that the pendulum will swing back by the end of 2009. Other 2009 Predictions: Peter Himler over at The Flack beat me to a list of 2009 trends. Influential Marketing Blog - 2009 Predictions from the Pros at PSFK. Scott Monty’s Social Media Predictions for 2009. Marketing Pilgrim – Why 2009 is THE Year for Social Media. Chris Brogran – 8 Marketing Bloggers to Watch in 2009. del.icio.us MORE >>

and one quote from a prominent blogger I love and respect: "When you ask businesses why they are participating in social media, what do they say? This is what real ROI looks like. Except if you're in Canada. Then it would be red, blue and purple. Canada money rocks. Do NOT skip over this article -- It might just save your reputation, your credibility and your career! ROI (Return on Investment) seems to be THE social media marketing topic right now -- How do we make money on this darn stuff? There are hundreds of articles on SM and ROI. So why am I writing yet another one? Forget ROI. MORE >>

high-tech community like this also has many bloggers and Web-based news outlets that cover our companies, venture capital, and events -- plus a number of advisers who help technologies entrepreneurial companies grow. However, it's been hard to find the thoughtful bloggers who provide interesting commentary on what's happening and are advising high growth entrepreneurs. Southern California is a hotbed of technology companies that are leaders in their sector. This includes MySpace, CitySearch, Ticketmaster, eHarmony, and thousands of lesser known technology companies. MORE >>

At Savvy B2B Marketing, we thrive on different perspectives and new ideas, which is why we are thrilled to welcome today's guest blogger, Casey HIbbard, also known as the queen of case studies. In her blog - Stories that Sell - Casey shares success-story marketing best practices. More fantastic guests are planned for the weeks ahead, so stay tuned. Customer case studies are high-value, in-demand marketing and sales collateral. Marketing teams are tasked with producing powerful stories, yet it’s not always easy. The same questions come up again and again. MORE >>