The buy option means partnering with a software vendor to create your community, which may also demand some internal or external expertise. Collaboration platforms: Full-featured packages which incorporate content management, member directories, forums, social networking, blogs, file and media sharing and even chat; this is the category served by most commercial online community vendors. Pricing may also involve trade-offs between short and long-term commitments to a particular vendor or service provider. In general, few build, many assemble and most buy. MORE >>

The BRD provides guidance for all subsequent steps in the community development process, and is a key component for selecting the community platform vendor. There are many excellent online community platforms; some vendors offer pre-packaged communities while others offer highly-customized solutions. Use the BRD to narrow the platform vendor list or analyze the build vs. buy options, manage the risks effectively and focus on the customization elements needed to make the community essential to your membership base. But a common question is how to start! Finally, look ahead. MORE >>

Especially the more popular channels like Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. According to the report – of the 4,365,377 visitors to the 261 B2B websites that were part of the LeadForce1 research during Feb 2010 to April 2010 – 1,418,171 were enterprise visitors. Linkedin topped the list of social media sites – sending the maximum number of leads, Wikipedia came second followed by Twitter and then Facebook. Social Media is witnessing a phenomenal increase in the number of Enterprise users. Lead here is defined as an enterprise visitor. MORE >>

2010 was the year social media exploded onto the marketing scene.  Technology vendors are blurring the distinction between products and services. The technology vendor landscape is transforming quickly.  Marketers typically prefer best-of-breed solutions, but vendors push for integrated online suites runs.  number of things happened in 2010 that set the stage for an explosion of mobile marketing in 2011.  Connect with Kenyon on  LinkedIn or follow him on  Twitter. Kenyon Blunt. And this new step in the sales process is here to stay. “). Digg this! MORE >>

Last year, my colleague Tom Pick ( @TomPick ) and I introduced the #Nifty50 awards , which honored 50 men and 50 women who were leading the way in social media through their active engagement on Twitter. So, without further ado, here are the 2012 #Nifty50 Men, each of whom has represented the technology world on Twitter with class, dedication and integrity. Once you’ve taken a look at these Twitter innovators below, don’t forget to check out the 2012 #Nifty50 Women at Webbiquity too! Brian tops most CMO and Twitter lists, and is super-smart and well-connected. MORE >>