When marketers think about social media, they tend to focus on Facebook and Twitter. But new research — and common sense — suggests there may be better places to engage your social audience. Like most good social media consultants, I evaluate each client’s needs to determine where they should engage their audience. In most cases, even if I recommend a Facebook page, Twitter account, or creating a LinkedIn group, I recommend engaging in other communities , as well. By Neicole Crepeau, Contributing {grow} Columnist. MORE >>

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research  continues to do an excellent job documenting the social media progress of organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, INC 500 companies and non-profits. In a new research release, the team shows that universities continue to lead the way in the use of social media and its measurement. ” The relatively low-cost effectiveness of social media fits with programs under constant budget pressures. Some highlights: Reduced costs for traditional media are attributed to use of social media. MORE >>

But beyond content, I was interested to know what people thought it took to gain influence on the social web. So I asked a few of my friends … What do you think it takes to become powerful on Facebook? Facebook forces companies and people to compete for attention pixel-by-pixel. ” IAN CLEARY , CEO,  Discover Buddy : “Creating influence on Facebook involves identifying your niche and building a personal and meaningful relationship with existing influencers, helping them grow their influence and not expecting anything in return.” Human. Tweet. MORE >>

The numbers can be daunting , especially if you’re new to the social scene. In the gray matter that bridges content marketing and social media, wins can be achieved any number of ways. Gauge the size and reach of your social community against the needs and social habits of your target audience. Rather than harp on the number of Twitter followers or Facebook likes you’ve acquired, take solace in smaller victories. Every possible action and reaction represents a measurable social media win for your organization. Either way, it’s a big number. MORE >>

Let’s look at five great social media tools to ensure you attract a relevant audience to your blog posts. SocialBro is a social media management tool.  By attracting a relevant audience it is more likely that their network would also be a relevant audience.  Action: Make sure that you actively promote the option for social sharing.  So help Google index your content correctly by doing some keyword research using Google Keyword Tool and ensure you give Google sufficient clues regarding what your content is about. But it does make sense! MORE >>