Instead of managing for a long-term vision, becoming a public company creates an inexorable and relentless pressure to meet quarterly sales goals. Within the next 60 days, an event will occur that may be the most devastating development in the young history of social media and for the businesses and individuals who love it so much. Facebook is going to become a publicly-traded company. If you have ever worked for a public company you can relate to what I am about to say. If you haven’t you’ll have to trust me. You and me. More information = more ad revenues. Pretty simple. MORE >>

recently read about IKEA’s success with its new digital strategy—a 7% boost in sales. As this article details, IKEA first set a clear business goal: increase the ticket size (amount per transaction) of sales. By Neicole Crepeau, Contibuting {grow}  Columnist. If you read my blog, you know that I promote a method of digital marketing that involves developing social offers. social offer is a win-win proposition that you make to your audience. By win-win, I mean that the user gets something he or she wants by doing something that you, the business, wants. Oh, and guess what? MORE >>

Executives think in terms of a sales funnel. Notice I did not mention sales. Social media is generally a weak vehicle for direct sales, BUT awareness, consideration, loyalty and advocacy ALL contribute to sales.  For years I’ve admired the real-world insights and experienced perspectives of Steve Goldner, perhaps better know as @Social Steve.  I’m pleased that Steve has agreed to be the newest Contributing Columonist to {grow} and I know you’ll enjoy his work! By Steve Goldner, Contributing {grow} Columnist. So how do you even go about this?  MORE >>

But as I look to the future, I’m not sure marketing, sales, advertising, or even PR are going to be the leading career paths for somebody I would hire to lead a social organization transformation. I’m a marketing guy. And boy I love it. There’s nothing I enjoy more than a great case study! Well, almost nothing. Of course these areas are important — and will continue to be — but if I’m growing a corporate social media competency, here is who I would be hiring in my company: 1) Journalism. Where are these people getting jobs? Alternative media. MORE >>

Find new business contacts  and sales leads through directories such as Twellow and the advanced Twitter search. Contact me for a discount on bulk sales over 20 copies. There are lots of success stories and case studies documenting business success through Twitter. Here are a few of my favorite ways to leverage this platform for new business benefits. 1) Using Twitter search and other simple listening tools, monitor real time conversations about your brand that can assist your marketing and management teams in seeing what is really being about your company today. There MORE >>