Even website visitors are down. In the past two years, 68% of the Fortune 500 companies had a drop in unique visitors to their company websites. There is a fundamental reality of the social web that is slowly killing your marketing strategy, whether you know it or not: The Physics of Social Media. Now, don’t freak out. It’s not complicated or boring, and it makes no mention of black holes or the Higgs Boson. It’s a pretty simple but important idea about the increasing demands on your content and marketing messages. Is that true? don’t know. flood. Tweet. MORE >>

If someone is on your website, blog, or Facebook page, they have already become “aware.” Measure the number of mentions of your brand or website URL. Consideration – shows up by checking out your brand and from a digital perspective this can be measured by how many come to brand website. 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! Do you have a plan?  MORE >>

Then in the late 1990s, with the creation of our first company websites, we took a one way ticket AWAY from these personal relationships and created the first, permanent digital divide between ourselves and our customers. Time on websites went down, time on social sites exploded. So for a business, we must now figure out how to connect with people in this new information eco-system and compel them to love us so much that they want to investigate our website, which is where the business takes place. So, let’s change that. The third layer. There is. The mobile layer. MORE >>

3) Offer helpful links and headlines that can drive traffic to your website, blog, landing pages, YouTube channels. Despite the social media hype, your website is usually the place where you ask for money… or registrations, downloads, or whatever you’re after. Websites are still important in the social information eco-system. Just a few years ago, search results would only turn up websites. There are lots of success stories and case studies documenting business success through Twitter. Facebook, etc. 5) Break through communication barriers with tweets. MORE >>

While the design of the blog is quite busy, check out the beautiful and effective design of the main  website while you’re visiting. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) explores the region’s media (both print and television), websites, religious sermons and school books. don’t know why this blog is detached from the main Red Cross website. Blogs and social media are critical communication tools for non-profits. And it makes sense. Blogs are a cost-effective way to tell stories and build a consistent emotional connection with constituents. MORE >>