Why do you expect your customers to do your work for you? Do the work of figuring out what your customers need and why, and address those needs directly in your content. How do you use social media to do the work for your customers? “Join us on Facebook and Twitter!&# I always chuckle when I hear that at the end of a TV ad — as if people whose program you’re interrupting are going to take the time to pull out their phone or laptop and connect with you on a social network. As a business, it’s your job to find and listen to your customers. MORE >>

However, SEO plugins work well if you are going to let someone else work with your site—whether it be someone you’ve hired or guest contributors who will be uploading their own articles. Those who make a living by working with SEO might know some secrets that you don’t. Search engine optimization deals with optimizing your site for every search engine, and social media sites also work as search engines (you can search for something on Facebook, can’t you?). Consider downloading Google Translate or working with a translator to create an alternate website. MORE >>

The way that people work in media has also drastically changed. For example, the notable historian Shelby Foote wrote his career defining work called The Civil War: A Narrative in 1986. In the past, taking many years to publish such a work was entirely normal. Before social media, emphasis was placed on extensive works created by experts (like Shelby Foote’s Civil War narrative). And this worked for a variety of reasons: People had less distractions without things like digital cable, or even the Internet. How Social Media Overtook Legacy Media. MORE >>

Social networking has become very important in our culture, and we wondered if the technology is influencing employees’ views about ethics at work,” Harned explains. As social media usage continues to rise, it’s only natural that statistic correlations will be made about the individuals who use the medium. This isn’t a bad thing; it’s common to deep-dive into demographic information and behavioral data. While there will always be exceptions to the “correlations” that emerge from such data, universal truths about social networking usage and user behavior can be valuable. Dr. Patricia J. MORE >>

What works for you? 2010 in Review! We’re posting the best articles from the year to help you get 2011 off to the right start! original on increasing engagement posted October 18, 2010) A major frustration for people trying out Twitter for the first time is figuring out how to get anyone to respond. They set up their Twitter account, tweet a few times and wonder why no one responds. While tweets are public unless you protect them, they probably won’t be seen by anyone unless they’re following you, they do a search for something you mention or you’re on a list. MORE >>