Girl with a blog in 2014!

January 8, 2014social networking,Marketing 2.0,social business,social media,social marketing,Social Business,IBMIBM,social,social media,Blogs,Marketing 2.0,Web 2.0,adoption,sales,gitomer

I have been reading all the 2014 trends for social!   One thing I found interesting was the number of articles that included blogging coming back -- I just share a few here!

The blog is back!

•Changes in the Google algorithm this year and the growth in Flipboard and mobile curation services are promoting renewed interest in the blogging medium.
And from Social Media Today,
 Blogging Will Remain The #1 Way To Generate New Business
Creating great content on a regular basis and driving traffic back to your site is going to remain the number #1 way to generate new leads. This means as a small business, if you don't have a blog yet, it's time to start one.
From Europe Trend report:
Blogging Rocks!
The blog content will be top of mind again in 2014.  Companies who do not blog will be left behind!

Here are 4 reasons you need to blog:

  • Drive traffic to your website
  • Increase your SEO!
  • Position your brand as an industry leader and showcase your POV!
  • Develop better customer relationships

by sandraanncarter

Social Business Coffee Break: Interview with Janet Powers of Woman's Toolbox

January 6, 2014Web 2.0,Marketing 2.0,cloud,social business,wsj,sxsw,big data,social media,adoptionsocial marketing,best practices,Social Business,adoption,Facebook,gitomer,Marketing 2.0,social networking,IBM,IBM,social,social media,BLOGHER,Blogs,Marketing 2.0

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9ZAh9fSUMA&feature=youtu.be]

by sandraanncarter

Don't miss Connect! THE Social Event of the year!

January 4, 2014Web 2.0,Marketing 2.0,big data,social business,best practices,sxsw,adoption,social media,social networkingsocial marketing,social experience,Social Business,connect,Marketing 2.0,social workforce,IBM,IBM,social,social media,social marketing,BLOGHER,Blogs,Marketing 2.0

I hope you join me at Connect 2014!!!

It is not to be missed!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcoW73-kmA4&feature=youtu.be]

by sandraanncarter

Saturday and my Favorite Infographic of the Week!! Millennials

January 4, 2014best practices,Marketing 2.0,adoption,social business,infographic,sxsw,gitomer,social media,social networking,social marketing,millennials,Social Business,social trends,IBMtrends,IBM,social,social media,BLOGHER,Blogs,Marketing 2.0,Web 2.0,adoption

Happy Saturday !    This one of my favorite infographic of the week on the new client -- the Millennial!   These folks are wed to technology -- so much so that 53% of them would rather give up their sense of smell than of technology!  WOW!

rise-of-the-millennials

 

by sandraanncarter

14 in 2014! My 14 Predictions of Trends for the New Year! Vblog

December 31, 2013big data,Marketing 2.0,adoption,social business,adoption,sxsw,social networking,social media,trends,social marketing,2014,Social Business,social media trendsIBM,IBM,social media,social marketing,BLOGHER,Blogs,Marketing 2.0,Web 2.0,technology

Happy New Year!

I will have a detailed written blog at midnight tonight but in the meantime, here's my Vblog to get you thinking!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf5yg_ERDfo&feature=youtu.be]

by sandraanncarter

Let's go fly a kite! The Social Flight!

December 30, 2013big data,Marketing 2.0,best practices,social business,adoption,social media,social networking,social marketing,Social Business,Marketing 2.0IBM,social,social media,Social Personal Branding,BLOGHER,Blogs,Marketing 2.0,Web 2.0,cloud

This weekend I went to see "Saving Mr Banks" which is the story about how Disney received rights to the character of Mary Poppins! (It was a great movie!)  My favorite part of the movie was how the song "Let's go fly a kite" came to be -- and it got me thinking about kites and social.

There's an old saying in China - "those who fly a kite can have a long life."   Interesting --- kite flying on a regular basis can lead to longevity!

What does fly a kite mean in the Social Business world?

Get started --- and keep trying! You may not be able to get the kite up the first time. Keep going -- endure the failure! The same is true for Social. Starting is the hardest. You may experience some failure -- ensure through it and learn the ropes!
Practice! To fly a kite, you need to practice. My daughter and I tried multiple times at the beach and finally got the kite up! In Social, to really see results, you need to keep going and practice! Social requires learning the tools and the practices as well as your clients.
Fun! Yes, flying a kite is fun. It is relaxing. Social is the same. Keeping touch with your clients is fun --- not just the business side but the personal as well!

by sandraanncarter

My favorite Infographic - 61% of B2B companies have an Ad-Hoc Social Strategy!

December 28, 2013Blogs,Marketing 2.0,Marketing 2.0,social business,Web 2.0,sxsw,adoption,social media,gitomer,social marketingsocial networking,Social Business,social networking,Facebook,Marketing 2.0,IBM,IBM,social,social media,Social Personal Branding,BLOGHER

B2BMarketingSocMedBenchmark2013 - 700

by sandraanncarter

5 Things I Treasure On Christmas Eve!

December 24, 2013Christmas,Marketing 2.0,christmas,social business,christmas eve,social media,top 10,social marketing,top 5,Social Businesstop10,Marketing 2.0,IBM,IBM,social media,Social Personal Branding,BLOGHER,Blogs,Marketing 2.0,Web 2.0,adoption

Today is Christmas Eve!  I feel so blessed to have such a great family and friends to celebrate with this great holiday!  My daughters asked me what I love about this day -- as I am so excited the entire day!  Here's my list!

  1. Candlelight Service.   I love this service where everyone lights a candle and the light is passed around from one to another.  Candlelight services are planned to be a way for individuals and groups, large or small, to quietly reflect, pray together, or simply show support for one another.It is one of the most powerful things I remember about Christmas time!
  2. It's a Wonderful Life.  Yep, it's just a movie but has a touching message:  All of us touch so many people that impacts them forever -- whether they know it or not.  The film is considered one of the most loved films in American cinema and has become traditional viewing during the Christmas season -- especially with my family. We make hot chocolate and all of us gather in front of the fire to watch -- and cry at the implications!
  3. Potato Soup.    I love potato soup and before the Candlelight Service we eat potato soup for dinner.   I am Lithuanian -- born in the US, but my grandparents were from Lithuania. This soup is one of the recipes passed down from my Grandma.  It is so warm and delicious -- it would not be Christmas Eve without the soup!!
  4. Staying up to Midnight to prepare the presents from Santa!  Yes, we all stay up to prepare the presents under the tree, eat the milk and cookies for Santa, and even the carrots for the reindeer.  We tell stories of when I was little, or when my parents were little, and just talk.   Even though we are sleepy, it is special for family time with my parents and husband!
  5. The Season.   I wish we all could be as generous and happy all the year long!   The spirit abounds throughout the day and night.   There is something so special about that holiday smile.

I'd love to know your special traditions on Christmas Eve!

Have a great time.

by sandraanncarter

Jingle Bells, Social Sells!

December 23, 2013adoption,Marketing 2.0,sales,social business,selling,sxsw,gitomer,social media,sales,social marketing,social networkingSocial Business,social sales,Marketing 2.0,social sales,IBM,IBM,mobile,BLOGHER,Blogs,Marketing 2.0,Web 2.0,big data

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!!!

I love social selling, and the impact it has on business.   Social selling is shown to drive measurable results.   The Best Reps are not just present in Social Media, they position themselves as credible and influential sources in customer networks.

In a recent joint study conducted by WetPaint and the Altimeter Group of the top 100 brands engaged in social media, a significant correlation was drawn between a brands depth of social media engagement and revenue growth. Companies that scored the highest marks for social media activity, on average had increases in revenue growth of 18% over the last 12 months, while social media laggards saw revenues drop 6% over the same period.

Tell me your experiences!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSGCHnPNffs&feature=youtu.be]

by sandraanncarter