learn and improve

Is it safe to encourage your users to upgrade from their old browser? Only your own site’s browser stats can really say what’s best for your site’s visitors. But there’s a growing list of major web sites that feel it’s time for their users to upgrade. And they’re letting their users know that they’re being left behind.

Facebook warns IE6 users that they will not have the best experience.

There’s good reason for leaving those old browsers out of your site’s supported browsers list. Old browsers consume valuable developer time with greater debugging requirements which is an important consideration for budget conscious web sites.

But sites with relatively bottomless budgets like YouTube, Facebook and … Read More

Social media should be used to show your potential and existing customers that you care. What does it mean to care? Care is to pay serious attention or solicitude. As I have often professed, social media is a primary vehicle for brands to grow and strengthen relationships. I am sure you know this already, but the best way to build strong relationships is to show you care. True in your personal life, right? Well it is no different in brand/customer relationships.

I often think of a boss I had about 10 years ago as a role model in many aspects including his … Read More

Everyone always jumps onto Facebook and Twitter as one of their first social media activities. I recommend you think about blogging first. No other endeavor can be better to promote you or your brand as a subject matter expert.

While I always say that building relationships are the most important aspect of social media, you absolutely want to be perceived as the subject matter expert in the area your brand pertains to as you build relationships with your potential and existing customers. Once you have a core portfolio of reference pieces (blog posts or articles) your use of Facebook, Twitter and other social distribution and engagement channels becomes that … Read More

It happens to all brands. They hit a moment when something effects their position and they do not know how to react. Something that potentially changes who they are and they are frozen, not sure what to say or how to act. Well take a lesson from “The Boss” – Bruce Springsteen.

The future of the E Street Band was in question when band member Danny Federici passed, and more recently, the crushing blow of the passing of “The Big Man,” Clarence Clemons. After Clemons death, many questioned whether the E Street Band would remain and what the future had in store.

Springsteen’s initial comments after the passing of Clemons … Read More

Last week, I explained the new Facebook and its importance (challenges and opportunities) for brands. This week, I would like to take this one step further.

The question to ask is “how will people appreciate, engage, and interact with your brand’s Facebook page?” If you have a brand Facebook page, are you going to be happy with building the “Field of Dreams?” Build it and they will come? Or is the answer that you need to understand your target audience and their behaviors?

A while back, I wrote an article “The Most Important Word for Marketing.” I stated that empathy … Read More

Do you know how to use Facebook to optimize your INTEGRATED social media/marketing strategy and plan? Are your driving MEASURABLE results? I have some recommendations.

There was no shortage of coverage on Facebook’s changes for brands as of February 29, 2012. I won’t go through the announcements (as so many have done already), but I’ll give you the highlights before I explain “why you should care” and “what you should think about.”
First here is a summary of Facebook changes:
• By default, both fans and non-fans will be directed to a brand’s timeline tab when visiting their Facebook page. Timeline also means that there are new or changing features and navigation:
- New … Read More

What you say matters. Your voice is stronger than ever. And I think you should use it.

Let me ask you a question … when you have a problem with a product or service, are you apt to share that experience on your Facebook page, tweet it out, or write a review/comment on a social channel? What about the same question if you are pleased or a brand exceeds your expectations?

About a month ago, I wrote the article “Social Media Reviews – Value, Morals, and Ethics.” It talked about the value and (suggested) need for brands to incentivize customers to write a review for … Read More

In honor of the release of “Wrecking Ball” from Bruce Springsteen and the East Street Band, here is a reprint of an article I wrote in early 2010 …

(For maximum appreciation, play the instrumental beginning of The E Street Shuffle (live) and picture Bruce Springsteen in his raspy voice narrating telling the story. Go ahead; show some imagination, you can do it.)

You know it was right about 1975, I think so, on a day, a day just like this. Me and my buds were just hanging out doin’ nothing, but having the time of our lives. This cat Paul’s older brother was emphatic about this new and upcoming rocker, Bruce Springsteen. … Read More

This past week, a colleague asked me if I could help out her friend with some social media advice for her legal business. The first questioned that was asked was, “How should I use Facebook?”

In other instances, people ask me about social media use for brands. They want to know what they might accomplish, what they should expect, or what that they should aim for.

Let’s start out with a simple premise … use social media to establish yourself or your brand as a leader … a thought leader on a particular subject, the brand leader in a specific vertical industry, a leader for selected target … Read More

The (successful) marketing landscape is changing because the consumer and their behavior are changing. No longer does a person see a commercial on television, in print, or hear one on the radio and act. Intrusion marketing has seen its day.

Now the STDs that I am talking about are likely not the ones that first came to your mind. I am talking about Social, Timing, and Data. Let me put it to you this way. Remember the commercial for Trident gum that stated “4 out of 5 dentists recommend Trident for their patients that chew gum?” What if a brand could plant in your mind, “4 out … Read More