CaliberPulse

In 2010, social media played more of a key role in the marketing, advertising, and public relations industry than ever before. More companies, large and small, used social media to increase interaction with their consumers, promote company news, events, and sales, and much more. As the use of these platforms increases, it is important to take note and understand the constant changes occurring in the world of social media in order to plan for using it most effectively.

LinkedIn posted a list of the top ten most overused buzzwords in U.S. user profiles. You’re sure to have seen them, and may have even used some of these words and phrases; the ambiguous descriptors that have diminished impact or meaning. The 2010 top ten overused terms in U.S. LinkedIn profiles are:

It’s been an evolutionary year for social media. Many new trends and facts have been published that may help you shape your 2010 marketing and PR plan. We have included a sampling of these facts and our recommendations on how you can use them when developing your 2011 plan. FACT: 25% of search results for the world’s top 20 largest brands are links to user-generated content. Source: Social Media Revolution 2 Video, based on the book Socialnomics by Erik Qualman

Face-to-face encounters with other human beings are easily avoided with all the new technology we have at our fingertips. Given how easy it is these days to keep up with business acquaintances and colleagues by e-mail and social media, the traditional methods of engaging with professionals in your industry have taken a back seat. However, tradeshows, once the most direct way that companies engaged with and targeted new customers, are still an important part of any marketing strategy and should not be overlooked. A new study by Oxford Economics USA shows how a dollar invested in business travel, returned a $12.50 increase in revenue and $3.80 in new profits. With that reinforcement in mind, plan your next industry show with a strategy. Check out these “11 Trade Show Strategies to Boost ROI” to get the most out of your time and investment.

Even though it is difficult for me to get out of the office for a few days, each year I attend professional conferences to stay on top of the latest consumer trends and new media technologies. This year I attended the Public Relations Society of America’s International Conference Oct.16-19 in Washington D.C. My education started the minute I landed at Reagan National Airport and continued throughout the conference, at the workshops and during the networking sessions, where I interacted with respected peers and educators throughout the world. Here’s a summary of the top ten trends I learned — or confirmed — this year at the PRSA Conference that I hope you will find valuable as you prepare your strategic plans for 2011:

Lindsay Lohan, the controversial actress and singer, wrote a song in 2004 called “Rumors” that focused on her need for privacy. Even though she hasn’t done the best job of staying out of the news, her pop hit was slightly prophetic, as confidentiality and personal space has become one of the largest issues surrounding social media use. Whether it’s regarding a Facebook account or an internal networking system, people may be feeling a little like Lindsay did and say, “Well, I just need a little space to breathe. Can you respect my privacy?” Companies and their employees should know the intricacies of their privacy settings to ensure that needed breathing room is always available.

Have you noticed that multi-tasking is no longer a unique skill, but rather, it is universally expected? The largest contributor to our lengthy, daily task list is technology. Some of us see it as a huge hill and have to prepare ourselves for the challenge. Others see technology as the wrapped package that sat under the Christmas tree the longest. You finally get to open it, but first you shake it, try to peak through the paper and then quickly tear the paper away and begin exploring it. However you embrace technology, consider it a tool on your marketing tool belt. It is a mechanism to help get you from point A to point Z, as society is no longer happy going from A to B anymore.

Your phone may replace your scissors when it comes to coupon savings. More than 42 million people in the United States own a smartphone, which means that they have the capability to receive media-rich information from companies and organizations. Some marketers have been wary to send information about their products or services to current and potential customers’ mobile devices, even though smartphone owners are requesting information about their favorite brands.

As social media becomes more popular in practically every demographic group, so is its ability to communicate directly with companies and agencies. This trend extends to reaching out through platforms such as Twitter for help, whether to properly fix a customer service issue or to relieve a true emergency. The American Red Cross recently conducted a survey that concluded about one in five adults in the United States would use social media to contact emergency responders in a disaster. The immediacy of social media enables it to spread information about an ongoing emergency as people want or need help. If 911 systems are inundated with calls or phone lines are down, it’s reasonable to expect use of available communication tools and expect a prompt response. Thus, tweeting and posting can be a matter of life and death.

If you want a hot deal close to home, check Facebook. Marketers are turning to social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to attract locals into tourist-dependent businesses during the off-season. Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson and Loews Lake Las Vegas applied the airlines’ concept of flying standby to the hotel industry with its clever “Standby Staycations.”

Over the past month, Google has been slathered with attention and media coverage because of its new social platform – Google Buzz. Some people think the application’s incorporation of Google’s existing Gmail users will help it build a robust database of people who will incorporate Buzz into their daily routines. Critics say it is one […]

As our agency conducts social media training sessions, we've noticed many Twitter users do not understand the benefits of the platform's hashtag capabilities. Designated by the pound sign or hash symbol (#), this is a tool that even the most active social media enthusiasts haven't had the time to wrap their head around. However, hashtags can be powerful resource in a marketing and communication arsenal.