Pin It!

Guest post by Kathleen Hennessy.

I can’t get enough of Pinterest! This virtual bulletin board is literally replacing my computer’s “bookmark” feature. Find a great idea for organizing your home office? Pin it. An inspirational photo pops up on a web site I frequent? Pin it. That new recipe you want to try next weekend? Pin it!

According to the site’s About section, “Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.”

This social media site also allows you to browse your friend’s pinboards. Stranger’s pinboards are free game too.... making new ideas and inspiration virtually limitless.

According to SHAPE magazine, Pinterest may even be able to change your life! In this article (http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/can-pinterest-change-your-life) Pinterest fans created “vision boards” to help them focus on loosing weight. Definitely life changing.

Rumor has it the site is doing a big capital push, so un-doubtably, more fun things are in store.

Now our challenge as marketers is to figure out how to make our product visual, inspirational and pin-able.

Video Post: Say 'Hello' to Heello

Watch out Twitter, there's a new bird in town. In today's Daily Axiom, Dave Sniadak takes a look at the new social media site, Heello. A social networking tool that is uncannily similar to Twitter. Dave answers 'what is Heello?" and breaks down what you need to know about this addition to the social media scene.

The Axiom Phone Booth Has Arrived

Be That Person

Do you ever get frustrated when there isn't that certain blog post out there about a particular topic? Maybe you could be the one to write it.

Ever wish that someone wrote that certain blog that discussed the topic you are most interested in? Maybe you could be that person.

Searching for that thriving community that you know doesn't really exist yet? Maybe you could think of a way to be the leader.

Social Media Marketing Is Simple

Many are still afraid of social media. There are a lot of terms and ideas floating around that confuse people and can even make them panic. I want to start the new year off right by proposing an idea that sounds pretty simple:

The goal of social media marketing is the same as traditional media marketing - to spread ideas through word of mouth.

When working in the social media world (obviously not all social media should be used for marketing), the aim is to get people to talk about your product or brand. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media platforms allow people to share ideas quickly. People talk about their interests and hobbies, which often include brands and products. Using social media for marketing aims to tap into the rich veins of discussion that will produce buzz and excitement around a brand.

The tools may be different, but most of the goals are very much the same:

• Make a great (good is not good) product that can stand on its own without spin that satisfies a consumer need.
  
• Customers will get excited and tell their friends about the product.
• Marketing can help, but real success comes through viral word of mouth a.k.a. the best and most desired form of marketing.

Yes, I am trying to simplify social media a bit for those still gripping to understand. Good ideas spread. Goal of social media marketing = word of mouth. Is this too simplified?