Tweeting CEO's Held in High Regard

by Ashley Haugen

@AshleyKaia

It may be time for community managers to give their duties to the boss for a day. Ok, so maybe not all of their duties, but at least show them this article from eMarketer. According to a study by social media branding firm BRANDfog (who's motto is, 'if you're not online you don't exist'), consumers and employees regard company leaders who engage on social media platforms positively.

A whopping 78% of survey respondents said that CEO participation in social media leads to better communication, 71% believes it leads to improved brand image and 64% said it provides more transparency. 

A company’s social media presence also trickles down and influences purchase decisions. The majority of BRANDfog survey respondents (77%) are more likely or much more likely to buy from a company whose CEO uses social media to clearly define company values and leadership principles. And 94% said C-suite social media participation enhances a brand image.

CEO activity on social networks doesn't just effect consumer perception, but it also makes an impact on employees. The study finds that 82% of employee respondents trust a company more when the CEO and leadership team communicate via social media.

Having CEO and CMO's actively engaging on social networks not only instills confidence in consumers, but also in employees. After all, it is the age of the social network and what better way to show that your company is heading in the right direction, than your boss showing everyone he/she is "in the know." 

Do you follow any company CEO's on Twitter? What do you expect from their social media presence?

Tech and Travel [Infographic]

Social media is shaking up the travel scene with everything from mobile apps to twitter deals. Check out this cool infographic which highlights some of the trends of today's techie traveler.

The Marketers Guide To Taking Down The Mobile Monster

by Ashley Haugen

@AshleyKaia

It's true, mobile marketing can be a monster. When done "right" it plays very nice; increasing brand loyalty, driving new sales and bolstering ROI. When handled poorly it is intimidating, all-consuming, unstable and elusive. Mobile marketing can be as much of an enigma as it is a necessity for today's marketers.

And believe me, it is a necessity in today's smartphone and tablet driven world. “Mobile is experiencing explosive growth and is a new and exciting way to reach consumers at the moment when their intent to purchase is strongest,” said Wilson Kerr, vice president of business development and sales at Unbound Commerce, Boston. With smartphone adoption projected to grow to 68% by 2015 (Javelin), and with a projected 1/3 of US online consumers owning a tablet by 2015 (Forrester), we are well on our way to becoming a mobile-centric society.

Unfortunately, many campaigns may not get the expected click-throughs or opt-ins they initially anticipated. So how do you tame the beast? There is much you can do to revive a campaign after taking a critical eye to refresh and review an idea.

A lot of mobile marketing is testing to see what works and what does not. A simple re-wording of the Call-to-Action, or more obvious scroll bar can make a ton of difference for your mobile initiatives. “Just because one campaign is not getting the proper amount of lift does not mean that the mobile application itself is a failure," said Mr. Kerr. "It simply means a different approach should be taken."

It is also important to keep your feet comfortably in your consumer's shoes. How easy is it for them to complete the action you are proposing? What kind of smartphones are they using? What are the primary functions of your mobile site (information, deals/coupons, games, etc.)? What do they want from your site?

We live in an "instant" world, and mobile users expect only the fastest results. Instant gratification is key. Think about targeting mobile ads using geo-specific data, for example sending exclusive deals to users in close proximity of your business.

Relevancy and incentive are crucial to a successful mobile campaign. Evaluate your strategy for every customer touch point: pre-shop, in-store and post-shop (especially comments on consumer-review sites and apps). Immediacy can coax a mobile monster into a mobile mascot.

Bottom line: Do your research, have a healthy test period, and don't be afraid to play around to find out what works.

Blogger Nation: It's Their (Online) World

by Ashley Haugen

@AshleyKaia

A report published by NM Incite in early March shows us the blogosphere is heating up. Mommy- and Daddy-bloggers, DIY'ers, publications and corporations are hopping on sites like Wordpress, Blogger and Tumblr with unprecedented verve. Of particular focus are consumer-generated blogs, which have had a strong upward trend since 2006, according to the U.S. Digital Consumer Report of The Media; Q3-Q4 2011. 

The sheer growth in the volume of blogs is impressive. By the end of 2011, NM Incite (a Nielsen/McKinsey company) had tracked over 181 million blogs around the world, up from 36 million in 2006. 

Combined, the three major blogging platforms -- Blogger, Wordpress and Tumblr, in that order -- account for 80.5 million unique views in October 2011. (You can compare this with Facebook for some insight, which had 139.1 million unique views that month.) 

So why are blogs so popular? Are bloggers becoming an accepted and credible part of online media? Even if individual blogs don't have a big audience, combined they add reach to marketing campaigns. Especially women bloggers, who represent a desirable audience for advertisers. Approximately one in three bloggers are mothers, with a select few even having hundreds of thousands of dedicated followers. Blogs are increasingly becoming a great resource for those seeking advice, inspiration, news and content.

Whether it's writing for a large company or blogging away the sweet details of baby's first steps, blogging is a great way to set up a strong online presence. Here at Axiom we work closely with bloggers to make sure our messages are reaching the right audience. After all, blog readers in the U.S. represent 53.6 percent of internet users, according to eMarketer. Both blog readers and writers are an influential lot, and their success is only poised for growth as more marketers tap into their power.

Protect Your E-Image, Your Career Could Depend On It

by @davesniadak

If you posted incriminating photos from your weekend in Vegas and you think those photos are going to stay in Vegas, think again. In fact, before you push the "share/tweet/post/shout/send" button, think about the implications it might have on your career. A survey released last week by Eurocom Worldwide stated that one in five tech candidates are rejected from prospective positions based on a social media post. And that's just in the technology field!

According to Worldcom's findings, nearly 40% of companies responding to the survey said they vet a potential prospect's social media channels. "The 21st century human is learning that every action leaves an indelible digital train," said Mads Christensen, Network Director for Eurocom Worldwide. "Applicants disqualify themselves from an interview because of content from the social media sphere."

We've preached this all along - think before you share. Just because you have a "smart phone" doesn't mean it's a smart idea to share everything. So much for 'references available upon request', right?