I like social media. I spend some time out here, and I have developed some nice relationships. Some of those relationships have turned into real personal relationships. Some of them have turned into business relationships.

The idea behind social media is connection, engagement, and sharing. It’s about winning friends, and sometimes it’s about influencing people. Some people struggle to understand this, mistakenly believing that they need to tear others down.

When I was first exposed to Twitter, I was not just negative, I was militant. The idea that a 140-character message was an effective form of communication was ridiculous. The time-suck of all-day blathering about my life, my wife, my meals, my dog, and on and on was offensive to my mid-west work ethic. Worse, I found the constant reading of everyone else’s details and their pandering for micro-fame in the digital ether numbing and nauseating.

My marketing partner is a nag. A twenty nine year-old, social-media-addicted...Read more at http://www.soldlab.com/news/2011/7/28/tweeting-my-off-7-tips-for-using-twitter-to-make.html

You guessed correctly – it's both.

Social media networking and marketing requires both creative and analytical skills. And few of us are proficient at both. 

Left brain thinkers tend to be more linear and analytical.  Right brain thinkers tend to rely on more circular methods of organization and creative solutions.  A tip to keep the two straight is to associate the "L" of linear and left, and by deduction you know the right brain relates to the creative and intuitive skills.

Today I had a conversation with an association exec who was...Read more at http://www.soldlab.com/is-social-media-left-or-right/

ocial media is one of the most measurable and engaging online compliments of marketing tools available. With that said social media is a rabbit hole that entire teams can dive down. It hurts your brand, it hurts your real world relationships and it wastes your resources. It’s time to get real about our habits.

Social media, particularly my blogging, Twitter and YouTube activity has brought me...Read more at http://www.soldlab.com/news/2011/7/7/10-hard-questions-about-your-corporate-social-media-use.html

Hackers broke into the FoxNews.com's Twitter account for political news early Monday and used it to announce falsely that President Barack Obama had been assassinated.

Out of all of the ways to advertise your business, social media marketing is one of the most effective. With social media advertising, you are provided with a way to obtain direct contact with others who may potentially be interested in your product without coming on too forceful. The worst mistake anyone can make when trying to gain traffic or customers is come on too strong.

Anyone who has a social media webpage knows that...Read more at http://www.soldlab.com/news/2011/6/30/how-social-media-marketing-can-build-your-business-to.html

We get a lot of questions about Twitter - how to get started, how to use it, how to get more readers and followers. The answer usually varies - depending on your audience, objective and focus.

That said, here are four pieces of advice we give often, specifically to those just getting started.

Use hashtags (“#” before your keyword) that are relevant to your audience. People will read your tweets if they...Read more at http://www.soldlab.com/news/2011/6/23/4-fundamental-twitter-best-practices-to-read-more-sales.html

While the marketing team is the one that is responsible for generating buzz about your company's product or service, the sales department are the ones that will be dealing directly with customers and forming the relationships that will lead to ultimate success and growth. Sales is largely a people-oriented business and using social media can make a huge difference. Most salespeople aren't familiar with the various ways that social media can be a boon to business. However, it is becoming more and more important to utilize modern technological tools to get a leg up on your competition. Here you will find 5 easy ways to leverage social media for your sales team.

Reputation is Vital

When it comes to dealing with customers and...Read more at http://www.soldlab.com/news/2011/6/21/leverage-social-media-for-sales-to-read-more-sales.html

If you think Twitter is a waste of time, or simply for young people, think again. A new Pew study found that 13% of online Americans now use Twitter – up 5% from November 2010. One in five U.S. adults ages 25-34 use Twitter, while 14% of users are between 35 and 44, up from 8% a half-year earlier. In addition, 25% of online African Americans and19% of online Hispanics use Twitter, compared to 9% of whites.

As this social networking site continues to grow in popularity, it’s also proving to be a useful resource for a sales team. Here are a few ways to use Twitter to make more sales:

1. Research Tool – When you have a prospect to call, do some research on Twitter first. Find out what employees and other customers are saying, so you have a better understanding of the company before making that call.

2. Keep up with Industry News – Use Twitter to learn about changes in your lead’s industry.Keep track of your lead’s competition by...Read more at http://www.soldlab.com/news/2011/6/16/7-ways-your-sales-team-can-use-twitter-more-effectively.html