Social Marketing: Connect, Listen and Influence - TechNewsWorld; October 31, 2007
"Such multi-lateral communication among consumers, and between consumers and the brand within brand-sponsored communities, go a long way toward building customer loyalty...Furthermore, research studies from Accenture indicate that customer loyalty accounts for 38 percent of margin and 40 percent of revenue growth...Corporations that possess a genuine desire to communicate with and listen to their customers benefit from positive word-of-mouth and goodwill that can translate into top- and bottom-line gains. As part of this, brands that rise to the challenges and opportunities presented by the social media revolution and take a proactive stance will reap rewards over those who are still fighting it..." FULL STORY
Facebook, Google in a Social-networking PR Scramble? - Cnet News; October 29, 2007
"When Facebook confirmed widespread blog rumors that it would be making a major advertising announcement on November 6, a few people pointed out that this date may have been a strategic one. The previous day, November 5, had been widely rumored as the day when Google would leverage its Orkut social network along with a host of other software properties (Google Reader, perhaps, or new acquisition Jaiku) into a powerful social networking tool to rival Facebook's...But now Google has allegedly delayed its own announcement by several days, according to reports..." FULL STORY
Brands Infiltrate Social Circles to Create Buzz - Adweek; October 29, 2007
"The parties were part of a buzz-marketing effort TV Guide launched in June with influencer network BzzAgent to build awareness and test its new products ahead of its ad push. Over half of the 20,000 "agents" who participated in the first phase of the campaign took the TV Guide suggestion to host parties to spread the word about TV Guide's print, online and cable network. "It was the real-life equivalent of a blog," said Steven Scebelo, svp of corporate marketing at TV Guide...TV Guide and other marketers, realizing the power of word-of-mouth recommendations, are starting to make buzz generation a central part of product launches and marketing campaigns. In doing so, they are banking on their ability to influence consumer chatter without incurring backlash..." FULL STORY
Bazaarvoice Launches Ask & Answer™ in UK to Help Shoppers Research Products Online - e-consultancy.com; October, 29 2007
"Online businesses can add new community features that help customers connect with each other to get the answers they need to influence purchase decisions...Bazaarvoice, the market and technology leader in hosted social commerce applications that drive sales, has extended its product line with the launch of Ask & Answer. Ask & Answer taps the power of online communities to address the unanswered questions that can stop a purchase and send a shopper to a competing site…" FULL STORY
Qwizzy.com Offers FAQs with Social Networking Twist - AuctionBytes.com; October 26, 2007
"Qwizzy.com is a new tool that lets users set up an interactive Question and Answer widget so visitors can ask questions, and the publisher can answer and display on their website. Online sellers, bloggers and website publishers can put a Qwizzy widget on their blogs or websites to help create a more engaging experience...Right now Qwizzy is being used by tech bloggers and social networking bloggers, Ostrow said. He's trying to integrate with platforms, such as Facebook, and sees revenue potential through advertising and market research. (Qwizzy is free for users.) Qwizzy is launching a Facebook application in 2-3 weeks..." FULL STORY
Severed Foot Found in Tucson Streets; IT-consultants Nextrio Blamed - Inside Tucson Business; October 26, 2007
"During this season of ghosts and goblins, one local technology company is launching a marketing campaign hoping to put the demons of bad IT service to rest, or at least break a few stereotypes along the way...Nextrio, an IT consulting and software development firm, as part of a word-of-mouth marketing campaign, wants to attract attention and draw viewers to the campaign’s website, www.ithorrorstory.com...The website doesn’t directly sell Nextrio’s services, but is instead meant to be an entertainment site and support network for those who have survived awful IT experiences. With blog-style dialogue of real-life IT horror stories, and old black and white horror films dubbed with IT mockery, the site is intended to provide a laugh to those jaded by technology..." FULL STORY
WPP Adds Social Networking Arms with Blast Buy - eWeek; October 26, 2007
"WPP acquires Blast Radius to bolster its marketing strategies around social networking...Social networking sites continue to wield their influence over the online advertising space, as WPP acquired interactive firm Blast Radius Oct. 24 for an undisclosed sum...A WPP spokesperson told eWEEK Blast Radius creates customer online ads and marketing strategies for many sites, but it has a particular knack for creating "customer relationship maps" for social networking sites..." FULL STORY