I don’t often address LinkedIn here on WTF? Friday, but some work today in the business network platform sent me to a profile that stopped me COLD.
Check this out:
Now, I’ve edited to protect the innocent idiot, but seriously, WTF? Did this woman employ her cat to complete her LinkedIn profile? Spelling, people. It’s not that hard. Note to Congressman ____________, check your employees’ LinkedIn profiles. Fire accordingly.
Listen to the full interview with Coy Barefoot.
State of Social Media on Charlottesville Right Now
Nielsen has published its third quarter, 2011 report on social media usage in the United States. While may of the results are unsurprising to those of us working in media or communications, there are highlights from the report worth mentioning and worth the particular attention of certain industries.
The study, and the overall results are of interest to any marketer or business owner as they dramatically impact the way we do business, attract and keep customers. Some highlights to consider:
More women view video on social networks, but men watch longer.
If you’re using video in your marketing, how does this change the way you’re creating and sharing video? Are men or women your primary audience?
You can scoff at online games all you want; the figures speak for themselves. Internet users are spending more time playing social games than they are spending on e-mail.
If you’re a marketer or responsible for the marketing success of your business, paying attention to the significance of gaming is important. It may be more effective to gamify your content than continue sending e-mails to your customer base. What does that mean for your promotional structure? How do you make a game of your customer interaction? Have you ordered Domino’s Pizza online? Buy a pizza and experience what a successful social gaming promotional campaign looks like. (The pizza’s gotten a lot better recently, too.)
Another particular point of interest to marketers and business owners:
When compared to the average adult internet user, active adult social networkers are 47% more likely to be heavy spenders on shoes, clothing and accessories.
If this is what you sell, knowing who the social networkers are in your community is critical. We also know that social networkers are influential offline as well as on; creating value for this audience is important to your business as its revenue.
If your business is a late adopter, or still dabbling without a specific online strategy, get in this game now, before you’re left in the dust.
What highlights from the Nielsen report resonate the most for your business?
How do you manage the reputation of your company? It’s difficult, and there are many moving parts. That’s why so many hire help from a firm or solo practitioner. Not a week goes by
when I don’t hear about a business owner fretting over a bad Yelp review or an article damaging to their business or industry.
There are a few basic elements to managing a reputation, such as:
Of course, if a company’s reputation is bad because its product, service or customer relationships are bad, you may do all of the above and the company will still earn the reputation it deserves. Consider carefully your clients, PR and marketing people. And companies? Don’t expect miracles when you’re unwilling to improve the way you do business.
And now, a little Joan Jett and the Blackhearts . . .
I’ve been having this conversation with friends and clients frequently — everyone seems to be at a crossroads in their careers, or pining to do something other than the status quo. Last year, I spent my “year of 40” — the year leading up to that “big” birthday — prioritizing, organizing and setting my ambitions free. It led to the decision to leave my employer and start my own business, now a nearly 10-month-old successful enterprise.
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/BalmatLaw/status/117321513555861504″]I’m finding everything about what I do totally gratifying. I love helping people be successful through communications. The feedback I’m getting just fuels the fire of wanting to do more!
Do you love what you do?
What are you waiting for?
Your business may have already taken up blogging efforts, but they’ve flagged, as many do, and you need a shot in the keister to get your online presence revived. 
No, silly — don’t just take my word for it — read the study for yourself.
I’m here to help, so here are five ways to get back to blogging and down to business:
