Today someone said something which still has me reeling hours later: “Facebook will eventually replace websites.&# Facebook may have 500 million users and be raking in the dollars, but lets be perfectly clear: while Facebook can certainly be useful as an outpost to your company’s website, it could not and should not ever replace it. Thinking Facebook could take the place of a company’s website is like saying your car is so great soon you can just live in it and get rid of your house. Your Facebook page just disappeared? Surely not. Numbers. MORE >>

We’re very excited to be kicking off a regular series of Open Community case studies, in which intrepid association blogger and freelance writer  Deirdre Reid will be digging into associations (and other kinds of organizations when relevant) who are living and breathing their open communities in the ways we describe in the book. Community: Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. On their Facebook page and Twitter account they aim to increase awareness of what they’re doing and what others are doing on their behalf. Facebook. See, it works! MORE >>

Tweet 20 Social Media Business Trends in 2011. Trend #12: Community management. Trend #20: Location, location, Facebook. View more presentations from Dave Fleet. One of the great things about working in the digital space right now is observing the many changes constantly occurring. This week, I had an opportunity to pull together some of the key social media trends I’m seeing for a presentation at an event in Waterloo. Some of these trends are existing and ongoing; others are new. Some are practical; others are theoretical. Trend #1: Integration. Ubiquitous mobile. MORE >>

Facebook has added a new subscribers feature to personal profiles that indeed indicates they are keeping a close eye on Google+ and Twitter – and borrowing a few ideas as well. One of the advantages of strengths of Facebook is that it is personal. On Facebook you could previously only share with friends – your inner circle. For example, I’m looking to fill a few more seats at my 2011 Social Media Summit  - a two-day event designed for non-technical small businesses. Setting Up Facebook Subscriptions. How Facebook Subscribers Can Work. MORE >>

Many brands now opt to put “Find us on Facebook” next to or even in place of their own web address as they hope to build a community around their brand. Of course, as long as the Facebook page is managed properly –. For one, effort should be taken to make the Facebook page effective as a community tool. Don’t use Facebook to display a ton of information, just the vitals. Even 52% of people feel that they directly influence the brands they follow on Facebook and Twitter through interaction. Probably. Is this a smart move? MORE >>