Social media is more effective when you’re not making mistakes. The worst case scenario is you get fired for making a social media mistake. Social media investment is expected to increase among B2B companies (Source: Worldcom Public Relations, 2011). The lack of competency in three areas is preventing companies from truly getting the most from their social media programs. It’s holding back social media success. For B2B companies new to social media, you get credit for being there. Wrong. MORE >>

From fans to followers, brands are actively working to engage their current and future customers via social media — and online reputation management is quickly becoming a vital part of doing business. Social media monitoring helps brands discover, in real time, who is saying what online and where the conversations are happening so they can respond in a timely fashion. Businesses also need to measure, analyze, and report on their social media efforts. Facebook Grader is a free tool that measures the power of a Facebook business page. ASOMO. MORE >>

With the amount of helpful content about social media marketing growing faster than Facebook’s user base or Lindsay Lohan’s court appearances, it’s tough to keep up. Here’s a modest contribution to help with that effort; more than six dozen of the best, most bookmark-able articles and blog posts about social media tactics, tools and strategies written so far this year, by leading writers like John Jantsch , Lori Dicker , Lee Odden , Lisa Barone , Jay Baer and many more. Social Media Marketing Tips, Tactics and Guides. MORE >>

An increasing number of companies like Intuit, Sysco, Cisco, GE Healthcare and AT&T are using social media for effective business lead generation. recent study from Sagefrog Marketing Group shows how companies have learned to leverage social media. Leveraging social media for branding and building awareness helps B2B companies. Ways how companies can leverage social media: • Increase brand awareness. Humanize B2B companies. What sites, tactics and strategies are B2B marketers including in their social media outreach? MORE >>

the sources below provide a vast wealth of data, statistics and research results, as well as a bit of interesting social media trivia. How are consumers and b2b decision makers using social media in their buying processes? Which social media platforms are most effective at influencing buyer behavior? How do the audiences differ across various social networks? How do social media marketing strategies in small businesses differ from those in larger enterprises? Social Media Facts and Stats. by Social Media Today. MORE >>