Posting a blog entry referencing someone else’s words is more involved than writing a comment. If I’m considering buying a Yamaha stereo and find a blog entry from someone who exhibits deep knowledge of the model I’m considering, that person may have a disproportionate influence on my decision, regardless of the number of followers or subscribers he has. My post last week about the shortcomings of Klout got several thousand views and generated quite a bit of discussion. Sentiment analysis is devilishly difficult to get right, however. TopazPartners.com. MORE >>

In early 2004 Technorati counted about a million blogs on the Internet and Facebook was just getting off the ground. Seven years, 200 million blogs, nearly 600 million Facebook members and a few billion YouTube videos later the information landscape has been completely transformed. This is the time of year when a lot of people make predictions. ll resist that urge, though, and instead present a plea: Let’s make 2011 the year we stop talking about “social media.”. It’s not that social media is no longer important. Stunning. Want to know who said “There’s a sucker born every minute?” MORE >>

RachelJOConnell Praises Audaciously Eloquent blog: Headlines and photos only; almost no text #SMB26 ow.ly/96HPO. A list of tips for building a quality business Twitter following that I recently contributed to The CMO Site mentioned the value of being the eyes and ears of your followers. When you attend a conference, play reporter and tell your followers what you’re witnessing,” I advised. An experience from this morning demonstrates the value of what amounts to sharing notes you would probably take anyway. Within an hour after the event had ended I had 26 new followers. SMB26”. MORE >>

This is where blogging is a fabulous tool. Instead of asking to "network,” offer to write up the interview and post it on your blog, or just point a Flip cam at the person's face and post the video clip along with a link to their website. Back in the early days of my career, I made a point to go on frequent informational interviews. These meetings, which were usually conducted in person, gave me a chance to sit down with people who were successful in their field and to learn from their experience. never overtly asked people for a job or anything more than a little of their time. MORE >>

State Farm got started in social media when it set up a blog to find New Orleans-area employees and agents who couldn’t be located after Hurricane Katrina. Within 24 hours, that blog was key to our locating ever agent and employee,” Thul said. John Hancock recently launched its first blog, Build4Success , and it’s posted nearly 40 videos on YouTube. B2B Corporate Blog Facebook influence innovation marketing Social Media social networks Tips Twitter insurance John Hancock LIMRA LOMA New York Life State Farmmillion Facebook likes  by boring people. With 1.3 MORE >>