Consumers now demand more transparency, authenticity and engagement from their brands, and the businesses smart enough to pay attention are happy to oblige. Many companies typically turn to focus groups, surveys, and customer satisfaction analyses to understand their audience, but stop there.  The survey found that executives who engage their customers through social media can increase the company’s brand profile, instill confidence in their leadership team and build greater trust, loyalty, and purchase intent for customers.  Be inspired by them. Build a community. MORE >>

People on Facebook divulge their opinions on a minute-by-minute basis, and they’re probably the cheapest and quickest focus group around. deepened level of engagement with our brand Most organizations only feel the love from their customers at the point of transaction with the cash register ringing in place of the wedding bells. Brands want to have a deeper relationship with people and nurture it with content. Besides, 51% of Facebook users are more likely to buy from a brand if they are connected with them on Facebook anyway. At least not directly. MORE >>

'A brand’s customers represent some of their best resources, yet most brands leave them on the bench. My last post criticized the content that a lot of brands share via social media – the incessant begging for likes and shares, the linkbaiting, and the meme-jacking that brands have adopted in their constant quest for “engagement.” Instead Over the last ten years, I’ve talked with hundreds of clients who have some amazing stories about how their organization/brand/company began and how it got to where it is today. Your history. MORE >>

armano DAVID ARMANO Senior Partner, Dachis Group Author, Logic and Emotion. peterkim PETER KIM Managing Director, N.America Dachis Group. mzkagan MARTA KAGAN Managing Director, US Espresso- Brand Infiltration. charleneli CHARLENE LI Founder Altimeter Group. marc_meyer MARC MEYER Principal Digital Marketing Response Group. 2010 Social Media Influencers – Trend Predictions in 140 Characters. View more slides from Trendsspotting. chrisbrogan CHRIS BROGAN President, New Marketing Labs. SETH GODIN, Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur & Agent of change. MORE >>

“We didn’t want to fall into the trap of having a great name and then focus group it to death to the point where you go, ‘Ah, it doesn’t work, let’s go with something safe.’ ”. So says Ken Evraire , the Ottawa branding consultant for Bytown Sports, according to an Ottawa Citizen story last week. And that excitement is what we want to link our brand to.”. Anyone who has ever been involved in focus group research will agree these discussions routinely unearth real gems…sometimes surprising  information about people’s reactions, attitudes and behaviors. MORE >>