Tweet Image via Wikipedia. January has seen a spate of people tweeting things they shouldn’t – from Diane Abbott to Ed Miliband in the UK to countless people working for brands across the world. We’ve also seen a renewed debate in the UK about how the professions should use social media – notably about teachers befriending their pupils on Facebook. Surveys in the UK last year consistently showed that between 35% and 40% of UK firms have no social media guidelines in place. And even for those firms that did, many employees claim that they do not know what they are. MORE >>

It can be easy to get caught up in being named to top lists on the web. Quite frankly anyone can create a list of top anything and include those people or things that they find worthy of the list based on a variety of factors. But I can’t help but feel honored to be included on the Who Are The Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers? list by Forbes. I mean…it is Forbes right? Regardless of the circumstances, algorithms, or opinions, I’m flattered and it’s just another feel good moment knowing that the time I spend on my blog means something to others. More to come! MORE >>

Consumer electronics stall in informal market, Nairobi Kenya 23 January 2012. Increasingly I have been getting the sense that there are some fundamental issues with the way BoP focused organizations are developing, creating and implementing their market entry strategies.  Here are four of the most obvious errors that I’m seeing: Assuming there’s no competition. Most of these firms, particularly those coming in from the outside and seeking to serve the ‘poor’ in the developing world seem to be operating in a vacuum. Conflating company mission with marketing strategy. MORE >>

Yes, I know it’s Facebook question of the week time, but we’re trying something new this week. You see, Social Fresh wrote last week about the best times of the week and day to blog , in order to get social shares. Historically, Mondays and Tuesdays on Spin Sucks are our big days, but the Social Fresh research proves we might be missing something on Thursdays. I’m curious to see if a blog post runs at 8 a.m. and the video runs at noon, if there is a difference both in traffic and social shares. Story. He did. And we got to work early last year. ” Whoa! Way to motivate! MORE >>

I’ve been thinking a lot about collaborative marketing lately, and how we can turn co-existing businesses more into partners and less about missed opportunities. think there’s a great untapped market for someone that really wants to grab collaborative marketing and run with it. For example – imagine you’re going on a trip. You have to fly to get there, so there are a few processes you need to go through before, during and after: Buying your ticket. Driving to the airport. In-flight activities. Hotel or accommodation when you land. Rental car. And the rental firm that started it all off? MORE >>