If 2009 was the year many marketers puzzled over, poked at and pondered incorporating social media into their marketing mix, 2010 was the year of diving in. Adoption soared. According to a HubSpot study, 71% of marketers viewed Twitter as a useful marketing tool last year, up from just 39% in 2009. Facebook added more than 200 million users last year, and Twitter more than doubled in size, adding 115 million. 85% of Inc. 500 companies now call social media “very&# or “somewhat&# important to their marketing or business strategy. Mistakes were made. stage, many new questions arise. MORE >>

But let’s take a mental leap through time; what will social media look like in x years, when it’s mature and just another tool we reflexively reach for when needed, like picking up the phone today? Social media marketing Social media monitoring Social media optimization social media social media marketing social media optimization social media tools MORE >>

So you’re thinking about jumping into social media. You’ve read a whole slew of blog posts, news stories as well as examples of how social media has helped businesses like yours cut costs and market more effectively. So now it’s your turn. But have you really thought it through? Have you laid out the groundwork, reasons, measurement and more before you make the leap? Or are you just jumping in, because everyone’s telling you that social media isn’t for toe-dippers? Why Are You Doing This? Is there a bona-fide reason for your business to be on social media? MORE >>

Bloddy hell, we just can’t get away from “influence,&# can we? Image: Jonathan D. Blundell via Flickr, CC 2.0. Reminds me a little bit of a cheer from my high school days: Everywhere we go-o-o! People want to know-ow-ow! Who we are-are! We are (insert school/team/whatever of your choosing). The mighty mighty _ (see above). YAY TEAM!!!!! Or words to that effect. The tool that’s making the most rounds these days, it seems to me, is Klout. Good grief, after reading that, even my husband, who couldn’t care less about such stuff, asked me if I knew what my Klout score was. MORE >>

[A guest post from the talented Laura Click ]. There is one thing that will make or break someone’s ability to be successful in social media. No, it’s not smarts, strategy or writing skills (though, all of those things are immensely helpful). It’s personality. Your personality online determines whether or not someone will sign on to follow your tweets or read your posts. Just as in real life, your personality matters. Think that’s brutal? Consider your real life friendships. You choose who to hang out with people based on their interests, hobbies, and style. The same is true online. The Diva. MORE >>