Return on Twitter

The ROI on social media is at retail.

Hub, March 15, 2010 — One of the great debates in social media is, “Where’s the ROI?” Some say ROI is irrelevant because social media is about being part of the conversation — and if you’re not part of the conversation, you are not part of the marketplace. Therefore, the argument goes, social media is a cost of entry, and not necessarily a profit center.

But others insist — and rightly so — that every dollar spent in marketing should be accountable for a tangible result. And, to many, the cool factor of Twitter and Facebook, while appealing, is anything but measurable.

A recent Reveries.com survey confirms this (see page 12). The survey’s respondents, regardless of whether they love or hate Facebook or Twitter, tend to see them truly as social — and not... continue reading

Blippy.com gives the world a peek inside your wallet -- and that's the point

The networking site's users say they get valuable information by exchanging intimate financial details

Los Angeles Times, March 5, 2010 — The site's converts say they discover new products and good deals while connecting with their friends. Los Angeles-based Web celeb and self-described iPhone applications addict Justine Ezarik, 25, said she got hooked on Sleep Cycle, a popular Swedish-designed app that tracks her sleep patterns, after she saw a friend buy it on Blippy.

One In Five Tweets Is Brand-Related

Brandchannel.com, February 12, 2010 — According to recent research at Penn State University, one in five (20 percent) tweets posted on Twitter includes an inquiry or information about a specific brand-related product or service.

The study focused on micro-communicating and the value of this word-of-mouth medium. It included observation of more than half a million tweets that used brand names, and found out that brand-tweeters are tweeting to connect with products.

AT&T's iPhone Mess

BusinessWeek, February 3, 2010 — The iPhone has swamped AT&T's data network and sparked a consumer rebellion. What can Ma Bell do?

Marketers choose social media over DM

Marketing, January 22, 2010 — In a survey of more than 1,000 marketers from around the world, Alterian found that 66% of respondents will be investing in social media marketing activity over the next year and as many as 40% said they would be using the DM budget to do so.

Starbucks Quarterly Profit More Than Triples to $242 Million†

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz credited innovation, cost-cutting and enhanced customer experience for a big company milestone today: a return to profitable growth.

Advertising Age, January 21, 2010 — Starbucks' consumer research shows higher satisfaction in every major indicator, such as value perception and experience, compared with a year ago

Tasti D-Lite to Reward Brand Tweets†

Chain rolls out TastiRewards program that lets customers tie their loyalty cards to their accounts with Twitter and Foursquare

Adweek, January 14, 2010 — Tasti D-Lite is making a big push to get its consumers chatting about the brand on social networks.

The frozen dessert chain has rolled out a new TastiRewards program that lets customers tie their loyalty cards to their accounts with Twitter and mobile social network Foursquare. They can then enable their accounts to send messages to the social networks when they use their card. Each time TastiRewards cardholders' store purchase activity is broadcast through Twitter or Foursquare, they earn one point. It takes 50 points to earn a free Tasti D-Lite cup or cone.

A typical update would be "I just scored 5 TastiRewards points at Tasti

D-Lite Columbus Circle, NYC http://mytasti.com."

Social Media and Brand Reputation Strategy

Direct engagement top short-term response

eMarketer, December 30, 2009 — An oft-cited fear of brands is that online consumers will post negative comments about them, especially on social media where opinions can be broadcast far and wide. In their “Social Media and Online PR Report,” Econsultancy and bigmouthmedia explored ways marketers can combat brand bashing.

Getting Kicks by Designing Your Own†

Keds and Other Brands Ask Regular Folk to Create Products—and Market Them

Wall Street Journal, December 10, 2009 — EmailPrinter

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. Text .Facebook, Twitter, and other social media are helping clothing brands reach out and touch us right where it counts: in our hungry little egos.

Increasingly, brands are inviting consumers inside the design studio for a "D.Y.O.", or design-your-own, fashion experience. Regular people can create unique Nike and Converse shoes, for instance, and display them in the brand's galleries, alerting their friends on Twitter or Facebook

Now Keds is taking things a step further—allowing consumers to design their own Keds shoes and then set up stores and sell them—at both retail and wholesale.

Social Media Becoming TV’s Marketing Haven

Everything PR, December 9, 2009 — The marketing promise of social networking is still part of a larger experiment, but many brands are ready, willing an able to invest in the underlying theories. Bravo TV and the Dallas Cowboys have both announced major social media initiatives to further their reach and brand affiliation across the web.