It was just reported 65% of online adults use social networking sites.

Yes, this is where YOUR customer is hanging out…but that does not mean putting up a page or blasting out Tweets on your daily flavor will attract them

Mind boggling! The entire business landscape is going through a metamorphous of sorts…nothing is business as usual anymore! Really, nothing is!

I see business sector after sector old standby

In marketing and advertising lingo…the term Branding carries a lot of weight! But when it comes to the very target Branding is suppose to make its impact on, well they don’t really care about that term because that is not how they refer to a company, product or service and it’s not what gets them to take an action.

Their touch point, frame of reference, what gets their interest…is the ‘human experience’. Period.

Today’s American consumers (whose ever changing life stages must be taken into consideration) start their relationship with your business by examining and experiencing your intent and motivation.…

A good part of being successful has to do with character and what being successful means to YOU.

Character shows up in those little things most take for granted like keeping your word especially when it’s inconvenient, taking personal responsibility even if it cost you, returning phone calls, looking out for others well being before your own.

Basically, the way I see it is business success in this new economy will depend largely on your intentions, your motives. That is the way it used to be and that is how it should be in my books.

Everyone gets it you…

A new study just released by digital agency i360 regarding Twitter use for branding, marketing and the consumer, indicates that consumers and brands use this medium in vastly different ways. By the way, this is also the case for Facebook.

Even though many businesses are jumping on the Twitter and Facebook bandwagon…they are finding they are on the outside of the bulk of conversations and not having the so-called instant success many of the Social Media gurus are promising. That is partly due to the fact businesses still think Social Media is just another form of…

On the eve of celebrating the blessing of our precious independence for our great country I love so dearly…I came across this headline today which announced 7.9 Million U.S. Jobs Lost many forever.

Wow! What a sad situation our country is facing as we prepare to celebrate and enjoy the freedoms that have been purchased and ransomed for us today on the backs of many a fine American. I thought to myself, “Is this our story for 2010 and on?”

The article went on to say “even though we’ve gained about 600,000 private sector jobs back, we’ve got nearly 8…

I decided to address this topic because I have begun to hear more and more the advice “your business doesn’t need a website anymore”.

This has stemmed mainly from the fact social media opportunities are powerful marketing options today.

My concern with this is someone in business may think these self proclaimed digital marketing experts preaching this point of view really know what they are talking about. Some do for sure…but I find that loads of them don’t.

To suggest a business does not need to have their own business website real estate clearly indicates to me this person has…

I just read a great article by Jay Deragon on Digital Nashville and he talked about the astonishing fact that so many who are in business today don’t really know what is going on in this “New Business Era”. He posted this very interesting chart that gives you a great snapshot of just how fast things are changing when it come to your customers behavior. Check out Gary Hayes Social Media Count below.

Oh, also bookmark Jay’s website while your at it. He has a great forward thinking mind!

Also, while you are at…

Consumers are more likely to read and act upon online advertising than they were a year ago, according to Opinion Research Corporation.

Every type of online advertising scored better with consumers in 2010 than a year ago.

Consumers say articles that include brand information are the type of online advertising they’re most likely to read and act upon, compared to banner ads, pop-up ads, email offers or sponsored links.

Article-based advertising was preferred by 53% of respondents who said they are “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to read and act upon the material.

Coveted demographic groups are even…

Ning the well known free social network service used by 2.3 million businesses and organizations on the web is shutting down its free service and it’s reported they have laid off 40% of their staff.

Sad to see these folks lose their jobs for sure but on the other hand I think this is a great wakeup call for those who depend on using custom social networks in their business strategy.

This is one reason I believe placing your most important digital assets in someone else basket is NOT a wise strategy. If you realize the…