Social Marketing

Unica Corporation announced results from its global survey of marketers, titled “The State of Marketing 2010.” Unica partnered with Salloway & Associates, an independent research company, on the survey. The sample covered nearly 200 online and direct marketers across a wide range of industries, geographies, and company sizes. Results revealed a number of key findings on marketing challenges and bottlenecks, marketing technology adoption, and of course, new marketing channels. DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE.

Most people are familiar with the term “Web 2.0,” which refers to a second generation of web development and design that focuses on fostering social networking via the web. Innovative companies are beginning to embrace Web 2.0 as a way to enhance communication, information sharing, and collaboration, thereby allowing them to work smarter rather than harder.

It’s no secret that online social networking is growing rapidly. But did Twitter and Facebook spring up from nothing, like Athena bursting fully formed from Zeus’ brow? Or are there general social trends which helped birth social media?

In a recent study of social media usage it is clear that consumers who are Facebook fans and Twitter followers of a brand are more likely to not only recommend, but they are also more likely to buy from those brands than they were before becoming fans/followers.

This Manpower research report draws on responses from more than 34,000 employers in 35 countries and territories to gauge the pervasiveness and effectiveness of company social networking policies. Social media is a powerful tool, yet our findings suggest that organizations are only just beginning to tap into its potential. DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE.

Leaders’ efforts should not focus on controlling employees’ social networking behavior. Instead, they should work to channel its use in directions that benefit organizations and their employees alike. DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE.

Each year Fortune Magazine compiles a list of America’s largest corporations, aptly named the “Fortune 500” given their size and wealth. Due to the hugely influential role that these companies play in the business world, studying their usage of new technological tools like social media offers important insights into the future of commerce. DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE.

Social media usage has soared not just among the general population but also among at-work Internet users, who are heading to the sites for both personal and professional reasons in greater numbers.

Comparing social media users to the average U.S. adult, the survey looks at the differences in demographics for each group, including male and female usage as well as age differences in social media users compared to other adults. DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE.

Many companies are starting to experiment with social media and how it can be integrated into their overall marketing strategy to support company goals and objectives.

Thanks to the social Web, anyone can publish their opinions for the world to see. As a result, word-of-mouth reaches further than ever, and brands have a tremendous opportunity to tap into their loyal customers and advocates to help spread their marketing messages through earned media.

Social media has matured to the point where marketers are no longer asking whether it should be part of their marketing mix but how and where they should participate. A clear strategy for the channel is now necessary.

Social media has won over marketers with the promise of connecting brands with consumers on a deeper, wider level. But now that many companies have gone beyond the experimental stages of social marketing, they are focusing on justifying the dollar and time expenditures involved.