IT Conversations That Matter – HBR

Recommended for information technology management and small business management  —  I think this begins to address some of today’s challenges in changing roles  — what is expected, what is needed, what can be accomplished.

Excerpt:  Most IT organizations are focused on incremental innovations and cost savings. They listen to customers, aiming to meet their needs and solve their problems.

Michael Schrage, research fellow at the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Center for Digital Business, offers a different and challenging perspective. He describes IT as “Innovation Technology” and sees digital media platforms fostering product and process transformation.

In this Harvard Business Review webinar, Schrage discusses new technologies — from cloud computing to machine learning to Big Data — that are transforming companies. He discusses technology’s role in innovation, transformation and creating new value for customers, and describes the cultural changes that need to happen to make digital investments more productive.

Listen to webinar discussion via IT Conversations That Matter – Jason Sylva – HBR Events – Harvard Business Review.

Why Brands Must Combine Paid, Owned, and Earned Media

Recommended for all small business and marketing management.   The criteria now and trends are fairly clear.   The article and downloadable report give you great definition and insight to plan your campaigns and strategy.

Excerpt:  Last week, San Francisco based research and advisory company, The Altimeter Group, published an excellent report on the importance of converging paid, earned, and owned media for brands. The report states that “brands that do not integrate and align paid, earned, and owned media are now at a disadvantage…in 10 years, most media will encompass elements of paid, earned, and owned,” and we could not agree more! All-encompassing media systems are where marketing (or advertising) is now heading.

First, we’d like to start by defining key differences between each of these forms of media. As you can see from the above infographic, they are all closely related and can sometimes even overlap.

Read full article and download link for report basis via SocialChorus Blog — Why Brands Must Combine Paid, Owned, and Earned Media.

Conversation Agent: The Four Types of Customer Connection and Respective Engagement Levels

Great food for thought and use.  Tips and advice.  Customer relations management, CRM

Excerpt: You should treat content as an asset and organize your resources to:

start thinking like a media company
understand your customer content needs
integrate across paid, earned, and owned media

Remember that digital media is the room in which you hold the conversation. It still comes down to saying, doing, or producing something valuable for your customer.

Read article and access 29 slides via Conversation Agent: The Four Types of Customer Connection and Respective Engagement Levels.

Twitter Says Expanded Postings Will Show More Media Content

Social media, Twitter, is rolling out a new feature today.  The ability to expand tweets for additional or relative information right on Twitter.  Cool?  Maybe.

Excerpt: … the expanded postings will show video, photos and longer excerpts of news stories from a broader list of media partners. The service begins rolling out to website and mobile users today, Michael Sippey, product team director at San Francisco- based Twitter, said in a blog post. “This is going to cause people to stay on twitter.com, because all of the sudden you have a little bit more information,” said Brian Blau, an analyst at Gartner Inc

Read full article via Twitter Says Expanded Postings Will Show More Media Content – Businessweek.

Devices, Consumption and the Digital Landscape Study | Deloitte

Information provides great takeaway for small business in planning their marketing and advertising campaigns.

Excerpt…….The study provides insight into media consumption patterns across different types of devices, including tablets, smartphones, e-readers, and TVs, along with an examination of trends in media subscription services. Based on a U.S. survey of 1,890 consumers and 1,252 businesspeople “Devices, Consumption, and the Digital Landscape Study” spans four generations and five distinct age groups.

Read full article…..download full paper…….via Deloitte | Technology, Media & Telecommunications | Media & Entertainment | Devices, consumption and the digital landscape study.

50 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

Mashable gives us the weekly list of digital resources we may have missed……thanks Mashable.

Maybe you were busy this week scheduling all of your Facebook posts with the new scheduling feature, or maybe you were just trying to figure out how the heck it works. For whatever reason you couldn’t keep up with everything on Mashable, check out our features roundup for the best social media, business and tech resources.

Read full list and links…….via 50 Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed.  From Mashable

Smart Business Northern California May 2012 (Cover)

Access the May digital edition of Smart Business Northern California…….  I haven’t had time to read all yet but am looking forward to exploring the articles.  They usually have good reads.   Digital Edition

Read Digital Edition Here…….Smart Business Northern California May 2012 (Cover).  From Smart Business

Fighting for the Young Consumer’s Attention : Marketing :: AMEX

Target markets differ from generation to generation — although in today’s environment each in its own right have changed dramatically.   It pays to study the target and market where and how accordingly.

Excerpt……..Holding the attention span of young consumers is part of the challenge when they have an information and connectivity overload, moving rapidly from one topic to another. Now, this study shows that the channels they use to consume that media are also vying for their short attention span.

Read full article….via Fighting for the Young Consumer’s Attention : Marketing :: American Express OPEN Forum.

44 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

Over the weekend, Mashable updated the list of digital media resources in case you missed any.   List with relevant links to the resource.  Thanks Mashable.

Excerpt………we’ve covered hot media trends you need to know, DIY mobile tips for small businesses and free alternatives to the now-defunct Picnik. We also have tips for beautifying your Pinterest layout, ways your business can make a big impact even with a small budget, and guidelines for public figures on Twitter. We even have an infographic showing how social media will change the Olympics.

Read full list and access links here……via 44 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed.  From Mashable

Smart Business Digital Edition for California

When you have some time, there are usually very good articles in this magazine.

See online magazine here……..http://smartbusinessemag.com/apr2012/apr2012-northcal/0/0#&pageSet=0  Smart Business

Do Digital Catalogs Drive Conversions?

Good read particularly for retail ecommerce…….As a consumer, I have always liked to browse the possibilities, but long ago gave up printed catalogues (the recycle bin is right next to the mailbox for all the unsolicited catalogues and mailers) and switched to digital offerings…..  Does digital catalogues make sense for your small business?…it is a lot more cost effective than print and more today-usable.

Excerpt……….But printed catalogs are prohibitively expensive to produce and distribute. They are often the largest expenditure that a merchant makes. This has effectively eliminated catalogs as a marketing tool for many merchants. The popularity of tablet computers has changed the way that customers are using the Internet. Like a traditional catalog, tablets are used at the breakfast table, in front of the television, and in bed, making it a compelling device for digital catalogs.

Read full article……..via Do Digital Catalogs Drive Conversions? | Practical eCommerce.

53 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

Mashable gives us another update, thanks Mashable……list is by category and linked to more information on each.

Excerpt……….This week we’ve covered ways to improve your vacation using social media, how to protect yourself and your work on Pinterest and 10 places you’re not allowed to see on Google Maps. We also have an exclusive infographic on what’s working in digital non-profit fundraising, ways technology will transform the traditional classroom and seven reasons why you should purchase a ticket to Mashable Connect 2012 (as if there are only seven reasons!). We even poked our heads in at Aviary’s hip NYC nest.

What are you waiting for? Don’t miss your chance to benefit from these resources!

Read full list by category and access links…….via 53 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed.  From Mashable

48 New Digital Media Resources You Might Have Missed

Mashable gives us a good update on what we may have missed……thanks Mashable……..read introduction and access links on topics that interest you.

Excerpt….For whatever reason you’ve missed our new digital media resources this week, let us catch you up in a flash with our features roundup.

Read full list ……via 48 New Digital Media Resources You Might Have Missed.  From Mashable

Stanford GSB Conference: Future of Media

Check out link for menu of panelists, agenda, and ticket prices….  but better hurry, the event is this Wednesday, 2.1512….   Social media … including mobile

Event 2.15.12 at Stanford….Future of Media Conference – Agenda.  Stanford GSB

39 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed

Excerpt…….Look at all the coolness you missed: We have tips for the transition into Facebook Timeline, tricks for improving your productivity via Google Calendar and Safari and links to the most popular memes. We’ve covered social networking in the workplace, using networks for social good and even using plugins to help you get the old Facebook back.

Read full list and access links here……via 39 New Digital Media Resources You May Have Missed.  From Mashable