DATELINE:  QUINCY, MA… Because social Media and Social Networking are among the “hot” topics in our industries, you won’t want to miss the next South Shore Ad Club sponsored event.

What is Social Networking? How is it used in marketing? What are some of the useful tips and tools? These are the topics that will be covered at a January 13 (Tuesday) panel discussion from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Granite Links Country Club in the Veranda Room, Quincy.

Brian Bram from Last Panda, a Cambridge Interactive Media Company, and Tom and Reiko Beach of TRB Design, Inc., video production/web marketing from Norwell, MA, will talk about the importance of Social Networking. In addition to how it is used in marketing and the tips and tools to make it effective, the panel will also focus on how to make it more successful with proper audience alignment and content voicing – as well as how to get started simply and inexpensively with an existing website.

“Social Networking and Social Marketing is here to stay,” said Steve Dubin,” said Steve Dubin, owner of PR Works and member of the South Shore Ad Club’s board of directors. “As marketers, we need to make sure our websites and the strategies we use to market ourselves represent the very latest and very best in technology. This presentation will help streamline one’s understanding of the challenges, and benefits, of social networking and social marketing.”

The event will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, 6 p.m. at Granite Links Country Club’s Veranda Room, 100 Quarry Hills Drive, Quincy. The price of admission is $25 for non-members, $20 for members. Light refreshments will be served. Copywriters, graphic designers, Web designers, ad agencies, pr agencies, photographers, printers, typesetters, corporate communications professionals, marketing professionals, printers, videographers and all small businesses are welcome to attend.

To RSVP, please contact Colleen Jacobsen, Webster Printing Co., Inc.,

Hanson, Massachusetts at 781-447-5484 or e-mail colleen@websterprinting.com.

Payment for the event can be made online at www.southshoreadclub.com or you

can print out the registration form on the Web site and mail check, payable

to “South Shore Ad Club,” to: South Shore Ad Club, 1069 West Washington

Street, Hanson, MA  02341. Cash or checks will also be accepted at the door.

About the South Shore Ad Club

The South Shore Ad Club is a non-profit organization committed to the

personal and professional development of communications professional located

south of Boston. It’s the club’s mission to improve, strengthen and advance

career goals through learning and networking opportunities; and to serve as

a resource for local and Boston-area businesses requiring marketing,

advertising, public relations and/or communications services. For more

information and membership rates, please visit the South Shore Ad Club’s Web

site at www.southshoreadclub.com.

Steve Dubin
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/being-social-is-about-a-lot-more-than-trading-business-cards-and-buying-drinks-a-look-at-social-mediasocial-networking-presented-by-south-shore-ad-678581.html

MSNBC President Phil Griffin tries to explain away Keith Olbermann’s plummeting ratings thusly:

He [Griffin] attributes Olbermann’s January ratings slip to a news cycle in which international news, rather than domestic politics, was the No. 1 story. "On big, breaking international news, CNN tends to do better than us. They did a great job in Haiti, and I tip my hat to them," he says. "We’re the place for politics, and there are times when politics does great, and there are times when it doesn’t."

Domestic politics wasn’t a big story in January? What about the, er, special election in Massachusetts and the State of the Union? Griffin tips his hat to CNN for covering Haiti but doesn’t mention (of course) that FOX had its biggest January ratings ever thanks in large part to its political coverage.
http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/2010/02/03/msnbcs-baghdad-bob/

He can try to spin it all he wants. It’s just a matter of time before he and his liberal loons are out of work looking for a job.

Everyone is trying to save money, even the media. It is relatively easy to encourage them to invest in your business, and help you promote, in exchange for making their lives easier. For more details go to: www.joint-venture-softwares.com Internet businesses and work at home ventures are in such a hurry to build joint-venture relationships that they overlook some of the old tried but true joint ventures.

For community service or entertainment events, enlist newspapers and broadcast stations as cosponsors. Typically, media co sponsorship means you do the work and spend whatever money is necessary; the station or publication gives you oodles of free publicity, reports on it, and/or broadcasts portions of the event.

Electronic media are required to provide public service programming as a condition of their license, and publications have a vested interest in maintaining their credibility as the eyes and ears of the community. Because co sponsorship demonstrates the media outlet’s community interest and also lets the public hobnob with media personalities, a suggestion for co sponsorship will often be greeted enthusiastically.

What’s the difference between the ordinary free publicity you can garner and bringing the station in as a cosponsor? Jordi Harold, proprietor of the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts, uses co sponsorship several times a month. Asking for radio co sponsorship “is not asking for something for nothing, but raises the estimation of the station in [the eyes of] its audience–makes it possible to hear the same music live. It does a lot to contribute to the positive image of the station.” Ideally, “it becomes a priority at the station.

That’s not measurable in times of mention, but it becomes part of the dj’s patter on the air–you can’t log that, you can’t buy that, you can’t specify that.”

Newer, smaller media are good bets, says Herold. “We have a station that’s new in the area and is competing for market share. For help visit: www.joint-venture-guide.com
If I do a co promotion, I’m likely to get up to 50 free mentions in addition to my paid advertising.

With a station…that doesn’t have a relationship with the club; I may only get a one-to-one relationship between the spots I buy and promotional mentions. With a college radio station, you can be all over the map without any expenditure of money.”

For live music, radio co sponsorship is an especially valuable endorsement, because the station’s promotional spots will give listeners the chance to hear a little of an artist they may not know–and because the station’s role as an arbiter of music carries over to readers who see the co sponsorship listed in the newspapers and on posters.
=”http://www.easy-jv-manager.com”>
=”http://www.joint-ventures-secret.com”>
It’s even okay to have several media cosponsoring an event–if they don’t compete. For instance, I organized a candidate forum and got sponsorship–and publicity–from one newspaper, one radio station, and one cable TV station. If I’d wanted to get two radio stations, I would have needed to check with both stations that it was all right to have direct competitors cosponsor the event.

Consider co sponsorships for political candidate forums, live entertainment, fairs and festivals, auctions, and special events.

sharmamunish
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/joint-ventures-suggestion-for-co-sponsorship-693062.html

Fox News had its best January in the history of the network, and was the only cable news network to grow year-to-year.

Fox News had the top 13 programs on cable news in total viewers for the fifth month in a row.

Fox News grew in double digits in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic from January 2009.

In prime time, it was up 22% in total viewers and 51% in the demo. CNN was down 34% and 37% and MSNBC down 26% and 38%.

In total day, Fox News was up 16% and 28%. CNN was down 34% and 41% and MSNBC down 28% and 39%.

Last January all networks performed well with the Inauguration coverage. This month, the big political event was Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts, which Fox News dominated in the ratings.

• Special Report with Bret Baier/Brit Hume was #1 for the 100th consecutive month.

• Fox Report #1 for 100th consecutive month.

• Sean Hannity had his best month ever (since it launched as Hannity).

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/still-rolling-fox-news-has-their-best-january-ever/

I totally agree! To hell with the liberal press! Have you heard of the UCLA study that proves that the media has a liberal bias? Look it up on the Internet, keywords: UCLA media bias. I guess reality has a conservative bias. Air America was the crappiest thing ever. Air America asked its callers to kill President Bush. They are a bunch of disgusting, deplorable losers. I hate the liberal press.

She losing because the voters of Massachusetts (and all other states) are rejecting the spending and the agenda of Obama and his progressive cronies in Congress. They are rejecting the higher taxes that are sure to come. They get it!! Blaming Coakley’s campaign is like saying the voters of Massachusetts are stupid. Is this just another example of Liberal arrogance and elitism or just the typical finger pointing at everything and anything but the real problem?

BTW……When I say Liberals and Progressives I am not talking about Democrats. I know the difference, but the current Congress has only a few real Democrats left.
That’s exactly my point Hybrid. Coakley is a Progressive. Most Democrats are not Progressives. I don’t know why Progressives hide behind Democrats, but I am happy to see that people can see the difference.

Because they want to blame the advertising and not the product - leftist policies.

If the campaign was run badly, and Obama coming up there over the weekend was part of the campaign, then are people saying that Obama’s presence hurt her chances?

span lang=”EN-GB”>A while ago, I saw a fantastic slideshow on slideshare.net by Marta Z Kagan, a social media marketing guru based in Boston, Massachusetts. The catchy title, “What the F**K is Social Media” is probably what first caught my eye. It’s really worth watching to get an overview of the current reach and penetration of social media.

I’ve replayed the slideshow to myself several times over, mainly because the figures are just so staggering, it’s almost hard to believe. These numbers are a sign that the internet has changed, customers’ expectations have changed and, as a result, marketing has to change.

What is ‘social media’?
What is social media really? Wikipedia broadly defines social media as “the use of electronic and internet tools for the purpose of sharing and discussing information and experiences with other human beings”. Kagan sums it up nicely saying “social media is people having conversations online”.

The platforms for these conversations include of a number of mediums. Some are communicative, others are collaborative and others include multimedia or a combination of all three. Social media can take many forms, but one of the key elements that sets all of its incarnations apart from “traditional” media, is that social media is produced to be shared.

Don’t be deceived into thinking that social media only comprises social networking sites. Sure, sites like Facebook and MySpace get a lot of coverage and have massive numbers of active members. In fact, Time magazine wrote in October 2007 that social networking sites are officially more popular than porn!

Social media is anywhere were people interact, talk, engage, share and create.

Other examples of social media include wikis, microblogging, blogs, social bookmarking, photo sharing, video sharing, podcasts and many others. Social media represents a major shift in the way people interact and communicate.

What’s the fuss?
There are over two and a half million articles in English on Wikipedia. 75% of Americans watch at least one video online a month. YouTube alone has hundreds of millions of videos being viewed daily. There are over 200-million blogs on the internet. Just under 60% of people online have joined a social network. Facebook has over 100-million active members: it is the most-trafficked social networking site in the world and the fourth most-trafficked website in the world.

So we know that social media has massive reach. What now? And what does this mean for marketers and brands?

The rules of engagement
In a nutshell, it’s about conversations and creating a dialogue with your customers. Users want to control and customise their own online space and experience.

As social networks and social media continue to grow, it’s becoming clear that they are also starting to aggregate.

This is obvious when one considers developments such as the announcement of Facebook Connect; which will allow for trusted authentication, for your friends to follow you on other sites and will save you having to create multiple profiles. Google Social allows developers and communities to work off one open API for a similar purpose.

At the same time, social media is also fragmenting around niche interests. This is the perfect place for brands and marketers to hit that “sweet spot”, and talk to an audience that is interested in your message.

Now the trick is getting involved
People don’t want a new website. They want content and applications to make their online space their own personal one. This is where savvy marketers can really capitalise; if something is targeted correctly, there is massive potential for it to spread virally within a community.

Think about how you can add value.

Whether you’re thinking about widgets, blogging or creating social media profiles and personas – be interesting! Don’t bore people – and remember to listen. Social media is about creating things to be shared and to be enjoyed.

To succeed in social media marketing you need to ensure that you are transparent, inclusive and consumer-driven.

Jonathan Andrews
http://www.articlesbase.com/social-marketing-articles/internet-marketing-web-20-style-727729.html

Who would have ever thought?

Brown is a modern day real life Rocky.

He didn’t know the challenge was on an exhibition.

He didn’t know he had no chance.

He trained hard, took his vitamins, said his prayers, believe in himself, and ate the raw eggs. He showed up for training and work.

He took out the champ (being the democrat party not Coakley) on their home turf with a stunning KO.

Was the Brown Senate win the election heard around the world to make a statement America is still a center right country?

Where are all of the progressives and media pundits that were saying he had no chance?

I think we are seeing a purge of a socialist dominated congress. We Americans made a big mistake, and we are rolling up our sleeves to fix it.

Personally I hated Bush and thought he was terrible, not realizing that the alternative ( dems ) was even worse! Until we get a real Libertarian party in contention, I will have to support the repubs by default.

Something that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Massachusetts…

Plus, why does he need to hand out targeted tax cuts? Can’t he just cut taxes across the board? If you’re worried about deficits, also cut spending by a corresponding amount. And if you’re a Keynes worshiper, make sure you understand the real Keynes, not the pop-media version (blind spending).

He’s trying to transform himself into a "populist" according to the political talking heads which is defined as "political ideas and activities that are intended to represent ordinary people’s needs and wishes".

Right. Like I would think most people would be worried about jobs and the economy, not some government takeover of health care. Yet Government Controlled Health Care is all the Messiah has worked on since getting in - a full year. And now it’s ready to crash and burn.

A populist would of been worried and doing something about the persistent 10% Unemployment. A populist surely wouldn’t of called cops "stupid" without some basis in fact, nor would he of made fun of someone whose driven his ***GMC Truck*** well over 200,000 miles as a fool.

He’s FAKING IT. It’s plain to see.

like the Democrats and news media are dismissing the impact of a Republican Senator being elected in Massachusetts? Let’s hope someone was listening. I prefer a bloodless return to a democratic republic.
Marco, I’m sorry you didn’t understand I was asking the first part in a historical reference. I should have been more specific.
It was a comparison.

Obviously they did because WE won the American Revoltution (1775-1778) and THE PEOPLE won a voice again with the "Scott (Brown) heard ’round the world" in MA yesterday.

like the Democrats and news media are dismissing the impact of a Republican Senator being elected in Massachusetts? Let’s hope someone was listening. I prefer a bloodless return to a democratic republic.
Marco, I’m sorry you didn’t understand I was asking the first part in a historical reference. I should have been more specific.
It was a comparison.

Obviously they did because WE won the American Revoltution (1775-1778) and THE PEOPLE won a voice again with the "Scott (Brown) heard ’round the world" in MA yesterday.