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1. Pepsi Chooses Social Media Over Super Bowl (Media Bullseyse) – If you’re only going to read one article about social media this week, make it this one. Just as the title suggests, Pepsi is redirecting its Super Bowl fund to a Super Social Media campaign. In other words, “It’s been decided that they would rather be talked about in a positive light by millions than have their ad seen by millions of people, even it is the Super Bowl”. Cool move, Pepsi Co.

2. Why Social Media is Still a Red-headed Stepchild (Web Worker Daily) – So true, it’s almost painful to read. Highlights reasons why there is so much resistance from PR and marketing departments regarding social media.

3. How to Say Stupid Things About Social Media (The Guardian) – “Why do people care what I ate for breakfast?”, is a common comment we’ll hear from Twitter skeptics. This article explains why…and they don’t care what you ate for breakfast, so there.

4. 91% of Companies Used Social Media in 2009 (Simply Zesty) – Nice analysis of stats released by the Center of Marketing Research at UMass.

5. 3 Helpful Social Media Marketing Predictions for 2010 (Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide) – Jeremy liked this one so much, he wrote a full analysis of it here, that is equally important to read.

6. Breaking Up in a Digital Fish Bowl (NY Times) – This one doesn’t have anything to do with social media and business, but it is a fascinating read about dating (and breaking up) in the age of Facebook. So happy I’m married. So happy.

This year blogs will redefine themselves for brands. They will be the fast-publishing and ‘voice of the brand’ option for many brands who now have experience in social media via Twitter and Facebook and have a new confidence in expressing themselves socially. It is likely that many brand web sites will merge with their blog. Rather than the awkward examples of this to date where the blog no longer looks or behaves like a blog (more like just another page within the Web 1.0 Web site), we will see Web sites that bear many of the attributes of blogs and Web 2.0 (spontaneous, shareable, subscribable, etc…).

Blogs are not passe. Quite the opposite. They will become a valuable “get more” destination that corporate Twitter handles and Facebook “walls” can point people to.

A few thoughts…

1. We’re seeing, and have been seeing, the need for brands to merge their “web site” with their blog. I say “web site” in quotes because, truthfully, your web site these days should basically be a blog. That is, it needs to have social media and blogging built in with the attributes listed above, “spontaneous, shareable, subscribable.” I would add to that list a clean design with a low user learning curve (standardized navigation, buttons, etc.) and an editorial calendar to keep regular content flowing, which is then supplemented by the spontaneous postings.

2. There is a myth out there that making your web site a little more Web 2.0 (meaning a blog and social media features as a back bone) means that your site will be ugly, basic, square, and text-based. While it certainly can be and that would be perfectly fine as long as the content and messaging are good, it doesn’t have to be. In fact, many company sites can be redone with a CMS (content management system) and blogging built in, yet still look basically the same. In other words, just because your site is blog doesn’t mean it has to be stripped down, basic, or ugly.

3. I agree with the assertion that blogs can be valuable as a “get more info” tool via Facebook and Twitter. There is no harm in promoting your brand, product, etc. via the popular social media channels and then saying, “for more info, visit this page on my site.” With that being said, there are some philosophical and theoretical questions to be asked in regard to driving traffic to your FB page for more info, or to your site for more info, but that’s another discussion altogether.

4. One important use for company blogs, which is not directly mentioned in the article, is that blogs provide a central place for your info, promotions, communications, etc. It’s truly where you own your message and brand. Granted, once that message is out there in the social media ball pit, you will lose a bit of control, but your blog is a safe harbor in a violent sea.

The company blog is also important as a central place for postings because those postings, via an RSS feed, can be sent out to Facebook, Twitter, et al. without you having to do a thing, thus saving a good amount of time. This is particularly important for many of the small businesses with whom we work, who do not usually have dedicated social media and/or PR teams.

Source: 3 Helpful Social Media Marketing Predictions for 2010

It’s time to join the conversation. Features Instantly downloadable 117-page eBook. Read it on your computer or print it out and create your own hard copy. Written by 10-year social media veterans who specialize in small business. More info… Broken into three sections: Strategies, Facebook, and Twitter. 9 how-to videos. Actionable marketing ideas that you can implement now! More info below $29.99

Details

Included in Lunabean Media’s “Social Media Training Kit for Small Business” is everything we offer in our small business media training sessions with the exclusion of our happy faces. Training comes in the form of Downloadable PDF documents and several easy-to-access training videos.

Whether you are completely new to social media or you just aren’t getting the results you need with your current social media campaigns, this Training Kit will help you!

Included you will find:

Social Media Strategies for Small Business (eBook – PDF).

This manual provides an overview of social media, best practices, brand reputation management, how to measure success, and most importantly over easily executable social media marketing ideas that you can use at your small business to engage customers, build a fan base, and create brand evangelists.

Facebook for Small Business (eBook – PDF).

Facebook is a powerful tool for small business, but you have to know how to use it effectively. This manual covers every detail of Facebook from creating a Fan Page to adding custom applications to creating a Facebook ad. Most importantly it details the type of content to post and how to effectively post it. In addition, it includes best practices and 7 how-to videos that will save you time and help to focus your efforts.

Twitter for Small Business (eBook – PDF).

Twitter provides small businesses a unique opportunity to not only engage their customers but, perhaps more importantly, to listen in to conversations about their product or service and your industry in general. The problem is there are many misconceptions about Twitter and many businesses get overwhelmed by the plethora of Twitter options and opinions. Our Twitter manual for small business explains Twitter and teaches you how to use it. You’ll be retweeting, tagging with hashtags, and using Twitter advanced search faster that you can say treding topic. In addition, it will teach you how to search effectively, create a following, and use tools that will help to manage and simplify your Twitter efforts. This manual also includes 2 how-two videos (Twitter basics and advanced practices).

Have you picked up your copy of Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Crush It” yet? While some may find benefit in the book’s motivational “live your passion” pages, we’re recommending it to our clients because of Gary V’s sagacious approach to social media.

Most people receiving this e-mail have already expressed to us interest in social media. Some of you have embraced this new marketing opportunity and are beginning to reap the rewards. Others remain a bit hesitant.

To those who have already embraced social media, Gary V will continue to broaden your awareness of your social media reach. New promotions will come to mind. New platforms will be introduced. To those who have remained hesitant, we believe Gary V can alleviate your social media fears while assuring you that any time spent in the world of social media will be greatly beneficial to your business or organization.

Finally, we’re recommending this book to you, our clients, because Gary V chooses, in many instances, to play the role of photographer, wine shop owner, restaurant manager, real estate agent, non-profit organizer and public relations manager. Since so many of you fall directly into these categories, and so many more fall into closely associated categories, we felt obligated (and excited) to share this book with you.

Again, if you want the motivation, it’s there for you. However, if you’re like us, you’ll want to focus on the social media sections. It’s a quick 120 page read, and spending the afternoon absorbing it may forever change the way you think about your business…and that’s a great thing.

Buy Crush It! from Amazon.com

For Borders Rewards members, feel free to use this 40% off coupon if you choose to buy from Borders.

It’s time to join the conversation.

Features

• Instantly downloadable 113-page eBook. Read it on your computer or print it out and create your own hard copy.
• Written by 10-year social media veterans with extensive knowledge of the wine industry. More info…
• Broken into three sections: Strategies, Facebook, and Twitter.
• 9 how-to videos.
• Over 20 actionable marketing ideas that you can implement now!
• More info below

$29.99

Details

Included in Lunabean Media’s “Social Media Training Kit for Wineries” is everything we offer in our winery social media training sessions with the exclusion of our warm bodies. Training comes in the form of Downloadable PDF documents and several easy to access training videos.

Whether you are completely new to social media or you just aren’t getting the results you need with your current social media campaigns, this Training Kit will help you!

Included you will find:

Social Media Strategies for Wineries (PDF).

This manual provides an overview of social media, best practices, brand reputation management, how to measure success, and most importantly over 20 easily executable social media marketing ideas that you can use at your winery to engage customers, build a fan base, and create brand evangelists.

Table of Contents

Facebook for Wineries (PDF).

Facebook is a powerful tool for wineries, but you have to know how to use it effectively. This manual covers every detail of Facebook from creating a Fan Page to adding custom applications to creating a Facebook ad. Most importantly it details the type of content to post and how to effectively post it. In addition, it includes best practices and 7 how-to videos that will save you time and help to focus your efforts.

Table of Contents

Twitter for Wineries (PDF).

Twitter provides wineries a unique opportunity to not only engage their customers but, perhaps more importantly, to listen in to conversations about their wine and the industry in general. The problem is there are many misconceptions about Twitter and many wineries get overwhelmed by the plethora of Twitter options and opinions. Our Twitter manual for wineries explains Twitter and teaches you how to use it. You’ll be retweeting, tagging your tweets, and using Twitter advanced search faster that you can say #TTL (Twitter Tasting Live). In addition, it will teach you how to search effectively, create a following, and use tools that will help to manage and simplify your Twitter efforts. This manual also includes 2 how-two videos (Twitter basics and advanced practices).

Table of Contents

Dear Facebook,

You screwed us today. Please send us $1 million of your $1 billion to make up for it.

Best,

Lunabean Media

Since that’s not going to happen, let’s just learn from this mistake, shall we?

Today was the day we were supposed to launch Lunabean Media on Facebook. I know, I know, it’s pretty late in the game to be doing so, but we are masters of perfecting our clients’ web efforts while ignoring our own.

Anyhoo, I began the day by contacting my 300 friends to let them know about the new Lunabean Media page on Facebook. I used the handy “Suggest to Friends” feature to do just this. When ten minutes went by and nary a friend had fanned, I knew something was wrong. I hopped on over to my home page and…ARE YOU KIDDING ME FACEBOOK DECIDED TO REDESIGN THE HOME PAGE NOW!?!?!?

I went into panic mode. My invites had been lost in the overhaul…or some had been. Others were received, but the Facebook generated link to my page didn’t work. And the worst part about it? That was my one shot. All 300 of my friends are now locked out of an invite, because Facebook thinks I already invited them.

So, here I am, on the eve of my launch, with 16 Facebook fans. Time to crack a beer, watch last night’s DVRed “Grey’s”, and get on with my life. It looks like I’m just going to have to get my fans the old fashioned way…kick ass content that people will be excited to read. BooYA! So, to the 16 of you, get ready, because I’m about to blow your mind.

Oh, and to my clients, those of you who pay for my expertise, I have two tips for you today:

1. Don’t kick off a social media campaign the same day Facebook launches a redesign.
2. Don’t invite your entire list at once. Instead, break it up into groups of 20 or so. This way, if you fail, your entire list won’t be shot to hell.

Did I mention I got in a car accident today, too? Yeah, and, get this, it was MY FAULT. Not a good day. At all.

As someone who finds great enjoyment in seeing the power of Facebook in action, this promotion has been a blast for me track.  Here’s what I’ve seen.

Before crawling up to bed last night, I checked in on my Facebook home page, as I do every night.  Sitting there was a message to me from one of my favorite bands, the Decemberists (yes, the message was also sent to the band’s 29,000 other fans, but I prefer to think they’re talking directly to me).  The band informed me of this iTunes promotion, as one of their songs (the disturbingly awesome “The Rake’s Song”) is part of the mix.

Immediately, I became a “fan” of iTunes, was provided with a coupon code, and downloaded my 10 songs.  Because it was such a great promotion, I updated my status to let my friends know they, too, could take part.  Minutes later, I saw two of my Facebook friends do the same  thing (download the album and update their statuses).  By the time I woke up this morning, a dozen of my friends had informed all of their friends, and the number of iTunes fans had grown from 900,000 to 1 million.

In a matter of just a few hours, iTunes gained a direct line to over 100,000 people.  They know the importance of Facebook.  They know that millions of people are just like me, and check Facebook a few times a day.  What’s more, they understand Facebook marketing is currently the most powerful form of marketing online.    So, yes, they’ll give away $1,000,000 of product for 100,000 fans, and they’ll do so happily.  After all, they’ve already earned back my $10…the Elizabeth and the Catapult track on the iTunes mix inspired me to purchase the entire album, and I leave happy.

Why your business should create a Facebook fan page

When we discuss Facebook with our clients, the most common question we are asked is, “Should my business be a profile, a fan page, or a group?”. The answer is, “fan page”.

Hi Facebook Pages Admin,

Facebook Ads for your Page will now get you even more Fans.

You are now able to create ads that will allow users to become a Fan of your Page directly from the ad. Users can also click anywhere on your ad to access your Page, get more information and become further engaged.

Benefits of using Ads for Pages:

1. Without leaving the page they are viewing, users can become a Fan directly from the ad
2. When a user becomes a Fan of your Page from the ad, a story is published in the user’s Wall.
3. This story is eligible to show in Highlights- creating free distribution in the social graph

In addition, users will see friends who have become a Fan of your Page in their version of the ad – increasing the relevancy of your ad.

Even if you don’t understand how incredibly awesome these new features are (and they are), you should note that they are only available to those who have created fan pages for their business. Those with business profiles or groups are left out to dry.

So, do yourself a favor and get your business a Facebook fan page. All you have to do is go to Facebook.com – Create a Page, and follow the instructions.

Top 10 Reasons to Use Facebook for Business

Here’s a sampling.

1. Meet your peers.Facebook is not just for college kids anymore. Members are typically older and more mature than on other sites, and there are more affluent and more educated white collar users.
2. Find business contacts.With more than 100 million active users, and predicted to be 500
   million by 2011, not only are your friends on Facebook, so are your
   prospects, your customers, your JV partners… and, of course, your
   competitors. You need to be on too. Related post: What’s Your Friending Policy?
3. Instant gate opener.Facebook members are open to connecting. You can easily begin a
   dialog with highly successful–even famous–people who were previously
   otherwise unreachable.

More…