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Social media is used in Egypt to change the government, and in Mexico to keep people safe. But in the U.S. it’s being used by politicians to bicker and throw mud. Is it just me, or does this seem incredibly out of whack? As politicians of all stripes follow Barack Obama’s precedent setting social media campaign from 2008, I’m starting … Read more about this episode...

Word of Mouth marketing is the ultimate goal of every business owner. Social media is supposed to the golden ticket for small business marketing, yet less than 1% of small businesses are succeeding with social media? Why? The flat out truth is that YOUR MESSAGE SUCKS! On the other hand, there are thousands of bloggers out there with engaged, active … Read more about this episode...

It feels good to see research coming out that social media marketers believe a social media presence is more important than social media ads. It’s good because I’ve been saying that ever since Facebook introduced ads and called it social media marketing. This week we look at that research, and more research that shows just what kind of customer businesses … Read more about this episode...

Sounds like a load of crap, doesn’t it? “Less is more…” 86 people paying $97/month equals $100,104 per year. Small number of people paying a fairly small sum. Groupon says 80% of people actually redeem their daily deal coupon. And retailers hope that’s true because when that number goes up, they really start losing money. Now we have a lot … Read more about this episode...

Can tweeting get you killed? The rise of violence in Mexico has caused news outlets, and even the authorities, to stop covering what criminals are doing. In response, citizen journalists are spreading the news and helping to keep people safe. But the criminals don’t like being tweeted about. In countries where freedom is not guaranteed, social media has become a … Read more about this episode...

Facebook is talking about bringing music sharing services such as Spotify, Rhapsody, Rdio, MOG and Deezer onto their site. The idea is to make your profile an entertainment hub. But how much of a hub will it be if it drives these businesses out of business? Very few online music services are profitable, and they have a model that causes … Read more about this episode...

Is capitalism dead? The stories this week are all about companies that claim to be capitalist. Are they? Or are they just profiteers and opportunists who no longer understand the meaning of capitalism? In the latest effort to establish an e-book lending library, Amazon is putting forward their plan. It’s different from what Google tried, and definitely different from what … Read more about this episode...

When Forrester Research hosted the Customer Experience Forum, they asked Tealeaf to do some research with attendees. They discovered that 87% of attendees believe online customer experience management is more important now than ever before. Yet only half of attendees have implemented strategies for improving that experience or measuring results of the experience. This week, we look at why every … Read more about this episode...

Sounds a little brutal, doesn’t it? And yet it regularly proves to be the difference between a business flourishing and perishing. We know that our customers naturally split into different groups. This week, we look at how that’s happening right now. Almost a quarter of North Americans are NOT on the internet. At the same time, half of all U.S. … Read more about this episode...

It’s a week for big changes in the world of social media. Jerry Lewis is making his last appearance on the MDA telethon this year. It’s being broadcast for only 6 hours, and is slated for September 4. It’s the end of an era. One that began the same year I was born. And Jerry Lewis built a social media … Read more about this episode...

Now that’s quite a week! Google drops 12.5 Billion on a cell phone, a newspaper rants against social media, and IBM declares the end of the PC era. If you’re Google, what do you say to agreeing to pay 12.5 Billion for a company – and then having to wait while the government decides whether you’re allowed to buy it? … Read more about this episode...

Flat out, there’s no way any business owner can stay in business by giving away 75% of sales through daily deal sites. That’s a model built for bankruptcy. The unfortunate part is that the daily deal sites – Groupon, Living Social, Google Offers, and others – are positioning themselves in just that way. They have followed the example of the … Read more about this episode...

Imagine picking up a copy of USA Today and seeing them pick up a story you’ve been trumpeting for months. That’s what has happened to me. And it turns out 75% of investment bankers are thinking like me, too! Kinda gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling to know you’re having an impact. J This week we also look at what … Read more about this episode...

Facebook is now FaceBroke, although they don’t want you to know it. But what does the rise of such an information storehouse mean for local business owners? That people are willing to share their information is a boon to every business owner. Big corporations will use it to be more competitive, and local business owners can use that consumer willingness … Read more about this episode...

It’s big news when the second largest bookseller – Borders – gives up and decides to close their doors. Their remaining 399 stores will be gone by the end of September along with 10,700 jobs. And there’s a lesson here for every business owner who thinks exceptional service is enough. It isn’t. We’ll take a look at how some ordinary … Read more about this episode...

Your day is already busy, and your schedule is already full. The answers to these questions help you protect your privacy, make use of your time, and build stronger relationships with everyone you meet. Dr. Oz is the “front guy” for RealAge. A site that purports to give you the latest scientific and medical advice available – all for free. … Read more about this episode...

Amex and Foursquare are getting the jump on all the mobile wallet providers. They’ve teamed up to harness the power of social media with credit card spending. The great thing is that you can do exactly the same thing in your business. News Corp has finally been able to sell MySpace. And they only took a $501 Million dollar loss … Read more about this episode...

Google launched Google+ last week, and they’re off to a roaring start. It’s their third swing at the piñata, and they may have found the formula for knocking Facebook off its pedestal. Google’s first two swings were Wave and Buzz. They both went bust, and it looks like Google has learned from their mistakes. Still in Beta, Google+ has been … Read more about this episode...

Some internet celebrities had their YouTube accounts closed last week. David Jenyns, Jeff Herring, and Darren Rowse to name three. Listen to find out how it happened, and how you can keep it from happening to you. We also send you to two special interviews David Jenyns has done to help you play in the YouTube sandbox nicely. To be … Read more about this episode...

Groupon and Living Social have interesting competition in the online coupon market. Bill Shrink has teamed up with more than 2,000 banks and is a case study in how to do coupons the right way. Google has added some cool features to their local and mobile search functions. They make it easier for people to find what they’re looking for, … Read more about this episode...