Michael Jackson's Death: Impact on the Web

Twitter fielded 5,000 tweets per minute.

AIM crashed for 40 minutes.

TMZ's (the celebrity site that broke the story) site traffic jumped 30 percent.

Shelly Palmer of MediaBytes says the overall traffic spike was unprecedented.

Source: iMedia Connection

See What You Search: Spezify Turns Search Results into Visual Gallery

You'll never "see" searches the same way again. Spezify is a visual search engine that gathers images, videos, tweets, and more into a high-level look at your search term.

Thanks to Firebelly Marketing for sharing.

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Diving Into Social Media

Nearly any brand can reach their customers using social media marketing. But there are questions to ask yourself and your team before engaging consumers and sparking a meaningful dialogue with them. Effectively using social media is a commitment; it’s an exercise in enthusiasm and requires a sincere desire to reach people. Before planning your strategy, have a conversation with your department:

Why are you interested in social media for your brand now? More specifically, do you have solidified goals? What are they?

If you want to insert new social media tactics in your marketing plan, be frank about your reasoning. If pressure from within your company is the only thing prompting this conversation, re-evaluate. Social media marketing should begin with a passion for your product and the goal of making your customers’ lives easier. Establish this as a goal first and set yourself up for success.

How much time does your staff have to devote? People drive social media, and it takes manpower to keep the online conversation vibrant. If you’re already stretched too thin, plan ahead. Carving out time for social media is well worth it - just kickoff your campaigns knowing these hours are essential.

Do you believe in your product? Authenticity is imperative. When you’re not confident about your product or services, it shows. Be a true evangelist and you will attract evangelists online. Not wholeheartedly passionate about what you’re marketing? Attempt to fix whatever is preventing you from delighting your customers before reaching out. The effort spent on the front end could prevent more headaches than you might think.

Do you love your product enough to send it out into the world? If you stand behind your product, you’ll know that when you send it out into the online world, it’ll hold its own in an environment where you don’t have a great deal of control.
Be ready for what can happen after you launch a social media effort. No matter how well prepared and how proud your team is of what you’re promoting, negative comments will arise. That’s the nature of the space. But if you’re willing to let those occasional comments happen, you’re positioning your company to possibly receive big-time payouts.

Have this heart-to-heart and you’ll be prepared. Once you feel good about engaging in social media, you’re ready to start the exciting process of planning your strategies. Read more about the process of planning your strategies at Social Media is Everywhere, Where Are You?

~Kara Martens

Comet Branding Radio Show with guest, Jason Weaver, CEO of Sway, Inc.

On Wednesday, June 17th Jason Weaver, CEO of Sway, Inc. chatted with Al Krueger and Sara Meaney on Comet Branding Radio Show

Listen to hear their discussion about where social media is going and how to make the most of it right now.

The Comet Branding Radio Show is dedicated to being a platform for sharing and discussing the progressive and evolving elements of branding, marketing, PR and social media with the people leading the charge. The show is hosted in Milwaukee by Al Krueger and Sara Meaney from Comet Branding.

Sway Inc & Sohobiztube.com Presents - DIY Social Media Workshop

Keynote: Rishi Shah, owner of Flyingcart.com and finalist of Business Week's Best Young Entrepreneur's in 2007.

Bring your laptop to this interactive, Social Media Strategy Workshop where by the end of the day, you will leave with your own draft of a social media strategy.

Presenters include:

Cindi Thompson of Fullhouse - Everything I learned about social media I learned in Kindergarten

CD Vann of Sohobiztube - Integrating traditional marketing strategies with social media marketing strategies

Scott Baitinger of Mader Communications - Social media tools, tactics, and strategies

Steve Glynn of Spreenkler - Monitoring your social media community

Barb Rozgonyi of Cory West Media - Business Blogging and PR

Jason Weaver of Sway Inc. - Social Media Marketing and Social Communities

WHEN: July 22, 2009, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tweet-up to follow from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

WHERE: Holiday Inn & Suites, 1109 Fourier Drive, Madison, WI

COST: $85 per person (includes continental breakfast, snacks and lunch)
$55 student discount (with student ID)

REGISTER TODAY

Sponsored by Sohobiztube.com and Sway Inc.