The Science of Social Media

This month, my article “The Science of Social Media” was published in Marketing Magazine (August 31, 2009 issue).
To download a copy (scanned) click on this link:
The Science of Social Media (Aug 31 2009).pdf
The article explores some of the scientific processes (within the bounds of one page!) that have helped drive the growth of social media [...]

Does Facebook make you dumber?

So I awoke this morning to this story being plastered on the news feeds:
STUDY FINDS LINK BETWEEN FACEBOOK USE, LOWER GRADES IN COLLEGE
This is the original news release from Ohio State University.
I have found the tone of the various pick-ups by news organizations entertaining. From “Facebook use linked to less textbook time” on USA [...]

The Evolution of Social Networking Sites and Research 2.0: Social Media & Marketing (Presentation)

In May 2008, my business partner, Rick Frank, Dufferin Research, and I presented at the Marketing Research & Intelligence Association’s conference in Winnipeg.
There were a number of other presentations on the topic, and the consensus is that social media was not going away. In fact, it will continue to grow.
In fact, since we presented, the [...]

Facebook, Social Media & Business Strategy: Do you panic?

So you are a corporation and your workers are spending time on Facebook. What do you do? Do you shut down access? Do nothing? Develop acceptable use policies? Or order in pizza, get the gang together and figure out how social media fits in with your overall business strategy?
If you said the latter, move to [...]

Facebook, Social Media & Making Money

June 7 2008 – I read Mark Sutcliffe’s editorial in the Ottawa Citizen today – “Still hard to see how Facebook will make a buck with social networks.”
He establishes his position right from the start:
At the risk of sounding like a heretic, I don’t get Facebook.
It’s not that I don’t get the concept. I suppose [...]

Facebook, New Graduates & Usage Policies

What is it about the 18-34 generation and Facebook? Well, they have a better networking and relationship maintenance tool than their Boomer predecessors. This presents a golden opportunity for all organizations.
For those of us who graduated and left school for good before 1995 (yours truly included) – the year that the Internet became mainstream – [...]

Clarifications: Reuters Coverage on Facebook News Release

Yesterday I was interviewed by Reuters on our recent news release. As with most interviews related to polling results, there are some things that get a little lost in translation and edited.
Please note the following clarifications on their article “Facebook users willing to let employers see profiles” by Claire Sibonney.
Quote:
Almost half of 1,200 people questioned [...]

Facebook helps employers screen & develop talent…

Social networking is the new frontier of recruiting and connecting with staff.
Yes, indeed. While not an obvious first place to advertise jobs, the medium does take advantage of one key element – networks.
There have been a wave of employers shutting down workers access to this revolutionary Web 2.0 application because it is considered a time [...]

Trying to stay up-to-date

In the business of providing advice, you simply have to stay in the know. Whatever is going on in the news, business, science, the arts and popular culture, clients expect us to be up-to-date. We need to stay abreast of the latest trends and innovations in society and the market.
So we have the radio on… [...]

Presentation: Quebec Tourism Intelligence Network – May 4, 2007

On May 4, 2007, I had the opportunity to present at the “Demographic Change” session at the Quebec Tourism Intelligence Network in Quebec City.
I have attached my presentation and notes.
What is clear, the tourism sector is competing for talent in an increasingly tight human resources market. The sector has to get creative in what [...]