One of the strongest marketing tools brands are utilizing on social media platforms is the giving away of merchandise, desired items or access to exclusive items in exchange for something the company sees as valuable: information and/or access to user’s platforms or increasing brand visibility. One of the key elements of a strong social media program is the engagement of a company’s core user base to provide honest feedback as well as to assist in the furthering of the brand’s visibility to the user’s audiences. One of the fastest ways to get someone’s attention, to help secure

Thursday, June 25, 2009 -- Social Media Marketing Dinner. We��ll look at latest trends in social media, branded entertainment, audience tracking, interactive ads, integrated and cross-platform marketing and much more, backed up by video case studies. Join iHollywood Forum as we re-launch our popular monthly dinner series looking at what��s next for the business of entertainment. This month, we��ve gathered a panel of industry leaders to discuss next-generation marketing and promotion for films, television, games and music.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 -- Expanding Business with Social Media. Social media is rapidly changing the way companies do business. Companies that have social media strategies are finding them to be a valuable tool for driving customer engagement and building brand loyalty; one that translates into real revenue and increased customer satisfaction. AccessEN. Companies that don��t are finding out the hard way that their customers are using services like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and FriendFeed to share their experiences �� both good and bad �� with specific

frequently work on networking through the social web and building new relationships that will foster knowledge gathering or business growth. Some days I respond to questions asked by folks like yourself, the press, or an entity doing a case study, i.e. In between it all, I'm dropping off/picking up my son, hanging out with my wife and dogs, or perhaps a cigar with my brother or friends. We need to spend some time discussing I’ve recently had a chance to reconnect with Eric David Greenspan ( LinkedIn , Twitter ) He’s the CEO of Make It Work a high quality, personal, high touch technology service provider for homes and small businesses.

My last few posts I have been talking about how using social media and communitiy development tools can help companies establish and/or grow their brands. They use 25 case studies to make their points. Well, the team at Groundswell makes a great case that it is your customers and how they talk about you and your company that controls your brand. So, I was reading Groundswell , a relatively new book, by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff. Josh is a Vice President and Principal Analyst with Forrester Research and Charlene was with Forrester when this book was

I was invited to speak to an elite Los Angeles group of high powered CMOs (Chief Marketing Officers) about innovation and corporate social responsibility. Our discussion included case study examples to answer the following questions: What are the different roles of innovation? When do consumers reward a socially responsible company? Does being ethical pay? When does a great CSR initiative go bad?

It will also include a case study that will leave you with actionable insights on how to implement measurement, reporting and analytics in digital marketing. The tools discussed will be those that monitor not only social media but also the integration into CRM and traditional news and the panelists will clarify what the right channels are to use these tools.and#8232; See [link] (mor Friday, December 4, 2009 -- The Marketing SIG Presents... Let Them Complainand#8232;!

Tickets : Free but only 50 spaces are available and restrictions apply . Sprout Inc. Social Media Event -Join them at their Los Angeles social media summit. They will be bringing thought leaders from agencies, brands and social networks to discuss ways to engage your audience across the social graph. They will also be sharing case studies, examples Tuesday, August 18th, 2009 Digital LA – iPhone Apps Show-n-tell @ Apple Store: Join them to show-n-tell your fave apps at this FREE informal meet-up at the rear theater

association with some of the region�s top trade associations/social networking groups and industry hosts, DFR '09 promises to be the largest holiday party of the season and help weave our various communities of interest into the larger collective family of professionals working in and around the technology industry. Join Toyota, Pizza Hut, NBA, Fandango, and More Share Their Success Stories with Mobile and Social Apps. Please Dear readers: We've got offers for two different event -- a discount to tomorrow's Digital Family Reunion , and a chance to win a ticket to digiday:APPS next week.

Dear readers: We’ve got offers for three different events today — a discount to tomorrow’s Digital Family Reunion , a chance to win a ticket to digiday:APPS next week, and a 50% discount to the new Schmoozd Social Media Mixer . association with some of the region’s top trade associations/social networking groups and industry hosts, DFR ‘09 promises to be the largest holiday party of the season and help weave our various communities of interest into the larger collective family of professionals working in and around the technology industry. Read more below for details.