BulletProofBlog the blog on crisis communications

Bulletproof’s Weekly Web Wrap-Up offers a compilation of key discussions regarding social media’s increasing relevance to business.

As more and more Americans jump on the social media bandwagon, the number and frequency of those using social networks to broadcast “status updates” is rapidly expanding. The fact that these updates increasingly serve as a forum for critiquing companies and brands presents an ideal opportunity for real-time reputational monitoring that is much simpler and more effective than traditional focus groups or surveys.

Of course, monitoring is only the beginning; in order to fully leverage the power of social media, you need to engage the online conversation and infuse your own messages into the discussion. As such, this week’s Wrap-Up provides useful tips for how to best engage the online dialogue and ensure that your brand comes across as responsive to the needs of a diverse array of stakeholders:

TechCrunch:
Pew Study Reports that Internet Users Are Becoming More Status Update-Friendly

Social Media Examiner:
The 5 Essential Pillars of a Social Media Campaign

MediaPost:
Social Networking = Reverse Voyeurism

New York Times:
Real Life Lessons in Using Google AdWords

Mashable:
5 Small Businesses Successfully Using Social Media