What are four of the top social media networks doing to protect children?

With reports of cyberbullying on the rise, a guide to what Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram are doing, and whether it’s enough

According to recent report from NSPCC, ChildLine conducted 35,000 counselling sessions for low self-esteem between April 2014 and March 2015. The report blames “a constant onslaught from cyber-bullying, social media and the desire to copy celebrities,” as key reasons.

Julia Fossi, senior analyst for online safety at NSPCC says that while most platforms are taking steps to improve safety, social networks must be held more accountable for the content they host.

She says that social sites, which often use tracking technology for adverts and marketing could use a similar technology “to identify potential bullying issues and help determine what an effective intervention would look like.”

With reports of cyberbullying on the rise and girls more likely to be affected, Will Gardner, CEO, Childnet International says that the area is “challenging” but agrees that sites must continue innovating with technology to tackle the issue.

Here, we look at what four of the biggest social media networks are currently doing.

Read the post

10 Social Media Customer Service Tactics You Must Implement During 2015

In online terms, social media customer service is a low hanging business fruit and an area where you can steal a march on your competitors during 2015.

Usually around this time of year, I write about those online marketing trends that I expect to feature heavily during the following year. However, this year I’m changing the focus to social customer service, where customer expectation is not being met by the majority of businesses. It’s worth noting that social customer service activities double as some of the best online marketing tactics you could employ.

The following are 10 social customer service tactics that I recommend all businesses must implement during 2015:

#1. Listen to and monitor online conversations

#2. Identify the correct tools

#3. Develop a cross channel strategy

#4. Develop clear guidelines

#5. Develop self-service content

#6. Define response targets

#7. Monitor your competitors and industry

#8. Understand message and manage conversations

#9. Create a social customer service handbook

#10. Analyse the data

Read the full post

The social economy: Unlocking value and productivity through social technologies

In a few short years, social technologies have given social interactions the speed and scale of the Internet. Whether discussing consumer products or organizing political movements, people around the world constantly use social-media platforms to seek and share information. Companies use them to reach consumers in new ways too; by tapping into these conversations, organizations can generate richer insights and create precisely targeted messages and offers.

To reap the full benefit of social technologies, organizations must transform their structures, processes, and cultures: they will need to become more open and nonhierarchical and to create a culture of trust. Ultimately, the power of social technologies hinges on the full and enthusiastic participation of employees who are not afraid to share their thoughts and trust that their contributions will be respected. Creating these conditions will be far more challenging than implementing the technologies themselves.

Download the full report (4MB)

Virtual learning spaces

Clarify your doubts, view digital dissections, videos of experiments and listen to lectures by experts from around the world on the social media… Learning could be fun this way.

The Internet has thrown open a whole new world of information access and it’s not just the regular educational sites we’re talking about. Even those platforms assumed to be of a frivolous, social nature are now being seen as powerful tools of education. Who would have thought Facebook, Twitter and YouTube would help you score extra in your tests?

“If anything, it (social media) just opens up another channel of communication from students to teachers,” comments a person on a website. Not just a channel but numerous and simultaneous channels that connect you to several material at one shot.

Here’s a look at the social media spaces that are underestimated educational tools. Read the full article

The 7 Social Media Tricks for Your Business

1. How Social Customer Support Brings Social Media beyond Marketing
2. Tap the Social Media Stream for Competitors' Secrets
3. How to Use Social Media to Create Business Value
4. Social CRM for the Enterprise: How Analytics can Move You to Greater Success
5. Enterprise Social Software: What Businesses Need to Do Next
6. Five Reasons Social CRM is the High Ground for Revenue Production
7. 13 Tips for How to Use Pinterest for Business

Read the full post

Social Media Etiquette: 10 Commandments

Well, my (author JR Raphael's) friends, it's time to set some parameters. Behold the ten commandments of social media etiquette. Read them. Study them. Write them on the tablet of your heart. Together, we can avoid spiraling down into the pits of social media hell.*

These days, social media is a bit of a wild, wild West: While most of us understand the basic etiquette of real-world interactions, we've yet to reach a consensus on what behaviors are acceptable--and what behaviors are not--in our virtual lives.

Well, my friends, it's time to set some parameters. Behold the ten commandments of social media etiquette. Read them. Study them. Write them on the tablet of your heart. Together, we can avoid spiraling down into the pits of social media hell.*

Read the full post

The 10 Commandments of Social Media Etiquette

Are you a social media sinner? If you regularly violate any of these commandments, the answer is probably yes.

These days, social media is a bit of a wild, wild West: While most of us understand the basic etiquette of real-world interactions, we've yet to reach a consensus on what behaviors are acceptable--and what behaviors are not--in our virtual lives.

The author of this post JR Raphael tells: it's time to set some parameters. Behold the ten commandments of social media etiquette. Read them. Study them. Write them on the tablet of your heart. Together, we can avoid spiraling down into the pits of social media hell.

Read the full post

Free Marketing Guide: Social Media Marketing GPS

Social Media Marketing GPS began as an experiment to learn if marketers would be receptive to, and find value in, a new book genre built on a succession of tweet interviews about one business topic: social media marketing.

The goal was to create a comprehensive body of knowledge that could serve as a roadmap (GPS) for developing a strategic social media plan.

Forty prominent marketers from Canada, England, India and the United States were interviewed on Twitter. The focus was on how to leverage social media, not in terms of the technology, but as a vehicle to build and nurture stronger business relationships.

Format: Download: You will receive a link to download a guide after registration.

Visit to Download

How to Get Started with Pinterest

Pinterest is currently one of the hottest sites on the internet, exploding in users and fans since its inception in March 2010. With over 6 million active users, Pinterest drives more referral traffic than Google Plus, YouTube and LinkedIn put together, growing to become one of the largest social networking platforms. Given this explosion, it is highly likely that you’ve heard the word “Pinterest” tossed around.

But for those of you that haven’t, it’s never too let to get started on the latest craze. Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned 'pinner', the following tips can help you quickly get right in the midst of Pinterest.

Read the post

52 cool facts and stats about social media (2012 edition)

In July 2010, I (Danny Brown) wrote a post called "52 Cool Facts About Social Media" to explore some of the mind-boggling and truly impressive numbers from the space in which we play. I also wanted to offer a fun fact for every week of the year, for anyone playing social media trivia games. At the time, the Big Five were (arguably) Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and blogging. My, what a difference two years make. So, to bring some of these figures up to date, as well as include some of the newer names on the scene, here are 52 cool facts about social media, the 2012 edition

Read the full post

23 Types of Social Media Sites

It’s easier to navigate the maze of online social media sites if you understand the different site categories and the purpose of each type. The social media world consists of two segments: social and media. To optimize your experience with each type of social media, it’s best to participate in the communities you choose to join.

This post supplies a list of 23 types of social media, including a brief explanation of the purpose and at least one example of each type. This list will help you determine which types of social media sites would best benefit your situation. Nearly all social media sites offer free memberships.

Read the full story