Social media marketing is hotter than the sun right now. Big brands, companies and businesses are all playing or coming to play! Why? Because it works. Watch out! This space is going to get noisier by the second,  so you really need to cut through the noise with your campaigns and marketing strategy more than ever.

I always share what we soak up at Let’s Refresh and Thinktank Media, so here’s a report that’s a must read for anyone embracing or wanting to embrace this power space.

It’s juicy and covers the topical question “what is social influence in marketing”.

Here’s a breakdown of what you will fill up on when you stop by and fuel up!

• Research insights
• Measuring social influence marketing
• The future of social influence marketing
• Can social ads do better than display ads? (Chris Bowler)
• Viral marketing through social media (Greg Pomaro)
• Social groups (Andrea Harrison)
• Customer relationship management – social media (David Baker)
• 10 ways to make the twittersphere work for your brand (Diana Stepner)

Razorfish have released this report, yet another piece of gold from them!

You can hop along to the report here

Then pop back and let us know your thoughts!

I am soooo bloody enthusiastic and passionate about Social Media that when I mix this with small business I just wanna go BANG!

It’s a goldmine for small business right now; we’ve never had it better! Use this economic downturn to your advantage, and in fact you may find there is no downturn!  

Of course you can sit down and whinge about how you need to cut back, and how you need to be more careful with your spending, the banks the government, blah blah…or you can invest this whinging time soaking up this power space called Social Media…. and getting super productive with it!

It’s no big scary thing…you don’t need to be a techie…..STOP IT WITH THE EXCUSES! I’m sick of people saying “it’s ok for you, you’re a techie head”! Damn it guys, I’m no techie!

I’ve only been in this game 2 years….and started from scratch!  What I am is a small business owner who wants to grow my business in a powerful and super productive way (the fewer the costs, the better). What I am is a connecter, a no bullshit girl – If I see something that’s going to benefit me, my family, my business then I take action!

 Everything I have built up boils down to learning new things, connecting with people, caring, taking action and bloody hard work!

 I’m passionate, enthusiastic and energetic and I love the business I’m in. That’s key! You’ve gotta be enthusiastic and passionate otherwise what’s the point! With these qualities and Social Media combined, our business is growing by the second! When I say growing, I mean growing with followers/fans…people that talk to others about us, refer us on…people that are building up our brand (unconsciously) , people that come to us when they want to learn, along with the power people that assist us too (my twitter buddies – just look to your right) ! That’s how we have gone from a Melbourne based business to a business that operates globally and has fans in many areas of the world!

Ok, so I have blown my own trumpet a lot however I want to make a point!  I want the newbie’s out there to get it! It’s our time now people…..it’s 2009! Get with it!

Social media is giving us the opportunity to promote our personal brand or product in a way we could have never imagined! It’s now not a case of spending big $$$$ on your marketing budget – this stuff is FREE and I believe it’s more powerful than anything out there right now (traditional media included – TV, newspapers, radio). Why? Because Social Media is all about great contacts, connections, PEOPLE!!!!! Start watching our next leg of celebrities burst out from this space – the internet – that’s ME included!

So what do you need to do to take advantage of these great marketing platforms? Start building up your lists (fans) NOW while you have the time, while there is an economic downturn, because I promise you, if you leave it til next month, next year then you’re missing out, you’re falling behind!  Yes, it takes hard work, yes it takes extra added hours when you feel like jacking it all in, yet if you’re passionate and enthusiastic about your brand then that’s what keeps you powering forwards. It keeps you going, and that’s what attracts people to you!

Click here to see 1 place to get started…some other places to start building up your list of groupies are Twitter and Facebook!

That rant had to be released…he he….! To be honest it’s not usually my normal fluffy and warm style yet I had to make a point, and it’s because I care. I care about small business and I care about you guys who are reading my post right now! It does my absolute nut in to think small businesses out there do not know about Social Media and the power of this space – that’s why I’m here, and this blog too! Ahhhh…..and those who choose to neglect it, that’s just crazy stuff, yet I guess I can only go so far with this……. it all boils down to a matter of choice!

I trust you make the right choice! 

High fives and whoop whoop! I’m here for ya! Comments please…click the comments section below!