As you probably know, social media tools and platforms are having a huge impact on many aspects of business, from customer service and employee hiring to marketing and product development. But how do you actually know if your social engagement efforts are successful? Some have argued that it’s silly to ask for ROI or to measure things; after all you wouldn’t ask what the ROI of answering the phone [...]

2010 has been a great year for sports and social media. More and more athletes, teams and brands have started utilizing social media tools and platforms to engage fans. The question is no longer “why should we care?” but “how should we do this?” It is my pleasure to present the ebook, Sports and Social Media Predictions for 2011, which features 17 smart people and thought-leaders who have [...]

I had a great time last week in Calgary for the Western Sponsorship Congress, a fantastic event put on by Brent Barotees and his team at The Partnership Group. I spoke on how social media platforms can benefit properties and sponsors, and had a lot of fun listening to some of the other presenters, meeting some smart folks and hanging out in Calgary (the Flames-Oilers game was definitely a highlight). Here [...]

I’ve been thinking a lot about online communities, specifically the more open ones that are public-facing and either for a company’s customers or for a certain niche. Some examples would be: Allstate’s Good Hands Community MyColts.net – official community for the Indianapolis Colts AARP online community Ovation Arts Community I assume the companies that run these communities [...]

I hope your September has been going well. It’s been a busy month here. I was in Atlanta for the UNC-LSU game, was up in Connecticut last week, and saw some great music from Colourslide and My Radio last weekend here in Arlington. October will be an even busier month. I’ll be at some great events next month and would love to meet up if you’re there or in the area. DMA 2010 Conference I’m [...]

Social media has created new opportunities for teams and sponsors to engage fans in meaningful ways. When I saw some tweets flying around about the Panthers Purrsuit, a quest/event that combines fan engagement, fun and social media I asked Mike Mahoney (Sponsorship Sales Executive with the Carolina Panthers) if they’d be willing to answer some questions about it. I’ve had the privilege [...]