Shortly after Facebook’s f8 announcement about its new Timeline profile format, people were already speculating when brand Pages would undergo the same changes. We’ve since seen countless articles speculating exactly what the implications of Timeline for Pages would be, and most importantly how Timeline would be used.

Facebook unveiled Timeline for Pages last week, along with a number of equally important product and platform upgrades. Here are FIVE key things you need to know about the new brand Page format:

1. The Timeline

Timeline for Pages serves the same purpose it does for personal profiles – it tells your story. How little or much you wish to share is up to you, but it’s important to consider what your friends or fans would be interested in seeing. Content that is emotive tends to do well, so leveraging key milestones and dates of your life and your community is suggested, particularly when highlighted in a unique, creative way. There is a heavy emphasis on visual storytelling as photo albums appear more prominently in the timeline, and select images or posts can be “starred” and expanded across the entire width of the timeline.

Additionally, your connections’ interactions with a brand now populate that brand’s Timeline. Users can have a more relevant and personal experience by being able to see how their friends are engaging.

2. Cover and Profile Images

The cover image is one of the first things your fans will see. However, Facebook has emphasized that that space is NOT be used for promotions, call to actions, or advertising, so keep that in mind as you create your cover photo and develop an engagement strategy. If you need guides on how to create a new cover and avatar for your page, the image bellow may help you:

3. Say Good-Bye To Default Landing Tabs

Customized landing tabs have been used in many ways on brand Pages, but have most commonly been used as default landing pages to drive new “likes” and give new users a “controlled” first experience. It also usually included some sort of incentivized call to action that instructed users to “like” the Page to get exclusive content.

With the elimination of this feature, brands can now reposition tabs at the top of the timeline to highlight those they want their followers to engage with and then use regular content updates to draw attention to those tabs. The only way you can create a default landing tab is to invest in Facebook ads with the custom tab as the URL.

4. The Pin is IN

You can now pin a post so it appears as the first post people see for seven days. After that, it will be pushed down the timeline as other content is added. Pinning content on Facebook allows brands to keep popular posts top of mind and prevents them from getting lost in the conversation.

This allows brands to highlight important or campaign-specific content and ensure a higher level of visibility for this content. A weekly content strategy will become more important in order to full maximize this feature.

This will also change the way you set up your editorial calendar. While some manage their content “on the fly,” this requires more in-depth content strategy to create a balance of daily content and specific pinned posts that are the most likely to receive high levels of engagement from a brand’s audience. Pinning an item at the top of your feed might be important to you if you want to draw attention to a tab that normally you would’ve had as default. Additionally, all pinned posts can be geotargeted, allowing for more localized content, which will hopefully turn into more engagement.

5. It’s About Engagement

Several changes to the admin panel support the notion that success on Facebook will be brought on by creating engaging, smart content rather than simply launching classic advertising campaigns. Fans of Pages can now interact with the Page through private messages. Though you can no longer restrict your wall view to show only posts from the Page, you can now manually approve every post from fans before they are published.

If you click the “likes” tab on any brand timeline Page, you’ll see more public analytics than before. This increased access to analytics assists with determining how your brand’s Page stacks up against its competitors. Additionally, it continues the trend of emphasizing overall engagement on a Page as opposed to strictly qualitative data such as the number of “Likes” a Page has amassed.

There are still a number of other new changes that are being rolled out on the Facebook platform, but the overall takeaway is that your brand or organization needs to commit to storytelling of past, present, and future as the most effective way to see success on Facebook. Visually compelling content and effective storytelling will always win out over static broadcasting.

These changes go into effect for all brand Pages on March 30, but many brands have already made the switch. When will your brand?

Source: Adam Rosenberg

Brazil seems to be the best place for a social media investments for most of the companies, but they don't even know why - or how to do it with the best ROI.

It is true that Brazilians are early adopters of social networks. That's a main statement. They also love to 'like' brands on Facebook, share their knowledge and impressions on Orkut, and also make instant comments on Twitter - Brazilians kinda rule the Treding Topics whenever they want. The country is also in a favorable place: several global investments, solid finacial situation, rich in resources and rapidly growing. This scenario, mixed with a very engaged public, seems to be a good place to invest social media efforts, and that's the tricky part.

What some companies didn't realize is that this scenario is not only good for increasing mindshare and creating buzz, but also an adequate place for an image crisis. Always remember: when you expose your company and products on the internet, you are giving general public the hability to criticize it. And not every company is ready to hear what people have to say.

To protect you company's investments in social media, you have always to ask yourself the following three questions:

- Is this culturally acceptable for this country/population?

- Can this exposure take proportions that my company is not ready yet to handle?

- How can I determine whether these efforts will be successful?

To help you a little bit more, it's always good to check what the competitors and/or other important companies are already doing online. But as a Brazilian Social Media Specialist I must tell you not to be too conservative: the best ideas were born because someone believed and invested in something creative and original.

I would like to take this opportunity and share with you this great infographic from the digitalbuzz blog that can help you understand a little bit more about social media ROI effectiveness. just click on the image below to enlarge:

Hope you all enjoy the read, and feel free to comment/ask anything!

I've been deeply immersed in Google Plus for the last week or so, not only following what's being said about the service but actually using it, kicking the tires and making observations along the way. For what it's worth, I think Google Plus has an incredible amount of potential for a number of reasons. Here's a few thoughts or more accurately opinions. Everyone has a take, so the only thing can offer here is that I've had these thoughts in my head while using the service but wanted to give it some time before putting it into writing.

1. Google Plus Isn't A Social Network, It's A Social Layer

Google Plus looks like a social network and feels like a social network but I don't think that's where all of this is going. What Google has been successful in doing is creating the beginnings of what I think will become a social layer across the Google/Web ecosystem. The brilliance of their strategy is that the experience is good and seems designed for users craving a solution that takes aspects from Twitter, Tumblr and adds some of the familiarity of Facebook resulting in a promising social experience which lets users broadcast in public or share and connect selectively. If Google can scale and refine what's making G+ appealing to early adopters, they will be well on their way to showing the rest of the world what a social layer looks like (and I'm looking forward to watching this unfold).

2. Google Plus Isn't A Facebook Killer And Doesn't Need To Be

The media and pundits will continue to ask the question of Google taking Facebook out. I am fairly confident that average social "consumers" (think your mom or non industry friends) will not be leaving Facebook any time soon. However, this doesn't mean G+ will not become a significant force in media and other areas--I believe it will because it offers enough compelling connectivity, social features and content to siphon attention away from multiple networks/communication platforms including Twitter, Foursquare, Tumblr, Posterous, E-mail etc. As my Edelman fellow Steve Rubel points out, time and attention are finite. The more time and attention G+ gets from users and publishers, the more it takes away from all others. In my opinion, Google plus will take away enough time and attention for other networks to feel its effect and influence.

3. Journalists, Public Relations Professionals & The Media Will Eventually Flock To G+

Facebook knows that they need to appeal to journalists and media professionals in order to become an even more influential network. Currently, journalists favor Twitter over Facebook due to it's real time and open nature. Google Plus combines these aspects of Twitter with a way to organize "sources" and information organically. I believe this is where Facebook will feel Google plus most as media entities begin to incorporate the service into their routines. I don't see Facebook being structured as well for things like scanning headlines and leveraging journalists as personalities.

4. Businesses With Employee "Ambassador" Models Will Activate & Deploy Them

Call them community managers, evangelists, or corporate ambassadors, many business models leverage employees as public agents to educate, engage and activate advocacy amongst their customers. Google Plus has come out swinging strong with features such as circles which makes managing multiple groups of connections effective (something Facebook or Twitter doesn't do well). For example, a community manager who only wants to communicate or give their best content or news away to a their most engaged or high value members can custom different content to different groups.  Naturally, many company "ambassadors" will organically begin cultivating their network, but the real opportunity lies with a coordinated deployment.

5. Big And Small Business Gets A Second Chance With Google+

Google Plus offers not only users, but business and brands a second chance at getting in while the infrastructure is still being put in place. Though Google has not rolled out brand pages (or pages for non human entities), companies of all shapes and sizes who may have fumbled their efforts on Facebook, Twitter etc for a variety of reasons will have a second chance at setting up their "embassies" on Google Plus with some planning in place and a host of learnings to draw from efforts on previous networks.

6. Google Will Bring Search & Social Together

Nobody knows how exactly, but Google+ is likely going to bring the worlds of search and social even closer together. Already, they remain linked—(for example, the more your content is shared via social media, the more it does better in organic search results). However, Google+ itself it not yet search-able (officially) while in other cases Google has offered ways for content producers to attach their identities to search results. If someone is going to figure out how these two worlds connect more interdependently it will be Google.

Google Plus is no Empire Avenue or Quora—it’s the company’s arguably successful attempt at a social layer, which will likely integrate across other verticals and intersect with search.  Personally, I think it could be a serious game changer for the reasons I’ve listed in this piece. Challenges for both individuals and brands will remain investment, risk, strategy and getting up to speed on this ecosystem in real time. My advice is to get the right people in your organization focused on determining if this space will affect your industry. At minimal, pay close attention to it. On the other end of the spectrum, if you want to break new ground—consider investing in all things Google as they weave their social layer across their considerable ecosystem.

Source: Logic+Motion

"Why should my business/products be available online?"

That's a simple question, with a simple answer: because your clients, prospects, fans and critics are already there, ready for you to find and interact with them. After taking a look at the white paper titled, “IT Consumers Transform the Enterprise: Are You Ready?”, shared by Paula Klein in this post, I thought about writing this post, giving a little overview on Promoted tools available in Twitter, that can help your business connecting with your stakeholders in this network.

But why should I promote my business/products?

Twitter recently launched its promoted content model, which is evolving as the network grows and more brands include Twitter within their digital strategies. In addition to offering brands a “Verified Account” and in-depth analytics, promotions on Twitter can align with engagement efforts already in place by a brand. Below you'll find some of the key functions and best practices of Twitter’s paid advertising platform.

1.       Promoted Tweet

A promoted tweet is simply a tweet that is promoted as an advertisement to a “wider group of users,” according to Twitter. Essentially, a brand bids on keywords or hashtags relevant to the tweet they are promoting in a model similar to Google Keyword bidding. When a Twitter user searches for those keywords or hashtag, or clicks on a Twitter hashtag, the user will see a “Promoted” tweet at the top of their search results. In terms of pricing, a brand is only charged when a user actually engages with a promoted tweet by clicking on it, retweeting it or @replying the brand directly from that tweet.

2.       Promoted Account

On their homepage, Twitter recommends users to follow based on their friends and extended network. A brand can promote its account to users that follow other accounts based on interests. Charges involved in this type of promotion are based on followers gained during the duration of the program. Twitter uses this example of an Edelman client, Microsoft Xbox. “A lot of people who follow several gaming-related accounts also follow @Xbox. If someone follows gaming-related accounts, but not @Xbox, Twitter may recommend @Xbox to that user.” Success can be found in campaigns targeting the followers of relevant lifestyle Twitter accounts.

3.       Promoted Trend

A promoted trend on Twitter allows a brand to appear at the top of the trends section on Twitter.com once a user logs in. To promote a trend, a brand pays a fixed cost for 24 hours of visibility. Trending topics appear on Twitter’s homepage due to organic volumes of conversation relevant to a geographic location. A promoted trend appears directly above organic trends and is clearly identified as promoted with a yellow box titled, “Promoted.”

4.       When is it best to use promoted content on Twitter?

Using promoted content on Twitter can address a brand’s tactical goals (i.e., growing a following) but should be tied to a strategic objective (i.e., building quality relationships with stakeholders). Launching a product, creating buzz around a campaign, or growing a conversation can be achieved through promoted content on Twitter. However, it is increasingly important for these brands to have sustained conversation after the program on Twitter in order to be successful.

5.       Best Practices in Promoted Twitter Content

Multiple creative options are available for promoted content on Twitter, depending on the goals and the budget for a campaign. Key tenets of successful social media campaigns exist - no matter the size of the budget or the brand. Some of these include relevant targeting and content, interesting information and two-way dialogue. Brands should consider their audience, create content to tweet that is relevant, and promote it through demographic and psychographic targeting. Twitter emphasizes that programs are more successful when they include an online call to action, whether driving traffic, RTs or @replies and recommends the use of URLs in the tweets for video, photo or web content.

Internet social networks are great places to meet and network with people sharing similar business interests. But they can also pose serious security threats to users and their companies.

Many businesses view social networking sites as a kind of online cocktail party - a friendly, comfortable place where one can establish contacts, find buyers or sellers, and raise a personal or corporate profile. But the cocktail party metaphor isn't entirely accurate. In fact, users would be better served if they thought of social network services in the context of a loud glass house; a place with endless visibility and each occupant talking through a highly amplified bullhorn.

Since most people access social network sites from the comfort and privacy of their home or office, they can be lulled into a false sense of anonymity. Additionally, the lack of physical contact on social network site can lower users' natural defenses, leading individuals into disclosing information they would never think of revealing to a person they just met on a street -- or at a cocktail party.

Staying safe on a social networking service means recognizing these factors, and working knowledgeably within a set of simple guidelines. They may seem basic, but here are 6 ways that businesses can encourage safe and sensible habits among employees. You may want to post these as part of your guidelines...

Protecting Yourself and Your Business

1. Be Discreet - Never type anything into a profile page, bulletin board, instant message or other type of online electronic form that would expose you to unwanted visitors or the possibility of identity theft or malicious threats. This includes personal and business names and addresses, phone numbers, job titles, birth dates, schedule details, daily routines and business or family information. It's far better to communicate in generalities than to reveal information that unscrupulous individuals may someday use against you.

2. Be Skeptical - Social network sites are full of useful business information, as well as to substantial amounts of useless disinformation. Treat anything you see online -- stock tips, advance news, personnel gossip and so on -- with a high degree of skepticism. Some people will lie in order to boost their own agenda, while others will spout unsubstantiated rubbish out of stupidity or sheer ignorance.

3. Be Thoughtful - Nobody likes a loudmouth, but the Internet has a curious way of releasing personal inhibitions. Never type anything online that can come back to bite you. This includes outrageous claims, slander, obscenity and insults. Be cool and professional, and always think twice before typing.

4. Be Professional - If you're posting a picture or video to a social network site, make sure it presents you in the best possible light. Dress professionally and, above all, don't disrobe or wear a funny hat.

5. Be Wary - People on the Internet are not always who they seem to be. The CEO you're chatting with in Denver may actually be a 14-year-old kid in Milwaukee -- or a prisoner in Romania. Until you can independently verify someone's identity -- using the same business tools that you would turn to to screen a new hire or confirm a prospective business partner -- never, ever reveal personal, business or financial information.

6. Check Privacy Policies - All major social network services have specific privacy guidelines that are published on their Web sites. Take the time to read and understand these documents, since they include the types of information that they will reveal -- or sell -- to other parties (including spammers). If you don't like the terms, don't use the service.

Social network sites are potentially useful business tools, but only if you approach them with an adequate amount of caution and common sense.

Although Facebook is by far the largest social network out there, the social network sphere is large and has a ton of players. I was curious about which of them are the most active. To find these sites, I decided to focus on the number of daily visitors to each site.

The number of (unique) daily visitors is an interesting metric since it doesn’t rely on registered users (who may or may not be active) or monthly visitors, where some may visit the site as seldom as once per month. In short, you get a good idea of the day-to-day activity on a site.

I found 29 social networks that currently have one million or more unique visitors per day. For traffic data, I used Google Trends for Websites. Note that these numbers are estimates made by Google from a variety of data sources, so they will not be 100% correct, but should still give us a good idea of how the sites compare.

A few quick observations:

• Facebook has stated that about half of its users log in to the site every day, which seems to match these numbers.
• It’s interesting that Orkut, counted out by many, clocks in a significant number of daily visitors. From this perspective, it’s the second-largest social network in the world. This is in large part due to it’s extremely strong following in Brazil and to a somewhat lesser extent, India.
• How the mighty have fallen. MySpace is only number 12 on this list. (And speaking of the fallen, Friendster didn’t even make the list.)
• Facebook dominates to an almost ridiculous extent. Combine all the daily visitors for the other 28 social networks on this list and you still only end up with two-thirds of what Facebook has.

After a quick search looking for cloud computing and social media articles I found this infographic that shows how people are already connected to the cloud - and sometimes don't even realise it. This is a good way to change our perspectives and to explain the cloud presence in our life.

Hope you all enjoy!

Source: Online Marketing Trends