Some marketers think "social media marketing" or "social media optimization" means "social media manipulation." There is a steady stream of how-to articles describing how to game the system of sites like Digg, or to develop linkbait to drive untargeted traffic to your site. A better way to approach social media is to remember that behind every successful blog is a person. Reaching out to bloggers and building a relationship with them can go a long way in improving your social media efforts, your search ranking, and your overall marketing plan.
In the world of pay-per-click advertising, there are three well-known players: Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing and Microsoft adCenter. However, there are several other interesting pay-per-click sites you may not be familiar with, which you might find useful.
<ul class="delicious"> <li> <div class="delicious-link"><a href="http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/631/Facebook-101/?utm_source=eCommerceNotes&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eCommerceNotes">Interview: Facebook Application Developer: Widgets, applications can help ecommerce businesses</a></div> <div class="delicious-extended"> Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace generate huge numbers of visitors. Because of that, marketers increasingly are looking to those sites, and other social networking sites, as channels to promote ecommerce products. In May 2007, Facebook “opened up” its platform to third-party developers who can build “applications” and “widgets” that appear on Facebook itself. One such developer is Nicholas O’Neill, who not only writes custom Facebook applications but also blogs on everything Facebook, at Allfacebook.com. We asked O’Neill to explain the Facebook marketing potential to us.</div> </li> <li> <div class="delicious-link"><a href="http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=24682">CompUSA closes stores and looks for a buyer for CompUSA.com – InternetRetailer.com</a></div> <div class="delicious-extended"> CompUSA Inc.’s days as a multi-channel retailer are coming to an end and the future of its e-commerce channel remains in doubt. Following a sale for an undisclosed amount to Gordon Brothers Group LLC, a Boston investment banking firm that specializes in retailing liquidations, asset management and corporate turnarounds, CompUSA will close its network of 104 stores, but possibly sell some higher-performing locations. </div> </li> <li> <div class="delicious-link"><a href="http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=24716">Tweeter pulls the plug on its online store – InternetRetailer.com</a></div> <div class="delicious-extended"> Electronics retailer Tweeter Opco LLC has closed its online store, according to a message posted on Tweeter.com. “The online store is currently closed,” the message says. Tweeter filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June and was purchased by hedge fund asset management company Schultze Asset Management LLC in July for $38 million in cash and assumption of liabilities, including $8 million in additional costs and a credit line of $10 million. </div> </li> <li> <div class="delicious-link"><a href="http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=122568">Scripps Opens Frontdoor.com – Advertising Age – MediaWorks</a></div> <div class="delicious-extended"> The Scripps Networks has aggressively pursued a course this year to increase its online market share. First, it scooped up Deanna Brown from Yahoo’s lifestyles group to head Scripps Interactive, followed promptly by an acquisition of Recipezaar.com in July. The acquisition added 2.5 million unique visitors to FoodNetwork.com’s already robust audience as the No. 1 most-trafficked food site, according to Comscore. </div> </li> <li> <div class="delicious-link"><a href="http://www.thefunded.com/funds/item/2374">The Game of Innocence – TheFunded</a></div> <div class="delicious-extended"> Aspiring entrepreneurs be warned. Venture capitalists will provide money for your idea, but they often walk away with most of the value, especially if you are not careful. Like an amateur sitting at a table of professionals, the cards are stacked against your success, so be prepared. Know the game. </div> </li> <li> <div class="delicious-link"><a href="http://www.internetretailer.com/dailyNews.asp?id=24666">Survey quantifies the offline shopping impact of positive online reviews – InternetRetailer.com</a></div> <div class="delicious-extended"> Online reviews have a big impact on customer spending on offline services, suggests a survey of more than 2,000 Internet users in October by web metrics firm comScore and The Kelsey Group, which researches local media and advertising. </div> </li> </ul>