Social Tech | Lena West

Without the tech, Web 2.0 sucks

Lena West — 2008-04-19T13:52:56-08:00

It's really easy to fall in love with a Web app. The slick design. The fancy logos. But ultimately, it's all about the technology and being able to deliver what you say you can. Just ask HP.... READ MORE

Web 2.0 use cuts costs during a recession

Lena West — 2008-04-16T09:21:16-08:00

A few months ago, TechCrunch ran a blog post that looked at the link between the cut back on corporate spending and the up-tick in the corporate adoption/investment of social media. And, the more I think about it. The more it makes sense in more ways than one. First is pure cost-savings. The "pay for what you use on our servers" is a dream solution to the ever-increasing costs of traditional software seats and maintenance which can have a teetering effect on TOC. The bulk of software budgets is patches, upgrades, support, etc. Then there's the 'cool' factor. A few... READ MORE

As the blog turns ...

Lena West — 2008-03-27T04:00:00-08:00

Over the past few months, this blog has been the place I go to write about what I know best: social media. As you can probably tell, the name of the blog has changed from Social Media 360 to Social Tech. Yep, I did that on purpose. You see, I heard your feedback and while the strategic and marketing end of social media makes for good blog banter, the reality is, you'd like to know more about the technical side of social/new media. The good news is, I can deliver. So, that's what you and I will be talking about... READ MORE

Who really owns social media? Hint: not you!

Lena West — 2008-02-12T04:00:00-08:00

I've been reading the back and forth conversation about the ownership of social media over on Shel Holtz's blog. This subject keeps cropping up more and more. It reminds me that far too many folks in corporate would rather focus on turf ownership than quality strategy. It's like a never-ending game of Monopoly gone horribly wrong. It makes me feel like I want to break out in hives. Mitch Joel says that digital agencies should own the social media landscape. He says that traditional advertising agencies struggle with adding digital strategies to the pot and PR firms don't have the... READ MORE

How to get bloggers to talk about your brand

Lena West — 2008-02-05T04:00:04-08:00

If you're a public relations professional, a CMO, marketing guru or forward-thinking decision-maker -- you've probably wondered how you can get bloggers to talk about your business ... in a favorable way. Late last year, I was a guest speaker on a Webinar that was geared toward PR agents. Prior to that I had had extensive conversations with corporate types and PR pros about social media - and most honestly admitted, they had no idea how to make social media work for them. They saw it as this black hole of yet more new technology that wasn't going away as... READ MORE

The measurement hustle

Lena West — 2008-01-30T07:29:29-08:00

I call it a hustle partly because Web/social media metrics are very much like a dance ... you know where you started on the dance floor, but where you'll end up when the song is over? Who knows? But mostly I call it a hustle because measurement methods are slick and shape-shifting -- like the guy who tries to sell you the "found" laptop outside the local pizza shop. (Hey, happens all the time here in New York.) Many are calling for an industry-wide standard means of tracking measurements. The Advertising Intelligence Research study shows that advertisers consistently care about... READ MORE

Behind the scenes at Net Promoter Miami

Lena West — 2008-01-29T04:00:00-08:00

This past week, I went behind the scenes at Satmetrix's Net Promoter conference in Miami. I nabbed interviews (scroll down) with a few key people from the Net Promoter team: Fred Reichheld, Richard Owen, Deborah Eastman, Laura Brooks, Vince Nowinski and John Abraham. Feel free to listen in from your treadmill. Top-Level Take Aways Based on Geoffrey Moore's "Core vs. Context," the conference highlighted that a successful company needs to have operational efficiency, product leadership and customer intimacy. It is this last point that Net Promoter and their Net Promoter Score (NPS) helps brands to drill down on. From Laura... READ MORE

Rich niche communities

Lena West — 2008-01-22T04:00:00-08:00

It would appear that niche communities are all the rage -- at least for the moment they are. You know what they are...you've seen them. Total virtual communities dedicated to just one topic -- like Snooth.com for wine connoisseurs and silvervixens.com for women "of a certain age." (Disclaimer: my company programmed silvervixen.com.) I've read several articles over the past week or so touting niche communities as the best online marketing vehicle for businesses. As they say, the money follows the crowd. So, what's driving the trend? 1. Approximiately $920 million dollars was spent in 2007 in ads on social networks... READ MORE

Social media measurement

Lena West — 2008-01-13T19:18:41-08:00

The nitty gritty. ROI. The devil is in the details. God is in the details. Measure twice, cut once. I think it can pretty much go without saying that measurements are critical to any social media strategy. I mean, how else will you know, objectively and for certain, that the darn stuff is working? I think we all cede to that. I submit that measurements are more than just a component of a strategy, I say that measurements make it more likely that the strategy is a successful one that generates serious results. Why? Because: 1. People are more apt... READ MORE

This has got to stop

Lena West — 2008-01-08T01:00:00-08:00

Yes, the subtitle of this blog is "Less Facebook, More Business," but I found it interesting that Facebook has a group called This Has Got to Stop run by Evan Poteet of Hamilton Southeastern High School ... (ahem) ... class of '09. As of Jan 8, 2008, group has 497,779 members (myself included) and the following is written on the group's Facebook home page: I DON'T WANT TO BE A VAMPIRE I DON'T WANT TO BE A PIRATE LEAVE ME ALONE POINTLESS FACEBOOK APPLICATIONS ARE RUINING FACEBOOK I would extend that to include: pointless mini-applications are ruining social media. Kinda... READ MORE

Social Media Talent Wars

Lena West — 2007-12-17T09:22:41-08:00

It used to be that health benefits and a generous number of sick days were enough to have top-notch talent scratching at your corporate threshold. Now? Not so much. READ MORE

Small Business IS Big Business...

Lena West — 2007-12-12T15:50:42-08:00

Future Boy blog and found a cool video.]]> READ MORE

Keeping My Business, My Business

Lena West — 2007-12-11T17:56:48-08:00

Another reason people input false information into social networking sites... READ MORE

The Corporate Jones'

Lena West — 2007-12-10T13:11:15-08:00

social media strategist and consultant, he asked me flat out, "Should I be blogging?"\]]> READ MORE

No Turf? No Whining!

Lena West — 2007-12-03T23:50:00-08:00

Just like people who don't vote don't have the right to complain about the governmental administration, brands that refuse to create their own 'turf', lose their right to complain about anything negative said about their organization in the blogosphere.]]> READ MORE