ExactTarget acquires Twitter platform CoTweet

E-mail marketing firm ExactTarget has acquired Twitter-management platform CoTweet for an undisclosed sum.
“The acquisition allows us to establish a beachhead for social media innovation and, on a larger scale, a social media lab in San Francisco,” said Tim Kopp, CMO of ExactTarget.
CoTweet, a Web-based application, will retain its name and office in San Francisco. Its seven full-time employees will be integrated into ExactTarget's company structure. CoTweet CEO Jessie Engle will report to ExactTarget CEO Scott Dorsey.
CoTweet clients include Whole Foods, Starbucks and Coca-Cola. There is some client overlap between the two companies.
Engle will lead the Bay Area digital innovation lab. Future plans include integrating CoTweet with Facebook and allowing companies to update fan pages and profiles with the service.

Omniture, Facebook Expand Social Media Marketing Partnership

Robin Wauters
TechCrunch.com
Wednesday, March 3, 2010; 2:37 AM

Omniture, acquired by Adobe for $1.8 billion last year, has expanded its partnership with Facebook. Together, the companies aim to provide marketers with solutions to optimize the enormously popular social network as an effective online marketing channel. Initially, Omniture and Facebook will focus on the ability to automate Facebook media buying and access analytics that measure customer engagement on the social networking service, although the two companies indicated that the partnership will expand even more in the future.

Read full article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/03/AR2010030300852.html

Power of Social Networking

Social media is leading the biggest transformation in communication and advertising since e-mail. CNBC's Julia Boorstin takes a look at the power in social networking for companies and individuals.



http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?play=1&video=1196213577

Starbucks Gets Its Business Brewing Again With Social Media

CHICAGO (AdAge.com) -- Let's get this straight right away: Return on investment in social media is not measured in how many friends you have on Facebook or how many followers you have on Twitter. It's not calculated in trending topics or YouTube comments. It should, in fact, be held to the same criteria other marketing channels are: Did it move your business?

http://adage.com/digitalalist10/article?article_id=142202

Social Media Marketing Industry Report

To understand how marketers are using social media, we commissioned the Social Media Marketing Industry Report: How Marketers Are Using Social Media to Grow Their Businesses. We set out to uncover the “who, what, where, when and why” of social media marketing with this report. Nearly 900 of your peers provided the kind of insight that previously has not existed. In this report you’ll find:
The top social media marketing questions marketers want answered
How much time marketers are investing in social media
The benefits of social media
How time invested impacts results
The top social media tools
And much more!
If you’re pondering starting social media marketing, these findings will help push you over the edge. If you’re already onboard, feel free to examine what the really experienced marketers are doing (and use this study to persuade others).
Enjoy the report! Remember, the nature of social media is to “share,” so if you find value here, please let your peers know about this report. Download the report here.

Online Marketing Spending

In 2010, two-thirds expect to spend the same or more than in 2009.
Approximately 70% plan to increase (1-30%) or significantly increase (30%+) their unpaid/earned/proprietary media.
The top priorities in 2010 will be social networks/applications and digital infrastructure. Emerging Trends
Customer experience will be more important than ever.
Storytelling will evolve - location will become a key component; the speed at which stories are developed is crucial; and above all, emotional connections matter.
The beginning of the end of the banner ad.
Branded content syndication will replace some paid media.
40% of opportunity is mobile Social Media
Social is becoming increasingly mobile.
Measurement will be more important than ever.
Real-time search is inextricably linked to the "statusphere."
Forms of content consumption will continue to be fractured; the nimble marketer will need to be in as many places as possible. Read more: http://www.scottmonty.com/#ixzz0eyykYf1a

How Important is Social Media in a Marketing Plan?

Many businesses are struggling and asking for help. I know because I meet with them every week. Actually, it is not too surprising to find that entrepreneurs who are doing most of the work might have trouble seeing the forest for the trees. I listen to them as they tell me that what they used to do is no longer working. What does surprise me is their reaction when I bring up the subject of Web 2.0 marketing or social media. All too often I am told, “I don’t want to talk about that.”

Read the full story here:
http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=105675829&gid=1426&srchCat=RCNT&articleURL=http://bestbizpractices.org/2010/01/29/how-important-is-social-media-in-a-marketing-plan/&urlhash=dCKK