Fernanda Romano from Euro RSCG Worldwide will be speaking at the Social Media World Forum Asia on the 23rd Sept, and we caught up to ask her a few questions pre-event on her tips and tricks using social media after recent work with the Dulux Lets Colour Project.

•             From your experience, if you had to recommend one tip for using social media what would it be?

> Make sure you listen first, understand what people are saying, so you can tailor your activities to actual consumer needs and not to what you think they may need.

•             We have seen your recent work with the Dulux Lets Colour Project, how important is it to integrate social media and what benefits does this bring? (more…)

Here is a good question: If you had to pay to use Twitter, would you still participate?

While half of all Americans have tried free apps such as Twitter, not one of them would be willing to pay for the privilege, according to findings from the 2010 Digital Future Study, a nine-year study conducted by USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Jeffrey I. Cole, the Annenberg School’s director of the Center for the Digital Future, explains,

“Consumers really want free content without advertising, but ultimately they understand that content has to be paid for one way or another.” However, Cole continues, “Such an extreme finding that produced a zero response underscores the difficulty of getting Internet users to pay for anything that they already receive for free.” (more…)

A combination of Smartphone’s and location-based social networks, including recently launched Facebook Places is providing a whole new level of targeted marketing for marketers.

This functionality is allowing its members/users to network, share, meet up, and make recommendations based on their physical coordinates.This will provide the obvious main stream location promotion opportunities merging pages with locations and allowing those to offer discount offers to people within certain proximity and to allow companies to tailor offers to those passing by. (more…)

We are pleased to be working with MSearchGroove who will be releasing a series of podcasts in the run up to Social Media World Forum Asia.

The first of these is with Argha Sen, Toys “R” Us head of Marketing & CRM. Who has been discussing the Toy “R” Us Mobile Shopping & Barcode Asia Strategy along with and the topics he will discuss during the conference.

Listen to the podcast here

We’re pleased to welcome back sambaash as one of latest exhibitors who will be joining us again at this year’s Social Media World Forum Asia, later next month.

sambaash are based out of Singapore, with a mission to create and foster an online environment for business communities.  – They will be demonstrating their ‘sambaash 2.0 platform’ which enable’s meaningful conversations for online communities.

For more information about sambassh please visit: www.sambaash.com

Social media usage has seen unprecedented growth in Asia Pacific in the past year and is now one of the most critical trends in the online sector, according to Nielsen’s recent Asia Pacific Social Media Report.

Some of the Reports facts & highlights  include;

• Seven biggest global online brands are social media sites (Facebook, Wikipedia and YouTube)

• Almost three quarters of the world’s Internet population (74%) have visited a social networking/blogging site.

• Internet users are spending an average of almost six hours per month on social media sites. (more…)

At this years SMWF Asia event, we’ve introduced a panel with , well, no name, the panels is just geared up to debating and answering your burning questions in social media marketing, what you really hoped to learn from the event, and the subjects you’d really like to be debated.

The panel will start at 3.10 on day 1  and will include;

• Reynold D’Silva, Global Brand Marketing Manager, Skin Care, Unilever (@reydsilva)

• Lawrence Law, Regional Marketing Manager, Relationship and Digital Marketing Asia, Diageo

• Liva Judic, Media Reputation Strategist (@merrybubbles)

• Laurel Papworth, Social Network Strategist (@SilkCharm) (more…)

The Institute of Public Relations of Singapore is to address the ins and outs of social media within the PR realm at a luncheon talk at the SMWF Asia event.

IPRS members will be attending and networking at the event with other members,  and the lunch talk will last from 1 -3pm on the 23^rd. Its an informal gathering for members to listen to the latest views from and IPRS social media led agenda.

23 September Social Media: What work, what doesn’t – Suntec City Convention Centre Social Media World Forum Asia Lunch Talk

A number of delegates will be travelling in from international destinations to Singapore, as well as the SMWF Asia team, so we’ve managed to arrange a decent hotel, close to the venue at a reasonable price.

The Ritz Carlton, is walking distance from the venue. We have arranged a special offer for SMWF attendees at SGD $295 per night (usual price for rooms starts at SGD $450 per night). If you are interested , here is the booking form

Here’s are a few reviews on trip advisor for the hotel

If your interested in other hotel options there are some more on this page at the bottom.

Simone Brunozzi, Technology Evangelist, Amazon Web Services APAC will be speaking at SMWF Asia and examining the resources required to power successful social media and social gaming efforts.

Cloud computing can assist in handling social media traffic spikes, and is part of the overall success in running a social media campaign, hear some of the latest case studies from Amazon and their latest take on future social media campaigns in the Cloud.

Simone Brunozzi will be presenting on day one at 17.00 – “Social Media needs Cloud Computing ”.