Below Huzu asked brands and agencies from the Social Media World Forum March just gone ‘Why Are some brands still reluctant to put spend into Social Media Marketing?’

The Brands’ Perspective

Huzu is a social media technology company. Licensing its white-label social media platform to brands and agencies. Allowing them to provide their customers with an engaging community and reducing the cost of building the technology in – house. The platform is flexible and can be customised for each brand, with functionality that includes profiles, forums, video, blogs, picture galleries, friends network, calendars, instant chat, plus Facebook share and connect, amongst others. Designed with easy-to-use administration and content management tools, Huzu also benefits from fully controllable ad space. TUI, Eircom, Racing UK and Durex have built successful communities using the Huzu social media platform.

Twitter has become one of the quickest platforms for the distribution of the latest breaking news, the “retweet” function allowing instant spread of breaking news.  A ‘tweet’ can be “retweeted” just a few times, yet reach a huge number of users.  This goes further toward strengthening the six degrees of separation theory. That is, the mechanism of the “retweet” has given every user the power to spread information broadly.

The Haiti earthquake disaster is an example of breaking news being announced on a global scale through Social Media.  Within minutes, images and comments were quickly uploaded.

Twitters ability to offer minute by minute or even second by second updates and commentary has meant journalist are quickly realising the power social networks hold.

The question going forward will be how can news distribution channels utilise and maximise this new form of instant information into their platforms and existing channels, to keep their readers & subscribers informed and prevent them using social network platforms as their source of news

To read more on the subject please visit technologyreview.com: Click here

Joe Hughes, Research & Insight Manager,Yomego

A large brand said to us recently that it wasn’t considering a social media strategy, because if you “get the product right, the rest will take of itself”. It was taking a ‘trust to luck’ approach, relying on spontaneous word of mouth recommendations to drive users of its product.

In one way, it has a valid point. If a product is good enough, people will recommend and promote it to each other – whether they talk about it online or offline. Equally, if the product isn’t up to scratch, no-one will buy.

But social media isn’t just about one-way promotion. The scope for customer engagement, and actively building reach, positive reputation and loyalty is huge. Social media is driving customers to consume more offline. (more…)

Over a week ago since the event and the team are starting to catch their breath!

All delegates will have now received an email containing login details to access all the event presentations.

Courtesy of our exhibitor John Cassidy Photography, we have a selection of event photos ready to view here

http://www.johncassidyphoto.co.uk/clientgallery.php?z=smwf18854z

If you would like copies of any of the photos, please contact John directly at johncassidyphoto (@ ) mac.com

The Six Degrees team have just about recovered from the Social Media World Forum #SMWF last week. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along, tweeted, networked and blogged.

Social Media World Forum 2010 video – can you spot yourself?

During the two days a lot of issues and topics were covered! below are some blog posts with some good overviews.

•    Viralblog Part 1 – http://www.viralblog.com/social-media/social-media-world-forum-part-i/
•    Viralblog Part 2 – http://www.viralblog.com/social-media/social-media-world-forum-part-ii/
•    Viralblog Part 3 – http://www.viralblog.com/social-media/social-media-world-forum-part-iii/

•    Top 5 trending and hot topics at #smwf 2010 – http://ow.ly/1nCpn

•   77Agency Roundup- http://lab.77agency.com/news/roundup-of-the-social-media-world-forum-in-london-5466/

With the attendance doubling from last year, our exhibition grew considerable and generally a lot more going on this year including some very popular workshops!

We would also like to say a big thank you to all the event sponsors & exhibitors (http://tinyurl.com/yj85h9x)
So what are we planning for 2011 we hear you ask? The team are putting their heads together to coming up with some buzzing exciting ideas for next year show, watch this space…
We are always looking for feedback and suggestions for next year…so if you have any recommendations, ideas or just comments please drop us a line and let us know!

In light of the recent negative publicity and criticism surrounding social media and in particular social networking platforms such as Facebook. It has become apparent that while everyone recognises that Social Networking is a powerful platform to help people and businesses share information and experiences, strong actions and immediate measures need to be put in place across the industry to ensure a safe and secure networking environment.

Social Networking is not a new concept and has been attracting the dark elements of society for the past 20 years.  Through the years Paedophiles and Terrorist organisations have been exploiting the unmoderated nature of chat-rooms and social media platforms in order prey on victims or corrupt opinion. (more…)

Interview with Freddie Laker, Director of Digital Strategy, SapientNitro

Freddie Laker from Sapient Nitro will be keynoting at the social media world forum on the 15^th March, and we caught up to ask him a few questions pre event on his tips using social media.

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

So many companies are excited about their first corporate blog, viral marketing campaign or Facebook group, yet the pioneers and the bold are those already looking ahead at what’s next. To maintain hard-won, relevant profile and share of voice in a world of increasingly fickle consumers, marketers need to understand how social media is going to intuitively evolve and anticipate how to make existing and new tools and strategies work harder and smarter to keep the conversation going. I’d even go as far as arguing that in a couple of years only ‘silver surfers’ will still be referring to online collaborative tools as ‘social media’.

2. What do you think is the biggest thing that marketers fail to realize about social media? (more…)

We are pleased to welcome back Wiley to the Social Media World Forum – this year Wiley will be bringing along some of the top Social media books currently avalible.

Wiley was Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons Publishers has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfil their aspirations.

Wiley is proud to have Guy Clapperton, authour of  ‘This is Social Media‘  chairing the conference Monday 15th.

As a special promotion Wiley will be offering 20% discount on all books at the event. This book as well as other new exciting books on the world of social Media will be available to purchase from Wiley’s stand (Stnad number. 14) during the two days of the conference.

Other books which will be avalible at teh event include:

(more…)

Eight months after Nitro Group acquisition, company adopts one brand to represent its fully integrated, multi-channel marketing and commerce offerings to clients

Legorburu and Clarke share leadership responsibilities worldwide

LONDON – 19 February 2010 – Sapient (NASDAQ: SAPE) today announced that its Sapient Interactive and SapientNitro divisions will go to market as a single brand, effective immediately.  The strategy is designed to capture increased demand for the company’s comprehensive multi-channel marketing and commerce services. The unified SapientNitro offering will be co-led by Gaston Legorburu, former head of Sapient Interactive group, and Chris Clarke, founder and former head of Nitro Group (now SapientNitro).  More details about SapientNitro are available at the new www.sapientnitro.com. (more…)