Whether you like the term social media or not (and many don’t), it looks like these tools are here to stay. In a few short years we’ve gone from getting blank looks and crazy stares when mentioning using social networks or blogs for business, to the current trend towards jumping on the SM bandwagon.  Social media for business is at last becoming mainstream.

We’re not the only ones to notice this. The wonderful 6s Marketing Company based here in Vancouver just published the results of survey it conducted that shows that social media is becoming entrenched as a tool to help build Canadian businesses.

Here are some of the highlights taken from their report:

“Out of the respondents who filled out the survey:

* 69% use Facebook
* 47% use Twitter
* 38% use LinkedIn
* 38% use YouTube
* 29% use Flickr

And guess who gets control over Social Media Marketing efforts? 28% of companies rely on their marketing department to manage their SMM campaigns, while 18% leave it to the upper management.”

We will be podcasting with Chris Breikss of 6s Marketing next week and the survey will be our main topic of conversation so let me know if you have any questions you’d like me to ask Chris.  It’s going to be a great podcast and will be even better with your input!

At the end of last week I had the pleasure of a double whammy, back to back podcast and tele-seminar with Sue Clement of Success Coaching. Sue is a business coach extraordinaire: having built a successful employment agency, Sue now focuses on helping others build their business.

Listen to our podcast where we talk about the challenges to networking for business, referral marketing – what it is and why it works, and strategies for doing it effectively. Then listen to our tele-seminar too!

Podcast: Download

We’re celebrating our first year of podcasting with the Out-Smarts podcast, and what better way to do so that by going back to the source of inspiration for one of our first posts: Northern Voice.

This year’s Northern Voice conference for social media and personal bloggers was another resounding success. We talk with attendees to get their take on the highlights of the 2 days, why they attended and what they liked most. Contributors include Ruth Seeley, Tzaddi Gordon, Bruce Sharpe, Raul Pacheco aka Hummingbird604, Gus Fasarolli, Louise Desmarais and the very drole Christine Rondeau.

Thanks to all who contributed and thanks also to the folks at Northern Voice for organizing another great event.

Podcast: Download

This podcast is in conversation with Jess Sloss.  Jess is the founder of SocialSquared.com and Strategist at Giant Ant Media, a local firm well known for their infectious buzz worthy video content. We talk to Jess about using video content for business development and other corporate applications, what makes for great video content and about some of the great projects they are working on at Giant Ant Media.  Enjoy!

Podcast: Download

This is our third podcast in a series on branding with Isabelle Mercier of LeapZone Strategies. In this episode, we talk about the external facets you need to consider for effective branding including the competitive market, partners, customers and processes. You might want to listen to the first 2 podcasts in this series so thast you don’t miss out.

Out-Smarts Podcast #7 – the basics of branding – what it is andwhat it is not.

Out-Smarts Podcast #15 – branding from the inside out.

Podcast: Download

Our first podcast of the year was recorded on Hogmanay (the last day of the old year) with Julie Gibbons of PeopleMaps . Its our first trans Atlantic podcast, the topic is Twitter. In this podcast we talk about PeopleMaps, their online personality reports and how they are using Twitter to build awareness and grow their community.  

Watch out for a blog post addundum to this podcast, giving Julie’s top Twitter tips, very soon.

Podcast: Download

In this podcast we talk about effective networking with Gina Best. Gina is the owner of Meridian Pacific Mortgages Inc. an independent mortgage brokerage company. Gina is a networking queen and has successfully built her business by focusing on developing relationships. In this podcast she shares some of her networking techniques.

Podcast: Download

In this Out-Smarts podcast we are working on getting and keeping organised with the help of Rowena List. Rowena is a Professional Organizer, founder of Getting It Together and a prolific speaker. In this podcast we discuss strategies that will help you to stay on top of the tsunami of information coming at us in the form of email, voice mail and all those social networking updates.

Podcast: Download

This Out-Smarts podcast takes a closer look at branding with returning interviewee Isabelle Mercier of LeapZone Strategies.  Last time we looked at branding 101.  This time we dig deeper, specifically taking a look at the business personality: core truths; values; purpose/drive; brand promise (accountability) and differentiators (what makes your company different).     Its a follow up to the Out-Smarts Podcast #7 posted in September and number 2  a series of three.

Enjoy!

Podcast: Download

Fiona Walsh, CEO of FM Walsh and Associates, joins us for this Out-Smarts Podcast where we discuss the key attributes of successful entrepreneurs, how to grow your business in a recession and how entreprenuers can use social media to their benefit.

Links mentioned:
Sporty Jewels
marketing profs
Entreprenuer.com
Inc
Pink Magazine

Podcast: Download