I will maintain that the first time I saw the Susan Boyle video, I noted that she looked exactly like Jay Leno. Apparently I am not the only one. Been under a rock? Here is the first original- be prepared to get a little bit teary. We at the Smart Savvy office have been known to get a bit emotional after this one.
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I have had a couple of people over the last few weeks list the most essential social media tools for marketers. Rather than launch into a long dissertation on the importance of social media, I thought I would post them to our blog. Feel free to leave your own thoughts in the comments if you have any other favs, but I have found that of the many social media memes, these are the most effective.
I think we can officially all agree that Twitter has arrived. Explosive adoption rate, massive press, and celebrity followings have launched Twitter (and its new language) into widespread consciousness. As a marketer, Twitter can be an extremely effective tool. With it you can drive traffic, monitor your brand, communicate with your customers, gain clients, build relationships and promote your brand. At Smart Savvy, we have sourced leads directly from Twitter, developed relationships with local companies, and actively utilized the search functionality to monitor our brand. All this from a tool that limits you to 140 characters. If you aren’t following us yet, check us out here.
YouTube , owned by Google, is not only a place for funny videos but is also among the largest search engines on the web. Companies need to have a presence there. It is important to post and organize company videos so when someone searches a topic your company will show up. These can be short videos explaining basic concepts, internal videos to promote employee culture, or a myriad of other things. Consider this as another way to get your content out on the web. You can check out more of our videos on YouTube here.
Blogs are a great way to communicate and interact, and are an integral part of your social media strategy. Blogs allow people to comment, engage in the conversation, and see the real people behind the company. This is the essence of today’s social media. A one-way conversation is passive; instead blogs allow people to respond and join in dialogue. In order to avoid blog irrelevancy, you need to be interesting, insightful + topical, and most importantly, consistent.
In the recruitment field, LinkedIn is a tremendous connector. Find thousands of resumes, comprehensive search functionality, and access to passive job seekers. Mastering LinkedIn is not easy. Knowing how to use LinkedIn well is key. Check out this article to give you a head start on some tips and tricks.
Social media is not a quick fix. Its about building an authentic community and relationships. While the web provides the tools, the people behind the brand are still the most significant component. Without a personality, no one will read, watch or interact with your content. As Seth Godin says, “Be interesting.”
We just passed the 1000 follower mark today on Twitter and want to say thanks to all our amazing followers! We have learned so much, participated in fascinating conversations, and met hundreds of great people along the way. Thanks for your support and let’s keep on tweeting!
If you aren’t following us yet, head over to http://twitter.com/smartsavvy and join in 
I found a collection of these facts from the site Want To Feel Old?
Let us know in the comments which ones make you feel the most old. 
1) The film ‘Back to the Future 2’ is set five and a half years from now. Buy stock in Hoverboard!
2) The Macarena came out 14 years ago; August 22, 1995 to be exact
3) Ghostbusters came out a quarter of a century ago
4) The Matrix came out ten years ago today
5) Quantum Leap’s first episode aired twenty years ago. Also, it was set in the year 1999. That’s right, Quantum Leap was set ten years ago. How science has failed us.
Wow, I guess time flies…
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Periodically we stumble on something that needs to be shared with others. Kudos to Samsung for such an innovative approach to advertising. Bigger kudos to those sheep farmers for how they have made their ‘work’ an art form!
“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.” - Walt Disney
An ongoing series highlighting companies in Vancouver who ‘do it best’.
Twitter is both an engaging tool and a daunting task, and doing it right is by no means easy. As it has gained mainstream popularity — with users like Obama, Ellen, and CNN — businesses, especially marketers, are feeling the push to get involved and join the burgeoning service. I don’t want to argue the merits or disadvantages of Twitter, that’s for another post, but I do want to highlight a couple of local companies that are doing it right. Vancouver is considered one of the ‘early adopter’ cities in the Twittersphere. Here are a few of the companies that stand out.
Japadog- Using Twitter to Sell Your Product
You just have to love Japadog. As a hot dog vendor, traditionally you have to rely on flashy signs, location, and the wafting smell that is more addicting than, well… you know. However,Vancouver’s Japadog took a different approach. Following an L.A. Taco stand’s lead, Japadog now tweets specials they are running, its location, and connects with its customers by tweeting their next destination. The result? Tons of press, informed customers, and a lot more franks being sold.
Hootsuite - Inform and Update Your Customers
For nothing else, Hootsuite deserves to be on this list because of its 20,000+ followers. Being a Twitter application however, brings this number into perspective. Twitter can be used in a variety of different ways and Hootsuite uses it to inform its customers and users on product updates, new features, and feedback. Created and run by the folks at Invoke , it’s not surprising they do it well.
MakeGood - Become a Thought Leader
Is it incestuous to write about a company you share space with? We don’t think so. MakeGood uses Twitter to carve out a niche as a thought leader in their field (social responsibility) and does a great job interacting and conversing with people across the world that are passionate on the topic. With over 1,500 followers strong, it’s a compelling topic.
Vancouver Canucks - Engage Your Customers
The Canucks are using Twitter to talk to their fans, spread breaking news, and promote events. I love how they use Twitter as a conversation starter, not as a broadcasting device. Fans can @reply and expect a response, and they can tweet their thoughts during games.
BC Business - Spread The Word
BC Business is one of the province’s most widely read business magazines and they use Twitter to spread their content and connect with their readers. I like how John Butcher injects his insights with tweets like this, “Anyone out there use the word “skookum”? (Adj.: big, hearty, fierce.) Apparently, it’s BC and Yukon slang that comes from the Chinook slang.” You really can’t go wrong. All in all, its a pretty skookum Twitter feed.
lululemon - Connect and Inspire
Oops… this is #6, but I just couldn’t resist. Lululemon, makers of yoga-inspired apparel for healthy living, actively uses Twitter to inspire their followers to stay well-balanced and healthly. Either join a Yoga class and “boogie woogie” or read an insightful book. They also like to throw in the odd tweet asking their followers about their favorite lululemon item or about a new product, but why not? Their fabric is like none other.
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Here begins a new weekly series designed to highlight places in the city that I’d consider ‘hanging my hat’. As recruiters, we get to see the inside of a lot of companies (albeit sometimes limited) and periodically you stumble upon a company/organization that stands apart as a potentially great place to work.
This week I’d like to feature NaiKun Wind Energy Group
About NaiKun:
NaiKun is focused on developing Canada’s first offshore wind energy project off the northwest coast of British Columbia. NaiKun’s project is in response to the government’s BC Energy Plan, which sets a target of electricity self-sufficiency by 2016.
Why would I work at NaiKun?
1. The Alternative Power Industry is ‘Hotting Up’
The alternative energy industry is on the rise and is a very interesting an interesting place to be right now. There is lots of growth in the sector, and there’s a great deal happening on the public policy front.
2. The NaiKun Leadership Team is ‘Brawny’
The leadership team is solid, with proven track records and a wealth of experience – this ensures the viability of the project. Have a look through their roster – I am sure you will recognize a name or two. Company leaders have held senior leadership roles at ICBC, BC Transit, BC Hydro, Vancouver Airport Authority, Duke Energy, The BC Energy Council and Terasen.
3. Beyond “Green Power” to Sustainability
Offshore wind energy projects have the least impact on the environment. Beyond “green power” The NaiKun Wind project offers local benefits to the Haida people and Haida Gwaii including jobs, revenue, and a shared role in environmental stewardship for the project. The islands surrounding the project are the largest off the grid area in the province and they now burn diesel to generate electricity. The emissions from those generators are a real tragedy for such a pristine environment.
4. NaiKun Appears to ‘Have Collective Soul’
Amidst the hustle and bustle of pressing project deadlines they take time to honor their people. A good friend of mine served as a consultant to their team. Due to a very aggressive cancer this friend has become very ill and her time appears to be limited. The NaiKun team went far above and beyond what one would expect to assist this friend, her husband and young family in a time of need. That goes a long way with me.
So, based on what I know, Two Thumbs up for NaiKun.
Disclaimer: It may be that my criteria differs from yours, and to be true, I may be more guttural than the ‘average bear’ but nonetheless, I am officially ‘on the prowl’ to uncover some great places to work. On that note, if you feel you work for a great company I’d love to hear about it – peter [at] smartsavvy.ca (subject line: Places I Would Work).
An ongoing series highlighting companies in Vancouver who ‘do it best’.
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The internet has enabled us to do a lot of things better. Communication is faster, transparency is easier, and we have a myriad of new ways to connect with our customers. But it’s not always easy. People expect a higher level of interaction with the companies they support, and they often look to the corporate blog first to see what type of people are on the other end of the transaction. We now want to highlight The 5 Best Business Blogs in Vancouver, taking a look at how to add value to your brand through blogging.
Invoke does a good job of posting a mix of posts about their business and posts about culture and the city. Because they have so many different employees contributing to the blog, readers get a variety of different perspectives from the company. I’ve had them in my Google reader for a while now, and I am always impressed with the content.
Must Read: How Twitter Affects Digg
6s has recently upped the content on their blog considerably, and are doing a fantastic job of it. Featuring posts on the industry (Chris Briekks is an SEO veteren), the city of Vancouver, and employee activities; 6s’ creative content is a fantastic window into who the company is. You can expect 2-3 posts a week from this team, and they are a great read, especially if you are in the internet marketing industry.
Must Read: A/B Testing + Duplicate Content Paranoia
We love this blog because it does exactly what a company blog is supposed to do — show passion about the industry and make a connection with the people behind it. Blogging about ”Winexpert products and the company, but also anything else fermenty.” Tim’s post are highly personal and engaging. If you are a bit of a wino, you really can’t miss this one.
Must Read: Politics, Wine, Bowling & Kindergarten
Being the large company that it is, Peer1 manages to come off as personal on their blog, focusing on community-sided topics and contests. They also keep the balance right between company announcements and posts that are just for fun.
Must Read: Happy Holidays From The Peer1 Team
This might not count as a completely corporate blog (its hosted on a separate URL), but William Azaroff does blog about all things VanCity, and as the “head of all things online,” he has a lot to say. Arguably the best blog on this list, Azaroff writes posts that are insightful and transparent (even though he ripped off the Amazon logo…) Add it to your RSS reader now, you wont regret it.
Must Read: A Sneak Peak Of the New VanCity.com
If you think you do it better, leave a comment and we’ll update our post (that is, if you are better).
Our friend dropped off another video this week. We are still not sure what to think…
On Monday, we’ll be launching a two-week series of daily posts featuring interviews with several of our city’s finest marketers. We’ve called the series 10 Minutes With…
We’ve asked each of them seven questions to gain their perspective on:
Watch for it.
To get the latest news, check out our blog!
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