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- 3 things that could still save MySpace
MySpace is struggling to compete in a changing business environment, but it's still possible for the social network to claw its way back to relevance, writes Craig Daitch. To turn things around, Daitch argues, News Corp. needs to declare war on Facebook and find ways to play to its strengths -- customizability, creativity and user empowerment -- without sacrificing its brand. "MySpace has seen some dark chapters in recent times, but the story is far from over," Daitch writes. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model)
(2/24)      
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- Facebook bug sends messages to wrong users
A glitch in Facebook's message-delivery system allowed some users to accidentally receive misdirected messages from strangers earlier this week. It was unclear how many users were affected, but one editor said his inbox was flooded with errant messages, including one couple's explicit chat session. Jennifer Valentino-DeVries points out that the bug may make some users think twice about trusting so much personal information to Facebook. "Our engineers diagnosed the problem moments after it began and are working to get everything back in its rightful place," Facebook said in a statement. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)/Digits blog
(2/25)
- Shamu silenced after SeaWorld attack
SeaWorld has shuttered its @Shamu Twitter feed after a trainer was fatally attacked by a killer whale. The company will maintain its social presence on sites such as Facebook, but it has no plans to use its whales as social-media ambassadors for the foreseeable future. "We may never talk as Shamu again," said a company spokesman. "This is something we never anticipated when we gave a voice to Shamu in the first place." Orlando Sentinel (Fla.)
(2/25)
- Is the Times about to lose its social traffic?
As The New York Times prepares to launch a metered payment system, the big question is whether the site's social-news traffic will suffer, Elena Ziebarth writes. Company officials say most of their traffic comes through the "front door" -- the site's home page -- rather than through social links; still, industry experts say the move could reduce traffic and tarnish the paper's reputation in social circles. "It seems underhanded for any online news site to encourage social-media sharing, but not allow everyone to read the articles," argues VentureBeat's LeAnn Prescott. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media
(2/26)
- Niche networks cater to mustache fans, vampire enthusiasts
Facial-hair enthusiasts on StachePassions.com and the 2.2 million horror aficionados on VampireFreaks.com are just two of the communities served by special-interest social networks. Some of the more spiritual sites include LineForHeaven.com and MatchADream.com, for those seeking others who share their dreams. CIO.com
(2/24)
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 | The 'New Deal' For Small Business
We want to invite you to share your story and have a chance to win prizes worth $10,000. It's easy — just shoot a video, 5 minutes or less, about you, your passion for your small business and what you could do with the money, then enter the contest by March 19th. Click here to learn more. |
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- Are you prepared for the Twitterpocalypse?
Like all good things, Twitter will some day come to an end -- and many social marketers could find themselves without their favorite platform, writes Lisa Barone. Marketers should maintain a diversified portfolio of social platforms, spanning a range of social networks and independently owned blogs or Web sites, she argues, just in case a particular network goes out of business. "Any time you put all your eggs in one basket you're setting yourself up for a serious crash," she writes. OutspokenMedia.com
(2/23)
- Tailored updates are the key to social success
Many companies use auto-feed services to cross-post headlines to a broad range of social networks, notes Gina Trapani. That's efficient, but ultimately unrewarding, she argues, and it means businesses are failing to harness the relative strengths of the different networks they're signed up to. "Piping feeds from one network to another is a zero-effort way to broadcast content, but it also offers minimal returns," she writes. "Writing updates that suit the medium will yield a stronger community and better conversations." FastCompany.com
(2/24)
- How to manage your boss' expectations
Senior managers once viewed social media with suspicion; these days, writes Robin Neifield, they're more likely to demand major social-marketing efforts without fully understanding the challenges posed by such campaigns. To manage the C-suite's expectations, it's essential to sketch out a realistic social-media road map and explain that not all social campaigns are successful, Neifield writes. "You can't reasonably plan to get viral uptake -- so don't plan on it," she adds. "It is as much a strategy as a lottery ticket is a retirement plan." ClickZ
(2/26)
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Want to connect with the editors and readers of SmartBrief on Social Media? Send a tweet with the #ireadSBoSM tag and we'll add you to our SmartBrief on Social Media reader list on Twitter. It's a great way to meet other SmartBrief on Social Media readers who are interested in moving their business forward with social strategies -- as well as an opportunity for sharing articles, blog posts, insights and discussions with the SBoSM staff.
 | The thing you see in this space more than anything else is that, if you don't keep innovating and moving forward, you get in trouble. You can't stop. And MySpace stopped."
--Jonathan Miller, Internet business manager at News Corp., as quoted by Advertising Age
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Recent SmartBrief on Social Media Issues:
- Thursday, February 25, 2010
- Wednesday, February 24, 2010
- Tuesday, February 23, 2010
- Monday, February 22, 2010
- Friday, February 19, 2010
| | | Lead Editor: Jesse Stanchak
Editor at Large: Andy Sernovitz
Contributing Editor: Ben Whitford
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