Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru...
Image via CrunchBase

Back in February we wrote about Facebook’s secret Project Titan — a web-based email client that we hear is unofficially referred to internally as its “Gmail killer”. Now we’ve heard from sources that this is indeed what’s coming on Monday during Facebook’s special event, alongside personal @facebook.com email addresses for users.

This isn’t a big surprise — the event invites Facebook sent out hinted strongly that the news would have something to do with its Inbox, sparking plenty of speculation that the event could be related to Titan. Our understanding is that this is more than just a UI refresh for Facebook’s existing messaging service with POP access tacked on. Rather, Facebook is building a full-fledged webmail client, and while it may only be in early stages come its launch Monday, there’s a huge amount of potential here.

Facebook has the world’s most popular photos product, the most popular events product, and soon will have a very popular local deals product as well.  It can tweak the design of its webmail client to display content from each of these in a seamless fashion (and don’t forget messages from games, or payments via Facebook Credits). And there’s also the social element: Facebook knows who your friends are and how closely you’re connected to them; it can probably do a pretty good job figuring out which personal emails you want to read most and prioritize them accordingly.

Brace yourself! Here it comes…

Media_httpwwwigniteso_aimjp

Want to know what makes a great Facebook fan page? You can follow the ‘via’ link to get the scoop…

Media_httpfastcachega_ppbvb

Best way? Trade it in for a Sprint Evo! Cindy Otley at the Oneida Street Store in Green Bay can hook you up. If you want an iPhone that imitates an Android, follow the ‘via’ link… :-D

Social media DOES work for business! Here’s proof…

“…Social media works for business and, finally, there is strong evidence to substantiate that claim.

Several research reports over the past couple of months have validated the influence of social networks like Facebook and Twitter on the buying process.

Specifically, the study of over 1,500 consumers by market research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey and iModerate Research Technologies found that “60% of Facebook fans and 79% of Twitter followers are more likely to recommend those brands since becoming a fan or follower.” Not only that, but an “impressive 51% of Facebook fans and 67% of Twitter followers are more likely to buy the brands they follow or are a fan of.”” Source: Social Media Works for Business, Study Says | MarketingProfs Daily Fix Blog

What’s stopping you from leveraging this powerful new set of tools? Please comment below…

AGCO
Image via Wikipedia

…but I have been bloody busy with the Agritechnica trade show in Hannover. I set up a social media dashboard in the menubar so you can track the work I’m doing with AGCO in Germany. So sorry, but with doing social media 12 hours a day, I just haven’t been able to maintain my normal editorial schedule for my business. Needless to say, there won’t be a ‘top tactics and tools’ post today — next Tuesday, I hope I’m recovered from jet lag enough to write on ‘tactics and tools’ #5 – Shareaholic!

Media_httpwwweventman_rjdwt

You can follow the ‘via’ link above to go to the source if you want to run events from your Facebook page…

Media_httpmediairishc_gkmzc

“Having a fan-base of this size allows Tourism Ireland to communicate over 3.5 million messages about the island of Ireland each month to prospective visitors,” Mark Henry continued. “When you consider that each of our fans has in turn an average of 130 friends, we can potentially engage with 32.5 million people worldwide today.” Now do you get it?

Social Media Landscape
Image by fredcavazza via Flickr

“Social media is free.  Social media is easy.  Just hop on twitter and start tweetin’!” Hmmm… how many times have we heard that? I have honestly heard social media consultants at networking events state during their 60 second pitch “social media is free, come talk to me if you want to do free marketing!”  Ouch, not the case folks.

Several business leaders have asked me lately for tips on finding a good business or social media consultant. Many have been confused by the blog posts that seem to only complain versus helping business decision makers find someone who can really help them.

I actually did a few Google searches and found very little in regard to helpful tips and skills to look for.  What I did find was numerous posts complaining about social media consultants, gurus and how to spot a bad one.  I have to admit I too have posted a few blog posts that are on the humorous side of this topic while trying to offer helpful tips at the same time.

I wanted to provide some helpful tips when hiring a consultant.  Note, what is a good consultant for Tom doesn’t mean it will be so for Betty and Jane.  Consultants, just as mentors and coaches should be selected based on personal fit with your business goals, life cycle, culture, gaps etc. The most important thing is that you do your research and talk to a few.  Don’t go with the first one you meet.

I’m one of those social media consultants. You can follow the ‘via’ link above to go to the source and read the rest of the article and then give me a call and rake me over the coals!

Media_httpbloghubspot_mfntj

You can follow the ‘via’ link above to go to the source if you’re interested in what makes a great Facebook Page…

Start a Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑