Michelle Raines

Many social media networks like Facebook, Myspace, linkedIn and Twitter have built massive viral audiences, creating an opportunity for marketers to reach billions of users around the world at a moments notice for little or no cost.  This remarkable viral marketing (word of mouth) is changing the rules of traditional marketing and online advertising for the better.  These networks offer engagement, communication and an experience for our customers that would have otherwise would have been difficult to create and extremely expensive with traditional advertising.  The innovation of social media networks have elevated the value of your network, your friends, your interactions and your influence for our businesses and our customers.  Marketers around the world are finding ways to tap into these networks by crafting new campaigns integrated with Twitter and Facebook, seeking and listening to customer feedback more than ever before.  They realize the power and influence of a post or a tweet and the effect that people can have on buying behaviors.  So, I ask you…what is your social media strategy for the next 30, 60, 90 days?  Are you integrating your campaigns with Youtube, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn?  Now is the time to get started. Create your social media experience by engaging, interacting and communicating today.  Here are a few of my favorite success stories to inspire your own and then tell me all about your success stories.

Wolf t-shirt story about user generated content and social media.

JetBlue’s successful campaign launched on Twitter that sold out of their “All You Can Jet Pass for $599″ in 36 hours.

http://mashable.com/2009/08/21/jetblue-all-you-can-jet/

Why Starbucks is the top brand on Facebook.

http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/direct/e3idee9d1f93a71c575f89eb22566e7457b

The innovation buzz word has been around for awhile.  But what does it really mean and how do businesses innovate? Webster dictionary defines innovation as 1. the introduction of something new, 2. a new idea, method or device.  Wikipedia says: The term innovation refers to a new way of doing something. It may refer to incremental, radical, and revolutionary changes in thinking, products, processes, or organizations.  As I have reviewed various companies and their innovation processes, products and services you quickly realize innovation can have multiple meanings at varying degrees from radical corporate cultural changes to fresh product line to inventive ways to creatively connect and engage your clients.

As demostrated by Boeing, innovation means many things and corporate cultural diversity is one of them.  After receiving the 2009 Innovation Award for Workplace Equality and listening to the feedback from their employees, it was well worth the effort and investment.

Another example of a company innovating is Mithun, an architecture company based out of Seattle focused on sustainable design.  Their work is a blend of innovative design, technology and nature that is integrated with environmental, social and artistic concepts making them one of the national leaders in sustainable design and recipient of the Green Globe Award.  Striving to achieve water and carbon neutrality, I highly recommend checking out the Green Project in Austin, TX.

So how can you begin to innovate at your company?  Here are three easy steps…

1.  Begin by asking the right questions?  The goal is ask questions that will uncover creative solutions to your company’s challenges and create value.  Building a question bank is often times a great way to start framing them into clear concise questions.

2.  Generate, evaluate and select ideas.  There are many techniques designed around generating ideas such as innovation workshops, mindmapping softwares, brainstorming sessions, visual synectics, pin cards, hypnosis sessions and much more.

3.   Implement an idea – Strategic execution is key to successful implementation of any idea.  Take the time to pick out one idea, put a strategic plan and team together and always remember adapt to changing environments as needed.

Creativity is everywhere.  The opportunity is yours to discover and create new innovative ways to provide sustainable value whether it be for products, services, technology, culture or anything.  Open your mind to new possibilities and engage your employees, customers and consultants to elevate your company to new heights.