Social Media Tools – The Channel Top Ten

Social Media is confusing. What is it anyway? There are dozens of different definitions (check the blogosphere) and even more perspectives on how it can be used to improve channel performance. Unfortunately, there are still partner managers that are struggling to accept social media as a transformational technology. They cannot yet see the future, even as it begins to overwhelm them.

So in response to all the questions about what it is and how social media might be used to help channel partners be successful, here is a list of the top ten social media applications. The sites are used primarily for marketing, although sales results are definitely being impacted, especially by business networking sites like LinkedIn. (The use of social media to solve technical problems is already well documented.)

This ranking is mostly based on our on-going Channels of the Future research, with some fine-tuning from client projects. Every site mentioned has a least one worthy competitor vying for attention. This is the briefest of summaries, which only hints at the impact of these gathering places.

1. On-Line Communities: There are already thousands of partner-centric on-line communities in Google Groups and Yahoo, plus hundreds of branded and closed communities managed by the largest vendors (IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco, etc, etc. etc.) The amount of information exchanged is staggering – and the number of deals influenced is beyond counting.

2. LinkedIn: There are hundreds of thousands of reseller salespeople visible on LinkedIn, plus reseller groups, events, jobs and more. Salespeople who are not already using business networking for prospecting and customer communications are probably already on performance plans.

3. Blogs: Resellers rely on vendor and industry blogs for information. They have replaced newsletters and magazines as the primary reference point for new technologies and product releases. (Which means marketing managers also have to understand sites like Digg and Delicious.)

4. Facebook: Business has invaded this once personal/private site and vendors, resellers, and customers are scrambling to change their photos and update their profiles to make them more professional.

5. MySpace: There are more reseller groups and channel job postings than Facebook, maybe because MySpace is older and more basic in its approach.

6. YouTube: Resellers can view instructional videos on everything from changing printer cartridges to keeping products under warranty. Among others, Cisco uses it as a training platform, creating playlists that group videos by product or specialty.

7. Yahoo Video: Channel partners can check out the latest vendor pronouncements (IBM is very visible, among many others) on products, programs, and customers.

8. Twitter: There is already a whole micro blog ecosystem to communicate with resellers about special pricing, new products and programs, big deals, and company gossip – all in 140 characters or less.

9. Flickr: Perfect for posting pictures of products and schematics that help resellers maintain hardware products. Vendor-provided photos can also be used in marketing materials, websites and communities.

10. Tactical Sites (SlideShare, Issuu, Podcast, etc.): There are hundreds of free sites where channel managers (sometimes without “official” sanction) can post presentations, white papers, documentation, and podcasts so they can be easily linked to on-line communities or emails.

Vendors that do not understand and take advantage of these social media gathering places are already well behind their channel competitors. If you work in a partner organization that is not active on most of these social media sites, perhaps you should be updating your resume. (If you do not personally use most of these tools, then probably you should be thinking of retirement.)

Michael Dubrall is the Managing Director of Gilwell Group, a research and consulting company that researches “Channels of the Future.” He is a regular contributor to Channel Champion and other industry blogs on the subject of next generation partnerships. Join the Channels of the Future group on LinkedIn.

Link to original post

Social Networks

Social Media Tools – The Channel Top Ten

Comment

 

 

1,136,600+ Trusted Network Professionals 3 Degrees Away

For networking to be a fully functional pathway to success one must first have a network to talk to. My meager beginnings on LinkedIn have grown in 4 months to well over a million connections just 3 degrees away! Granted I’ve had a time sink to reach out and connect or re-connect with the original 55 business partners, associates, friends, & acquaintances. Granted I’ve buttoned up my profile to be complimentary across all tools. And yes, I’m of the age where my tenure in the space has a “long tail” – but this number to me is just plain cool! Wow what a start, wouldn’t you agree?

I find the number boggling especially considering I did not set out with this goal. I discovered the statistic only after the fact as I clicked on the Network Statistics Link out of curiosity. My goal was to simply be present, be myself, be relevant, and be genuine. I feel as if I have won a popularity contest I didn’t know I entered.

Now when I have something important or fun to report, something to contribute that would be relevant to my business success or needs to be shared – WA LA – little ol’ me can reach what would be equal to an entire tertiary market with one little tweet! And you can too, should you like to jump in the pool.

OK – so you’re a bit skeptical that any one person can actually reach the million numbers at the third generation. What could be THAT important that everyone in your second generation would pass on the information? My answer to that is simple. My second generation is 10,900 people! Do you really think I’d be disappointed if my message was delivered to a community that size? I’m not picky here. I’m thinking ahead about how to reach an audience and NOT push. I’m interested in disseminating information of interest. If I can reach 10,900 people in the matter of minutes – that sure beats the tar out of the price of a TV commercial, a printed brochure, or bulk email that fails all too often. Right? So it’s not so much about the actual number – but it is about building a trustworthy reputation of adding value where your original 55 contacts are happy or compelled to pass along to others your message. In other words, you don’t waste their time with old school solicitation practices or rudely pushing for attention. “It just ain’t fittin!” – as Ms. Mammie expressed in Gone With the Wind. Manners have not been forgotten nor should they be – or at least I’d like to think so.

Given this information and given that my “brand” is just now building – it will truly be incredible to see what my network reach will be when a year anniversary rolls around. Perhaps it will be then, but I do hope sooner, that I publish my first non-fiction digital book with integrated music & lyrics. What reason could their possibly be NOT to use Social Media as my venue to emerge in the digital information age as a valued contributor and author who with the press of a button distributes rich media content worldwide!

If you’re searching for evidence that Social Media is here to stay – this is one example. It’s also a testament that any age is online as my group ranges from 16 to 67. It’s also a testament that amazing things happen when you aren’t looking… and it’s evidence that should you have something important to contribute, the online network allows the power of one to reach millions “with a little help from your friends” who merely pass on something cool!

Are you are ready to join the Revolution? Ready to jump in the pool? If so, then here are your Getting Started 3 KEY steps:
1. Build your Network.
2. Contribute relevant information based on your own particular expertise.
3. Participate in the spaces & places where your contributions add value & this in turns builds “social capitol” around the brand called “You!”

Watch for the Magic & Good Luck!

Social Networks

1,136,600+ Trusted Network Professionals 3 Degrees Away

Comment

 

 

Social Media Information Center
Social Media Blog

Create an Account on the Social Media Information Center

Social Media Information Center offers publishing memberships.

We do charge a small fee to publish on the Social Media Information Center.

Note non-sponsored presentations we create or embed as a service to our members and visitors are marked
Top Choice featured for free by

Sponsored presentations are marked
Top Choice sponsored by Member of

Social Media Information Center affiliations are marked
Top Choice Affiliate of

Why is there a membership fee to publish on the Social Media Information Center?

Social Media Information Center provides a premium, unique publishing service and charges for it. We believe in a direct and honest relationship with our members and visitors. Because we charge for our publishing service and have a paid membership business model, we don't need to make decisions later on that might compromise our integrity in order to make money.

Registration Recommendations:

* Have something good you are passionate about
* Have a business website and blog
* Participate in social networks and around the web

Learn more about Social Media Information Center Top Choice Publishing Memberships.

Get Connections To Your Web Content

Social Media Information Center puts links to your web content and web places.

If you’ve created a good website and have a good business; you can quickly and easily connect your content and your part of the web here on the Social Media Information Center and make it easier for people to discover you, your information, your business, your product, your service, and your website.

You can create an account on the Social Media Information Center and after you are approved log in to your account and post some of your content as often as you like.