According to the R2i study, a majority of marketing professionals view social media as essential to their business, most have not made any money using it. The R2i study makes a compelling case for a social media strategy. The study compared the 35% of companies that reported increased revenue or profit using social media with the companies that did not report a growth outcome. Those benefiting were:

• About twice as likely to have a formal social media strategy
• Almost twice as likely to have a dedicated headcount for managing social media
• About twice as likely to rate themselves as “proficient” or “expert”
• Almost three times as likely to have read a book on social media

Also, another study from Digital Brand Expressions had some interesting findings. The study found 88% agree it is important to have such a plan, suggesting perhaps the lack of a cohesive planning process is preventing the company from moving forward to adopt strategies for the social channel.

Here are some other key findings:

Of those companies that work from some plan, 94% say that marketing activities are included in the plan and 71% say that the Marketing Department is the group with the primary responsibility for creating and maintaining the firm’s social media presence.

• 71% indicate they use social media for public relations communications,
• 55% say that they use social media for sales-related activities.
• 16% say their human resources team is using social media
• Just 26% use it for customer service

Companies that don’t have a strategic plan but think it is important to create one, the number one activity rated as important to include in a social media plan is allocating resources for ongoing activities.

So, all you companies out there, better take notice of social media and have a plan.

TubeMogul research sample spans 60.2 milion views of 25 major video advertising campaigns that ran identical videos within Facebook ad units (four types) and comparable click-to-play video ad units on publisher sites (i.e. standalone 300×250 ad units). The results were compared based on resulting cost, viewing-time and much more.

Facebook ranked as the 5th most popular video site in April according to Comscore, putting it above other popular properties like Hulu. Surprisingly, Facebook also surpassed other sources, like Google, Twitter, Yahoo and Bing, in video discovery. Video completion rates on Facebook compared with offsite revealed Facebook to have superior completion rates around 40% +, nearly 6-10% higher than offsite views.

Another interesting statistic revealed was that videos related to virtual currency and in-banner video ads in apps were about 20% greater than offsite displays. Viewers on Facebook and twitter were found more likely to share, nearly 2% more, virtual currency and in-banner display videos ads with friends compared to other sites.

In conclusion, virtual currency was the leader in most metrics, including price which makes sense as the views are incentivized. Offer platforms like Gwallet specialize in offering developers an frame with branded videos their consumers can watch in exchange for virtual currency. Virtual currency ads also experienced higher click through rates and turned out to be the best buy on a cost-per-view basis.

Twitter announced the launch of tagging tweets with specific places called “Twitter Places”. Several other features of this launch include:

• Foursquare and Gowalla integration: Many Foursquare and Gowalla users publish check-ins to Twitter. Location is a key component of these Tweets, so we worked closely with both companies to associate a Twitter Place with Tweets generated by these services. This means that if you click on a Twitter Place, such as “Ritual Roasters,” you will see standard Tweets and check-ins from Foursquare and Gowalla.
• API: We are releasing API functionality that lets developers integrate Twitter Places into their applications.
• Support for more browsers: Now, you can add location to your Tweets from any browser—Safari and Internet Explorer, in addition to Chrome or Firefox.

Here are my thoughts:

1) What does it do to Foursquare or Gowalla? Will people prefer social badges over location?

2) This is still not a Facebook killer; I am sure pretty soon Facebook will launch location based service. So, what is the real value?

3) As users are getting ore and more savvy and knowledgeable about social networks, does location tweets expose them more to the outside world? User might share their location on twitter but if something was to happen to their car or house “while they were out” can be a cause of concern.

4) Finally, is this maneuver to monetize Twitter? Not sure I would like to share my location information for making money for twitter.

No one has really been able to crack the nut for location based services, but definitely there is potential in it. Love to hear your thoughts.

S-Net (The Impact of Social Media), a report from ROI Research Inc., sponsored by Performics, a performance marketing agency inside Publicis Groupe, used a 30-minute online survey to collect responses from 3,000 U.S. consumers who access at least one social network regularly.

The objective of this study was to determine how various segments of consumers use social networks in their daily lives, specifically with regard to the purchase process for different types of products and in relation to other media channels.

Here are some highlights of the study:

Consumers reported a desire to connect with brands throughout the study:

• Fifty percent of Facebook users click on Facebook ads to “like” a brand
• Thirty-seven percent learned about a new product or service from a social networking site
• Thirty-two percent of respondents have recommended a product/service/brand to friends via a social networking site
• Thirty-two percent of Twitter users re-tweet content provided by a company or product

Specific to Facebook, for example, nearly 90 percent of respondents said that at least some of the companies and/or products they are a fan of are doing a good job providing relevant content. More than a third said most or all of them were doing a good job.

Here are some things you can buy for your ever loving dad:

1) JibJab’s Fun Videos – Start with a free JibJab video for your dad. This is the best way to get a smile on his face.

2) 123greetings.com – See, free stuff is always great: a) as the price is right b) shows that you are not materialistic kid (really!!!) c) money can’t buy unconditional dad love d) Dads love to get this kind of stuff and in return, give them great gifts for their birthdays. So, it’s a win-win for everyone. Check out their Father’s Day page.

3) Amazon.com – I am sure you wil find something for your dad from this amazon’s Father’s Day dedicated page. If not, then iPad, iPhone, Droid phone etc. are always welcomed.

4)  Gourmet Gift Baskets – Now, if you really want to spend (your mom’s) money, then, check out these gourmet baskets. Hic! of a great collection.

5) TJMaxx - I like their ideas for father’s gifts as well, so check out their facebook page that covers dads who are never on time, the grill master, the gadget guy, the career dad and finally the channel surfer. This about sums up all dads.

6) Father’s Day Photo Contest-  Check this Facebook page and here’s what you need to do!

1. Upload the awesomest coolest photo of your Dad
2. Get your friends to click LIKE on the photo
3. That’s it!

The photo with the most LIKES will receive a FREE Dadtastic t-shirt!! (http://dadtastic.net/)

The winner will be announced Monday morning the 22nd!!

INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS:
http://www.facebook.com/editevent.php?guests&eid=173705295231

7) Nautica Photo Contest - Yes, this is another photo contest and the prizes are much fancier also. Upload your favorite Father/Son(s) or Father/Daughter(s) photo and describe your entry for a chance to win a professional family portrait valued near $3,500 and a $1,500 Nautica wardrobe. Check out Nautica’s Facebook page for more info.

In addition to the their contest, Nautica is offering 3 lucky winners a $100 Nautica gift certificate to help celebrate dad.

8 ) Denny’s Free Ice Cream – Finally, finish the day with you dad at Denny’s with their delicious ice cream float. All you have to do is create a card for your Dad from their Facebook page.

Tell me what are you thinking of giving (or getting) for Father’s Day?

Ask some traditional journalists and they still consider The Huffington Post as a bunch of bloggers!!! There are journalists who think that in due time the social news is going to die, some others think that it is something to watch and observe before embracing, and finally some have already adopted social media and are considered to be the thought leaders in their networks.

No one can truly predict the the future (unless you are a soothsayer), but journalists are catching on the social media bandwagon. Here are few of social media news sites:

TheHuffingtonPost, Shoutwire, Newsvine, Newscloud, Mashable, Plime,NowPublic, Fark etc. The list is growing so this gives some idea where the future is heading.

NPR - I want to mention NPR separately as they have still very high presence in traditional media but also has a very robust social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, Streaming NPR Radio, Community & Mobile. Thsi shows that you don’t have to purely move to social media for all the news.

Society of Professional Journalists – The largest professional journalist organization in the U.S. also gave a list of top 20 journalist to follow based on their social media presence and innovative approach. Here is the quote from their site:

In lieu of the regular “10” interview, this month we’re featuring questions with a bunch of cool journalists and innovators. Call it the “follow list,” or something like that. These are people in the industry we think have great ideas and hold great potential. In short, you should pay attention to them — not only on Twitter, but in the wider industry. See what they do. Interact with them. Learn. Engage.

SPJ has even created a list on Twitter of these journalists.

Lastly, Associated Press Stylebook 2010 added social media guidelines giving the final stamp that social media news is here to stay. The new Social Media Guidelines section includes information and policies on using tools like Facebook and Twitter, how journalists can apply them to their work and how to verify sources found through them. Also included are 42 separate entries on such terms as app, blogs, click-throughs, friend and unfriend, metadata, RSS, search engine optimization, smart phone, trending, widget and wiki.

The AP said the change from “Web site” to “website” was based on increasingly common usage both in print and online. The tradigital journalist is the future of journalism. Thoughts??

I know sharing is integral part of social media and is very critical for social media content. Clearspring (AddThis) and some of large technology companies including Google, Microsoft, and LinkedIn, have announced OExchange, an “open sharing protocol”.

The two most shared platforms that were very conspicuously missing from this alliance – Facebook and Twitter. The question that comes to my mind is “Should I use Facebook Connect, Twitter Anywhere or OExchange? I would go with Facebook Connect with additional existing sharing tools like: addthis, sharethis, addtoany & socialtwist.

Even better, you can use “Facebook Like” button and tweetmeme (twitter icon) on your blog and you are done for most part on social sharing.

Check out oexchange video:

Don’t forget to use addthis below for sharing this post

Yes, I am still a believer that social media will be my new Inbox but I saw NutshellMail which actually aggregates your social media updates from different sites and puts it in an email!!! Wow, so we are back to from where we started – our emails.

So here is what your get in your email from NutshellMail service:

1) Facebook – comment, reply, post on walls, and update your status from your email.

2) Twitter – see your mentions, new followers, quitters, and your friends’ latest tweets in your Twitter summary. Tweet, Reply, Retweet and DM.

3) MySpace – Get you new messages, friend requests, photos, videos, groups and status updates.

4) LinkedIn – Your connections, profile, job listing, group, recommendation, and Q&A.

5) Ning – get your new messages, friend requests, photos, videos and status updates.

I am not sure about the future of this service but will try it out see if it helps me in my social madness.  What about you guys?