Ann Voskamp sent this study. I haven't read it yet, but I'm hoping to do so soon.

Great sample strategy for determining social media metrics based on a case study in Victoria, Texas.

"Digital is an incredibly strong vehicle to preach integration. People have to become aware of the mobile app, which is difficult to do if the app is a standalone. We e-mail our database, use search marketing campaigns and generate some kind of awareness via TV or print to drive traffic. With one brand, for example, we spent a considerable amount of money on Facebook as well as on other digital media placements to drive traffic."

A two minute video on how to use Google Wave in an office setting.

Christy, I think we ought to try to use this tool at SXSW. Do you already have an invite?

Actually, this is fantastically interesting.

A company that builds custom drupal modules.

Spy Journal is written by Tim Miller--Gordon's drupal expert friend.

Users of forums exhibit all the activities of brand evangelists. Perhaps we should target some existing forums, get involved, and develop relationships?

Dan, this seemed like fodder for Ramblin' Dan at TheHighCalling.org if I've ever seen it!

"Gaining maturity means improving the ability to tie objectives to specific metrics. Marketers in the strategic phase are significantly more likely than those in earlier phases of the process to measure their success across all objectives. An increase in Website traffic was the No. 1 objective targeted and measured by all marketers." "Defining specific objectives for a social marketing initiative is only half the battle. The other half is aligning those objectives with corresponding metrics," according to the report. "This alignment is important because it enables an organization to measure its progress in achieving the objectives and proving ROI." MarketingSherpa found that retail and e-commerce marketers were more likely than any other industry to be increasing their social media marketing budgets next year, followed by publishing and media. Education and healthcare lagged, with less than one-half of marketers in the industry planning to up social media spending in 2010. Most social marketing dollars (60%) next year will go toward staff salaries for activities such as blogging, content development and monitoring of social channels. Another two-fifths will be spent on outside help from agencies, consultancies and service providers.

Chris Cree talks about how video can help solve ambiguity on a website.

One of Laura Boggess' post for the book club series on HighCallingBlogs.com