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THIS WEEK’S FUEL FOR THOUGHT
Social media got you running in circles? It’s easy to get lost and confused with the ever-changing stream of information and advice on social media. So, this week we are rounding up some highlighted articles, resources and best practices on social media marketing.

1. Social Media Marketing: Getting with the Program – Sigma’s tips on the best ways for an organization to embrace social media
2. Five Phases of Social Media Marketing – Social Computing Journal listed out five distinct phases to successfully leverage a social media program: Discover, Strategy, Skills, Execution, Maintenance. (more…)

PAST WEEK’S FUEL FOR THOUGHT

What lessons and best practices are out there for marketers in this economy?  We’ve gathered few AdAge articles that provide great fuel for thoughts:

1. Philp Geier’s 10 Principles for Bad Times that Work in Good Times – Adapt, Motivate, Focus Efforts, Stay True To Your Vision, Communicate, Innovate, Seize New Opportunities, Integrate Marketing, Retain Credibility and Inspire Customers are 10 principles we should harness right now.
2. Study:  Cutting Spending Hurts Brands Long Term – Based on TNS Media Intelligence data that revealed  brands that cut spending in downturns lost shares to private labels. (more…)

Faced with an uncertain economy, lingering steady holds in client budgets, procurement mandates driving margins down and a general reduction in client spending, we realized that creative steps would be needed to manage our own expenses and better position ourselves for the next few years. With some strategic brainstorming and a focus on manpower, workload and agency functions, we set out to develop a solution that would win for everyone.

With a goal of streamlining overhead without reducing workflow or impacting our creative product, we found eight positions in the company that could benefit from a reduced workweek (4 days) while also helping to shed some weight from our bottom line. As a result we were able to save jobs and in turn we have been encouraged by the new vigor and level of productivity that we’re seeing. The outcome? Inspired employees who thrive in the condensed workweek, an even better and more focused creative product and an improvement to operating expenses that allows us to focus on growth, innovation and further expansion.

Just goes to show what happens when creative minds work together. CNN and Alina Cho – thanks for featuring us today!