Brands are facing a new reality: they need a social media strategy. They might believe they are doing the social media thing by having a corporate blog or a presence on a social networking site but that’s not a strategy. Those are just tools. This way of thinking simply does not take into account the fact that the marketing landscape has fundamentally changed. Users don’t see one-to-many, top-down broadcasting as THE way to get their content. They get content created and distributed by their peers. That’s social media; an active interaction among a network of peers.

Social media consumers are …

In today’s marketing circles it is becoming the norm for brands to find themselves looking to invest in social media. The stigmas associated with social media networks have greatly changed as the space has evolved – resulting in limitless opportunities for savvy marketers.

Although this new social paradigm affords unique and never-before-seen marketing opportunities, we must remember that social media is an infinitely more personal way to connect with your fans. Fans engaging with a brand demand more than ads and promotions. This is a two-way exchange where real dialog is created. Today, many executives are missing this point and …