Google announces a new social media platform that launches from users’ current Google accounts.

Google just recently introduced Google Buzz, a social networking software which works collaboratively with users’ Google accounts.  Google Buzz automatically allows users to connect with friends they e-mail or chat with the most in Gmail.  The software allows users to share updates, photos, videos, and more.  Buzz’s privacy settings allow users to share their thoughts publicly or privately.  Posts are delivered via e-mail to followers who can continue the conversation by simply replying to the e-mail.

One of the best features of Google Buzz is the ability to connect with sites that users currently use such as Twitter, Picasa, Flickr, and Google Reader.  This turns Google Buzz into a one stop portal for users to check e-mail, visit friends, and announce their thoughts to the world!  Buzz can also be accessed from phones.  The best part about Buzz is that users do not need to set it up, it’s already part of their Gmail accounts.

While I do my best to keep up with Internet technologies, I’m usually a little slow to embrace anything related to social networking. I value my privacy way too much to publish an online profile that identifies any personal information, post my vacation pictures for the entire world to browse, or keep even my closest friends apprised of my daily activities. So when Twitter started becoming all the rage, I was quick to dismiss it as another silly tool for oversharers.

But then last May, I read an article on nytimes.com that made me think twice about all of these Tweets that seem to be popping up everywhere. The article referenced several companies that have hired full-time social media experts whose jobs are to promote their brands via blogs, Twitter, and Facebook. While the article cited several large companies that have jumped (flown?) onto the Twitter bandwagon, such as PepsiCo, General Motors, and Comcast, smaller, less recognizable brands are embracing the power of Twitter, as well. The article opened with a description of Murphy-Goode Winery’s search for a “social media whiz.” The job pays $10,000 a month plus free accommodations…for Tweeting! Okay, so there’s probably some Facebooking and blogging involved too, but still…maybe I need to rethink my career?!

“Write a blog post about something you’ve learned this summer. That’s really all the guidance I’m going to give you.  Let’s see how ya do,” my boss instructs, and so I begin my final assignment as the Blue Water Media 2009 summer marketing intern.

If I had a dime for every time I received a project followed by the phrase, “let’s see how ya do” I would be rich (alas, this is not the case and I remain a poor college student).  The words once petrified me because being an intern, like starting your first day of kindergarten, is fraught with new challenges.  Feeling unsure, slightly overwhelmed, and overly excited about mundane tasks is the norm.

Our clients often ask us if they should add a blog to their company website. Often times, they’ve heard from a friend that blogs can improve search engine rankings or that somehow a blog will increase revenue from the site. In short, they are right – A blog can help with visibility in the search engines and it can boost sales on the site.   However, maintaining a quality blog does require continuous effort.

So, the question isn’t “should I have a company blog?” but rather, “do I have the time/resources to continually write and maintain a company blog and is it worth my time?” To answer to this question, we encourage you to consider some of the advantages and disadvantages of a company blog:

Advantages of a Company Blog

• Communicate news and promotions
• Announce product/service updates
• Discuss customer satisfaction and receive feedback

By now, we are all tired of hearing it – stock market woes, the government bailing out banks, car manufacturers, airlines, and limited lending capabilities.  Understand that for most of us there will be no handouts, what is the small to midsize business to do? The answer, for the most part, may sound counter-intuitive.

In 2001, the majority of my clients were in the marine industry; boat manufacturers and the like.  Most of their products would be considered luxury items, or at best discretionary income items.  When the market suffered after 9/11, most of my clients were facing a hard truth.  Luxury items were falling by the wayside and sales and profits were falling dramatically.  People were scared with their money, and were “waiting to see what the market would do.”  My boss, and mentor at the time, met individually with most of our clients, and repeated the same mantra over and over:  “This is the time to gain market share, to establish a position of strength.”  After getting many raised eyebrows and few chuckles, he would go on to explain.  There is no easier time to gain market share than when everyone is contracting their marketing efforts.  The market will balance out again, people will spend again, and those that have made the effort to stay in front of the marketplace will stand to gain the most growth.