DIG:This – 12. Reggie Bradford of Vitrue

Posted on September 2, 2010 by AJ

This week on DIG: This, Stacy Cohen and Jeff Hillmire talk with Reggie Bradford CEO and founder of Vitrue, a leading social media management company based out of Atlanta. Vitrue offers several products in its Social Relationship Management Platform that provide businesses with the tools they need to manage their social media efforts effectively.

In this episode, Bradford discusses his success with his former startups, Vitrue’s capabilities, new developments, and some insights regarding the future of social media.

Highlights include:

  • Functionality of the Vitrue platform
  • Controversy surrounding Vitrue’s Facebook Fan Evaluation Study
  • Quantifying success on Facebook
  • Facebook’s future
  • Tips for entrepreneurial success

Like the DIG podcast? Then you should “Like” DIG on Facebook and don’t forget to look at Engauge.com.

Posted in Digital, Facebook, Social Media, Twitter | Tagged | Leave a comment

DIG:This – 11. Duleepa Wijayawardhana of Empire Avenue

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Kathlene Hestir

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Ever wonder what your online social presence is worth, or whether your peers value your social media content? Empire Avenue, a new online social stock exchange game, aims to provide answers to these questions.

In this episode of DIG:This, Engauge’s Stacy Cohen and Kate Hollingsworth interview Duleepa “Dups” Wijayawardhana, CEO of Empire Avenue. Dups explains the strategy behind the fantasy stock market game and answers questions about upcoming developments. He highlights:

  • The new Avenue Rewards program
  • Advertising integration
  • Measurable online influence
  • Opportunities for businesses and brands
  • The “Your Ad Here” Event
  • The team responsible for Empire Avenue
  • And more!

Also check out Kate Hollingsworth’s impressions of Empire Avenue on the Engauge blog.

Like the DIG podcast? Then you should “like” DIG on Facebook and don’t forget to look at engauge.com.

Posted in General, Social Media | Tagged , | 2 Comments

DIG:This – 10. Marc Gingras of Tungle.me

Posted on August 18, 2010 by AJ

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Busy lives revolve around calenders and scheduling. Businesses need to set up meetings, slate conferences, and organize calls. Tungle.me integrates with your current calender and amplifies its capabilities – helping you share your calender and find free time between people to plan conversations. Sync Tungle.me with your Google calender, Outlook, Apple iCal, Entourage or Lotus Notes and access it on your iPhone, Blackberry or computer.

In this episode of DIG:This, Jeff Hilimire and Stacy Cohen interview Marc Gingras, CEO of Tungle.me. Gingras explains Tungle.me’s functionality, reveals upcoming features and discusses potential future developments.

Some of the dialogue introduces:

  • Real-time availability updates
  • Automatic time zone adjustments
  • Propose meeting times; prevent double-booking
  • Upcoming Facebook events synchronization feature
  • Location based service possibilities

Follow Tungle.me on Twitter: @TungleRocks

Also check out Jeff Hilimire’s impressions of Tungle on Begin the Begin.

Like the DIG podcast? Then you should “like” DIG on Facebook and don’t miss engauge.com.

Posted in Digital, Twitter | Tagged | 1 Comment

DIG:This – 9. Jeffrey Hayzlett of Kodak

Posted on August 11, 2010 by AJ

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Jeffrey Hayzlett, former CMO and VP of Kodak, forged the worldwide marketing operations of the company from 2006 – 2010. In addition to marketing strategies, brand management and public relations; he also championed Kodak’s strong social media presence.

This year, drawing from his expertise and experience, Hayzlett published The Mirror Test: Is Your Business Really Breathing?, full of his first-hand account strategies and advice.

Engauge’s Chief Digital Officer, Jeff Hilimire, along with Stacy Cohen, Social Media Lead at Engauge, interview Hayzlett as marketing expert and social media advocate.

Hayzlett answers questions about:

  • The 118, aka “The Elevator Pitch 2.0″
  • Social media and ROI
  • Corporate blogs
  • Crowdspacing
  • Viral videos
  • Social media’s place within a company
  • And more marketing strategies!

Find Jeffrey Hayzlett on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Like the DIG podcast? Then you should “like” DIG on Facebook and don’t forget to check out engauge.com.

Posted in Digital, Social Media | Tagged | 1 Comment

DIG:This – 8. Social Media from the Female Marketers Perspective

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Kathlene Hestir

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Welcome to the first-ever all-female edition of DIG:This!  In this episode, Engauge’s Stacy Cohen and Kathlene Hestir lead a discussion with Toby Bloomberg, president of Bloomberg Marketing/DivaMarketingBlog; Nettie Hartsock, owner of The Hartsock Agency; and Yvonne DiVita, co-founder of BlogPaws.  These guests relate some of the processes behind their own businesses’ successes, while everyone also explores the relevance of social media to today’s companies.

Combining their knowledge of women, marketing, public relations, and writing, this round table discussion includes:

  • Different philosophies behind social media
  • Marketing vs. public relations
  • The benefits of social media to brands and companies
  • Analysis of Facebook, Twitter, and Blogs
  • Tips and tricks to building a successful blog
  • And other industry insider techniques!

Follow this episode’s podcasters on Twitter:

@StacyCohen
@KathleneHestir
@TobyDiva
@NettieHartsock
@LipSticking

Like the DIG podcast? Then you should “like” DIG on Facebook and don’t forget to check out engauge.com.

Posted in Digital, Social Media, Twitter | Tagged , | 3 Comments

DIG:This – 7. Brant Barton of Bazaarvoice

Posted on July 27, 2010 by AJ

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This week on DIG: This, we tackle the emerging field of social commerce. In this episode we will take an in-depth look at one company in particular called Bazaarvoice. Bazaarvoice helps all types of businesses capture, display, share and analyze customer conversations online. Their core platforms are Ratings & Reviews, Ask & Answer and stories to create an open conversation among customers that will lead to informed and authentic decision-making in the marketplace.

Bazaarvoice looks to create a modern-day digital reflection of the ancient marketplaces where commerce once was based on social interactions: among customers and also between merchant and consumer. What makes Bazaarvoice a truly useful tool is that it allows businesses to gauge online conversation about their brand in order to build customer loyalty and improve their product or customer service.

Jeff Hilimire, Engauge’s Chief Digital Officer, with Stacy Cohen, Social Media Lead at Engauge, interview Brant Barton, co-founder and CEO of Bazaarvoice.

They also discuss:

  • How brands can turn negative feedback into a positive interaction
  • How Bazaarvoice looks to integrate with social networking sites, like Facebook
  • What direction social commerce is headed
  • And more!

Like the DIG podcast? Then you should “like” DIG on Facebook and don’t forget to check out engauge.com.


Posted in Digital, Social Media | Tagged | 1 Comment

DIG:This – 6. Ted Murphy of WeReward

Posted on July 23, 2010 by AJ

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In Episode 4, we explored geolocation apps and their importance in the social media space. With millions of users and growing marketing opportunities, check-in apps are gaining in popularity with both users and companies.  This week, we delve into a close study of WeReward, the geolocating check-in app that gives users the opportunity to earn points for real life money. WeReward also invites businesses to promote products by utilizing a gaming element of offering tasks to users.  The combination of a game-like interface with the incentive to make real money is WeReward’s innovative approach of sponsored actions.

Jeff Hilimire, Engauge’s Chief Digital Officer, with Stacy Cohen, Social Media Lead at Engauge, interview Ted Murphy, founder and CEO of IZEA, the company responsible for WeReward.

In addition to location-based marketing and WeReward, they discuss:

  • WeReward’s task and verified action features
  • Integrating products (e.g. Kraft) that don’t have physical retail locations into the check-in app space
  • New and upcoming features in WeReward
  • And more!

Like the DIG Podcast? Then you should “like” DIG on Facebook and don’t forget to check out Engauge.com.

Posted in Facebook, Mobile, Social Media, Twitter | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

DIG:This – 5. Ryan Holmes of Hootsuite

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Kathlene Hestir

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Millions of people use Twitter.  As the real-time micro-blogging site grows, the interest and need of expanded, customizable usability also mounts.  Hootsuite, one of the leading social media dashboards, is tackling the challenge of not only maximizing Twitter capabilities for both personal and professional users, but also integrating other social sites into one platform.  As a dashboard for social media, Hootsuite can consolidate multiple Twitter accounts, in addition to your presence on Facebook, Myspace, Foursquare, LinkedIn and more.  With Hootsuite, you can manage all your social media properties within one space or collaborate with multiple users on one account, improving communication and efficiency.

Ryan Holmes, CEO of Hootsuite and founder of Invoke, with Engauge’s Stacy Cohen and Kathlene Hestir, discuss Hootsuite5, the growing role of geolocation in social media and speculate on the upcoming changes in the social space across Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare.

Additionally, Holmes answers questions regarding Hootsuite’s recent updates, their current developments and what might be coming in the future, including:

  1. Hootsuite parent company Invoke Media and it’s beginnings
  2. The release of Hootsuite5 and other features users can look forward to in the future.
  3. How Hootsuite views competitors like Techrigy and Seesmic
  4. The addition of premium features like Hootsuite University and upcoming “Freemium” model for businesses.

For the latest on Hootsuite make sure to check out the Hootsuite Blog. If you have features you’d like to see added, you can submit them to the Hootsuite  Feedback and Suggestion Forum or tweet Ryan Holmes @Invoker.

    Like the DIG Podcast? Then you should “like” DIG on Facebook and don’t forget to check out Engauge.com.

    Posted in Social Media, Twitter | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

    DIG:This – 4. Pete Reilly of Retality

    Posted on July 7, 2010 by AJ

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    Discovering new places, seeing your friends favorite spots and sharing your adventures – these are all benefits of location-based services. Geolocation apps are gaining tremendous popularity in the social space.  With millions of people using Foursquare, Gowalla, MyTown, Whrrl and other apps – potential escalates for brand engagement in the uniquely personal avenue of real-life check-ins. Jeff Hilimire, Engauge’s Chief Digital Officer, discusses how businesses are currently using geolocation services and their future potential, in addition to sharing his personal takes on a few of his favorite apps. Stacy Cohen, Engauge Social Media Lead, considers the role of rewards and incentives as a consumer engagement methodology, as well as a ways to extend user retention of mobile apps. Guest Pete Reilly of Retality, authority on retail and restaurant companies’ experience in the social media space, discusses ambitions for a brand-specific experience from businesses’ perspectives.

    This round-table discussion also highlights:
    • Foursquare vs. Gowalla
    • Digital Mobile Couponing around these systems, such as Cellfire
    • The pros and cons of apps like MyTown, Yelp and We Reward
    • The issues facing location-based services – privacy, oversharing, and the multiplicity of apps
    • The future of location-based service integration

    Download this Podcast Free from the iTunes Store

    Like the DIG Podcast? Then you should “like” DIG on Facebook and don’t forget to check out Engauge.com.
    Posted in Digital, Mobile | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

    DIG:This – 3. IHG, Darden Restaurants, Real Branding

    Posted on July 1, 2010 by AJ

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    This week on DIG: This, Engauge’s Chief Digital Officer Jeff Hilimire and Creative Technologist Raghu Kakarala discuss several major players in the tech and social world with senior digital executives in the hotel, restaurant and marketing industry.

    Special Guests Include:

    Del Ross, VP Sales & Marketing at Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world’s largest hotel company. IHG owns Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza,  Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.

    Mike Friedman, Director of Interactive Marketing at Darden Restaurants, the worlds largest full-service restaurant company. Darden Restaurants owns Capital Grill, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze, Longhorn Steakhouse, Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

    Mark Silva, Principal & Founder of Real Branding, heads up emerging platforms and works with companies like Anheuser-Busch, Darden Restaurants and Pepsi.

    Topics Discussed:

    • iPad: See what these seasoned digital marketers think about the iPad so far and what they expect to see happen to it in the future.
    • Check-in Apps: Mobile check-in apps like Foursquare, Gowalla, Facebook Check-in, Yelp, ScoutMob have revolutionized the way restaurants connect with their customers. The meta data and consumer insights that can be collected from these geo-location apps present rich data mining opportunities. Rising stars in among these apps include Goby & The Dealmap.
    • Facebook: Will Facebook last? How has the implementation of the social graph effected marketers? Where is Facebook going next?

    Also be Sure to Check Out:

    Like DIG’s Podcast? Then you should “like” DIG on Facebook and don’t forget to check out Engauge.com.

    Posted in Digital, Facebook, General, Mobile | Tagged , , | 2 Comments