In the last few weeks Twitter has come out with their latest feature, Lists. The basic function of Lists is to allow users to group people into separate categories based on interests and location, or pretty much anything they can think of. The Lists can be comprised of anyone who is a Twitter user without a protected account. Once a List is created, other people can follow it.

I am still attempting to use Lists and have been monitoring other people’s use of them. One benefit I can see from the new function is that it makes it easier to follow those people you are most interested in. Once a user is following over 500 people, updates from those that are most important to you are easily lost in the stream. By creating a list, those updates and connections can be much easier to keep track of.

Tweetdeck has actually been using their own version of Lists for a while. Users could create their own categories, but can only include people they followed. Twitter takes that prerequisite out of the equation.

How can businesses us Twitter Lists?

Businesses can use Lists in order to organize their contacts and optimize the time they spend on Twitter. One of the arguments against using Twitter for business purposes is that it takes too much time. Lists allow you to organize that time so you can keep updated on the contacts that will deliver the most value.

For example, at CGI we would utilize the Lists by people’s interest in our services, Flash, PowerPoint, video, web. We could then answer people’s questions in those area’s more efficiently and hence decrease the amount of time we are looking around our account to answer specific questions.

Have you used Lists? Do you feel it is one way Twitter is setting themselves up in order to eventually earn revenue?

Millions of people use Facebook as it has become a very popular way to communicate, connect and share. To some people it may seem like another distraction and to others it’s a communication tool.

Here at CGI, we want to connect with you. There are constantly newly completed projects (some we’re not allowed to share) we’d like to get your feedback on including flash, websites and powerpoint.

You can become a fan of CGI Interactive on Facebook if you have a Facebook account so we may stay connected with you. As well, you can give us feedback, write on our wall, leave comments, catch our updates, etc..

So, thanks for being a fan – we appreciate it!

We all love the videos. Those YouTube clips that make us laugh, that we share with our friends, and then quickly forget about. With the immense amount of information we gather daily, it is hard to make something stand out unless it is supported by multiple platforms and  ideas.

Mark Earls, marketing guru, recently spoke at the 4As conference on the “Big Idea” concept. Too frequently, as marketers, we become caught up with our most recent “Big Idea.” We want something flashy, but forget that it is not just a single idea that creates long term brand awareness and, ultimately, loyal customers. Instead Mark suggests a lot of little ideas, building on each other, all to support a larger goal. This could also include cross-channel marketing techniques to carry your idea across multiple platforms that support the initiative.

Check out a clip of his speech here.

By integrating a succession of ideas, potential customers become familiarized with your product and brand instead of simply laughing and leaving. Implement a long-term process of projects that support each other across multiple platforms to build a strong, structural marketing plan.

How can SlideShare be used as a business leads tool? Inspire others? Tell a story? I feel as though SlideShare is often overlooked as a community platform where people can connect about their interests and share information. Although it can be a great place to simply upload web content, doing so doesn’t allow SlideShare to fully flex its community muscles. Below are a few tips on how to optimize the platform as part of a larger marketing plan:

Create Dynamic Content:  Create presentations that are dynamic and include links to related sites within the presentation. This can help drive traffic to your website, other online content (such as Youtube videos), or give others credit if you use a quote or other content that can be linked to online.

Become Involved with SlideShare Community: Once you have set up your profile, search for other users with similar interests and “favorite” their presentations. Also, make comments on people’s work you like or have an opinion about. By doing this you can start conversations within the SlideShare community and strengthen your online network.

Spread the Love: Other social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook are very SlideShare friendly and have applications that allow you to share your work. Upload presentations onto other social networking platforms to reach your established community. In addition, other people who don’t use SlideShare can find your information there and find out a little bit more about who you are or what your company does.

Push the Boundaries: Recently I watched a  webinar by Hubspot on “How to Use Online Video for Inbound Marketing.” In the webinar the presenters, Karen Rubin and Mike Vlope, used their usual pod casting format, while users could flip through their SlideShare presentation. It was great! I was able to listen and flip at either my own pace or theirs and even stop the audio and go back later when it was convenient for me. The dynamic use of the platform made the information easily socialized and presentable online.

The point to remember is that SlideShare is more than just a place for content creation. With PowerPoint being such an easy way to share information with others,  the power of using SlideShare to create or expand a community presence increases your online marketing potential.

Are there any unique ways you use SlideShare that you have found useful in your marketing plans?

I love comfort food — the familiar flavors, simple ingredients, and all that food on the plate! According to food trend experts, comfort food is IN. Bonny Wolf, food commentator for NPR, states that food trends in 2009 are “colored by the economic recession”. She adds, “We’re in uncertain times, and this is the time when we crave comfort food.”

So what does comfort food have to do with flash product demos, the meat and potatoes of your marketing toolkit? Three words come to mind “Comfort, Simplicity and Value.”

Comfort

Like the rich flavors my nana simmered into every pot of chowder she made from simple ingredients, a product demo has to be more than a sequence of bland screenshots and voice over track pieced together. Instead, it is a seasoned recipe including branding elements, on-screen messaging and supporting imagery. These elements come together with sound and motion to communicate the features and functions of your product and express the unique flavor of your company establishing credibility, competence, and familiarity.

Simplicity

Restaurants are serving up simple, home-style dishes like pasta with meat sauces or meatloaf with mashed potatoes to ease diners back to their tables. These uncomplicated dishes serve up plenty of flavor while saving prep time and costs. CGI sees Marketing and Product Managers craving simplicity as they shoulder more responsibilities and fewer resources. Our flash demo template solution offers a simple process, saving time and money. The result: a compelling product demo in formats compatible for tradeshow use, online broadcasting, and socializing on the web.

Value

In college, breakfast at the Shawmut Diner was my favorite meal of the week and worth every penny at $6.99! The huge quantity of good food beyond satisfied my hunger at a price that would make my Nana proud. Designed to be scalable, with source files as part of the fixed price, makes the solution like ordering the Breakfast Special! With the ability for Google Analytics to be cooked right in, your can track your investment.

I guess you could say our new Flash product demo template solution is comfort food for savvy marketers looking for value without sacrificing quality or effectiveness. Check out some samples of recent demo we have created using our fixed-priced, template solution and tell us what you think.