You aren’t alone.  Maintaining a fresh and updated social network is hard, even for people who live and breathe social media.  It’s tough to stay connected with your current friends or followers and still branch out to meet new people.

Even though it’s a tough task to conquer, there are a few ways you can expand your network with little to no effort.  One of the most efficient ways that I have found to branch out to others is through LinkedIn Groups.

LinkedIn Groups have a simple concept – collaboration and networking – and it is easy to join a group and interact with other group members.  There is a LinkedIn Group for nearly every subject or hobby so you won’t need to dig deep to find a group that fits your needs or expertise.  Once you are approved for a group, you have free reign to respond and create various topics and threads.  Easy, huh?

Simple Math

I have always thought that groups on social networking sites were for the birds.  How can they help me connect with others?  What point do they serve?  Well, the math for creating successful networking is simple…

Easy-to-use Platform + Common Interest + Conversation = Consistent Networking

LinkedIn Groups follows this basic line of thinking.

Easy-to-use Platform

Websites such as Facebook and Greenlight Community are great websites.  They serve a purpose and connect people together.  However, they do not have easy-to-use group functionality.  In fact, they are tough to manage and maintain.

On the flip side, LinkedIn Groups is a platform that is designed for efficiency and ease.  As I stated earlier, LinkedIn Groups function through conversations, or threads, which have been started by group members or the group admin.  Group members are not forced to talk about a certain topic or thread.  In fact, you can talk about whatever you’d like in relation to the topic of your group.

Common Interest

There is rarely downtime in a LinkedIn Group.  If a member is not starting a new thread, a current topic is being discussed.  The reason why there is no downtime is because everyone has a shared interest.  Without a shared interest, group members would be fishing for topics of conversation.  However, since each member knows that everyone has a common interest, there is a starting point for conversation.

Conversation

The conversation that takes place on some group websites is forced.  Topics of conversation are decided by the admin, new topics are not posted regularly, and no one thoroughly exhausts a topic.  LinkedIn Groups are different.

In LinkedIn Groups, a user can decide if they’d like to respond to a created topic or they can create their own.  This choice empowers the group member.  With this sense of empowerment, a group member remains dedicated to the conversation and routinely follows up with the other topic participants.

Consistent Networking

All of the components described in this article add up to create consistent networking.  With a platform that is easily managed, a common interest, and limitless conversation topics, LinkedIn Groups is a place that can help you grow and develop your network into more than you hoped.

Remember, when it comes down to the 11^th hour, it isn’t what you know.  Instead, it’s whom you know.  If you regularly manage and create connections via LinkedIn Groups, you will have a network that supports you.  Who doesn’t want that kind of network?

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by Thomas Hawk

I’ll be honest – there is a lot to know about social media. I consider myself to be a social media connoisseur but it is hard for me to keep up with the world of Facebook, Twitter, and blogs from time to time. However, when I do come across an interesting or valuable article, I’ll bookmark it to refer to at a later date. I might use it for inspiration, reference, or sharing. Throughout the past few months, I’ve created quite a collection. Now it’s time I share my collection with you.

I have included five articles on social media below. They are in no particular order; each article has just as much valuable information as the next. It is my hope that you will find these articles helpful and relevant to your social media campaign.

HOW TO: Manage Successful Social Media Promotions (Mashable)

Tags: Twitter, Facebook, Social Media Marketing, Promotions
Description: Many companies are using social media outlets to promote sales offers and discounts for their brand or product. However, it’s tough to get social media promotions work properly. If you’re interested in improving the success of your brand on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets, this is a great article to read.

How To Blog With Passion and Purpose (Jeffbullas’s Blog)

Tags: Blogging, Passion, Purpose, Content Creation, Stats
Description: In a world where everyone has a blog, what separates the ideas of one person from the ideas of another? Passion. When you blog with passion and purpose, you create instant credibility for yourself and your words. Communities and formed and lives are impacted when you begin to blog with passion. If you want to have a greater impact with your blog or social media campaign, this article will offer you some guidance.

How to Develop a Niche Blog Content Plan (ProBlogger)

Tags: Blogging, Content Creation, Purpose
Description: People are often disappointed in the success of their blog. Most individuals and companies think that their blog will be an instant hit but that is far from the truth. A “hit blog” takes time, effort, and a community of dedicated readers who are willing to share your content with others. This article posted on ProBlogger will help you transform your blog from a regular website to a site that has meaning.

Twitter Tips: 5 Proven Ways to Get Retweeted (ComputerWorld)

Tags: Twitter, Retweets, Marketing Strategy
Description: Twitter is a tough community at times. If you have used Twitter for any length of time, you know that it is an honor to have a post retweeted. Whether it is a fact, question, or blog post, having your content retweeted gives you a great feeling. However, retweeting doesn’t simply happen. In fact, there is a bit of a science behind retweeting. If you’re looking to step up your Twitter campaign and want to have your content shared, this is an article that will be helpful.

What’s Working for Social Media Marketers? (eMarketer)

Tags: Social Media, Marketing Strategy, Facts, Facebook, Twitter
Description: There are numerous ways to market to customers through social media. However, do you know how effective your marketing strategies really are? According to this article, buying targeted ads and tweeting regularly will only get you so far. This article is a great source of relevant and helpful data that could have a huge impact on your social media campaign.

What are some articles that have proved useful in your quest to make the most out of social media?

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by dhammza

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.  Federal buildings were left in ruin.  People were crushed by falling debris.  Thousands of Haitians were homeless.  The effects of the earthquake immediately broke the hearts of people and nations around the world.  A country was in need and citizens of all nations united to give aide.  The Haiti Movement began.

How Is This Disaster Different?

We’ve seen this type of disaster response movement before in recent years – the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, just to name a few.  So, how is this relief effort different?

The prevalence of social media in relief efforts has never been as involved as it is with the Haiti Movement.  In 2004 and 2005, social media was just beginning.  At that time, MySpace was the ultimate social network and Facebook was only for college students.  One of the world’s fastest growing social networks, Twitter, didn’t exist.

The Haiti Movement has been spurred on by compassionate and dedicated citizens using social media to reach others.  For example, people are using their status updates and tweets to state the American Red Cross number for donations.  Individuals have donated over $3 million through text messages alone.  Businesses on Twitter and Facebook have decided to donate a percentage of proceeds to Haiti relief.  The list could go on and on.

Social media isn’t merely revolutionizing the way we communicate with one another; it’s changing the way we help each other.

What Can We Learn From This?

The Haiti Movement can teach businesses and non-profits a number of things.  First, it teaches that social media does work.  For every person in favor of using social media for businesses, there will be one or two people who disagree.  But the proof is in the pudding: social media spreads the word.  Without the dedication of social media users, the Haiti Movement would not be as successful as it is.

Second, the Haiti Movement teaches businesses that social media produces real-time results.  From the moment the earthquake hit, Facebook and Twitter users were tracking the events as they unfolded.  This needs to be the same way a business approaches its social media campaign.  In order to properly gauge the impact on the community and consumers, businesses need to be constantly aware of what is being talked about on the various social media platforms.  Without the real-time knowledge, you might be stuck in the shadows instead of the limelight.

Finally, the compassion campaign for Haiti shows that becoming like everyone else isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  When you join a movement, whether as a business or individual, you are showing the world that you care about others and creating positive PR for yourself.  Who do you think will make the bigger impact on the community this weekend – the bar down the street that is giving all of its proceeds to Haiti relief or the bar that is treating Friday and Saturday nights like any other night of the week?   Becoming involved in a movement of change can help raise awareness for the cause, awareness for your business, and a dedicated customer base.

A terrible thing happened in Haiti but the world is coming together to turn a disaster into a mission of compassion.  Social media has played a big role in the level of success for the Haiti Movement and it can create just as much success for your business or non-profit.

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by Mark Brannan

When I first picked up Tribes by Seth Godin in my local library, I wasn’t immediately overwhelmed or impressed. In fact, I was wondering what all the fuss was over such a small book. The notion that great books needed to be thick and long-winded passed through my mind. After skimming its pages, I decided to check out the book and give it a chance. I’m glad I did.

The Heart and Soul

The message and concept of Tribes is simple: a person needs to be part of a group and wants to bond with other people who share similar goals and passions. However, Tribes is not a how-to manual for creating great groups. Instead, Godin lays out the benefits of leading a group of people, communicating with people who share similar interests, and growing together with like-minded individuals. Through stories and analogies, Godin inspires readers to lead, unite, and change their world.

Godin highlights many points throughout the book but there is a common thread: we need you. The world needs you. The world needs the abilities and passion you can bring. And, believe it or not, the world is ready for you. Godin states, “What I’m saying is that one person – okay, what I really mean is you – has everything. Everything you need to build something far bigger than yourself. The people around you realize this and they are ready to follow if you’re ready to lead.”

Tribes is a call to action to lead with vision, purpose, and faith.

The Disclaimer

Although it would be great to sit here and tell you that every person should own a copy of Tribes (I’m sure Seth Godin would appreciate that pitch), it’s not true. In fact, I don’t think most people should purchase the book. Tribes is a revolutionary book. It is a book that contains powerful information and directives to move ordinary people into extraordinary roles. I believe that if each person owned a copy of the book, most would put it down before page ten. Why? The message is too personal and involves too much risk.

If you are passionate about change and about leading a group of people, Tribes is for you. You don’t need to be a “leader,” to have charisma, or to have money to read Tribes; you just need passion, faith, and a desire for the betterment of the world around you. The book will not contain a specific formula for success; it will inspire you to find your own formula.

I highly recommend Tribes and feel that it is a book that can revolutionize the way we live. It is a quick and interesting read. As the old saying goes, don’t judge a book by its cover. Tribes can change your life. To give you a sneak peak of some of the great content in Tribes, I have included some of my favorite quotes below.

A Few Quotes from Tribes

“The real power of tribes has nothing to do with the Internet and everything to do with people. You don’t need a keyboard to lead…you only need the desire to make something happen.” – pg. 6

“When you identify the discomfort, you’ve found the place where a leader is needed.” – pg. 55

“Leadership is a choice. It’s the choice to not do nothing.” – pg. 59

“Every organization needs at least one thermostat. There are leaders who can create change in response to the outside world, and do it consistently over time.” – pg. 102

“Change almost never fails because it’s too early. It almost always fails because it’s too late.” – pg. 119

Additional Information

Seth Godin’s Blog
Tribes on Amazon

If you purchase the book, I suggest you keep a pen and highlighter handy when reading to take any notes or mark any thoughtful passages.

Have you read Tribes? If so, what are your thoughts? What was your big takeaway?

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by Jule Berlin

In the past it has been difficult to keep up with what is being said about your company.  Before the digital age, the only way to find out what was being said about your brand was to overhear it or hire someone to get the scoop.  With the Internet and advanced searching capabilities, acquiring the lowdown on your business is easy.  For example, Google Alerts can generate some great information and regularly scanning online forums can prove to be helpful.  Now, LinkedIn has developed a useful application to aide you in getting the skinny on your company.

LinkedIn’s “Company Buzz” application is a tool that displays real-time tweets relating to your company (or other search term).  Also, the tool allows you to see historical plots of your search term and receive the most popular words associated with your topic.  For example, if I searched “Folk Media” using the application, I would be able to see real-time tweets that included my search term, a graph of the history of “Folk Media,” and words that are associated with my search query, such as “awesome,” and “useful.”

In a nutshell, “Company Buzz” can allow for you to know what is being said about your company, product, or industry in an instant.

Adding “Company Buzz”

Installing the application is pretty simple.  First, sign into your LinkedIn account and scroll over the “More…” menu at the top of the screen.  Once the options have appeared, select “Applications Directory.”

After arriving at the Applications Directory, locate the “Company Buzz” application description and click on the title.  On the right hand side of the screen you will see the “Application Info” section.  Click the “Add application” button at the bottom of this section. (For the purposes of this walkthrough, it doesn’t matter if you display the application on your LinkedIn homepage.)

The Lay of the Land

After selecting the “Add application” button, the application should load.  In the future, you can get back to this screen by rolling over the “More…” menu at the top of the screen and selecting “Company Buzz.”

Before we begin a new search, let’s take a look at the layout of the page.  You will notice there are a few section on the right side of the page.  The first section is the “Search” feature.  As the name implies, this is where you would enter your search query.

The next section is “Followed Topics.”  LinkedIn automatically displays these topics based on your profile settings.  You will most likely notice your employers (both past and present) and educational institutions listed here.  You can manage these topics by clicking the “Manage” link in the upper right corner of the section.

Below “Followed Topics” you will see “Buzz Words.”  This is the section that will display the most common words associated with your search term.  The last section, “Trends,” will display a graph of how popular your search term has been in the last week.

Putting it to Good Use

If you do not use another application or service to monitor your brand on Twitter, this is a great place to start.  It is essential that you are aware of what is being said about your company, product, or competition so you can adjust your marketing strategy appropriately.  There is a significant chance that Twitter users will complain or acclaim your product before major media outlets do so you want to be on top of the most recent results for your searches.  Remember, the easier you can address any urgent issues, the easier it will be to put out the fire or fan the flame.

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by: Brajeshwar

A lot of speculation has arisen lately about social media’s place in the office.  Some say that social media access should be unrestricted because workers feel more comfortable.  If employees know they can tweet and stay connected through Facebook all day, they’ll feel at home and productivity will increase.  Others say all social media access while on the clock should be eliminated.  If employees are given access, they will do nothing but surf the Internet all day.  So, which one is the perfect solution?

Neither.

The pros and cons of both arguments point to one goal – creating a highly effective work environment.  Therefore, there is not one correct method that must be followed.  Each business is different.  What works for corporation ABC most likely will not work for non-profit XYZ.

To help decide what policy would best suite your organization, there are a few consideration points below.

Beware – these questions will not lead you in one direction or the other.  You must decide what is best for your organization.  The overall goal of any company is to be effective.  Whatever your company needs to do to achieve its goals is the direction it should go.

• Do you have any current office policies that might tackle the issue of social media in the workplace?  How do those policies impact productivity? If your office already has pre-existing rules or directions for social media in the workplace, consider analyzing their effectiveness on morale and productivity.  Do employees simply tweet or access Facebook from their mobile devices instead of a browser?  Would access to social networking sites reduce time on cell phones and iPods?  Does restricting Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, aide or hamper productivity?

• What messages do you want to send to your employees?Restricting access to social networking doesn’t mean you are a horrible boss but your direct reports might think so.  Have you made it clear to your employees why social media sites are or are not blocked?  Mutual understanding is critical for a productive and creative work environment.

• Do you have performance metrics or standards in place?Solid performance goals and expectations that are enforced will keep your employees on track, with or without social media sites.  Ensure that your employees are aware of your expectations.

• What can you learn from the past? Oftentimes, similar situations have occurred in the past.  Remember the YouTube craze?  Did your employees watch videos all day or did they do their work?  What was the final outcome with fantasy sports websites?  Most of the time you will find that a past decision or situation can lead you in the proper direction.

There is no right or wrong answer for social media in the workplace.  Social media can prove to be an aide in some offices and a burden in others.  Reflect on the past, analyze your work staff and their performance, and decide what is best.

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by: ydhsu

Do you often wonder what people are saying about you or your business online?  Have you ever performed a Google search for your name or business?  Sometimes the results can be humorous and at other times insightful.  Even still, this probably isn’t a task that you perform on a regular basis.  It isn’t something on your daily to-do list.  However, it could be beneficial to your exposure and profit margin.  So, what do you do?

The answer is Google Alerts, a free tool that alerts the user when a new Google search result is created based on a specific topic or term.  For example, if I set up an alert for Folk Media, Google will send me an email whenever a new search result for using the term “Folk Media” is created.  This result may come from a news page, such as CNN, or it could be directly from the Folk Media website.  Google Alerts removes the legwork from searching.

Google Alerts is a great tool for businesses because the gap between company and competition or customer can be shortened.  Above all else, Google Alerts can become the catalyst for company change and improvement.

Keep Your Friends Close…

Google Alerts allows for your company to have eyes everywhere on the web.  It is rare that a website would elect not to have their material indexed on Google because of the number of visitors what might visit the site.  Plain and simple, the laundry will be aired on Google – both clean and dirty.  Through Google Alerts, you could track the positive PR you’re getting on the web and also the concerns your customers have about your product or business.

…But Keep Your Enemies Closer

Not only can Google Alerts give you a heads up on what your customers are saying about your company or product, the system can tell you what your competitors are doing.  Who wouldn’t love to have insight into how the competition is interacting with customers and when they are expected to launch a new product?  Google Alerts can help you keep up the pace in your industry.

Odd and Ends

Google Alerts doesn’t help with only customer and competitor insight, it can also help with industry standards and other information.  Five categories that deserve a Google Alerts notification might be:

• Industry information
• News on a specific topic or brand
• New products or product rumors
• Employees and contractors
• Manufacturing data

Getting Started

You have some basic knowledge of Google Alerts and you’re probably ready to try it out.  Follow the simple steps below to set up your searches.

1.  Visit http://alerts.google.com and sign in with your Google account.  (Don’t have a Google account?  Sign up for one for free!)

2.  Create a new search by entering all of the pertinent information on the right side of the screen, including:

• Search terms – This is the term or phrase you want to find online. Boolean operators are accepted in this field, meaning that values such as parentheses, AND, OR, and NOT can be included.
• Type – The options are pretty self-explanatory.  “Comprehensive” includes all of the options.
• How Often – Decide how often you want to receive the alert in your inbox.
• Email Length – Select if you’d like to receive the top 20 or 50 results in each alert.
• Deliver To – You can choose if you’d like to have the results sent to your GMail account or your Google Reader feed.

3.  Select “Create Alert” to finalize your alert settings.

If you’d like to edit or delete previously created alerts, select the option at the bottom that states, “click here to manage your alerts.”

Sample Alerts

• (“businesses” OR “non-profits”) AND (“social media” OR “Facebook” or “Twitter”)
• (“Your Company Name” OR “Your Industry”) AND (“social media” OR “Facebook” or “Twitter”)
• (“Twitter” OR “Facebook” OR “LinkedIn” OR “YouTube”) site:cnn.com OR site:foxnews.com OR site:nytimes.com OR site:washingtonpost.com
• (“Your Company Name” OR “Your Competitor”) site:cnn.com OR site:foxnews.com OR site:nytimes.com OR site:washingtonpost.com
• link:yourwebsite.com
• “your company name”

.

Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by Panoptica…

I am pleased to announce that Eric Alpin will be joining us as the Associate Editor of Folk Media. He has already been writing guest posts for quite some time, so it is a great privilege to have him join the team in a formal way.

Eric works for a major telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

In addition to writing and editing, Eric is tasked with finding and developing new and fresh contributors for the Folk Media site. We have talked long and hard about where we are headed in 2010 and I am personally excited about all the ideas the Folk Media team has come up with.

If you would like to write or contribute to Folk Media please send us an email to info@folkmedia. We are in the process of looking for writers. Be prepared to show a sample of where you’ve been published online and the URL of your own website or blog.

~ Joel Mark Witt
Publisher | Folk Media

*Photo By Markus Rödder

It’s that time of year again – the time for goals, resolutions, broken habits, and a lot of positive thinking.  When most people think of the term “resolution,” they think about personal development and growth.  Through hard work and discipline, goals are set, changed, and, hopefully, achieved.  Resolutions aren’t just for the individual; business can use and develop resolutions, as well.

Businesses are constantly changing and growing with their customers.  If they didn’t, they wouldn’t last long.  However, most businesses have not adapted themselves to secure their presence in social media.  Whether people like to admit it or not, social media is here to stay for some time and if businesses are looking to survive in the next decade, it is critical to stake a claim in the social media market.

It’s a new year and the beginning of a new decade.  What better time to jump into social media if you haven’t done so already?

Choose Wisely

Social media websites are not your run-of-the-mill information sources and each site is different.  When choosing to become active in social media, it is critical to think about the intended goals.  Do you want to gain more clients?  Do you want to develop current relationships?  Do you want the world to see your company as “human” and not just another retail store?  It is important to figure out your social media goals before diving in.

The most popular social networks are Facebook and Twitter.  On Facebook, businesses and non-profits can create fan pages to promote their businesses.  Users of the social networking site can become “fans” of the business and share the information with their friends.  With Twitter, a company would create a profile and tweet, or publish posts, about the company itself, how it can help, and even any special offers.  A great guide to using Twitter is 21 Days to Twitter Leadership.

Set Goals

Your business or non-profit is never going to succeed in social media without goals.  Goals help you measure the success in the physical world and goals will measure your impact in social media.

Some may call it unreasonable to think that a business and non-profits can grow through social media in just a short time.  But, it happens.  If a non-profit sets reasonable and achievable goals, amazing things can happen – donations can flood in, people can be touched, and the organization can grow.  With social media, information spreads like a wildfire.  With the proper goals, that wildfire can be almost unstoppable.

Don’t Give Up

Social media growth and exposure don’t always happen overnight.  It can be tough to continue to attempt to market and promote when it seems like no one is listening.  However, there is always the possibility that times will change in an instant.  When it feels like no one is replying to your company’s posts or taking action on the donation pleas of your non-profit, don’t lose heart.   Revisit your goals and methods, determine what may be the problem, and adjust accordingly.  If you don’t, things might turn out worse.

It’s the 21st century and the start of a new decade.  It is time that businesses and non-profits embrace the full potential of social media.  It’s a marvelous world that can grow and transform an average business into a marketed and thriving business.  Will your business embrace the Social Media Resolution of 2010?

Eric Alpin is a social media enthusiast, blogger, creative genius, and avid reader. Eric enjoys maintaining his website, ericalpin.com, editing and shooting video, reading, hanging out with his friends and girlfriend, and playing sports. Eric works full-time for a telecommunications company in the Baltimore, Md. area and is currently seeking his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

Get the book “21 Days To Twitter Leadership” The Step-By-Step Guide On How To Twitter, Get Twitter Followers And Position Yourself As The Leader In Your Industry In Less Than 10 Minutes Per Day.

*Photo By shoebappa

Last week, Pepsi announced that it would not be running any Superbowl ads this season.  Instead, the major soft drink manufacturer has elected to undertake The Pepsi Refresh Project, a $20 million social media campaign.  The project focuses on user submitted ideas to make their communities a better place.  Bold move?  Is Pepsi wasting a huge amount of money?

I don’t think the move reallocation of funds is risky business.  In fact, I would say that it is riskier that other companies not employing the same course of action.  In a world that is steadily shifting towards social media interactions and Internet usage, the companies that do not adapt and shift will be left in the cold.  Pepsi is just leading the way.

On the other hand, if the project is not marketed in the correct manner, Pepsi might waste $20 million.  It is critical that the corporation inspires its tribe and leads a revolution.

Businesses and non-profits can learn a lot from Pepsi and their shift to social media.  Instead of marketing in the typical, and at times archaic ways, make a bold choice and undertake something that breaks the mold.  If you want to get noticed, one of the best ways is to revolutionize your industry.  Pepsi has shown us that it can be as simple as reallocating advertising funds.

No matter how the actual campaign turns out, one thing hold true – Pepsi has caught our attention.

Eric Alpin is a social media enthusiast, blogger, creative genius, and avid reader. Eric enjoys maintaining his website, ericalpin.com, editing and shooting video, reading, hanging out with his friends and girlfriend, and playing sports. Eric works full-time for a telecommunications company in the Baltimore, Md. area and is currently seeking his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies. Follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

Get the book “21 Days To Twitter Leadership” The Step-By-Step Guide On How To Twitter, Get Twitter Followers And Position Yourself As The Leader In Your Industry In Less Than 10 Minutes Per Day.

*Photo By silent (e)