For this blog, I've decided to step out of my comfort zone and write about those things that are completely unknown to me. I know the common adage is "write about what you know", but the world of social media is constantly moving and morphing, so it seems reasonable that I will need to explore some new territory.
My initial step was to find out what's out there. One of the first things I came across was UserVoice. This little tool helps companies and organizations set up a forum where, as their website reports, they can "turn customer feedback into action". They do this by enabling users to share ideas, vote up the best, and give business owners the opportunity to respond. Basically, it helps you track and manage feedback from your customers. And the voting option is cool because you get an idea of what the most popular ideas are. No what business couldn't use that kind of intelligence? And Sun Microsystems, Nokia and Random House apparently us it.
The next one I looked into was BaseCamp. It's website calls it the "leading web-based project management collaboration tool". With it you can share files, meet deadlines, assign tasks, centralize feedback, and "make clients smile" (their words, not mine). Mashable says it's a great and cost-effective tool, and I like the fact that you can sign up for a 30-day free trial to check it out before you put your money down. BaseCamp's clients are listed as National Geographic, Warner Bros., Adidas and a bunch of other well known brands.
Finally, I looked at MailChimp. And yes, I admit it, it was the cute name that first drew me in. This is a free email marketing tool. Lots of the big guys use it - Intel, Staples and Canon included. So it must be pretty good. With it, you can build and manage email lists, design HTML email campaigns, and track and analyze email marketing. And, I think I mentioned this already - it's FREE!
Finally, I looked at MailChimp. And yes, I admit it, it was the cute name that first drew me in. This is a free email marketing tool. Lots of the big guys use it - Intel, Staples and Canon included. So it must be pretty good. With it, you can build and manage email lists, design HTML email campaigns, and track and analyze email marketing. And, I think I mentioned this already - it's FREE!
So here are three very cool on-line social marketing tools that I suggest you check out. But don't take my word for it - after all, I don't claim to be an expert. Check out Mashable's reviews. Mashable has rated all of them in their 10 of the Best Social Media Tools for Entrepreneurs.
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