Although Apple acolytes will not be praising the Fire’s aesthestics, or significance as an objet d’art, the multitudes that will be purchasing it, simply won’t care.  Hey, most computer have always felt that Macs are beautiful objects d’art, but never had the intention on paying the extra bucks to own one.  Those users will be the Fire’s consumer base – and it’s a large one.

Recent studies have told us that the majority of iPad users use them mostly for email and web access.  If that’s true, then why not a tablet with all of the features of the Fire, which sells at least $200.00 than an iPad?  Every one of the previous iPad competitors made the same fatal mistake when they priced their unknown, yet to be established tablets at higher prices than the iPad. As with the original Kindle, Jeff Bezos is willing to take a loss on  pricing, to nurture product growth and as before, the consumer is the beneficiary.

Finally a competitor for the iPad, with a price and range of content access to be happy with.  It will surely deliver a significant number of first time buyers and create a real “tablet” market

1. As smartphones continue to proliferate and people have the ability to carry more information in their pockets than ever before, health insurance companies have an opportunity to create two distinct mobile apps. One, to give customers easy access to claims, plan details, network providers, drug prices, etc. and the other to provide lifestyle information on diet, exercise and healthy living.
2. Customers do not enjoy spending time on large, unruly corporate sites which never seem to focus on their informational needs. Consider adding a member-oriented, supplementary web site to your corporate presence. Enhance allegiance by clearly delivering information on policies, health issues and customer service
3. As most customer-oriented companies have had great success doing, post a customer-service specific Twitter account to give members a convenient digital one-stop to get immediate responses to their concerns. Consider personalizing your tweet responders – by giving them identities, you will help put a face on that big corporate brand of yours. Separate Twitter accounts can also be created for employment listings and industry-related news and company announcements.
4. Once your customer service strategy is in place, use Facebook as a content umbrella with links out to your Twitter, You Tube and member site. This gives you the best opportunity to showcase your company personality. You’ll decide what works best – perhaps a forum for interaction with member queries and comments and the promotion of member-related events
5. Set up a “dashboard” of related platforms to listen to what is being said about your company by members, competitors, bloggers, etc. Many examples include Search.twitter.com and Google Alerts

Social Media is new to many and will have a learning curve.  I always recommend that the general purposes are understood, before experimenting with individual tools  (Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).   It will be time well spent as you learn what tools work best with your business and ultimately,  how they can add value to your current marketing and customer-service strategies.

1. First and foremost, the abilities and rapid growth of smartphones, Digital coupons, product information, announcements, store layouts – as new users become more familiar with the devices, the functionality will only increase. The ability to have a customer in-store alongside the product being sold offers unlimited sales opportunities
2. Along the lines of the above, whether you have a mobile app in the pipeline or not, a mobile browser-friendly site should be set up as soon as possible.
3. The ease in which Twitter lends itself as a great customer service tool, allowing fast response and immediate postings for store-related information.
4. As a follow-up to in-store events (cooking class, for example.) gaining feedback and engaging in online dialogues with participants enhances community and reveals valuable information.
5. A corporate blog allows senior execs to discuss their industry, puts a human face on corporate and encourages customer involvement, nurturing community.
6. Since that good old paper receipt is always a take away, it can also be used to promote the store’s social media platforms and uses.

More likely than not, incorporating a social media strategy in the supermarket, will be new for company and customer alike. Customer input will be needed because not all of the elements will work. The nature of social media will allow easy revision of strategy, to accommodate the customer. Also important will be an ongoing awareness of emerging technologies and their potential value for future use. Yet, with all this new work – from creating a new department to educating the consumer – becoming a tech-savvy supermarket can only be a plus for its’ reputation.

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Regarding the book publishing industry — Did we really expect that the major publishing houses would price their electronic books at a minimal discount from their paper counterparts? Other than major bestsellers, Kindle savings are minor. Let’s see if we have to pay sales taxes on digital downloads!

I’m as disappointed as I am glad that a federal judge denied Google’s plan to digitize every book ever published. There will be time to come up with a settlement. No one should be in a hurry to have Google become the world’s bookstore.. .

• Many HR departments have quickly learned that it’s a no-brainer to use Twitter and LinkedIn as one-way blast job posting sites. Yet, few are currently utilizing their two-way communication abilities.
• Some HR departments teach social media to outgoing employees as well, as they once did resume updating. For the older executive to learn how to use LinkedIn as a networking tool for finding their next job, not only shows support to once valued outgoing execs, but may also lower costs on outplacement agencies.
• Screening potential hires via LinkedIn, Twitter, college blogs and those online communities and blogs where talent may already be
• Cross-promoting social media use with current hiring methods – campus recruiting, corporate websites, print and email marketing.

After spending the time to fully understand the support social media can give to businesses, human resource departments can step up and take it to the next level, becoming team leaders and corporate experts with the addition of the following services:

1. Company teacher/instructor to all interested company divisions — meeting with internal departments and explaining social media tools for strategies to increase efficiencies.
2. Encouraging an internal interactive dialogue. You’d be surprised how many employees are already using social media to research competitors, maintain communication with suppliers and develop new business.
3. Familiarizing themselves with the “stars” of social media (authors like David Meerman Scott Seth Godin, Debbie Weil, etc), and incorporating them for corporate webinars, luncheons and workshops.
4. Reporting internally via blogs and newsletters on industry developments and use by competitors
5. Create groups and videos, announce online dialogues and extend that first impression with potential hires.Future employees are already spending more of their time looking for work on Twitter and LinkedIn than corporate websites, so companies need to better understand how to use social media to seek out new talent.

With the growth of social media and greater ease to interact with employees and career candidates, human resources have more tools than ever to do their job, as well as help their associate departments, do theirs. This is an exciting time for human resources to be involved in social media — they work well together.

With all of this, it’s only natural that dealerships have developed their own strategies. And they have found, that when maintained, using social media can be a cost-efficient and effective method to promote and attract potential sales. And it works for dealer and customer alike:

• Because social media strategies should always be looked upon as one element of an overall marketing plan, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Flickr complement marketing plans already in place (print, radio, mail, etc).
• The online communities created via Facebook, Twitter and blogs, are natural forums for owners to discuss and share information which can be used by general managers and sales staffs as opportunities for interaction and feedback.
• Dealers can use Twitter and Facebook to announce promotions, sales and product news to interested clientele.
• With the real-time immediacy of Twitter, customer service can be more efficiently managed.
• Working with their corporate parents, dealerships can utilize You Tube and Flickr as content outlets to preview upcoming models, television commercials, car shows, etc.

It’s easy to see that social media applications are valuable tools, allowing a range of two-way communication and source of information, A genuine win-win for dealer, owner and customer alike.

Health-oriented web communities have existed as long as the internet has been around. Government regulation has delayed pharma’s online entry. The author of the article feels that it will be good if pharma becomes a source of information. I don’t know if I believe that would be enough for any sales-based business, let alone one that has had its share of product lawsuits and lies.

It will be the online community and their open discussions which will keep pharma honest. The industry will not have the appropriate platform to promote, but everything to learn, by listening. Just the way it should be with social media.