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FG SQUARED interactive marketing
621 E 6th Street Suite 200
Austin TX 78701-3766

Phone: 1 512 481 8831
Fax: 1 512 481 8832
Email: info@fg2.com

FG SQUARED ANNOUNCES CREATION OF SOCIAL WEB ADVISORY PANEL (SWAP)

Group's highly regarded members collaborate to advance interactive web thought leadership

AUSTIN, October 28, 2008 -- FG SQUARED announced today the creation of a social advisory panel of leading interactive marketing and technology figures.

This Social Web Advisory Panel (SWAP) forms a dynamic industry link, and will help guide members' and constituents' efforts in advancing research, innovation, and thought leadership into emerging global interactive marketing trends and practices.

"The ability that this panel is going to have in crystallizing a collective understanding of the dominant needs of global interactive marketing and commerce is absolutely critical to helping organizations navigate the future," says Steve Golab, FG SQUARED President and CEO. "The SWAP also helps FG SQUARED ensure it is operating with the tools and processes that best enable our clients toward enhanced profitability."

Comprised of recognized leaders in interactive technology, marketing and beyond, the advisory panel will focus on topics including social media, Social Capital and interactive business forecasting and trends.

The members of the panel are:

Cynthia Baker - President, Accolades PR
Mike Chapman - Public Affairs Strategist, Every Dot Connects
Jon Lebkowsky - Principal, Social Web Strategies
Dave Evans - Digital Voodoo
Ynema Mangum - Product Line Manager, Sun Microsystems
John Curtis - President and CEO, Quotient Solutions, Inc.
Wade Allen - President and CEO, Cendea
Jason Fellman - Consultant and FG SQUARED Co-founder
Clay Spinuzzi - Associate Professor of Rhetoric at The University of Texas at Austin

"Many businesses are anxious to participate in social media and social commerce but need to find meaningful ways to measure the impact," said Mike Chapman, Social Media Strategist. "FG Squared is pioneering ways to show the real benefits and value of social networks."

Golab indicates that the SWAP will center its Fall 2008 agenda on turning out 2-3 white papers (in 2009) that will cover industry-essential topics that are mutually relevant to members and member institutions.

SWAP members will also contribute to FG SQUARED's social media weblog, The Squared Root. In addition, the panel will help formulate the next Interactive Austin conference scheduled for March, 2009.

"This group was a natural extension of the many informal exchanges I've enjoyed over the years with these highly regarded colleagues," Golab adds. "The consultation that this Social Web Advisory Panel is going to undertake will enable our industry to optimize panel members' insight and experience to the fullest."

FG SQUARED Announces Creation of Social Web Advisory Panel (SWAP)...
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Austin Business Journal Honors FG SQUARED Among "Fast 50"...
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Posted: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:24:46 GMT Blogger: clearspace@fg2.com

Happy New Year. In spite of the recession this year promises to be a happy one, especially if your business planning has you involved with the online world of advertising and social media.

On the day before Christmas, Business Week's online magazine published a viewpoint by Jeffrey Rayport, founder and chairman of Marketspace, in which he compares the plight of shrinking expenditures on every other form of advertising excepting for the online variety. The article is titled "Why Online Ads are Weathering the Recession."

Rayport's premise is, "In most media, 2009 will bring unkind cuts, and Madison Avenue will never be the same. But Internet advertising seems to be holding up." While the title of the article implies a focus on advertising, his arguments also support effective use of social media marketing.

Rayport, a former faculty member at the Harvard Business School, lists a handful of arguments supporting his observation. First, online media has come of age since the mid-2000s. It has become institutionalized.

Digital media provides for accountability that is more illusive in other forms of media. Metrics are possible in ways that are more illusive in other forms of media.

Word of mouth and social media are rapidly becoming recognized as increasingly effective at influencing buyers' decision making. While no one is exactly sure how this phenomenon is going to play out in the future, it's evident that the most prominent social networks - Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. - are already working to capitalize. Marketers from across the spectrum will follow.

Online media is opportune for creating "earned" rather than "paid" ad placements of a sort. Content created by bloggers and other social media enthusiasts can be much more credible with consumers than any form of paid advertising. When companies engage with consumers in open and authentic ways on the social web, new channels are created that naturally increase credibility.

Online media efforts allow for very exact targeting of the people and markets desired to be reached. By targeting potential customers where they congregate online, based on interest and activities, expenditures of advertising and other online communications efforts are more efficient.

The article concludes by stating what many of us who've been involved in social media have been saying for years; traditional forms of advertising and media won't disappear, they will just forever be changed. The recession appears to be further proving the inevitability of the previously noticed trends.

Social Capital
What is social capital? The power of relationship: in the new world of connectivity, it's not what you know, or even who you know—it's what your online social network knows. In this ultimate word-of-mouth environment, every person in your extended network holds the potential to change your business model.
Read More

The Art of Consideration
Consumers are connected. They spend time evaluating potential purchases in person-to-person, but not necessarily "in-person" conversations. They validate thoughts together. When they buy things they talk about what happened. They have robust networks through which they share experiences, forming the basis for the next round of purchases. They engage with the brands they like along with the messages that convey their essence.
Read More

		FG SQUARED is a full service Interactive Marketing Solutions firm. We blend our expertise in marketing and interactive technologies to help our clients increase their bottom lines. Our core competencies span the spectrum from strategic foundation development to tactical implementation.		FG SQUARED interactive marketing 621 E 6th Street Suite 200 Austin TX 78701-3766 Phone: 1 512 481 8831 Fax: 1 512 481 8832 Email: info@fg2.com

		FG SQUARED ANNOUNCES CREATION OF SOCIAL WEB ADVISORY PANEL (SWAP) Group's highly regarded members collaborate to advance interactive web thought leadership AUSTIN, October 28, 2008 -- FG SQUARED announced today the creation of a social advisory panel of leading interactive marketing and technology figures. This Social Web Advisory Panel (SWAP) forms a dynamic industry link, and will help guide members' and constituents' efforts in advancing research, innovation, and thought leadership into emerging global interactive marketing trends and practices. "The ability that this panel is going to have in crystallizing a collective understanding of the dominant needs of global interactive marketing and commerce is absolutely critical to helping organizations navigate the future," says Steve Golab, FG SQUARED President and CEO. "The SWAP also helps FG SQUARED ensure it is operating with the tools and processes that best enable our clients toward enhanced profitability." Comprised of recognized leaders in interactive technology, marketing and beyond, the advisory panel will focus on topics including social media, Social Capital and interactive business forecasting and trends. The members of the panel are: Cynthia Baker - President, Accolades PR Mike Chapman - Public Affairs Strategist, Every Dot Connects Jon Lebkowsky - Principal, Social Web Strategies Dave Evans - Digital Voodoo Ynema Mangum - Product Line Manager, Sun Microsystems John Curtis - President and CEO, Quotient Solutions, Inc. Wade Allen - President and CEO, Cendea Jason Fellman - Consultant and FG SQUARED Co-founder Clay Spinuzzi - Associate Professor of Rhetoric at The University of Texas at Austin "Many businesses are anxious to participate in social media and social commerce but need to find meaningful ways to measure the impact," said Mike Chapman, Social Media Strategist. "FG Squared is pioneering ways to show the real benefits and value of social networks." Golab indicates that the SWAP will center its Fall 2008 agenda on turning out 2-3 white papers (in 2009) that will cover industry-essential topics that are mutually relevant to members and member institutions. SWAP members will also contribute to FG SQUARED's social media weblog, The Squared Root. In addition, the panel will help formulate the next Interactive Austin conference scheduled for March, 2009. "This group was a natural extension of the many informal exchanges I've enjoyed over the years with these highly regarded colleagues," Golab adds. "The consultation that this Social Web Advisory Panel is going to undertake will enable our industry to optimize panel members' insight and experience to the fullest."		FG SQUARED Announces Creation of Social Web Advisory Panel (SWAP)... Read More Austin Business Journal Honors FG SQUARED Among "Fast 50"... Read More Posted: Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:24:46 GMT Blogger: clearspace@fg2.com Happy New Year. In spite of the recession this year promises to be a happy one, especially if your business planning has you involved with the online world of advertising and social media. On the day before Christmas, Business Week's online magazine published a viewpoint by Jeffrey Rayport, founder and chairman of Marketspace, in which he compares the plight of shrinking expenditures on every other form of advertising excepting for the online variety. The article is titled "Why Online Ads are Weathering the Recession." Rayport's premise is, "In most media, 2009 will bring unkind cuts, and Madison Avenue will never be the same. But Internet advertising seems to be holding up." While the title of the article implies a focus on advertising, his arguments also support effective use of social media marketing. Rayport, a former faculty member at the Harvard Business School, lists a handful of arguments supporting his observation. First, online media has come of age since the mid-2000s. It has become institutionalized. Digital media provides for accountability that is more illusive in other forms of media. Metrics are possible in ways that are more illusive in other forms of media. Word of mouth and social media are rapidly becoming recognized as increasingly effective at influencing buyers' decision making. While no one is exactly sure how this phenomenon is going to play out in the future, it's evident that the most prominent social networks - Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. - are already working to capitalize. Marketers from across the spectrum will follow. Online media is opportune for creating "earned" rather than "paid" ad placements of a sort. Content created by bloggers and other social media enthusiasts can be much more credible with consumers than any form of paid advertising. When companies engage with consumers in open and authentic ways on the social web, new channels are created that naturally increase credibility. Online media efforts allow for very exact targeting of the people and markets desired to be reached. By targeting potential customers where they congregate online, based on interest and activities, expenditures of advertising and other online communications efforts are more efficient. The article concludes by stating what many of us who've been involved in social media have been saying for years; traditional forms of advertising and media won't disappear, they will just forever be changed. The recession appears to be further proving the inevitability of the previously noticed trends. Read More Social Capital What is social capital? The power of relationship: in the new world of connectivity, it's not what you know, or even who you know—it's what your online social network knows. In this ultimate word-of-mouth environment, every person in your extended network holds the potential to change your business model. Read More The Art of Consideration Consumers are connected. They spend time evaluating potential purchases in person-to-person, but not necessarily "in-person" conversations. They validate thoughts together. When they buy things they talk about what happened. They have robust networks through which they share experiences, forming the basis for the next round of purchases. They engage with the brands they like along with the messages that convey their essence. Read More AMD/DreamWorks Partnership Programs AMD Retail Marketing Toolkit Motorola Web Unification Premiere Global Services PGiConnect Developer Community Premiere Global Services PGi Notify Meds TACHC CHLN.org UFCU Listening Program