Social Media Command Centers: What Are They and How Can They Help Your Business?

The new term buzzing around the business world is "social media command center." Tech stuff changes so rapidly, it's hard to even keep up with. But, fortunately, we're here to help you keep on top of the latest trends in the industry.

So, What is a Social Media Command Center?

Super Bowl 2012

Larger businesses, institutions, and universities have stumbled onto the idea of creating these. One specific example was used for the most recent Super Bowl in 2012, held in Indianapolis. A team of 20 professionals staffed a 2,800 square-foot space in downtown Indianapolis for 15 hours per day for the two weeks leading up to, and including, the event. Managers, content developers, analysts, strategists, and a few volunteers made up the team.

The team monitored the major social media to make sure they extended a friendly hand to everyone arriving in the area. It also monitored various social media conversations in the interest of public safety, and combined with other command centers, so that if an emergency arose, the response would be widespread and instantaneous. The third objective was to create regular content and keep people engaged in the event. Finally, the team was to make the positive experience fans had even more intense than usual.

That's how it worked in a nutshell for the Super Bowl. But, the question you are probably really interested in is...

What Can Social Media Command Centers Do to Help Your Business?

Say your company launches a new advertising campaign. Let's say you want new content developed for that campaign as it evolves. The team manning your social media command center could get that new content out to all of your followers, and additional distribution channels, within the same day.

When you need to perform customer service for your products and services, instead of having people call, wait, or perhaps attempt to navigate their way through the maze of phones at your company, they could send a direct message to your social media account. With multiple people managing the account, it would be possible to respond to customer inquiries in a much more efficient manner.

You can also use them to listen to your customers. Ask a question about your product or services (make sure it's yes/no), and see what people say. Hold a contest, which can reveal different ways people are using your product. The point is that you receive a free method for conducting market research!

Would a Social Media Command Center be Right for Your Business?

Now that you know of the advantages of social media command center, how do you think they would add value to your company's bottom line?

Social Media Command Centers: What Are They and How Can They Help Your Business?

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2012 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Predictions

Under head coach Kirk Ferentz, Iowa has put together a number of successful seasons. In his first 13 years on the job, he has led the Hawkeyes to at least seven wins in nine of the past 11 seasons. This year, another 7 win season is definitely within reach.

Iowa could just have easily won nine games last year if it wasn't for some very close contests that they let slip away in the form of an Iowa State overtime loss and one point heartbreaker against Minnesota. The schedule once again seems to favor the Hawkeyes, but they need to adjust to new coordinators Greg Davies and Phil Parker.

Nfl 2012

The changes to the coaching staff might just work out well for Iowa since they had gotten stale and predictable on both sides of the ball.

Offense

Senior quarterback, James Vandenberg might very well be the best pure passer in the Big Ten. He threw for 3,032 yards with 25 touchdowns and only seven interceptions in 2011. While he will certainly miss Marvin McNutt's excellent play as the school's all-time leading receiver, the presence of Keenan Davis will still make life easier for Vandenberg. Davis caught 50 passes for 713 yards and four scores last season.

Sophomore wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manly seems to be coming into his own, showing flashes of brilliance last year. Look for him to be even more productive in 2012 in a larger role.

With Iowa being known for having good tight ends, it looks as though C.J. Fiedorowics might just be the latest player to be added on that list and have a bright future with the NFL on the horizon.

Iowa's offensive line might be decimated with the loss of three starters, and they will definitely miss the play of All-Big Ten left tackle Riley Reiff.

Coming into the new season, the running back position seems to be the biggest area of concern for the Hawkeyes. Last year's leading rusher, Marcus Coker, has left the program and the guy that was supposed to replace him, Jordan Canzeri, had a debilitating knee injury that will sideline him for the season. Now it seems as though Damon Bullock, the unproven sophomore, will get the starting job.

Defense

Iowa was a regular fixture among the elite defensive teams in the nation for a number of seasons until they drastically fell off last year. The Hawkeyes finished just eighth in the Big Ten in both total and scoring defense with 378.9 yards and 23.9 points allowed. Their struggles were even more apparent against the pass as they would repeatedly fail to mount much of a pass rush.

Parker is expected to blitz more to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but he'll also be counting on end Dominic Alvis and tackle Steve Bigach to get penetration.

Big Ten Legends Prediction: 4th Place

Iowa has had years where they overachieved and 2012 could prove to be one of those years. The Hawkeyes have very little chance to win the Legends division but they could finish as high as second with a relatively easy schedule.

2012 Iowa Hawkeyes Football Predictions

Jack Jones posts his football picks at Betfirms.com as well as FootballFreePicks.com.

New Sports Centres Indoors

New and more ambitious indoor sport complexes are being planned all the time and even some of the world's newest and largest sports stadia are being built with the option of turning them into indoor facilities.

The new Wembley Stadium in London, the most expensive ever built, does have a sliding roof which, although it cannot completely close, does afford protection from the weather for fans while still being able to retract and provide the conditions for the pitch to grow. Wimbledon famously added a roof to its centre court, after several tournaments were interrupted by rain and now there is hardly a major stadium design process that doesn't at least consider including a roof.

Nfl 2012

In the US the redevelopment of the Dallas Cowboys NFL stadium will be the most expensive NFL stadium ever built when it is completed in 2009. It will have a 660,000 square foot retractable roof and will have a capacity of 100,000. In Japan, the Oita Stadium was nick-named the Big Eye, after its closing roof section which resembled an eyelid as it was being closed.

In the UK the popularity of sport as a pastime has allowed the investment need to build facilities to bring ever more sports indoors and away from the vagaries of the British weather. Indoor ice rinks date back to well before the first world war when Richmond in Surrey already had a rink that was taken over during the war effort to make hand grenades. The rink was used by some of Britain's most famous skaters including john Curry and Robin Cousins, both Olympic gold medallists who used to train there. For a time it was the world's biggest indoor ice rink until Vienna Stadthalle opened in 1950.

Streatham Ice rink in London has also been around, having existed as an indoor skating venue for over 75 years. Back in the 1960's and 70's there was even more interest and several new indoor ice rinks opened around the UK including the popular Silver Blades rink in Sheffield that opened in the late sixties.

The next sport to receive the indoor treatment was the wave of interest in water theme parks. These types of venues had already been built in warmer holiday resort areas such as the Costa del Sol, but again Britain's cooler, wetter weather made outdoor complexes unsuitable. So, indoor water parks were built. Again Richmond in Surrey was one of the first towns to build an indoor facility in the 1980's. Canada claims to have built the world's first indoor water park with West Edmonton Mall in 1985. Now there are several of these waterparks in the UK including Coral Reef in Bracknell, The Dome in Doncaster and WaterWorld in Stoke.

In the 1990's motorsport was the next sport to find itself transformed for indoor venues. Indoor gokarting tracks were opening up all over the country, from small tight tracks built in empty warehouses to long custom-built tracks that included bridges, pit areas.

One of the largest is the Speedkarting complex in Warrington that claims to have a main track of over 1 kilometre in length on three different levels and even boasts a Monaco-style tunnel!

Back to the present day and it seems adventure sports are no receiving an indoor focus. Mountain climbing now doesn't require any mountains. Climbing walls are often included as a special area in many general sports centres around the UK and there are now several dedicated indoor climbing centres. Facilities like the Craggy Island centre in Guildford Surrey have over 1000 square metres of wall, providing 100's of different routes, while the Awesome Walls Climbing Centre in Stockport has 23.5 meter tall wall area. Skiing is the latest mountain sport to come in out of the cold, into the cold as it happens. That's because indoor skiing is no longer restricted to artificial slopes. Technology has allowed indoor skiing centres to offer real snow slopes, with snow cannons capable of generating snow that provides slopes as long as 160m, such as those at the new Snow Centre just outside London. This impressive venue provides indoor facilities for both skiers and snowboarders on two wide slopes.

Of course the 2012 Olympics that will be held in London are sure to enhance what is already an impressive list of indoor sports venues in the UK. These include a 6000 seater velodrome, a basketball arena and an impressive aquatics centre which will house two 50 meter pools and a 25 metre competition diving pool. A separate temporary building next door will house two pools for the water polo competitions.

New Sports Centres Indoors

Sports writer Mark Bartley reports on the latest indoor snow sport centres. Indoor ski slopes are appearing all over the world now with the UK being one of the leading countries.

Creativity, Concept, Imagination and Innovation - What Have They in Common?

Too often today we focus on crafting interesting campaigns and ads that give the consumer 30 seconds of original entertainment. We may be missing the point by not giving them something to think about. If your brand is well established, your strategy should involve the use of other platforms that are designed to associate the imagination with the brand.

Video ads, the really good ones, win awards. Even if they are not honored at the Cannes Lions annual festival, they are recognized for their excellence. In these mass media ads, the consumer is targeted when their focus is on a network program, a sporting event or as a predicate to a film. Unless the audience is there specifically to appreciate the ads, they may be amused, but are most likely otherwise engaged in conversation or texting. You know texting - the digital age definition of thumbs up.

Super Bowl 2012

I do not suggest that it is time to consider plowing up the advertising fields, but perhaps it is time to cultivate some new options with a fresh approach. Where have we not sought to reach the consumer? Advertisements populate the Internet, cross every televised presentation, keep the newspaper presses rolling, reach you by satellite radio, appear on your gaming screen and may even invade your dreams.

Ads have become an annual showcase during the Super Bowl telecasts. A 30 second ad reportedly cost a cool .5 million. In the first Super Bowl, the same air time set you back less than ,000. Add to that the cost to produce the ad and the investment becomes somewhat staggering. Do you have a favorite Super Bowl ad? Did it make you rush out to buy more of the product? What was the most popular ad in the 2012 Super Bowl? How about the 2011 Super Bowl? With the stiff competition for this distinction you have to ask; which comes first, the message or the recognition? Has advertising become entertainment in installments? Consensus hits in advertising may be a fungible commodity to the viewing consumer.

We still love to read; well thankfully most of us enjoy it. With the changes in technology, our reading choices and the reading process are undergoing a dramatic shift. We still read classic novels, but more and more these are read incrementally and simultaneously with other material. The trend in reading choices is to shorter reads that fit today's lifestyles, and we should focus at least a modest part of the marketing budget in this arena. The strategy needs variety, not just more of the same. Why not invest a small part of the budget in cultivating the relationship between the advertiser and the consumer audience with a digital age one-to-one relationship? It isn't mainstream you say. Well, when it becomes conversation at the cocktail party, you find yourself playing catch up.

The consumer is a more social creature today than ever. This sociability is not always in a personal setting. It is paradoxically becoming a virtual setting punctuated with sharing images, stories and items of interest. By using some creativity to produce these short stories and passages and to present them in a way that promotes the sharing process, a whole new and more personal avenue is opened to the reader. Every reader is a consumer. Every tagged and shared excerpt with embedded content grows your one-to-one relationships.

Embedded in the pages of carefully crafted content resides a fresh media and connection with the consumer. The reader most often will not see embedded content as a brand promotion (that is the objective) and it does not detract from their enjoyment. I've tested it with a focus group. If the ads were overt, they would be removed before they are shared and might completely negate the effectiveness of the placement.

How much do you buy from the flashing Internet banner ads? How many times have you clicked on one out of curiosity to find an impersonal appeal to buy something? This type of advertising does have a degree of success, but it is not a total or a long term solution.

Many campaigns have become defensive in nature. If everyone else is doing it, perhaps we should as well. What happens when everybody is doing the same thing? It starts going unnoticed at least as to its intended purpose. Mass media may have reached the point of oversaturation.

Creativity, concept, imagination and innovation are connected through reading. The brain is engaged in an entirely different way, and the introduction of the embedded message is promoted with the reader's interest in the topic and the story. If done well, creativity, concept and imagination will equate to innovation, and you have a fresh new medium and approach to add to the mix.

Creativity, Concept, Imagination and Innovation - What Have They in Common?

Books are the new venue for brand placement and advertising. Captive Marketing Concepts has created a model that merges corporate advertisers and ad agencies with authors and publishers. We retain the copyrights and can tailor full color print media books and e-books to fit the clients needs.

US Elections - A Hollow Victory For Style Over Substance

"Just seeing the excitement on television is like watching the Super Bowl!" What seems an innocuous quote regarding the recent US elections, is actually a sad indictment of how the "race to the White House" is now won. The words come from a member of the hugely popular music group Black-Eyed Peas and this speaks volumes of a new style-orientated way of campaigning. There was once intense political debate; now there is a culture of sloganism. The focus used to be on appealing to people's heads; now it is about appealing to their hearts. Through this new focus, the candidate's campaigns are bettered or worsened by language, public image and the media rather than their policy. Surely this not only devalues the political process, but affects the rest of the world given America's global standing?

"Yes We Can". That was one of the many slogans that were carved into the electorate's mindset by the Democrat Party. Team Obama's slogans and catchphrases were matched all the way by "The Original Maverick", John McCain's Republican Party. The use of such propaganda completely detracted from any political issues. At a rally in Iowa, Michelle Obama perfectly captured this new focus on language. As Tony Allen-Mills of the Sunday Times reported, her speech was "a masterpiece in bland reassurance". Of serious policy issues barely a word was said, but that didn't matter because the public were informed by Mrs. Obama that her daughters would be dressed as a "corpse bride and evil fairy" respectively for Halloween. Is this necessary? What use is this to make an informed decision about who next to run the country at a time of global economic and military uncertainty? Of course, it is not just the Democrats who were at it. When asked about the issue of importing foreign oil, the Republicans gave a knowledgeable answer that provided great detail as to how to make the USA more self-dependent: "Drill Baby, Drill". For the best example, however, it is the Democrats who take the prize. Political commentator David Sirota described Barack Obama as "the most mesmerizing politician" he had ever met after speaking with him. Sirota, however, read the transcript of his interview and was shocked to find "Obama had been trampling what he had just said". The American people do not have access to a transcript for politician's speeches, so surely this shows that the ability to mesmerize with words is essentially a way of tricking the public into voting for a particular candidate.

Super Bowl 2012

The ability to communicate through slogans and speeches is only effective if candidates have the "image" to back it up. In fact, as Toni Preckwinkle of Chicago City Council said in an interview with Panorama, "it's bad enough to think you're the most intelligent person...but if that's the impression you give, it doesn't do you any good." Candidates therefore have to strike a balance between being seen as someone able to lead the country and also someone who you might want to have a drink with. A ridiculous situation? Yes, but one that has become part and parcel of campaigning. Early doubts were cast over Senator Obama's campaign because, as Joe Klein of TIME Magazine notes, he "represents this kind of multi ethnic America that scares the Hell out of some people". Public image is also dependent on more than personality; a candidate must look good to the electorate as well. Both Obama and McCain were, to an extent, judged on the appearance of their wives. One poll of Americans showed that 62% believed that what a candidate wears affects the public's judgment of them. If you think that is absurd trying telling it to the thousands of women who flocked to the shops to buy a dress that Michelle Obama wore in an interview with Ellen de Generes. What is truly worrying about this is that American can elect a leader to take major international decisions based partly on how they look. So forget foreign policy, Michelle's got a new coat on.

As Michelle's dresses turned heads, the Republican Party's selection of Sarah Palin as vice-presidential candidate raised eyebrows across America and within the party itself. Palin was chosen simply for the fact that, as Conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh puts it, "she equals guns, babies and Jesus"- the dream of the Republican wide right. It is clear no real vetting process took place: here is a woman who plunged her constituency in Alaska into debt, simply fired those who crossed her path without hesitation and shoots innocent polar bears and moose for a hobby. Palin is the embodiment of both image and language: the Republicans had to spend £92 000 on a new wardrobe for Palin in order to make her look more presentable while during her speeches, she hid behind a shield of sound bites. "Joe Six-Pack", "pitbull with lipstick" and "they don't call me Sarah Barracuda for nothing", were commonly used in her speeches. Palin was merely a puppet, chosen to distract from McCain's policies that were essentially the same as those of the deeply unpopular George W. Bush. She made wild statements such as, "(McCain-Palin) will never allow a second holocaust" that sounded great to the American people, but have no real substance. She is Exhibit A on the tour of how style was put in front of substance in an attempt to win votes and while the Republican Party's defeat may suggest that it didn't pay off, well "doggone it", guess who wants to run for Presidency in 2012?

In Britain, David Cameron was lambasted by the media for not providing a strong solution as to how to tackle the country's financial turmoil should the Conservatives challenge Labour at the next election. In America, the New York Times ran an article titled "Style points count". It described McCain as "frantic", Obama was "measured". The ease of contacting the media has also helped to paint a candidate in a certain light. The National Rifle Association, a pro-Republican organization, ran a radio advert claiming "predators are breaking into your children's bedroom-but Obama won't let you shoot them". The media is supposed to focus intensely on how one party will be better than the other through policy; instead it has become a vehicle that merely drives party substance into a brick wall.

The focus of the recent elections was on almost every aspect of the candidate other than policy. If people are limited to speeches filled with gushing emotional rhetoric and candidates that appear great but are actually low on ideas, how can an informed decision be made? The world depends on America and the decision made at election time can affect everyone, so surely it is a decision that should be made properly?

Bibliography in order of appearance

"Fergie" (Stacey Ann Ferguson), interviewed on Panorama, 16/10/08
"Yes We Can", Democrat Party slogan
"The Original Maverick", Republican Party Slogan
Tony Allen Mills, Sunday Times, 26/10/08- "Michelle loses radical image to become schmoozer-in-chief"
"Drill Baby, Drill", Republican Party slogan
David Sirota, Political Commentator, interviewed on Panorama, 16/10/08
Toni Preckwinkle, Chicago City Council, interviewed on Panorama, 16/10/08
Joe Klein, TIME Magazine, interviewed on Panorama, 16/10/08
Rush Limbaugh, Radio Talk Show Host, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 29/07/08
Sarah Palin, Vice-Presidential Candidate's Acceptance Speech 03/09/08
New York Times, "Style Points Count", 29/09/08
National Rifle Association, quote from aforementioned Sunday Times article, 26/10/08

US Elections - A Hollow Victory For Style Over Substance

Repeat As World Champions?

As the NY Giants celebrated their triumphant victory 17-14 over the New England Patriots, many Giant fans were already thinking about next year. Can they repeat as World Champions in 2013?

First and foremost is who will they lose in free agency? On the offensive side of the ball, Brandon Jacobs didn't have a great year by any stretch of the imagination but did run well as the playoffs began. Mario Manningham who caught that great pass from Eli Manning to start the final drive has in all likelihood played his last game as a Giant. Both tight ends Ballad & Beckum tore their ACL's during the game and won't be ready til sometime after training camp. Even though the offensive line did well as a unit. their big right tackle, Kareem McKenkie could also leave via free agency.

Super Bowl 2012

It should be interesting to note to see if Will Beatty retains his place at left tackle or does David Dehl who went to to left tackle when Beatty got hurt stay at left tackle. Rookie James Brewer figures to take Mckenzie's place at right tackle. There is needed depth at guard which I believe the Giants will address during free agency or the draft. We have yet to see what WR Ramses Barden and Jerel Jennigan can do on a consistent basis. RB Da'Rel Scott this year's 7th round pick has blazing speed & should be in the mix at running back this year.

On the defensive side of the ball, Giant fans alike want to know is Osi Umenyiora going to be back in 2012? Time will only tell but we do know that when Osi returned to the rotation, the Giants pass rush improved greatly. Rookie DT 2nd round pick Marvin Austin who the Giants are very high on and should give improve the Giants interior pass rush. Austin missed the entire year with a torn pectoral muscle. DB Terell Thomas & MLB Jon Goff are also expected back. Also CB Bruce Johnson & Brian Witherspoon.

Also the Giants have been fortunate in maintaining a solid core of players and coaches throughout these years. You hate to lose either one but when you are winning other teams want to know your formula for success and those players & coaches go elsewhere and the core is broken.

The Giants got hot at the right time just like they did in 2007. But again so much luck is involved and now they're the hunted and not the huntee. So many teams will be gunning for them. They're hasn't been a repeat Super Bowl Champion since the 2004 &2005 New England Patriots. So go ask the 15- 1 Green Bay Packers who the Giants whipped at Lambeau in the playoffs. You just never know.

Repeat As World Champions?

Cincinnati Bengals' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

1st Round (#17) CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

1st Round (#27) G Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin

Nfl 2012

2nd Round (#53) DT Devon Still, Penn State

3rd Round (#83) WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers

3rd Round (#93) DT Brandon Thompson, Clemson

4th Round (#116) TE Orson Charles, Georgia

5th Round (#156) CB Shaun Prater, Iowa

5th Round (#166) WR Marvin Jones, Cal

5th Round (#167) FS George Iloka, Boise State

6th Round (#191) RB Dan Herron, Ohio State

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Dre Kirkpatrick: Cincinnati had a major need at cornerback and Kirkpatrick was a fine choice. Leon Hall is recovering from surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. No one knows for sure whether Hall can return to his prior high-level of play. The Bengals also missed Jonathan Joseph last year who went on to have a terrific season with the Texans. Kirkpatrick is a physical cornerback with good length and size. He will fit in well in the rugged AFC North division.

Kevin Zeitler: The Bengals traded their 2nd 1st round draft choice to New England for their 27th pick overall and a 3rd rounder. This trade worked for both teams. The Bengals wanted a quality guard in the draft and secured one by choosing Kevin Zeitler. The former Badger is a tough run blocker and a superbly dedicated football player. Cincinnati upgraded their offensive line with this selection and added another fairly high draft pick.

Devon Still: The key to having a strong 4-3 defense is a deep and talented front four (just ask the Giants). Devon Still was inconsistent at Penn State, but he had a big senior season. He also has an outstanding frame and fine quickness. He has the talent with good coaching to be part of Cincinnati's defensive tackle rotation. Still will likely spell Geno Atkins and help keep him fresh.

Mohamed Sanu: Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson both signed with new teams (Denver and Minnesota) via free agency. Cincinnati has a star in A.J. Green at wide receiver, but he could use some help. Mohamed Sanu is a big, physical target who has a chance to be a solid possession receiver. Sanu runs the slant well and is a willing blocker. The former Rutgers' star could be a poor man's version of Hines Ward. He made a lot of sense for Cincinnati in the 3rd round.

Brandon Thompson: The former Clemson star represented too much value late in the 3rd round. Thompson is not much of a pass rusher, but he is very good defending against the run. The Bengals add another quality defensive tackle to their rotation. Thompson was picked using the selection obtained in the trade with New England. The Bengals acquired two quality players (Kevin Zeitler and Brandon Thompson) in the trade who will strengthen their offensive and defensive lines.

Orson Charles: The athletic former Bulldog represented value in the 4th round. Charles runs well and will give effort as a blocker. Jermaine Gresham is a fine young tight end for Cincinnati and will be the starter. However, if Charles can learn the playbook well enough then he may convince Jay Gruden to use some two tight end sets. Charles could find a niche in Cincinnati's offense and give Andy Dalton another target.

George Iloka: It was a little surprising to see Iloka fall this far in the draft. His ability to change direction and cover began to be questioned. Iloka is a big safety who was productive at Boise State. He may not be able to hold-up in pass coverage against NFL receivers and tight ends. However, in the 5th round there is not much risk. He can contribute on special teams and will do his best to learn the defense and adjust to pro football. Cincinnati again finds value in the draft.

2012 NFL Draft Grade: A

Bottom Line: The Bengals had a lot of draft choices and did an outstanding job utilizing them. The team addressed two area of need (cornerback and guard) with quality selections (Kirkpatrick and Zeitler). The rest of their draft was spent finding value with a bunch of picks. The Bengals are deeper on the defensive line, tight end and wide receiver positions. If Mohamed Sanu develops into a good possession receiver then this draft could be special. The future looks bright for Cincinnati and they should be a force in the AFC North for some time to come.

Cincinnati Bengals' 2012 NFL Draft Analysis

http://www.profootballdraftnetwork.com provides extensive pre and post NFL draft analysis. The site features scouting reports, rankings, top values, biggest risks, interviews with college coaches and players and mock drafts.