Connie Bensen

As a part of my new job, I will be responsible for metrics. As you know that’s just beginning to be explored for certain areas of social media, but for blogs it’s pretty easy. I have a math degree and my sister may tell you that I’m hung up on stat’s (don’t listen to her!). What’s wrong with checking Feedburner everyday? I’m also watching where traffic is coming from. I visit Google Analytics far less often, so I’m not a total junkie.

This may be presumptive, but after some very motivating feedback today, I’m going to benchmark this blog. My sister has it mostly done. I’ll keep moving widgets around though. Here we go!

Technorati Ranks for where I blog to (last 2 images are linked):

My new baby. We’ll check back in a few months. This is at less than one week.

Isn’t it Cute?!! 2 subscribers

My first blog – I’m quite proud of our rank considering it’s a niche blog. (began blogging there Jan 07) My sister & I teach here.

Not too shabby!

Yes, I need to get busy on this… Soon that will happen. This community blog went live June 07 & is getting comments which is great! Stay tuned.

My sister’s SEO talents shown off! (She sent this to me in an email today). The 2nd one DigiScrapInfo.com is our site that she built.

I’m ready to study Web Analytics now, so if you have any good books to recommend, please leave a comment. I have a couple of titles people have suggested.

Update: Thomas left a comment about not forgetting community. I agree! So I’ll note that too – in less than one week: 10 posts & 24 comments.

Also do you feel like the blog loads slowly? Please let me know if it does.

Jeremiah Owyang referred to me as a Web Strategist again yesterday, so I’m going to give this a try. Granted I won’t have the huge amount of data that he had! (I’m in training yet.)

Background: We had quite a discussion about Walmart’s Facebook group on his blog. That’s part of the reason I needed to get my own, I want to join these conversations! So here we are.

Yesterday on Twitter, Jeremiah had posted an update about the Walmart group. I provided a link & he said “…you inspired me, I did an Analysis of Wal-Mart vs Target”. This is significant because it’s Jeremiah that’s in charge of inspiring people! He is the most amazing resource. Twitter is quite an amazing place for bouncing ideas around & Jeremiah is a master there (well on his blog too, of course).

So, the discussion has been on Walmart’s sponsored Facebook group. Have you looked at the sponsored groups there? or considered how other are faring?

Here are some facts:

• about 200 sponsored Facebook groups now
• most deployed after Feb 07
• some have memberships of 20,000; Apple Students has 426,643!

The big question in regard to Walmart is – how effective is their presence? I took a step back & considered sponsored groups in general & found examples of some that are doing very well & can be learned from & some that are failing miserably (content for future posts).

Here are some to check out & I’m curious to hear your thoughts? (a Facebook acct is required for these – if you want to add me, my link is under my photo).

• Facebook Apple Students – very successful, unmoderated
  • 426,643 members – a lot of product info in the threads
• Dew Uncapped – started in early July
  • openly moderated – excellent example of interaction

• Jeep o|||||||o – excellent ex of cust’s helping cust’s w/ troubleshooting

• PlayStation® Canada – they want moderation & more than flash videos

I feel that these are ineffective & could harm brand – what do you think?

• Ford Drives U – not effective
• DELL Spot – not effective
• Pepsi Platinum – could be better – deleting posts (sign of inappropriate material?)
• i’m making a difference – Windows Live Messenger
  • not effective, no pertinent discussions yet, no wall

• I Took the Nike Zoom Challenge – what is this doing to their brand?

And this one is Oddly unique

• PINK Victoria’s Secret since Feb – interesting…
  
  • it’s keeping people active & it’s not offensive despite the idea that they’re commenting on the image of the previous poster.

I see lots of information here that speaks loudly in terms of lessons in marketing, brand (or damage to), and presence in a social space. Thoughts on that?