George Wallace, President of The Discovery Communications Group, explains the importance of a company website at a social media seminar website. Launching an effective social media campaign is an important marketing tactic; however, the strategy needs to revolve around your website, so take a good look at your site. Does it look professional? Does it entice your customer to contact you? Does it truly represent your business goals? If you are unsure, contact us for a consultation!

The Discovery Communications Group is an award-winning, fully-integrated marketing agency located in Salem, NH, that specializes in professional web design, search engine optimization, and social media marketing strategy. DCG also provides printing and mailing services to meet every advertising need, servicing clients throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

There are numerous ways to interact with your consumers, plenty of tactics to get better traction and promotion, but when it really comes down to it, people will friend, follow and talk about your company because they like what you have to say. Maybe it’s the way you speak on your blog, be it sassy and sarcastic, thoughtful and informative, funny and down-to-Earth or a thousand other ways; your audience responds to how and what you write about. Whatever you choose, be honest and be yourself. If you’re struggling to find your voice, this could be why you haven’t developed that following you were expecting when you first jumped into social media like a polar bear plunge event. Instead of being embraced by the water like you expected, the cold waves knocked you down early and you’ve flopped into the undertow, getting a face full of freezing, sobering water every time you try to find your footing to no avail.

Getting frustrated isn’t ideal, but it’s nothing to quit over. Social media marketing is about finding what works for you and making the most of it. Companies like Southwest Airlines have garnered success from crafting a voice and community that speak to their customers—in this instance, packing into a giant sky boat and traveling across the country or even the world and sharing that experience. Southwest is known for their customer service, community interaction and humorous, lighthearted blogging that eases their audience, especially about something as nerve-wracking as air travel.

A message, an idea, a voice, information or opinion, insight or expertise – whatever it is, people must see the value in what you’re supplying. If they don’t value you, their interest may falter. Your audience should help guide your message, but immediate success, or lack there of, should not curb your ambition. Find what works for you. Be upfront and tell your audience about what’s in the pipeline, tease them with upcoming events and add a little mystery to their day. Blog about your feelings toward something going on in your industry and explain why you’re passionate. Be creative and design a contest to develop a Facebook following, one that asks your community to open up and share, show off their wild side and reward them for their social bravery to bare the waters like you did when first submerging into social media.

Social media provides an audience waiting to be found. Everyone has already come out to congregate and it’s up to you to think of ways to make a name for yourself.

The Discovery Communications Group is an award-winning, fully-integrated marketing agency located in Salem, NH, that specializes in web design, search engine optimization, and social media marketing services. DCG also provides printing and mailing services to meet every advertising need, servicing clients throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Martin Kupp, program director at the European School of Management and Technology, Berlin, introduces three core concepts to unleashing creativity on both the personal and collective level on The Economic Times blog post.

Make the Secrets Productive

Kupp refers to artist Joseph Beuys’ (1921-1986) philosophy, “Every human is a creator when he strives for introspection with his self.” With this philosophy in mind, one needs to be aware of their general latent creative capabilities. Individuals must strive to discover which dimensions of their creativity are mostly formed. Beuys says to ask yourself and risk the debate; Those who desire to foster creativity in their organizations must take this challenge.

The Active Form of Thinking

Kupp refers to the “Three I’s of Creativity”. Actively thinking is the key to the creative process.

• Inspiration: very beginning, the moment when the first spark of an idea ‘clicks’
• Intuition: sense and feel the impact of the idea
• Imagination: the ability to communicate the idea in a compelling image or story

Imagination is the core ability of leaders these days. In order to create a strong, clear image to guide people through complex situations a leader must have imagination and vision.

Collective Creativity

“As leaders we can give space and form to quality if we start to orchestrate the creative potential we are closely working with,” says Kupp. Being able to foster this creativity and leadership in one’s organization will boost innovation in return profits.

It creates a new understanding of leadership, and that means managers have to actively think about ways to orchestrate creativity within the company. Managers have to identify and test shared beliefs, values and visions, define the project clearly and find the appropriate business model for the venture.

The Discovery Communications Group is an award-winning, fully-integrated marketing agency located in Salem, NH, that specializes in web design, search engine optimization, and social media marketing services. DCG also provides printing and mailing services to meet every advertising need, servicing clients throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Although one of the most important things may be taking a step back and looking at the big picture before deciding on the correct course of action, I am amazed at the number of excuses that are available to avoid this crucial activity. Once an overall strategy is agreed upon, the building blocks can be separated and prioritized. You can then delineate certain goals for particular projects and determine how those efforts relate to one another while providing mutual lift. This is where the real value and magic live.

Implementation, while necessary to be accomplished with utmost care and attention to detail, is really just a string of interrelated functions. Performing the tasks, doing what needs to be done, in a timely and efficient manner, is very important. But, (you knew there was a “but” coming) doing the work must always follow from the strategic intent.

When strategic intent and excellent creative ability are joined together, you get to live and function at an entirely different level. Strategic Creativity is the supercharged synthesis that occurs when thoughtful strategic intent and award winning creative design is combined with an innate understanding of human nature and a clear knowledge of how certain demographics are likely to respond to particular messages. It is a source of raw power, engaged energy, and pure magic.

- George
@GEW on Twitter
President of the Discovery Communications Group