Enjoy working on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, writing blogs? Then Decision Point wants you as our Social Media Marketing Specialist. To be successful, you should be proficient in social media and eager to learn best practices and trends in order to effectively reach target audiences across all social media channels. Responsibilities include execution of social media programs and working with internal resources and clients to ensure the timely development and distribution of content. You will also be involved in the research used to create our marketing strategies, including coding and creating presentations. You should be a self-starter, a great writer, creative and flexible.  This entry level position will begin as a part-time position but has great growth potential.  You will have the flexibility of working from home. 

Responsibilities:

• Working with internal resources and client to coordinate development of blog posts and content for LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+
• Monitoring social media profile activity and creating social media reports
• Research new channels that will maximize online presence, alongside researching social media users to deepen understanding of audiences
• Understand metrics of success for social media and deliver results against them
• Create client presentations in Powerpoint

Desired Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree
• 1-3 year’s experience as a social media blogger or directly related experience
• Proven success developing and maintaining blog posts or related social media content
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven track record of juggling multiple priorities and deadlines

To apply, please email your cover letter, resume and examples of blogs or other social media content you have created to info@decision-point.net.

Of course, the grand-daddy of gamification is gaming itself. Social gaming has become a billion-dollar industry with massive opportunities for brands and marketers to reach new audiences and increase sales. Here, we take a look at four of the top ways brands are leveraging social games on Facebook.

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1. In-App Ads

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Ads are pretty much everywhere you go — in your magazine, on your buses, on your favorite website — so why not your social games?

Brands are starting to realize that buying in-game ads is not wasted money. A recent study from Saatchi & Saatchi and Ipsos OTX MediaC found that two out of five social gamers prefer to receive new product information via social games, with 57% saying that product discounts were a very compelling incentive to complete a social challenge. A separate study from eMarketer found that half of Internet users between the ages of 18 and 44 play social games every day. Social gaming revenues are predicted to surpass $1 billion in 2011.

Considering that Facebook has a potential audience of more than 800 million users, that’s a lot of potential buyers and brand evangelists in the making. Honda recently paid to put its CR-Z, a new hybrid, into Car Town. Honda purchased “ads” for the car which appeared on billboards in the game. Users could also buy a digital CR-Z for their in-game garages, which came with special abilities.

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2. Gamification

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Brands are starting to add game mechanics to all manner of campaigns. For example, user-decided contests or community forums all have aspects inherent in social games. Now, more and more brands are adding these features to their everyday websites. Mashable launched Follow, complete with badges as reward for completing social tasks, as a way to engage its audience and make their voice heard.

The L.A. Kings hockey team recently added game elements to its website. Users gain points for sharing posts on Facebook, watching videos on-site or posting in forums. Users at the top of the leaderboard gain special access to Kings content.

And Rihanna has used gamification to launch her newest album. Users can head to Rihanna UNLOCKED on Rihanna’s official Facebook Page to help unlock exclusive content. Rihanna’s team posts intermittent social challenges which, when completed, reward participants with goodies like the new album’s lyric sheet, new music video and album art.

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3. Charity and Corporate Social Responsibility

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Social gaming isn’t just a smart business model. It’s a useful way to raise funds for charity. There’s lot of potential cashflow for non-profits seeking new revenue streams. Games such as FarmVille are partnering up with charities and non-profits to turn some of that huge cash pot into positive impact.

Zynga, the game studio behind FarmVille, CityVille and others, recently partnered with Pizza Hut to fight world hunger. Players could purchase specific in-game items for just $5 with all proceeds going to the World Food Programme. These in-game items not only helped the user progress in the game by giving him or her improved equipment and special abilities, but they also were stamped with the World Food Programme logo. Similarly, Kraft recently signed on to appear in the Trash Tycoon social game to help promote its commitment to green causes.

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4. Build Community

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Community is one of the less-tangible benefits of social gaming. Marketers have long known that people love to get things and they love to be engaged where they already spend their time (as long as it’s not guerrilla marketing). Social gaming is a great way to offer not just rewards, but also a rewarding game experience to potential customers. These kinds of small treats help build brand loyalty and instantly create a digital community.

MasterCard, Expedia and the New York Public library have all created social gaming experiences for their fans. While these games aren’t always core to the business’ mission, they are relatively inexpensive ways to get people engaged with a brand for a good period of time.

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By Zachary Sniderman.  The Facebook Marketing Series is supported by Buddy Media. Power your connections and turn fans into real connections with technology powered by Buddy Media. Download Buddy Media’s free guide for Successful Retail Social Posting to learn how to drive results with your social postings.

Image courtesy of Flickr, vincos

Bali Blinds offers the following advice:
• Install only cordless window treatments in rooms where young children sleep- don’t forget about grandparent’s homes and daycare too.
• When decorating the nursery, set up furniture such as cribs, changing tables and bureaus away from windows so the furniture cannot be used to access window treatments. Placing furniture away from the window also minimizes the risk of the child accidentally falling through an open window or the risk of injury from broken glass if the window is shattered.
• Replace blinds, corded shades and draperies manufactured prior to 2001 with today’s safer products.
• Keep all window pull cords and inner lift cords out of reach of children.
• Make sure tasseled pull cords are short and cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit movement of the inner lift cords.
• Permanently anchor continuous-loop cords to the floor or wall.
• Lock cords into position whenever horizontal blinds or shades are lowered, including when they come to rest on a window sill.

On Bali Blinds Facebook page, Bali experts can answer your specific questions and offer recommendations to help you make an informed decision about your window coverings.

Safety information and free retrofit kits to update older blinds are available through the Window Coverings Safety Council by calling 1-800-506-4636 or by visiting their website at windowcoverings.org. You can also access the WCSC at baliblinds.com/safety.

Award Recognizes Service to Customers and Community

MADISON, Wis. (October 14, 2011) –

Dr. David Penwell, First Choice Dental Group

Verona, WI — For the second consecutive year, First Choice Dental Group and its Verona office location has been selected for the 2011 Best of Verona Award in the Dentists category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Dr. David Penwell, a dentist with First Choice Dental’s Verona office, says, “We are honored to receive this award for the second consecutive year and applaud not only our staff but the patients and associates that support us within our community. We are proud to serve Verona and contribute to the success and growth of this vibrant community.”

Nationwide, only 1 in 70 (1.4%) 2011 Award recipients qualified as Two-Time Award Winners. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2011 USCA Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a New York City based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community, and its mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

“Ask First Choice Dental” was designed in response to patients’ needs.  “We want to make our patients feel comfortable by providing an easy way for them to get reliable answers to their questions. So many of our patients are already using Facebook so it made sense to expand our page to include this service.” says Hilary Kleese, First Choice Dental Marketing Director.  The Facebook application was created by Decision Point, a Marketing and Research consulting firm in Madison, Wisconsin.

The “Ask and Share” tab on the First Choice Dental Facebook page takes viewers to the app where they can ask and receive answers to questions as well as view other questions and responses.  Issues they address include general dentistry, orthodontics, baby and child dental issues, cosmetic dentistry, dental anxiety and issues regarding headaches and snoring.  First Choice staff reviews the inquiries and then directs them to the appropriate expert.  Dr. Penwell notes, “While we can provide people with timely answers to their questions, like all online health care advice, it does not replace an actual visit to the dentist.  We just hope to help point people in right direction and provide resources to help them maintain and understand their dental health.”

Interested in an app for your business, contact Decision-point.net.

Once a patient joins the First Choice Dental Community on Facebook, they can ask a First Choice Dental dentist questions and get reliable answers, quickly and easily. There are 6 areas of expertise in which to ask questions:  General Dentistry, Baby and Children’s Dental Needs, Orthodontics, Cosmetic Dentistry, Managing Dental Anxiety and TMJ, Headaches and Snoring.  Fans can ask follow up questions and view questions and answers from other fans.  As part of the community, patients can browse the First Choice Dental Smile Album and add photos of their favorite “firsts” to the album such as their child’s first tooth, first picture post braces or their favorite “smile of your life.”

By providing access to dental experts and giving patients an opportunity to share positive dental “first” photos, First Choice Dental hopes patients will feel more comfortable with the dental process. 
  You can join the First Choice Dental Community at http://www.facebook.com/FirstChoiceDentalGroup?sk=app_190322544333196.

Decision Point is a marketing and research agency located in Madison, WI.  Decision Point’s services include marketing strategy, new product development, social media strategy and Facebook and mobile app development.  Our research services include segmentation studies, marketing mix, branding, ethnographies, focus groups, and moderating.  Decision Point’s depth of experience in both marketing and research enables us to help you make better decisions.  Learn more at decision-point.net.

http://www.facebook.com/FirstChoiceDentalGroup?sk=app_190322544333196