I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid and I ripped a hole in my blue jeans or dungarees, (those over 35 will get that reference) my mom would simply sew on or iron on a patch to cover the hole. And before you knew it, I was back playing with my friends…

Nowadays of course, in the computer-driven world in which we live in, the word “patch” takes on a whole new meaning. A patch is a piece of software designed to fix … Continue Reading

Hey there, Stream Company enthusiasts!

Stream Companies is now on Facebook and Twitter!

Become a fan, like us, follow us…stay connected!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/StreamCo

Twitter: www.twitter.com/streamcompanies

Thanks for your patronage and we look forward to connecting with you even more in cyberspace.

In case you missed the news, last week IBM unveiled a new Social Media Analytics Tool. According to Mashable, where I first read about it, the tool “will use natural language processing (NLP) to analyze everything from product names and industry jargon to slang and emoticons.”

It’s called the SPSS Modeler Data Mining and Text Analytics Workbench. Here’s hoping someone comes up with a shorter name for it…

The tool is actually already being utilized by some well-known companies and organizations including Navy Federal Credit Union, Rosetta Stone … Continue Reading

Recently Datran Media released the findings of its “4th Annual Marketing & Media Survey.” The survey revealed that more than 87% online marketers said accurate online audience measurement was at least somewhat important for driving increased brand awareness, revenues or performance.

Not sure I understand why they would use the phrase “somewhat important” cause in my mind, there’s nothing somewhat about it… it’s vitally important.

Reading about this survey though reminded me of something I read last week.

It had to do with a new study that was being released by the Nielsen Company called … Continue Reading

That is the $64,000 question. I realize some of you may not be old enough to pick up on that reference but you get the idea.

With seemingly no end in sight to the juggernaut that is Social Media (BTW, it’s not a fad,  don’t tell anyone), many folks, marketers and alike, are beginning to wonder if Social Media will one day overtake email as the primary communications vehicle.

Makes sense when you think about it. Facebook allows you to send/receive messages from your contacts, friends, etc… so why bother to use email anymore?

The folks over at … Continue Reading

If you’re anything like me, you were very disappointed when you found that Facebook fan pages could not be linked to you or your businesses’ Twitter account. The reason is pretty simple- Facebook profiles are for people and if you want to represent your business in any way, you have to do that through a page or the Facebook police will get you.

Well, times are a’changing and although the rules of advertising your business on your profile are relatively the same, the use of social networking is flowing from Facebook fan pages to Twitter rather smoothly these days. … Continue Reading

Here’s the latest eye-popping numbers  re: the juggernaut that is Facebook as per a report released today from website-monitoring.com:

• More than 400 million active users
• Half of all active users log on to Facebook every day
• More than 35 million update their status every day
• More than 5 billion pieces of content shared each week
• 70% of users are outside the US
• Over 100 million users access their Facebook page via their cell phone
• These same 100 million are twice as active as those who don’t use their cell phone to access their account
• Over 20 million people become fans of a given Page … Continue Reading
  
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Not to be left out of the Social Media explosion, B2B marketers are planning on increasing their Social Media advertising and marketing dollars.

Recent studies by Forrester, HubSpot, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, the American Marketing Association and Outsell reveal some very interesting facts and figures pertaining to B2B marketers and Social Media…

Marketing spending on social networking sites by B2B marketers is predicted to rise 43.3% for 2010

Spending will almost double over the next five years–going from $2.3 … Continue Reading

Much like Social Media, Direct Mail is here to stay…

In this very space, just a little over a week ago, I wrote that Social Media is not a fad, that it’s here to stay. Well, the same can be said about Direct Mail.

While it may not be as sexy to talk about these Social Media days we’re living in, what with Tweets and texts and Facebook and FourSquare and Ning and on and on – there will always be a need for Direct Mail. ALWAYS. … Continue Reading

Social Media is many things and means many different things to many people, but one thing it is most assuredly not… is a fad.

Remember when you were a kid in school and your teacher showed you a picture of 3 things and asked “Which one is not like the other?”
A.

B.

C.

fad (noun) – a temporary fashion, notion, manner of conduct, etc., especially one followed enthusiastically … Continue Reading