Join us for the bigger and better IndiaSocial Summit 2012

By Neha on March 30, 2012

I have been waiting to write this blog post.

We are just 3 days away from the IndiaSocial Summit and I am hoping that most of you are already aware about it :) We are all very excited!

The 2nd edition of IndiaSocial Summit – India’s largest social media conference will take place at Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon over 3 days: 2 April – 4 April, 2012.

Thanks to all the support from you, our Sponsors and our esteemed Speakers, the conference is shaping up really well. This year too, the conference aims to provide a platform for business, knowledge sharing and community engagement and to bring together marketers, media owners, agencies and social media practitioners.

We have chosen two parallel themes for the content:

  • Social is business

The conference will try to help you in the ‘social business’ journey of scaling up presence and integrating social into your programmes and processes

  • Brands for the future

Let’s take a look at the future (and embrace it) – the future of everything business – the future of brands, of marketing, of content, of media, of insights, of reputation and more…

We are set to deliver a great experience and hope that you will enjoy the experience we have created for you.

For the detailed schedule log on to http://www.events.indiasocial.in/summit-2012/schedule/ . For any media enquiries, you can reach out to kanksha.barman@indiasocial.in

See you at the Summit!

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IndiaSocial CaseChallenge 2 is now live! Submit your entry.

By Neha on June 8, 2011

Second edition of IndiaSocial CaseChallenge, India’s only social media case-study competition, organised by IndiaSocial, a social media news and insights community, in association with NM Incite (a Nielsen/ McKinsey company) is now live.

Open for submissions from 30 May through 19 June 2011, CaseChallenge-2 invites brands private and government organisations, not-for-profit bodies, media owners, celebrity brands to submit their social media work in India.

The CaseChallenge, now in its 2nd edition, recognises best social media work (undertaken in India) under 3 categories:

  • Best strategic programme (more than 6 months duration)
  • Best campaign (less than 6 months duration)
  • Best use of a platform/ channel (limited to use of ONE channel only)

The CaseChallenge-2 Jury Members consisting eminent personalities from the fraternity, identified basis their expertise and knowledge, tests the rigour of these promises on strategic parameters to select winners for 1st position, 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up positions.

Winning teams of 1st position and 1st runner-up positions, in all 3 Categories, would also be entitled to a cash prize of Rs. 50,000/- and Rs. 25,000/- respectively.

Winning cases will be showcased on IndiaSocial; Mint; Impact Magazine and subsequently in Edition 2 of the IndiaSocial CaseBook.

You can submit your entry here.

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How user behaviour differs on Facebook vs Twitter?

By Neha on May 4, 2011

At Blogworks, we have a culture of discussions. Brainstorms are a vital part of our everyday life and client programs. We have often found that group energy works best to create innovative ideas (and delivering great results in tight timelines :) )

In one such brainstorm yesterday, we were discussing the fundamental differences in user behaviour across different social platforms. I particularly found the comparison of user behaviour on Facebook and Twitter to be insightful. I have shared parts of the notes from the discussion below.

What are some of the differences that you see in user behaviour across Facebook and Twitter? Would love to hear your observations.

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Now, your ‘Inbox’ is changing!

By Neha on February 3, 2011

With the emergence of social networks, ‘multitasking’ is no more a choice but a necessity. We, at Blogworks, often discuss how multitasking can reduce the concentration level and become a reason for low productivity, if not kept track of. Yes, there are reasons enough to get lost in the world of Internet.

The key to networking today is ‘accessibility’, ‘building a personal connect’ and a ‘quick response time’. A recent conversation with a friend made me realise how email has been changing, slow and steady. I would like to think that it is ‘social media’ which has led to the evolution of an otherwise stagnant inbox. Would you leave your email account if you can network, post updates, see videos from there itself?

The ‘inbox’ is increasingly becoming a ‘Social Network’, where you can interact, check out videos, make real time conversations, comments, add friends, schedule meetings and so on. Be it Gmail, Yahoo Mail or Hotmail, the platforms are innovating, experimenting and implementing features which makes the email not only interactive but also more accessible. Google Voice is one such example. With a Google Voice account, any user can dial in without even knowing the number of the person, from web as well as from a handset. Gmail’s move towards priority inbox, changes in Google Docs, I believe are chapters of the same book.

More powerful the ‘inbox’ becomes, more power would be transferred to an email id. Businesses would thrive on them and consumers would strive hard to protect them.

Features to look forward to

  • Seamless video/songs can be played within the emails
  • Deals, offers based on the users location
  • Email becomes social – integration of popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn in the email
  • Auto cleaning of spam/expired emails after a certain point of time, where in the time frame can be defined by the user

This also leads me to believe that email marketing would see a fresh breath of air soon. The new ‘inbox’ would also impact B2B and the way companies communicate, both internally and externally.

However, I do see a flip side to it as well. It is usual to find social networks like Facebook, Twitter banned at work places. Would companies ever open up to the use of such evolved email platforms?

Can email ids become the next currency?

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3 ways fashion brands can engage better through Social Media

By Neha on January 20, 2011

What fuels fashion brands, is the fact that fashion never goes out of style. They can constantly innovate and utilise social media to reach a larger audience and increase the brand recall or even to stay top of mind.

The key to engagement – Branded content

  • Be it micro sites, blogs or creatives on Facebook, branded content has taken a step ahead with brands. Brands like FCUK India already have a blog and have been tapping into the nascent fashion bloggers space. H&M took it a step ahead with the announcement of launch of its first collection in collaboration with a fashion blogger.  Burberry’s Art Of The Trench is always on top of our minds and even Louis Vuitton in 2010 did well with its concept of NOWNESS.
  • Branded content is no longer restricted to websites, Facebook and Twitter. Apps have become the new face of branded content; be it on the mobile or on iPad.  Popular, high fashion brands like Forever21 India, s.Oliver India (disclaimer: client) have been using their branded properties to engage with the audience on a regular basis.
  • It is cost effective, long-term property and helps build brand association and recall.
  • Brands are not only engaging customers but also advertising with their target groups with these branded properties.

Always required- Style advice

  • The good thing about fashion is that it’s everywhere, it’s popular and you never run out of things to talk about. People are always looking for fashion advice – what to wear, what not to wear, which color would work with their skin tone and which won’t. In 2010, a number of brands started doling out fashion advice and tips in order to engage with the users on a deeper level.
  • In the Indian context, places like Stylepile are popular with women, not only for posting their ‘style’, but also rating others and drawing inspirations. Internationally, concepts like Fashism,  HonestlyNow, etc. are all about second opinions. These communities are evolving every day with various profiles of people, also from the fashion space logging in.

Get inspired, blog, design and sell

Where users are looking towards Internet for fashion advice, it is now evident that fashion experts, start-ups and magazines are looking for them online as well.

  • We can say blogging is just the first step to get noticed in the industry.  People are creating new opportunities every day – you can share your blogs with Vogue India, express your style with Polyvore to become a fashion stylist that people look forward to, or just show off your style with places like StylePile or Weardrobe. For a serious, creative genius, Etsy just fits the bill perfectly. Fashion brands like Wills Lifestyle have organised contests for fashion  students too, giving them a chance to make a debut in the world of fashion.
  • Innovation is what sets this industry apart and you can experience the same online too. Concepts like Garmz is a resource for fashion designers and students. As a designer you can get a chance to be put up in Garmz online store, however, the best designs are chosen basis the community’s favourites. Similarly, Boutiques – a product of Google, lets you create and follow boutiques – but online. The good part is that basis your choices, you constantly get recommendations, which leads to discovery.

Have you been noticing any interesting and innovative trends in the social media fashion space in India? Do let me know!

Content has been cross posted from IndiaSocial

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