ZimmComm – New Media, LLC

How do you measure ROI for a social media campaign? Boy that’s a loaded question. Are we talking “return on investment” or “return on influence?” Those are very different things.

I think most companies choose investment since they’ve got cash in the game. They want to know what they’re getting for their money. That goes for an ad buy on a blog all the way to creating their own social networks via tools like Twitter. I attended a session on this subject this morning and afterward spoke with one of the panelists, Jim Marks, Virtual Results.

Jim says the most important component is setting goals and expectations up front. What is it that you hope to achieve for example? Then he does place a lot of weight on traffic (to your blog, # followers, # friends, etc.) and conversion.

Listen to my interview with Jim here: bwe-09-roi.mp3

BlogWorld Expo Photo Album

Here’s the founder of BlogWorld, Rick Calvert, with opening speaker Laura Fitton. I’m going to find an opportunity to talk with Rick about how and why he started this conference.

After the opening session I did get to speak with Laura, Pistachio Consulting. Laura says that the main message she wanted people to walk away with was “Be Awesome.” She also wanted to plant the idea of using social networking mechanisms like Twitter to connect with other people and get your ideas out in the world where they might yield awesome results.

She says Twitter has helped take her from a busy stay at home Mom to giving the keynote here, publishing a book and launching her business. She points out how well Twitter works for business since there are so many Twitter tools.

Listen to my interview with Laura here: bwe-09-fitton.mp3

The opening session of BlogWorld and New Media Expo features Laura Fitton, Pistachio Consulting. She’s challenging and inspiring us. And many need that after their first night in Las Vegas!

Part of her message so far is to be or become lucky and she’s telling her story of how she has become successful through her expertise in “microsharing.”

I’ve started a photo album for the conference which I’ll be adding to periodically over the next couple days: BlogWorld Photo Album

The 2009 BlogWorld & New Media Expo is about to get underway in Las Vegas. ZimmComm New Media team members Carly, Robert and I are on location (finally).

I’m looking forward to several days of immersion in all things new media and will be posting here as often as I can. I’ll also be tweeting so make sure you’re following along @ZimmComm.

My hope is that I can shed a little more light on how and why you and your company should be utilizing new media mechanisms like blogs, podcasts and social networks.

It’s almost time for BlogWorld & New Media Expo.

If for some reason you can’t make it then I will be writing about what I see and hear. So I can be your new media eyes and ears. You can count on posts starting a week from today. With me will be daughter Carly and our webmaster, Robert. Robert and I are cooking up plans for new capabilities for ZimmComm and our websites and the Expo gives us some good face time to discuss.

Now if you really want to create some online branding for your company while learning more about today’s communications tools and mechanisms then I will be happy to have you “sponsor” my coverage. Just let Dave Larson or me know and I’m sure we can work out a deal!