No matter how valuable social media is to your brand, instances such as the recent events surrounding former Congressman Anthony Weiner often have an alarming effect. Obvious reasons aside, these circumstances usually make businesses question the processes around their social campaigns.

Have you ever considered using social media channels, such as Facebook, for finding new employees? While many companies use Facebook and Twitter for research, a new trend is showing that they are also using to actually find people to hire.

In looking at technology and the trends that come and go, we can see why businesses have been hesitant about embracing it. However, the newness should be wearing off by now and companies can look to other businesses that have used it successfully to reach their goals.

If your business is involved in social media, you know that listening is an important aspect of it. But, why are so many businesses doing it ineffectively? For starters, it’s not as easy as it sounds. It is also very time-consuming and can be difficult to measure.

The recession taught consumers to be cautious and frugal with their money. Fortunately for businesses, the economy is turning around and consumers are beginning to open their pocket books. According to new data from the National Retail Federation, Americans are becoming more generous with their spending habits, even with small luxury items.

Communities are important both offline and online. Offline, it is very important for people to be involved in local events and organizations. Online communities are important as well, especially since they are not geographically limited.