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My thoughts & lessons learned on startups, entrepreneurship, marketing and other stuff.

What are the Social Media Roadblocks for Companies?

December 4, 2009 Posted in Social Media by Ben Yoskovitz View Comments

FlasherSeth Godin hits the nail on the head in reference to using the Web and social media for your business:

The problem is no longer budget. The problem is no longer access to tools.

The problem is the will to get good at it.

There also remains a very pervasive fear within companies (especially at the C-level) to opening up. I recently said to someone, “It’s time to expose yourself under that kimono.” We’ll see if I get that project or not… *smile*

Unfortunately, too many mid-level and junior-level employees are forced to spend a disproportionate amount of their time figuring out how to justify things to their bosses and how to create corporate policies that will calm executives’ nerves. If your company needs to spend a year developing appropriate, legally-binding, bullet-proof, fully documented corporate social media policies before someone at your organization can get on Twitter and say, “hi!” … you’re f-cked.

image courtesy of shutterstock

P.S. That’s not me in the picture…


Where’s the Surprise on the Web?

November 4, 2009 Posted in Social Media by Ben Yoskovitz View Comments

Join me for my latest obsession: Surprise.

In thinking about Surprise and how it relates to my business and the Web in general, I realize that there’s absolutely not enough surprise on the Web.

How often do you visit a website and get surprised?

Sure there are crazy, silly, surprising videos on YouTube. And those often spread like wildfire. But what about corporate sites? Startup sites? Business sites? News sites? Personal blogs? Is there ever any Surprise there?

Whether it’s with the copywriting, design or something else, where’s the Surprise on the Web?


How Social Media Improves Lead Conversion

October 12, 2009 Posted in Social Media by Ben Yoskovitz View Comments

You Can’t Build Authority and Thought Leadership via Twitter

January 12, 2009 Posted in Social Media by Ben Yoskovitz View Comments

May’s Montreal Tech Entrepreneur Breakfast

May 9, 2008 Posted in Montreal, Social Media by Ben Yoskovitz View Comments