Marketing Titbits – HootSuite, UberConference and Malcolm Gladwell’s book ‘The Tipping Point’

1. HootSuite
HootSuite has been around since 2008 and has established itself as a market leading social media management programme. It is entirely free for you to create an account, but as you’d expect, they also provide a paid-for version, with enhanced features.  With the free subscription, you have the ability to add up to 5 social media streams to your account. The software enables you to manage and update your multiple social media channels, in one place, all at once. It is the perfect tool to help manage your social media interactions efficiently, saving time when posting content across your multiple social media profiles. Both the paid and free subscription services have an internal analytics function to measure how effective your social media activity is; however, the paid-for subscription’s analytics report drills down into far more than the free account. For most, the free subscription will be ample; however, for those keen to really get to grips with social media across multiple platforms, the paid-for subscription could be the way to go. Try it out here.

2. UberConference

UberConference is designed to facilitate easy, visual and effective conference calls. It is free for to sign up free to use. UberConference has tried to enhance the conference call experience for businesses by overcoming the shortcomings of other conference call platforms.  One of the main advantages of this software over its other free competitors, is that you don’t have to spend time finding and typing in long PINs. Members can just dial into the conference number and will be automatically put through depending on their phone number. Where UberConference really excels is with its visual interface, adding a visual dimension to audio conferencing, which can be accessed from any computer. Everyone on the call can see the names, pictures and social-media derived information (if enabled) of the people that are participating in the call. The service also features call recording. If you are involved in conference calls with colleagues, clients, partners or suppliers, take a look at UberConferenceto see how it could enhance your experience.

3. The Tipping Point

The Tipping Point is a book about change. Particularly pertinent at this moment in time. The book sets out to explore a new understanding of why change seems to occur on a regular but unexpected basis. It reviews a variety of examples including; ‘Why did crime drop so dramatically in New York City in the mid-1990? How does a novel written by an unknown author end up as national bestseller? Why do teens smoke in greater and greater numbers, when every single person in the country knows that cigarettes kill? Why is word-of-mouth so powerful? What makes TV shows like Sesame Street so good at teaching kids how to read?’  According to the book’s author, Malcolm Gladwell, the answer is the same for all the examples. This book’s message highlights how we as consumers follow trends and adapt on a continuous basis to be ‘up-to-date’ with what is happening around us. The book is a great read for those interested in marketing. Take a look here.