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As many of you a while back I won a seat on the SmartBrief on Social Media Board was awarded the role of poll analyst. Let me tell you, time really flies when you are having fun because I have already written 20 analyses.  Where are the weeks going?

Below, I gathered the synopsis of all 20 analyses for my readers (Please click on the title to be taken to the full analysis). I would love to hear which analysis was the most helpful to you.  Please share in the comments below.

Do consumers want to be treated as individuals?

This was the analysis that helped me win the SmartBrief contest.  Do consumers want to be treated as individuals? Treating consumers as individuals by engaging them through social media and outstanding customer service, combined with amazing products or services and revenue-generating initiatives, can help make the relationship between a company and its customers a more powerful experience and a win-win for both.

Is social media better executed in-house?

Is social media better executed in-house? There isn’t one right way to organize your company’s social media marketing management, but which way is right for you?

5 reasons why market research comes before social media

Do you need to do market research? Two-thirds of our readers say they didn’t do any market research before launching their social-media initiatives. I argue that companies that do their research are more likely to find a social media strategy that works for them.

Does social recruiting make sense for your company?

The recruitment process has unsurprisingly shifted to the online world, and social media seems to be the right fit for recruiting qualified job seekers.  There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for every company, but there are many obvious benefits to be had.

Social media and tablets: A perfect duo?

Tablet devices can put the Web at your fingertips, along with a broader range of features than a smartphone. These devices are poised to make social networks an even bigger part of users’ day-to-day lives.

What are the benefits of opening the door to social networking in the workplace?

About 57% of SmartBrief on Social Media readers say companies should place restrictions on social media access for some or all of their employees — but I am not so sure that’s such a great idea. Social media has many benefits to offer a business, many of which rely on everyone having access.

Is Facebook Insights a powerful tool for tracking engagement?

About 37% of SmartBrief on Social Media readers say Facebook Insights has helped them understand and analyze trends and improve engagement. I agree that while Facebook Insights does have its flaws, it’s the most sophisticated data I have seen on a social network.

What makes social-media followers flee?

While about 44% of SmartBrief on Social Media readers say they’ll unfollow someone for posting too often to a social network, I argue that having too little to say can be every bit as bad.

Will 2011 be the year we achieve social-media integration?

Integrating your social media campaigns and expanding your presence beyond your marketing and public relations departments are the most important things you can do to improve the effectiveness of your social-media efforts in the coming year.  Do you disagree?

When it comes to social networks, how much is too much?

Should you worry about scaring away followers by posting too often? And how can you figure out where your audience’s threshold lies? I tackle one of the thorniest problems.

Does social media affect consumer complaints?

Social networks give consumers a way to publicly shame corporations into responding to a problem. But this trend doesn’t have to be all bad news for businesses if they’re willing to get out in front of potential crises.

Is Facebook worth all the attention it’s getting?

Almost half of the SmartBrief on Social Media readers who took the poll say Facebook receives too much attention. Facebook is on top now, but its position may be more tenuous than it appears.

How much time should be spent on social media?

Rather than focusing on finding the correct number of hours to devote to social media, you should be looking for ways to increase the yield of the time you do spend. How much time do you spend on social media? Is there an optimum time commitment?

Are social-buying sites part of social media?

Group-buying networks such as Groupon and Living Social may not qualify as social media yet, but they’re headed in that direction. And with the advent of features such as Facebook’s recently announced “Buy with Friends,” the convergence of group buying and social networking may be just around the corner.

Would a premium social-networking model cause users to flee?

If your favorite social network decided to start charging its members, would you pay the fee or delete your account? More than half the SmartBrief on Social Media readers who took our poll indicated they’d walk away before they’d pay for social networking. But I posits that users might rethink the question if they were faced with the loss of their network.

Are question-and-answer forums an untapped source for business leads?

Results are split among social media users, with about 27% indicating they haven’t used such forums but were open to it, about 21% saying they had no plans to use them, 22% saying they have answered questions on forums to build their profile as an expert and 22% trying it out but not getting results. Positive participation in such forums “can create high-quality experiences for both businesses and prospects because a dialogue quickly forms between people seeking answers to important questions and ‘experts’ or professionals who have useful (non-spammy) answers to those questions.

How social media is making companies rethink recruiting

Social tools offer businesses a wealth of recruitment advantages. Have you used social networks to search for new employees?

Is there value in buying display ads on social sites?

Display ads on social networks are increasingly popular, studies suggest, but SmartBrief on Social Media readers don’t seem to be too keen on them. Here, I question the value of display ads on social sites and points to some storm clouds on the horizon for the sector.

Are search and social media really adversaries?

It would be a mistake to ignore the power of search engines. Rather than asking which technology is more powerful, we should be looking for ways to make them work together.

What does social media mean for the future of journalism?

Many journalists were skeptical of social tools at first, but now social media is a vital part of how reporters do their jobs. Social media journalism has its fair share of problems, however, meaning that traditional reporting is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

What do you think of these polls and analyses?  Which one caught your attention?  What other polls would like to see posted on SmartBlog on Social Media?

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As you know, using a combination of social Web activities is what maximizes results for any business, but what was the ONE activity that really stood out for you in 2010? After you vote, please also elaborate in the comments. I am anxious to see what you all choose!

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As you may know, Delicious, the social bookmarking service will soon be shut down by Yahoo! in an effort to cut costs. Of course, I was sad to hear the news because for years I’ve used Delicious to bookmark and tag a lot of the useful content I find on the social Web. Now, I will sadly have to go through and back up all the important content that is worth holding onto.

Will you do the same? Also let me know in the comments how you feel about Delicious going away and if you would’ve paid a monthly fee (if given the option) to keep it.

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Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.

I have always disliked those long sales letter web pages. You know what I am talking about, right?  They are the never-ending web pages that you have to scroll down and down to get to the end before you finally see what they are offering.  I knew you would know what I am talking about!

Everyone says they work if they are written well. I created one in the past, only because I didn’t think I had another choice, and I may have to create another one again soon.  However, I am really hesitating this time since I dislike them so much.

What is your opinion?  Maybe it is best to allow my readers decide for me!

How do you truly feel about sales letters? What alternatives do you suggest?  Please expand on your answer in the comments below.

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What other polls would you like to see on this site?  Please feel free to suggest new poll questions in the comments below.

This question comes up often in meetings and speaking engagements.  Businesses fear that competitors will see what they are doing or find out who their clients are.

Should you add competitors to groups you have started on social networks?  Should you allow them to join your business pages?  Should you block them from following you on sites like Twitter?  What are your thoughts?

Please take a minute to give me your opinion.  Once I have enough answers, I will write  a blog post on what I think, along with some tips on how you should engage with your competition online.

Let’s also start a discussion about it in the comments below.  I look forward to reading your viewpoints on this topic.

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Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.