It’s been a whirlwind week for the Cisco Social Media Business Group. We completed a 2-month, internal core course series, that included over 30 introductory to advanced level offerings for employees. And we held our first @CiscoSocial #smtraining Twitter chat with @petra1400, @christyjpark,  and myself (@elhoust) just yesterday! We appreciate everyone’s participation and insights!

Building on our initial training blog post, Twitter chat framing, and 13 tips and tricks post,  here are some of the interesting key takeaways.  For those that would like to access the #smtraining Twitter chat transcript, here is a handy link.

@CiscoSocial #smtraining Twitter Chat Key Takeaways Read More »

Tags: #smtraining, Cisco, education, social, social learning, social media, social media strategies, social networking, training, Twitter chat

One of the most anticipated and distinctive features separating the Beijing Olympics from the London Olympics is the explosion in the world of Social media. In fact, news has already labeled the London Olympics as the first Social games. And they are not wrong in saying so.

Times have really changed now, and it’s no longer just about the live soccer updates or any other sporting news. It’s all about a well-framed syndication of social media and sports bridging a two-way dialogue between the social media tools available and the sports fans.

With the latest apps and gadgets now in the hands of the social media buff, whether a team wins or loses a match, all of the happening is witnessed on the screen of a mobile device, making sports fans addicted to social media with a chance to be closer to their idols. More and more people are subscribing to RSS feeds, sending instant replies thru tweets and all the sports titans have raised their own virtual army of followers, fans, members and viewers. Read More »

Tags: olympics, social media, sports

Use popular web sites and social media to travel the world this summer.

With August already here, it’s time to take that summer trip. But don’t go broke doing it. Social media and the web can be gold mines when it comes to saving money and finding great ideas. At jetsetter.com, five-star resorts and hotels go for half their usual rate. The Daios Cove in Creete, Greece, with spectacular mediterranean views and its own private beach — with waiter service — has rooms for $249 a night. The same price at the ritzy Hotel Punta Islita in Costa Rica.

Here are tips on getting you web travel savvy before summer is over: Read More »

Tags: cheap travel, social media, travel, travel sites, vacation

The main obstacle I teach people to overcome when they take a new step in collaboration is their fear of transparency.

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Tags: case studies, collaboration, parenting, social media

“Am I being replaced by 12 year-olds?”  The fast-paced world of social media is a constant reminder that marketers need to learn new skills throughout their careers.  Still, I even surprised myself with my defensive reaction to seeing two girls half my height in the office.  I mention height because I am more than twice their age. To my relief, they were visitors from a college-track summer program.  They had come to Cisco to learn more about careers in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  One of the young ladies couldn’t stop talking about how much she enjoyed meeting new friends in Oklahoma via TelePresence.

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Tags: internet generation, social media, success stories