Social media is a completely different layer that has been added to the web, hence the web 2.0. Social media is becoming mainstream and in a couple years we won’t even be able to imagine a time when we couldn’t interact with all the screens and mobile content surrounding us. It is indeed a misnomer, but to suggest that the platforms that enable conversations between people and between people and brands are not viable ad opportunities is ludicrous. Social media is all about sharing and connecting. It is the use of technology combined with social interaction to create or co-create value. Twitter is just one of these web 2.0 Twitter is a perfect platform for micro blogging. Allowing you to post comments with just a few words. Ping.Fm another great tool that allows you update your post to all of your social networks at once. Social Social media provides the tools for people to collaborate and get around barriers for communication, build trust. Social Media is a collection of online tools and sites that function on the premise that people are interested in talking to and engaging with other people. The fact is that social media tools differ significantly based on culture, Internet access and online behavior. Community Community members respond quickly to request to test new tools. Community members provide reflections on their activity, which stimulates change within the group. If you use monitoring to discover a real community, perhaps one you didn’t know existed, then you’ve found a treasure trove of real opinions, reactions, reviews, etc. Social Media IS NOT SEO, but search engines DO look kindly upon blog posts/community comments/online noise. Conversation Conversations in these types of communities tend to be regulated by the needs of the community’s creator or sponsors, they are less transparent, and less valuable to the participants at hand. The ability to actually listen in on market conversations made possible by social media will drive a sea change in the market research industry, one that today’s early adopters are starting to understand. When you engage in conversations in social media it may seem overly labor-intensive compared to launching an ad campaign. These networked conversations are enabling powerful new forms of social organization and knowledge exchange to emerge. I can meet many real people and have real conversations, but it will go nowhere if we don’t connect. Relations Social media needs to be all about relationships. Which in business terms, translates to turning relationships into clients or resources. Most association executives and show producers have realized that relationship building is their greatest priority, few have tapped into the power of social media or adopted a practical plan to incorporate these solutions. Some companies will be hard pressed to understand that its more about relationships and intangible aspects of SM rather than the numbers. Social Media is not just another media. Social media is defined by the act of sharing content in and between social networks regardless of the content type….. For more information about Using Social Media to build your online business Visit: http://www.newsynergyonline.net Blog: http://www.newtrafficbuilder.com

SANTA CLARA, CA–(Marketwire – October 21, 2009) – Mobile broadband gateway provider Stoke, Inc. (http://www.stoke.com) today announced that DOCOMO Capital, Inc. and Mobile Internet Capital, Inc. have invested in the company. This represents an extension to Stoke’s Series D funding round, which now stands at $20 million and brings total investment in the US-based startup to $70 million.

DOCOMO Capital is a corporate venture arm of NTT DOCOMO, the world’s leading mobile operator. Mobile Internet Capital, Japan’s leading venture capital company focusing on the wireless communication sector, includes NTT DOCOMO among its main investors.

The funding will be used to support Stoke’s commercial deployments in Asia Pacific, of which Japan is the most advanced, and the imminent launch of new 3G offload capabilities for the Western European market.

“Our mission is to invest in the future of mobile technology,” said Tomoya Hemmi, President and CEO of DOCOMO Capital. “Stoke is an exciting, advanced and leading edge solution provider with the potential to improve the abilities of operators to be more competitive in future mobile communications markets.”

In June Stoke announced they had been selected to supply NTT DOCOMO with its advanced mobile broadband gateways for commercial deployment. The gateways form part of a new infrastructure allowing NTT DOCOMO to provide improved service, expand accessibility for users, and enhance the company’s ability to manage mobile broadband traffic on their RAN and backhaul infrastructure.

“Stoke solutions address some of the most pressing contemporary requirements of mobile data operators,” said Ikuo Nishioka, President and CEO of Mobile Internet Capital. “Their technology is unparalleled and well suited to addressing the dynamics of the current mobile Internet market. We are pleased to add our support to accelerate their success.”

Mobile data service provider companies are increasingly turning to Stoke’s all-IP, converged access technology to address the data glut challenging carrier networks worldwide. Following its first commercial deployments in late 2008, Stoke has experienced a triple digit increase in revenues.

“Stoke is delivering advanced and unique solutions for the immediate requirements of mobile data offload, femtocell deployment and transition to LTE. Our recent commercial deployments represent a strong validation of our technology and underscore our vision of leadership in this space,” commented Vikash Varma, President and CEO at Stoke.

About DOCOMO Capital

DOCOMO Capital, Inc. is a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT DOCOMO, INC. (NYSE: DCM), the leading wireless network operator based in Japan. Working closely with NTT DOCOMO’s business and R&D divisions, DOCOMO Capital is in charge of NTT DOCOMO’s strategic investments in mobile communications related start-up companies mainly in the United States. For further information, visit: http://www.docomo-capital.com/.

About Mobile Internet Capital

Mobile Internet Capital, Inc. is a Japan-based venture capital company owned by NTT DOCOMO, Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd., and Internet Research Institute, Inc. Mobile Internet Capital focuses on the wireless communication and the information technology sectors. For further information, visit: http://www.mickk.com/en/.

About Stoke

Stoke develops carrier-class mobile broadband gateways specifically engineered to enable mobile and converged network operators to maximize the economic returns of their 3G mobile networks. For further information, visit: http://www.stoke.com.

Copyright (c) 2009 Alan Gillies

One key factor that can significantly advance your business is credibility. Being credible so people and the media view you as a highly knowledgeable expert in your domain adds to your overall success. Business consultants can help you to establish credibility by delving into several essential aspects of your business.

In business coaching, credibility is defined as someone who is seen to be consistently trustworthy. Business consultants can help you form this impression through communication, knowledge of a field, work accomplishments, perception, good values and personality.

In a competitive marketplace, credibility distinguishes your business from the rest. By using business coaching techniques and enhancing your communication, you can promote your business in a credible way to increase sales.

There are several elements towards obtaining credibility, which are taught through business coaching. A business coach or executive coach can work with you to solidify your competence, integrity, sound judgment, communication skills, sensitivity, persona and likeability.

Executive management training teaches the necessary communication skills so you can properly position yourself as an industry expert. Furthermore, a business coach or executive coach can offer assistance in these five areas:

1. Brand Yourself. With the help of a business coach or executive coach, you can promote yourself. This process begins with business coaching and involves establishing trust based on your credentials. As you proceed through executive management training, you’ll learn that your resume, solid communication skills, a positive self-image and confidence are all key points for building credibility.

2. Make Connections. Executive management training emphasizes the need to be more accessible to the public and media. According to business consultants, you can put yourself in the public eye by networking. Join business-related groups, chambers of commerce, trade associations, or other professional groups. Use your management and communication skills to volunteer for a nonprofit or a neighborhood group. Meeting others beyond your business circle, says business consultants, enhances your credibility and lands connections that could lead to great things.

3. Expand Your Knowledge. In any business industry, things constantly change and evolve. Keeping current and being aware of issues that impact people encourages credibility. A business coach or executive coach can turn your knowledge into opportunities where the media will seek you out as a credible source for an interview.

4. Marketing. Knowing how to market your business to portray credibility will get results. Business coaching works specifically on marketing principles that work to establish credibility.

5. Communication. How you talk about the issues in your industry gives you credibility. You can learn the necessary communication skills from a business coach or executive coach. Good communication is necessary, especially for media interviews. Both verbal and nonverbal communication is addressed in executive management training sessions, as is proper dress and presentation.

As business consultants say, there are quite a few perks to being a credible source. Your customer base will increase as more people become confident in your product or service. Your business will receive more media exposure, as the press turns to you as a spokesperson in your particular field to complement a news story. Good publicity, says executive management training experts, leads to increased sales.