| November 15, 2010 | | CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF |  |  | | | News for SmartBrief prospective partners | |
| What's Happening |  |  | | - What makes you volunteer?
 Contributing blogger Sterling Raphael is the founder and CEO of NFi Studios, focusing on delivering innovative technology to associations and events. This post originally appeared on NFi Studios' blog.
"Volunteering is a very valuable and much-needed use of time. A dedicated, proficient group of volunteers could prove to be an important cornerstone for many nonprofit associations. There are various personal benefits and reasons why people volunteer.
"Most volunteers quickly recognize that it's not so much what you give but the personal feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction you get in return. Volunteering promotes an opportunity to contribute to your community, and an opportunity to apply your skills and to learn new ones."
Read the complete post at SmartBlog Insights and join the conversation on volunteering. - Get a peek at the "State of Social Media for Business 2010" report
 We are excited to announce the release of our "State of Social Media for Business 2010" report. Some highlights:- 66.5% of businesses have adopted social media in the past 18 months.
- Less than 15% of businesses are measuring the ROI of their social-media efforts.
- Only 14.2% of businesses find their social-media strategies to be "very effective" and only 7.3% consider them "very revenue generating."
These data points are just a few of the major takeaways from the report, which we have summarized in a key-findings PDF. E-mail us if you're interested in a copy. More details about the 145-page full report (priced at $459) can be found here. - Learn the building blocks of buzz
There are three reasons why people talk about brands, writes Andy Sernovitz. The first occurs when you do something so remarkable that people can't help but talk about it; the second, when people feel smart or helpful by passing along information; and the third, when people feel part of a community. "When we have a feeling of group recognition -- that we're a part of a cause or mission -- we're much more likely to tell our friends," Sernovitz writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (11/10)
| Leadership Focus | | | | - Stay focused on your firm's strengths, nonprofit's CEO says
A laserlike focus on your company's core strengths is the key to success, writes Room to Read CEO Erin Ganju. Be aware of the things you do well and the things you do badly, then try to stick to the former, Ganju advises. "The secret sauce can best be summed up in one phrase: know what you do, and do it well," she writes. Bloomberg Businessweek (11/5) - 4 tips for women aspiring to senior management
 Being a good manager isn't enough to catapult high-potential women into the ranks of senior business leadership, Herminia Ibarra told the crowd at the Women's Leadership Conference. Among her tips for overcoming the odds: Don't cling too tightly to your technical job skills at the expense of strategic perspective, and learn how to create influence through coalitions and networks. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Workforce (10/12) - Make it safe for employees to fail -- once
To push a company forward, workers must be able to experiment without fear, writes Jay Steinfeld, founder of Blinds.com. Let employees know that mistakes are expected, and publicly praise them for trying new things -- even when those things don't work out. After a failure, follow up with a coaching session, making sure the tone is neither angry nor sarcastic. Follow up is critical, because "repeating the same mistake cannot be tolerated," Steinfeld writes. BNET/No-Nonsense Boss blog (11/10) - Don't let a stupid mistake kill your organization: Most organizations fail not because of inexorable shifts in market conditions but because of dumb mistakes made by senior managers, writes Mike Figliuolo. The biggest mistake of all: a hubristic unwillingness to accept that there's plenty you don't already know. "Learning is a lifelong sport. The minute you stop, you die," Figliuolo warns. ThoughtLeaders blog (11/8)
| About SmartBrief | | | | - What we do
SmartBrief publishes industry-specific e-mail newsletters in partnership with prominent associations, professional societies, corporations and nonprofits. More than 3.5 million executives and professionals rely on SmartBrief every day to stay informed and save them time. Visit here to view our partners, see samples and subscribe. For updates, follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook. Want to explore partnering? Let's talk. | Media 2.0 | | | | - Targeting is key for business-to-business social-media marketers
Social media can be a powerful tool for business-to-business marketers, but only if they take the time to listen and engage with their clients in a targeted fashion, experts suggest. Rather than chattering incessantly, aim to understand what your users need and respond accordingly. "Take the time to respond and have meaningful conversations. That will increase your following tenfold," says Delivra marketing chief Carissa Newton. Mashable (11/4) - Say the magic word when talking to your CEO about social media
When you're trying to convince your CEO that social media is a worthwhile investment, focus on social networks' potential to generate recommendations, advise Troy Janisch and Mark Anderson. Sales are the amount of water gushing from the tap at any one moment; referrals are the reservoir itself, and as such are a far more powerful and accurate reflection of social media's potential to help your business, they argue. "Referrals are valued by business owners because they result in more sales over the long haul and a shorter sales cycle," Janisch and Anderson note. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (11/5) - 13 ways to boost your company's media presence
Getting noticed isn't always easy, but there is plenty that business leaders can do to make sure reporters cover a company's activities. Journalists are hungry for information, so create quantitative reports and statistical packages to grab their attention -- and don't feel shy about hiring a PR specialist to help keep your company on the map. "Having an expert to guide you through the process is invaluable," writes Mint.com founder Aaron Patzer. The Wall Street Journal (11/8) | SmartNugget | | | |  | | - Meet the world's movers and shakers
Forbes has published its list of the world's most powerful leaders, with China President Hu Jintao edging out President Barack Obama for the coveted No. 1 spot. Bill Gates is the only business leader to make the top 10; other high-ranked CEOs include Rupert Murdoch, Steve Jobs and Larry Page. "Everyone would rather be a hammer than a nail," note Nicole Perlroth and Michael Noer. "The people on this list were chosen because, in various ways, they bend the world to their will." Forbes (11/3) | |  |
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