What I can talk about thought are lessons I’ve learned from my fellow social media marketers, conferences and training. Here they are:

1. Video marketing is here to stay. Your video will not just sit in video sharing sites, it will appear on google too.

2. When selling homes, the first open house happens online.

3. Got a really bad product review? Take a deep breathe, apologize and rectify the situation.

4. Twitter is not just a good source of information as what others studies suggest – it can be a relationship tool. I use it to connect with my offline networks.

5. Offline networking and tweetups can co exist.

6. Live tweeting rocks! It brings your brand to the eyes of thousands of followers monitoring the event you’re covering.

7. Teens are getting bored of Facebook. Ugh.

8. Twitter is not a lead generation channel.

9. You should not take online reputation management lightly. It’s for real. And here to stay.

10. You can be dumb – just not post it online.

According to Chris Bogan and Steve Haase, niche-specific forums are still important part of marketing mix.

@jorgemlee: In your opinion, do you think that Forums (not social networks) are dead? I’m talking about niche vBulletin-type forums.

@chrisbrogan: I’m part of a very successful forum right now and launching more. I’llsay I’m bullish

@stevehaase: totally agree with @chrisbrogan. Having a private, niche-based space to go into nitty-gritty with each other is very valuable.

Based on Realtor® Technology Report in 2009:

• There are over 30% of realtors use social media
• 60% of realtors own a website that is at least 5 years old
• Of the ones using social media, 76% use Facebook, 58% use LinkedIn and 25% use activerain(R).
• Among the smar phone users, realtos use Blackberry, Palm Treo and iPhone – iPhone is growing in popularity and now have apps for LinkedIn and Facebook.
• 25% believe that social networking is effective for business and 38% feel that it’s somewhat effective.
• Engagement is still limited however. Only 36% of them use Facebook daily and another 22% use Facebook weekly

And this is striking, though expected… 52% of them say that they receive too much email from vendors.

This week, I vowed to finish the book by Brian Solis and Deirde Breakenridge… but I am trying very hard to stay awake.

I’ve mostly been in the client side so perhaps have less understanding of PR than most PR professionals. And yet I find the book, Putting the Public Bak in Public Relations, uhmm… a bit boring. Why? It’s written so textbooky. The book’s target audience are clearly PR professionals – people who know (supposedly) the ins and out of PR and yet it has discussed in length the fundamentals of PR (history, style guide etc). I’m on page 54 and the book has yet to engage me. I’m falling asleep fast. Faster than the caffeine I’m drinking.

But I’m committed to finishing it. So I’m going to write down some of the quotes, you and I may find valuable. Feel free to comment.

Influencers – whether they’re traditional journalists, bloggers or enthusiasts – all seek information in specific formats through their preferred methods of contact.

Bloggers have earned the title of “citizen journalists”

From Erick Schonfeld: Some people question whether TechCrunch is even a blog anymore rather than media site. But that distinction is becoming increasingly meaningless… there is something about blogging – the immediacy, the give and take, and the point of view – that helps it compete with traditional media.

In the realm of Social Media, conversation is king, and only active engagement and listening can lead to meaningful relationships.

I’m looking to interview life coaches, trainers, fitness instructors, nutritionists and spiritual mentors. Video interviews are conducted around the Greater Toronto Area and alternatively, phone interviews.

Please email me at interview@jorgelee.com.

Mashable-initiated Social Media Day in Toronto was held at Madison Pub on Madison Street. These cupcakes were present

1. DND – Do not delete a comment. If someone posted a comment on your wall regarding your service/product, respond public and privately.

2. Turn Haters into Evangeslists – You sold their house or did an inspection. But the owners aren’t happy. What should you do? Makek up for your shortcomings. Thousands of social media marketers have confinced irate customers that they can and will do bette jobs next time. A phone call, a direct message and an apology will solve this.

You can also offer coupons, a gift or additional service. Remember, people complaint want to be “heard”.

3. Privacy – Do you have an open door friending policy? Be wary of your privacy. Names of your children, your street address and other personal information must be kept confidential. As well as information of your clients.

4. Update, update, update – Make sure you update your status. No, your business contacts don’t want to know when you’re washing the dishes. But they would want to know if you saw a client, attended a community event or received a new designation.

5. Ask questions – Do you want to test a product? A promo? Or you have a business-friendly question? Engage your friends with you by using your wall to ask questions. People are generally helpful and will answer your questions.

I was routed to three different people. And even after telling your rep that I was from Ontario – my call was forwarded to BC telemarketing.

Telus, I’m confused. Why are your telemarketers so rude? And why can’t you track calls based on phone numbers? Can a telemarketing vendor help Telus?

Of course, google will never stop and embark on social media to directly rival Facebook (or other social networking sites for that matter). What does this mean? Social media marketers will have a new network to study, observe and manage. Currently, I have been advising new social media marketers to focus on Facebook and slowly roll out their strategy on Twitter and LinkedIn. With the vast resources of Google, this adds to the mix of our already complicated, hard-to-track social marketing strategy.

Read more about the “true” rumour on Fast Company’s blog

Some of you may remember, about a year and a half ago we, as an office, collected several boxes of cosmetics and hygiene items for donation to the Mental Health and Justice Court of Toronto. All the items we collected went to women who are in the court system and who are struggling with mental health and addition issues. Our donation was met with great gratitude from the support workers who struggle to help these women build their self-esteem as they go back into the working world, through their court appearances and mental health programming.

I don’t know about you, but I buy a lot of cosmetics that come with gift packs of free items that I never use. If you (or the women in your life) have any cosmetics, hygiene or grooming items, that are completely new and unused, that you would like to donate to the Mental Health and Justice Court of Toronto, please let me know and/or just drop them off at my office and I will make sure they get into the right hands.