TVG recommends that our clients protect themselves from FTC violations by developing a formal social media policy for endorsers. It’s important to conduct periodic audits to ensure that your company’s policy is being implemented. Often, the marketing and legal departments must work together to create a comprehensive policy and a culture of compliance within [...]

In December, the FTC released revised Guidelines Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I think it’s important to address specifically the FTC’s requirement that companies and endorsers disclose material connections. That’s why I will be writing a series of blog posts about best and worst practices and the impact the regulations may [...]

“Change is the only constant in life.” –Benjamin Franklin
Change in how we communicate is certainly a constant in our life today. How are you and your organization adapting to that change? Are you taking advantage of the ways to more efficiently communicate with your employees or with your customers?
The Vandiver Group has [...]

Along with the measurement and metrics Eileen discussed in our last post, a major topic of interest within the industry is corporate planning and policies around WOM and social media. 
As the social media craze took off in the business world, many organizations rushed into creating network accounts and blogs.  Now as we enter 2010, companies seem to [...]

For those of you who still think social media is just a fad that will eventually fade away, don’t try selling that idea to members of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) – St. Louis, or to regulars of Social Media Club – St. Louis (SMCSTL) events. I attended two successful events last week [...]

We all know that social media is transforming the way we communicate and the way we do business. Twitter and Facebook numbers are growing as businesses are determining how to navigate these spaces and reach new audiences.
But where are we going as businesses in social media, what’s the next way we should utilize this space? [...]

There are more than 300,000,000 Facebook users.
That means more than a quarter of a billion people are telling us what they had for breakfast.
Lest I be branded as a cynic (again), let me say that even though I’m decidedly out of their key demographic, I like Facebook.
I got involved at the urging [...]

Discussions about health care are everywhere right now, from local Town Hall meetings to Capitol Hill. But nowhere has the conversation become more active than on the Internet. Americans are blogging and Tweeting about their health care and conditions, texting and e-mailing their doctors, networking with others who have similar symptoms, searching for health information [...]

Last week Google released the buzzed about “Google Wave” communications platform that has been touted as a revolution to the way we communicate.  (I know what you’re thinking- more change? I’m still catching up with all this new social media communications!)
Essentially Wave combines e-mail with all other social media and online communications: chat, blogs, photo/video-sharing [...]

When you think about what areas are driving the trends in social media, you usually think east coast or west coast, but who knew that St. Louis is becoming the rising star of social media hubs, right here in the heart of the Midwest?
Last week I attended two well planned, successful events discussing social media, [...]