How can I monitor online conversations?

People are talking, whether you like it or not. How can you know what they say?

I found this article really useful.

Here’s what you can do:

• Set up Google Alert by keywords to get emails anytime someone talks about you
• Use SocialMention to track and measure conversations about you and your competitors on major sites and social networks. You can also add a widget on your website.
• Use a tool such as Tweetdeck or Hootsuite to track and manage conversations on Twitter and other social networks.
• Monitor the blogosphere through Technorati.

If you need a more detailed analysis you can always look for a structured servoce, such as BuzzReader.

Social Media ROI: case histories + links

The same old story: can you translate your Social Media campaigns into numbers, profits, revenues? Are the measurable metrics meaningful by themselves?

If you need to start from scratch, read this.

Case histories:

• Display adv vs. Social Media contest and game
• Huge success of Old Spice campaigns
• Subway contest rampant on Facebook
• SM to decrease Customer care costs
• Social Media customers are more valuable

More info:

• SM ROI cycle on Mashable
• Google Analytics for SM ROI
• Infographic by SocialCast
• Social Media ROI by Olivier Blanchard
• Brian Solis blog
• Top Rank blog
• Six pixels of separation
• Jacob Morgan blog
• Digital Marketing Lab blog
• Anti-Social Media blog
• Even more sources