Social Media Tweets Worth Reading
Even experts admit they are always trying to figure out social media, so it is great when they get together to share their expertise with each other to better know what is and is not working with online marketing.

The LIMRA LOMA Social Media Conference for Financial Services, recently held in Boston, seems to be one of the best, if not the best conference that is 100 percent focused on social media for financial service firms and others. One fact supporting the conference's strength was the amazing number of quality tweets throughout the conference -- maybe a financial services world record.

If you did not get a chance to follow the #LLSMC hashtag, here is a digest of insightful tweets worth reading from 30 different tweeters:

@_HannahMLee: 92% of consumers trust peer recommendations, only 14% trust advertisements. Glen Reardon, @google

@adrearubin: Social media is part of an integrated, multichannel marketing strategy --  it does not exist on an island. @curtis_hougland

@AliLowrey: There's no epicenter to marketing anymore. Consumers interact with you when & where they choose. @curtis_hougland

?@amymcilwain: Be a trusted advisor, not just another voice in the crowd. via Kathkeen Mayko, MassMutual

@Belbey: Legal risks of social: ID theft/privacy controls, social engineering, intellectual property, personal v business #foresters

@ByrnesConsultin: Love it! @Actiance & @LauraMeadeKirk: When people ask what is the social media ROI, ask them what's the ROI of their phone.

@cslay1995: 5 minutes a day is a good way for advisors to start using social media. Won't replace face to face, makes it easier. @equalman

@Directorblue: If your audience is living in this space ... you have to be there too. @Transamerica

@drexemilessmith: Correct problems before they get to YouTube!

@FinSocMedia: As social evolves the lines between people and brands blur. Glen Reardon

@FSmmrs: Content needs to be snackable (bite sized). @sjoh

@ggrachel: Companies that integrate social across the enterprise, rather than keeping it in a vertical silo, see more business.

?@gmazel41: Great creative drives marketing. Its goal is to drive word of mouth when consumed and shared as a link. Curtis Hougland

@GPMLifeBrian: Be 'flaw-some.' Turn your flaws into awesome. @equalman

@LauraMeadeKirk: If you can engage your customer on social sites, their brand loyalty can be 30-40 percent higher. @curtis_hougland

@LIMRA: Social Media is integral to search ranking. @curtis_hougland

@LIMRA_CRS: Customers want utility, entertainment, value & reciprocity. @curtis_hougland -- Far reaching implications! #llsmc

@MallorieManosh: Online video will replace your cable box. It already has in my home.

@MatthewHallett: Don't think of Social Media as a new medium from a compliance standpoint. Old rules apply. @myFinancialWeb

@michelle_smyth: Best way to grow your following is off the back of someone who already owns your customer -- partner marketing. @curtis_hougland

@mikefitz01: Social media now feels a lot like 1999 -- stock evaluations are overstated, but the tech is here to stay.  C. Hougland

@mikewilliams2: Advice from @curtis_hougland. Align Social channel with goal. Use YouTube for awareness; not driving traffic.

@myFinancialWeb: Social media is a feedback loop. Put it out there, listen, and optimize.

?@NateDiag: Youtube is most shared thing on Facebook.

?@NDenley: Social media isn't a challenge, it's an opportunity. @curtis_hougland

@pauldtyler: Google says video will account for 90% of Internet traffic in the next 3-5 years.

@PhilMargolis: Only way to increase your rate of learning is to increase your rate of failure. @equalman

@sbwalt78: Empowering employees is important for real-time responses. @Mandella8551

@socialware: Reps who are bad will be bad on social media, so you have to be ready for that with executive buy-in.  Steve Holstein

@themightyhopper: Women are smarter and more social. @curtis_hougland

@VictorGaxiola: In an industry that champions "knowing your customer," social media is a gift.

If you are interested in seeing even more tweets from #LLSMC, check out these tweeters and @ByrnesConsultin's tweets from August 22 to 24, 2012. While on Twitter, do not forget to also follow @FAMagazine.

Mike Byrnes founded Byrnes Consulting to provide consulting services to help advisors become even more successful. His expertise is in business planning, marketing strategy, business development, client service and management effectiveness, along with several other areas. Read more at ByrnesConsulting.com and follow @ByrnesConsultin.