Nice List: 9 interesting ways companies are using social media. Fighting a wildfire by tracking tweets is a good idea.

(via 9 Ways Social Media Data Is Being Used)

"I think this is the beginning of community managers and PR firms controlling part of the marketing budgets. The same person who writes the post will be trying to get people to show up by buying media that amplifies content they think is awesome."

Interesting to see Buddy Media getting into the paid advertising game by acquiring Brighter Option. More and more power is flowing into the hands of community managers.

Buddy Media Acquires Social Ad-Buying Tool Brighter Option To Sync Paid and Owned Marketing | TechCrunch

Investor (and friend) @rickwebb asks the world to lay off “social media experts”

(via Complex | Blog @ Percolate)