This week’s top conversational marketing stories:

Social is Shifting Beyond Marketing – on Marketingprofs    

According to this MarketingProfs article with over 300 social shares, 85% of surveyed companies who are engaging employees via social media say the level of employee participation in their organization's social business efforts has increased in the previous 12 months. “Large US companies are reframing their approach to social media, shifting from social marketing to social business, and that shift is affecting the ownership of social media responsibilities within the organization, according to a study by FedEx and Ketchum. In a social business approach, social tools are used throughout the organization, expanding the impact, value, and reach of social media beyond the realm of consumer and brand management, according to the authors.” The article also includes an infographic. Are your objectives shifting in 2012?

Blog Topics Rides Again - on Chris Brogan               

This Chris Brogan Post with over 309 social likes covers the topics of blog posts. Thinking up what to write about can often be the hardest part of content creation. And as we all know, creating content is an important step in a marketing process, especially for internet marketers. “One of the most common searches that lands people on my site is “What should I blog about?” One day, while talking with Julien Smith, he said, “You should totally do something with that, like start a project or something.” This was, like most advice Julien gives, great advice, and I did. I ended up gathering hundreds of active weekly subscribers to a product that delivered 10 or more post topic ideas per week, plus more. And then I closed it for a little while, because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next.” What do you think of blog topics? Would you go to this class?

Strategy Before Tactics is the Path to Success - by John Jantsch  on Ducttapemarketing    

This Jon Jantsch post, which garnered over 233 social likes, pertains to the topic of looking before you leap. “Developing strategy before you decide what to do is well-worn business advice. Every consultant worth listening has uttered this notion to a client at some point. The thing is, while many preach it, few actually do it. Landing on a marketing strategy that allows you to clearly demonstrate how you’re different, how you bring value and who, precisely, makes an ideal client for your business is the most important element of marketing.” The article goes on to reference an eBook, which includes the topics of developing an ideal client profile, finding and communicating your differences, and choosing a proven value proposition. Do you believe with these strategy before tactics methods? do you have any of your own?

Let's keep the conversation moving forward! Do have any strategy shifts or changes of objectives in 2012? Or have they already occurred? Content creation is one of the most important aspects for marketers to manage, how do you go about generating ideas and creating your content? And how are you in terms of looking before you leap? Do you strategize before going mobile?