Middleboro residents will see a 10.3 percent increase in their water rates effective immediately thanks to the unusually wet spring and summer, which caused water revenue to fall. Town Manager Charles J. Cristello, who recommended the rate increase, said water use was down 20 percent this year. Cristello said despite a $200,000 surplus in water revenue last year, he is [...]

Sage North America announced the results of its recently conducted social media survey for nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Canada. One of the most interesting findings: 91% of respondents raise funds online, but only 58 percent of those nonprofits using social media cite fundraising as a goal for using it. “Sharing our story,” building a community, public relations, and [...]

What does the worldwide, technologically enabled drive for conversations mean for marketers? It means you’re no longer marketing products or services — you’re marketing conversations. It means marketing-communication planning should be driven by a conversation strategy. The right conversation strategy answers two big questions: What meaningful content will attract sufficient conversations with the right people? And, how will you jump-start [...]

There is untapped business potential in using social networks. The consumer world has enthusiastically adopted such tools as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter but the uptake within organisations has been sluggish. This report examines the main drivers for the business use of social networking and analyses six pioneering examples of its successful adoption. Each case covers a different industry sector, including [...]

To celebrate the launch of their limited-edition Brixton Boot by Alden, Core77 friends Epaulet visited the Alden Shoe Company in Middleborough, Massachusetts, and shot a 12 minute video documenting the entire shoe crafting process. Founded in 1884, Alden is considered by many to be the best shoe manufacture in the US–and to this day–you can still send your shoes back [...]

There are multiple theories surrounding the mysterious disappearance of iconic aviator Amelia Earhart in 1937, but a unique case file published online for the first time ever by Ancestry.com reveals more details. Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online resource for family history, has published a 73-page file consisting of letters and telegrams sent in the 1960s by an interesting cast of [...]

ThePort Network, Inc. announced the availability of a new white paper entitled Everything You Want to Know about Launching a Social Networking Community. Step by step, the white paper discusses critical factors organizations must evaluate when considering white label social network software. The focus of the paper is how nonprofit and association organizations can more effectively envision and launch a [...]

The town’s technology director is speaking out against a proposal to hire a consultant to recommend how to streamline the town’s computers. The Finance Committee voted unanimously in April to recommend that selectmen hire HUB Technical Services of Easton for $10,000 to conduct an audit and assessment of the town’s information technology services. But on Monday, IT Director Roger Brunelle [...]

These are mistakes you definitely want to try and avoid making… This posting on Sitepoint.com is basic but a good reminder of what to do – and what to avoid – when creating, implementing and maintaining your marketing and communication plans.

Well, not really three steps… Marketing and communications is more complicated than that but this blog posting on the Coastal Bend Small Business blog is a pretty good start for anyone wondering how to start using marketing to gain a competitive edge and connect with your customers.