Recent CMO Survey results indicate that the top use of social media by companies is for brand awareness and brand building. Building a successful social media strategy starts with gaining a better understanding of overall branding. Having a strong foundation in branding will point your social media activities in the right direction for the business.

Brands across the globe and in virtually every industry are suffering from a crisis of differentiation. It seems every time one company discovers something that works well, others race to copy the idea. Professional services, airlines, wireless communication, and insurance are just a few examples of industries in which major brands have become nearly indistinguishable from one another. The primary reason for this: Companies have forgotten how (and why) they need to differentiate their brands.

Now that organizations of all sizes and types are leveraging social media to build brand awareness, nurture prospects, promote thought leadership and credibility, it’s harder to build authentic relationships that differentiate your brand.