6 social media, marketing, and communications posts worth reading

I generally shy away from link posts, but today I can't resist. There was just too much goodness in my Google Reader this morning to not share this handful of thoughtful and compelling reads:

1. It's 2009 - Do you know where your customers are?
Rachel Happe explores the ways that marketers make connections and build relationships with prospects and customers. And particularly as the number of social channels grows, Rachel also wonders whether marketers are taking the time to think strategically about their interactions.

2. What constitutes a social media evangelist?
Angela Connor tackles the question of what guys like me do in their jobs.

3. 45 interviews, 45 days
With Austin's South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) rapidly approaching, my social media brother in arms, Aaron Strout, is publishing an interview a day with 45 people from the "world of social" between now and the start of the conference. Discussions with Shel Israel and Stephen Baker kick off the series.

4. Community Managers Must Deliver ROI: Commandments For Surviving a Recession
Forrester's Jeremiah Owyang (necessary disclosure: LiveWorld is a client) explains why community managers need to demonstrate a clear ROI on the work that they do -- especially in this economic climate.

5. Five Lessons, Ten Years After
LiveWorld's own Mark Williams has been around the community block far more times than perhaps he'd like to admit. In this post, he shares his five key takeways from his 10 years in the community business

6. In-depth Interviews with Internal and External Stakeholders
Even with our increasing appetite for quick-hitting, bit-sized content, there remains a place for longer, down-in-the-trenches conversations. Marketer Pat McGraw, who also contributes to SocialVoice, points to and remarks on a free white paper from Ronni Marshak with Patricia Seybold Group about the importance of in-depth interviews with clients and stakeholders.