For my first profile, I am delighted to link up with Fard Johnmar, Founder of the Path of the Blue Eye – a relatively new global initiative, which is already establishing itself as an important networking tool and information resource for healthcare communications professionals like me. Without further ado, I will pass you over to Fard to explain what the Path of the Blue Eye Project is all about and to answer some of the questions you may have...

Two-thirds of hospital marketers say Facebook is an effective social media channel. Among large hospitals, 40% say online will be the core focus of marketing by 2013. Almost 80% of hospitals will invest in mobile health in the next 2 years.

Search and social media are becoming more interconnected, particularly as Google works to integrate social media content into its search results.

In January 2012, Google announced that, as of March 1, 2012, search results on Google.com will incorporate content from users’ Google+ social network, highlighting links, photos and comments from Google+ within search results. This has led to some concern from users, particularly about privacy.

In every pharmaceutical television commercial there's the bit at the end while a voiceover intones a litany of potential side effects and drug warnings likely to startle anyone thinking of taking it. Of course, that's when the video usually takes in an intimate hug on a
sailboat or a walk in the woods with a golden lab. And millions of people in the audience apparently are more tuned in to the pictures
than the cautionary message inserted into the promo.

In a few short years, millennials—consumers currently ages 18 to 34—will account for a sizeable portion of US purchase decision-makers. Yet Bazaarvoice found these digital natives are already using and creating online content to recommend or dissuade friends, family and anonymous site-visitors from a brand, product or service.