Social media marketers are beginning to really latch onto the social networking platform Facebook to promote and sell their brands. Through contest, video, coupons and conversation marketers are trying to draw in customers to up their fan count - yet they still seem to making the same rookie mistakes.

They key to social media is being a good listener. Just like in face-to-face conversation no one wants to be talked at, they want to be engaged, heard and cared about. Here are a few things you might be missing in your Facebook marketing strategy: Read the rest of this entry »

What better place to think of creating a deep, meaningful love than the Eternal City; the city of Rome. eHarmony wants your help in revealing the truth about love through a one minute film that proves how real love can be. Read the rest of this entry »

Social media strategies are a key part of almost every brands success today. Consistent, transparent and hopefully friendly representation should always form the basis of your brands responses and comments, but how do you decide who executes that voice?

Today’s social media strategy is sometimes created in-house, other times through an agency. Most often it goes through several hands and departments including PR, marketing, advertising, customer service and management. With all those people how do you decide who does the talking?

Here are a few important characteristics of any social media representative: Read the rest of this entry »

This article has been re-posted from www.dustin2to.com.

This past weekend I visited my brother Daren in Ottawa. This was the last time I’ll see him before my trip to Africa later in September. We have wanted to do the Great Canadian Bungee jump for a while now and this was the only weekend that worked for us both. Read the rest of this entry »

The Internet grows in terms of users everyday. By the hundreds, thousands and even billions platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare are being seen by more people as useful ways to consume and share media. However, this social media craze isn’t just for the kids anymore.

A new study from Pew Internet found that between April 2009 and May 2010, social networking site usage grew 88 per cent among participants aged 55-64, and that the 65 and older group’s social networking presence grew 100 per cent in the same time frame. Read the rest of this entry »

In its third annual competition Discovery World HD is hosting the Film Snacks Competition for the best of tomorrow’s film-making talent, featuring compelling short-films that build on environmental themes.

Discovery World HD is an official sponsor of the 2010 Planet In Focus International Environmental Film and Video Festival. This competition is open to Canadian residents and will offer participants a chance to showcase their work on the big screen, TV and online.

Submissions must be no longer than two minutes and must be based on an environmental theme. Entries can be uploaded on the contest Film Snacks website, along with a 100 word synopsis that briefly explains your film. Read the rest of this entry »

Brickfish, the social media marketing company that helps brands, agencies and publishers execute and measure award-winning programs throughout the social web is hosting its own user-generated content (UGC) contest that will have all of its members looking back on a long summer of fun.

Whether you spent the past few months laying in the sun getting a tan, biking across the country, or overseas, this campaign will allow you to share your memories through photos, videos or a blog to win a cash scholarship. Read the rest of this entry »

You’ve got yourself all set up with a Facebook fan page. The value of this marketing strategy is undeniable and you have easily sold your theory to executives and CEOs. The engagement and reach that Facebook offers is insane, so where are all your fans?

While so many brands are focusing their efforts inside Facebook they are still struggling to bring their customer base into this social hub and getting them to “Like” them once they arrive.

Facebook fans are certainly not the only measure of success in this platform, or even the most important, however fans definitely play a role into the overall reach of your brand and your messaging - so they are certainly a part of it. Read the rest of this entry »

It seems that not only is social media becoming a more important aspect of the marketing function, however more executives are planning for the landscape with a social media strategy according to a new survey by King Fish Media, HubSpot and Junta42.

In June 2010, 457 marketers and managers were surveyed by the three companies and over 50 per cent were in the publishing, media, advertising and marketing industry. And, 72 per cent of U.S. companies said they had devised a social media strategy. Read the rest of this entry »

Panasonic understands that everyone’s passion for life is different. Whether it be sports, music, friends or anything else, it is now easier than ever to capture it all on film. The company is all about allowing you to showcase your talents with its Ideas For Life campaign, and Shoot It Share It contest. Read the rest of this entry »