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FRENCH-CANADIAN FACEBOOK FANS are no doubt sending out congratulatory pokes this week after the social networking site added their dialect to its language settings.

More than 1,200 people took part in the translation effort.

To complete the translation from English to Canadian French, users submitted translations while browsing the site. The community then approved all translations through a voting system that "voted up" or "voted down" each submission.

Facebook users who want to view the site in Canadian French can change their language preferences in their account settings.

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WHAT DO NHL SUPERSTAR ALEX OVECHKIN and the Energizer Bunny have in common?

According to Kent Hatton, brand group director of Energizer Canada, it's their intensity: "Alex is known throughout the league to play with incredible energy, determination and intensity, a perfect fit with the Energizer Bunny and our Keep Going brand promise."

Energizer has teamed with Mr. Ovechkin to promote its Ultimate Lithium batteries.

"It only made sense to partner with the Great No. 8, as he is, in my opinion, the world's best player," Mr. Hatton added.

Okay, but how does he look with bunny ears and a drum?

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SOCIAL MEDIA IS A CREDIBLE MEANS of influencing consumer spending, a new study finds.

A survey of more than 1,500 Canadian consumers found that 61 per cent of social media users turn to tools such as consumer reviews when researching purchases.

The Canadian Social Media Reality Check, conducted by CNW Group and Léger Marketing, surveyed consumers on issues ranging from how often they use online communications tools to how social media has influenced their purchasing decisions. Of those queried, 31 per cent said social media is more credible than advertising and they rely on it to decide what to buy.

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THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO IS BANKING on Holy Week to bring its wandering sheep back to the flock.

This week the church launched a radio ad campaign and website, wearecatholic.ca, with an online video message from Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins inviting Roman Catholics to reconnect with their faith.

"We know there are many Catholics who wish to return to the church but don't know where exactly to start. Most importantly, we want these people to know they're welcome now and always," said Neil MacCarthy, communications director for the archdiocese.

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U.S. CABLE TV OPERATORS ARE TAKING a page from such online advertising behemoths as Google to bring so-called addressable ads to television.

This summer, Canoe Ventures, a group formed by the six largest U.S. cable operators, will start rolling out TV ads that let consumers request more information about a product by clicking with their remotes.

The group will tailor ads by demographic profile of a community, such as age and income. So households in a youth-oriented area might get pitches for concerts, while those in higher-income areas might get exotic travel ads.

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