Social Networking

We've witnessed some bold online media acquisitions, and Facebook's recent purchase of Instagram for $1 billion USD is no exception. At first blush it seems like a lot of money to pay for a photo-sharing app...

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It takes a lot of training to work in digital media. The recruits we invite into the fold must be well versed in our type of work and the industry as a whole. And yet, they aren't hard to find – or at least, they won't be. That's because a new generation of Internet marketing experts is already in the making.


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If last week's post This tweet is brought to you by... about sponsored tweets piqued your interest you'll surely be eager to hear what else Twitter has to offer digital marketers in Canada. Each passing month finds new opportunities cropping up for us as the service makes more of an effort to cater to its northern contingent.


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Continuing from last week's post - Social networks - too much of a good thing - I want to talk more about social networking in relation to marketing.

Surrounded by hundreds of social networks, a digital strategist can be kind of like a kid in a candy store. There are so many brand profiles to be had, so many colourful, interactive sites on which to create them. Before you overindulge and make your brand ill - stop. Think. And consider the situation from the consumer's point of view.


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Written by Lucy Handley, of MarketingWeek this article looks at the Brand Happiness Boosters report, completed by The Communications Agency, and how today's young adults are less happy than their 80s counterparts. To get positive results from this discontented group, Marketing needs to look at incorporating deeper levels of sociability and engagement into their campaigns.



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These days when I take a business trip I find myself torn. Do I check into foursquare upon my arrival, or post the news to Facebook Places? If it's the former should I comment along with my location tag or save it for a tweet? And come to think of it, when was the last time I updated LinkedIn? Isn't it due for a little love?


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In this week's 30-Second Spots column, No Facebook promos please, we’re French, Simon Houpt discusses topics ranging from the French law barring news anchors from sending viewers to their station’s Facebook or Twitter page to the Montreal/Toronto second annual tourism co-campaign.


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Despite growth, usage is still a niche activity

The Pew Internet & American Life Project announced this month that Twitter usage had risen from 8% of US internet users in fall 2010 to 13% in May 2011, a 62.5% increase in penetration. Twitter usage does seem to be growing, but...


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Well in advance of my career in advertising I possessed a folder of hoarded print ads. They were primarily sourced from teen publications and my mother's cooking magazines, each one uniquely selected for its beauty, humour, the lifestyle it portrayed and, most notably, the product that was featured. That's the thing about print ads...

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In this week's 30-Second Spots column, People aren't sharing the way they once did, Simon Houpt discusses topics ranging from how people often don't share their product recommendations to the Skittle Tree Boy ads.


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Last week I talked about brand advocates and how marketers are using them to promote the value of their brands

Now, let's now look at how can you build brand advocates. Follow this three-part strategy and watch the positive perception of your brand soar...


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In this week's Adhocracy column, Does Charlie Sheen qualify as a small business?, Simon Houpt looks at the act of promotional Twitter-ing.


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