GOP Launches "Social Victory Center" by Erik Sass

While it might sound like a Maoist reeducation camp, the "Social Victory Center" app on Facebook is actually a force for conservatism, or at least, the Republican Party as it is now constituted. According to the Los Angeles Times, the SVC is a "first-of-its-kind" social hub for political activism online, created by the Republican National Committee in the hopes of unseating Barack Obama and helping local and state GOP candidates fight the good fight in any number of lesser electoral contests. ...Read the whole story

  • Social Overtakes Search, Closes In On Display As Agencies' Top Digital Focus by Joe Mandese

    Social media has surpassed search, and is poised to overtake online display advertising as the No. 1 source of digital media planning and buying, according to the latest edition of a quarterly survey of U.S. advertising agencies. The survey, conducted by Strata, the agency media software and processing firm owned by Comcast, found that 69% of agency executives now consider social the "focus" of their digital ad spending, up 32% over the past year, and now a close second behind display (71%) as the dominant digital media-buying platform in the minds of agency executives. ...Read the whole story

  • food Lawry's Integrates 'Dinnertising' On Rachael Ray by Karlene Lukovitz

    The brand is promoting the tool -- billed as an "advertising agency" for bringing new flavors to families -- through paid integrations on "The Rachael Ray Show" throughout the summer. ...Read the whole story

  • Savvy Social Media Users Influence Peer Purchases by Gavin O'Malley

    For consumers, the golden rule is "buyer beware." For marketers, it should perhaps be: "beware of socially adept consumers." New research indicates that consumers who have used social media for service wield far greater influence among their peers. ...Read the whole story

  • retail Men's Wearhouse: Not Your Father's Suit by Aaron Baar

    Looking to change the idea that being or wearing a "suit" is somehow undesirable, Men's Wearhouse is targeting a younger, hipper client in a new advertising campaign that encourages young men to show off their inherent, individual styles. ...Read the whole story

Our Devices, Ourselves -- Or, How My iPad Became A TV, And What That Means For Social by Catharine P. Taylor

I'm hoping that even all of the techno-forward people who read this column still experience occasional moments of wonder at what all of these gadgets we own can do. I had two such moments this week: ...More

  • How Not To Be A Marketing Clown In Online Techy Communities by Paul Gillin

    When a big technology client asked me to be its eyes and ears in a big online technical community, my initial reaction was "Whom did I offend?" This 1.8 million-member online community of technology specialists thrives on topics like storage arrays and server scripting. Was I intimidated? You bet. During four months of trial and error, though, I learned how to appreciate and even enjoy the unique language and style of the uber-geek community. If you're a marketer trying to reach technical types through social media, here are some tips: ...More