Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Mobile Advertising and Social Media is a great combination

Mobile + Social Media = a Great combination for your company.

Amplify’d from www.marketingcharts.com

Mobile Advertisers Leverage Social Media

About one-quarter of mobile advertising campaign actions in October 2010 led to social media post-click, according to the October 2010 Millennial Media SMART Report.

Social Media Drives Brand Engagement, Lead Gen

millennial-campaign-action-mix-oct-10-nov-2010.JPG
Social media, as a post-click campaign action, represented 26% of the mobile campaign actions in October 2010. The top advertisers on the Millennial network from the finance, automotive, entertainment and retail verticals leveraged the social media platform to drive further brand engagement, as well as lead generation.

Retail Promotion, M-commerce Grow as Campaign Actions

Retail promotion and m-commerce as post-click campaign actions experienced tremendous growth month-over-month with a 13% and 8% increase, respectively. Millennial analysis shows the increase is tied to brands in the retail and CPG verticals developing promotions to drive increased holiday sales through mobile advertising.

Traffic to Site Top Mobile Ad Destination

millennial-campaign-destination-mix-oct-10-nov-2010.JPG

Targeted Audience Campaign Methods More Popular

millennial-campaign-targeting-mix-oct-10-nov-2010.JPG

Mobile Restaurant Interaction Spikes

millennial-mobile-thanksgiving-mix-nov-2010.JPG

Text Coupons Most Popular Retail-related Consumer Mobile Activity

Read more at www.marketingcharts.com

Flock declares war on RockMelt Social Browser

Can't we all just get along?? LOL It seems that RockMelt may have ruffled or should I say "Melted" (yes I'm laughing at my own goofy pun) the feathers of self proclaimed competitor Flock. Well, I must say that this is very interesting. I am familiar with RockMelt Social Browser and I LOVE it. Did I say I LOVE IT! Well, I've never heard of Flock but I may check it out.

Amplify’d from mashable.com

Flock Social Browser Declares War on RockMelt With Version 3.5

Flock, the self-described “social web browser,” is responding to the launch of RockMelt with the release of Flock 3.5, which boasts greater speed and added functionality.

Flock vs. RockMelt

The browser touts social integration, primarily through a sidebar that lets users update their Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn statuses. It also has a multitude of link-sharing features, the ability to group friends across multiple services and a “Social Search” feature that displays what a user’s friends are saying about a specific query.

Today’s release makes it clear that Flock isn’t about to roll over and play dead to the competition presented by RockMelt. This is just the opening salvo of the social browser wars.

Read more at mashable.com

Monday, November 29, 2010

648 Million in online sales for Black Friday

Who needs to camp out, storm the doors of the discount stores or fight over a $3.00 coupon.

Amplify’d from www.marketingcharts.com

Black Friday (November 26, 2010) saw $648 million in online sales, making it the heaviest online spending day to date in 2010 and representing a 9% increase from Black Friday 2009, according to new figures from comScore.

comscore-black-friday-nov-2010.jpg

Other Findings

  • The number of visitors to coupon sites on Black Friday grew 4% from a year ago to 3.6 million visitors, while the total number of visits to the category increased 16% to 7.4 million.

  • BlackFriday.info was the most visited coupon site on Black Friday with 630,000 unique visitors, followed by CouponCabin.com (543,000), RetailMeNot.com (332,000 visitors) and Groupon.com (332,000).

  • ShopLocal.com ranked as the most visited comparison shopping site on Black Friday with 2.1 million visitors, up 45% from a year ago.

9 in 10 Women Look for Holiday Savings

Most consumers will look for ways to save money on holiday shopping this year (84%), particularly women (90%) compared to men (77%), according to the November 2010 American Express Spending & Saving Tracker. The most popular ways they will do so are shop for sale/clearance merchandise (77% of women compared to 55% of men), clip coupons (67% of women compared to 46% of men), buy only for people on their list (53% of women compared to 43% of men), and re-gifting (16% of women compared to 9% of men).

In addition, the majority of consumers will pay using money they have (64% cash/check) or plan to repay immediately (32%) thereafter.

Read more at www.marketingcharts.com

Wiki Leaks..Have they GONE TOO FAR?

I am a firm believer in Social Media and freedom of expression, however is there a certain point that is considered crossing the line? We all feel as if we have a right to information and as Americans we tend to have a hardcore sense of entitlement; However, at what point is enough enough? 

 

I have a love for knowledge and having access to all sort of information by way of traditional and social media.  I guess as an American, I too am guilty of hardcore entitlement of said information.  I do NOT however feel a need to endanger lives, overseas treaties and relationships to gain that information.  This is what Wiki Leaks has done and is continuing to do with their "Leaking" of information. There were "LEAKS" in the past concerning the war which may have potentially put American soldiers lives in danger, now there is a new "LEAK."

 

As I've said before I am a firm believe in sharing information and  freedom of expression.  I am also a believer that Wiki Leaks has gone too FAR!  


I welcome and strongly encourage thoughts, comments, disagreement, yelling, screaming, outrage, cursing or all of the above,  so feel free to post your comments below or directly on my Facebook Wall. 

How NOT to behave when shopping on Black Friday Video #FAIL

 

 

Videos source BuzzFeed

 

 

 

Friday, November 26, 2010

Black Friday on Facebook

If you haven't shopped...take a look at some of the offerings on Facebook!

Amplify’d from www.insidefacebook.com

Finally, Facebook’s location service Places is also being used by retailers in a bid to drive business this Friday. Toys “R” Us is offering a 15% discount for the first 3,000 customers that spend more than $150. JCPenney and H&M are offering virtual coupons to customers who check in via Places.

Read more at www.insidefacebook.com

Weekend Recipe: Turkey Leftovers

 

Turkey Tetrazzini II

 

Prep Time:
 20 Min
Cook Time:
 1 Hr
Ready In:
 1 Hr 20 Min

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked spaghetti
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 2/3 cups grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 cups chopped cooked turkey

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
  2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain, and place in the prepared baking dish.
  3. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour. Mix in chicken broth and milk. Cook and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Stir in about 1 1/3 cups Parmesan cheese, and remove from heat.
  4. Mix chicken broth mixture and turkey with spaghetti. Top with remaining cheese. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until surface is lightly browned.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 594 | Total Fat: 24.1g | Cholesterol: 106mg

What to Drink?

Wine Chardonnay

 

More Recipes for Turkey Leftovers

 

Cranberry Swirl Coffee Cake


Prep Time:
 20 Min
Cook Time:
 55 Min
Ready In:
 1 Hr 15 Min

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 (8 ounce) can whole cranberry sauce

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9 or 10 inch tube pan.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the almond extract. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture alternately with the sour cream.
  3. Pour 1/3 of the batter into the prepared tube pan. Swirl 1/2 of the cranberry sauce into the batter. Repeat, ending with the batter on top.
  4. Bake 55 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown.

 

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 248 | Total Fat: 10.9g | Cholesterol: 55mg

 

What to Drink?

Wine Port
Hot Non-Alcoholic Coffee

For More recipes check All recipes.com


 


 

 

 

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

How to survive Thanksgiving dinner with your In-Laws :-)

Sometime life is wonderful and you LOVE your in-laws and sometimes that may not be the case. If you are in the wonderful demographic, whooo hoooo if not some of these tips may help.........

Amplify’d from www.ehow.com

How to Survive Thanksgiving Dinner with Your In-laws

Survive Thanksgiving Dinner with Your In-laws

If you're like most people, you look forward to Thanksgiving dinner with your spouse's parents the way a newly adopted puppy looks forward to a mysterious visit to the vet: you'd like to think something exciting is in store, but deep down you suspect you're in for a painful experience. Here's a quick guide to making it through the holiday with your sanity (and your marriage) intact.

  1. 1

    Make a good impression. No handshake is too firm, and no hug is too tender, when your in-laws greet you at the door. Be sure to make all the usual inquiries about your mother-in-law's health, your father-in-law's golf score, the latest news of the relative about whom No One Speaks except at big family holidays. Stretch this part of the evening out for as long as is humanly possible.

  1. 2

    Don't talk about your personal life. After you've made it through the initial pleasantries, you'll need something to discuss for the next three or four hours. Avoid any subject (work, mortgage payments, your son's suspension from private school) that might reflect badly on your spouse in the eyes of your father or mother, or, for that matter, anyone they might happen to talk to over the next six months.

  1. 3

    Don't talk about politics. Whether the results of the recent election made you gloat with glee or want to lock yourself in the closet, the odds are that if you bring the subject up with your in-laws, one of them will accuse you of a) gloating too much; b) not gloating enough; or c) being such a sloppy housecleaner that who'd want to lock themselves in a closet like that, anyway? Such a disgrace.

Read more at www.ehow.com

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Books meet QR code

My friend Richard Duggan of Canada shared this great article with me so I thought I would pass it on. QR codes are definitely making a place in social and traditional marketing. Good Stuff......

Amplify’d from www.marketingmag.ca
HarperCollins sticks with social media for new book campaigns

Marketing Magazine

HarperCollins Canada, which is known for the decidedly old-school technology of books, is now making use of innovative social media technology–namely a barcode content technology called Stickybits–to help market its books in the digital space.

Stickybits takes QR codes one step further, allowing users to add content such as photos, videos or comments to a pool of information accessible by photographing the code with a QR-enabled mobile phone.

Read more at www.marketingmag.ca

TSA Gone Wild

Promo Deal of the Week

Post-it Deals are our Promo Deal of the week!
Why work with Anise Smith?
Well what makes us different is that we have a different model of selling Marketing Materials and Promotional products.
The first thing that sets Anise Smith Marketing apart is, not only can we can add your logo to any item with a flat surface, we can also GENERATE AND ADD YOUR QR CODE TO ANY ITEM WITH A FLAT SURFACE.

Post-it DEALS!

Post-it(R) Custom Printed Notepads 3" x 4", 25 sheets, 1 color imprint. The original sticky note pad from the Brand you trust in one of our most popular sizes. Post-it(R) Notes color match option allows you to match your exact imprint color. Choose from a wide variety of paper colors. Also available in recycled paper for a slight upcharge. Actual Note Size: 2-15/16" x 4". Adhesive on 4" side. Imprint Area: 2-9/16" x 3-5/8".
FREE set-up!
FREE screens!
FREE PMS inks (fluorescent, special mix and metallic inks not included)!
FREE ruled lines upon request!
FREE virtual samples!

Read more at promotionalproductsdeals.blogspot.com

Monday, November 22, 2010

Moscato Sweet Potatoes

Ok, So I KNOW that my recipe day is on Friday. However this recipe just CALLED to me. Due to the recipe beckoning to me and considering that Thanksgiving is so close I thought I would share. I LOVE Moscato and Sweet Potatoes..Can you say DOUBLE YUM!

Amplify’d from republic.barefootwine.com

Barefoot Moscato Sweet Potatoes

By: Randy photo Randy

Posted: November 10

Category: Holiday & Special Occassions

Wine Pairing: Moscato

Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

  1. 3 pounds of sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  2. 1/2 cuo honey
  3. 3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
  4. 2 tablespoons walnut oil
  5. 1 teaspoon ground Cardamom
  6. 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  7. 1/2 cup Barefoot Moscato

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  2. In a large glass baking dish, toss together all ingredients, including the 1/2 cup of Barefoot Moscato.
  3. Bake 20 minutes, then stir the potatoes to expose the pieces from the bottom.
  4. Bake another 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and caramelized on the outside.
Read more at republic.barefootwine.com

RockMelt: NOT your mothers browser

As an AGGRESSIVE and FREQUENT Social Media user this is like a browser to the 100th power. AMAZING and I am loving it. I have 5 INVITES left so if you want to try it let me know.

Amplify’d from www.pcmag.com

RockMelt Beta

editor rating

good

RockMelt Beta

Pros

Social network integration. Search result pages preloaded. Google Chrome foundation makes it fast and safe.

Cons

You have to log in with your Facebook account and give it access to all your Facebook data. Some beta-style crashes. Interface somewhat distracting.

Bottom Line

Based on Google's Chrome code, RockMelt makes Facebook an integral part of the browser, and preloads search pages to get you to your results faster. It's well-executed, but the interface is more distracting than that of a standard browser. It crashed a couple times in my testing, but no more than you'd expect for a beta.

Will RockMelt Rock Your World?

Specifications

OS Compatibility
Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac OS, Windows 7
More
Read more at www.pcmag.com

Career Advancement: Are you your own worst enemy?

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy and not even know it. There are 11 ways that you could be sabotaging you own career. In these tough economic times we must be aware and cautious as it pertains to our careers especially if we want to stay on track and avoid setbacks.

Amplify’d from career-advice.monster.com
11 Ways to Hurt Your Career

11 Ways to Hurt Your Career

While most career advice focuses on how to succeed, we can all learn valuable lessons by dissecting career failure as well. Workplace experts offer insights into some of the top ways workers undermine their own careers and jeopardize their career development. 


1. Not Taking Your Education Seriously

If you party too much in college and end up with a run-of-the-mill 2.5 GPA, you’ll be passed over for the best entry-level jobs, says New York City-based executive recruiter and coach Brian Drum of Drum Associates. Not finishing your master’s degree is another way to hurt your career development goals, adds Anne Angerman, a career coach with Denver-based Career Matters.

2. Not Having a Plan

In the current poor job market, you may have defaulted into a career you aren’t crazy about. That’s OK, as long as you develop career plans to get where you want to be. “Think of every job you take as a stepping-stone to your next job,” Drum advises.

3. Lying

You’ll lose professional credibility in a hurry if you lie, from exaggerating on your resume to getting caught fibbing on Facebook. “If someone calls in sick to work and then that evening posts a photo on Facebook of their extra day vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, that’s a big problem,” says corporate etiquette specialist Diane Gottsman of the Protocol School of Texas in San Antonio.

4. Sullying Your Reputation on Facebook or Twitter

Social media can harm your reputation in other ways, too. Personal posts and tweets from work -- when you’re supposed to be doing your job -- can tag you as a slacker. And the content of your posts or tweets can come back to haunt you as well -- you never know who might stumble upon those bachelor-party photos. “You need to assume that every boss and potential employer knows how to use Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, and post from the standpoint that everyone is watching even if in reality they’re not,” Gottsman says.
Read more at career-advice.monster.com

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sentenced to Hard Labor for TWEET!

Are you KIDDING ME?

Amplify’d from socialmediaseo.net

Cheng Jianping Sentenced To Hard Labor In China Over Twitter Update (Image)

The image above is of Cheng Jianping, 46, who was sentenced to hard labor in China for a Twitter message (retweet actually) that she posted.

That’s exactly what happened to Cheng Jianping, 46, when she retweeted a message that her soon to be husband posted on Twitter which read, “Anti-Japanese demonstrations, smashing Japanese products, that was all done years ago by Guo Quan [an activist and expert on the Nanjing Massacre]“. And also, “t’s no new trick. If you really wanted to kick it up a notch, you’d immediately fly to Shanghai to smash the Japanese expo pavilion.”

Read more at socialmediaseo.net

Friday, November 19, 2010

Promo Deal of the WEEK!

Add your QR CODE or Logo to these iPad Covers!

Why work with Anise Smith?

The first thing that sets Anise Smith Marketing apart is, not only can we can add your logo to any item with a flat surface, we can also GENERATE AND ADD YOUR QR CODE TO ANY ITEM WITH A FLAT SURFACE.

Read more at promotionalproductsdeals.blogspot.com

QR code FOOD?

Amazing! Let's take what Anise Smith Marketing LOVES the best and MERGE THEM!! QR Codes on food! I'm not sure that I would eat these but OMG how cool!

Amplify’d from www.flickr.com

NYCR QR Waffles

Raw QR waffles

Edible QR competition at NYC Resistor to see which ones can be read by Google Goggles on Android phones.

Read more at www.flickr.com

HUGE Turkey Dinner Menus for Beginners to Experts




Amazon.com Widgets


Monster TurkeyDinner Recipe from AllRecipes.com

Easy Menu

Keep it simple and classic 

Advanced Menu

Add new twists to the traditional meal
  •   Store-bought rolls or bread

    Game Plan for Easy Menu

    The trickiest part of preparing a holiday meal is the timing. The key is to make as many items ahead of time as you can, and reheat them on the day that you need it.

    One to Two Weeks Ahead:
    • Make a shopping list; beat the holiday rush
    • Make and freeze Yummy Yam Casserole (omit topping)
    Two Days Before:
    • Place turkey in refrigerator to thaw (birds larger than 12 lbs. will require 3 days to thaw)
    • Make cranberry sauce
    • Bake pecan bars. Cool completely; slice bars. Store tightly covered with plastic wrap in a cool, dry place.
    Day Before:
    • Toast almonds for green beans in ungreased skillet over med. heat until golden and fragrant. Transfer to a bowl or lidded container. Cook bacon for green beans, if using; crumble and mix with toasted almonds & refrigerate.
    • Make mashed potatoes; store in the refrigerator
    • Make stuffing; store in the refrigerator
    • Prepare Pumpkin Cream Pie
    • Set the dining room table. Include serving dishes for gravy, dinner rolls, butter, and green beans, plus serving utensils.
    Night Before:
    • Place Yam Casserole in the fridge to thaw
    • Chop onion for Jazzed up Gravy; sauté with herbs as directed. Add to prepared gravy; store jar or container in fridge.
    That Morning:
    • Remove an oven rack, if necessary. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Roast turkey as directed. Remove from oven and let stand for 30 minutes before carving.
    • Add pecan topping to yam casserole.
    An hour before dinner:
    • Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Replace oven rack. Bake the mashed potatoes, the stuffing, and the yam casserole.
    Half an hour before dinner:
    • Wrap dinner rolls in foil. Place in oven to heat.
    • Warm gravy in saucepan over medium-low heat.
    • Melt butter for green beans in a large skillet over medium heat.
    • Cook beans until tender. Stir in almonds and crumbled bacon and cook until heated through.
    Finishing Touches:
    • Transfer gravy, rolls and green beans into serving bowls.
    • Carve the turkey and arrange meat on a warmed platter.

    Game Plan for Advanced Menu

    One to Two Weeks Before:
    • Make a shopping list; beat the holiday rush
    • Make dinner rolls; proof for twenty minutes, then freeze. When firm, transfer rolls to plastic freezer bag.
    • Make pastry for pecan pie (use recipe of your choice). Chill dough, then roll out and line a nine-inch pie shell. Freeze until firm. Wrap frozen dough and pan with plastic wrap and store in the freezer.
    Three Days Before:
    • Thaw turkey in refrigerator
    • Prepare and bake cheesecake crust; cool and wrap with plastic wrap. Store at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
    Two Days Before:
    • Make chutney
    • Cube bread for stuffing: use a mix of multigrain, rye, and country white bread for Old-Fashioned Stuffing, or make pumpkin bread for Ibby's Pumpkin-Mushroom Stuffing
    • Bake pie shell (see Perfect Pie Crusts for instructions on blind baking). Cool and wrap with plastic wrap. Store at room temperature in a cool, dry place.
    Day Before:
    • Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavity
    • Brine turkey
    • Make stock out of turkey neck and giblets (do not use the liver for making stock, as it can make broth bitter), celery, onion, carrot and aromatics
    • Bake cheesecake
    • Bake pecan pie
    • Prep veggies for roasting
    • Toast pine nuts and cook bacon for Brussels Sprouts; store in refrigerator
    • Make stuffing
    Night Before:
    • If you have room in the fridge, arrange frozen dinner rolls on sheet pan and thaw overnight in the refrigerator. (Otherwise, thaw at room temperature on Thanksgiving morning.)
    • Set the dining room table. Include serving dishes for gravy, dinner rolls, butter, and side dishes, plus serving utensils.
    That Morning:
    • Brush dinner rolls with egg wash
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake rolls and stuffing.
    • Light coals; prep grill
    • Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F and roast vegetables
    • Grill turkey
    One hour before dinner:
    • Make mashed potatoes. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and rest bowl over pan of simmering water to keep warm.
    Half an hour before dinner:
    • Collect drippings from roasting pan under turkey. Make gravy.
    • Prepare Brussels sprouts
    • Keep stuffing and roasted vegetables warm in a 300 degree F oven.
    • Wrap rolls in foil and warm in oven, if desired


    Perfect Pairs Wines for the Holidays

    Red Wines

    Try lighter reds with a bit of acid and some fruitiness.
    Beaujolais (gamay): A light, food-friendly red that you can serve just slightly chilled.
    Oregon Pinot Noir or French Burgundy: Earthy, fruity Pinots often work well with the meal's many competing and contrasting flavors.
    Italian Reds: Like Pinot Noir, Chianti can have an earthy quality and a good amount of food-friendly acidity, which makes it a terrific Thanksgiving wine. It's not just for pasta anymore! The same goes for Barbera from Piedmont. Excellent, versatile food wines.
    Zinfandel: Fruity Zinfandel shows many personalities; it's also an American original, and so a fitting choice for America's favorite feast. Choose a lighter style that's not booming with alcohol.

    White Wines

    Chardonnay: The Thanksgiving table is loaded with rich food. It’s the right time to break out a rich, round California Chardonnay with ripe fruit balanced out by refreshing acidity.
    Riesling: This is a tremendous, often overlooked food wine. With all the flavors competing for attention, dry Riesling's acidity and slight touch of sweetness should complement them all.
    Champagne/Sparkling wine: Often forgotten once the toasting's done, Champagne and sparkling wines can be a fun alternative for dinner. You might pop a bottle before dinner and find that you're enjoying it clear through to dessert. Try a fruity rosé sparkling wine.
    Sauvignon Blanc: This wine's lively acidity and herbal characteristics make it a great choice for Thanksgiving dinner.

    Red or White? Why Not Both?

    For traditional thanksgiving meals, it need not be an either/or situation. Sometimes the best choice is to offer both red and white and let the guests choose for themselves. Sometimes it pays to place a couple glasses at each guest's table setting. He or she can try a splash of white here, a sip of red there, comparing and contrasting before settling on a favorite. Offering a few choices can also make for fun conversation.