This week, a Scottsdale bakery made social headlines. Find out why. And get to know the (new) value of a Facebook Like, how brands can use SnapChat, how to set up marketing analytics, and why preppies want to give the homeless a makeover. more

Social networks were meant for real humans—for real-life conversations about real-life things. But, of course, we marketers saw an opportunity. Social media can become a powerful medium... so long as you preserve a human face while acting on behalf of your company. more

The cost of managing an online crisis or reputation issue can seem limitless. Worse, bad news travels online at turbo-charged speeds: A negative tweet or nasty video can end up on mainstream media within hours. It pays to plan ahead. more

With the launch of its patent-pending Neo-Organizational Optimization Brainstorm (NOOB) technique, independent strategic technology communications and PR practice Eastwick today announced it has exposed what really happens in the Cloud. more

It's all here: great uses for Vine, promos via Tumblr, and hashtags on Twitter. Hashtags on Facebook. More targeted Twitter ads. YouTube's record-breaking traffic. Yammer for SharePoint. Social warfare with Shakespeare-worthy love. more

Consumers are using social media to interact with brands, but most customer complaints and comments there remain unanswered. Big mistake! You must deal with these five types of complainers on social media. more

This week was replete with value. Learn the "science of the Harlem Shake," see the first-ever Vine résumé, and score the story—and insights—on the Burger King Twitter hack. Also, we've got tools in droves... more

Get this content marketing and PR tactic right, and you'll gain authority in your market, you'll improve your search engine optimization (SEO), and you'll spark conversations that can generate leads. Take these three steps to get started. more

In an inaugural segment of our video series, we take a look at a fundamental question: In our newly social age, is it incumbent on brands to be always at the ready, prepared to respond—with content or with creative—to events as they happen, in real-time? more

Your PR folks have access to content treasure you didn't know you had—without weighing down your team or running up the bill. Here are some easy ways they can help you find those content gems. more

More than one-third (36%) of US executives say they either never consider (7%) or rarely consider (29%) their company's social media reputation when making important business decisions, according to a survey from Zeno Group. more

When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, millions lost electricity, heat, and water. But just a few days later, many companies promoting to those millions had—cluelessly—gone back to business as usual. Here is a list for brands that "surged" and brands that "sank" in Sandy's aftermath. more

As marketers, we instinctively realize it's impossible to pinpoint when our prospects will be buying. That's why it's critical not just to keep in touch but also to make sure your company shows up in all of the right places when the prospect is selectively attracted to buy from you. more

Not Apple, not General Motors, not Microsoft. If we're talking the really big brands currently dominating American consciousness, we're talking politics: the 2012 US presidential election. And the relative strengths and weaknesses of the competing campaigns point to some interesting lessons for brands. more

A rebrand requires a compelling vision that can be understood and articulated by all—starting with your company's leadership and employees. After all, if they haven't bought into the rebrand and the philosophy behind it, why in the world would anyone else? more

Whether you like politicians or not, you've got to hand it to them: On either side of the aisle, they know how to connect with others and win hearts and minds. How they do it is how you can do it, too. more

You have a very good reason to join your local chamber of commerce: "One study on consumer preferences found that 63% of consumers prefer to shop and do business with chamber members," writes Mike Bowman at MarketingProfs. But the respectability of chamber membership isn't the only perk: It can also generate a steady ... more

When people want to know about you, your products, and your success story, the first thing they do is go to Google to see what you're doing, even before checking out your website. And if you look as if you don't have momentum, you may never get that call. It's ... more

You have a fiercely loyal audience that loves your content. Folks share it with their networks, provide feedback, and help generate leads. Problem is... your mighty audience is mighty small. What to do? You need to recruit influential people to help you expand your audience by talking about you and your ... more

To inspire you in your marketing, we've put together a roster of 16 remarkable smarty-pants who over the past few centuries changed marketing—and, often, business itself. more

Companies often don't practice what they preach (or sell)—a classic case of "the cobbler's children have no shoes." Agencies and marketers are not exempt. Here's a guide to help you succeed at internal marketing. more

Most commonly, market research is viewed as a method to improve advertising and marketing initiatives and to develop products that are friendlier to specific markets. However, the true range of uses for market intelligence is much larger than most businesses think. more

Various variables contribute to customer experience: your product line, painless processes, engaged employees... Giving your employees the opportunity to maximize the impact they have on customers enables you to create successful (and profitable) customer experiences. more

Many businesses are members of their local chamber of commerce but don't take advantage of opportunity to increase sales and brand awareness. Here are five ways business owners can derive value from their chamber membership. more

Customers are now using video to educate themselves on products and services before they buy, and that extends across both the consumer and business-to-business markets. Here are five tips from five companies that are making online video work for them. more