M&Ms Racing Uses Colorful "Fanvocates" to Connect with NASCAR Fans

M&M's Racing launched "The Most Colorful Fan of NASCAR" contest. In an effort to bring the contest to life both online and offline, M&Ms Racing activated, "Fanvocates," and resulting content was syndicated throughout both TV, digital and social networking sites providing fans with a forum to connect, interact and showcase their passion for the sport through a variety of channels.

To learn more about this initiative, join Ryan Bowling, Director of Communications, MARS SNACKFOOD US as presents this case study at 12pm, May 4th at Social Media & Community 2.0 Strategies 2010.

Ryan will discuss:

• Multimedia exploration of how M&M's Racing and used word of mouth and social media efforts to connect with NASCAR fans
• How social media programs excel faster with both online & offline components
• The importance of leveraging PR and digital marketing to exceed in social media

Social Media & Community 2.0 Strategies 2010

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Sara Lee Launches Social Media Campaign for Moms

In a press release, Sara Lee Deli today launched its "Saga Solver" social media campaign designed to help moms simplify their lives.

The Saga Solver program will provide moms the chance to interact with three nationally-recognized "Saga Solvers" who will offer tips and advice on three distinct areas of focus: food preparation, helping mom get her kitchen and family schedules organized and family advice, all housed on Sara Lee Deli's Facebook page (facebook.com/saraleedeli). The program will also provide an update on the lives of the three Sara Lee Deli "Mama Saga" mamas, who originally appeared in satirical web-cam videos on Metacafe, Facebook and other video sharing sites. Since their launch in September, the videos have recorded 2.5 million online views.

As CPGs look to connect further with parents, are they correct in their focus to Moms? What about Dads, caregivers, etc? We'd like to hear your thoughts.

Learn more: Sara Lee Deli Launches 'Saga Solver' Social Media Campaign as Online Resource to Simplify Lives of Moms

Microsoft to Plug Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace

Microsoft's Office 2010 will implement popular social networking sites within Outlook, The Associated Press reports.

Microsoft's "beta" test version of the Outlook Social Connector, an add-on for Outlook, was first discussed last November. When a user clicks to read an e-mail message, a new pane on the main e-mail reading screen fills with the sender's most recent social-networking activities. That could be that sender's new Facebook status update or a newly added professional contact on the business networking site LinkedIn.

What do you think about the integration of social networking with Outlook? Because Outlook is primarily used by businesses, will employers see this as a negative?

Learn more: Microsoft to pull Facebook, MySpace into Outlook

What is the "buzz" on Google's Buzz? Anyone using it?

There is a lively discussion over Google's Buzz in our Future Trends LinkedIn group. We'd love to have you join us as we discuss what Buzz means for social networking and community development for the future. Have you used it in conjunction with your other social networking services? What privacy concerns do you have?

Take a few moments and let us know what you think.

Join the discussion.

The Youth & Family Marketing Event Symposium Highlight: Technology and Social Media

Technology and Social Media Symposium: Kids and youths are early adopters of technology- how do you win them over early to keep them as life long consumers? Likewise, how are kids, youths and families using technology and social media today? Why do some technologies like the Wii and iPhone transcend life stages while others do not? On a marketing end, just because social media is free, does not mean you have to use it as a marketing tool. What are the best ways to incorporate social media and other technologies in your plan?

Join us to find out more at
The Youth & Family Marketing Event!

May 10-12, 2010
Hotel Sax
Chicago

Register by FRIDAY, February 12 and SAVE $300!

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Takeaways from event sessions:

* The opportunities available through the use of social media
* The risks inherent in using social media as a research platform
* Creating an overall strategy for your social media program
* Social Media Measurement
* Social Ecosystems That Ignite Audiences
* Using social media to reach mom

INSIGHTS/RESEARCH

* How kids influence the purchase decision
* Making Meaning of immersion data
* Family 3.0: Rethinking the American Family
* Understand changes in family dynamics
* The role of technology in a kid's life
* Tapping into the anthropological analysis

BRANDING/MARKETING

* Developing effective model to increase the active participation of your brand
* Mitigating risk in conversational marketing
* Mobile Marketing- Where Your Consumers Are
* Communicating new product offerings on a very limited budget
* Connecting your Brand with the Next Generation of Viewers
* Reaching today's urban youth consumers

Learn How Sears, Fidelity, Pepsi and Intuit Measure Social Media

How do your social media efforts Measure UP?
Social media has been game-changing for both businesses and consumers. The power to define and control a brand has shifted from the organization to individuals, even communities.

Social networking accounts for over 50% of the page views on the Internet.
With quick consumer adoption and the relative low costs of participation, it's become a hugely influential word of mouth marketing medium during these budget stricken times.

If you can't measure it, how can you expect buy-in?
While most companies are participating in social media efforts, few are measuring the ROI of their efforts.

The Measure UP Marketing Conference has a full-day symposium focused entirely on Social Media Value & Measurement. This symposium will showcase corporate practitioners who are successfully tying back social media efforts to their business' bottom line. Learn how you can build a strategy with measurement tools in place and get the commitment from your business to invest.

To see a list of all of the social media sessions, click here.
To visit the Measure Up Website, click here.

Save $500 on The 2010 Social Media & Community 2.0 Strategies

Your last chance to save $500 expires this Friday.
Register today for THE most Results-Driven social media conference of the year!

In the new business environment- where every initiative must have a measurable return- you need real-life case studies from corporate executives who've "cashed in on the conversations" happening every second about their brand, product and company. The 2010 Social Media & Community 2.0 Strategies program is designed to help leverage social media as a powerful driver of real business results:

Speakers from companies leading the social media revolution, including: Consumer Goods (P&G, The Coca-Cola Company, Mars Chocolate, Kodak, Lego), Retail (Best Buy, B&N, Sears), Online Services (eBay, LinkedIn, Yahoo), Travel (Intercontinental Hotels, Starwood Hotels), Electronic Goods (Microsoft, Turbotax, National Instruments) AND MORE! (view full list)

Big Picture Conversations: Forget one-sided lectures. You need two-way conversations. Featured conversationalists include Duncan Wardle, VP, Disney, Vida Killian, Communities and Conversations, Dell, and the author who started the social media “Grounsdwell”, Charlene Li.

Case studies tailored to your business objective: Only attend sessions that are right for YOU. Choose between concurrent tracks on: Market Research, Innovation, Marketing, Brand/Customer Management

Facilitated Networking Activities: Built-in time to connect with both speakers and other attendees- Another way to make the most of your experience and build authentic connections with your peer community.

Exceed your company's social media ROI expectations. Join us this May in Boston.

Social Media & Community 2.0 Strategies Event
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How Important is Social Media in a Marketing Plan?

Today we're featuring a great discussion happening over on our LinkedIn group, Future Trends. If you've not joined Future Trends yet, we encourage you do to so. Not only will you join other social media professionals, but you'll learn from members from all backgrounds about the future of business, media, science, etc.

Mike Clough asks, "How Important is Social Media in a Marketing Plan?"

Many businesses are struggling and asking for help. I know because I meet with them every week. Actually, it is not too surprising to find that entrepreneurs who are doing most of the work might have trouble seeing the forest for the trees. I listen to them as they tell me that what they used to do is no longer working. What does surprise me is their reaction when I bring up the subject of Web 2.0 marketing or social media. All too often I am told, “I don’t want to talk about that.”

Here are a few of the responses:

"Honestly, social media has been here for years. I have been on social networks since 1997. Its just that companies are just now looking at this medium strategically."

"Social Media is alive and kicking. We prove that on the personal side by using this platform (LinkedIn) every day."

Read more on the discussion.

Terms of Service and "Doppelganger Week"

If you've changed your Facebook profile photo to your look-a-like celebrity, you may be violating the Facebook terms of service agreement. Caroline McCarthy over at CNET.com writes that in the company's terms of service, it says: "You will not post content or take any action on Facebook that infringes or violates someone else's rights or otherwise violates the law...We can remove any content or information you post on Facebook if we believe that it violates this Statement." So unless you took that celebrity photo yourself or bought the rights to it, it may be in violation.

It doesn't look like Facebook is going to take any action in removing the "offending" pictures from user's accounts; but, if you're a stickler for agreements you may want to take down your famous twin's picture.

New Facebook craze can violate terms of service

Social Media & Community 2.0 Speaker Profile: Greg Matthews, Director of Consumer Innovation, Humana

Greg Matthews
Director of Consumer Innovation
Humana

Greg Matthews is Director of Consumer Innovations at Humana. In this role, Greg is taking a broad view of consumer health to create new products, programs and services. During his tenure at Humana, he has had responsibility for start-up operations of joint venture companies like Green Ribbon Health and Sensei, and in Humana's first European subsidiary in London. Additionally, Greg has conducted ethnographic research into business opportunities in developing markets, and has been a member of the Institute for the Future's Health Horizons forum.

Prior to joining Humana, Greg spent his career in technology-oriented consulting firms. At Accenture, Greg worked in the Financial Services and Technology lines of business both in Chicago and in Frankfurt, Germany. Later, Greg was Vice President and Chief People Officer at Chicago-based Braun Consulting (now a division of Fair Isaac). Greg lives with his wife and two daughters in Louisville, Kentucky.

Join Greg as he presents, "Humana Innovation Center Leverages Social Networks to Help Quitters of the World Unite!" at 11:30am, Tuesday, May 4th at Social Media & Community 2.0 Strategies.

Social Media & Community 2.0 Strategies

May 3-5, 2010

Boston World Trade Center & Seaport Hotel

Event Page: http://bit.ly/ajf8Q7

Brochure: http://bit.ly/bCQsET

Registration: http://bit.ly/bTD2Xt