Cocktail Hour: July 6, 2012

This week we celebrated the day of the guru, the rockstar, the queen and kings of the interwebs — June 30 was Social Media Day. This was a day to pay homage to 140 characters, likes, hashtags, replies, re-blogs, repins, follows andfavorites, and all the other words not listed in my “AP Style Book.” Social media ninjas confirmed that there “ain’t no party like a Klout score party” as they took to the streets of New York for a flash mob.

Did You See?

Lauren Luke, a YouTube makeup artist, shows viewers how to conceal the effects of domestic violence in this campaign for Refuge.

http://youtu.be/d-XHPHRlWZk

Virgin Mobile Australia gives the other Pitt brother, Doug, a chance at celebrity status as the campaign showcases Doug showing off his simple home life, including a fancy black and white printer and his handmade birdhouses.

http://youtu.be/MAyTES9gDAU

Cruz Roja Colombiana release new campaign “One Life Saves Another,” encouraging viewers to donate blood.

Catch Up

Here’s the best in marketing-related news to catch up on this week.

• Customer feedback and requests can be frightening, but NOT asking for it doesn’t mean you won’t receive the various emails, tweets and messages requesting changes to products or features that are just not possible. Say “no,” instead of just ignoring (and most likely offending) the customer. Follow up with a because statement, and you’ll find your customers will start to understand the vision and capabilities of the company.
• There’s been an ongoing debate on the effectiveness of using Facebook as a marketing tool for brands and business. But is the problem that many brands don’t know how to effectively engage Facebook users? Giving fans instructions on how to interact, asking the right type of questions and bringing the relationship down to the individual level may be the tips you need when looking to increase interaction and prove that your marketing efforts are being seen.
• Building a brand in a crowded or even untapped market is the ultimate challenge. Hootsuite’s CEO discusses how to tap into the product’s community, utilizing social media for feedback and why thought leadership is essential for the leadership team of any brand.

Cool Down

As many parts of the country were under a burn ban notice for the 4th of July, you might not have gotten your fill of fireworks and red, white and blue fun. In case you are still looking for a little Independence-inspired celebration, here’s a recipe to enjoy in this week’s cocktail hour.

Frozen Boozy Bomb Pop Drink

You will need:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 ounces vodka
• 2 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
• 4-6 cups ice
• 4 ounces blue raspberry vodka
• 3 ounces cherry vodka

1. In a blender, combine clear vodka, lime juice, 2 ounces of simple syrup, 1.5 cups of ice. Blend until smooth and place in freezer.
2. In a blender, add blue raspberry vodka, 2 ounces simple syrup, and 1.5 cups of ice. Blend until smooth and place in freezer.
3. In blender, add cherry vodka, 2 ounces simple syrup, 1 1/2 cups of ice. Blend until smooth and place in freezer.
4. Layer the frozen liquids in a glass and enjoy!

Please drink responsibly. Recipe courtesy of Simply Fresh Cooking.

Enjoy your weekend and tell us what you’ve been reading this week.

Cheers!