Social Media

Menlo Park, Calif. – Facebook has released a new update designed to help make brand promotion through contests easier to handle. Brands can now create a contest and control it through their Facebook business page timelines.

However, personal profile timelines cannot be used to back up a brand promotion contest. Facebook has removed the requirement that promotions on Facebook may only be administered within apps. With the change, promotions may now be administered on page timelines and in apps on Facebook, but not on personal timelines.

Reston, Va. -- Online shoppers in the U.S. lead the world in customer satisfaction. According to the latest UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper report released in conjunction with comScore, Inc., shoppers in the U.S. are the most satisfied with online shopping experiences at 83%, while consumers in the Asia Pacific are least satisfied at only 50%.

Columbus, Ohio – DSW Inc. will open new stores in Baltimore and in Lafayette, La. on Oct. 3.

The Baltimore store will be located at 3501 Boston Street and the Lafayette store will be located at 609 Settlers Trace Blvd. Customers will be able to participate in the DSW Rewards loyalty program and also participate in the DSW Shoe Lover community on Facebook to receive exclusive offers and giveaways.

By Joe Easley, Sr. Director, Business Development & Product Strategy, Kobie Marketing

As retailers continue their quest for deepening customer engagement, they’ll often turn to a loyalty program. Yet high membership numbers are deceiving because engagement levels are actually stagnant. This poses the question, are loyalty programs right for every brand? How do brands choose the right strategy for customer engagement and the overall integration of the loyalty program within the brand?

Toys ‘R’ Us has opened Trick ‘R’ Treat “Bootiques” inside Toys "R" Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com. These in-store shops feature a broad assortment of Halloween costumes, accessories, candy and gear.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart is launching its first-ever original reality series developed for the web. The new weekly web series highlights 20 finalists in the Walmart Get on the Shelf contest, which lets entrepreneurs present products to Walmart customers.

In a move designed to expand its existing consumer base, Gerber has launched its 2013 photo search, leveraging social media to encourage parents or legal guardians of children up to 48 months of age to participate. 

Participants are asked to upload a recent photo of their children on the Gerber Facebook page for a chance to win a grand prize of $50,000 as well as the chance for their child to star in a future advertisement for Gerber. In addition, six Milestone winners will be selected based on Facebook fan votes. Photo entries are being accepted now through Oct. 27.

Costa Mesa, Calif. – Almost half of holiday marketing campaigns will start before Halloween, according to a survey of 200 marketers by Experian Marketing Services.

In addition, the study shows that the first 15 days of November are the most popular time to launch a holiday-themed campaign.

Other results include:

Columbus, Ohio – DSW Inc. is opening a new store in Eatontown, N.J., on Sept. 26.

The store will be located at 135 Route 35 in Eatontown. Customers will be eligible to participate in the DSW Rewards loyalty program as well as the DSW Shoe Lover program on Facebook which enables them to receive exclusive offers and giveaways, including chances to win free shoes on Facebook each Tuesday.

Salt Lake City – Overstock.com, Inc. is launching a social media-based sweepstakes inspired by its new "The Good Good" advertising campaign.

Contest entrants participate by adding an image or pin representing the work of a non-profit that inspires them to Pinterest. Entrants will then share that pin on the Overtock.com website. One winner will be awarded $2,500, and Overstock.com employees will give the non-profit 100 hours of time.