Creative

A new digital marketing landscape is beckoning; how can you be sure you're prepared? With the simultaneous explosions of mobile, social networking, Wi-Fi and constant connectivity, we're creating a world that constantly offers more, with more selection, more options and more more than ever before.

More than 3.5 billion pieces of content are shared weekly on Facebook alone — certainly the fastest growing of the social platforms, but definitely not the only one. It's simply not enough to call this digital landscape "modern marketing" anymore.

Key points you'll take away from this free whitepaper include the following:

• how to build the best team, insource vs. outsource;
• what are the right tools for your marketing strategy — content management, e-marketing, web analytics and e-commerce;
• how to choose the most effective technology for your company goals — SaaS vs. perpetual, integrated vs. multiplatform; and
• how to tie all three together to increase traffic, visitor engagement and conversions.

Uncover the ins and outs of selecting the right list provider. Check out this free whitepaper, which covers the following: tips to identify audiences that respond; pros and cons of house, purchased and rented mailing lists; important details about list owners, managers and brokers; and how to sort through the clutter to get the best lists possible. Download this free whitepaper to find the right list partner for you.

The conservative group One Million Moms is angry at J.C. Penney again. The organization has launched another attack on the retail giant, this time for featuring a same-sex couple in its new Mother's Day catalog. Previously, the group called for the removal of Ellen DeGeneres as the chain's spokesperson. One Million Moms has released a statement on its website urging members to take action against the brand's store managers so that complaints will be passed on to the head office. 

Times have evolved from analog to digital for everyone except my mom. Even my grandmother is more technologically-savvy than my mother. Sorry mom. A string of usually charming emoticons and abbreviations simply won’t do the trick when speaking to my mom. HSIK what 2 get mom 4 Mother’s Day? WWMD?! How can I begin to thank her for everything she’s done, in a language we both understand?

Here's a great little digital stunt by Ikea. To emphasize the point that its furniture and other products help you to save space, the Swedish retailer has squeezed an entire store—some 2,800 products—inside a 300-by-250 pixel banner ad.

After unsuccessfully campaigning to get Ellen DeGeneres fired from her gig as J.C. Penney spokesperson, the conservative group One Million Moms is now railing against the retail chain Urban Outfitters for its catalog photo of two women kissing. In a web posting, the group advised parents to call or email Urban Outfitters with complaints about the photo.

State of the Social Universe: What Marketers Should Keep in Mind, from 4 Experts Who Can Help You Reach for the Stars

They shared their insights on where things are now, what trends are emerging, what marketers need to emphasize, and how they can make the most of it all. Sections include:

1) Drive the Mobile Vehicle Smartly, and Honor Your Email Opt-In Relationships
- Sara Meaney President, Strategy & Growth, Hanson Dodge Creative

2) It's About Location, Location, Location: Know Where Your Customer Is
- Asif Khan Founder and president of the Location Based Marketing Association

3) On the Rise: Social Intelligence
- Doug Camplejohn CEO of Fliptop

4) Start - and End - with Your Content
- Ann Handley Chief content officer for MarketingProfs

The way we communicate is moving-literally. Smart phones are outselling PCs, and tablet sales are expected to outpace desktop sales by 2013. But although the screens may be smaller, the possibilities for engagement are larger than ever.

You'll find the following covered in this handy whitepaper:

- What Does Mocial Mean for Marketers?
- Determining Your Mocial Strategy and Goals
- Growing Your Email Database Through Social and Mobile
- Making Email More Social
- Extending the Reach of Social and Mobile
- Deploying Integrated Programs Across Email, Social and Mobile

Home improvement store Lowe's has a new 30-second ad called Coloring Book, which imagines a house in the pages with decorations and fixtures that become real as its inhabitants draw their ideas on the paper.

American Apparel has confirmed that the model featured in its "photoshop mishap" in which the model had a black stomach with a white hand in the pocket was wearing a bodysuit. A zoomed-in product shot for the retailer's Poly-Viscose School Boy Pant reveals the hand stuffed in the pants pocket is a blatantly different skin color than the midriff behind it.