You probably know that there are more than 500 million active Facebook users – Did you know that 40% are now accessing Facebook via their mobile phone? Or, the +35 year olds are now more than 30% of all users? And, talk about referral …. 57% of people talk to people more online than in real life.

April Voris and Mike Tyre, partners, will be discussing “Why engage in a Zealotry Marketing approach?”  They will also be sharing insights and tips on why focusing on Zealots is the surest way to profitable results and the best way to leverage current customers and resources.

Non Profit Summit:  Tuesday May 10 from 3:30 – 4:45 pm at the Georgia World Congress Center

Smoothie King’s product mix and locations are perfect for the online world and today’s mobile lifestyle.

We’ve already gotten started with a fun promotion for Smoothie King Atlanta! Everyone who likes our page on Facebook can enter to win a year of Smoothie King Atlanta! Enter by May 8, 2011 for your chance to win! Click here to enter!

Consider that staid upper Midwest company – 3M. (stated tongue in cheek).

Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing — 3M — is “about inventing hundreds and hundreds of Next Small Things,” reports Marc Gunther in Fortune (9/27/10). “Our business model is literally new-product innovation,” says Larry Wendling, head of 3M’s corporate research. No kidding: “The St. Paul company produces a mind-bending 55,000 products.”

As CEO George Buckley notes, “even in the worst economic times in memory, we released over 1,000 new products.”

The percentage of 3M’s revenues from new products is back up to 30 percent. It all adds up to a $23.1 billion business. – Reveries.com

1. FourSquare

My first check in on foursquare this morning brought me news that I received no points for checking in. Oh wait, April Fool’s. It was early, I must admit it made me laugh.

2. Jeff Foxworthy for CURE Childhood Cancer

In celebration of April Fool’s Day today, we shared this PSA campaign funny man Jeff Foxworthy did for our client, CURE Childhood Cancer. It’s no laughing matter that only 2% of federal funding is directed towards solving children’s cancer. Please take a moment to watch and share today.

3. YouTube

So, while on YouTube posting the above video, I noticed the retro-inspired YouTube logo change noting the 1911 establish date and couldn’t help but explore more as today YouTube celebrates 100 Years of YouTube. I love this.

4. Facebook

Facebook started a day early by being down, slow or timing out most of yesterday. Real funny, Facebook …

5. Google

And, Google had me laughing out loud with their subtle new Google Motion product. The video is worth watching for the guy demostrating commands, if nothing else.

6. Chick-fil-A

Did you hear the rumor about Chick-fil-A now opening for business on Sundays too? Another April Fool’s joke that’s been circulating today. I must give them credit for their brilliant online strategies, from this to new product launches, reserving a chicken sandwich never tasted so good.

First, no excuse for the person responsible.  You were paid to represent your client.  Sloppy, irresponsible and in extremely poor taste. But, no excuse for the reaction about social media – many comments in Ad Age from ad professionals.   Many noting the need for greater control.  A lot of sanctimonious “protection” of the brand.

Here’s something to think about.  There are many other posts out there.  And quite a few are not terribly kind to dear ole Chrysler. The days of controlling everything said about your brand is history.

Something else, how about employing the rapper Eminem for network television spots?  A rapper that phrases all kinds of verbal trash.  How responsible to their vaunted brand is that?  So, its okay if you stage it, but not okay if it happens accidently?

Another thing.  Consumer Reports and many other consumers don’t think very highly of your product quality.  How about those posts?

Chrysler, despite your continued ills – poor taste in advertising endorsers, poor product and using taxpayer money to stay alive – you show no mercy to an obvious mistake of your social media agency?  Your PR people may be patting themselves on the back for a quick media cleanup, but your brand remains tarnished.  And, not because of an inadvertent Twitter post.

“Let advertisers spend the same amount of money improving their product that they do on advertising and they wouldn’t have to advertise it.”  Well stated, Will Rogers.

We are pleased with our work at Guest Relations Marketing and the fact that we have beat the economy, the fall-out in the real estate market, the normal growing pains and still managed to join the club of just 20% of businesses that actually survive to 5 years.

What has made this a great ride to date is the true chemistry of our group – both our inside staff and our terrific resource specialists.  Each has genuinely embraced a collaborative spirit in creating distinctive work.   The only drama has been determining what is exactly the best approach for our clients.   You can’t fake culture and the impact it has on a business.  We’re thankful to our staff for that.  Even on the bad days, it has been an inspiring and uplifting place to practice our craft.

Most importantly, we are very thankful and grateful for the trust and confidence that our clients have shown to us over the years.   We truly strive to be “zealots” for our clients.  We hope that has been in evidence in our work and in our attitude.  We are stronger, more competitive, wiser and more focused as a business today than when we started.

Thanks!  It has been a very good ride.

Mike and April

I just saw this TV commercial for Miracle Whip for the first time and thought, “Smart.” Miracle Whip has figured out the core of their brand. There are two kinds of people in this world, those who passionately love the mayo, and those who wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole.

What I love most about the spot is that it speaks directly to the Zealots of the brand, completely polarizing those who don’t like them anyways and never will.

So, are you team Miracle Whip or no?