On today’s menu: a delicious Facebook meltdown, a sweet smash hit of online video creation and a delectable sampling of the best treats from the world of online marketing. So pull up a chair and enjoy a buffet we call Five Things You Might Have Missed!

1.) Kitchen & Facebook Nightmares: If you want crystal clear examples of how NOT to use Facebook marketing, how to get a reality television audience to turn against you and generally make the Internet explode, please direct your attention to Amy’s Baking Company in Scottsdale, Arizona. To say the restaurant has experienced negative backlash after an epically horrific appearance on Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares would be the understatement of the decade. Things went from bad to worse when the owners freaked out on their Facebook page and started insulting, well, everybody. It’s a branding train-wreck that must be seen to be believed.

2.) No. 1 in Twitter Marketing: Meet TweetPee, a Twitter-based alert that lets parents know every time their bundle of joy needs their diaper changed. This is either the grossest use of branded Twitter campaigns we’ve ever seen or one of the most genius. Either way, it’s Twitter for business that folks are talking about around the globe.

3.) More Social Google Goodies: This week’s Google I/O Developers conference saw a bunch of new, big-time social media stuff from the world’s most visited site. Lucky for us, Taylor Hatmaker from ReadWriteWeb breaks down the ins and outs of these innovations and what marketers need to know in a new blog post.

4.) Slingshots Never Disappoint: We’re not sure what produce wrapped in socks hurled at a wall of champagne glasses has to do with anything, but we do know that as a viral commercial for Hanes, the idea is a hit — and one worth watching. A couple of times.

5.) Snap, Crackle, WTF: On second thought, you may actually want to miss the noisy adjustments in the online commercial for Ryan Lee Chiropractic Center in Los Angeles. After all, the exaggerated snapping and popping of human body parts are just a tad disturbing. But regardless of how this ad makes you feel, it’s memorable.

If you don’t read our weekly list of five things you might have missed, you could potentially miss out on cool blogging commenting innovation, some shocking news that will affect mobile marketing and the incredible brand engagement happening in Peru. And you wouldn’t want to do that now, would ya?

1.) SMS, Meet the FCC: If you’ve been using SMS text messaging to market to your clients, things just got a little more complicated. According to ClickZ, an updated ruling by the FCC now dictates that marketers must get written consent before sending sales messages via SMS text. “The ruling classifies text messages with auto-dialed ‘telemarketing robocalls,’ and requires ‘prior express written consent’ from the recipient. This consent can take the form of an ‘email, website form, text message, telephone key press, or voice recording,’” Melinda Krueger of ClickZ writes. Translation: The days of branded text blasts without permission are officially over.

2.) Widespread Comments: This week introduced a super-cool way for blog commenters to also share their thoughts on Google+. Google+ users who comment on Blogger-based blogs will now be able to post these comments on Google+ which instantly spreads the conversation — and the blog — to a huge audience. This innovation is good news for both blog readers and blog marketers.

3.) Twitter Tracks: Speaking of new products from social media giants, Twitter rocked the Internet this week by releasing Twitter Music. Think more Pandora meets MySpace and less iTunes and you’ll get the idea of this new service. Twitter Music seems like a hit already with artists and labels, but it remains to be seen if music fans will respond.

4.) LinkedIn Love: Having a hard time marketing on LinkedIn? You’re not alone. Getting a brand to break through on the crowded, schmoozy site is no easy task, so this article by Mike Delgado of Social Media Examiner is an essential read for marketers looking for LinkedIn love.

5.) The Power of Smiles: Lastly, we wrap up our list with this awesome photo booth marketing idea from Coca-Cola. The world’s favorite soda got serious Peruvians to crack a smile in photo booths posted around the country with the “Happy ID Project.” Armed with smile-activated cameras, the booths popped out IDs that give lucky smilers free Coke stuff and rewards just for turning their frowns upside down.

We’re back once again with five stories from the world of online marketing that you won’t want to slip past you! From social media hokey pokey to big brand blunders, we’ve got you covered.

1.) Hiatus Dismissed: After a very public dumping, GM has returned to Facebook and is now advertising on the site once again after a 12-month absence. Ever the trend setter when it comes to digital media, does GM see potential in Facebook ads that the rest of us are missing? Or is the big car company just covering its bases? Either way, it’s an interesting move.

2.) Bluth or Dare: The return of Arrested Development on Netflix is about to reach a fever pitch (at least among the show’s devoted fans), and this new teaser ad campaign should push it right over the top. Featuring inside jokes from the cult series (like grape juice, denim jorts and a banana), the series of posters is bound to have fans drooling.

3.) Big Mac Addiction: McDonald’s found itself issuing an apology for an advertisement which critics say poked fun at mental illness. The posters featured the words “You are not alone” along with the image of a woman in pain hiding her face. Below the photo was more copy about getting help for Big Mac addiction accompanied by McDonald’s corporate number. Needless to say, riders of Boston Mass Tranist, where the ads were displayed, were not amused; the company since has kiboshed the entire campaign.

4.) InApp-ropriate: A censored comic book, millions of ticked off fans and the iTunes App Store are all at the center of an interesting branding controversy currently brewing. The hubbub involving a tiny image in the popular comic book Saga depicting gay sex could change what we market and develop for smartphone applications. For its part, Apple says it isn’t budging on the censorship. “We view apps different than books or songs, which we do not curate. If you want to criticize a religion, write a book. If you want to describe sex, write a book or a song, or create a medical app. It can get complicated, but we have decided to not allow certain kinds of content in the App Store.”

5.) Phone Home: And closing out this week’s list is Facebook Home. The definitely-not-a-smartphone but not really an app thing Facebook released this week caused some to scratch their heads, but there’s no denying the online video creation for the product is very cool. Now, if we could only figure out what the heck it is…

Face it: We’ve all followed that brand before. You know, the one that posts disjointed, irrelevant posts on Facebook. That company that only blogs sporadically and when it does, the posts make little or no sense. It’s the same business who opened a Twitter account, made a bunch of blasting noise for a short period of time and then vanished. These brands seem to embody the word “random” — and not in a fun way (like a random disco dance number that happens out of nowhere at a party). We talking random, lazy and nonsensical content that just pops up whenever company officials get around to posting. But in addition to being annoying, random content marketing doesn’t work.

There are two ways being random with digital marketing fails. The first has to do with intention. Facebook page updates that don’t have anything to do with your brand, awkward and overly emotional tweets and blogs with videos that don’t really speak to your customers aren’t the best way to get your message across. Yes, anybody can put whatever they want online, but when it comes to your brand, some thought and planning should apply. Not every online message our brands send out will go viral, but they can at least make sense and share a piece of the bigger story of our brand. Most importantly, marketing randomly can negate other aspects of branding work a company does.

The second way this idea of “random” stinks as a marketing mantra is when we’re talking about marketing with regularity. Brands with no schedule, no plan or no routine when it comes to updating their blogs, websites or social media accounts are doing themselves a huge disservice. One tweet once a week won’t get you noticed. A blog post every blue moon won’t help your SEO. Online marketing takes creativity and regularity. Time and time again, the brands that succeed with content marketing are the ones that keep with it and post regularly.

Looking for the best news tidbits from the worlds of content marketing and digital engagement? Then you, my friend, are in the right place. Please enjoy our five things you might have missed!

1.) Dos de Mayo: Before you bust out those margaritas and fancy sombrero, we thought you should know that Cinco de Mayo has moved. Or at least it will if the Most Interesting Man in the World from Dos Equis gets his way. Turns out the suave mustachioed know-it-all isn’t a fan of Sunday holidays and is rallying online to get it changed in a new video campaign. The brand is even throwing a Dos de Mayo party in Los Angeles to help their spokesman’s cause.

2.) Twitter Satisfaction: In other news involving salty old guys you just can’t hold down, this week the Rolling Stones rocked social media. The hashtag #StartMeUpWednesday dominated Twitter and Tumblr as the Stones announced new tour dates in the U.S. and UK. Sure, younger artists like One Direction or Taylor Swift would surely get more traction, but for a bunch of guys in their 70s, it’s impressive that the campaign got global recognition.

3.) Get it Right: Those smarties over at Oreo have figured out that while the customer isn’t always right, they certainly enjoy being right. The cookie giant’s SuperImportantTest.com makes both cookie lovers and creamy center fans feel like super geniuses when they answer this funny and clever online test.

4.) No Dummies: Here’s an unforgettable in store advertisement from Vivienne Westwood in Milan that slipped by us last fall. The boutique window featured mannequins with bruises and injuries to symbolize Italy’s growing problem with domestic violence. It’s a stunning and powerful campaign made even more so by a well-made video.

5.) From Pinterest to the Parking Lot: Imagine a Buick designed by Pinterest users. Well, it actually exists — and no, it doesn’t have a dashboard made out of pizza-muffins or an interior constructed from Vera Wang wedding dresses. The über stylish ride was the product of a closed contest conducted last October 2012. Buick invited ten of the top design, fashion, food and lifestyle bloggers to Detroit for an exclusive trip behind the scenes of the Buick Design Center. According to Buick’s YouTube channel, “After meeting the design team and exploring the vehicle, each blogger developed a Pinterest board showcasing how the Buick Encore speaks to their personal style and life passions. Blogger Michael Wurm Jr.’s pinboard was chosen in December 2012 as the inspiration for the Buick design team. His personalized, stylized Encore was revealed this week during the 2013 New York Auto Show.”

Whether it’s the company’s email newsletter or branded Twitter marketing efforts, we all have encountered the dreaded unfollow. Seemingly without provocation, folks who used to love our brand on social media and email marketing drop us like hot potatoes, leaving marketing gurus wondering one thing: Why?

Remember when you used to get in trouble for talking too much in class because it was disruptive? Well, turns out we still don’t like chatterboxes, especially ones who are relentlessly trying to sell us stuff. According to a survey released last year by HubSpot, 54 percent of respondents said they dumped brands who emailed them too frequently. Ditto on Twitter, where 52 percent said in a different survey conducted by DK Media they unfollowed brands who were too noisy.

But just being noisy is only the beginning of the problem for unfollows. Turns out the quality of the message is equally as important. When Constant Contact customers were polled last year as to why they unfollowed, 56 percent cited irrelevant content being the catalyst to press that “unsubscribe” button. Thanks to smartphones, consumers are more savvy and more selective as to which brands they let in their in-boxes, and the ones who churn out boring stuff are almost certainly destined for deletion. Granted, it is true that many unfollows are caused by the rare customer that signs up for a one-time deal or who changes his or her contact information. But all of these surveys seem to hint at another big reason for the dreaded unfollow — desperation. “Begging tweets,” pushy emails and relentless Facebook postings which beg for approval all turn customers off.

In the end, the best thing brands can do to avoid the unfollow is to stop badgering and start having a conversation. Brands should talk to followers on social media and in email marketing just like they would to their friends. But you tell us, readers: What kind of crimes does a brand have to commit to warrant an unfollow? Sound off below!

Happy April Fools Day! Thanks to the digital revolution and online marketing, April 1st has gone from minor holiday to full-fledged pop culture phenomenon. Over the last few years, we have seen brands — from the heavy hitters to creative independents — use social media, viral marketing, innovative online video creation and all things Internet to pull off good-natured pranks on their followings. To celebrate, here’s our list of five April Fools pranks you might have missed.

1.) Bacon Fresh: Topping our list is the granddaddy of all 2013 April Fools gags: Scope’s Bacon Mouthwash. Released a few days before the holiday, the spot has wisely had people wondering, “Is this actually real?!?” which is the sign of a damn good prank.

2.) Kitty to the Rescue: See Eye Inc., the school which helps canines turn into helpful service animals, is introducing the world’s first seeing eye cat in honor of the holiday. One glance at the kitty with the service harness on and you’ll see why this smart joke makes our list.

3.) Pick a Winner: Call it the worst surprise of the year. Call it a joke everybody saw coming. But whatever you call it, YouTube shutting down in an elaborate April Fool’s joke is still pretty genius.

4.) Painted-on Jeans: Kudos to clothier American Eagle for cooking up a hilarious parody of both its own products and 20-something customer base. The AEO Skinny Skinny Jeans, complete with a full online video campaign, are literally just cans of spray paint. American Eagle has managed to laugh at itself while laughing with its following, too, which is a rare thing indeed.

5.) Even More Bacon: If you weren’t totally over/grossed out/exhausted by our collective obsession of bacon, the last gag on our list should do the trick. While we can’t be positive it isn’t an actual product, we are praying J&D Foods’ recently-released bacon condoms and (gag) bacon lube are the stuff of practical jokes. Nevertheless, it is memorable and subsequently has nabbed a bunch of headlines for J&D Foods.

Keeping up with the latest news from the content marketing universe is an exhausting endeavor and could almost become a full-time job. But since you already have a job, our Five Things You Might Have Missed List is a quick and easy way to get all your headlines while staying gainfully employed!

1.) Blackout Tweets: Talk about the ultimate in turning lemons into lemonade. Social media savvy marketers for Oreo, Audi, Tide and VW took to Twitter during the Super Bowl blackout last Sunday. These fast-on-their-feet brands showed that Twitter is the ultimate platform for impromptu marketing. Tweets like “Power out? No problem. You can still dunk in the dark” from Oreo creatively rolled with the punches and got retweeted thousands of times as a result.

2.) Home Sweet Homepage: Looking to give your blog a facelift? Read Hubspot’s 12 Inspiring Examples of Beautiful Blog Homepage Designs first! This post that you might have missed profiles the best blog homepages in the business and how you can infuse some their style into your own work.

3.) Ain’t it Grand: In recent months, Google has really taken to imaginative online video creation and has come up with some truly cool campaigns. The latest, which shows how Google Maps went off-road to create stunning panoramic shots of the Grand Canyon, is another example of how Google is mastering video to reach even more customers.

4.) Supply and Demanding: A new study from About.com and Latitude proves what marketers have suspected for years: Consumers demand more engagement from brands. Seventy-nine percent of consumers polled agreed with the statement: “My relationship with brands is much more personal than ever before,” while 68 percent of consumers concur with the assertion that “Shopping today is less about the brands/products themselves and more about me — what I’m feeling or needing.” In other words, not only is the customer always right, but they also want you to post that on their Facebook wall.

5.) Locked and Loaded: Finally, to see examples of Twitter tantrums to avoid, look no further than the current bickering back and forth between celebrities who are pro-gun control and those against it. This kind of social media preaching, regardless of what side you’re on, makes one miss the good old days when celebrities spoke only through their publicists.

Email newsletters could really add a lot to your current content marketing strategy. The best newsletters not only help spread a brand’s message but are actually the kind of emails people enjoy opening. Unfortunately, the bad email newsletters the ones that get instantly deleted and unsubscribed from are far more common. The line between interesting and annoying is a fine one, indeed, in email marketing. Lucky for you, we have a few pointers to help your company’s newsletter bring smiles to your customers’ in-boxes.

SFGate recently looked into what makes time-killing social media site Quora’s newsletter so darn readable and entertaining. Quora’s Adam D’Angelo says it’s all about personalized content.

“Well, it is algorithmically created,” he notes. “I wanted to make something that people would read. What I didn’t want was something that was an annoying little email. It took a while, but it has paid off. We had two people who worked on it (in a dedicated fashion) for a month, though we had been working on-and-off on it for nearly a year-and-a-half. The email essentially looks at what people are reading and engaging (with) the most on Quora.”

In short, D’Angelo and his Quora team worked hard on creating a newsletter that talks about the things their users are interested in — and that’s something any company can do, even without fancy algorithm tools. Simple questionnaires on email subscription lists can help you decipher what topics and products your email newsletter readers are interested in. Short and specific newsletters can be created by simply altering your general customer newsletter. Another thing Quora does brilliantly with its newsletter is publish weekly. Not daily, which is too much, or monthly, which tends to lead to customer amnesia. A weekly, friendly “hello!” from you to your customers says, “I’m keeping in touch” instead of “I’m stalking you” or, even worse, “I’ve forgotten about you.”

Finally, a fool-proof way to get folks to open your newsletters is with a great subject line. Quora asks clever questions in its subject lines, while Williams-Sonoma uses tempting cuisine descriptions and others still use today’s headlines to get us to open. However you get there, the point is you only get one chance to create an intriguing subject line. The Internet is filled with definitive advice blog posts on how to create the world’s most fabulous subject lines. While we’re sure each of these has its merits, we’ve found that simply writing subject lines that you’d want to read yourself is a brilliant place to start.

Skillful social media management sometimes comes down to just being a nice guy. Brands that rely on channels like Twitter and Facebook to reward customers, fix consumer issues and get feedback let followers know that there’s a real person behind those status updates. Fast-food chain Taco Bell is one company that seems to really thrive from brand engagement. Over the last few years, the company has reached out to its fans on Facebook and Twitter with all kinds of personalized communication. Now one teenage swimmer and regular customer’s quirky request has proven that even big brands like Taco Bell actually read the posts on their Facebook pages.

“Where do I go after a long day’s workout? Taco Bell, of course. I eat at Taco Bell at least 5-7 times a week,” 16-year-old Ryan Klarner of Palantine, Ill., posted on Taco Bell’s Facebook Page. “So, what I am asking is this: Is there any way you guys could make me a customized Speedo that says ‘think outside the buns’ on the back of it?”

Just two weeks later, Taco Bell responded to Klarner’s request.

“What size do you wear? And what is your address?” the company posted.

This little interaction between fan and brand caught the eye of big blogs like Mashable and Huffington Post. HuffPo reached out to Taco Bell to see if its offer was legit.

“This Facebook fan caught our attention because of his passion for the brand and the way he Lives Mas with Taco Bell,” Tressie Lieberman, Taco Bell’s director of digital and social engagement, said via e-mail to HuffPo. “We are going to deliver on the fan’s original request, and also send him a Speedo that represents our new branding, Live Mas.”

Several Facebook posts, two Speedos and hundreds of tacos later, Klarner got his wish — and Taco Bell made headlines.

Talk about delicious digital engagement! But now it’s your turn, readers: Share with us great tales of interaction with brands using social media in the comments section below.