Feeling those mid-winter, uninspired blahs when it comes to online marketing? We’ve got just the thing to get your brain moving: Our weekly list of five things you might have missed. This week’s fivesome features news stories, marketing innovations and social media ideas guaranteed to ignite your creative fires!

1.) Food + Fashion: This interview with Cupcakes and Cashmere creator Emily Shuman tops our list for proving that when we blog about the things we’re passionate about, the money is sure to follow. The former ad executive is making big dollars by covering fashion and food in her highly-read blog. Shuman is further proof of the blog as business model and we love it.

2.) The Golden Voice Returns: Remember Ted Williams, that homeless dude with the amazing voice? After a rough ride through the media ringer, Williams returned in a charity Twitter campaign for Kraft Macaroni and Cheese this week. Kraft donated thousands of boxes of mac’n'cheese for every #voiceoflove tweet they received to Feeding America. The campaign was a stand out on Valentine’s Day for showing the Twitter love for folks who really deserve it.

3.) Best Apology Ever: O.b. Tampons has made more than a few marketing mistakes over the last two years, so when the company pulled its o.b. Ultras from store shelves late in 2011, consumers were not happy. Instead of tweeting a “we’re sorry” message, the company came up with a now viral video that sets a new standard for creative corporate apologies. Without giving away the details, we’ll just say this hilarious and ingenious interactive spot is sure to put o.b. on the road to redemption.

4.) Even Zuckerberg’s Pinterest Crazy: We clocked Pinterest as the “it” social media site last year and having Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg sign up this week seems to confirm that prediction. Zuckerberg is already enthusiastically pinning and posting, proving that Pinterest is a social media force to be reckoned with.

5.) Here’s to New Voices, Too: With the sad passing of Whitney Houston and the downright bizarre Grammy awards from last weekend, it seemed like music could use a fresh face or two. Luckily, a super-viral Target commercial answered the call by introducing the planet to 11-year-old Denise Bestman from Staten Island. Her cover of Rolling in the Deep is evidence that talent and hope are found in unlikely places.

It’s Friday, which means we’re back once again to bring the best stories in online marketing, digital branding and social media marketing that may have passed you by. So here’s our turbo-charged, heavily-medicated and potato-scented list we affectionately call “5 Things You Might Have Missed.”

1.) And the Beat Goes On: Playing for Change has been on a global mission to spread music from independent artists since 2008; the company’s Stand By Me video is a YouTube smash hit with 39 million views. But what makes Playing for Change our list topper is this story from Web Ink Now that profiles Playing for Change’s inspiring business model and unique marketing strategy that breaks every rule in book and doesn’t wait for music industry approval.

2.) Riding the Potato Express: They had us at baked potato-scented bus shelter! McCain Foods has installed 3D panels on bus shelter ads that emit the aroma of baked potatoes! Grab some butter and sour cream and enjoy.

3.) The Social Media Prescription: It took some time, but those crafty drug manufacturers are finally hopping on the social media bandwagon — and with some pretty surprising results. Viagra has created a few eye-popping YouTube videos to discourage consumers from buying illegal knockoffs and BI has even created a social media game base on the world of prescription drugs called Syrum (because calling it DrugVille would be weird). We’re pretty sure once the pharma world gets the hang of this social media thing, we’ll be seeing a full-on blitz in the months to come.

4.) Crowd Sourced Cars: Nissan deserves some major kudos for coming up with an innovative Facebook campaign which allows fans to create and customize the features on the new 370Z. Project 370Z enlists the help of Facebook fans to help pick out the new Z’s power, interior, exterior and handling/brakes. The crowd-created vehicle will be unveiled at this May’s Z Day Gathering in the Great Smokey Mountains.

5.) Look Around with the Chili Peppers: Last but certainly not least, we’d like to draw your attention to a great interactive viral music video that wasn’t created by OKGo. The Red Hot Chili Peppers recently went digital, and the clever point and click music video for “Look Around” is proof positive that older acts can rock out creative viral videos too.

Another crazy week has come to an end, and that means we are armed and ready with a chunky list of the best in online management, social media marketing and digital engagement news. Sit back and enjoy our 5 things you might have missed.

1.) Ferris is Saved: That long-awaited and much-discussed Matthew Broderick/Ferris Bueller Honda ad finally saw the light of day online just days ahead of its Super Bowl debut. The result? Ferris and the humor from the ’80s may not have aged all that well, but those of us from the John Hughes generation are sure to make this clip a viral hit.

2.) Let the iPad 3 Rumors Begin: As the Super Bowl passes and a predictable awards season slumps towards the finish line, America needs something to look forward to. Thankfully, the hubbub around the spring iPad 3 should do the trick. The usual fever pitch of crazy is happening, proving even without Steve Jobs, new Apple products can still stir up a PR frenzy.

3.) Komen Foundation Flails on Facebook: Oh goodness. We’re doubt you missed this story if you own a computer and have logged on Facebook at all this week. Nevertheless, it is listworthy for proving how fast bad news travels in the age of social media. The Susan G. Komen Foundation announced it would sever its ties with Planned Parenthood this week and within hours the story exploded on Facebook and was trending topic on Twitter. Komen thus far isn’t backing down and Planned Parenthood supporters are already on the defensive. Look to Facebook to continue serving as the battleground for this hotly-debated topic.

4.) A New Kind of Bear Tale: A new interactive documentary, Bear 71 makes the list for showing how technology, Internet marketing and viral content can be used to make provocative points while drawing attention to important issues. Bear 71 hopefully is the wave of the future for online marketing of documentaries that normally get lost in the blockbuster shuffle.

5.) Back in the Groove: Another ’80s favorite is back for the Super Bowl — Madonna! The original Queen of Pop returned with a full-court media blitz this week and was everywhere from Leno to Google+ and beyond. Madonna at 53 is still an innovator when it comes to pushing her brand in new ways and we’re happy to have her back.

Stuck in a slump with your blog creation? Need some ideas before you embark on a blog marketing bonanza? Well, this blogtacular edition of our 5 Things You Might Have Missed is sure to inspire and entertain!

1.) Front & Main by West Elm: This blog is a great read. It’s filled with decorating and furniture ideas, proving your branded blog can sell your wares without being boring. Note the magazine-style look of Front & Main and the snappy copy, and then go infuse your own blog with the same effortless combo of style and information.

2.) Richard Branson’s Blog: Virgin’s rowdy and opinionated CEO blogs about company goings-on as well as his thoughts on hot global news stories. Branson is in love with social media and we love how his blog serves as a hub for keeping up with the busy billionaire online. Borrow some of Branson’s brashness to make your business blog stand out for having a personality.

3.) Standard Culture: Splashy and in your face, this blog looks more like an ad campaign for Italian jeans than a blog for a hotel chain. But since the hotel chain in question is The Standard, this blog fits its hipster-friendly brand like a glove. Standard Culture is a great reminder to make sure our blogs truly reflect our brand’s image.

4.) Lidia’s Italy Blog: Everybody’s surrogate Italian mama and one of NYC’s most prolific restaurateurs, Lidia Bastianich doesn’t overly update her blog. Some might argue that this is a problem (we tend to agree; of course, we update blogs for a living). But what is noteworthy about Bastianich’s blog and website in general is that the tone is informational and warm, just like the cooking goddess herself. Take away from this blog an aspiration to present the informational parts of your company in a more engaging way.

5.) Marc by Marc Jacobs: Minimal and sparse, you could call fashion guru Marc Jacobs’ blog pretentious… and you wouldn’t be wrong. But what’s great about it is the sleek and striking format that lets Jacobs and his brand messaging really shine. A teaspoon of Marc Jacobs’ minimalist style infused into our blogs would go a long way to inspire us to keep our blogs clean and easy to use.

What a week! Between awards show cattiness, brand breakdowns and Internet shutdowns, there is no shortage of things to dish about. So let’s get right into all the latest online marketing news in a list we all know and love as our “Five Things You Might Have Missed.”

1.) Timeline App-valanche: In its short life, Facebook’s Timeline has been known for garnering a lot of resistance and headlines. We can now add apps to that list. Tons of blogs reported on the addition of Timeline apps this week because, love it or loathe it, Timeline is Facebook’s latest product and apps could be the next big thing in Facebook marketing.

2.) Lionel Richie, Free Speech Protector? This video from slick ad director Matthijs Volt may not have set out to say a lot about piracy and SOPA but by using dialogue from hit films (without permission) to recreate Lionel Richie’s hit “Hello” the video is the kind of thumbing of the nose the movement needs right now. Funny, brilliantly edited and released at a time of year when we celebrate film, this viral hit laughs at piracy laws and makes us smile, too.

3.) MINI is Red Hot and Social: The itty bitty car MINI has launched a giant Facebook campaign in which one of its cars is suspended on a hill by a rope with a Bunsen burner underneath, burning away at the rope. This crazy science experiment relies on Facebook page likes to release the car into the wild. Users who like the brand also get to check in on the car’s status.

4.) From Tart to Sour: This week, Pinkberry was the latest brand to hop onto to Twitter to put out a bad PR fire. Co-founder of the yogurt empire Young Lee was arrested after chasing down a transient and beating him with a tire iron. Company heads swiftly took to Twitter to state that Young has not been an active part of Pinkberry since 2010 and now serves solely as a stockholder. The company is desperately (and understandably) trying to distance itself from Lee, but given the amount of negative posts online, it might take more than a few tweets and a press release to make its image sweet again.

5.) Going Wiki-less: During the SOPA protests blackouts of Wednesday, many big websites shutdown services, and the most missed site had to be Wikipedia. Wiki withdraw proved how much we would miss uncensored unregulated information and the message was received loud and clear.

Another week has come to a close, which means another firestorm of social media marketing, digital branding and viral content headlines have probably passed you by. But before you get all Mister Pouty Pants on us, read our Five Things You Might Have Missed List and instantly feel better!

1.) Facebook Flavor: Lots of restaurants are using Facebook to show off menu items by enlisting the help of followers, and Subway’s Flavorizer is a fun one you might have missed. With 9 million-plus likes, Subway has called on its massive fan following to show off the ways they accessorize Subway breakfast sandwiches. The Flavorizer has a gallery of custom-made sandwiches with specialized ingredients, user-created menu names and photos of the Facebook fan who came up with the culinary creation. Yummy and innovative.

2.) Relationships? There’s an App for That: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, TheIceBreaker is a social media app for those couples who can’t stop texting or talking to each other. This “appdorable” tool works like a private Facebook wall with prompts and questions for couples to answer and comment on. While cute and buzzworthy, TheIceBreaker is also the first in many popular relationship- and friendship-based apps that are on the verge of becoming the next hottest trend in the genre.

3.) OMG D&G: The Italian-based fashion retailer Dolce & Gabbana faced a Facebook firing squad when news of discrimination came from the brand’s store in Hong Kong. Apparently security guards were instructed to forbid Hong Kongers from taking pictures while inside the store, but mainland Chinese tourists were give the okay to snap away. While this mainly sounds like the old turf war between Hong Kong and China, D&G didn’t make matters any better by ignoring the criticism and turning up its nose to the allegations.

4.) Google+ Games are on the Map: This February, Google+ throws its hat into the social gaming ring with Play Your World. The game smartly capitalizes on Google’s deeply-popular Goggle Maps and turns it into a fun globe-hopping game. It’s another cool product developed for Google+ that uses the company’s branding and, we’ll admit it… we can’t wait to play it.

5.) Boomerang Pizza: Finally, every so often we like to close out this list we a “so wrong, it’s right” type of viral ad and this Boomerang Pizza commercial from Spain certainly fits the bill. Just be warned: This beyond bizarre spot is NSFW/maybe anywhere else. Watch and discuss.

On today’s five-item menu: The White House serves up a meaty Twitter marketing topic, IKEA hosts a hot sleepover jam, a juicy burger from the dark side and so much more. Bon Appetit!

1.) Turning the Tide: Here in the U.S., many states have taken drastic measures to get rid of plastic grocery bags. Yet worldwide, the pesky polluters continue to be a problem. So in a wise effort to get shoppers to switch to reusable grocery bags, Tide came up with one you can write your shopping list on. This planet-friendly maneuver is also brand-friendly, as Tide’s logo is prominently displayed.

2.) Take a Bite of the Dark Side: This crazy-ass Darth Vader hamburger from France’s Quick fast food chain was on every blog this week. But in case you missed it, the restaurant came up with a “Dark Vador” burger to celebrate the release of the Phantom Menace in 3D. Notable for its black hamburger buns and strange-looking sauces, this burger might cause a travel frenzy to Paris from geeks hoping to get a taste before the promotional item goes away on March 1st.

3.) Facebook Fan Slumber Party: IKEA once again took the Facebook page to another level when it held a sleepover in one of its stores in the U.K. 100 lucky followers on Facebook got to spend the night in Swedish retail slumber with massages, bedtime stories and goody bags. And IKEA took the opportunity to promote its line of mattresses and bedding.

4.) That Bag Can Talk: Tostitos debuted an unlikely but very likable spokesperson this week: a talking bag. In a series of ads that are getting a lot of play online, the bag talks about being dip worthy and entertains a group of football fans. It’s funny advertising for the snack crowd and it signals the arrival of the upcoming Super Bowl advertising-pollooza.

5.) The White House Pours a #40: This week, the White House took to Twitter to ask followers, “What can you buy with #40dollars?” The topic, which was launched in response to Congress’ rejection of a tax cut that would have put an extra $40 on American’s paychecks, became a hashtag which developed into a lively conversation between Washington and Twitter users. While detractors say the administration is out of touch with Americans, it can’t be argued how well they keep in touch with voters using social media.

Not a whole heck of a lot happening in online marketing land this week as most of us struggled to get back into the groove after the holidays. But we still managed to scoop up a quintet of interesting, funny and innovative stories from the world of online and social media marketing. Here now is our weekly list of five things you might have missed!

1.) Say it with a frog: One little French restaurant in Moscow cooked up a tasty idea to get Russians to change their minds about French food. No press releases were sent out and there wasn’t a big social media launch — all they needed were some frogs. Vatel was looking to smash stereotypes about French cuisine, so it wisely sent tiny, live frogs with invitations to members of the media and local food bloggers. Vatel says 100 percent of the frog recipents responded and now the joint is, ahem, hopping.

2.) Written in cheese: Domino’s relased a funny app to celebrate the cheesy goodness of its New Stuffed Cheesy Bread with a font made entirely out of cheese. Fromage fanatics can compose a message with the gooey font and send it to their friends. Cheesetacular!

3.) Apple is thinking about your face: iPhone announced plans to dump the annoying number passcode system in favor of facial recognition software. According to a recently-filed patent, iPhone users soon will be able to simply look at their phone to unlock it. The feature is already available on “jailbroken” phones as well as on some Androids with Ice Cream Sandwich but we’re sure it’ll be Apple that takes facial recognition tech to the next level.

4.) A slippery social media slope (literally): Vail Resort has bought back its incredibly popular EpicMix app for the 2011/2012 ski season. The new version for IOS/Android allows skiers to use their smartphones as lift tickets, chat with friends on the slopes and see live stats from the mountain as well as photos taken by the resorts photographers.

5.) Amazon gets social, too: Social isn’t just for ski bunnies; top online retailer Amazon is looking to be the premier social shopping destination. New regime changes that brought in staffers from Quora signals a push forward on the social shopping frontier and, as always with Amazon, we can’t wait to see what the company does next.

As you hop head first into the holidays, let us fill your stocking with the latest in online marketing oddities, social media gems and video content delights. Our gift to you is our weekly list of Five Things You Might Have Missed! So enjoy — and whatever it is you’re celebrating, we here at Brandsplat hope it’s merry!

1.) Santa Puts Siri in His Sleigh: Here’s a rare Christmas-themed ad from Apple that has been the subject of oodles and oodles of blogs this week. Why? Because depending on how you feel about Apple products, the commercial is either a warm, holiday message or the perpetuation of the iPhone cult. Still, no matter how you slice it, showing Santa using Siri to find houses and keep track of his Christmas list is clever and perfect for the season.

2.) Unhappy Tweets: Despite its chipper demeanor, researchers at the University of Vermont have found that Twitter is not a happy place. The study reports that based on frequently used words, folks on Twitter are less happy than they used to be. Researchers note that a newsworthy event like a death or a natural disaster can affect the general mood of Twitter and the sour content of the tweets. This makes the list for reminding us to tweet positive or educational messages that make Twitter a happier place.

3.) Watch This Top Ten: Here’s a year-end list you’ll wanna watch — the ten most watched ads on YouTube. You might have seen all of them already, but the list deserves a gander to get a glimpse into the trends and viral content from the year that was.

4.) But the Google is So Delightful: Of the online holiday-themed time killers from last week, Google’s “Let it Snow” Easter egg was certainly one of the most entertaining. The snow-globe effect dusted upon the search engine when the words “let it snow” were entered brought smiles to even the crustiest tech and marketing snobs.

5.) Slip Sliding Away: Finally, this helpful and kind of hilarious video from TomTom rounds out our list for having a great song, a timeless message and priceless footage of drivers acting the fool in the snow.

Holidays gotcha down? Work stressing you out? Well, kick your feet up, sit back and enjoy the hottest and oddest online marketing news stories in a little concoction we call our “Five Things You Might Have Missed” list!

1.) Rockin’ Around the Facebook Tree: Singapore, social media and Heineken aren’t things you traditionally think of at Christmas, but that’s about to change. The Heineken Super Social Christmas Tree in Clarke Quay, Singapore, is a digital art installation of 48 massive LCD screens that display photos and messages from app users who pop by the tree. It’s social media meets art with holiday flare.

2.) Yes, Virginia, People Still Use Blogger: The much-mocked blogging platform Blogger got its Google+ makeover this week, and it’s about darn time! Easy to use and easier to find, Blogger needs to step into the WordPress/Tumblr era and hopefully these updates will be a step in the right direction.

3.) Russian Out for a Whopper: Burger-shaped turntables, tattoos, unicorns and sassy dancing counter girls are just a few of the delights you’ll find in this Russian Burger King ad that’s going viral faster than you can say “paper crown.” If U.S. Burger Kings were this cool, we might actually eat there.

4.) Artsy-Fartsy Gets Appsy-Snappsy: Despite what the media would lead you to believe, people actually like looking at art and now there’s an app that helps art lovers find local visual delights on their phones. ArtSpotter helps visitors to London find all of the noteworthy galleries, exhibits and museums on a handy-dandy map. The app just launched and hopefully it will spread to cities around the globe. Mobile marketing and apps have made the visual arts cool and accessible and we think that’s worth celebrating.

5.) That Warm, Fuzzy Holiday Feeling: Lastly, this list of things marketers can do to give back during the holidays makes our list because it’s nice to use this time of year to actually think of others and do good stuff. Plus, the efforts are easy on the wallet and things even work-from-home bloggers and marketers can manage.