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.

Feeling overwhelmed and out of the loop? Take a break and catch up with five fantastic stories from the worlds of online marketing and digital branding! Grab a coffee and enjoy our weekly list of five things you might have missed.

1.) Awareness, Orchestrated: In an effort to raise money, CRIS Against Cancer organized a classical music concert in Madrid. According to I Believe in Advertising, “The idea was that the orchestra played the 9th Symphony of Beethoven according to audience response. But, each bar of the score corresponded to a seat in the National Auditorium, therefore any un-sold tickets would mean an unplayed bar, and silence in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony score.” This incredible video shows what happened.

2.) Bestseller Blogs: If you are an indie author planning on using blog marketing to help sell your latest book, this article from Huffington Post is a must-read. In it, the Writer’s Relief staff outlines three essential blogging tips for any budding writer wanting to grab the attention of readers and publishers alike.

3.) Disappearing Ads: If, even as a marketer, the ads on Facebook Mobile drive you nuts, we have some good news. In a story you might have missed, Facebook mobile now lets users hide annoying and plentiful advertisements that pop up on our smartphones. The innovation comes right on the heels of an article from The Atlantic which griped about the irritating ads.

4.) Skinny Machine: “Never underestimate the power of style” is the moral of this little soda story. Diet Coke’s “Slender Vender” is one of those clever marketing ploys that plays perfectly with the brand’s image while producing a memorable visual. The thin, silver vending machine looks as cool and stylish as Diet Coke’s new bottles and cans. Plus, the song in the video is super catchy, too.

5.) A Mother’s Day Marketing Miracle: Finally, we think there’s no better illustration of how to use social media marketing to put your tiny, homespun business on the map than JumpSacBaby. This incredible article from Mashable is as inspiring as it is inspirational for anyone trying to use social media to grow their business and find ways to give your brand a social media makeover.

Every brand wants masterful, memorable and eye-popping online video creation. There’s just one problem: Many companies don’t know where to begin. Lots of businesses mistakenly believe that simply because they’ve watched a lot of snappy, hit viral videos that they can easily make one of their own. That couldn’t be further from the truth. From simple things (like how to hold a video camera and coming up with a clever storyline) to difficult tasks (like editing and marketing) take skill and talent. Don’t have either one of those things? Well, maybe your fans do.

Fan-made videos have dominated the Internet and viral landscape for years, and the genre recently made headlines once again. Just yesterday, a fan-made music video for Daft Punk’s new song “Get Lucky” sent fellow fans and music bloggers alike into a tizzy. The clip uses pre-existing footage of featured vocalist Pharrell mashed-up with clips from the group’s 2006 documentary, Electrorama. But the fan-made pandemonium doesn’t stop there. Pop culture zeitgeist like Pretty Little Liars, Pokemon and Lady Gaga are just a handful of phenoms that have recently inspired fan-made clips.

Naturally, the smarty pants from advertising land have honed in on the power of videos created by fans. Doritos, Pepsi, Blackberry and Chevrolet have all called on the talents of their respective fans to come up with videos. Not only do these creations slice the work (and advertising dollars) in half, but calling for fan-made videos is a terrific way to engage social media followers and drive website traffic. Dr. Pepper is the most recent company to turn to followers for cheap labor and inspiration. The campaign, Be The Next 1, is looking for videos from one-of-a-kind fans with unique stories. Dr. Pepper’s followers on Twitter and Facebook will then choose which one will be featured in a national commercial.

But you don’t have to be a soda giant or a rock star to get followers excited about making videos. Simple product testimonials, footage of beloved family pets and videos of clients talking about your services are just a few ideas to get fans’ creative juices flowing. Video contests are really fun and easy ways to spike engagement and video content on social media. Just be specific about what you want, give guidelines and deadlines, set prizes and let the video-mania begin!

Original, memorable online video creation at times feels impossible. With the sea of new branded video content making waves on YouTube everyday, even getting views is an uphill battle, right? Perhaps, but we believe there are some easy things brands of all sizes can do to get noticed in the viral video battle. So how does a normal video made by a small company achieve YouTube greatness?

While there isn’t a straightforward secret formula when it comes to online videos, including humor is one way to insure a good number of views. The fact is, we the people love to laugh. Therefore, video content that can make us laugh is the kind of thing we forward to friends, post to Facebook and watch over and over again. It’s pure gold. Check out this commercial for Dove men’s shampoo for further proof of how funny works.

It doesn’t matter that this Brazilian commercial isn’t in English or that it’s directed at the tough market of men’s hair care. The fact is it’s funny and memorable. In one minute and eight seconds, Dove has done more for this product than any social media campaign could ever do, and it’s all because the video is hilarious and a little weird. Appealing to your followers’ sense of humor doesn’t take boatloads of cash or a fancy agency, it just takes some great writing and creativity. Creativity when paired with online videos can help consumer change their minds or think of new ways to use your products or services. This ad for Salvation Army is a terrific example of that.

But videos can also be helpful for giving your brand a new narrative. No other platform can express who your company is and what you’re all about faster than video. This is incredibly helpful for brands trying to reintroduce themselves to new customers like childhood favorite Kool-Aid recently did.

There may be no secret formula to creating the next viral hit, but we do know that humor, a strong narrative and creativity certainly help. Also, good video campaigns require a lot of help and fresh ideas (something we can certainly help you with). And if all else fails, go for juvenile and ridiculous. This Kmart ad, posted last week and already boasting over 9 million views, proves that our inner 12-year-old is alive and well and ready to watch videos online.

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.”

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.

We here at Brandsplat comb the web for the best stories around from Facebook, mobile marketing, online video creation and beyond. If it happened in content marketing this week, we have it on our Five Things You Might Have Missed List!

1.) Facebook is Still Watching You: The upside? Facebook might have finally found a way to make money off of ads while making brands happy. In case you missed it, CNET reports that “Facebook announced Tuesday that it had started a small test to let advertisers and agencies use Facebook Exchange (FBX) to serve re-targeted ads — specifically called “Page post link ads” — to your News Feed, which, of course, is Facebook’s prime real estate. These ads take into account people’s browsing behavior outside Facebook, as captured through cookies, with the aim of offering up messages about products they’ve already shown interest in.” The downside? Facebook is now tracking users outrightly and never lets them forget their being watched.

2.) Where an App Can be an App: Think your old pal Chuck E. Cheese is content just playing skee-ball and not joining the mobile marketing revolution? Think again! Everybody’s favorite pizza-loving mouse has come out with a nifty photo-sharing smartphone app which incorporates easy sharing functionality to post snapshots to Facebook and Twitter or to send via email. Users also can use the app to “submit photos to the Chuck E. Cheese’s website for a chance to see their images on the site, as well as on Chuck E. Cheese’s Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest pages,” according to ClickZNews.

3.) Long Live the ’90s: If you missed the ’90s celebration that is the most recent Internet Explorer ad, you might be the only one. The spot — filled with snap bracelets, Hungry Hippos and old school modems — has garnered an impressive 26 million views on YouTube since its debut back in January. Yet it makes our list here in March for being a viral ad that tips its hat to the past while selling the future.

4.) Equality Memes: This week saw no shortage of equality memes on social networks. The logo — adorned with everything from bacon and Paula Deen to Bert and Ernie — was everywhere. It’s hard to say how effective this kind of thing is from a social media standpoint, but there’s no question the Human Rights Campaign logo done up in red and pink is now an undisputed icon of the brand and the movement.

5.) The Return of the Twitter Rant: Looks like we still haven’t learned the Twitter marketing lesson of “a bad tweet never dies.” From the racist rant of Robert Zimmerman to the angry words of Argentina’s president, folks still are tweeting dumb stuff and then having to apologize later. Here’s a revolutionary thought: Why not think before you tweet and avoid this whole mess altogether?

What do you get yourself when your favorite social media site has a birthday? How do you avoid turning into your dad? Is a cyborg attack inevitable? The answers to these and other titillating questions from the online marketing universe can be found right here in our list of Five Things You Might Have Missed.

1.) Appy Birthday: Did you miss Twitter’s 7th birthday this week? Don’t feel too bad about it. Something tells us the little bird got plenty of gifts. But it’s never too late to celebrate the wonder that is Twitter marketing by getting yourself a few goodies. The Wall Street Journal came up with an excellent list of must-have-apps for Twitter marketers, many of which are free!

2.) Google Glass Backlash: Oh, boy. Nothing ushers in a full-fledged attack of consumer haterade than a new and confusing bit of technology, and the much-ballyhooed Google Glass is elbows-deep in precisely that. Online campaigns wanting to “Stop the Cyborgs” and the moniker of “glasshole” have picked up press. But you can’t deny our collected interest in this yet-to-be-released piece of eye-level connected screen and camera technology. A video demonstrating Google Glass released in February has already racked up nearly 19 million YouTube views.

3.) Viva Corporate Blogging: As champions of the powerful platform that is blogging, we were thrilled to see this article from Canada’s Globe and Mail. The entry profiled how companies of all sizes can use blogging to fix PR problems, educate consumers and help spread the word about “company culture.”

4.) Find the Lookalikes: Thanks to Cynthia Boris over at Marketing Pilgrim for pointing out a nifty new Facebook marketing tool called “lookalike audiences.” The “Custom Audience” tool “lets you carve out a subset of current customers based on certain criteria. You can choose only people who live in a particular city, a certain age range, a particular gender or by interests,” writes Boris. Is this another miss from Facebook marketing or a tool worth our time? According to Boris, “What really makes this work is Facebook’s ability to scoop up and sort all types of personal data. Having a person’s zip code and age is nice, but knowing who loves dancing and who loves hockey goes a lot further in the ad world.”

5.) Dad Issues: We haven’t had a good, goofy ad campaign from Mentos in quiet sometime. So hooray for its new series of ads which begs consumers “Don’t Become Your Dad.” It’s a funny, good time that covers dad’s responses to hot tubs, riding in cars with strangers and technology.