Welcome to Brandsplat’s Five Things You Might Have Missed, where we dabble in online curation by calling out the week’s most fetching and far-fetched moments that just might have slipped right past you. Wouldn’t want that, right? Sit right down and you’ll hear a tale…

1.) A Simple Demand: Branded online video creation need not always be packed with special effects, catchy tunes or adorable animation in order to be memorable. Sometimes a powerful and timely message is enough. Demand a Plan to End Gun Violence, despite being packed with Hollywood A-listers like Conan O’Brien, Jamie Fox and Jennifer Aniston, is a simple PSA which demonstrates this point beautifully. A non-profit formed in response to the recent rash of deadly shootings in the United States, Demand a Plan created a video which does what any great campaign should do: speaks directly and honestly about something on the collective conscience.

2.) Kobe, Brief: “The antisocial has become social” and so began the newly-anointed Twitter career of Laker Kobe Bryant. Bryant has long been a holdout on the social network and his appearance is list-worthy indeed. Not because he’s another athlete joining Twitter, an occurrence that happens every 5 minutes, but because the hundreds of thousands that followed him during his first several hours on the site. Twitter marketing, especially for individual brands like Bryant, has never been bigger or more powerful.

3.) NMXcellence: Blogging conferences are a dime a dozen, but NMX, which happen this past week in Las Vegas, is noteworthy for the massive attendance and the serious coverage it received. Having nerd icons like Chris Hardwicke as keynote speakers certainly created a stir. But giving blogging, including blogging for business, center stage is what landed this function on our radar.

4.) Let the Poking Begin: After a few weeks of speculation, few would have predicted that Delta Lingerie would be the first brand to use Facebook Poke, the new mobile app which pushes out one-time only self-destructing branded messages. Delta used the spot to distribute a discount as well as a sexy but not too sexy video of a model getting dressed. Poke might finally just be the thing Facebook’s been searching for to bridge the gap between social and mobile.

5.) Cookie, Meet Rocky: Rounding out our list this week is a clever spot for Google Play that mixes things we love (Cookie Monster! The Rocky Theme!) with things we don’t love (exercise! New Year’s Resolutions!). The result is another charming Google ad that makes actually want to finally try Play. Mission accomplished, Cookie Monster!

Enzo F. Cesario, Brandsplat’s CCO shares his thoughts on the Penguin Update, LoveIt and the BaseCamp Upgrade. Check it out! Or click here for more Brandsplat vids

Brandsplat Report-FaceBook Advertising, Video Tips, Pinterest Hate from Enzo Cesario on Vimeo.

Enzo F. Cesario, Brandsplat’s CCO shares his thoughts on FaceBook Advertising, Video Tips and Tricks from Google WebMaster and Pinterest Hate. Check it out! Or click here for more Brandsplat vids

Brandsplat Report-Enzo’s 2012 Marketing Predictions from Enzo Cesario on Vimeo.

Enzo F. Cesario, Brandsplat’s CCO shares his marketing predictions for 2012.  Check it out! Or click here for more Brandsplat vids

We’ve talked a lot about how newsletters can be a cool, content-rich way to spruce up your email marketing. And we here at Brandsplat love newsletters. So much so we even have one of our own and we’ve devoted this week’s list to 5 newsletter tricks, tips and innovations you might have missed!

1.) Grab ‘em with great headlines: There are some email newsletters you just have to open. We can’t resist ones that tease great deals, pimp new products or seduce us with scandal — all in the subject line. Using magnetic copy for our subject lines and headlines is a sure-fire way to get people to open our email newsletters… and maybe even read them!

2.) Tantalizing templates: Great newsletter copy is one thing, but let’s face it — we want it to look pretty, too. Thankfully, there are hundreds of cool, easy-to-load and even free newsletter templates. For the best, click here.

3.) Engage, not enrage: Most of us hate getting business-sponsored email. A recent study according to Mashable found that 91 percent of newsletter subscribers decide later they no longer want the emails. To help prevent this from happening, try giving readers something to respond to in each newsletter, like a trivia question, a contest or a survey that gives them a discount.

4.) Pass the buck: So maybe you’re not the email newsletter writer you thought you’d be. No biggie. Most companies have somebody else write and create these inbox goodies. And we happen to know of some geniuses who could help you.

5.) Get inspired: Not only are there plenty of newsletters that we love, but there a tons of blogs, traditional magazines, art books and more to provide us with ideas for newsletter magic. So get out there and become the newsletter star you were always meant to be!