http://smiley360.com/articles.cfm Articles from smiley360.com community managers with advice and recommendations on products, brands, pop culture, social media, and all kinds of tips and shortcuts Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Personal_Info_Article With so many ways to share information about your life, and as the lines between our online and offline networks continue to blur, it can be hard to distinguish how much is too much to reveal about yourself on your favorite social media sites. Here are some suggestions of what info NOT to include on your blog and online profiles to better protect your privacy online. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:33:03 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Why_Blog Life may have unanswered questions (how many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop?) but wondering why people blog is not one of them. Read on to learn the benefits of blogging, and you may end up wanting to start a blog of your own! Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:33:02 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Social_Media_and_the_Marketing_Mix Brands and products are such a huge part of consumers' lives, and social media presents the perfect opportunity to talk to consumers like us to get feedback on the products we spend so much time with every day. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:33:12 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=You_Tube_Fame The road to the top is not easy. Any celebrity will tell you that fame is the result of hard work and years of dedication. But then how do they explain run-of-the-mill people like you and me becoming celebrities overnight on YouTube? Can fame really be as easy as posting a 2-minute video? Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:33:00 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Food_Television_Shows I love everything about food. I love reading about it, making it, shopping for it, eating it, and I especially love watching it on TV. I picked my top three favorite shows, a task that was almost as hard as narrowing down what I want to order at a restaurant. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:59 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Love_TOMS_Shoes Like most women, I love shoes. A beautifully constructed stiletto, a classically cute and functional tennis shoe or a pretty ballet flat, I enjoy shopping for all different styles. When it comes to brands, I’m a little pickier. TOMS shoes are my favorite brand of shoes. I’m crazy about this brand, and here are the reasons why! Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:58 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=iPhone_Apps Amid the iPhone 4G launch, it's a great time for current and future users to start thinking about iPhone apps. It's the perfect opportunity to reassess the apps you've already downloaded, clear out the ones you're not using, and research which new apps you may be missing out on. Find a list of the must-have iPhone apps to fit various lifestyles. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:33:10 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Use_Digg There are so many social networks out there these days, and it can be hard to keep up with which are hot and which are not. We all know about Facebook and Twitter, but I want to talk a little bit about a lesser-known site, Digg, and what it can do for you. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:57 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=iPad_Debate With all the popularity and massive hype surrounding the iPad, you have to wonder…what’s it all about? Granted it’s cool, sleek and seems to be a must-have item, but when you stop to think about it, what are you really getting with an iPad? Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:55 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Why_Blog_Company In part one of the Why Blog? series, I listed five reasons why an individual should start a blog. In part two, I list five reasons why a company should start a blog. Professionals, take note…or at least copy my notes below! Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:54 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Social_Media_Celebs More celebrities are experimenting with social media and are quickly gaining loyal followings. While skeptics argue that celebrities use social media purely to promote themselves and bolster their celebrity status, some celebrities engage in facebooking and tweeting merely to connect with fans and well…for the fun of it! Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:53 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Men_Watch_Twilight While the Twilight saga was not initially popular among male moviegoers, each movie continues to build a stronger male fan-base (or as I like to call, man-base). The Los Angeles Times reported that Eclipse “drew a more diverse audience that was 35 percent male, instead of 20 percent for New Moon.” What are some reasons guys might head to theaters to check out Eclipse? Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:33:04 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Classic_Video_Games I used to be really good at video games. Below, I pay appropriate tribute to the games that gave me my first opportunity to hang out with boys, improved my hand-eye coordination and contributed to my overall well-rounded upbringing. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:33:06 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Best_Pixar_Movies In honor of Pixar’s most recent masterpiece Toy Story 3, I looked back at some of my favorite Pixar movies. The production company's almost flawless track record for creating quality films makes picking my favorites a little difficult, but the following are three that hold a special place in my heart. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:33:07 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Twitter_Athletes In this day and age, who doesn’t tweet? It seems as though everyone and his dog has a twitter account. NBA players are not immune to the allure of Twitter and many of them have set up accounts and tweet regularly. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:51 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Charities_Social_Media Social media is a great engagement tool for any company, but it’s particularly important for organizations with low operating budgets, like non-profits and other charities. Twitter and Facebook allow groups to get their message out, bring communities of supporters together and effect real change in the offline world. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:46 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Stonyfield_Brand I vote with my stomach and make a conscious effort to reward socially conscious food companies that produce quality goods. One of my favorite companies is Stonyfield, an organic food and environmentally responsible business that has been making delicious yogurt since 1983. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:50 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Old_Spice Standing in the middle of a bathroom set in a commercial studio and clad in nothing but a bath towel around his waist, former NFL wide receiver Isaiah Mustafa has ingrained the Old Spice brand into the hearts and minds of millions YouTube users. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:48 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Winnebago_Man Have you ever wondered who viral video stars are, beyond their pitiful portrayals caught on tape? Consider the case of 80-year-old Jack Rebney, known throughout the YouTube circuits as "The Angriest Man in the World." Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:44 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Twitter_Followers So you’re looking for Twitter followers. You’re sick and tired of only being followed by your uncle, Guy Kawasaki, and that creepy, self-proclaimed “life coach” who tweets “inspirational” quotes every hour on the hour. Enough is enough- it’s time to build an army of loyal and genuine Twitter followers. Let’s explore a couple of ways to increase your following and gain respect in the Twitter arena. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:32 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Passwords It's hard to remember the passwords to all of the hundreds of accounts you maintain. Before you give in and change all your passwords to “abc123,” read the tips below the next time you need to register a password. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:30 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=The_Social_Network Many people scoff at the idea of a “Facebook movie,” but you might change your mind when you look at the all-star production crew, combined with what seems to be a genuinely compelling story of young entrepreneurs with an innovative idea that changed (and is still changing) the way we browse online. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:36 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Emmys_Drama My prediction for the Outstanding Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:35 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Emmys_Comedy My prediction for the Outstanding Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:34 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=2010_Films Not many 2010 films really popped out at me, which made it pretty easy to compile this breakdown of the five best of the year. Still, this doesn’t take away their credibility; I thoroughly enjoyed each of these films despite their relative lack of competition. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:33 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Netflix Imagine a world where if you wanted to watch a movie you didn’t own, you had to actually take time out of your busy schedule, get off your couch, physically leave your house, drive to the nearest rental store, and pray that the movie you wanted was in stock. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:29 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Life_Websites As an adult with less free time to surf the web, I love sites that help me with the little things in life in a fast and fun way. The following are some of the websites currently listed in my bookmark bar. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:28 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Help_Staples_Donate_StaplesTweets Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:26 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Fall_Television_Show_Lineup TV series premieres all through September. See what everyone is talking about. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:24 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Why_Brands_Should_Listen Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:19 GMT http://smiley360.com/article.cfm?articleName=Tips_Tricks_Thanksgiving_Recipes Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:32:18 GMT