Social Media Marketing

Pinterest, the virtual pinboard at the crossroads of social and style, has burgeoned into a marketplace for consumer brands, offering a visual and demonstrable platform for engagement. A wide range of major brands including Lands' End, West Elm, Etsy, Gap and Whole Foods are using Pinterest to engage fans through social curation and as an online focus group to see what clicks with consumers.

Print and email still beats Twitter and Facebook for consumers seeking great holiday deals, according to the latest survey from audience research and measurement company Crowd Science. The holidays aren't a favorite time to venture into the stores for almost one-half of study participants: 47 percent disagreed with the statement "The holidays are my favorite time to shop in person," while only 15 percent agreed.

Social media and e-commerce have evolved since 1-800-FLOWERS.com launched the first Facebook storefront in July 2009. Internet users have become more comfortable with online buying on Facebook as they spend more time on the site.

Facebook is bringing a bunch of apps and actions onto the social network. Now, instead of just “Liking” something, you can say you read it, listened to it or watched it, all through your favorite web and mobile apps. Two Actions might be more commercially significant than the rest: “Want” and “Own.” 

Retail Online Integration has compiled a collection of the best tweets from the National Retail Federation's BIG Show. From tips to trends to breaking news to opinions, enjoy the best of the best from the Twitterverse.

Retail Online Integration has compiled a collection of the best tweets from the National Retail Federation's BIG Show. From tips to trends to breaking news to opinions, enjoy the best of the best from the Twitterverse. Here are the best from Tuesday at the show:

The staff at Retail Online Integration has compiled a collection of the best tweets from the BIG Show. From tips to trends to breaking news and opinions, enjoy the best of the best from the Twitterverse and the NRF show attendees and speakers.

Walgreens is paying bloggers to promote its cause in an attempt to sway its customers during the heated public battle with its former pharmacy benefit manager, Express Scripts. It's an initiative that's already prompted some backlash online.

Cabela's launched its "Good Old Truck" Facebook contest to support the recreation retailer's yearlong "Fifty Years Fifty Trucks" sweepstakes. The contest, which received more than 1,000 entries and more than 80,000 votes, encouraged consumers to share a photo of their "good old truck" and win a $500 Cabela's gift card.

In an effort to drive in-store traffic, customer loyalty and Facebook likes as well as boost its brand image, Ikea is hosting an event in its stores called Bring Your Own Friends Day. The daylong event includes free meals, special discounts and gift card giveaways for customers who RSVP via Facebook. In addition, for every friend a customer invites over Facebook, the retailer will donate $1 to Save the Children, up to $50,000.