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With millions of users, retailers simply can't ignore social media. Social media allows you to build relationships with customers, and their feedback will help you build your business. But to do that, it's important to know how each works and what pitfalls to avoid. Be smart about incorporating social media into marketing plans and use your resources wisely.

With the arrest of Bitcoin Foundation's Charlie Shrem, Amazon.com's announcement of Amazon Coin and the collapse of Mt. Gox, many e-commerce experts are debating the survival and future of Bitcoin. Meanwhile, a new breed of tech-savvy shoppers are already using Bitcoin to hunt for great deals. However, the daily deal industry has been hesitant to accept Bitcoin and other virtual currencies (at least so far). Daily-deal websites were quick to adopt alternative payment methods like Authorize.net and PayPal, so what will it take before they cash in on virtual currencies?

Google has teamed up with Ray-Ban maker Luxottica in a bid to turn its internet-connected Glass spectacles into a widely available, stylish consumer product. In a statement on Monday, Luxottica, the world's biggest eyewear maker, said it had agreed to design, develop and distribute Glass eyewear, which so far has only been available as an expensive prototype in the U.S. Google Glass is a small stamp-sized screen attached to a pair of spectacle frames. It can record video, access email and retrieve information from the web by connecting wirelessly to a user's cell phone.

Amazon.com is cautiously dipping into its trove of customer data, trying not to betray consumer trust as it develops a digital advertising business that's on track to sell nearly $1 billion worth of ads this year. The data the retail giant collects on its 237 million active customer accounts puts Google to shame. Amazon doesn't just know what folks have searched for, it knows what they bought. Using that data has turned Amazon into one of the web's ad juggernauts, the seventh-largest seller of digital ads worldwide, according to eMarketer.

Beauty retailer Sephora is launching its own take on social shopping with Beauty Board, a Pinterest-meets-Instagram photo-heavy platform that encourages users to share and tag their "beauty looks." Folks who like dabbling with different looks can upload images, tag products and offer tips on how they made it all come together. It's available at Sephora.com, Sephora's mobile site, and via its iPhone and Android apps. You can also share your looks on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Google+.

From a marketing perspective, there are pros and cons around user experience, reporting and data. Email experts have been quick to spin as to why this is good for the industry. However ,it is important to consider why image-based emails is bad for your program. Specifically the long held practice of sending single image emails.

Google plans to open its first retail location in the United States in New York City's SoHo neighborhood, situated just around the corner from an Apple store, a new report suggests. According to Crain's New York, Google will open an 8,000-square-foot retail location. If the reports are true, the

Tablets are winning. At least that's what it looks like if you've been keeping score. Adobe and Monetate generally agree on about a 1 percent conversion rate on smartphones, and an over 2 percent conversion rate on tablets. The idea is that smartphones, with their slower connections, more restrictive screen size and (currently) underpowered hardware, are at a distinct disadvantage compared to desktops and laptops, or even to their cousins, tablets.

Cloud software is no longer something for bleeding-edge businesses and trailblazers. That trail is thoroughly blazed. All kinds of businesses are now comfortable using cloud services like Google Docs and Dropbox storage, and they're enjoying the benefits of cloud technology — e.g., being able to access information from any internet connection and easily share/collaborate on projects.

Don’t listen to Google. This is one of 10 Google AdWords tips Sara Shikhman, president of Bedroom Furniture Discounts, has used to help her business grow from $100,000 to $10 million in three years. Shikhman offered the tips in a presentation during the Search & Display Summit at eTail West in San Antonio this week. The 10 tips include the following: