It’s no secret that life moves fast today…high speed Internet fast. We connect with friends online, follow our favorite celebrities on twitter and order our Valentine flowers with an app. With our lives moving so quickly, we need a pharmacy that doesn’t miss a beat. Walgreens pharmacy understands that health care not only needs to be quick, but it needs to be consistent and cost-efficient on and offline.

Our Walgreens campaign is ending soon, make sure to check your SocialSpark dashboard for a lead or offer, we wouldn’t want you to miss out!

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing

According to CNet.com, the average American spends approximately 13 hours per week surfing the web. With all this interest on the Internet, we can bet your bookmark tab needs a break. What if you could organize your favorite web pages into categories, or what if all those wish list items for your closet could be stored seamlessly on your dashboard?

Introducing Clipix, a free and brand new tool that is completely redefining the way you can organize online. Simply add in the “Clip” button into your bookmark tab. Everything you clip will be stored and remembered by customized clipboards on clipix because, let’s face it, your computer’s memory is a little better than yours. What’s the best part, you wonder? Clipix is an organizational tool as well as social! Share your boards with friends and family to expand your interests, ideas and interactions!

We are looking for:

• Food Blogs
• Fashion Blogs
• Lifestyle Blogs
• Family Blogs
• General Blogs

Please only respond if this describes your blog. If it seems like a fit, then go ahead and fill out the Casting Call form below. We will contact you if you’re a good match for this campaign.

Full details of the Opportunity will be included in the requirements if an offer is extended your way, however, basic requirements will be as follows:

• Go to clipix.com and open a personal clipix account and try it out! Add several clips and enjoy yourself!
• Write about what you would clip onto your clipix boards and how you would use clipix
• Encourage your readers to visit and sign up for clipix today!

***SITEWIDE DISCLOSURE IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR BLOG TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CAMPAIGN.***

If you need help with creating a disclosure policy for your blog, please see here for assistance. We suggest that you place a text link marked “”Disclosure Policy”" for your readers on the side or bottom bar of your blog in an area that can be easily located by your readers. This link should link to your disclosure policy on a separate page of your blog/site in a fashion similar to a privacy policy link. This is not to be included in your post.”

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing

Love Walgreens? Make sure to check our your SocialSpark account for a lead or offer for our Walgreens campaign; they’d love to have you on board!

Please note, this is a U.S.based campaign, so only U.S. bloggers will be eligible.

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing

Cubicle. Sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry, huh? Well, Contest Factory is seeking the best of the worst in the land of nine to fivers. They want to break the stereotype of these boring boxy work spaces and help you relinquish your inner CEO in their Pimp My Cube contest. They say dress for the job you want, not the one you have so why eliminate cubes from the equation?

Contest Factory wants you to submit a video showcasing your cubicle catastrophe; from the outdated computer to the carpet coffee stain from 1985 (no judgement.) They want your video to encompass everything that makes your cube awful; bet chatty Cathy two cubes over is starting to look a little more tolerable.

We are looking for bloggers who are:

• Business-oriented
• Marketing-focued
• Tech-related
• Finance-specific
• Male-centric

Please only respond if this describes your blog. If it seems like a fit, then go ahead and fill out the Casting Call form below. We will contact you if you’re a good match for this campaign.

Full details of the Opportunity will be included in the requirements if an offer is extended your way, however, basic requirements will be as follows:

• Promote the Pimp My Cube contest
• Include the video in your post
• Encourage your readers to enter

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing

It appears Avocados from Mexico have take healthy competition to the literal level. They’re asking you to get creative with your recipes using these healthy and oh so tasty green gems. The Superbowl is just around the corner and we can bet the competition will be on the rise through February 5. But why limit it to the field?

Avocados from Mexico is hosting the “Guac Off” recipe contest on their Facebook page where they are encouraging their fans to submit their meanest, greenest recipes.Three lucky chaps will receive a coveted iPad2 AND an autographed cookbook from celebrity chef Roberto Santibañez. Seven runners-up will be awarded a $200 grocery gift card and will be given the coveted autographed cookbook from Santibañez as well. All entrants are automatically entered into a separate sweepstakes where 10 winners will receive a $100 grocery gift card.

We are looking for:

• Family blogs with fairly high traffic
• Food blogs with fairly high traffic.

Please only respond if this describes your blog. If it seems like a fit, then go ahead and fill out the Casting Call form below. We will contact you if you’re a good match for this campaign.

Full details of the Opportunity will be included in the requirements if an offer is extended your way, however, basic requirements will be as follows:

• Encourage readers to visit the Avocados from Mexico Facebook page between Jan 5 and January 15
• Share the Guac Off Recipe Contest with your friends on Facebook.
• Discuss the prizes that will be awarded and show off your recipe!

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing

SOCIAL DEFINED

According to Wikipedia, the term social refers to a collective co-existence between populations of organisms, irrespective of whether they are aware of it or not, and regardless of whether the interaction is voluntary or involuntary.

In the world of media, where social is now mainstream, it is interesting that this definition holds truer than we may realize. Even though we may believe we are voluntarily intertwined, we can’t help but wonder, are our online social interactions completely voluntary?

For brands, especially, an involuntary interaction can be very bad news. If your consumers are tweeting, facebooking and blogging about a negative experience with your product and you haven’t developed a strategy, or even a platform to engage, you are unknowingly participating in social engagement and cutting yourself short of an opportunity to apologize for your shortcomings and connect with your customers- whether you like it or not.

IF YOU CAN’T BEAT ‘EM, JOIN ‘EM

“We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it,” said author of Socialnomics, Erik Qualman. Like any major transformation, especially on a platform changing as rapidly as the Internet, speculation and criticism will inevitably thrive. Unfortunately for critics, the shift in marketing strategy by brands and the exponential increase in usership have proven that social media has made its mark.

Referring to social media as a fad in 2005 would’ve been expected and almost accepted. But in 2012, the numbers have spoken and consumers seem to have transformed this “fad” into a mainstay.

Case in point: In writing this post, I gained my inspiration from a YouTube video, researched key terms on Wikipedia, blasted a tweet to my followers for feedback, will post it on a blog and you can bet I’ll tweet a link to follow up.

BREAK THROUGH THE NOISE

With the influx of interactive media usage, standing out is the name of the game; how will your personal brand shine through your social channels; how will your opinion rise above the rest?

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing

Believe it or not, we have lives that aren’t completely surrounded by the web and social media; after all, we have to take a tweet break to prevent carpal tunnel. Although the Internet and social media are two gifts we’d never be caught giving back, we do like to take a step back and be thankful for what we have apart from the screen.

We asked around the office… “What is your number 1 offline new year resolution?” Here’s what the IZEAns have to say:

Pam: After approximately 2 seconds she responded with wide eyes and a smile… “To go skydiving!” Bet she’ll post the pics on her Facebook later though ; )

Crystal: “To balance my schedule a little better- I need to remember that time with friends and family should be a priority; being a hard worker sometimes gets the best of me.” Aw, Crystal, you overachiever, you!

Anthony: “I want to make it into the gym more often, I miss competitive rowing and I’d love to get back into the groove.” Or stroke, if you will!

Kate: Although I had my suspicions of what this recently engaged gal might want, I thought I’d let her share… “I want the wedding I’ve been planning for so long to be perfect, I want it to be the day of my dreams!”

Me (Amelia): I had to think about this one… offline? Man, that’s a toughy. I’d really love to learn more about photography. Then I’d like to take those skills with me on my trip to Europe and check off a few bucketlist items!

We’re putting you to the test as well! Respond in the comments, what’s your top offline resolution for 2012?

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing

When you work in an office where the people are just as vibrant and enthusiastic as the paint on the walls, everyday feels like a holiday. However, we decided to let this holiday season stand out just a little more than the rest.

IZEA paired with BungoBox to show our support to the Ephriam Project, an Orlando nonprofit. Together, we filled our BungoBoxes to the brim with goods and clothing for the homeless in an effort to
extend a little local holiday cheer.

SHHHHHHHHH!!!

Keeping quiet in the office is always a challenge- especially when you have an office chock full of the personalities we have- so when Secret Santa was the name of our holiday game, you can bet we were put to the test. The willing IZEAns drew names and this week we exchanged gifts.

Burger necklace for our very own Crystal burger.

Necklace: courtesy of David.

Nickname: courtesy of Ted Murphy (please direct all nickname inquiries his way.)

In an effort to brighten my desk and my smile, Annie surprised me with a candle collection!

Although we’d like to think we’re famous, we prefer to remain modest and fly under the radar with a mini version of our preferred transportation.

Waffles, Bacon, Mimosas Oh My!

Nothin’ like breakfast bonding to bid adieu to 2011. We enjoyed scrumptious waffles, hearty bacon and sipped on mimosas while our holiday Pandora pumped out some fitting jams.

One Person’s Holiday Sweater is Another’s Ugly Holiday Sweater

Three, Two, One….BREAK!

To allow us to celebrate the Holidays with our families, the IZEA offices will be closed from Monday, December 26th through Friday December 30th.  We will resume normal business hours on Monday, January 2nd.  Should you need assistance in the mean time, please be sure to reach out to via our support forums or our Twitter accounts.

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing

It appears 2012 is the year of convergence; companies are remodeling their marketing, public relations and advertising strategies all as a direct reaction to the social revolution. Public Relations Society of America recently announced its plans to redefine exactly what PR is due to social influence.

According to DreamGrow.com’s article “21 Social Media Marketing Trends for 2012,” social media and marketing will not be separate entities, having a social presence is now vital to marketing efforts and essential for positive brand to consumer relationships; social is no longer optional.

Companies are now allocating generous budget portions to their social media front and leaning on the public to spread the word. Word of mouth marketing is undoubtedly the most powerful form of marketing and now with the prevelence of social media, it is probably the most common.

Bet you’re wondering how this affects your blog, aren’t you?

BE INFLUENTIAL. BE UNIQUE.

Blogs instantly create a niche market for consumers and brands. You are an influencer. Meaning, you directly impact other consumer’s perceptions, purchasing decisions and brand reputations. In 2012, it is projected that brands will be leveraging your blog even more frequently to connect with their audience. It is also suggested that sponsored content will continue to expand.

Managing a blog with posts that reflect your honest opinions will not only position you as a credible resource to your readers, but it will build a trustworthy relationship with the brands you represent.

How will you continue to build positive relationships with your readers and brands in 2012?

CHIRP UP IN 2012

With more than 300 million users, it doesn’t appear that the little blue bird has any plans other than to continue soaring. Twitter has recently announced its brand pages which will allow brands to more easily establish their presence.

Tweeters connect with brands they love and seek customer service via Twitter. They write their reviews and opinions in a compact 140 character message. More than ever, brands realize the impact Twitter has on customer experience, loyalty and ROI. Consumers will be the primary vehicles for product information, not advertisements.

How will you maintain your Twitter presence?

THE ERA OF THE SMARTPHONE

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing

The holiday season is among us. You’re probably gearing up for family time, traditions and fun. Kool-Aid has been bringing smiles to children and parents alike for decades. Although this thirst-quencher is typically a summer tradition, you can incorporate this sugar-free mix into your holiday recipes seamlessly.

Do you have a kid-friendly punch recipe? Did you know Kool-Aid can be used to make awesome desserts? We bet one made with Kool-Aid would be a hit…OH YEAH! We also suspect the heat gets cranked a little too high when Grandma comes to visit. “Kool” down a little with your favorite flavor!

** The Kool-Aid Man promises to avoid all holiday decorations, the tree and Grandma at all cost when he bursts through your wall.

We are looking for bloggers who are:

• Hispanic and focus on family, shopping, food, parenting, general lifestyle and similar topics

Please only respond if this describes your blog. If it seems like a fit, then go ahead and fill out the Casting Call form below. We will contact you if you’re a good match for this campaign.

Full details of the Opportunity will be included in the requirements if an offer is extended your way, however, basic requirements will be as follows:

• Encourage your readers to visit their Facebook page
• Mention what your favorite Kool-Aid flavor is

This is a post from: IZEA : Social Media Marketing