That's how a Friday email from Woot.com began. I know this because I received the email. It seems, brands are turning the Gawker into a consumer engagement opportunity. An hour later, I got another email. Continue reading...

Starbucks is the first consumer brand to reach 10 million Facebook fans, a.k.a. user "likes." Taking the lead from Coca-Cola over a year ago, Starbucks has attracted 2.3 million fans just in July so far…and the month is only half-over. Starbucks is now in the rarified company of Lady Gaga.

In light of its recent privacy flap, Facebook is treading carefully when it comes to brands' presence on the site, including releasing a new video (above) to address users concerned about advertising on their pages.

As for how Starbucks shot to 10 million?Continue reading...

Woot acknowledged its acquisition this week by Amazon with a goofy video uploaded to YouTube. Its estimated sale price: $110 million. The daily online bargain service will operate as a standalone, branded subsidiary, similar to Zappos and Audible.

Microsoft is scrapping its social youth-aiming Kin phone after less than two months on the market.

AIG's chairman and CEO are at odds.

Amazon acquired deal-of-the-day site, Woot, which celebrates with $150 Kindle special. Kindle DX also slashes price.

Apple launches iAds today with Nissan, Citi, Unilever, AT&T, Best Buy, and Chanel.Continue reading...

A new survey of brands on social media finds Starbucks to be the most popular consumer brand on the social Web, based on an analysis that indexes consumer brands against the most popular personal brand on the planet: Lady Gaga.

UK-based Famecount took a snapshot on June 2nd of brands' followers on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to come up with its ranking, a quantitative snapshot with no qualitative look at how brands engage with their fans, followers and subscribers across the social Web.

Starbucks came in #1 among consumer brands by having 7.4 million Facebook fans, 901,925 Twitter followers and 6,509 YouTube subscribers. American brands dominated the top 10, with Red Bull the only non-US brand to make the top 10.Continue reading...

This year, all sorts of sample sale websites have been rising in popularity, and exclusivity is the name of the game. It doesn't even matter what they're selling: Woot only sells one item at an extremely discounted price for a 24-hour period and, by the day's end, it is usually sold out.

One label, VonRosen, requires those interested in membership to apply by sending an e-mail message describing themselves, and why they would like to shop on the brand's website. “Our criteria for membership is fluid,” the site says, “but we will know when we are right for each other.” Is this a blind date, a job application, or a shopping website?Continue reading...