If you’re in the world of marketing and advertising, chances are you’re familiar with Pinterest. (if not, then you better get a move on, and I mean pronto.)  Pinterest is the fastest growing social network right now, or as Stephanie Buck describes it: ” an addiction that seems to be spreading like a zombie apocalypse virus.” People can’t seem to get enough of it.

This virtual pin board and social network allows users to “pin” things that are of interest to them, which in turn lets them promote them for free. With a growth of 4000% in the last six months, marketers cannot turn their heads to its potential. For photographers, retailers and fashion designers, it’s an excellent digital portfolio that showcases their products and best work. In view of its success, here are two infographics which I find illustrate the fascination, craze and ins and outs of this new revolution. Oh, and here’s a look at its most popular categories.

Happy pinning everyone!

By Maria Elena Moré

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Connect with More Than Branding on Facebook,  Twitter (@MTBranding) and Pinterest.

Here’s an interesting infographic developed by the folks of Survey Builder, on the habits, opinions and outlook of both men and women when it comes to social media.

By Maria Elena Moré

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Connect with More Than Branding on Facebook and Twitter (@MTBranding)

I love how Seth Godin defines viral marketing. It’s a simple, straight-forward explanation, and it goes something like this:

Viral marketing is an idea that spreads–and an idea that while it is spreading actually helps market your business or cause. Because the currency of our future is ideas- the idea virus mechanism is how those ideas propagate.

His 12 year-old book on viral marketing “Unleashing the ideavirus” is still one of the most sought-after and relevant resources on the subject. You can read it for free here.

The fact is, technology is one of the best things that has happened to us marketers. Word-of-mouth has taken a whole other dimension. The Internet- with social media, emailing, blogging, IMing, etc.- has served as the ultimate slingshot for the faster spread of our messages.

Here’s a pretty neat Infographic brought to us by ProBlogger and Voltaire that helps us understand the viral content marketing phenomenon. From its anatomy, types, reasons why we share, and how it all comes down to Metcalfe’s Law, it’s all there, so check it out:

By Maria Elena Moré

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Connect with More Than Branding on Facebook and Twitter (@MTBranding)

Yes, I know. 2011 has flown by. It seems it was only yesterday when saw Google Zeitgeist’s awesome Year in Review for 2010.

On that same spirit, they have recently published this year’s version on their site, where you can check out the trends and searches from all over the world in different categories, such as: Fastest Rising People, Maps, Consumer Electronics, News, Food & Drink, among others. From Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, to the Greek riots, to the Royal Wedding, it brings us marketers a great insight- an overview of how the world moved and what influenced it. Or as Sheila Shayon from Brandchannel says: “Beyond revealing the spirit of the times, it’s also a fascinating local snapshot.”

Here’s a look into the top moments from 2011:

By Maria Elena Moré
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Connect with More Than Branding on Facebook and Twitter (@MTBranding).

This cute little blue bird needs no introduction. It basically speaks for itself.

Why the hype, you might ask? Only because Twitter is perhaps one the best examples on how new platforms are altering the way we do business and channel our communications. It’s considered one of the most relevant tools applied today in which managers implement their daily Marketing, PR and social practices. Who would have thought?

It serves as a great medium in which to connect your customers, share information and even apply it as a resource that allows us to gain intelligence on our competitor’s brands. But more importantly, it lets us test the waters on what people are talking about.

Check out this cool Infographic by Lab42, on the way people connect with this social network.

By Maria Elena Moré
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Connect with More Than Branding on Facebook and Twitter (@MTBranding)