What We Are Reading

What We’re Reading | Week of January 28, 2013

January 31, 2013 | Posted by FSC Interactive

JoAnna: Can online search predict the winner of Super Bowl XLVII?  Probably not.  But according to Bing, there’s a definite trend in searches related to the big game.  A Bing representative has reported that the San Francisco 49ers have almost twice as many searches than their opponent, the Baltimore Ravens.  49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has received 50% more searches than Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.  However, the Ravens win for most searched player, with Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis taking the top spot.  Read more about top Bing Super Bowl 47 searches, and get ready for Sunday’s big game!

Mathew: #Polichat has become a forum for Republican social media directors to openly confer about online politics.  This comes after major finger pointing and frustration amongst the right after the Obama campaign left the Romney campaign in the proverbial social media dust.  #Polichat has been a hub of information and much needed help for the right-leaning media minds of the US.  The hashtag idea was brought up by ex-Romney staffer, Bill Murphy, who believes the extreme post-election tension is hurting the party.  Murphy also publishes a blog, delving into the #polichats’ discussions at POLICHAT.ORG

Ashley: Online restaurant reservations are about to get visual. Restaurant reservation powerhouse OpenTable has purchased the food photo sharing network Foodspotting. In an attempt to bring a visual discovery aspect directly to the reservations process, OpenTable will be rolling out merged changes to their site, but won’t be completely shutting down Foodspotting. I’m excited to see how the updates and execution of the combination pans out in the coming months!

Brooke: Stop the presses! There is a video sharing app that  works and it has been acquired by Twitter?! Yes, Vine, rolled out last Thursday and allows users to easily share six-second looping videos. I just downloaded the app, so maybe I can let you know how it goes in a future blog post. Until, then – roll tape!

Sadie:  There is a lot of hype surrounding the Super Bowl in New Orleans right now, especially since FSC is managing the Host Committee’s Social Media Command Center.   On that note, football fanatics and puppy addicts will converge for the Puppy Bowl IX, which takes place during halftime (on Animal Planet) — promoting dog adoption from animal shelters and rescue organizations around the country. Fast Company put together a nothing less than adorable,  side-by-side lineup comparison of the Super Bowl players and their puppy counterparts, check it out here.  As an animal lover, rescue advocate and active volunteer — I am pleased to see Animal Planet leveraging the Super Bowl excitement creatively and bringing much-needed awareness to the homeless pet epidemic in our country. Let the games begin!

Lydia: With everything going on for SB47, life at FSC has been very busy! However, I still managed to take Andy’s great advice from last week and made sure to block out a few minutes to look at some cute animals. During one of those mini-breaks I came across this article about an incredibly cool home improvement project. Learn how to set up a virtual bouncer at your pet door and keep out unwanted furry visitors! The best part is that it tweets you a photo of your beloved baby as they’re leaving or returning home. While it probably won’t be THIS weekend (Go Ravens and/or 49ers!), I definitely see a project in my future!

Susan: Foursquare for business owners hasn’t always been the most user-friendly platform. This many be changing, as Foursquare has launched the Foursquare for Business app, which is available for both iPhone and Android. Managers can react to their business in real time, viewing recent check-ins and tips, and activating and deactivating specials right from their phone. I look forward to seeing how business owners utilize this app.