In our last post, we explored Pinterest's potential for social media marketing and community management efforts. As the network continues to grow, however, some brands are leveraging the social network in a different manner. Most notable of these instances comes from Gilt's "unlockable pins" campaign. According to TechCrunch, this new feature allows pinners to access a hidden link once a pin has been repinned at least 50 times. This promotional link remains exclusive to Pinterest followers and cannot be accessed anywhere else on the Gilt's site.

Gilt offers a discount in exchange for a repin. Is this effective community management? 

When news of this promotional move first hit last week, we were immediately reminded of the commonly used tactic of "like-gating." Before the introduction of Facebook's Timeline, brand pages allowed companies to offer exclusive content to its fans. The most common form of this

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The Crowdbooster team would love to meet you in-person over drinks! We're hosting a special Crowdbooster Happy Hour just for our users at SXSW! Please join us on Monday, March 12th at 4PM at Lustre Pearl. More info & RSVP here: http://crowdboostersxsw.eventbrite.com

If you are not making the trip to Austin this year, we'd still love to hear from you: tweet @Crowdbooster or give us feedback at http://feedback.crowdbooster.com. Keep your eye out for future events for our users. Thanks for all of your support!

It's clean, slick, and endlessly engaging. It's hard to ignore Pinterest's draw because it's largely an interest-driven network. Sure, you can connect with your friends from Facebook, but as a user you're far more concerned with sifting through seemingly endless pictures of anything from postmodern architecture to aborable puppies. Don't worry, you're not alone. Earlier this month, TechCrunch broke news that Pinterest has reached 11.7 million monthly users. Clearly, there exists potential for brands to enter the world of Pinterest, but how should they approach the network?

A few weeks ago we discussed this topic with a group of community managers during our #SMOChat. Based on these responses, research into the top existing brands on the site, and some of our own experiences, we've compiled some quick tips for your initial run with Pinterest. 

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When brands set out to establish a social media strategy, they automatically gravitate towards the "Big Three": Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. While this is certainly more than a sound gameplan considering the majority of one's audience will be found on these major networks, one shouldn't overlook the other up and coming niche networks. Since its launch in October 2010, Instagram rapidly expanded to over 10 million users in only a year. Clearly, it's here to stay. 

Still don't belive Instagram is catching fire? Check out the iPhone Instagram phone case.

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Whether it's a casual company meet-and-greet or a top-notch industry panel, offline events offer one of the best opportunities for a brand to connect with its customers and clients in person. While everything from the color of the tablecloths to the type of entrees might be planned beforehand, one can never account for who will actually show up. For example, as a company based in Palo Alto, CA, with a userbase that spans the globe, we're never exactly sure who would show up to any of our events.

Events allow for meaningful interaction with users in real life. (Founder, Ricky, featured with Evan Hamilton of UserVoice.)

Fortunately, we live in the era of social media. Your event's audience can extend well beyond the physical constraints of your office's conference room. We hope this post will serve as a guide on how to engage your online community in order to extend the reach of your company's latest and greatest event.

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Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, contends that the key to success is to remember that "your culture is your brand." In the age of social media, traditional marketing is lost. A brand can no longer squeeze advertising copy into 140 characters and expect a positive response from its community. Social media has created a two-way stream in which fans and followers strive for a more authentic relationship with brands. Drawing on our own company experience and those experiences of some of the most famous brands in social media, we hope this post offers 3 simple steps to communicating your brand's culture to your community.

Humanize Your Brand

Believe it or not, social media has offered brands the opportunity of a lifetime. A few decades ago, companies such as American Airlines or Pepsi were largely viewed as corporate monoliths because consumers didn't relate to the brand beyond the experience of flying cross-country or drinking a soda. However, social media now offers brands the opportunity to actively create and engage a community beyond the consumer experience.

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“Tweets with unique stories and great headlines look the best,” said marketing specialist Johnny Testa, who oversees Twitter for AskMen.com. The leading online men’s lifestyle publication makes it fame with topics on fine living to cars to “amateur hypnotism.”

With a focus on follower engagement, AskMen encourages questions from tweeters. “We’re happy to respond, whether it’s with a reply or a direct message,” Testa said. “I like the communication aspect of social media and being here to help on a more personal level.”

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Did you enjoy the short work week? Get ready for the weekend with at this past week's top stories as indicated by our Fans and Followers. This week we took a look at the state of Twitter after 5 years (how time flies) and the future of social advertising. 

Image via Hidehiko Sakashita of Getty Images

Twitter at Age Five

• A Look at the Early Days of Twitter: Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams give an interview and product demo at the original Twitter offices in San Francisco. 
• How Today's Hottest Startups Got Their Names: Ever wonder how Twitter got its catchy name? Mashable highlights the naming dilemmas faced by nine of today's hottest startups.

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Happy Friday! Get ready for the weekend with a look at this past week's top stories as voted by our Fans and Followers. Topics included tips for social media content and a look at the future of social media. 

Image via Paul Mansfield Photography of Getty Images

Content is Still King

• 9 Reasons Why Your Content is Not Shared on Social Networks: Social Media Examiner unveils new research and key takeaways to make your content stand out to your community.
• How Cosmetics Giant Estee Lauder Leverages Social Media on a Global Scale: Mashable goes one-on-one with this global company to uncover content strategies that increase engagement. 

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