Five Things You Might Have Missed!

No need to face the freezing cold to get the best in online marketing, digital engagement and social media marketing news. Get cozy and pour yourself a steaming cup of a little drink we like to call “Five Things You Might Have Missed.”

1.) Merry Chucksmas: Whether you call them Chucks, Cons or just good old Converse, we call the Converse YouTube campaign sheer holiday genius. The series of hilarious clips features — including, among other things, a bulldog in space, a ska-loving santa and an uncomfortable elevator moment — are funny, stylish and smart. These ads are the kind of viral gold every marketer wants in their stockings this year.

2.) Talk to Your Elf: Here’s a little North Pole Facebook fun from the folks at Build-A-Bear Workshops. “Get Your Wish On” is the company’s new Facebook app that allows kids to talk to “real” elves live from the North Pole in a video chat. It’s social media marketing mixed with holiday cheer and we’re sure kids and parents will eat it up.

3.) Ready for Take-Off: The end of 2011 has been piled so high with a plethora of Google products that surely one or two has slipped by you. Among the coolest is Google Flights, which officially went live last week. Great-looking, easy to use and super fast, Google Flights is a must use for business and holiday travelers alike.

4.) Big Apple Wilderness: REI, a brand mainly associated with rugged outdoor settings, is taking on New York City with a slick augmented reality app. In celebration of the opening of the company’s SoHo store, REI is asking New Yorkers to scan codes on the brand’s posters around the city. The app opens up virtual landscapes while sharing information about real-life nature adventure opportunities to be found right in the Big Apple.

5.) Gadget-induced Giving Back: We round out this week’s list with a campaign from eBay which hopes to inspire the child in all of us to give back this holiday season. Two teched-out window displays in San Francisco and New York City, respectively, feature moving trains and smiling teddy bears. The catch? It’s all digitally animated and by scanning a toy’s QR code with your smartphone, users can donate the toy to Toys for Tots while activating a dazzling animated and interactive display. Folks everywhere can get in on the action, too, by visiting the website.