Social media is a process, not an event. This is a big distinction, and actually something I addressed earlier this week at the iMedia Summit. So I couldn't agree more. And company's that want to treat social media and branding like an event, or a product, are in for an unpleasant surprise.

A very good breakdown of why, while conversations are at the center of the ongoing brand story, campaigns aren't exactly useless. Seth Godin speaks of companies with remarkable products. The truth is, the vast majority of products aren't remarkable. And as we get more product parity every year, the need to stand out will continue to be a key to marketing a product, and even going as far as adding value.

This is a big move for Disney but it marks a big shift for a brand to bring a character into the present day and create more relevance and connection to consumers. I think this game "Epic Mickey" is some ways still connected to the roots of who he is; however, this is bound to create controversy among the "disneyphiles" but I think it will also bring a freshness that is needed.

A new tool from Seth Godin, "Brands in Public". This is basically a social media dashboard, with various public data piped in. The concept is interesting, as brands pay $400/mo to then control surrounding information around the page. Several bloggers see this as a threat, one calling it "brand hijacking". What I'm not clear on, though, is why this is brand hijacking?

This report, put out by PSFK, shows us the 2009 companies that lead by example in innovation, environmental consciousness, and social policy. The "Good" Brands. Some of the common traits among these brands include Utility, experimentation, design, and community and listening. In my opinion, these are brands that are paying attention to the evolving media landscape as well as changes in consumer behaviors and changes in the consumer mindset.