1. New Facebook Profile

Facebook announced last Sunday via Twitter the “New Profile.” Besides rearranging where you see profile information, FB has added a feature that lets you include projects you’re working on under the Employer category, and has brought back a feature from the old days of the social network where you can list the classes you’re in, or have taken in school. To opt-in (for the time being), you can go here and get the new profile. Let us know what you think!

2. Google eBooks

Google launched its foray into the e-book world with Google eBooks. Although there are already e-book providers with e-readers, such as Amazon and its Kindle or Barnes&Noble with their Nook, Google is attempting to set itself apart by offering a large number of free e-books. Google’s e-books are also accessible anywhere there’s an internet connection. Some think this may be a viable opportunity for schools and universities to delve into the e-book world. Will you try Google eBooks?

3. Economy of Advertising

It seems that advertising is on the same road as the overall economy; it’s predicted that advertising spending in the U.S. will have a long and slow rebound. Although there will be some growth in the U.S., it’s predicted that China and India will show outstanding growth in ad spending. How do you think our country’s ad agencies will react?

4. WikiLeaks and Anonymous

Mastercard, Visa, Amazon.com and PayPal have all found themselves under attack by a group of hackers called Anonymous in Operation: Payback. Why these companies? They have all denied service to WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange. The hackers have been moderately successful in disrupting service, and completely shut down Mastercard’s website earlier this week. Even though people’s bank accounts were not compromised, this may show how easy it is for hackers to infiltrate sites that contain personal information. How do you feel about how safe your information is?

5. Taking on Social Media

An article in Ad Age this week predicts that 80 percent of companies with more than 100 employees will use social media for marketing during 2011. Many companies are proactively incorporating social media into their culture, but it’s not always easy and sometimes you need a little extra help. This past week, TVG kicked off a year-long social media training course to help our client and their employees understand the best ways to use Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. If you’re interested in social media training for your company, just send us a message on our website or find us on Twitter @VandiverGroup!

1. Forbes Sponsored Blog Model

Forbes is coming under criticism for its paid Forbes AdVoice blog, as debate wagers over whether consumers can tell the difference between paid blog posts and staff blog posts. Forbes argues that there are clear signs that the paid blog is separate from its editorials, but critics say they are walking a fine line. TVG offers help and training to make sure your social media efforts stay within the accepted guidelines. Visit our website for more details.

2. Conan and Cable

Conan O’Brien’s new talk show debuted on TBS this week, and the TV ratings show he is being well-received despite his move to cable. Some critics are quick to point out he needs to stop poking fun at basic cable, saying it may not be the best marketing move to belittle the medium he’s a part of. What are your thoughts on the new show?

3. Facebook Firing

Facebook posts are protected under the First Amendment, according to the National Labor Relations Board. The topic recently has come under pressure in light of an employee termination based on a Facebook posting, in which a woman criticized her supervisor. Lafe Solomon of the NLRB says that it doesn’t matter “whether it takes place on Facebook or at the water cooler … they have the right to do that.” What is your take on this free speech case?

4. GM’s Mr. Goodwrench

Mr. Goodwrench has long been the image for General Motor’s customer service department, but GM has announced they will faze him out. In an effort to “raise the bar on the ownership experience,” individual brands will have their own service department (i.e. – Cadillac Certified Service). Will the retirement of a long-standing brand image pay off for the company?

5. Veterans Day

This week we honored all service men and women, past and present, for their bravery and sacrifice for our country. Several articles reminded us that there are a variety of programs available to help veterans when they have needs. TVG’s client, the Illinois Warrior Assistance Program, is one of those programs. Visit their website for more information.

1. Sanford-Brown and First-Ever “Give Back Day”

Sanford-Brown College, a TVG client, participated in a nationwide “Give Back Day” this week. Coinciding with National Medical Assistant Recognition Day, students from all of Sanford-Brown’s campuses helped with various activities, including health screenings, blood drives, massage therapy and volunteering at local health facilities. Visit Sanford-Brown’s website to learn more about them.

2. Soy Symposium

The 9th International Symposium on the Role of Soy was this past week. The program consisted of presentations in areas such as new research fields, women’s health, soy farming and cardiovascular topics. You can read about some highlights of the symposium here. For more information on soy in general, visit the United Soybean Board’s website.

3. Washington Post and Twitter

After a controversial article from the Washington post came under fire this week from activist group GLAAD, one staffer used the Post’s Twitter account to defend publishing the piece.  As a result of increased negative feedback to this tweet, the Post has asked its journalists not to engage with critics on Twitter. Is this the right move for a news outlet?

4. Donna Vandiver Speaks at VCC Conference

TVG’s fearless leader Donna Vandiver traveled to Louisiana this week to speak at the 2010 Fall Various Chemical Companies Conference. Speakers at the conference were asked to address a wide array of issues affecting chemical companies. Donna talked to the group about maintaining employee engagement during tough economic times. Check out all of TVG’s employee communication services on our website.

5. Starbucks Digital Network

Starbucks rolled out its Starbucks Digital Network (SDN) this week to users of their in-store Wi-Fi services. Café dwellers can take advantage of exclusive content, ranging from full access to the Wall Street Journal to free online movies. How can marketers and advertisers use this network and others like it to their best advantage?

1. The Walk to Washington, a group committed to raising awareness for depression, completed their 50-day, 835-mile walk from St. Louis to Washington, D.C. yesterday, just in time for National Depression Screening Day. Congratulations to the team and their achievement! See a story on this at CNBWashington.com.
2. Facebook announced a few new features this past Wednesday. Users can now download all of the content and information they’ve uploaded (pictures, videos, messages, etc.) and have more control over apps and games with an Applications Dashboard. Facebook also announced a revamp of its Groups feature, where users can create communities separate from the rest of the social network. Some speculate that Facebook Groups will become the “New Facebook.” What are your thoughts?
3. For TV fans, the Mid-America Emmy Awards are here in St. Louis tomorrow. They will be hosted by actress and Missourian Ellie Kemper, who plays Erin Hannon on NBC’s “The Office.” The event will be at the Renaissance Grand Hotel downtown, but you can also watch a live webcast from their website.
4. In case you missed it, or you don’t play Farmville, McDonald’s’ McCafe was available Thursday in the virtual farming world. Players who were rewarded with an electronic coffee could do tasks twice as fast. Do you think this marketing tactic made sense for McDonald’s or were they off target?
5. Do you prefer a debit card, or do you still write a check? The Deluxe Corporation thinks you should use pen and paper, and they are working with the popular website CollegeHumor to create videos encouraging people to write checks instead of paying with plastic. Check out their website and video here and let us know what you think.

2. Taste of St. Louis
If you’re downtown this weekend, make sure to stop by the Taste of St. Louis, which starts today. In addition to the food and beverages at this free event, the Taste of St. Louis will be the first event in the nation where you can try out a new payment system called Square, a mobile credit card processor for an Android phone or Apple OS device. Square was co-developed by Jack Dorsey, a co-founder of Twitter. How can this new way to pay help you?

3. Mad Men/Lincoln
Like watching Mad Men? John Slattery, who plays Roger Sterling on the show, is the voice Ford Motor Co. has chosen to promote its Lincoln brand of cars. After selling its other luxury brands (Aston Martin, Jaguar, to name a few), Ford is attempting to break into the minds of a younger crowd and make it cool to own a Lincoln. Have they chosen the right person for the job?

4. Social Media in Schools
Many schools around the nation have banned cell phones and are wary of students using Facebook and Twitter at school. However, some studies show that social media can be used for good inside the classroom. Do you think Facebook and Twitter belong in schools? Is there perhaps a safe way to integrate them?

5. Goldman Sachs PR push
Goldman Sachs rolled out a new PR campaign Wednesday, attempting to show the public that they “[play] a role at improving the lives of Americans rather than simply increasing [their] bottom line.” Goldman took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, and will have more to come. What do you think of the new PR push?

1. Have you checked out TVG’s new website yet? Visit before September 30^th and you could receive $1,500 in pro bono work from TVG. All you have to do is fill out the “contact us” card for your chance to win!
2. A new version of Twitter is set to roll out over the next several weeks. The new Twitter will include features such as photo and video sharing directly in a user’s Twitter feed. Many have said the new changes make Twitter feel a bit more like Facebook, check it out and let us know what you think.
3. The Walk to Washington, TVG’s pro bono client, has only 20 days left in their 50 day walk from St. Louis to Washington, D.C. Click here to learn more about the organization and sign their petition.
4. SocialSmack was introduced this week as a new information site where brands are evaluated by users who give “Props” to brands they like and “Drops” to those they don’t. The site borrows elements from Foursquare, as users accrue points and badges for giving Props. What implications could a site like this have for your brand?
5. The St. Louis Rams said this week that their rookie quarterback Sam Bradford is not the linchpin to their marketing efforts, at least for now. The Rams don’t want the focus on the individual players, but on the team. With Owner Stan Kroenke saying he doesn’t have time to build media relationships, how will this decision affect the team’s image?

1. St. Louis Children’s Hospital was the first in the nation to successfully implant an artificial lung this week.  Doctors from Washington University say the lung saved the life of 2-year-old patient Owen Stark, who is the youngest person in the world to receive an artificial lung.
2. Andy Likes, TVG’s Director of Public Relations, was in Branson this week at the Missouri Health Care Association’s 62^nd Annual Convention, where he led a session on how to create patient-centered brands. To learn how TVG can help you with your branding needs, visit our website at http://www.vandivergroup.com/.
3. Did you know 28 percent of the U.S. population accesses the Internet from their mobile device? New estimates show this number is expected to reach about 44 percent by the year 2014. What implication does this rapid growth have for your company’s marketing strategy?
4. MidAmerica Solar, a TVG client, held a press event this week to celebrate its new solar energy system for Orchard View Apartments in Farmington, Missouri. The system will supply energy to all the common areas of the buildings, including stairwells, hallways and building exteriors.  Excess energy is fed back to the local power grid for an energy credit.
5. NFL owners voted to approve Stan Kroenke as the new owner of the St. Louis Rams this week, but does he need media relations training? Kroenke has a reputation for rarely speaking to the press and says he just doesn’t have time to build relationships with the media.  How do you think this attitude will affect future coverage of Kroenke and the Rams?

1. Concord Bank of St. Louis, a TVG client, announced this week the sale of a building to College Bound who plans to use it to create their new local headquarters. Concord Bank, led by President and Chief Executive Tony Feraro, also made a $78,000 grant to College Bound, which helps high school students successfully get into college. Read more at: Concord Bank sells building to College Bound – St. Louis Business Journal
2. Facebook launched its new location feature “Places” this week. Similar to Foursquare, Facebook Places allows users to share their location with friends. One major privacy group has already voiced concern over the new feature. Does Facebook Places infringe on privacy? Will this effect Foursquare use? Let us know what you think!
3. It’s no small task to redesign the Arch grounds, but five design groups think they have what it takes. The designs from the five finalists were made available to the public this week and will travel around the St. Louis area until September 26^th, when a jury will pick the winning design. Public comments will be included in their review, so click here to check out the designs and express your views.
4. More companies are using blogs as marketing tools. A new report from eMarketer estimates that this year, one in three companies will have a public-facing blog for marketing purposes. That number is estimated to reach 43% by 2010.
5. On Thursday, St. Louis-based Savvis placed a record breaking Pizza Hut delivery order for 900 pizzas.  The order which covered company locations in the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Singapore and the U.S. was in recognition of the hard work by their employees in the second quarter of 2010. A total of 300 pies were delivered locally to the headquarters in Town & Country.

1. The St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds generated the highest rating ever on Fox Sports Midwest this week. The teams were already battling for first place in the NL Central, add to that a few choice words from Reds’ Brandon Phillips and a brawl during the first inning of the series and it’s no surprise people tuned in. 
2. Recent spikes in the heat index have created dangerous conditions for anyone who is outside for prolonged periods of time in the St. Louis region. TVG’s client, Waste Management, compiled a list of warning signs for heat-related illness, which was featured on KMOV this week.
3. This week, TVG’s President and CEO, Donna Vandiver spoke to St. Louis-based InnovateVMS about social media. InnovateVMS is a venture mentoring service of Innovate St. Louis and Donna discussed with the group how to use social media for startups.
4. Twitter launched their new “Tweet Button” this week. The button lets readers share website content more quickly and includes a comprehensive count of how many times a URL has been shared. Any tweet from a site’s Tweet Button will also include an @mention of that site’s Twitter account.
5. TVG’s pro-bono client, the Walk to Washington, sets out from St. Louis this Saturday on the 50-day, 835-mile walk from St. Louis to Washington, D.C.  The walkers hope to get one million signatures on a petition to raise awareness for depression. Click here to sign the petition and learn more.

Make sure to check out TVG on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with all of our latest news. Have a good weekend!

1. Forty of America’s billionaires pledged to give at least half of their fortunes to charity this week. Warren Buffet and Bill Gates founded the group, which is estimated to generate around $6 billion in charitable giving to causes ranging from education to entertainment.
2. Time magazine has released their First Annual Blog Index, which includes a list of their “Top 25 Blogs” and “5 Most Overrated Blogs”.
3. St. Louis endured excessive heat this week, with the heat index spiking above 110 degrees. TVG client, Waste Management, gives those working outside tips for avoiding heat-related illness in an article in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
4. Hollywood made a visit to Chesterfield this Thursday night with the “other premiere” of the comedy “The Other Guys”.  St. Louis won a contest for Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg and other celebrities to host a sneak-peek showing of the film. The winner was determined through votes on Facebook.
5. Missouri residents cast their ballots in the state’s primary election this week.  Click here for information on the results.

What were some of the highlights of your week?