If you are like me and using Facebook for Social Media and work related purposes, you probably don’t want to know who scored 5 million points on Farkl, who’s growing a farm, and who has reached a new level in Mob Wars. I, for one, do not enjoy those types of posts filling up my wall because it covers up the relevent information that others may be posting.

I am not knocking the use of those applications – everyone has their thing – I’m just saying I don’t want all the updates.  Here’s my Facebook Tip of the Day.  You can very simply remove those notifications for various applications from your wall feed.  Here’s how:

On your “Home” screen where the news feeds are…  When you see those application updates from your friends, you can click on the “Hide” button on the right and either block that person’s wall posts and updates altogether, or you can block the application.

It won’t take you long to block the applications as they come through and you will clean out your Facebook News Feed Wall to provide you with the information and updates you really want.

Let me add, I love my Facebook friends, and some of them are personal connections, so I’m not deleting them as friends – I just don’t need to know every time they’ve collected an egg on Hatchlings.

Skittles/Mars takes the giant leap into the Social Media arena with a bold new web presence that fully utilizes social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia, Flickr, YouTube and more.

Don’t be suprised when you visit this edgy new site – if have to second guess whether you’ve landed on the right page or not.  Today when I hit it, it landed on Wikipedia’s definition of Skittles candy flavors.  How cool is that?

They make great use of Social Media tools including a full video library of very edgy new commercials/videos embedded in their new site – along with YouTube.  Here’s just one example called Pinata Man:

Users are given direct access to Skittles related images on Flickr as well, which by the way shows over 17,000 results when you click on the pics link in the skittles navigation.  The Friends link takes users directly to their branded page on Facebook allowing users instant access to their FB profile.  It’s sheer brilliance in my mind.  

What better way to manage your consumer brand than only through Social Media channels.  As an internet marketing professional myself I look for ways to educate my clients on the benefits of jumping into the social media arena now – even if to just dip their toes in – they need to be taking the swimming lessons now so when the relay starts they are ready for the race.  If they don’t get on board now – it will be too late when their competitors realize the importance of social media and get ahead of them in the race.

Click image for Flickr credits.

The areas I’ve had luck with to date are Facebook, LinkedIn and blogging – as far as getting my customers ramped up in Social Media…. I say that to a certain degree.  Getting there is one thing – getting them to use the tools with which I have equipped them is a totally different game.  Blogging is only as great as the effort you put into marketing your blog.  Facebook has a huge audience you can tap in to… if you work your page and develop relationships… The same applies to all Social Media tools.

My clients believe it to be a daunting task to manage all these outlets, but truth be told a structured plan for addressing each social tool can maximize your efforts and minimize the time you spend keeping your social media tools current and active.  Once your customers are on board with it, and using Social Media regularly – they’ll be amazed by the outcome. 

I have established relationships that have helped me in ways I never even thought of when I got going on sites like Twitter and LinkedIn.  I cannot say enough… you just don’t know when you meet someone how you can help them or they you.  Don’t miss out on getting your brands/products in the Social Media game before your competition does.

I’m suddenly craving some Skittles.  :)

And my Twitter friend @peasandbananas just posted a poll – which do you like better?  M&Ms or Skittles?  Vote Now!  

I just read a post from @sheconomy titled “Market To Women with Social Media – Become A Leader”.  A great post – but what got me was the 5 minute video – which I will now pass along to you all.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the phrase “my customers are not online” – which I say is a totally and completely untrue.  Furthermore – the really exciting thing is the customers you never knew, and that never knew you – are most definitely online and are proably looking for you and they don’t even know it yet!

If you think Social Media is not for you – check out this video – it’s just a snippet of information that will leave a lasting impression on technological advances and the importance of staying ahead of the game with your online business.  As @sheconomy points out in her post – NOW IS THE TIME!

When my customers go on about not needing to do any “social media stuff” I say to them – with 160 MILLION users on Facebook – why would you not put in the effort to even reach 1/100 of that traffic.  The same applies to MySpace, Twitter, etc. 

Please pass it on – and Get In The Game!

@socialpmchick