oh those tweeting trucks...

In my experience, this simple formula holds fairly true:

inexpensive + food + truck = delicious

While for many years food trucks have peddled hot dogs, greasy gyros and tacos, you've probably noticed the myriad of media outlets covering upscale food trucks (or "foodie" trucks). This new breed of upscale trucks peddle the finest in grass-fed burgers, tofu tacos, artisan/organic ice cream and other fancy items. Many of these trucks are even on Twitter so hungry people can track down their exact location.

However, a new truck has appeared on the street. But this truck isn't your local, independently-owned, organic ingredient-pushing food truck. This truck is from Taco Bell. Oh, and you can follow it on Twitter, too.

So -- with the chain's entry into the marketplace -- have food trucks finally jumped the shark?

- posted by Hillary Hempstead

Socialseek, you had me at hello.

Listen up you social media nerds and online buzz trackers. A new (and free) social media aggregation tool has appeared. And I have to say, it's really good.

I just started using Socialseek to track social media buzz surrounding some of our client's brands, and I love it. Essentially, Socialseek serves as a very useful social media aggregation tool that lets you search for a brand, company, or topic across a broad range of social media sites. It crawls news sites, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and blogs for the subject you're interested in.

A real benefit to Socialseek is that you can also track mentions of a particular search query by a specific location. The ability to monitor buzz in a certain area is definitely a useful feature.

Finally, Socialseek is ridiculously easy to use, and the UI is visually pleasing.

Give it and try and let us know what you think.

- posted by Hillary Hempstead

[via Tech Crunch]

Trend Sage loves Starbucks

Some people love Starbucks and others hate it, citing a brand that has expanded too much and become too "corporate." But make no mistake about this -- the two authors of Trend Sage love Starbucks (exhibit a and exhibit b).

Starbucks has impressed me once again with its digital prowess. This time it's via a Facebook app that lets users give a coupon for a free pint of Starbucks Ice Cream to one friend.

The effort has a benevolent component to it that Starbucks has employed in other online efforts - you're urged to give the ice cream to a friend. However, the brand claims they'll make no judgment if you happen to send yourself the ice cream coupon, instead. I swear I gave mine away, though. You believe me, right? Right?

After you pick a friend to send the coupon, you can let Facebook friends know about the promotion with a little Starbucks-created blurb that shows up on your wall and on friend's Facebook home pages. This effort strikes me as a brilliant way to generate awareness and create buzz around a product. It's also a fantastic way to engage consumers with a brand on Facebook.

Caramel Macchiato ice cream is definitely calling my name now. Gotta go.

- posted by Hillary Hempstead

tiny tech is big: microvolunteering

Already hip to microblogging and microlending? Check out the newest "micro" pheonomenon: microvolunteering.

Recently, NPR reported on this new brand of volunteer work, dubbed microvolunteering. Microvolunteering is essentially a way for a person to volunteer for a cause in short bursts of time. And all they need to help out is a smart phone app and a few minutes.

According to the story, microvolunteering opportunities could emcompass a variety of tasks --

"During your lunch break you could snap a picture of a pothole that needs patching and zap it to the proper authorities. You could report a dying elm to the parks-and-recreation department or spot a rare woodpecker for the Audubon Society."

The company behind this microvolunteering effort is called The Extraordinaries. They believe that microvolunteering is perfect for Gen Y, given that the generation is so used to the instant nature of texting, Facebook and MySpace.

As a Gen Y-er, I think microvolunteerism has its appeal. However, I believe its appeal extends beyond my generation, especially as other generations continue to embrace digital technology in droves.

Kind readers -- what's your perspective? Does the microvolunteering concept transcend the generations?

- posted by Hillary Hempstead