Marketing

AP

In 2003, Avon Products Inc. spun off its youth-focused beauty line Mark into a Web 1.0 world. The company -- and brand -- has evolved to be anything but. Just as the Internet has transformed, so has Avon, jumping fearlessly into social networking and successfully redefining "Avon Ladies" for a whole new generation.

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If you watch TV, you've seen the ad. Domino's chefs are experimenting with a matrix of combinations of cheese, dough and spices -- anything to counter some of the negative criticism that's come their way. Domino's reads some actual customer quotes: "Domino's pizza crust, to me, is like cardboard." And: "The sauce tastes like ketchup." Then, of course, Domino's explains that they've reinvented their pizza -- thrown out their old rule book and made something completely new. But is it a clever idea, or a little insane?

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One early day in January, the Weatherproof Garment Company put up a billboard that got a lot of attention. That's because the ad featured President Barack Obama, wearing one of Weatherproof's coats during his visit to the Great Wall of China last November -- and he's none too happy about it.

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Mistakes happen in every business. What doesn't always happen is having them publicized so everyone knows about them. So what should you do if you botch things up big time?

Tailwaiters

Jason Wotman admits the whole idea was born out of laziness. Tailgate parties are fun, but the transportation, set-up and clean-up are certainly no picnic. After one particular New York Jets game when Wotman and his friends' grill was stolen and they were tired of bringing "back all this gross stuff covered in burger juice," they developed the idea for Tailwaiters, a service that brings all the food and necessary equipment to tailgaters in the New York area.

It's hard to know how to advertise your small business online these days -- a million "social media experts" offering up conflicting advice can confuse even those who know what they're doing. To clear things up, we are talking with Peter Shankman, founder of the wildly popular Help A Reporter Out newsletter that connects reporters with sources to cut through the BS of Social Media and learn how to interact with customers.

Amazon.com

You know the old saying -- there is no such thing as bad publicity. The Gin & Titonic has been noticed because a couple critics out there feel it's tasteless. The Gin & Titonic is an ice cube tray that allows the user to create a tiny ice sculpture of the Titanic. You put it in your gin, although a glass of water might be more accurate, and you let the Titanic ice sculpture hit an ice cube, and then you can recreate the famous 1912 sinking.

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The winter holidays are an excellent time to show your most valuable clients how important they are to you. Even if your company's budget is almost nonexistent, you need to make to include sure special treats for those that have sustained you all year, and that they genuinely express your thanks while communicating a personal connection.