A couple of weeks ago my friend was raving about this new app that she had called SNAPCHAT. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I decided to download it and give it a try.

After getting the hang of it, I was hooked. Actually, "fully-obsessed" would better describe it. I asked everyone to download it at work so we could keep in touch outside of work!

Now we find ourselves always snapping pictures of all the promotional products we see outside of work! Check out my printed mug, which I Snapchatted to my coworker!

The golden rule for responding to negative customer feedback, whether in-person or online, is to acknowledge what the complainant has to say, and to do what you can to resolve the issue quickly (and quietly).

Far too many companies, however, choose to ignore feedback. For more on why that's an awful ideal, check out our friend Erik Johnson's article, "How to Respond to a Negative Post."

And then there those are businesses that lash out at clients who have less-than-positive things to say. (As you can imagine, this never goes over well.) Case in point: Amy's Baking Company in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The restaurant was recently featured on the season finale of "Kitchen Nightmares," and ticked off host Gordon Ramsay so much that he felt they were beyond help and walked out. (That's never, ever happened before. Huge red flag.)

As if that wasn't enough negative publicity for Amy's Baking Company, after receiving a string of customer backlash yesterday via social media, owners Amy and Samy Bouzaglo went off the wall. Read this Huffington Post piece to see just how bad it got. (Warning: NSFW.)

And it gets worse. Later that day, the posts disappeared, and the owners claimed that they'd been hacked: 

The moral of the story is... well, there are a couple of morals to this story.

1. If you want customers to perceive your business as thriving and well-run, you probably shouldn't agree to appear on a TV show about how badly you need help.

2. Learn to suck up your pride and take good advice.

3. Own up to your mistakes.

4. Aim to make your customers happy. (Not throwing insults at them on Facebook is a good start.)

What other tips do you have for avoiding an Amy's Baking Company-esque PR disaster?

P.S. Need help repairing your brand's reputation? We've got a few promotional ideas we think you'll love...

Although it was released last week to musicians, Twitter's new music app is officially available to all iPhone users today.

According to CNN, "Twitter's new app, which is separate from its primary social network, helps users find music based on the bands and artists they follow." It suggests artists a user might like, making it easy to discover new music. Plus, it even shows users what music the people they're following are listening to. (Look at a screenshot below, courtesy of Twitter.) 

So where does the music come from? The folks at Twitter say it's a mishmash of Spotify, Rdio and iTunes. In fact, iTunes previews will even play automatically within the app. Nice!

Twitter is clearly looking to expand its reach, first with Vine and now with #Music, both of which are separate from the main Twitter app.

It's time to whip out the headphones and start exploring new tunes!

My brother always gets me the best birthday presents. Case in point: This year, he bought me a three-month premium subscription to Spotify, a music streaming service that gives users access to literally any song they could want to listen to.

Let me explain the reasons I love Spotify already:

1. It boasts an impressive collection

With the exception of one song, I've so far been able to find everything I've searched for. My taste in music is fairly broad, but whether I want to listen to Kanye or Jack White or My Chemical Romance or Britney, it's there. That's pretty awesome.

2. It's easy to use

I'm not by any means technologically illiterate, but I admit that sometimes I need time to adjust to new platforms. However, both of the Spotify apps I use (desktop and iPhone) are very intuitive and easy to navigate. Even making playlists is simple!

3. It's social

When I first signed up for Spotify last week, it asked me to connect via Facebook. I don't often choose to sign up through a social network, but you can disable automatic posts to your Timeline, so I gave it a shot. The main benefit I've noticed is that you can follow your Facebook friends within the Spotify app. A lot of my friends are a lot cooler than me, so now I can take a peek at what they're listening to when I need new tunes in my ears. Plus, you can even follow brands and celebrities. Very cool!

4. I can access it from anywhere

Yesterday while working out, I opted to use my Spotify app for music over my iTunes library. I was worried because my cell phone doesn't usually have great service at my gym. In fact, I've had problems using Pandora there in the past. But Spotify worked flawlessly! I've only had trouble accessing the music library once -- and, to be fair, I was in a "No Service" zone at the time.

So if you're a music fanatic, go ahead and give Spotify a shot. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Much like many of my past blogs, this one is going to talk about how much exposure your brand can get at bars and restaurants. St Paddy's day is a perfect example. 

Everyone is Irish on St. Paddy's day and everyone wants to have a good time. What better way than by giving out promotional products that party goers will keep and use after the parties are over? All you basically have to do is throw it at them!

From the bartenders or the host or hostess, or even through raffles and drawings. These items will go home with the people, and if they are useful enough, be used again and again. Don't have a good idea of what to give out? Call one of the specialists at Motivators to help you out! We have over 50,000 promotional items to help people remember your business. We also have a very user friendly website to help filter your choices!

Some people love sharing their every 'Like' on the social web. So Netflix's new partnership with Facebook is sure to make a lot of movie-enthusiasts happy.

Beginning today, Netflix users can choose to connect through Facebook to see their friends' activities, share their favorite content and leave comments. However, "Facebook and Netflix won't make the sharing mandatory," assures the Atlantic Wire. Subscribers who don't want to share information can opt out.

What's in it for Netflix? CEO Reed Hastings told Bloomberg that Facebook integration will help attract more users. "Our kids are way more social than us; their kids will be way more social than them. You tell your friends about what you watch and they'll watch much more of what we offer," he said.

Of course, not everyone will want to broadcast their every move on Netflix. (Am I the only one who's not exactly proud of his Instant Queue?) But the relationship can only help improve Netflix's brand exposure. So sit down, pour yourself a hot cup of tea and start sharing!

Do you think Netflix's partnership with Facebook's can help bring in new subscribers?

I've been a Facebook user since 2005, back when it was still called 'The Facebook.' I can remember a lot of the changes it's rolled out over the years, from apps to cover photos. And while we've learned to love (most of) these features, I can't help but notice that each time the social network unveils an update, the world goes nuts, at least for a few days.

So you might want to prepare for major backlash today, because Facebook is set to announce a revamped News Feed. (Oh, the horror!)

Luckily, I'm an optimistic guy; I like to focus on the silver lining. And guess what? The updated News Feed will actually be kind of cool! Let's take a look at some new features you can actually look forward to:

1. Customization

Facebook users have been complaining about their News Feed options (if you can call them that) for quite some time. In the past, you could only switch between "Top Stories" and "Most Recent." But according to the Chicago Tribune, "The redesign will reportedly give users new ways to catch up with what friends are doing, such as sorting through photos they share or music they are listening to." (Sounds a little bit like the new MySpace, huh?)

2. More photos

Who doesn't love pictures? While Facebook bought Instagram almost a full year ago, it hasn't really done much with user photos. CNN notes that images will likely be separated into its own feed.

3. Better ads

This one will appeal to marketers more than it will to every day users, but really better-looking advertisements are better for everyone. Tech Crunch reports that Facebook will likely increase "the size of images and stories shared by users," helping brands to stand out.

As of right now, most of these supposed updates are just rumors. But at 1:00 p.m. today, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg will give us all the details.

What are you looking forward to most?

This French bulldog is probably better-dressed than you.

Sonya Yu's puppy Trotter simply loves the camera, as evidenced by a hugely popular Instagram account dedicated to her many outfits. According to Yahoo! News, "The photogenic hipster [...] wears a range of outfits from a beret, moustache, top hat and pipe to high heels." Chic! Check out some of Yu's photos below: 

I couldn't help but notice that Trotter's clearly got a thing for promotional products. (All that San Francisco Giants apparel? Those Minnie Mouse ears? That sweet, Krispy Kreme hat!? Come on!)

See all of Trotter's looks by following @trotterpup on Instagram. (And while you're there, go ahead and give @Motivators a follow, too!)

The hashtag has taken the world by storm.

In 2012, it was voted the Word of the Year. A few months back, one very social media-obsessed individual named a newborn baby "Hashtag." Last month, France was forced to ban its citizens from using the word "hashtag" all together in an attempt to preserve the French language online. And, more recently, Diet Coke included a hashtag on its can for the first time ever.

All the hype surrounding the now well-known "#" symbol begs the question: Should brands include hashtags on their swag? I think so.

Let's take a look at Coca-Cola's #ShowYourHeart campaign as an example. The hashtag will be featured on Diet Coke cans throughout the month of February to help support the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's "The Heart Truth" campaign. According to A Lot More Than Just Promos, consumers have already begun using #ShowYourHeart on Instagram and Twitter to spread the word about heart health.

Printing a hashtag on your promotional product is a smart way to drive your fans to the social web and spark conversation about your brand. DigiDay reports: "The bet by marketers is that [hashtags] will allow them to get people talking on platforms they are already on, which is not as big of a request as going to a dedicated microsite." And it seems to be working. During the 2013 Super Bowl, brand-related hashtags were mentioned 273 percent more than they were in 2012. Whoa!

However, as is the case with marketing in general, it's important to keep your message consistent. In short, resist the urge to create a new hashtag for each initiative. Joe Barbagallo, manager of social media for Volvo Cars of North America, told DigiDay that releasing too many different hashtags can create a "fragmented" experience.

What do you think: Could including a hashtag on a promotional giveaway help boost brand exposure both offline and online?

The Internet and cats seem to go hand in hand these days. So it's no surprise that when Hasbro asked the world to vote online for a new Monopoly game piece, they chose a feline.

According to the Huffington Post, "The vote on Facebook closed just before midnight on Tuesday, marking the first time that fans have had a say on which of the eight tokens to add and which one to toss."

To make room for the new cat token, Hasbro also held a vote to eliminate one of the original Monopoly pieces. Fans from around the world (more than 120 countries) chose to drop the iron.

High participation in the worldwide vote proved that the Monopoly brand is, indeed, still relevant and fun today.

But despite the recent hype, Hasbro's fourth-quarter revenue did not meet expectations. CBS News reports that the game manufacturer will "cut about 10 percent of its workforce and consolidate facilities to reduce expenses."