Being in digital marketing, I expected to receive quite a few email, SMS, facebook or linkedIN holiday cards, cheers, letters...

But I didn't. I still received some good 'ol fashion letters in the mail (which I really appreciate as well). But, if there is a chance to showoff your interactive talent - why not through digital means?

Check out some of these holiday cards - including the one we sent to the MyVault community ;)

PS. Haven't sent your letter to Santa yet? Email it to him.

It is the holiday season, so I am really used to seeing or hearing the words "SOLD OUT".

"Not at this store"
"Try another location"
"Out of stock"
"They're all gone"

And in every instance that I heard these dreadful words - there has yet to be one salesperson to tell me when "it" will be back in.

PS. I hate it even more when it comes to tickets.

It occurred to me late last night that if the weather is too bad to go out shopping - I am more likely to shop online and/or do more research on what I am going to buy - online.

This was the first year I did most of my "window shopping" online first - noting what stores had, how much stock and location before purchasing most gifties - either online or off.

Some things that definitely sparked my shopping online to offline:
1. great email messages
2. good sales - happening only in-store
3. Items I needed to see in person
4. Store locator - which pointed me to a store near me

Some things that made me close the store window virtually:
1. bad site navigation
2. not enough product information
3. not enough content on store location, hours, or contact details
4. Not enough stock

I have been tossing the pros and cons to adding people I don't know as a "friend' to my Facebook network.

After signing up to the social network, I was bombarded by "adds" - most were of course, friends. Family, people I knew, went to school with, worked with and/or met somewhere on my travels.

But lately, I have been getting a handful of friend requests from people, I have absolutely no idea are. Also, I got a message from two or three people in my network asking about some people in my network who have contacted them to be a friend, but they have no idea who they are. I advised them to not add them since they don't know who they are.

Hm. hm. Hm. (this is me still thinking)

Then, today - I came across ">this post regarding adding as many friends as possible for business opportunities. Okay. I can see the pros here.

Hm. hm. Hm. (still thinking)

If I take a step back and think about Facebook - I have approached this social network as more of a closer community for me. Meaning, the people in this network are family, friends, and current and past colleagues I know or worked with. There is the odd person here that I don't know too well, but added them anyway.

Also, I care and trust more about what my friends in this network refer me to do, read, watch, etc. I also like to know what they are up to on more a social level since we most likely have a few things in common, have shared an experience together and are more frequently in touch with one another.

The moment I start to add a few... a lot.. of people I barely know to the mix, I think my experience with the type of feeds that rotate through my home page will not be as relevant. The content may no longer touch home with me. It may not resonate.

I have seen this with my LinkedIn network.

Hey, I am not saying I am right or wrong - that just so happens to be the way I did it, am doing it. I didn't think about it ahead of time...it just so happened to have worked out that way...and there is no saying, right now, that I won't change it either.

Friend vs. stranger. How do you use Facebook? Do you separate your social networks?

I don't wear a lot of make-up and I am allergic to perfume - but yet, I really do (did) love Sephora.

For even a non-makeup-y, non-girly-girl, they have the essentials for women like me (mascara and some cover-up) and make it easy to choose and find the products for the uneducated-in-powder-n-blush.

If you haven't been there before, let me tell you now, that the stuff is not cheap (in relation to Pharma Plus and Shoppers). But the stuff sure does work and it sure is fun shopping there (for the times I want to feel like a girl).

So, when my good pal sent over a $100 Refer a Friend(s) coupon over Facebook - I did it. Why?

A) It's $100 (which means 1 Nars blush and 1 Sephora brand mascara)
B) I had yet to do a send-to-a-friend on Facebook (wanted to see if it worked)
C) It came from my BEST friend, whom I had never received any product/store promotion from before - which made it seem legit.

So what happened? The tactic involved sending the message to 20 of your friends and in return you would get the $100 gift certificate.

Well, for those of you that I sent it to - you know. It failed. Well, for me. I sent it to 20 of my friends (who I thought would enjoy the incentive). After the "SENT" was confirmed, I got two banners ads telling me I had to purchase from zip.ca and another store (don't remember) to complete the incentive.

This was really frustrating. There was no upfront mention of this part of the deal. I actually got a few comments from the friends I sent it to asking if I knew it was a "scam". I was/am embarrassed. I am actually at Sephora for doing this, even more upset with zip.ca for also being a part of this with no word of a mention.

A sense of distrust in both brands - yes. Hoping they will somehow redeem that trust - yes...how? Give me and my pals $100.