• Facebook marketing pays off, Reckitt Benckiser exec says
  A Lysol Power & Free campaign on Facebook totaled 310 million impressions and reached half of U.S. women ages 25 to 54, says Laurent Faracci of parent company Reckitt Benckiser. Jack Neff writes that Faracci's statement is a significant endorsement for Facebook's marketing model. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (1/28)      

• Meet Avocado, a social network for pairs
  A social network called Avocado aims to provide all the functionality of Facebook or Twitter, but will allow users to add only one other person to their contacts list. The network offers a premium version for a fee that lets users share more content with their partner. The goal is to create a niche network that will let couples share information and coordinate their lives more easily, says CEO Chris Wetherell, whose previous experience includes creating Google's Reader software. GigaOm (1/25)      

• Vine stirs excitement, but users see bugs
  Vine, a social video application, has completed a somewhat tangled rollout to Apple iPhones. Some users have said the platform fails to upload videos properly, and there are anecdotal reports of crossed logins. Still, the app was atop the Apple App Store's social-networking category last week, and brands such as Urban Outfitters and Red Vines are already on board. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (1/25)      

• Other News

• Vine is hit by adults-only content
  TechCrunch (1/27)      

• Facebook bars Vine from accessing contacts data
  Wired.com (1/25)      

• A closer look at Tesco's social media strategy
  U.K. supermarket chain Tesco's social media strategy makes good use of Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, David Moth writes. Engagement levels don't rival those of larger retailers, but the chain has shown the ability to use social tools to promote its products, to handle customer complaints and to build a community, Moth writes. eConsultancy.com (1/24)      

• Google+ trails only Facebook in users
  Google+ has overtaken Twitter and YouTube to become the world's second-largest social network with 343 million active users, a GlobalWebIndex study says. The network's growth appears to be fueled by attracting users from smaller networks from around the world such as MeinVz, Hyves and Copains d'Avant, the study says. ZDNet (1/26)      

• More Facebook "likes" might be yours for the asking
  There are many ways to increase your Facebook like count, and one of the simplest is simply to ask, Isra Garcia writes. Brands that make such requests in a charming and respectful way are likely to be rewarded, although having funny or educational content that's also visually engaging doesn't hurt, Garcia writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (1/28)      

• Come to Scotland, where ponies wear sweaters
  Scotland's tourism board has launched a publicity campaign that involves dressing Shetland ponies in custom-made knitwear. Two "pony ambassadors" named Fivla and Vitamin were outfitted with cardigans, and a gallery of photos was posted online. "We were looking for a photo which encapsulated Scotland’s stunning natural landscapes, highlighted somewhere a little off the beaten track, and included some true Scottish locals," an unidenfitied spokesperson says. ABC News/Travel blog (1/24)      

Top five news stories selected by SmartBrief on Social Media readers in the past week.

• Easy ways to make better use of hashtags (B2B Marketing)

• Turn your social media followers into SEO fuel (SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media)

• Labor board backs workers who talk shop on social media (The New York Times (tiered subscription model))

• 4 steps to earning more positive reviews on Facebook (B2C Marketing Insider)

• Media mixes that include Facebook enjoy a 24% sales advantage (Adweek)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Position Title Company Name Location Social Media Manager, Senior-IEB-XBOX Live (815603) Microsoft Redmond, WA Social Media Manager Hulu Greater Los Angeles Area, CA Social Media Technologist MetLife New York, NY Associate Program Manager, Social Media Strategy Liberty Mutual Insurance Greater Boston Area, MA Director, Social Media/Marketing Marriott International Bethesda, MD Manager Social Media Mattel El Segundo, CA Click here to view more job listings.

If there's a door and you don't have a key ... it means 'Let's go find the key together.' " --Laurent Faracci of Reckitt Benckiser, as quoted by Advertising Age