So for some Friday Fun, here’s our top ten list of marketing speak. Now you, too, can learn to speak like a marketing genius.

10. Marketing Speak. Thought it might be important to define exactly what we’re talking about it here. Basically marketing speak include terms that pretty much make something sound cooler or more sophisticated. The original words were probably boring or overused so a marketer provided a fancier, more interesting way to say it!

9. Take it to the Next Level. I love the vagueness of this phrase. Especially when the level you’re currently at hasn’t been defined. Why not just say “make it better?” Or better yet, give clear directions on what you’re looking for.

8. Ping. I actually overheard someone on the elevator use this yesterday. The word was often used to say you will contact someone, derived from how computers talk to each other. Let’s leave Pinging to the machines (and in 1999) and just say call me, text me, email me, chat, etc.

7. Granular. Specificity must be too hard to pronounce so instead “granular” is a favored word in marketing research chatter and white papers. Sounds pretty important!

6. Make it Look Pretty. “OK, so I’ll just slap a photo of Kris Boron on here.” (Kris is a very pretty Upshotter with what he calls “lady-killer” blue eyes.) What this usually means is to visually interpret what you’re trying to say—but in a short amount of time.

5. Innovation or Innovative. While the word itself isn’t necessarily marketing speak, but is often used out of context—as innovation is subjective and means different things to different people. For example, innovative point-of-sale may be using QR codes for one company, a floor decal for another and category reinvention for another.

4. Think outside the box. Is this just a nice way of saying, don’t think like you normally do—do something smarter. Think this one is better left in the last decade.

3. Synergy. A fancy pants way of saying “working together” to get a result that couldn’t have happen independently. Usually said while clasping your hands together and pointing your elbows out with a big grin on your face!

2. Deck. It’s a presentation. Not something you play cards with. Or a wooden structure off the back of a house that you grill on. So let’s call it that—a presentation. And can we please retire “Deck?” Thank you.

1. Promogo. This one is just for you Upshotters out there. One of our creative directors coined it a handful of years ago. It’s a promotional logo.  And we love them. Here’s an example.

Got any other favorites? Add them to the comments. And you’re welcome for not using “buzzwords.”

Introducing: Kraft Smile Tagging!

Because I know we’ve all got places to be and stuff to sell, here’s my short but sweet explanation (with pictures, yay!).

Pick a site, any site (as long as it’s not a nudey one) and find something on it that warms your heart, that’s been hardened by long commutes and people cutting in front of you at McDonald’s, and makes you smile. If you’re having trouble finding something, you can borrow this example below from me.

Click here to view the embedded video.

While you’re letting said video or image turn that frown upside down, take a picture of your reaction at that moment with your web cam and upload it to the Smile Tagging Facebook app.

Along with your smile to tag the video, you can tag your link with categories like, Funny, Amazing, Cute, and Weird. (At first I considered this cheating, but then I realized that some people have cry-face when they’re actually laughing, and it’s really smart of Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese to give users a way to identify what they may actually find when they click a link).

Then, instead of sharing just a boring old link with a thumbnail, you can share your smiling face to let friends see just how funny that link is that you’re forcing them to watch when they should be working or eating a ham sandwich instead.

And, that’s it!

What do you think about this idea that’s been labeled as a way to “grin and share it”? Personally, I think it’s fan-freaking-tastic and if I had a web-cam I would show you what my face looks like right now**!

Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese, a brand that has been bringing smiles to the dinner and college dorm table for YEARS, has taken the simplest idea of sharing a link to something that makes you smile, (which everyone already does anyway) and attempted to own it by being the brand that not only lets you share the best content on the internet, but also lets you accompany said content with your reaction, and their logo, of course! And let’s face it, that’s pretty awesome marketing.

*Rolling On The Floor Laughing Until You Couldn’t Breath Anymore, Duh
**That’s a downright lie. I had 10 minutes to get ready today, so I would only show you what I looked like right now if right now meant 30 minutes from now and I had access to some P&G (client shout out) hair and makeup products or our design studio had time for some serious re-touching.

Twitter
Beginners. Open a Twitter account. Follow people. Browse around and have fun.
Intermediate. Create Twitter groups. Tweet with hash tags (#)—perhaps #smday.

LinkedIn
Beginners. Create a profile. Follow co-workers, classmates and your company.
Intermediate. Join groups. Respond to group comments. Start a conversation.

And for the advanced social media folks out there—join Mashable in celebrating by attending or organizing a social media meetup in your area.

Wonder what I’ll be blogging about a year from now, ha!

D’oh! Apologies for the lag on updates over the past couple of days. We’re in the trenches with our 2011 trends in preparation for some client presentations, so we’re admittedly a bit short on time.

So, it’s only appropriate that we offer you a video from a couple of guys with plenty of time on their hands. It’s a stop-motion clip created with little more than a black sheet, a pile of coins, and a healthy nostalgia for old video games. (Okay, that’s not exactly true – watch ’til the end to see their technique.)

Enjoy the diversion, and we’ll be back shortly with our regularly scheduled awesomeness.

Post-holiday party, it’s probably not the right day to continue our in-depth discussion about location-based services and shopper marketing applications. Nah, it’s the kind of day where we need something a little more lighthearted.

Like, say, a retelling of Home Alone via Twitter by Best Buy’s Geek Squad.

Yup, it’s exactly what it sounds like, with the characters exchanging lines (and swinging paint cans). All of your favorites are there: Kevin, the Wet Bandits, Old Man Marley… heck, even the tarantula keeps you posted on his scamperings. (Thanks to Kelly von Ebers for the tip!)

Just the laugh we needed this morning. Have a nice weekend, and we’ll see you – fully recovered – on Monday.

Pay no attention over here, where we’ve been a little slow with the blog updates this week. (Believe it or not, even your awesome narrators are subject to wedding season travels.)

Apologies, but don’t worry. We’ve got some goodies coming your way very shortly, and you’re gonna dig ‘em. But for now, have some fuzzies.

Hey, we know it’s Friday. And we tackled some hefty topics this week. Your head’s probably spinning.

In that case, this might not help. But we thought it was a fun treat anyway: a 3D tribute to MC Escher by Spanish artist Nico Roig.

Have a good weekend, and if applicable, go out and achieve anyway.

Since most Upshotters enthusiastically embraced last night’s holiday party, we’ll assume that everyone’s a step slow this morning. If playing games is too strenuous for your head right now, sit back and enjoy the Guitar Hero-enhanced Christmas light display shown below.

See you (clear headed and well rested) on Monday.

Thanks to Steven Clerico at the Blog of Awesome for the tip on the video!

For everyone who dug our link to Mad Men illustrations, here’s your chance to “Mad Men Yourself” courtesy of AMC.

(Something tells me that Rich Scarle could just do this with a photo from a random Friday night, but still.)

Great interface, too! Feel free to share your creations in the comment section below.

UPDATE: My favorite submission from an Upshotter (so far) is posted below. Wanna guess who?