12 Common Mistakes on Brands’ Facebook Pages (PR Daily)
Steer clear of these (very) common pitfalls and you won’t have to worry about losing fans.

A Few Details About the Upcoming Twitter Analytics (MediaBistro)
Measuring your social media impact is more important now than ever: here are some tips on what to expect from Twitter’s new tool.

US Politics – 5 Years of YouTube Impact and History (Online Social Media)
Did you know that 92% of House and Senate members have official YouTube channels? Check out this cool infographic that examines how YouTube has played a role in politics over the last several years.

Click here to read the report.  

Among the key findings:

       *Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the senior managers and social media managers surveyed think Facebook is a somewhat or very important tool for understanding constituents’ views and opinions, 42% say Twitter is somewhat or very important, and 34% say YouTube is a somewhat or very important tool for understanding constituents’ views and opinions.

       *Nearly three-quarters (74%) of the senior managers and social media managers we surveyed think Facebook is somewhat or very important for communicating their Members’ views. YouTube is viewed by nearly three-quarters of staffers surveyed (72%) as somewhat or very important for communicating their Members’ views.  More than half (51%) of the staffers surveyed say Twitter is a somewhat or very important vehicle for their Members’ communications.

       *A strong majority of staffers (72%) believe that social media allows their Members to reach people they had previously not communicated with.  A majority of the staffers (55%) feel social media offers their offices more benefits than risks.

The report is part of CMF’s initiative, the Partnership for a More Perfect Union.  The Partnership seeks to enrich the relationship between citizens and Congress through education, building trust, and providing innovative yet pragmatic tools to facilitate purposeful two-way communication.

President Obama on Tech’s Role in Mideast Uprisings (Mashable)
Obama affirmed technology’s role in powering movements and stressed the U.S.’s support of access to information and the Internet.

This Week in Politics & Digital: The Openness & Transparency Issue (Mashable)
This week the news focused on issues of transparency, from public records to open data to President Barack Obama releasing his long-form birth certificate online.

Interactive Budget (Whitehouse.gov)
The White House website has an interactive budget graphic for users to explore where tax dollars would go.

It’s happening on the GOP’s Pledge to America Facebook page. The action begins at noon ET and includes the swearing-in ceremony and remarks by Speaker-designate John Boehner (R-Ohio).

With an increased emphasis on digital media, Boehner is setting the tone for the 112th Congress. New rules emphasize transparency and employ technology to make the House more open and accessible to the American people.

Among the other things you’ll see change today, according to Don Seymour, Boehner’s deputy communications director:

• On Twitter: @SpeakerBoehner – Of course Boehner isn’t the only Republican in Congress to have a new Twitter handle. Majority Leader-elect Eric Cantor (R-VA) will take over the @GOPLeader account and his press team will Tweet from @CantorPress. Majority Whip-elect Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will use @GOPWhip. You can find and follow more Republicans on Twitter via TweetCongress.org.

• On the Web: Speaker.gov – Please excuse our dust – and broken links – as we transition to this new URL. And remember that if you live in Boehner’s Ohio district, you can visit JohnBoehner.House.gov for constituent services and other helpful information.

• On Facebook: Facebook.com/OfficeofSpeaker Boehner – This is a new addition to Boehner’s government office and will serve as a landing page for the Speaker and staff to connect with Facebook users. But while this page is new, Boehner’s use of Facebook is not. For example, tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. ET the opening session of Congress will be live streamed on the Pledge to America Facebook Page.

• On Flickr: Flickr.com/SpeakerBoehner – The best way to get an inside look at Congress is to see it for yourself, and the Speaker’s Flickr page will be updated regularly with shots of the goings-on inside the Capitol on a daily basis.

• On YouTube: YouTube.com/SpeakerBoehner – Whether it’s video of Ellie Mae – the job-sniffing GOP bloodhound – Boehner’s family reunion, responses to questions from constituents, or one of the Speaker’s speeches or interviews, you’ll find it all here.

For those who want an inside look at what’s happening on Capitol Hill, you can follow a handful of Boehner’s aides for updates via their personal Twitter accounts. They include: Dave Schnittger (@OhSchnitt), Kevin Smith (@KG_Smith), Michael Steel (@michael_steel), Brendan Buck (@Brendan_Buck), Nick Schaper (@NickSchaper), Mike Ricci (@riccimike), Katie Boyd (@KEBoyd), Cory Fritz (@corymfritz), and Don Seymour (@DonSeymour).

Boehner assumes the gavel today with a Republican majority far more knowledgeable and eager to employ digital media as a way to improve communication. It’s refreshing to see him encourage its use by setting a positive example himself.

YouTube Withdraws Muslim Cleric’s Videos (The New York Times)
After pressure from American and British officials, YouTube has taken down hundreds of videos featuring calls to jihad.