“There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”
—Victor Hugo

Michael Krigsman over on ZDNet says yes.

Takeaway for marketers: Michael’s right, but the problem he describes is not unique to Twitter. If you have employees Twittering away state secrets, then you have a bigger issue than Twitter to address.

If you’re a coffee drinker like me, there are few things better than having a daughter who works at Starbucks.

From a marketing standpoint, she’s given me a little extra insight into one of the best-known brands in the world. The training materials she received when she began, for example, are themselves a case study in how to do it absolutely right.

Recently, she gave me something else: a customized Starbucks card, which I have to say is pretty cool. I was a little doubtful at first: What I really wanted to do was upload my own artwork onto the card. But the Web interface offers enough options (with more on the way) that I was able to find something I liked: me in the store enjoying some caffeine and tunes while she slaves away in the background. Being able to put my URLs on the card is a welcome bonus.

To drop a coupla buzzwords: It’s a savvy combination of one-to-one and word-of-mouth marketing. I get to create something unique for myself that I’ll undoubtedly show to friends and family. Each card becomes not just a convenient purchase mechanism but also a nifty WOM vehicle.

Who knows — maybe some people will even blog about it.

Maybe. If you’re relying on these 10 overused measurements, that is.

Transparency. Authenticity. Humility. Simplicity. Inspiring. Personality. Stories. Consistency. Flexibility. Receptivity.

These are the 10 key principles to guide brand strategy, according to Max Kalehoff in this Online Spin column. Click on over and see how your brand measures up on a point-by-point basis.