10 to follow on Twitter and funniest video ever

As a Charlotte business person, who should you follow on Twitter? That's one reason we're

compiling a Charlotte Twitter Directory. In the meantime, here's a Top 10.

http://twitter.com/cltlobbyist -- Natalie English of the Chamber.
http://twitter.com/tmecia -- Tony Mecia, Observer deputy business editor.

http://twitter.com/MyCreativeTeam -- Harry Hoover, active PR guy .

http://twitter.com/CrystalDempsey -- Former Observerite is queen bee of small biz.

http://twitter.com/SubGuy -- Fort Mill small biz guy is entertaining, active.
http://twitter.com/CoreyCreed -- Corey Creed, internet marketing strategist.

http://twitter.com/WayneSutton -- Raleigh (OK, not really CLT) techie brings national news to N.C.

http://twitter.com/cltecondev -- Best official Chamber feed.

http://twitter.com/staceysimms -- WBT radio host is fast on Charlotte news.

http://twitter.com/jakrose -- Social Fresh organizer is connected.

Speaking of those you should follow, do not forget to join Charlotte Business Professionals on LinkedIn. This group has boomed from during the recession, and now has nearly 4,500 members. It's a must for CLT biz buzz. Very active with many events. On Sept. 10, Chamber chief Bob Morgan speaks.

What's with the new corporate role of social media director? Duke Energy, Bank of America, Wachovia, Wells Fargo and other big companies either have one or are hiring one. Why?

"It's just like the early phase of the Web," says Brandon Uttley, (pictured, right) who built Web sites for many businesses at Charlotte-based Carbonhouse, and now helps ad agency Wray Ward implement

social media strategy for clients. "Companies are seeing competitors adopt social media, and they're realizing it's not going to go away."

Uttley, who has watched companies go through the hiring process, says they're looking for someone to set marketing strategy on social media, actually implement those tactics, and set policy guidelines within the company.

That last part can be tricky, says social media strategist Kathleen Hessert, who runs Charlotte's Sports Media Challenge, and has advised the Southeastern Conference, ESPN and Penn State.

"In a worst-case scenario, someone might say something on social media that amounts to a trade secret," Hessert says. More likely is a personnel matter being discussed on Facebook or Twitter, she believes. "If you have the right people in the right positions, that's not going to happen," Hessert says. "I'm recommending to every client we have and every prospect we have that they seriously consider hiring a director of social media."

This is kind of a fun thing BofA is doing online, including on Facebook: The big bank will give a buck to your favorite charity if you draw a design on a "footprint" for the Chicago Marathon. The completed digital footprints will be available online, and runners will run over them in the October race. “The advent of social networking and the nature of today’s on-the-go, connected consumer are fundamentally changing the marketplace," says Charlotte's Ray Bednar, global sponsorship marketing executive for Bank of America. Check it out here.

This video, of a Japanese family mixing their pets -- a large beetle and a French bulldog mom and puppy -- kills me. Watch what the puppy does when his mom finally gets the beetle off him.