We Are Social: Tuesday Tune-Up #81
News
News
YouTube hit the 1 billion a month unique users mark
Online video giant YouTube put their success into context for us last Wednesday, announcing their achievement of 1 billion unique users per month. This means “almost half of the people on the Internet visit the online site each month”. Looking specifically at Generation C (18-34 year olds), YouTube stated that this “demographic spend 74% more time watching YouTube on their smartphones now than they were last year”.
Facebook cover photo policy has been changed
The rule against page cover photos featuring a call to action, contact information, references to price or purchase information has been updated. Page owners now have more flexibility in terms of what they can include in their cover photo, however the no more than 20% text overlay rule still applies. The rule for cover photos and ad images are now consistent, “this is important as cover photos are beginning to be included in both organic and sponsored page-Like stories in News Feeds”.
Facebook to roll out its new commenting system
Facebook have been testing its new commenting system since November 2012, it “includes threaded conversations and a ranking algorithm meant to put the most relevant and high quality comments first”. The new updates will be available on an opt-in basis for all pages with more than 10,000 fans. Some of the key features of the new comments are the “option to reply to a specific comment and a ranking system that takes into account positive and negative signals, and connections”. Facebook are hoping the update will improve conversation management, enhancing the fans experience and public figure profiles.
Facebook to introduce Lookalike Audiences globally
Last week Facebook rolled out Lookalike Audiences to Power Editor accounts, this is a tool which helps advertisers target similar users “to those in their Custom Audience database”. Facebook reported that Lookalike Audiences have decreased cost per action and an online retailer experienced “lower costs per checkout when the Lookalike Audience feature was in limited beta”. To create Lookalike Audiences a list of first-party data must be uploaded, such as, email, phone number or user ID to create a Custom Audience. Facebook then uses algorithms to analyse the Custom Audience and produces a Lookalike Audience based on demographics, interests and what people are talking about.
iPhone users make calls using Facebook Messenger for free
Following on from its successful launch in the US and Canada, it is now possible for iPhone users in the UK to make calls to other Facebook Messenger users for free. You simply open the Facebook Messenger app, select the person you want to call and hit the ‘I’ button.
Happy 7th Birthday Twitter
Last week Twitter celebrated its 7th birthday – In the last seven years the social network has gained more than 200 million active users who create over 400 million Tweets each day. Twitter is now considered by most to be the go platform for the “lastest news, to exchange ideas and connect with people all in real time”. To celebrate this milestone, Twitter have made a video celebrating some of the many moments on Twitter so far, and a few of the UK’s best known Twitter personalities have been shouting about why they love Twitter so much.
Britney Spears is first to reach 6 million followers on Google+
Britney Spears has had the highest number of followers on Google+ since November 2011, and is now the first person to reach 6 million followers. According to Starcount, Lady Gaga is hot on her heels with a mere 100,000 followers seperating them.
Puma are paying for UGC
German sports giant, Puma, announced they’re trialing iPhone app, Foap. The new app allows users to upload photos to the platform and sell them to brands. Puma has asked Foap users to take photos in response to ‘Missions’ for its ‘Nature of Performance’ global campaign, the UGC purchased will promote the campaign across all social media channels. The ability to “create a library of content and achieve further engagement by getting users to rate the images” in Foap is one of the reasons Puma decided to use this platform.
Friendly Twitter war between Kit Kat and Oreo
A friendly twitter war can be fun and exciting for the brand and their followers, and this one is no exception:
A Twitter user tweets her two favourite chocolate brands…
@KITKAT respond with a game of noughts and crosses…
To which @oreo responded very cleverly…
Oreo triumphed over KitKat on this occasion, we’re look forward to the next round!
Does Twitter really have an official Australian presence?
Social media commentator David Cowling recently asked what’s wrong with the official @TwitterAU account, and it’s a question that’s gotten a lot of attention, if not a lot of official replies. Repeated @ tweets to the official account asking for the number of active users in Australia were met with no response. Although the official Twitter handle launched back in October 2012, and senior execs have made scoping visits, there’s little evidence that Twitter have any dedicated resource locally.
Latecomer to the Aussie music streaming scene: Songl
Streaming music service Songl actually launched in October last year, but is now being relaunched with a PR and social media campaign as well as a whole heap of exclusive celeb content and playlists (the first new one was created by Sir Bob Geldof). The streaming service offers a $12.99 subscription model as well as an ad-funded version. It’s also backed by Digital Music Distribution (DMD), Sony, Universal Music and Southern Cross Austereo; early reports indicate some major artists are missing.
Spotify and Rdio already feature great social integration – we’ll be watching to see how Songl make their mark in the crowded social landscape of music streaming.
Interactive website aims to help gambling addicts
With the help of McCann Melbourne, the Victorian Government has launched fightforyou.com.au, which will feature video diaries of people trying to control their gambling habits. The online support service asks people to take a 100 day challenge and friends, families and even complete strangers can use the site to post messages of support. Forums and live chat functionality is also offered.