We Are Social’s Tuesday Tune-Up #193

Tuneup
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Brands embrace the social Women’s World Cup

Twitter has brought back its Hashflags for the Women’s World Cup which kicked off in Canada over the weekend. Hashflags are being used by brands to cheer on teams, while the Australian national team are creating personalised images for fans via Twitter.

Hashflags for Women's World Cup

Twitter update links conversations together

A new update to Twitter for web has made it easier to follow conversations by showing links between chains of conversation. The update is currently rolling out to users and is web-only for now so don’t worry if you’re not seeing it just yet. Twitter Conversations

Facebook Lite comes to not-so-smartphones
Facebook has started the official rollout of Facebook Lite, the stripped-down version of its mobile app designed for those on slower connections. It’s missing some data-intensive features, like video or location services, but allows picture uploads and most of the Facebook ‘basics’. Asia gets Facebook Lite first, but it’ll soon be around in parts of Africa, Latin America and Europe.

Facebook tests Saved Replies
Facebook is trying out ‘Saved Replies’, a feature that will allow Page owners to write, save and re-use messages when talking to customers. It’s one for community managers, particularly those with lots of customer service enquiries.

Save Facebook Replies

Instagram bulks up ad offering
Instagram is looking to increase its ad revenue. That’s the message that comes from its latest updates, which include new buttons (‘Install Now’, ‘Shop Now’ and ‘Sign Up’), demographic and interest targeting and an API for managing large campaigns.

instagram-ad-image

Ad Age discussed the move, stating that the updates would open up Instagram’s ad platform beyond brand advertisers to ‘direct-response advertisers’, who are willing to pay more per ad for the ability to accurately target their preferred group. It’s also good news for the likes of fashion brands, who can now use the visual platform as a shopping site. Instagram is looking increasingly like a strong destination for all sorts of advertisers.

Pinterest adds shoppable pins
Instagram wasn’t the only social network to launch a ‘Buy’ button this week. Pinterest, another social network that’s particularly visual in its nature, is adding the feature. Brands including Macy’s, Kate Spade, Cole Haan, Nordstrom and Ethan Allen are already on board.

Tumblr debuts GIF search
You can now search for GIFs on Tumblr. The platform has added a search engine that includes all GIFs posted to the platform natively, which will rank results based on a number of factors, including engagement. Tumblr users can post GIFs using the feature – clicking on a search result will add it to a post, along with a credit for the creator.

Coke adds names to promoted tweets
Coke is using promoted tweets to call out potential customers by name. As part of the brand’s ‘Share a Coke with…’ campaign, the tweets include the recipient’s name in both the post copy and the image. Here’s what it looks like, provided you imagine your name is Christopher.

 

Ballantine’s creates Instagram magazine

Ballantine’s, the whisky brand, has published an entire magazine issue on Instagram. It can be found at @w_issueone, where you can tap individual pictures to lead to articles.

ballantines-insta-zine-hed-2015

Twitter-powered ‘arcade claw’ hits Topshop

Topshop’s flagship store, at London’s Oxford Circus, has been reimagined as a ‘playland’, complete with a Twitter-powered arcade claw that fills the entire front window. Winners can expect prizes that range from make-up to a £500 shopping spree.