We Are Social Asia Tuesday Tuneup #162
News
News
China’s Lunar New Year TV show gives away cash through social media
In a twist to the traditional red packets that are given out during Lunar New Year, China’s state TV extravaganza gave away cash to viewers via platforms like WeChat and Weibo. The 5-hour Chinese New Year’s Eve TV show gave away RMB 500million in cash during the broadcast by getting viewers to shake their phone when prompted. This made use of WeChat’s existing Shake feature, usually used to find fellow users of the messaging app nearby. Weibo users went through the more conventional route of clicking links.
Google launched a localised version of its YouTube channel for developers in China
Google is continually opening up its Android platform to mobile developers in China, this time announcing the launch of a Chinese version of its Google Developers YouTube channel. This new channel will help the US firm’s move last November (of allowing Chinese developers to earn money via Android apps, although only from users based outside of China since Google Play still remains blocked there) by increasing access to information resources to developers. However, viewers currently require a VPN connection to access the channel.
Google Capital seeks to move into India
Google Capital, an investment arm of the tech giant that focuses on mid-stage technology companies, has set its sights on India. In the first expansion of its kind outside the US, Google Capital has been interviewing candidates for a position to lead their efforts in India – a country that has recently surpassed the US in terms of number of Internet users.
Product Ads are coming to Facebook
Facebook has launched a new ad format, ‘Product Ads’. They’re aimed at companies who have, you know, products. The clever thing? The products a user is shown will vary based on activity and interests, whether those be cups, cats or collages.
Adweek published a piece which claims that Product Ads could compete with Google’s Shopping Ads, which appear at the top of search results with a retailer focus. The article cites Facebook’s unique targeting capabilities and dynamic visuals.
YouTube bans branding overlay
YouTube is clamping down on sponsors that add ‘graphical title cards’ to creators’ videos. The network now requires any overlaid branding or logos to come through Google’s sales team, thereby handing over a share of the revenue.
YouTube kids is out today
YouTube has today released ‘YouTube Kids’ as an app for Android devices. It features family-friendly content and pre-vetted ads, as well as a set of parental controls, including time limits and search blocks.
LinkedIn updates ad targeting capabilities
LinkedIn has launched its first tool that focuses on serving ads outside of its network, allowing marketers to target select subsets from LinkedIn’s user base and show them ads elsewhere on the net. It’s also introduced new business-to-business ad targeting, based on which parts of a website someone has visited, as part of its ‘LinkedIn Lead Accelerator’ feature. Samsung and Groupon are already involved, with the latter’s EMEA head of merchant marketing saying:
LinkedIn Lead Accelerator is helping us reposition Groupon as a marketing partner to the businesses we work with. From local restauranteurs to major national brands, we’re now able to better analyse our site traffic and identify the sectors that could provide the best leads for us to focus on.
Record Snapchat video and play music simultaneously
Big news for parties with bad sound systems: shooting Snapchat video will no longer pause your music, meaning that you can capture it in your films. The update came in the latest iPhone/iPad app; Android users will have to wait a little longer.
Snapchat and Pinterest in new funding rounds
Snapchat looks to be more valuable than Pinterest, according to two rumoured rounds of funding. Both are looking to raise around $500m, but Snapchat’s $19bn predicted valuation is significantly higher than Pinterest’s $11bn. Still, $11bn? Not bad, Pinterest. Not bad at all.
Michael Kors on Snapchat for NYFW
Michael Kors partnered with Snapchat during New York Fashion Week for 24 hours of exclusive, behind-the-scenes snaps in ‘Our Stories’. Look how happy he looks! As well he might.
Two fashion brands create Twitter activations
Michael Kors wasn’t the only fashion brand making social news in the last week. Topshop is to use live Twitter data during London Fashion Week to create shoppable outdoor billboards, based on the latest trends from the shows.
Meanwhile, Burberry added a Twitter-powered camera to its Autumn/Winter 2015 show. Any tweet using #Tweetcam and @Burberry would trigger the camera to take a photo of the catwalk.
#ChampionTheMatch with Heineken
Heineken is encouraging its Twitter followers to use #ChampionTheMatch when discussing the Champions League this week. In return, they’ll receive exclusive content, such as live commentary from players and celebs.
Under Armour plans to hijack Twitter conversations
Under Armour has recruited professional athletes, including Welsh rugby player Leigh Halfpenny, for its latest campaign. The brand says it will be “hijacking competitor social conversations in real-time” by posting videos and images that encourage fitness enthusiasts to push themselves further.
Dove creates #SpeakBeautiful Oscars campaign
Dove used the Oscars to locate negative Twitter conversations about body image and encourage women to be more positive, using the hashtag #SpeakBeautiful. You can get a taste of the campaign from the video below.