We Are Social’s Monday Mashup #250
The Mashup is 250! I know, we’re all feeling very nostalgic. As a special treat, here’s the first ever Mashup from back in 2009, when the retweet button was just being introduced. Now, for this week…
Digital to account for half of UK ad spend
Research by Strategy Analytics has concluded that half of all UK ad spend will go on digital in 2015, a total of £8bn to TV’s £3.8bn. The figure contrasts with the US, where it falls to just over a quarter. Of the increase in UK digital ad spend, 23% will come from mobile, closely followed by social media and video (both 18%).
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.