We Are Social’s Tuesday Tweakup #17
Adobe releases stats on Facebook ads
Adobe has released its quarterly report on Facebook Advertising for Q1 2014, and it’s good news for Facebook advertisers. The stats show cost per click decreasing 2% year on year and 11% quarter on quarter, while click through rate has jumped 160% year on year and 20% quarter on quarter. Other results include an increase in engagement and video views, plus evidence that suggests most engagement/video views happen on Fridays.
Facebook launches ‘Nearby Friends’
Facebook is rolling out a new feature for US iPhone and Android users, named ‘Nearby Friends’.
The opt-in system allows users to browse the approximate locations of all their friends who have also signed up, as well as to receive push notifications when one of them is nearby. Mashable has played around with the system and posted an article about it, in which they examine its various features. The author discusses how to turn on the system and displays how it shows only a rough location, even after opting in, unless a user chooses to share more details with a friend. Naturally, Nearby Friends is collecting a lot of data, and the piece makes a point to discuss the long-winded process of erasing it. Facebook hasn’t ruled out using the feature’s data to serve ads in the future.
Facebook to reveal mobile ad network?
Facebook is rumored to be set to launch a mobile ad network. Details are slim on the ground just now, but allegedly all will be revealed at the F8 developer conference at the end of this month. You know where to come then, don’t you? Yes, your favourite weekly round up of all things social media.
Facebook to launch ad segment for the World Cup
Facebook looks set to create a new audience segment for its largest advertisers, made up of those watching this summer’s World Cup. It would be the first time that the network has created a segment specifically for a TV event, pitting it against Twitter, the reigning champion of social TV. Advertisers can already target an audience segment named ‘FIFA World Cup’, but the new alternative will be updated daily to include those who start to show interest after the event begins.
Twitter to offer mobile ads beyond its own app
After purchasing the mobile ad exchange MoPub last September, Twitter now has the ability to offer mobile ads beyond the Twitter mobile app. The social network, which attributes 75% of its business to mobile, can now show ‘app install’ ads in apps across MoPub’s network, including WordPress, OpenTable and Songza.
Google+ updates ads
Google+ has made three updates to its ad offering. Firstly, +Post ads, which turn G+ content into display ads, are now available to all pages with 1,000 followers or more. Secondly, brands can now choose to automatically promote their most recent update and only pay once it receives engagement. Finally, it is possible to promote a Hangout to a +Post ad, allowing users to either RSVP, watch live or watch a recording.
Weibo’s value jumps after IPO
Weibo, the Chinese microblogging platform, went public last week. From its IPO price of $17 per share, its value shot up 19% in the first day, closing at $20.24. Day two saw further growth of 12% by the time markets closed, at one point reaching the $24 mark. Looking good so far, Weibo…
Line to allow developers to create and sell stickers
Messaging app Line will allow users to make and sell their own sets of stickers for use in the app. The stickers, which comprise a set of 42 images, must pass a test by the network, before being sold for JPY 100 (around $1). The profits will be split 50/50 between developers and the platform. A Line spokesperson said:
Line will further be able to answer the needs of users through the sale of stickers made by creators worldwide, and hopes to further speed up its global expansion by offering even more localized stickers.
It should also help increase Line’s revenue.
Record or watch Sky through Twitter
The UK’s Sky TV is allowing Twitter users to watch and record their favourite shows through the network. Once someone’s ‘Sky ID’ is linked to their Twitter account, they can click on any tweet from Sky that includes the hashtag #WatchOnSky to reveal buttons labelled ‘Watch’ and ‘Record’. You can probably guess what clicking them does.
Esquire premieres show on Facebook
Esquire TV has premiered the first episode of its new programme ‘Lucky Bastards’ through Facebook. The quality of the series, which follows six rich men around New York City, looks… questionable. Feel free to disagree with us, of course:
We Are Social and Evian bring Spiderbaby to Twitter
We Are Social has helped Evian bring its sponsorship of the new film, Amazing Spiderman 2, to life on Twitter. Using the hashtag #AmazingBabyRescueMe, the water brand asked followers to tweet in their everyday dilemmas and receive a personalised response from the Amazing Baby character. Replies included tweets, Vines and illustrations, such as the below:
Dos Equis starts marketing on Foursquare
Dos Equis has brought its signature character, the ‘Most Interesting Man in the World’, to Foursquare. Continuing with his classic tone of voice, which has even spawned its own meme, the page will be populated by content like the below.
Buick and Ford use influencers on Vine
Automotive brands Buick and Ford have both teamed up with Vine stars in order to extend their reach on the platform. Ford has partnered with Rudy Mancuso, who has over 4 million followers, and Buick with Zach King (1.1 million).
US Airways post interesting image to Twitter
US Airways posted an ‘unsavoury’ image to Twitter last week. If you haven’t seen it, here’s a Buzzfeed article that shows the picture, which is very NSFW. The airline has apologised and has said that it’s investigating exactly what went on. However, the employee won’t be losing their job. We Are Social’s own Leila Thabet discussed why with Mashable, comparing it to other ‘Twitter fails’. As it’s so clearly a mistake, the brand has managed to sidestep major criticism – it isn’t the same as when Kenneth Cole made light of the Egyptian political situation to try and boost sales, for example.
NASA asks everyone to post a #GlobalSelfie
Had enough of selfies? NASA hasn’t. The organisation is celebrating Earth Day by asking people around the world to post pictures of themselves, wherever they are. The images will then be compiled, along with shots from NASA’s satellites, into a giant mosaic of the entire planet. As selfies go, these ones sound pretty good.