We Are Social’s Monday Mashup #294
Facebook has revealed its Q4 2015 earnings to be a massive $5.841 billion in revenue as well as hitting 1.59 billion users, up from 1.55 billion users and $4.5 billion in revenue in Q3. It is said that this is down to its clever monetisation of developing countries, higher levels of user engagement with video and the introduction of Instant Articles, meaning people are spending longer inside the app and gorging on advertising. Monthly active users continue to grow steadily as well, showing that market saturation is still not complete.
Facebook’s ad volume has also grown for the first time in two years, with mobile ads generating 80% of its Q4 revenue. Translation: the beast has awoken and it’s taking all the money!
Instagram showing more ads than ever before
Have you noticed that the amount of ads you’re being shown on Instagram has increased? They’re quite easy to spot as they’re usually about as subtle as an old-school spy, sitting in a cafe, reading a newspaper with eye holes punched out. New figures have revealed that ads impressions have increased 13 times over between August 2015 and December 2015, so don’t worry, you’re not alone with your sponsored post-heavy news feed.
Facebook’s new Like button options are on their way
After testing some options last year, it seems the days of just having one option of ‘Liking’ a status are numbered. Facebook has announced that “in the next few weeks” users in the US will be able to express new ‘Reactions’ including love, haha, wow, sad, and angry. Chris Cox, Facebook’s chief product officer, has explained the platform’s controversial decision, which has drawn comparisons drawn to Coca-Cola altering its secret recipe – why change something that you know works? I just wish they’d have included a ‘BORING!’ button for me to use in response to a ‘friend’s’ recent bathroom alterations…
Facebook adds organic audience optimisation tool
In order to help publishers increase their reach and engagement levels, Facebook has added a tool which lets them target posts to audiences who will appreciate them (and hopefully therefore engage with them) the most. After the post has been published, the administrator will also be able to see how well content has performed against each target, whether that’s interest, demographic or geography.
Facebook takes its ad network to the mobile web
Facebook is taking over the internet! Yawn, old news. This time it’s expanding its ‘Audience Network’ – the tool that allows it to understand its users and serve up relevant ads – from just third-party apps to the mobile web. The move will allow the 2.5 million existing Facebook advertisers to “reach more of the people they care about on mobile devices” by using Audience Network’s people-based targeting and ad formats.
Facebook allows all U.S. iPhoners to live stream
Watch out world, after a slow roll-out, all U.S. iOS users can now live stream and Facebook becomes a real competitor for Periscope. The main differences between the two are that Periscope streams are only available for 24 hours but it notifies all your contacts when you’re streaming, whereas Facebook only tells your closest friends and streams are available permanently. This news comes just as Periscope has announced an exciting new GoPro partnership, allowing Periscope users to broadcast live directly from their GoPro camera. And Meerkat? Meerkat who!
Snapchat trials longer video ads for brands
A new ad format has been seen running on Snapchat which allows users to swipe up for longer versions of video ads. Previously, most ads have been capped at 10 seconds but brands like Paramount and Universal Pictures have recently shown full length trailers on the platform.
Snapchat vies to be the no.1 platform for sports
In an attempt to get that edge over Twitter and Facebook in the sports world, Snapchat has rolled out live score geofilters at every NBA arena, so anyone attending can overlay real-time updated score graphics over their snaps. As well as this, as the Super Bowl approaches, Snapchat has made Marriott, Budweiser, Pepsi and Amazon Super Bowl Snapchat sponsors, with ads running from them within their Super Bowl NFL Live Story.
Stars strip down for Calvin Klein Instagram campaign
What do you do in your Calvins? If you parade around semi naked and post the results on Instagram, you’re in good company. Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner caused a stir on the platform last week when they did just this to launch Calvin Klein’s latest campaign, #mycalvins. More stars such as Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$ and FKA Twigs also feature, showing how you can also be slightly more productive when wearing your underwear.
Nissan introduces card game for the car ‘Altimatums’
Nissan has launched a game to play in your car – and no, it’s not Eye Spy. ‘Altimatums’, which promotes the 2016 Nissan Altima, is based on the popular card game Cards of Humanity but with a social twist. The brand has been distributing decks of 100 cards to drivers through its social media channels, and each card contains a challenge to drivers to “encourage spontaneity”. Altimatums is part of Nissan’s broader social campaign, #SoNotMeh, which celebrates Altima drivers and their extraordinary everyday experiences by highlighting interesting and inspiring content across its social channels.
UK brands test Twitter’s Promoted Moments
Tesco, Sky and Xbox are among the first brands to use Twitter’s ‘Promoted Moments’ tool in the UK since it launched in last year. Moments display “the very best of Twitter through images, videos, and conversations” – and by paying for presence, brands can tell more in depth stories to the Twitter community. Tesco was first out of the starting blocks with its #FeelGoodCookbook, a collection of recipes and tips for those who enjoy eating breakfast, lunch or dinner, or even all three. Claire Hoey, Marketing Manager at Tesco, said:
Simple food ideas and recipe inspiration form the core of our Twitter content — and our #FeelGoodCookbook Promoted Moment gives us the opportunity to tell this story in an even more visual and impactful way.
Burberry celebrates Chinese New Year with WeChat gift
To celebrate Chinese New Year, Burberry has created an unwrapping experience on WeChat where users can swipe, tap and shake their phones to reveal digital scarves, trench coats and totes. Friends and family can also send each other traditional red envelopes with the chance of winning a physical one for themselves.
Burgers fight it out on Twitter
Following the launch of their new value meals, Wendy’s and Burger King started beefing on Twitter last week and the crowds went wild for it.
It all started with this:
5 for $4, because 5 is better than 4. pic.twitter.com/BZe8JFbKjm
— Burger King (@BurgerKing) January 21, 2016
To which Wendy’s responded with:
@bguerns13 edible food — Wendy’s (@Wendys) January 22, 2016
BURN!
House Of Fraser has everyone talking with #Emojinal
House Of Fraser has caught the attention of the internet with its new Valentine’s Campaign #Emojinal. It kicked off with a series of images, surreally overlaid with emoji which prompted users to ask if the social channels had in fact been been hacked (it hadn’t).
@houseoffraser has your account been hacked??
— Andy Walters (@andyonbute) February 1, 2016
Not entirely dissimilar to a car crash, I don’t want to watch but I. Just. Can’t. Stop.
Leo¹s not tooting his own horn or anything, but @RevenantMovie deserves an Oscar! @LeoDiCaprio #SagAwards pic.twitter.com/CPaE0Ipuop — House of Fraser (@houseoffraser) February 1, 2016
Practice what you peach @KanyeWest! ? pic.twitter.com/yt6UQALdMv
— House of Fraser (@houseoffraser) February 1, 2016
There have also been some great responses from other brands and users. Don’t worry if you missed it today, the campaign runs for another two weeks!
U OK hun, @houseoffraser? #Emojinal pic.twitter.com/B1Edx1yyGQ — ASOS (@ASOS) February 1, 2016