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@jenitaferreira
Via The Next Web :10 Web Design Trends You Can Expect To See In 2015
1. Longer Scrolling Sites
2. Story Telling and Interaction
3. Absence of Large Header and Background Images
4. Removing Non-Essential Design Elements
5. Fixed Width Centered Site Layout
6. High Quality Custom Photography
7. Flyout Menus
8. Hidden Menus
9. Very Large Typography
10. Performance and Speed
#MyBroadband creates list of top #Twitter users in South Africa based on Followers.
This list consists of celebrities and spoof accounts which is not unexpected based on the worlds top #Twitter users. One cannot scoff at spoof accounts, they make Twitter a happy place including my favourite Professor Snape who can get a proper LOL out of me on most days.
But why are we still measuring strength based on followers? Platforms like Klout, Peer Index and Kred started the trend of finding influential #Twitter accounts. I'm not saying they got it right, but they sure got us to think differently about data. Metrics like Impact, Outreach and Tweet Activity are just as, if not, more important than the number of followers you have. Let's not forget this.
I'm rather passionate about getting South Africans blogging and tweeting about what they know. If they start out believing that they cannot compete with Gareth Cliff and Casper Lee, then how can they ever succeed?
South African Internet Browsers: 46 million and counting.
I think I'll find this up to date #infographic very useful in future. Benchmarking any piece of marketing activity is essential, but finding relevant and realistic metrics are sometimes tricky to find. Based on conversations I've had with geeky counterparts in South Africa to date, all say that #IAB are behind all data and insight analysis.
"Effective Measure is the official traffic measurement partner of the IAB South Africa and provides accurate traffic statistics for South Africa’s top websites." via MyBroadband
What I found most interesting is that 87% use the internet for emails. This shows that e-mail marketing, while not favoured as a platform amongst the more innovative marketers, is a platform in South Africa that will prove essential as part of database builds.
What I've been shocked to hear from friends and family is that some marketers do not respect opt-in or opt-out agreements. Some are still receiving emails and texts after opting out of marketing communications. This will inevitably leave a bad taste when your next campaign is set to run.
While this is a simple request, I believe that marketers need to become more reliable. You cannot just go about selling your valuable databases! It's just not done. It should not be done.
Rather build a trusting relationship with your subscribers so that when they do get a ping in their inbox, it will avoid the spam and trash folders. It may increase your click through and engagement rates... because they might just care about what you've got to say. Imagine that. Ha!
#WhatsApp and #Facebook are the biggest mobile messaging platforms in South Africa. Will this change the way brands select their platforms for marketing efforts?
I've only just moved back to South Africa and while friends and family tell me I will snap up a job quite easily, I continue to craft my CV. The truth is, after being in London for 5 years, I was afraid that I may not understand the South African market. My continued love of data has proved otherwise.
After seeing a #WeChat logo on a #DSTV commercial I immediately downloaded the app. People have told me this is the chat app for South African's. The qualifier in their eyes was that "Gareth Cliff hosts his new radio show on WeChat". Upon further research, I see that this is not the case.
#MyBroadband tells a different story with their recent article depicting #WhatsApp and #Facebook as the key mobile messaging platforms. They discuss how this could affect the voice revenues for cellular companies in South Africa.
Based on learnings from the UK I don't believe this is the case. People will continue to use cellular voice services if service providers include minutes as part of bundles and monthly contracts. Another factor is the data and broadband available to the average South African is significantly less than in the UK.
What I found fascinating from this story is that #WhatsApp is a key player in the South African market and should be considered as an effective alternative to #WeChat. The penetration is higher and since it's purchase by Facebook, will become effective as part of an integrated strategy.
I continue to distrust #Facebook but the reality is that for marketers right now, it's the primary target for social media marketing. With over 100 million active users in Africa and 80% on mobile, it will continue to be a key player.
Facebook Organic Reach explained... not answered.
Recently I've had several conversations with numerous clients regarding Facebook Organic Reach. It's an exhausting topic. Reach is controlled by Facebook and all we can do is keep up with the changes, updates and pretty much whatever comes to Facebook's next whim.
I'm not saying what Facebook has done is compeltely wrong. I agree that users are being bombarded with content. Read this. Click that. Watch this. Enter that. I think we are reaching the era of content overload. Everyone is doing it, whether it's good or bad content is another matter.
Who doesn't have a blog now days? When was the last time you hit 'Like' or a 'heart shaped button' of some sort? Why do you share pictures of your baby, your puppy or your new dress?
One thing I cannot and will not agree with in this article, is the fact that the solution to 'content overload' is paid media. Seriously?
Businesses are struggling to understand the value of maintaining a social presence. Why should the only way to effectively engage a community is with 'stalker like' Facebook data... and a whole lot of money.
"Fans absolutely have value. Fans make your adds more effective. Fans also make the ads you run on Facebook more effiecient. You can use insights about your fans - like where they live, and their likes andinterests - to inform decisions about reaching your current and prospective customers."
Instagram Artists Get More Control Of Thier #Selfies
I quite enjoy Instagram and hopefully others will agree that my photography skills have improved bit by bit. I'm not sure if the promised advancements will be to my benefit or detriment. After all, what are tools in the hands of an amateur? I do follow some really talented users like Cape Town photographer #CraigHowes and graphic designer #PerryColante and I really look forward to how they use these additional features!
Here are the new features coming on Instagram 6.0 compliments to #WeAreSocialMedia for the list via #LinkedIn:
Filter Strength: Tap on a filter to adjust the filter strength.
Adjust: crop and straighten your photo at the same time
Brightness: makes your photo brighter or darker
Contrast: makes the bright areas of your photo brighter, and the dark areas darker
Warmth: shifts the colors of your photo towards either warmer orange tones or cooler blue tones
Saturation: increases or decreases the color intensity of the image (e.g. red becomes redder)
Highlights: adjust the brightness focusing on the bright areas of the image
Shadows: adjust the brightness focusing on the dark areas of the image
Vignette: darkens the edges of the photo and directs the attention away from the edges towards the center of the photo
Sharpen: adds a subtle crispness to your photo and makes photo clearer
#Nielsen stat of the day: 84% of global internet users have shopped online.
Shop Amazon with a Tweet! Why does something so simple, sound so complicated?
Having built queries on #Brandwatch, comunity managed several streams of content on #Hootsuite and managing multiple clients on a day to day basis... this sounds like a lot of work.
Currently there is a big learning curve to use the Twitter platform. This has proven to be a barrier to aquiring and sustaining usership. It's not intuitive like an iPhone. When you tell me that I can shop with a tweet... I have questions.
wired have explained it in two paragraphs which is cool. Thank you wired. After initial set up, you can tweet product links with the hashtag #AmazonCart to add the product to your basket.
My slightly pessimistic opinion is that this 'mechanic' is not simple enough for frequent activation and I'm not convinced users 'explore' products via links in tweets often enough.
If you saw a link on Twitter refrencing a product you might be intersted in... would you not click it first? In this instance you'd land up on the Amazon product page which means that you can add it to your cart right then and there without a tweet. Just saying.
Tumblr is more beautiful every day. On mobile.
I've been using Tumblr as my blogging destination for the past year now. If you need to write a thesis on an existential society then visit Wordpress. I think Tumblr is great platform if you don't take blogging too seriously and it happens to work really well with Twitter in particular.
The unique part of Tumblr is that it tends to be more visual in nature. However, the mobile experience has remained the 'ugly step sister' to the origial blog. Tadaa. Tumblr has finally done something about it and you can read all about this colourful tale via The Verge. I've updated my mobile app several times and have not seen the update yet - but I'm hoping it rolls out soon.
Perhaps my blog could do with an update. It could be a project for the future Jenita. I'll let her know this weekend.
Creative Insights, One Burger At A Time.
I always value the talents of the designers that I work with. They make dreams come to life! But where do these ideas come from? Is it the same place where lost socks go?
This lovely website says: "Every object, experience, relationship, environment, phrase - everything - has locked insitde it an insight it wants to share. The only trick is remember ot look for it."
Putting this idea to the test these designers will eat a burger a week for the next 52 weeks to see what leassons these lovely objects could teach them.
Sound like a yummy mission!
The thing is, I can read most of your life from your metadata. And what’s worse, I can read your metadata from the people you interact with. I don’t have to see you at all.
The Wizard Meet Alex Pentland, father of the wearable computer (via thisistheverge)
After seeing Privacy the play at Donmar Warehouse this week... Free access to metadata freaks me out. It may seem like top level non evasive information, but all of it paints a pretty accurate picture and gives away who you are. Will this eventually be taken seriously?!?
"Connectivity has turned theatre on to new ways of telling stories" via new production... called privacy.
I read this lovely piece by playwright @MrJamesGraham about his new play which dramatises how we live our lives online in the 21st century. The growth of connectivity has lead to us being... more connected. Being so reliant on the internet is far off from life as we knew it a decade ago. Is that just how life is? Do we have a compulsive need to live our lives through sharing with others? When did it become so important?
I personally have not seen the play yet, but based on what I've read so far... online... I have to see it! As a social media manager it's imperative for me to understand how each demographic interacts with all communication platforms. As an avid theatre goer I have to see if this modern day story can be as captivating as the traditional model.
The main reason why I want to see it is because of this article. If you read the snippet:
"Isn't it tragic that it's no longer good enough to see a beautiful sunset or begin an exciting new relationship, in and of itself, in the moment? It only has meaning if everyone you know knows it's happened."
It hits home doesn't it. Freakishly so.
"I worry that the importance of something- whether it be an idea, an image or an argument - is no longer measured by its quality but on how far it is shared."
Don't even get me started on data! If you like me want to see the show it's on at Donmar Warehouse until the 31st of May.
Take Note: Twitter Has New Profile Dimensions
Have you updated your branded accounts? Twitter was kind enough to give you a step by step tutorial of the updates and asks if you like the new look before implementing. I've not seen a deadline just yet, but it's becoming inevitable.
Cover Photo: 1500 X 500
Profile Picture: 400 X 400
Yes it look a LOT like Facebook. On Facebook users tend to pick really exotic landscapes from their holiday snaps, or a quirky 'show my indie personlity' vibe but what are we going to do with this massive (and extremely public) space on Twitter? I guess we can't say no to a bit of real estate.
I do like the idea of 'Pinned Tweets' which has only been available if you had an advertising account. Click HERE for the rest of the Twitter Profile updates.
Google Doodle Pays Tribute To Audrey Hepburn's 85th Birthday. I'm a big fan and I enjoyed this write up by Alex Cox from The Guardian about her interesting life.
Spotify Gets A Cosmetic Facelift
Anyone noticed the updated on their new spotify playlist. On their blog they state "playing your favourite music has never looked so good".
I agree that it's looking a lot better. They have also improved playlists and the browse functionality. I'm not a HUGE music fundi, but I'm delighted with the update.
On a superficial note... it's just really pretty.
Are you a Social Media Expert or a Social Media Imposter?
Like onlineinfluence I have found the definition of a 'social media expert' quite concerning. I tend to bump into quite a few of these impostors when dealing with other agencies, in house social teams or sometimes it is sadly those heading up departments. At times I'm surprised they managed to blag themselves into the job!
I won't brandish all with this 'impostor' label. Many times it's great to see eye to eye with other like minded Social Media Managers and on some occasions I walk out of a meeting learning something new or sharing knowledge in return. It can be quite fun actually.
I am, however, concerned that there are people out there devaluing my job...
Who Do You Consider a Social Media Expert?
Via onlineinfluence There are so many different definitions (job description?) for a Social Media Expert. In your opinion, who would be considered as one?
Via Media Solutions I recently read (and got a big kick out of) this definition of a “social media expert,” as defined by Jonathan Crossfield in a recent post for +Content Marketing Institute titled, “How to Spot True Social Media Talent Amongst the ‘Experts’.” Or course, there are good social media managers - just make sure you do your research if you’re going to hire one! http://click-to-read-mo.re/p/6QME
Brandwatch Welcomes Instagram Hashtags and @Mentions
The more mentions you can pick up the better right? So when Brandwatch announced their new 'Boolean Operators' I was obviously excited. I had to Google 'define: Boolean' and it came up with, a binary variable that can have one of two possible values. To keep it simple @Tales_Of_Cake put it quite nicely:
These new operators mean that to search for #epicfail mentions, a user goes from having to write this Query string:
raw:#epicfail OR raw:#EpicFail OR raw:#EPICFAIL OR raw:Epicfail etc.
To this:
hashtags:epicfail
And the same goes for tracking @mentions. Easy huh?
I really like the idea of being able to track further than Twitter because social platforms seem to be growing by the dozen and managing client expectations can become tricky if you're not careful.
Clients want results to prove the effectiveness as well as inform future brand changing decisions, but we need to ensure we are measuring clean, precise and relevant data otherwise you'd be making business decisions on ficticious learnings. Now that is an #EpicFail.
If all of this is going over your head I'd reccomend joining the #BrandwatchTips Q&A discussion coming up on the 2nd of May.
