1. “IGTV” Launches on Instagram
With all the hype about longer Instagram videos, the feature will finally be launching today. According to TechCrunch, Instagram has decided to focus its efforts on people who claim fame online, called “web celebrities.” This is an opportunity for creators to have more options and to create more content since this feature will be on the app’s Explore tab, with vertically orientated, full-screen, 4K resolution and up to 60-minute videos. The videos are designed to compete with YouTube videos and IGTV could potentially be a new idea for mobile television. Just when we thought we didn’t need any more reality TV.
(Source: The Verge)
2. #Fake Insta Friends
With IGTV underway, it’s apparent how popular influencers are to advertisers. Some are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single post promoting the business’ product. However, some companies are facing expensive problems. Consumer goods company, Unilever, spent $9B on brand marketing last year and has decided to crack down on influencers with fake or paid followers. After all, an influencer is only as good as the number of real followers they have. Turns out, 20% of mid-level influencer followers are fake, 15% of Twitter users are bots with “paid followers,” and even well-known companies such as the Ritz-Carlton Hotel have fake followers (78% to be exact). Despite all of the fraud, 75% of marketers are still paying to promote their products and half plan to increase budgets.
(Source: The Hustle)
3. Facebook Ads Videos to Messenger
In an attempt to get past the Cambridge Analytica scandal once and for all, Facebook is doing a patched-up job. The new Facebook algorithm change was made to cut down on all of the advertisements and focus on community. However, advertising spending on Facebook has increased 62% in the last quarter and their newest update is placing auto-play ads in private Facebook messages in an attempt to find new advertising inventory. With all of the mixed messaging lately, such as their recent apology ads promoting “We came here for the friends,” it makes us miss Tom (i.e. Myspace) who was the real MVP. (Source: The Hustle)
