by Fronetics | May 30, 2019 | Blog, Current Events, Marketing, Social Media
Also, this month in social media news: Facebook shows marketing decline; Instagram introduces unfollower statistics for creators; and YouTube adds still-image ads.
Highlights:
- Facebook announces a new redesign that puts Groups at the center – and brands on the outskirts.
- For the first time in 5 years, Facebook marketing is in decline.
- Instagram is testing small changes that could make a big difference for brands.
It’s been a big month in social media news. Kicking things off, Facebook held its annual F8 developer conference, giving the world some insights into the platform’s future, including long-term goals. Just one week later, Social Media Examiner released its annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report, which showed a decline in Facebook marketing in general.
In the meantime, YouTube is rolling out a new development for advertisers: still image ads. LinkedIn has updated its Job Search tools, and Instagram is empowering creator accounts with data about unfollowers and new likes. Read on for a roundup of social media news from May 2019.
Facebook Holds Its Annual F8 Developer Conference
From April 30-May 1 in San Jose, CA, Facebook gave developers some glimpses into its long-term goals and strategies. Perhaps the biggest news from the conference is the complete redesign of both its desktop and mobile versions. While the redesign has some aesthetic changes, the important thing for marketers to know is that Facebook is now structuring itself around Groups. As Facebook reported, the new design “puts your communities at the center.”
It’s official: Facebook is departing from the News Feed focus, and instead continuing to turn toward being a more friends-focused platform. In the wake of Cambridge Analytica, Facebook is continuing its push to restore user confidence — and in doing so, it’s clearly demonstrating that Facebook is a decreasingly friendly place for brands. Marketers need to stay abreast of the ongoing changes and shift their Facebook strategies accordingly. Keep an eye on our monthly social media news roundups for updates.
New Report: Facebook Marketing Decline
The Social Media Marketing Industry Reportis out, and its findings offer some surprises — at least on the surface. In a reversal of trends from the past 5 years, there is a clear indication that marketers are turning away from Facebook. While this doesn’t mean that marketers are turning away from Facebook entirely, it does mean that they are diversifying their social advertising. One in 10 marketers indicated that they’ll be decreasing their organic marketing on Facebook, and only 51% plan to increase their organic activities, down from 62% in 2018.
LinkedIn Updates Its Job Search Tools
LinkedIn is continuing to build quietly on its success as a highly respected, professional platform. According to LinkedIn’s announcement of recent changes to its Jobs tools, “We’ve grown from 300,000 to 20 million job postings in the past five years, with members applying to 25 million jobs every week and a new hire made every 8 seconds using LinkedIn.”
The network has redesigned its Jobs section, with the goal of catering better to user needs. The homepage is now more streamlined and less cluttered, and more focused on advertising roles, making it easier for users to scan quickly through available opportunities. The platform is also revamping its job alerts system, giving users instant, personalized alerts about available opportunities. It’s also making its Salary Insights data available to all members.
Instagram Separates New Likes on Posts and Adds Unfollower Stats for Creator Accounts
Instagram is testing out some options that will help businesses easily see activity and take actions based on it. The platform is now sorting the Likes section for creator accounts into “Earlier” and “New” sections, helping businesses easily distinguish the latest activity. The feature has been on Android for several months but is new for iOS.
Similarly, Instagram creator accounts now have access data on followers and, notably, unfollowers. This is valuable data for marketers, as it provides context on content and overall account performance.
YouTube Adds New Still Image Ads
YouTubehas announced that it will soon begin providing non-video advertisers with a new still-image option that will appear within YouTube home feeds. “For a long time, advertising on YouTube meant your brand had to have a video or app ad,” says the announcement. “We’re excited to announce today that’s no longer the case.”
YouTube is calling the feature Discovery Ads, and it will use audience targeting to display ads to relevant users based on their activity. “Discovery ads are a simple and effective way to tap into the power of YouTube — and you don’t even need a video. Just upload your best images from your social campaign, then we’ll optimize your media mix for maximum performance across Gmail, Discover and the YouTube Home feed.”
What social media news caught your eye this month?
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by Fronetics | May 16, 2019 | Blog, Content Marketing, Logistics, Marketing, Social Media, Supply Chain
LinkedIn is a powerhouse B2B social media network and an ideal place for gaining industry insight. Here are 8 must-follow professionals on LinkedIn for the supply chain.
Highlights:
- 94% of B2B marketers are using LinkedIn to distribute content.
- With its publishing platform, LinkedIn lets users create long-form content.
- Follow industry thought leaders to fill your LinkedIn newsfeed with the most up-to-date insights and analysis.
LinkedIn is an overwhelmingly popular platform for B2B marketers when it comes to content distribution. In fact, recent reports indicate that 80% of B2B leads come from LinkedIn, as opposed to 13% from Twitter and 7% from Facebook. The platform isn’t just a powerhouse when it comes to content distribution and lead generation. LinkedIn, for the supply chain, is also an ideal place to keep up with industry news, trends, and thought leadership.
[bctt tweet=”Recent reports indicate that 80% of B2B leads come from LinkedIn, as opposed to 13% from Twitter and 7% from Facebook. ” username=”Fronetics”]
One of the features that sets LinkedIn apart is its Publishing platform. Through the network, users can create long-form posts and articles and share them with followers. This means your LinkedIn newsfeed can become a go-to resource for keeping pace with the latest in-depth industry analysis. Having the right connections in the industry is key to curating the most valuable content for your newsfeed. Here are our 8 favorite professionals to follow on LinkedIn for the supply chain and logistics industry.
Top 8 professionals to follow on LinkedIn for the supply chain
Don Tapscott, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the Blockchain Research Institute
A preeminent authority on the impact of technology on business and society, Don Tapscott has written 16 books and has a record of over three decades of thought leadership. In 2017, Tapscott and his son, Alex, co-founded the Blockchain Research Institute, with more than 70 projects doing definitive investigation into blockchain strategy, use-cases, implementation challenges, and organizational transformation. Blockchain has the potential to reshape the supply chain. Tapscott is a great resource for staying ahead of the changes that are coming.
Kelli Saunders, President of Morai Logistics Inc. at Mode Transportation Associates
Recently named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Kelli Sanders is blazing a trail for women in the supply chain. Recognized for her extensive work in the Women’s Executive Network, Saunders actively speaks on encouraging women/young leaders to pursue rewarding careers in entrepreneurship, supply chain, and logistics. In 2016, we were fortunate enough to interview Saunders, who shared her insights on key issues within the supply chain.
Sean Griffey, CEO and Co-Founder at Industry Dive
A recipient of the Digital Hall of Fame and Media News Award, Sean Griffey specializes in strategic growth planning, financial management, technology strategy, online media, lead generation, business development, and B2B media. His company, Industry Dive, publishes business news and original analysis in 12 vertical markets. Griffey continues to run the Logistics and Supply Chain Professionals group on LinkedIn, with nearly 300,000 members.
Tim Debus, President & CEO of Reusable Packaging Association
Tim Debus brings his 20+ years of experience in bringing to market new technologies and leading industry initiatives to improve the production and supply of agricultural commodities. He focuses on promoting the use and value of reusable transport packaging systems and advancing the common business interests of members of the Reusable Packaging Association. He works to clearly demonstrate supply chain efficiencies, environmental benefits, ergonomic improvements, and cost advantages to end users in all industries.
Patrick Bian, Director of Supply Chain Management at Watts Water Technologies
Patrick Bian boasts an impressive track record developing supply chain strategic roadmaps and leading multi-national teams to support the business vision for global companies. In his work at Watts Water Technology, he provides solutions used to safely convey, conserve, and manage water. Standing president of the French American Chamber of Commerce, New England for the past four years, Bian is also a lecturer at Northeastern University for the Masters Program in Business and Engineering.
Yossi Sheffi, Professor of Engineering and Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics
An expert in systems optimization, risk analysis, and supply chain management, Dr. Yossi Sheffi is a leading academic in supply chain and logistics studies. He has authored numerous award-winning books, consulted with leading entrepreneurs, and founded or co-founded five successful companies. His LinkedIn publications highlight industry trends ranging from autonomous driving to the latest in retail and e-commerce.
Adrian Gonzalez, President at Adelante SCM & Founder/Host of Talking Logistics
Adrian Gonzalez is a well-respected, trusted, and influential supply chain and logistics analyst and strategic advisor to high-level executives in manufacturing, retail, third-party logistics, and technology companies. He is the founder, host, and creative force behind Talking Logistics, a weekly online video talk show. On both LinkedIn and Talking Logistics, he gives supply chain and logistics professionals interactive and engaging information about the industry, focusing on interviews with thought leaders and key players.
Bart De Muynck, Research Vice President at Gartner
Bart De Muynck is a prolific and insightful publisher on LinkedIn, where he analyzes complex technology topics that are currently impacting the transportation sector. He frequently writes about advanced transportation management systems, as well as the many ways blockchain will impact the supply chain industry.
Did we miss anyone? Who are your favorite professionals to follow on LinkedIn for the supply chain?
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by Fronetics | Apr 30, 2019 | Blog, Current Events, Marketing, Social Media, Video Marketing
Also, this month in social media news: LinkedIn adds a “Teammates” option to facilitate connections among colleagues, and Facebook is testing a Stories-like newsfeed.
Highlights:
- Facebook is giving users increased access to what information advertisers have on them.
- Instagram is considering joining Facebook in promoting communal video experiences.
- LinkedIn’s “Teammates” feature helps users prioritize content from close connections.
This month in social media news, Facebook is continuing to combat user privacy concerns by introducing a tool to provide greater transparency about the content they see on their Newsfeeds, both from connections and from advertisers. The platform is also continuing to explore the Stories trend, as it conducts early-stage testing of a layout that resembles the Stories feature more than it does the existing Newsfeed.
Both Instagram and LinkedIn are promoting greater community among users. Instagram is testing a group video viewing option, joining Facebook’s Watch Party, introduced last year. LinkedIn is rolling out a feature which allows users to prioritize content from their closest connections. Read on for a round-up of social media news.
Facebook Introduces a Feature to Assist Users in Understanding the Context of Content Appearing on the Newsfeed
Having been embroiled in ongoing privacy-related scandals, Facebookis making users’ safety and comfort using the platform a priority. To that end, the company has announced that it will be giving users greater control over the content that appears on their Newsfeeds, through the “Why am I seeing this post?” feature.
[bctt tweet=”Facebook has announced that it will be giving users greater control over the content that appears on their Newsfeeds, through the “Why am I seeing this post?” feature.” username=”Fronetics”]
In 2014, the social media giant launched its similar feature, “Why am I seeing this ad?” which was geared toward projecting transparency in the company’s embattled relationship with users and their advertising content. Facebook announced simultaneously that it will be “making improvements” to the older feature. The new “Why am I seeing this post?” feature aims to help users understand the context for what shows up in their Newsfeeds, and it also allows them to control and manage content.
Marketers should be aware that users will now be able to find out when their profile information matches with the information on an advertiser’s list, as well as when an advertiser “saves their personal information in their database and other details such as if they (the users) were targeted by the advertiser through another marketing partner of theirs (advertisers).”
Instagram Tests a Communal Video Viewing Option
Social media platforms are continuing to push the boundaries of social experiences that are possible for users not in physical proximity. Back in 2018, Facebook rolled out its “Watch Party” option, and now Instagram is exploring jumping on the bandwagon, testing a similar function in its app.
The feature would allow users to view video content on Instagram with a friend, while simultaneously seeing their reactions on screen, using the phone’s camera, in a split-screen view. Users can also apply face filters and other visual tools to the personal feed. Instagram and Facebook’s features are part of a larger trend toward “multi-participatory consumption.”
LinkedIn Adds a New “Teammates” Option to Maintain Connections Among Colleagues
In an ongoing attempt to boost on-platform engagement, LinkedIn has introduced a new feature called “Teammates.” It enables users to put a priority on updates from immediate connections, content with which LinkedIn has found that its users are 60% more likely to engage than more distant connections. As users place a priority on updates from teammates, it will appear higher in their feeds.
The network is pushing the feature as promoting community within the workplace: “95% of working professionals think it’s a good idea to have friends at work, and 63% say they have relationships with their co-workers outside the office. Based on a recent study we shared last month, having friends at work can also help you advance your career.”
Marketers should take note, since it’s not immediately clear what the impact of this feature will be on branded content. Nonetheless, it emphasizes the value of cultivating meaningful connections on the platform, as potential clients will be more likely to mark these types of connections as “teammates,” placing a higher priority on their content.
Facebook is Testing a Stories-Like Swipeable Newsfeed
Stories features across the social media landscape continue to grow in popularity. In keeping with the trend, Facebook is experimenting with a Newsfeed layout which allows users to side-scroll or swipe between posts in their feed, rather than scrolling down. This is a potential significant re-design for the platform, and points to the fact that the Stories trend is here to stay.
If Facebook adopts the design, it would merge Stories and Newsfeed content into a single stream. The network emphasized to TechCrunchthat it is “in the very early stages of development,” and “still needs to conduct a lot more user research before any public experimentation can take place.”
Therefore, while it’s unlikely that a new Newsfeed is coming soon, what is clear is that social media platforms are experimenting with increasingly integrating Stories-style content into every aspect of the user experience.
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by Fronetics | Mar 1, 2019 | Blog, Current Events, Marketing, Social Media
Also this month in social media news: YouTube has reached nearly 2 billion monthly users; Instagram is developing a feature to simplify multiple account management; and YouTube addresses “dislike mobs.”
Highlights:
- Social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are working to streamline their platforms.
- YouTube usage continues to grow, as the platform begins addressing dislike mobs.
- Good news for businesses: streamlined platforms mean less busy-work for marketers.
This month in social media news, we’re seeing multiple platforms working to integrate and streamline their services. Facebook is merging its messaging platforms, while Instagram (owned by Facebook) looks to simplify multiple account management. Additionally, a major part of LinkedIn’s upgrade to its recruitment tools involves integrating them into a single platform.
Social media usage continues to grow, and YouTube is no exception, announcing that it reached nearly two billion monthly users in the fourth quarter of 2018. The platform is also seeking to address one of the main concerns that users currently face: “dislike mobs.”
The developments this month are important for businesses to be watching. Facebook’s plans to integrate its messaging will no doubt mean changes to current chatbot optionsand possibly open up new opportunities for enhanced marketing automation. LinkedIn’s updated recruiter platforms are welcome news for businesses when it comes to identifying and hiring qualified candidates. And if Instagram’s developments pan out as anticipated, marketers will have an easier time managing multiple accounts.
Here’s your social media news for February 2019.
Facebook Is Integrating Its Messaging Platforms
Facebook has confirmed that it’s working toward integrating the three messaging platforms that it owns— Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp — with the aim of facilitating cross-platform communication. Integration would allow users to send messaging between apps, which would remain distinct. Not only will users be able to communicate seamlessly across multiple platforms, features and tools available on each platform will become available across all three apps.
[bctt tweet=”Facebook has confirmed that it’s working toward integrating the three messaging platforms that it owns — Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp — with the aim of facilitating cross-platform communication.” username=”Fronetics”]
While the project has a long way to go, with changes not showing up for users until at least 2020, this is big news, and businesses should be keeping an eye on ongoing developments.
LinkedIn Updates Recruiter Platforms
LinkedIn announced this month a major upgrade to its recruitment tools, with the goal of streamlining hiring processes and matching more relevant candidates. From the announcement:
“Recruiters have told us they’re often frustrated by the need to jump from tool to tool. We’ve heard you. So we’ve put all of our core tools — Jobs, Recruiter, and Pipeline Builder — on a single platform. Once you create a project, you will be able to see the results from all your active sourcing channels — search results, job applicants, media leads — under the Talent Pool tab, and you can manage candidates from there.”
Additionally, LinkedIn will be adding new AI sorting tools, aiming to find better suited candidates for recruiters, using previous usage trends as well as platform data and learning from personal interests.
YouTube Reaches 2 Billion Monthly Users
Earlier this month, YouTube’s parent company, Alphabet, announced in its Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2018 Reportthat the video giant has more than 2 billion monthly users. Not only that, the number of channels with more than a million subscribers has almost doubled in 2018. Content creators on YouTube are also making more — the number of creators earning between $10K and $1 million from YouTube AdSense has grown more than 40% compared to a year earlier.
Instagram Is Developing an Account-Linking Feature to Simplify Multiple Account Management
After last month’s launchof a feature allowing users to post to multiple accounts with a single click, Instagram is pushing ahead with its efforts to streamline multiple-account management. It’s now developing a new option that will connect multiple accounts under a single login. The development, first reported by TechCrunch, will give Instagram users a variety of account-management options and allow marketers to cut down busy-work, like setting preferences for multiple accounts over and over.
YouTube Is Asking for Feedback in Addressing “Dislike Mobs”
YouTube is addressing the pernicious issue of so-called “dislike mobs” in a recent issue of Creator Insider, the video platform’s corporate series for creators. The company’s developers are considering multiple options, and while it does so, it is soliciting feedback from creators. Options so far discussed include methods for disabling the downvote button, allowing content creators to set preferences for whether ratings are publicly viewable, or requiring users to provide a reason for downvoting a video.
With its announcement that it is addressing the issue of dislike mobs, YouTube is demonstrating its commitment to content creators on its platform.
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by Fronetics | Dec 20, 2018 | Blog, Content Marketing, Logistics, Marketing, Supply Chain, Talent
Here are our most-viewed blog posts from 2018 about talent, including analysis of industry trends, and influencers you should be paying attention to.
New Year’s is the time for resolutions — personally and within your professional life, as well. Take a look at your company’s track record for identifying strengths and interests within your employees, and hiring and retaining great talent, and evaluate how to improve upon it.
We’ve assembled our top 5 talent posts of 2018. We hope these can be a resource to help your business overcome challenges and achieve your goals for the new year.
Top 5 talent posts of 2018
1. 6 Reasons Your Supply Chain Employees Are Looking for New Jobs
This guest post from Argentus Supply Chain Recruiting examines the most likely reasons why passive candidates seek out new jobs, particularly in Supply Chain and Procurement. It’s not out of a desire for more money as often as you might think. More often than not, it’s the more intangible factors. Read more
2. 7 Supply Chain & Logistics Professionals to Follow on LinkedIn
With LinkedIn Publishing, users are able to create long-form posts and articles to communicate their subject-matter expertise and interests. Following LinkedIn members gives you access to their profiles, as well as any original or third-party posts they publish on their newsfeeds. So your newsfeed becomes populated with the content the users you follow are publishing and sharing — meaning, if you follow the right people, you get invaluable insight into industry leaders’ thoughts and trends. Here are some of our favorite supply chain and logistics professionals to follow on LinkedIn. Read more
[bctt tweet=”With LinkedIn Publishing your newsfeed becomes populated with the content the users you follow are publishing and sharing — meaning, if you follow the right people, you get invaluable insight into industry leaders’ thoughts and trends. ” username=”Fronetics”]
3. Top 10 Mobile Apps for Supply Chain Professionals
Supply chain and logistics professionals are finding mobile applications to be a necessary tool these days. In an industry focused on the transport of products and goods, mobile apps are giving supply chain professionals a new freedom from the confines of their desks. Here are 10 mobile apps for supply chain professionals to be familiar with. Read more
4. Top 5 Logistics and Supply Chain Careers
With the talent gap growing wider every day, ambitious current and future supply chain professionals have many interesting opportunities. And not only that — logistics and supply chain careers are increasingly high paying. Here’s a look at five of the top logistics and supply chain careers available to today’s professionals. Read more
5. Industry Report: Supply Chain Management is Becoming Younger, More Educated, More Diverse
A major new survey shows that millennials are moving into the workforce in a big way, changing its Supply Chain’s demographics and disrupting the industry. It’s a far-reaching report with a lot of results busting down stereotypes both about Supply Chain and millennials themselves. Here were some of our biggest, and most surprising, takeaways. Read more
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