Scott Monty

This Week in Digital - 2/26/2014

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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VPVpickvPno/Uw__anz36EI/AAAAAAAAQZ8/kS859--Ta68/s1600/Bitcoin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Should Bitcoin be regulated?" border="0" height="436" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VPVpickvPno/Uw__anz36EI/AAAAAAAAQZ8/kS859--Ta68/s1600/Bitcoin.jpg" title="Bitcoin" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Bitcoin hiccup, plenty of post-WhatsApp acquisition chatter, Facebook getting up in LinkedIn's business, Twitter tweaks its product for growth, a surprising data analyst hire at the New York Times,  a software vendor guide for employee advocacy,  looking at the intersection of journalism and content marketing, conversational advice from 1866 that's still relevant today and more, it's This Week in Digital.<br />
<br />
A roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.<br />
<br />
Each week, I compose a newsletter that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, digital communications and marketing in order to keep leaders up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs.<br />
<br />
If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below.  And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links by subscribing to the <a href="http://flip.it/IfN4O">This Week in Digital Magazine</a>.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Industry </h4>
<ul>
<li>The Bitcoin industry is under scrutiny after <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2014/02/25/bitcoins-price-plummets-as-mt-gox-goes-dark-with-massive-hack-rumored/">the failure of Mt. Gox, the largest Bitcoin exchange</a>. The site was hacked and withdrawals were halted, and now <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/02/25/mt-gox-implosion-has-u-s-lawmakers-renew-call-for-oversight/">lawmakers are calling for oversight of the industry</a>. Bitcoin prices fell to below $500 on Tuesday before picking back up. (Forbes) </li>
<li>Growth in mobile has been something to watch the last three years, but nowhere more than Asia. It should be clear that <a href="http://www.techinasia.com/future-of-mobile-internet-is-asia/">the future of the mobile Internet is in Asia</a>. (Tech in Asia) </li>
<li>Sina, parent company of Weibo, has an upcoming IPO - at the same time that <a href="http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2014/02/content-marketing-myths-bust-them/">WeChat is funneling away a number of its users</a>. (Marketplace) </li>
<li>Email is in the news. Marketers must be more careful and deliberate than ever in their email efforts. </li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Future-of-Email-Mobile-Only-Viewership/1010632">Mobile-only email viewers jumped 64%</a> in 2013. (eMarketer) </li>
<li>Facebook is <a href="http://recode.net/2014/02/24/the-great-facebook-email-experiment-is-over/">ending its @facebook.com</a> email system. (Re/Code) </li>
<li>Gmail is rolling out <a href="http://www.christopherspenn.com/2014/02/facebook-closes-up-email-shop-gmail-rolls-out-unsubscribe/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChristopherSPenn+%28Christopher+S.+Penn%29&utm_content=FaceBook">a prominent unsubscribe feature</a>. (Christopher Penn) </li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v15cxodxBNY/Uw__rtMx2vI/AAAAAAAAQaE/Aqd0c4aEfdQ/s1600/email+marketing+techniques+2014.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img alt="Email marketing priorities in 2014" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v15cxodxBNY/Uw__rtMx2vI/AAAAAAAAQaE/Aqd0c4aEfdQ/s1600/email+marketing+techniques+2014.gif" title="Email priorities in 2014" width="292" /></a></div>
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<h4>
The Platforms</h4>
<ul>
<li>More on the WhatsApp acquisition from last week:</li>
<ul>
<li>Even with the WhatsApp acquisition, <a href="http://www.techinasia.com/whatsapp-facebook-acquisition-impact-in-asia/">Facebook doesn't quite own Asia</a>. (Tech in Asia)</li>
<li>WhatsApp CEO Koum says <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/02/21/whatsapp-ceo-on-facebook-deal-its-about-staying-independent/?mod=djemTECH_h">they'll be remaining independent</a>. (WSJ Digits)</li>
<li>Some think that <a href="http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2014/02/24/6-reasons-facebook-didnt-pay-enough-whatsapp/#!xx75E">WhatsApp was worth more than $19 billion</a>; those people <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/24/whatsapp-is-actually-worth-more-than-19b-says-facebooks-zuckerberg/">include Mark Zuckerberg</a>. (The Next Web and TechCrunch)</li>
<li>WhatsApp <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/24/tech/mobile/whatsapp-voice/">is adding voice calls</a> to its services in Q2. (CNN)</li>
</ul>
<li>In December, Facebook changed the algorithm that dictates <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-facebook-news-feed-works-2014-2">how your News Feed looks</a>. Here's what you need to know about that, particularly if you're responsible for content on a company Facebook Page. (Business Insider)</li>
<li>When you do determine how to leverage advertising against that content, take these <a href="http://www.arikhanson.com/2014/02/20/8-golden-rules-for-sure-fire-success-with-facebook-ads/">8 Golden Rules for Surefire Success with Facebook Ads</a> as a guide. (Arik Hanson)</li>
<li><a href="http://adage.com/article/btob/facebook-takes-shot-linkedin-job-title-targeting/291793/">Facebook has started to allow ad targeted based on job titles</a>, a direct shot across the bow of LinkedIn. (AdAge)</li>
<li>When Facebook Pages tag other Pages in posts, <a href="http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2014/02/25/facebook-tweaks-news-feed-show-page-posts-tag-pages-like-follow-just-like-friends/#!xxCcv">it will now show in your News Feed</a>. This is particularly relevant for companies with multiple  Pages who wish to cross-promote content. (The Next Web)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.shiftcomm.com/2014/02/facebook-dead-millennials/">Is Facebook dead to millennials?</a> When asked to share their top 3 social networks, Facebook still dominated. (SHIFT Communications)</li>
<li>Not a surprise, but most brands on Twitter are able to draw crowds <a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/219956/twitter-usage.html">yet are still unable to hold a conversation</a>. (MediaPost)</li>
<li>Here's a look at <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/which-brands-rule-twitter_b55089">brands that are performing well on Twitter</a>. Ford was noted as a champion of customer service response rates, while Microsoft has the fastest response time. (AllTwitter)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-24/twitter-s-costolo-bets-on-product-tweaks-to-stem-slowdown.html">Twitter is making tweaks to its product</a> to boost revenue and growth. (Bloomberg Businessweek)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Measurement / Metrics / Big Data</h4>
<ul>
<li>To help make sense of the data and behavior patterns, <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3026162/most-creative-people/why-the-new-york-times-hired-a-biology-researcher-as-its-chief-data-sci">the New York Times hired a biology researcher as its chief data scientist</a>. (Fast Company)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Legal / HR</h4>
<ul>
<li>Terms of Service are a powerful thing. Even with the "anonymish" apps like Secret and Whisper, <a href="http://mashable.com/2014/02/20/whisper-secret-privacy-policy/">users still risk exposure</a>. In short: if it's on the Internet, it's not private. (Mashable)</li>
<li>As more is asked of employees to be brand advocates, inevitably it needs to be managed. This <a href="http://socialmediagovernance.com/social-employee-advocacy-software-buying-guide/">guide to social employee advocacy software</a> looks at the two dozen or so vendors and what they offer. (Social Media Governance)</li>
<li>Paramount Pictures, citing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), <a href="http://mashable.com/2014/02/25/paramount-top-gun-twitter/">requested the suspension of a Twitter account</a> that was sharing the movie Top Gun, frame by frame. </li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QJfKxd18agk/UxAA1jTaxTI/AAAAAAAAQac/Bxk8Ab-Jz1U/s1600/Top+Gun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Top Gun Twitter account DMCA" border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QJfKxd18agk/UxAA1jTaxTI/AAAAAAAAQac/Bxk8Ab-Jz1U/s1600/Top+Gun.jpg" title="Top Gun" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h4>
Content</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://contently.com/strategist/2014/02/19/the-great-journalist-exodus-begins/">Top journalists are flocking to brands</a>. Here's why. (Contently)</li>
<li>Journalists deal in content all day long, which makes them a great source of <a href="http://contently.com/strategist/2014/02/25/5-content-marketing-lessons-from-journalists/">content marketing lessons</a>. (Contently)</li>
<li><a href="http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2014/02/content-marketing-myths-bust-them/">Eighteeen content marketing myths</a> - and how to bust them.</li>
<li>Amtrak has established <a href="http://www.thewire.com/culture/2014/02/inside-amtraks-absolutely-awesome-plan-give-free-rides-writers/358332/">a long-term residency program for writers</a> who wish to use its trains to practice their craft. (The Wire)</li>
<li>The world is moving quickly. <a href="http://garyvaynerchuk.com/99u/">How you tell your story in a fast-paced world</a> is more critical than ever, and this video sums up the challenges and opportunity well. Caution - NSFW language.(Gary Vaynerchuk)</li>
</ul>
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<h4>
Bookmark / Read / Watch Later</h4>
<ul>
<li>Corporate culture comes in many different flavors, and goes beyond the top-down change management programs. There are some <a href="http://www.strategy-business.com/article/00237?gko=f5031&cid=20140218enews&utm_campaign=20140218enews">critical components to a truly effective culture</a>. (strategy+business)</li>
<li>Understanding your audience and <a href="http://www.marketingprofs.com/podcasts/2014/24422/audience-centric-marketing-tom-webster-talks-to-marketing-smarts-podcast">becoming audience-centric is key to marketing success</a>, says Edison Research's Tom Webster. (MarketingProfs)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/04/17/the-art-of-conversation-martine-etiquette-1866/?utm_content=bufferdbe9e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer">The Art of Conversation: Timeless, Timley Dos & Don'ts from 1866</a> is brilliantly applicable to the web today. (Brain Pickings)</li>
<li>Audio continues to surface <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/luhrmann-audiobooks-and-the-return-of-storytelling.html?_r=0">in the area of storytelling</a>. (NY Times Sunday Review)</li>
<li>Two pieces from Forbes delve into the hidden dangers and the upsides of brands and influencers working together:</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/onmarketing/2014/02/11/brands-choose-influencers-and-advocates-wisely/">Brands: Choose Influencers and Advocates Wisely</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/onmarketing/2014/02/25/influencers-be-cautious-when-choosing-your-brand-associations/">Influencers: Be Cautious When Choosing Your Brand Associations</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<i>Image credit: <a href="http://flic.kr/p/gGPW7Z" target="_blank">Antana (Flickr)</a></i> <br />
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This Week in Digital - 2/26/2014

The Bitcoin hiccup, plenty of post-WhatsApp acquisition chatter, Facebook getting up in LinkedIn's business, Twitter tweaks its produ...

This Week in Digital - 2/19/2014

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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-073RblJg9bQ/UwV4VHWichI/AAAAAAAAQVY/uCm_zMaf3TE/s1600/Whatsapp-Icon-Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WhatsApp logo" border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-073RblJg9bQ/UwV4VHWichI/AAAAAAAAQVY/uCm_zMaf3TE/s1600/Whatsapp-Icon-Logo.png" title="That'll be $19 billion, please." width="396" /></a></div>
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Big acquisition news, the top 10 most innovative companies in a few fields, free Wi-fi for the world,  how much real-time television conversation happens on Facebook, the benefits of Google+, predictions for brand publishing in 2014, more sites hacked, legal issues in real-time marketing, the Oreo tweet set marketers back, taking another look at audio and more, it's <b>This Week in Digital</b>.<br />
<br />
A roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.<br />
<br />
Each week, I compose a newsletter that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, digital communications and marketing in order to keep leaders up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs.<br />
<br />
If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below.  And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links by subscribing to the <a href="http://flip.it/IfN4O">This Week in Digital Magazine</a>.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Industry </h4>
<ul>
<li>Social content service <a href="http://www.altimetergroup.com/2014/02/what-is-sprinklr-getting-with-the-acquisition-of-dachis-group.html?fb_action_ids=10152677366199546&fb_action_types=og.likes">Sprinklr purchased social and brand analytics firm Dachis Group</a>. This merger of social business powerhouses is extraordinarily complementary and puts the new firm on footing to compete with the likes of Salesforce, Adobe, Oracle and others. (Altimeter Group) </li>
<li>The practice of advertising is changing before our eyes, and those who are embracing that change are succeeding. Here are <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3026329/most-innovative-companies-2014/the-worlds-top-10-most-innovative-companies-in-advertising?partner=newsletter">the world's top 10 most innovative companies in advertising</a>. (Fast Company) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/14/5411934/youre-not-going-to-read-this">Are people sharing stories via social channels without reading them?</a> Some data indicate that it's true. (The Verge) </li>
<li>An ambitious new project called the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) is claiming that by 2015 it will have hundreds of satellites in a low orbit and will be able to <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/02/17/ambitious-outernet-could-bring-unfettered-internet-access-worldwide-via-mini-satellites">provide free Wi-fi to every person on Earth</a> in a service it calls <a href="https://www.outernet.is/">Outernet</a>. (Apple Insider) </li>
<li>Modelez International (perpetrator of the infamous Oreo tweet) will put <a href="http://adage.com/article/digital/mondelez-plans-big-digital-ad-spend-jump/291753/?utm_source=daily_email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=adage&ttl=1393366121">more than half of its marketing budget into digital by 2016</a>. (AdAge) </li>
<li>Brand publishing is hot, and here are <a href="http://contently.com/strategist/2014/02/13/5-more-predictions-for-2014/">5 brand publishing predictions for 2014</a>, including changes in Facebook's algorithm, quality of design and the rise of GIFs. (Contently) </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
The Platforms </h4>
<ul>
<li>Facebook is <a href="http://newsroom.fb.com/News/805/Facebook-to-Acquire-WhatsApp">acquiring cross-messaging platform WhatsApp</a> for $19 billion. With over 450 million monthly users, WhatsApp was a major threat to the social networking giant. For its part, <a href="http://blog.whatsapp.com/index.php/2014/02/facebook/">WhatsApp says it will remain independent</a>. (Facebook and WhatsApp) </li>
<li>The persistence and <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2014/02/19/he-wanted-a-job-facebook-said-no-in-a-3-billion-mistake/">comeback story</a> of one of WhatsApp's founders. (Forbes) </li>
<li>Moving beyond just the 500 or so Influencers in its program, <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/linkedin-opens-its-publishing-platform-to-all-members/">LinkedIn will open up long-form posts to all members</a>. (TechCrunch) </li>
<li>We now have <a href="http://www.thehubcomms.com/facebook-responds-to-allegations-of-giving-advertisers-fake-likes/article/334154/?DCMP=EMC-thehubdaily">Facebook's official response</a> to allegations of giving advertisers "fake likes." Short version: fake likes don't help anyone, including Facebook. (The Hub) </li>
<li>While we've long believed that Twitter is where you talk about TV shows that you're watching and Facebook is where you talk about shows you watched, a new tracking study in the US, UK and Australia found that <a href="http://www.insidefacebook.com/2014/02/12/tv-chatter-study-finds-60-of-tv-related-facebook-interactions-happen-in-real-time/">60% of Facebook conversations about TV shows are real-time</a>. (Inside Facebook) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/17/5419814/open-secret-how-two-google-refugees-built-the-next-big-thing-in">More behind the scenes at Secret</a> and other "anonymish" apps. (The Verge) </li>
<li>While half of Google+ users (some 540 million) do not visit the site regularly, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/technology/the-plus-in-google-plus-its-mostly-for-google.html">they still use Google's products and services, and that's a benefit</a>. (New York Times) </li>
<li>Twitter sifted through data from Datalogix and Polk to determine that <a href="https://blog.twitter.com/2014/new-offline-sales-impact-offering-measure-vehicle-sales-from-promoted-tweets">Twitter has an impact on car sales</a>. (Twitter) </li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FIvcN52snzk/UwV5WKc69iI/AAAAAAAAQVo/UpetA0RvXzM/s1600/Twitter+car+buying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Twitter users are 2X as likely to purchase a car" border="0" height="312" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FIvcN52snzk/UwV5WKc69iI/AAAAAAAAQVo/UpetA0RvXzM/s1600/Twitter+car+buying.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<h4>
Measurement / Metrics / Big Data </h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2014/industry/big-data?partner=newsletter">The world's top 10 most innovative companies in big data</a> are using the information they glean in a wide variety of ways, from GE harnessing data from plans and trains to power an "Industrial Internet" to IBM sharing its problem-solving power with cities, businesses and universities. (Fast Company) </li>
<li>"It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data." So says Sherlock Holmes, in his <a href="http://www.shiftcomm.com/2014/02/social-media-data-warning-sherlock-holmes/">social media data warning</a>. (SHIFT Communications) </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Legal / HR </h4>
<ul>
<li>One area of real-time marketing that hasn't gotten too much press: the legal risks of replying quickly. Brands are not people, and using names and likenesses without permission <a href="http://digiday.com/brands/legal-real-time-marketing/">may land your company in hot water</a>. (DigiDay) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2014/02/16/forbes-hacked-syrian-electronic-army/?ncid=rss_truncated">Forbes was hacked</a> by the Syrian Electronic Army, who stole the credentials of 1 million users, and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26222113">Kickstarter was similarly hacked</a>. (Engadget and BBC) </li>
<li>Related: more than <a href="http://www.emarketer.com/Article/More-Than-Nine-10-Internet-Users-Worry-About-Online-Privacy/1010587">9 in 10 Internet users are concerned about online privacy</a>. (eMarketer) </li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--nMh0vy6S-s/UwV5b4BUkDI/AAAAAAAAQVw/6hWhSLew2v8/s1600/online+privacy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Frequency with which Internet users worry about privacy online" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--nMh0vy6S-s/UwV5b4BUkDI/AAAAAAAAQVw/6hWhSLew2v8/s1600/online+privacy.gif" title="" /></a></div>
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<h4>
Content </h4>
<ul>
<li>Real-time marketing continues to get interest, particularly in the wake of the Super Bowl and throughout the televised award show  season. Here then is a <a href="http://www.edelmandigital.com/2014/02/07/friday5-a-play-by-play-guide-for-real-time-content-creation">play-by-play guide for real-time content creation</a>.(Edelman Digital) </li>
<li>Remember that Oreo "dunk in the dark" tweet from last year's Super Bowl? <a href="http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/02/11/twitter-uk-md-bruce-daisley-describes-oreo-dunk-dark-tweet-setback-marketers-aimin-0?utm_content=bufferead7c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#ljgu0yFtX1LTLLQJ.01">It has set marketers back</a>. (The Drum) </li>
<li>Ineed, some have asked, <a href="http://www.branddrivendigital.com/real-time-marketing-is-missing-the-point/">is real-time marketing missing the point?</a> (Brand Driven Digital) </li>
<li>BMW Films was a first-of-its-kind series of 8-10 minute films released on the Internet in 2001-2002; BMW is now set to <a href="http://adage.com/article/news/bmw-bring-back-bmw-films/291710/?utm_source=daily_email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=adage&ttl=1392957872">bring the series back</a>. (AdAge) </li>
<li>Coca-Cola has developed a revolutionary <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u3BRY2RF5I">Social Media Guard</a> to help you with your social media addition and this funny video illustrates it. (Coca-Cola)</li>
</ul>
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<h4>
Bookmark / Read / Watch Later </h4>
<ul>
<li>In the conclusion of a series on brand journalism, here's how to think about <a href="http://spinsucks.com/communication/roi-of-brand-journalism/">the ROI of brand journalism</a>. (Spin Sucks) </li>
<li>Amid real-time marketing, social networks and other trendy topics, SEO may not seem sexy. But it's still the backbone of your digital efforts. <a href="http://blog.bufferapp.com/5-simple-seo-tactics">Make sure you're getting SEO right</a>. (Buffer) </li>
<li>Transparency and authenticity win in marketing. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/17/why-transparency-and-authenticity-wins-in-business-and-in-marketing">And that builds trust</a>. (Guardian) </li>
<li><a href="http://holtz.com/blog/content/listen-up-you-may-be-producing-audio-sooner-than-you-think/4293">Audio may play a more important part</a> in the future of storytelling and marketing. But it's odd that this piece doesn't have an audio version. (Holtz Communication + Technology) </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Commentary</h4>
If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em.<br />
<br />
Facebook has caught the attention of just about all of Silicon Valley and beyond with its acquisition of WhatsApp. As a $19 billion deal ($4B in cash, $12B in stock and $3B in restricted stock units), it's the largest ever for the 10 year-old company. And it's completely in line with the approach to competitors that we've seen.<br />
<br />
Previously, Facebook shelled out $1 billion for Instagram and offered Snapchat as much as $3 billion (which Snapchat turned down). The common theme: that the two tighter, more intimate messaging apps were considered competitors and it was noted that many <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2013/04/01/facebook-mobile-messaging-apps/">teens were flocking to such mobile messaging apps</a>. Included on that list was WhatsApp. <br />
<br />
More than just recapturing some of the teen demographic, there are other reasons that Facebook acquired WhatsApp: <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/facebook-whatsapp/">reach into Europe</a> and other international markets where Facebook has had low penetration such as India, Brazil and Mexico; <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2014/02/19/facebook-justifies-19-billion-by-awe-at-whatsapp-growth/">a growth rate that dwarfs those of Facebook</a> and other competitors.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Y7eRrslmYY/UwV48VbC8EI/AAAAAAAAQVg/dtaILOUDWqM/s1600/WhatsApp+growth.png" imageanchor="1"><img alt="WhatsApp's extraordinary growth - why Facebook bought them" border="0" height="394" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Y7eRrslmYY/UwV48VbC8EI/AAAAAAAAQVg/dtaILOUDWqM/s1600/WhatsApp+growth.png" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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There's no stopping Facebook on its path to global mobile domination. The only question is what will it buy next?<br />
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This Week in Digital - 2/19/2014

Big acquisition news, the top 10 most innovative companies in a few fields, free Wi-fi for the world, how much real-time television conv...

Trust Begins with Transparency

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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBUjTvoROT0/UwLYsPHTE9I/AAAAAAAAQU4/6OXLLBDF78g/s1600/Transparent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Transparent computer image" border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iBUjTvoROT0/UwLYsPHTE9I/AAAAAAAAQU4/6OXLLBDF78g/s1600/Transparent.jpg" title="Transparency" width="640" /></a></div>
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A few weeks ago, Buffer did a rather unorthodox thing: they revealed their pay structure - right down to the CEO’s salary - <a href="http://open.bufferapp.com/introducing-open-salaries-at-buffer-including-our-transparent-formula-and-all-individual-salaries/">in a blog post</a>. The company was then <a href="http://qz.com/169147/applications-have-doubled-to-the-company-that-discloses-its-salaries/#/h/42900,3/">inundated with resumes</a>.<br />
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McDonalds has been fighting on online rumor that its Chicken McNuggets are made from so-called “pink slime” and a mechanical separating process. What made it more difficult to combat is that there is a photo of the alleged process circulating on the Internet. So, in addition to a statement that counters the image and allegation, McDonalds Canada went even further.<br />
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The fast food giant brought viewers behind the scenes in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua5PaSqKD6k">a video</a> that documented the supply chain and manufacturing process for the food. At the time of writing, the video has had nearly 3 million views and McDonalds has been lauded for its approach to transparency.<br />
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Why is transparency so important in business at this moment?<br />
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One argument could be made that when we live in an era when personal and corporate secrets can be unraveled with a few lines of code or clicks of the mouse, it’s only a matter of time before the public discovers the facts. Given that conspiracy theorists or predisposed anti-capitalists can mount convincing (if false) campaigns against organizations at any time they wish, it becomes an issue of corporate reputation. <br />
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Many companies have committed to being more transparent in their operations and communications. Doing so is clearly in their best interest. It’s one thing for a brand to tell someone what its position is; it’s more convincing to use earned media tell the story on the brand’s behalf. But the most powerful impact is when a company is confident enough in its process or operations to bring viewers in to see exactly how things are done. It’s the ultimate in show and tell.<br />
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<h4>
Authenticity ≠ Transparency</h4>
Now, a word or two about authenticity with respect to transparency. As we know, transparency the quality of making something easily accessible. But once you’re transparent, are you authentic? Authenticity is the quality of being genuine, and ultimately of being trusted. Transparency gets your brand attention; authenticity allows your message to be heard and believed.<br />
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But being authentic requires a little extra effort. More than just ensuring that access and message are on point, that the video or image or story are crafted just so, brands must ask: who are our messengers? <br />
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Fundamentally, brands have three major groups to think about: influencers, advocates and employees. Influencers, such as bloggers or journalists, have the largest audiences; advocates love the brand and are excited about developments; and employees are the closest to the brand and therefore are able to speak more authoritatively about it. In fact, the most recent <a href="http://www.edelman.com/insights/intellectual-property/2014-edelman-trust-barometer/">Edelman Trust Barometer</a> indicates that engagement and integrity are two of the most important factors in building trust. One way to foster engagement is to have employees representing the brand.<br />
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There are no absolutes. Complete transparency - of the government or of businesses - doesn’t serve anyone well. But done strategically and appropriately, particularly in response to customer concerns, can leave the public better informed and more trusting as a result.</div>
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[The above is part of <a href="https://delicious.com/scottmonty/Guardian" target="_blank">a series</a> to which I contributed on <i>The Guardian</i> website. You can read the original <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/feb/17/why-transparency-and-authenticity-wins-in-business-and-in-marketing" target="_blank">here</a>.]</div>
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<i>Image credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakobhans/4882227235/" target="_blank">Jakob Renpening (Flickr)</a></i></div>
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Trust Begins with Transparency

A few weeks ago, Buffer did a rather unorthodox thing: they revealed their pay structure - right down to the CEO’s salary - in a blog ...

This Week in Digital - 2/12/2014

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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-azA22VCTnwo/Uv2ZS1DoviI/AAAAAAAAQSo/d_OMlGRqOmE/s1600/Anonymous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Anonymous crowd" border="0" height="346" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-azA22VCTnwo/Uv2ZS1DoviI/AAAAAAAAQSo/d_OMlGRqOmE/s1600/Anonymous.jpg" title="Anonymous crowd" width="640" /></a></div>
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Twitter's biggest challenge, a major acquisition, the rise of the platishers, Facebook click fraud - or not, Facebook "truthers," the dark horse social network, WeChat is taking on too much, finding your marketing moral compass, the IAB's measurement and big data announcements, how to make audio go viral, the return to anonmity and more, it's <b>This Week in Digital.</b><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.<br />
<br />
Each week, I compose a newsletter that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, digital communications and marketing in order to keep leaders up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs.<br />
<br />
If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below.  And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links by subscribing to the <a href="http://flip.it/IfN4O">This Week in Digital Magazine</a>.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Industry </h4>
<ul>
<li>There's a subtle change going on in the industry as media companies and tech platforms are blurring lines more than ever before. Publishers offer technology that allows any user to create content and platform companies are hiring editors and content creators. It's the <a href="http://recode.net/2014/02/07/rise-of-the-platishers/">Rise of the Platishers</a>. (re/code) </li>
<li><a href="http://recode.net/2014/02/11/exclusive-lithium-technologies-to-acquire-klout/">Lithium plans to acquire Klout</a>. Analysts indicate that the social customer service company and the social influencer ranking company are a great fit in terms of data sharing and customer profiling. The $100M deal was all stock. (re/code) </li>
</ul>
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<h4>
The Platforms </h4>
<ul>
<li>The slow growth in Twitter's user base (as reported in last week's quarterly financial report) indicate that <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303874504579373140762757688?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303874504579373140762757688.html">the challenge ahead for Twitter is one of indifference</a>. (WSJ) </li>
<li>Indeed, Twitter may be everywhere, but it hasn't yet <a href="http://www.valuewalk.com/2014/02/twitter-inc-twtr-ubiquity-does-not-equal-universal-appeal/">gained widespread appeal</a>. (ValueWalk) </li>
<li>One way it might be trying to counter this is through <a href="http://mashable.com/2014/02/11/twitter-redesign-facebook-google/?utm_emailalert=viral">a drastic redesign that's reminiscent of Facebook</a>. (Mashable) </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zwNvecgNkEg/Uv2aCC7L4TI/AAAAAAAAQTA/xv5hUJ5OJqA/s1600/twitter-update1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Twitter redesign tablet view" border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zwNvecgNkEg/Uv2aCC7L4TI/AAAAAAAAQTA/xv5hUJ5OJqA/s1600/twitter-update1.jpg" title="New Twitter design" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via Mashable</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2452799,00.asp">Yahoo is teaming up with Yelp</a> to integrate reviews into search. (PC Mag) </li>
<li>Keep your attention on LinkedIn: with a higher growth rate and revenue per user over Twitter and a diversity of revenue, <a href="http://www.shiftcomm.com/2014/02/state-linkedin-social-media-dark-horse/">it's the social network dark horse</a>. (SHIFT Communications) </li>
<li>Some argue that <a href="http://www.techinasia.com/wechat-learn-facebook/">WeChat is trying to do too many things</a>; one of those is <a href="http://www.techinasia.com/wechat-21-million-taxi-rides-booked/">booking taxi rides</a>. (Tech in Asia) </li>
<li>Related: private ride app <a href="http://www.techinasia.com/uber-official-manila-expect-costs-payment-options/">Uber has officially launched in Manila</a>. (Tech in Asia) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVfHeWTKjag">A controversial video</a> found its way onto the front page of reddit this week. Its premise: that fake Facebook Page likes are fraudulently, causing some to buy more ads. At issue: <a href="http://thenextweb.com/facebook/2014/01/23/likes-lies-perfectly-honest-businesses-can-overrun-facebook-spammers/?fromcat=all#!u7FHR">spam bots and like farms</a>. (Veritasium, The Next Web)</li>
</ul>
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<li><a href="http://www.jonloomer.com/2014/02/11/facebook-fraud-response/">A clever analysis debunked most of this myth</a> however, noting that the potential fraud was likely to occur when buying page likes, adding, "if you buy Facebook ads like it's 2012, you deserve the results you get." (Jon Loomer) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2014/02/facebook_truthers_journalists_will_believe_anything_and_everything_about.single.html" target="_blank">More about Facebook "truthers"</a> and the willingness of the crowd to believe anything horrible about the largest social network. (Slate)</li>
</ul>
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<h4>
Measurement / Metrics / Big Data </h4>
<ul>
<li>Esurance reported some impressive numbers post-Super Bowl. One analyst argues that they <a href="http://www.experiencetheblog.com/2014/02/the-mind-boggling-lunacy-of-people.html">shouldn't be taken at face value</a>. (Experience: The Blog) </li>
<li>We are all data companies. Recognizing this, the IAB has issued <a href="http://www.adrants.com/2014/02/iab-issues-10-best-practices-for.php#4Z1TGxjvRL59lJ5D.30">10 best practices for handling big data</a>. (AdRants) </li>
<li>The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released a new definition of advertising engagement (<a href="http://www.iab.net/digitaladengagement">Defining and Measuring Digital Ad Engagement in a Cross-Platform World</a>),  indicating that it is a complex measurement, critical for core metrics, the need for industry benchmarks of performance, the dependence on creative as well as platform, that it encompasses more than physical interaction, and that social media is more than a single form of engagement. (IAB) </li>
<li>Speaking of engagement, a number of publishers revealed their January numbers on Facebook, and <a href="http://allfacebook.com/newswhip-january-2014_b129037?utm_content=bufferb30f3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer">Buzzfeed topped the list</a>. (AllFacebook)</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWAZMRHu2zc/Uv2ZucpdwmI/AAAAAAAAQSw/gcxf4vZw5Iw/s1600/Facebook+engagement+January+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sites that saw the most traffic generated from Facebook" border="0" height="404" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWAZMRHu2zc/Uv2ZucpdwmI/AAAAAAAAQSw/gcxf4vZw5Iw/s1600/Facebook+engagement+January+2014.jpg" title="Top Facebook Publishers January 2014" width="640" /></a></div>
<h4>
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</h4>
<h4>
Legal / HR </h4>
<ul>
<li>The estate of James Dean <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/10/james-dean-estate-twitter/5383823/">is suing Twitter</a> over a fan's account. (USA Today) </li>
</ul>
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<h4>
Content </h4>
<ul>
<li>There seem to be many different definitions for content marketing. <a href="http://digitalintelligencetoday.com/towards-a-better-definition-of-content-marketing-the-5ps/">The 5 Ps (Plan, Produce, Place, Publish, Promote)</a> help to narrow things down. (Digital Intelligence Today) </li>
<li>Humor in content is a great idea (if you can pull it off). But humor in B2B content? When done right, it's <a href="http://www.annhandley.com/2013/12/04/how-it-is-changing-a-story-about-beer/">an amazing combination</a>. (Ann Handley) </li>
</ul>
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<h4>
Bookmark / Read / Watch Later </h4>
<ul>
<li>It's an old article, but one worth reading just the same, as it pinpoints a type of myopia that affects virtually everyone who's a communicator, marketer or otherwise a storyteller: <a href="http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/pitfalls-nascar-blindness-97399">The Pitfalls of NASCAR Blindness</a>. (AdWeek) </li>
<li>NPR is experimenting with building earworms in an effort <a href="http://www.niemanlab.org/2014/02/what-can-make-audio-go-viral-npr-experiments-with-building-earworms-for-social-media/">to determine what makes audio go viral</a>. (Nieman Journalism Lab) </li>
<li>Brand loyalty is an ever-moving target and <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2014/02/17/140217ta_talk_surowiecki?utm_source=tny&utm_campaign=generalsocial&utm_medium=facebook&mbid=social_facebook&mobify=0">consumers are more well-informed</a> than ever before. (New Yorker) </li>
<li>What are you willing to do for a click? What do you stand for with respect to consumer interaction? Put another way, <a href="http://www.inc.com/mitch-joel/marketing-moral-compass.html?utm_content=buffer9a3e3">what's your marketing moral compass?</a> (Inc.) </li>
</ul>
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<h4>
Commentary</h4>
Will anonymity kill the web? Or will the web kill anonymity?<br />
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The latest trend online appears to be apps that let users post anonymously. We all remember the classic New Yorker cartoon, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Internet,_nobody_knows_you" re_a_dog="">On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog</a>." With the advent of the social web, our interactions have largely been tied to our online  personae, save the likes of message boards or other sites designed to mask identities. <br />
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Even Google's recent merging of YouTube IDs with Google+ accounts has been a move to cut down on the insipid, inane and even hateful comments on the video sharing site, by tying actual identities to users. The idea is that when you're clearly identifiable, you're less likely to be hurtful.<br />
<br />
So, imagine the surprise when we discovered that Facebook is about to let you <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-launching-anonymous-apps-2014-1">go anonymous for the first time</a>. This is counter to their established position that <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/181135-facebook-turns-10-the-mark-zuckerberg-interview">identity and integrity go hand in hand</a>. But with the rise of popular apps such as <a href="https://www.secret.ly/">Secret</a> and <a href="http://whisper.sh/">Whisper</a>, it's no surprise to see Facebook turning this way. After all, they've adopted hashtags and trending topics to mimic Twitter; they established direct messages within Instagram to combat Snapchat - of course after being turned down to the tune of $3 billion. Still, it seems a bit of a stretch for Facebook to give up on one of its core values simply to allow people to do more without being easily identified.<br />
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But the relative freedom to say whatever you feel may have a price. Whether it's <a href="http://recode.net/2014/02/10/can-social-app-secret-survive-the-trolls/">the appearance of trolls</a> or the audience's own lack of tolerance for outlandish statements, it may be a short-lived effort. If anything, the increase in digital communication has proven that logging out and enjoying real face-to-face conversations are more valuable than anything. <br />
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And you can't do that anonymously.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yT0DFuRsf5w/Uv2Z8OQQQxI/AAAAAAAAQS4/OrKfFY0Fi7I/s1600/Comic+-+anonymity.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Joy of Tech takes a look a anonymous apps and privacy" border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yT0DFuRsf5w/Uv2Z8OQQQxI/AAAAAAAAQS4/OrKfFY0Fi7I/s1600/Comic+-+anonymity.gif" title="Modern day privacy" width="552" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.joyoftech.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/1957.html" target="_blank">Joy of Tech</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Do you have a hot tip or a topic that you think should be covered next week? Share it in a comment below.<br />
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<i>Image credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anon617/2272309405/" target="_blank">anon617 (Flickr)</a></i></div>
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This Week in Digital - 2/12/2014

Twitter's biggest challenge, a major acquisition, the rise of the platishers, Facebook click fraud - or not, Facebook "truthers,...

This Week in Digital - 2/5/2014

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QKGkgZzyNkU/UvRX6tyFvuI/AAAAAAAAQLE/O4xGrhUlHds/s1600/Sochi+Problems.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QKGkgZzyNkU/UvRX6tyFvuI/AAAAAAAAQLE/O4xGrhUlHds/s1600/Sochi+Problems.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Sochi's got 99 problems and Twitter's just one, Twitter reports its first quarterly earnings, Microsoft gets a new CEO, the Super Bowl ads were here and gone, Facebook turns 10 and released Paper,  Coca-Cola Journey a year later, the one thing most content marketers forget to do, the viral math behind sites like Upworthy, why the hottest startups don't use digital agencies and more, it's This Week in Digital.<br />
<br />
A roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.<br />
<br />
Each week, I compose a newsletter that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, digital communications and marketing in order to keep leaders up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs.<br />
<br />
If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below.  And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links by subscribing to the <a href="http://flip.it/IfN4O">This Week in Digital Magazine</a>.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Industry </h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2014/feb14/02-04newspr.aspx">Microsoft named Satya Nadella as CEO</a> and Bill Gates is stepping down as Chairman, transitioning to a technology advisor, with John Thompson taking the Chairman role. (Microsoft) </li>
<li>The Super Bowl took place on February 2. It's likely that <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-03/hey-super-bowl-sponsors-your-ads-are-already-forgotten">many of the ads are already forgotten</a>. What's the secret to a lasting impression? Believe it or not, it's consistency - the most-remembered commercials are from companies who buy Super Bowl ads on an annual basis. (Bloomberg Businessweek) </li>
<li>Andy Carvin, former NPR editor who famously used Twitter during the Arab Spring for real-time journalism, <a href="http://gigaom.com/2014/02/04/andy-carvin-a-pioneer-in-using-twitter-for-real-time-journalism-joins-omidyars-first-look-media/">has joined Pierre Omidyar's $250 million start-up First Look Media</a>, in an effort to make social media a core principle of news and not just a share button tacked on afterward. (GigaOm) </li>
<li>Hot digital startups in Silicon Valley <a href="http://www.thehubcomms.com/with-limited-budgets-startups-say-theres-zero-incentive-to-use-digital-agencies/article/332220/?DCMP=EMC-thehubdaily">eschew the use of digital agencies</a>, in favor of approaches such as word-of-mouth, pop-ups and events. The crux? Limited budgets. (The Hub) </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
The Platforms </h4>
<ul>
<li>With platforms being updated frequently, it's not unlikely that you might miss something. Here are <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3025417/work-smart/10-big-recent-changes-to-twitter-facebook-and-linkedin-you-should-know-about?partner=newsletter&utm_content=bufferec873&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer">10 big, recent changes to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn you should know about</a>. (Fast Company) </li>
<li>Twitter made its <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbercovici/2014/02/05/twitter-earnings-good-news-on-revenues-not-so-much-on-users/">first quarterly earnings report</a> this week: fourth-quarter revenue of $242.6 million exceeded expectations, but showed growth of only  9 million users over the same time period. (Forbes) </li>
<li>Twitter continues to <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3026101/as-twitter-tweaks-ui-for-prettier-pictures-bigger-ads-will-users-keep-buying-it?partner=newsletter">tweak its user interface</a> with bigger pictures and room for more ads. (Fast Company) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3026062/why-twitter-loves-tv?partner=newsletter">Twitter loves television</a>:  Amplify is a multi-screen advertising product and the experimental Tailored Audience notifies users when their friends tweet about television shows. (Fast Company) </li>
<li>High awareness and low engagement on Twitter have been acknowledged; <a href="http://mashable.com/2014/02/06/twitter-tv-save-twitter/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link">if Twitter were set up like television</a>, it might have more success, argues Lance Ulanoff. (Mashable) </li>
<li>On the heels of that controversial Princeton study that found Facebook declining rapidly, a professor from Carnegie Mellon has build a model that shows <a href="http://gigaom.com/2014/02/04/another-professor-has-modeled-facebooks-future-and-this-one-says-it-will-be-just-fine/">Facebook continuing to thrive for the foreseeable future</a>. (GigaOm) </li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbC50H9rKbc/UvRV6gzIGeI/AAAAAAAAQKw/lAL0lIFaPTM/s1600/Sustainable+networks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="570" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbC50H9rKbc/UvRV6gzIGeI/AAAAAAAAQKw/lAL0lIFaPTM/s1600/Sustainable+networks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>And not to worry: <a href="http://mashable.com/2014/02/03/pew-study-facebook-users/">73% of teenagers are still on Facebook</a>. (Mashable) </li>
<li>Facebook turned 10 years old this week and celebrated with giving users <a href="http://facebook.com/lookback">a Look Back at their time on Facebook</a>, with a custom video (Facebook) </li>
<li>And just <a href="http://mashable.com/2014/02/03/facebook-competition/">how did Facebook manage to master the art of survival</a> over the last 10 years? (Mashable) </li>
<li>Google announced the <a href="https://plus.google.com/+GoogleAds/posts/hZTQi6AFbfT">Search Funnels Attribution Modeling Tool</a> to help identify keywords, ad groups or campaigns that may be undervalued in last-click attribution models. (Google) </li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Measurement / Metrics / Big Data</h4>
<ul>
<li>"Digital revolutions more often than not fail," according to Avinash Kaushik. He details <a href="http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/digital-marketing-analytics-ladder-step-by-step-success/">two ladders of sustainable success for digital marketing and digital analytics</a>. (Occam's Razor )</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Legal / HR</h4>
<ul>
<li>While Facebook launched their Paper app this week, another developer with an app of the same name <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/makers-of-paper-app-ask-facebook-to-change-new-app-name/">may be taking legal action against them</a> (NY Times Bits Blog)</li>
<li>Buffer gets flooded with job offers after being <a href="http://qz.com/169147/applications-have-doubled-to-the-company-that-discloses-its-salaries/#/h/42900,3/">completely transparent about their salary structure</a>. (Quartz)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Content</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.jeffbullas.com/2014/02/05/the-one-big-thing-some-of-the-best-content-marketers-forget/">The one thing</a> that some of the best content marketers forget to do: hustle. (Jeff Bullas)</li>
<li>One year later, <a href="http://contently.com/strategist/2014/01/29/one-year-later-is-coca-cola-journey-a-success/">is Coca-Cola Journey seen as a success?</a> (Contently)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h4>
Bookmark / Read / Watch Later</h4>
<ul>
<li>Amid all of the clicking, sharing, swiping and other activities we do online, here's <a href="http://www.briansolis.com/2013/10/re-evaluating-the-value-of-social-media/">a piece that re-evaluates the value of social media</a>. (Brian Solis)</li>
<li>FOn becoming <a href="http://www.strategy-business.com/blog/New-Years-Resolution-Become-a-Thought-Leader?gko=5fd1f">a thought leader</a>. (strategy+business)</li>
<li><a href="http://cw.iabc.com/communicationworld/january_2014#pg9">The evolution of the social media manager</a> looks at the integration of responsibilities with the wider business, education of a broad workforce, and how digitally-savvy communications professionals need to evolve their skillsets. (Communication World)</li>
<li>Some deep math gets into virality on Facebook and looks at <a href="http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2014/02/02/viral-math/">the unsustainable advantage of Upworthy</a>. (Reuters) </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ho0AjQcBzjo/UvRWVh6x_8I/AAAAAAAAQK4/ySweMNIxCm8/s1600/facebook+virality+-+upworthy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ho0AjQcBzjo/UvRWVh6x_8I/AAAAAAAAQK4/ySweMNIxCm8/s1600/facebook+virality+-+upworthy.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Commentary</h4>
The Olympics are under way in Sochi and this is the most digitally covered set of games to date. Because journalists (and Olympians) are on the cutting edge of digital and social, many of the real-time updates prior to the games are focusing on the less than stellar (alright, let's face it - <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/journalists-are-having-a-rotten-time-at-sochi-and-their-twee">less than adequate</a>) accommodations, from the rather <a href="https://twitter.com/SebToots/status/429546115604938752">odd bathroom instructions</a><br />
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Ok, so my hotel doesn't have a lobby yet.<br />
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) <a href="https://twitter.com/markmackinnon/statuses/430687334439215104">February 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></center>
<br />
to the <a href="https://twitter.com/StacyStClair/status/430536725341798402">hazardous water</a> <br />
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
My hotel has no water. If restored, the front desk says, "do not use on your face because it contains something very dangerous." <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Sochi2014&src=hash">#Sochi2014</a><br />
— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) <a href="https://twitter.com/StacyStClair/statuses/430536725341798402">February 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Water restored, sorta. On the bright side, I now know what very dangerous face water looks like. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Sochi&src=hash">#Sochi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23unfiltered&src=hash">#unfiltered</a> <a href="http://t.co/sQWM0vYtyz">pic.twitter.com/sQWM0vYtyz</a><br />
— Stacy St. Clair (@StacyStClair) <a href="https://twitter.com/StacyStClair/statuses/430550673977913344">February 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></center>
<br />
and lack of <a href="https://twitter.com/markmackinnon/status/430687334439215104">hotel amenities</a>.<br />
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Ok, so my hotel doesn't have a lobby yet.<br />
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) <a href="https://twitter.com/markmackinnon/statuses/430687334439215104">February 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></center>
<br />
So no one should be surprised that it took less than a day for an enterprising individual to create the <a href="http://twitter.com/sochiproblems">@SochiProblems</a> account to chronicle and parody the goings-on outside of the games. And it goes without saying that the @SochiProblems account quickly surpassed the official <a href="http://twitter.com/sochi2014" target="_blank">@Sochi2014</a> account in the number of followers.<br />
<br />
No worries, it's just chronicling life as it exists in Russia:<br />
<br />
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
No flush, must play basketball with used toilet paper. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SochiProblems&src=hash">#SochiProblems</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Sochi2014&src=hash">#Sochi2014</a> <a href="http://t.co/tHus7WfgtH">pic.twitter.com/tHus7WfgtH</a><br />
— Sochi Problems (@SochiProblems) <a href="https://twitter.com/SochiProblems/statuses/430811128793292802">February 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Well that's interesting... Sochi rules in the bathrooms!! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23haha&src=hash">#haha</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23olympics&src=hash">#olympics</a> <a href="http://t.co/xacSVimwXY">pic.twitter.com/xacSVimwXY</a><br />
— Sebastien Toutant (@SebToots) <a href="https://twitter.com/SebToots/statuses/429546115604938752">February 1, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></center>
<br />
Of course, the Russian deputy prime minister in charge of the Olympics doesn't believe the hype the journalists. Because <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/06/russia-journalists-sochi-hotels-sying_n_4739400.html">the Russian government admits it is spying on them</a> - as in it has video surveillance of their showers.<br />
<br />
So much for privacy.<br />
<br />
--

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