Net neutrality rules proposed, the NYPD step into an unintended meme, Facebook posts huge mobile growth and reveals a tool for journalists, Twitter releases new profiles to all users, Google+ loses its biggest champion, a tool to graph reader sentiment, General Mills reverses course on lawsuits and likes, the secrets to great content marketing and more, it's This Week in Digital.
A roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.
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.
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 This Week in Digital Magazine.
Industry
- The FCC is proposing new rules for network neutrality, using such subjective terminology as a "commercially reasonable" standard for network management - whatever that means. (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
- A study by New Voice Media indicates that US customers are twice as likely as UK customers to spread negative stories about poor customer service, but British consumers are more likely to stop doing business with a company as a result of poor service. (Beyond Philosophy)
- The New York Police Department tried to create a meme with its #myNYPD hashtag, but it backfired when angry residents posted their own perspective of the public service, and it even spread to other cities. (CNN)
Do you have a photo w/ a member of the NYPD? Tweet us & tag it #myNYPD. It may be featured on our Facebook. pic.twitter.com/mE2c3oSmm6
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 22, 2014
Platforms
- In its continued effort to out-Twitter Twitter, Facebook is teaming up with Storyful to create FB Newswire to help journalists cull breaking news from their feeds. (The Wrap)
- In a nod toward the continued importance of mobile and the impact of mobile revenue, Facebook is launching a mobile ad network. (WSJ Digits)
- Facebook continues to move away from being just one thing; this unbundling strategy makes perfect sense. (Harvard Business Review)
- Facebook announced its Q1 earnings this week, and beat the street. Profits tripled over the same period a year ago and mobile monthly active users topped 1 billion. (The Verge)
- And here's a more in-depth view of the numbers posted on Wednesday, as well as implications for marketing and communications professionals. (SHIFT Communications)
- The new Twitter profiles are now available to all users; here's an image sizing guide for creating yours. (AllTwitter)
- Twitter has released a glossary for some of the common terms used on the platform. (Twitter)
- Google is testing a feature that lets Chrome users save, share and organize their favorite Web content. (The Next Web)
- Vic Gundotra, largely viewed as the father of Google+, is leaving the company. Some speculate that this means that Google+ will become more of a platform than a product, although that's always been the strategy. (re/code and TechCrunch)
- Instagram is personalizing its "Explore" tab, making it more distinct from Vine for video. (TechCrunch)
- LinkedIn is developing a Certified Marketing Partner program to attract more marketers for content discovery. (re/code)
Measurement/Metrics/Big Data
- Better measurement for video ads is on the horizon. But advertisers will face a fork in the road: Nielsen or comScore, each with its own support agencies and methodologies. (WSJ CMO Today)
- The best day to post on Facebook? Turns out it's Friday. (TIME)
- FourScore is a new tool that helps you graph your readers' sentiments. (Nieman Journalism Lab)
Legal/HR
- When General Mills changed its legal terms on social channels to prevent consumers from suing them, the online backlash hit them hard. Now in response to that, General Mills is reversing course on its legal decision. This underscores the need for a good relationship between legal departments and the communications team. (CNN Money and Holtz Communication + Technology)
Content
- The secrets to great content marketing: value, place and being the best. (Forbes)
- Visual communications are increasingly important; the Visual Content Marketing Look Book is an excellent overview of some 25 brands that are succeeding in this area. (Content Marketing Institute)
Essential Reading/Watching/Listening
- Google does more than search, email, YouTube and Drive. For a look under the hood, check out 14 Google Trends You Didn't Know Existed and discover ways of digging into data, inspiring thought leadership and trends that matter to your industry. (Mashable)
- Mitch Joel sits down with Stephen Rappaport to discuss winning digital metrics that matter in SPOS #406. (Twist Image)
- A look at Airbnb as a disruptor in an established market, and what it means for incumbents and their need to collaborate, rather than to defend. (OliverBlanchard.net)
- The real reason newly-minted MBAs want to work for Goldman Sachs is not money. (Harvard Business Review)
- When is it the right moment? Whenever. (Seth's Blog)
Commentary
Enough has been written about the #myNYPD fiasco this week. We've seen previous gaffes from major brands who quickly learned that companies and organizations that come upon the scene to campaign their way into conversations will fail. Ultimately, those who listen and engage on a regular basis - and who do so respectfully and with a desire to meet their audience's needs - will succeed.Using the longstanding cocktail party analogy, you can't barge in the door, start talking all about yourself and expect people to shower you with accolades. Especially if your brand has a questionable reputation.
Image credit: Lotus Carroll (Flickr)
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