#TheDailyThree - February 20, 2018

Welcome back to #TheDailyThree, a weekday roundup featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. Today we’re talking Instagram besting Snapchat in a key feature, Snapchat taking a page out of Instagram’s book and Facebook encouraging… clickbait?

1. Instagram is improving their messaging by allowing users to now choose whether they want images sent to disappear (previously the only option) or to stay permanently in the chat log. This is in contrast to Snapchat who’s messaging feature does not allow saving. 

2. Meanwhile, Snapchat has for once taken a cue from Stories by adding gif integration using the ever popular Giphy. Snapchat is still somewhat reeling from a massive redesign that has seen a large outcry from its users. I still think they’ll get use to it. 

3. Facebook is testing a featuring asking users to “tag a friend” as the default engagement in some posts. It’s a bit of backwards thinking in that this was the manual way of sharing content on Instagram before they allowed users to send posts via DM.

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#TheDailyThree - February 16, 2018

It’s the Friday edition of #TheDailyThree (aka the BEST edition), a weekday roundup featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. Today we’re looking at a unique television debut, WILL SNAPCHAT CAVE TO THE PRESSURE, and finally a very very important final thought.

1. TBS debuted their new animated show Final Space online 2 weeks before it aired on TV. The catch? It was exclusively on Reddit (a 1st for the site).As an adult sci-fi program aimed at the Rick and Morty demo, Reddit is the PERFECT space for such a stunt. Bravo. 

2. Snapchat’s redesign is not going away, despite a viral hoax saying they caved to the backlash. CEO Evan Spiegel disputed the claims saying users will have to get used to it. After years of MAJOR redesigns by Facebook, it’s safe to say he’s probably right. 

3. Finally, Black Panther is out today. Go see it. You could use some happiness this week.

#TheDailyThree - February 15, 2018

It’s #TheDailyThree, a weekday roundup featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. Today sandwiches are more exciting, Twitter is more relevant and weed is easier to buy online in Canada. Let’s get started! 

1. Subway’s new ad is 🔥🔥🔥 Their new agency Dentsu Aegis Network came out swinging w/ an adventurous millennial-targeted brand refresh. They had struggled post-Jared w/ bland, soulless campaigns. Now if they could only improve their awful social. 

2. Do you get your news from Twitter? Many, many people do + they are doubling down on it, live streaming local Breaking News broadcasts in real time. As long as this new feature is visible enough, I think it’s a great way to keep people on the channel longer. 

3. Shopify is getting into the weed business. They will now handle online sales of marijuana in newly-legalized Ontario, CA, a move that is surely a precursor of things to come here. Get ready to see digital marketing in the industry EXPLODE in the next few years.

#TheDailyThree - February 14, 2018

Welcome back to #TheDailyThree, a weekday roundup featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. Today we’re discussing tomorrow’s big Chrome ad-blocker launch, some great/creepy Valentine’s Day content and a fun new feature on Facebook.

1. Google is unleashing its built-in ad blocker for Chrome tomorrow, meaning a lot of the most annoying ads you see across the web will disappear. I like this because it will force marketers to create better content rather than jamming it down your throat. 

2. Speaking of, you were likely bombarded today w/ #ValentinesDay content, most of which was bad. Some of which was funny. But no one did it better than Netflix, who built a relationship expiration site based off *that* episode of Black Mirror.

3. Facebook is adding a fun new feature to make creating lists more of an interactive experience. Their Head of Newsfeed Adam Mosseri said that they noticed users making lists as long statuses & this would be an easier/sleeker way to do so while increasing engagement. 

#TheDailyThree - February 12, 2018

Happy Monday! It’s #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. Today we’re talking Snapchat and a big ultimatum from Unilever.

1. More rough times for Snap. They’ve lost their VP of Sales after less than 2 years. Jeff Lucas left w/o comment today, the 7th Snap exec to do so since their IPO early last year. They’re also offering ad credits to IG marketers to lure them to the platform.

2. While that may seem like an act of desperation to compete w/ FB’s beast of an ad platform, eMarketer is reporting that teens are leaving FB for Snapchat. FB is estimated to lose 2M users under 25 in 2018 while Snapchat will grow 1.9M in that category.

3. Mega advertiser Unilever is sick of the negative press social networks have had recently re: fake news, fake fans + Russia. They have threatened to pull digital ads unless the channels clean up “toxic content,” citing the need for a safe environment for brands.

#TheDailyThree - February 9, 2018

It’s a Friday edition of #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. It seems that recently each day has been dominated by news from one brand and today is no different. Let’s talk Google.

1. Ah, yes, another chapter in the Logan Paul saga. Fresh off his hiatus, the YouTube star made headlines again for tasering a dead rat. YouTube, quick to take action, hit him where it hurts: His wallet. They temporarily suspended ad monetization for his account. 

2. Weary of the bad press, YouTube announced that they would punish blatant offensive content creators by downgrading their videos + removing ad monetization. Frankly, this doesn’t seem like much of a solution if videos are still being hosted. Trolls will prevail. 

3. Finally, Google struck a licensing deal with Getty Images to make copyrighted images + creator attribution clearer to image search users. Getty is well known to be very intense about image-use + Google is likely sick of Getty coming after them w/ complaints. 

#TheDailyThree - February 8, 2018

After a few days of being sick, #TheDailyThree is back! It is a a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. Twitter is owning the news today, so the focus will be on them! A lot to go over.

1. After years of worrisome signs of financial stability, Twitter posted a quarterly profit for the first time, making $91M compared to LOSING $167M in Q4 of 2016. News of this made shares shoot up more than 25% this AM, giving them a market cap of $25B. 

2. With that $25B market cap, Twitter is now worth MORE than Snapchat, who’s market cap is at $24B. This is all especially wild as Twitter actually LOST users this quarter, going down from 69 million 68 million. 

3. However, Twitter’s users who use the service every day went up 12% in the last year. The 280 character limit didn’t destroy the social network after all. 😉 In fact, Jack Dorsey says the average tweet length hasn’t even changed, but rather raised engagement levels.

#TheDailyThree - February 5, 2018

Welcome back to #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. Today we of course have thoughts on some Super Bowl spots and Snapchat..did..something? Kinda?

1. Seemingly inspired by Facebook’s stance on quality time, Snapchat will let you now mute people instead of full on blocking them. BUT: Their big issue isn’t content, it’s design. The entire experience is clunky & their recent redesign only made things worse.

2. #TideAds won the Super Bowl. Their continuous fake ads all started out looking like spots for other brands before the punchline hit. Starring Stranger Things’ David Harbour, Tide managed to be funny + relevant w/o even mentioning Pods!

3. Finally, Diet Coke, who’s struggling brand should probably cut costs whenever it can, ended up using a 30sec Twitter Ad as their official Super Bowl commercial. Originally produced to be 1 of many, Coke liked it so much they went all in with it. Budget WIN. 

It is worth pointing out, though, that the Diet Coke spot made numerous “Worst Of” lists. Many people just didn’t get it, which makes sense for an admittedly funky ad isolated from its campaign. So, let’s call it a wash for them. You decide:

#TheDailyThree - February 2, 2018

It’s Friday at last! Time for the last #TheDailyThree of the week, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. Tonight we’re talking YouTube, the Super Bowl and what looks like the #MeToo movement finding it’s way into the ad agency world.

1. YouTube star Logan Paul got into big trouble which may not hurt HIM in the long run, but highlights some issues the platform faces. CEO Wojcicki announced that there will be stronger punishments for those that damage YT’s reputation.

2. Speaking of trouble, 2 high-level ad agency execs were fired this week. Droga5’s CCO Ted Royer & CP+B’s VP Ralph Watson were let go without much comment. One can only speculate that this is yet another positive step in the end of the “boys club” culture. 

3. Finally, the Super Bowl aka the biggest ad day of the year is upon us this weekend. While watching the game for the commercials used to be an American ritual, many brands are smartly now releasing their pricey ads earlier to gain more attention + lifespan.

I’m going to wait until all the dust is settled on Monday to evaluate the most effective ones, but in the meantime see all the ads currently available here via Forbes.

As New York Giants fans, we reluctantly say “Go Pats.” 

#TheDailyThree - February 1, 2018

Welcome back to #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. While yesterday was all Facebook, today is devoted completely to Instagram who launched a couple of big new features to their platform.

1. Instagram has added Carousel Ads to Stories, allowing marketers to now have a 3 pieces of 15 second media instead of just one. This will now help ads integrate more seamlessly into stories without looking like a commercial interruption.

2. Today was also the launch of type mode on Stories, allowing users to create vibrant text-only slides using a variety of features. This allows for content that doesn’t require photo or video, a step away from Instagram’s original focus: Visuals.

3. Both of these changes are just another reason why Instagram will become the next main home for brands and users alike. As Facebook grows up and loses it’s cool, Instagram seems to have taken everything happening at the moment + applied it to the channel. 

#TheDailyThree - January 31, 2018

Welcome to a mid-week edition of #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. While today was somewhat of a slow news day, Facebook made some fairly big headlines. We’re devoting the whole roundup to them.

1. Facebook had the slowest quarter over quarter growth in 3 years, with overall usage down by ~50M hours daily. Zuckerberg swears that it's all part of the plan for users to reduce time spent on the channel but increase the quality of time spent.

2. Part of this was done by decreasing impressions of viral videos, which Facebook describes as “passive consumption of content.” The obvious issue is that decrease in time spent on the site will inevitably result in higher ad costs as reach will be harder to come by.

3. While Facebook still brought in $13 billion in revenue + $4.3 billion in profit, a 19% increase, the figures were well short of the 60% investors were expecting. It’s hard not to think that Mark's “meaningful connections” comments were simply damage control.

#TheDailyThree - January 30, 2018

Welcome back to #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts.

Today includes some utterly fantastic news from Instagram, Facebook being cautious, and a Purge is nigh on Twitter. Let’s do this.

1. Instagram made a huge change that marketers have been waiting for since launch. They’ll now allow you to schedule content, both on the app + through 3rd parties. Brands would be wise to not abuse this, as I’m sure the algorithm will make them pay for it.  

2. Facebook has put a (temporary?) ban on ads for Bitcoin, ICOs + other cryptocurrencies to deter the public from receiving content from deceptive marketers. As cryptocurrency is experiencing a volatile moment, FB is smart to set some clear rules + regulations. 

3. Twitter influencers sense a purge is coming. Fresh off the news of that fiery @nytimes piece this weekend, it appears that Twitter is taking action to rid the network of fake followers. As this is much needed, I share this sentiment.

#TheDailyThree - January 29, 2018

The weekend is long gone so it’s time for Monday’s #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts.

We start the week with news on no other than the big 3: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

1. Facebook has been scurrying to fix their news issue amidst backlash in the past year.

Today they’ve announced that they will favor local news in user’s feeds, the reasoning being that national news is more highly politicized than local. 

2. The New York Times published an in-depth exposé into a company that sells millions of fake Twitter followers to athletes, politicians and celebs. They name names.

It’s even prompted NY to launch an investigation into the practice.

Read the full article here.

3. According to WABetaInfo, Instagram appears to be testing a new video call feature within DMs which could take the channel into a wild new direction.

Between this and Messenger, Facebook seems to have one-on-one communication very high on their priority list.

#TheDailyThree - January 26, 2018

It’s the Friday edition of #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. To close out the week, we’ve got some sobering news for advertisers, an investment into Twitter Moments & Facebook stealing marketshare yet again.

1. First, the bad news. Facebook, perhaps the most robust digital ad platform around, could see drastically raised ad prices by the end of the year, perhaps as high as a 79% increase. Brands need to prepare for this. Read more at Ad Week.

2. Advertisers on Twitter now have the ability to sponsor Moments, including a branded cover image + the option to insert their own brand’s tweets into the Moment’s round-up. I dig the investment in Moments which has the potential to be much more popular than it is.

3. Facebook is trying to take some of Twitch's marketshare, expanding their game streaming service by launching a "gaming creator pilot program” aimed @ attracting notable creators. Given their history of reinventing other’s concepts for themselves, I anticipate success.

#TheDailyThree - January 25, 2018

Welcome back to #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring 3 top stories in digital + a few thoughts. Today CNN loses, Casey Neistat wins, Twitter jumps on the "Copy Snapchat" bandwagon + Lyft makes me sad.

1. The news of the day: CNN shut down Casey Neistat’s Beme just barely over a year after buying it for $25m. While this seems like a failure, consider that CN can now focus both his attention + his wealth(!) to his very successful vlog. I feel it’s a win for him.

2. Twitter is allegedly working on a video sharing tool similar to Snapchat to minimize the # of steps it currently takes to post videos. It’s a smart move as the foundation of Twitter has always been about “real time” + video is def the medium of choice for that.

3. Why can’t ride sharing companies keep their hands clean? Lyft is being accused of spying on customers, much like Uber was during their “God View” scandal. This is disappointing as Lyft was in a unique position to gain some market share in the wake of Uber’s BS.

For more information on Beme’s shuttering, I suggest checking out Cofounder Matt Hackett's Medium blog.

Finally, for (maybe) a sneak peek @ what Twitter’s new function looks like, no other than @MattNavarra’s on it.

#TheDailyThree - January 24, 2015

Hey folks it’s #TheDailyThree, a weekday recap featuring top 3 stories in digital + few thoughts. Today we’ve got Net Neutrality with cheese followed by a few servings of Apple.

1. Burger King launched a new ad in which they explain Net Neutrality by making ‘unsuspecting’ customers pay more to get their food faster. It’s a bold, funny + slightly risky way to increase brand awareness via a hot button issue.

2. Apple had news in both hardware + software today. 1st, their new HomePod voice assistant seems to be really missing the mark by being both extraordinarily expensive ($349!) & lacking in many features. The Verge breaks down its issues.

3. Last, Apple is launching a Business Chat feature in iMessage that allows you to communicate directly with brands, a la FB Messenger, Twitter, etc. As I’ve found success for B2C + B2B clients in chat bots, I'm interested to see how this plays out. Smart move.

Final thoughts on the HomePod: Ultimately, Apple knows a thing or two about hardware + pretty much only they could get away for charging an arm and a leg for a slightly half baked product. Those with an expendable income + Apple super fans will buy it day one.

#TheDailyThree - January 23, 2018

Introducing #TheDailyThree, a daily roundup of quick thoughts on the top 3 digital stories of the day. Today’s inaugural edition is heavy on Instagram & Snapchat’s new updates.

1. Instagram adds gifs to stories, adding a feature that Snapchat users will find very familiar. IG has been eating a bite of Snap’s lunch on a seemingly weekly basis. Brands such as CNN that heavily invested in the channel are wisely leaving for greener pastures.

2. Meanwhile, Snapchat is ironically adding the ability to share your posts to other channels, such as Facebook & Twitter. This seems less of a lunch-eating move & more of an act of desperation for a brand who’s growth is plummeting and revenue disappointing.

3. Finally, Instagram will be rolling out the ability to use images/video of any size to Stories, letting users select a colored gradient background. This solves having to resize non-vertical content + also eliminates the need for 3rd party apps.