Facebook Dark Posts update – Video ads eligible for News Feed. Is it a B2B win?
Posted by pjsweeney007 in Uncategorized on June 5, 2013
Up until this week only photo ads were eligible for what Facebook calls Unpublished post ads and the industry generally calls “dark posts”. The release this week of video capability expands the utility of dark posts and potentially is a big win for business to business marketing on Facebook – but many people might miss that subtlety.
My supposition that video dark posts will see significantly higher usage on laptop and desktop focused ads. Research data has shown that because of both screen and bandwidth constraints photos are still a much bigger engagement platform on mobile. Mobile usage peaks on Facebook are much different than desktop usage. Desktop usage still peaks mid-day on Wednesday where as mobile is moving toward Sunday afternoon.
Big tip: The usage data would suggest that video post ads targeted to a rich, high-bandwidth experience would be optimal for B2B and best served the beginning and middle of the week. Obviously using some A/B comparison ads and Facebook data is a quick way to determine if my advice is correct for your business but this is one giant leap in that direction.
The best video ads you can produce would be based on user generated content. It’s easiest to catch user generated video at your own events or sponsored locations like stadiums, events and locations. Check out how Major League Baseball should do social for more ideas.
Think you know more about social than a 4 month old puppy? (Please share!)
Posted by pjsweeney007 in event marketing, facebook, social media marketing on June 1, 2013
New! Facebook allows Atlas tags for targeted adverts – what’s it mean for you?
Posted by pjsweeney007 in Uncategorized on May 31, 2013
I just wrote a blog for dwinQ about targeted advertising using Facebook and the success of such programs. Now there is even better news from Facebook you use Atlas post-impression measurement tags (often called view tags) on ads targeted to custom audiences, partner categories and lookalike audiences.
So what does this mean for Facebook advertisers and those trying to amplify their brand on Facebook? Better analytics and measurement of ad spend. Now Facebook can offer view-through measurement on custom audience targeted ads. More and better information for spending your precious dollars.
A quick look on the old Atlas Blog gives all the benefits of using the view tags with Facebook targeted advertising. In a nutshell you can compare Facebook advertising directly with display advertising online and see how that influences search. So if Facebook is more effective than your Google Adwords or Yahoo advertising you can move (and justify moving) more spend to Facebook for better results.
Remember, my big rule of thumb for success on Facebook – work with a PMD vendor, use as much User Generated Content as possible, and try to amplify live events with product placement on Facebook using technology like RFID and QR codes. That’s the foundation of the new marketing mix. Using Atlas tags can help go beyond your gut and show you how effective things really are. Good luck!
IBM, Apple and Google brands worth $400 BILLION – what’s yours worth?
Posted by pjsweeney007 in Uncategorized on May 23, 2013
In a Dr. Evil-like post last week Venture Beat reported that IBM, Apple and Google have the worlds most valuable brands – worth an estimated $400 billion dollars.
That’s good news for me since I own both Apple and google stock – but is it good news for you and your brand? Yes, if you take just a minute to see how they built those brands up. IBM has been around for ever so let’s take them out of the equation. Apple and Google can sum up their brand value in a single word: Focus
If you want your brand to be valuable and increase the success of your overall company stay focused. This is even more true on social media than it is in the real world. Apple focused on one thing user-friendly innovation. Google focused on one thing: accurate search. Those single, well defined attributes catapulted the respective companies to the top of the list.
The other thing they both did was brand individual products separately. Gmail, Glass, Analytics and iPhone, iPod, iPad are all differnet than company names. Look at a company that is not in the top three but should be (HP). One of the reasons their brand is discounted compared to the company value is the lack of clarification and tightly messaged purpose. They also have terrible product names that muddy the branding water.
Build value in your brand – find your one well-defined message and speak that in all your communication via social media. If you enable great user generated content make sure you add your messaging there as well, and make it easy (frictionless) so that you have a bran
d champion speaking your one brand message.
Integrated Print Forum – where digital and physical meet in the ‘burgh
Posted by pjsweeney007 in Uncategorized on May 15, 2013
I’m key noting at the integrated print forum #IPF13 in Pittsburgh. Stop by this morning and see how conneting the real world and online world is a key piece in any marketing puzzle.
Facebook’s 20% rule – a little help from your friend
Posted by pjsweeney007 in Uncategorized on April 15, 2013
Many of you may know that Facebook relaxed it’s 20% rule for text on cover photos and posted photos. You can read the new Facebook 20% guidelines and see how they apply to you.
I came across a nifty tool to help you stay within those guidelines and wanted to share it with folks who are designing Facebook marketing programs to make your life a little easier. So follow this link to the Facebook 20% test tool. And enjoy.
Remember the most effective Facebook advertising has three attributes:
1. In the newsfeed
2. Subtle (think product placement)
3. Coming from user’s themselves (user generated content UGC)
Patrick Sweeney
Patrick Sweeney
Social Media Marketing CEO and badass adventurer
Patrick is CEO of dwinQ the real-world social media company. For event and sponsorship marketers, dwinQ is the social media engagement platform that deepens and extends event participation by turning every attendee into a brand champion
The dwinQ app creates fun social memories at events and venues by automatically capturing photos and activities and posting them in real time with no friction. More than 500,000 people use the dwinQ platform sponsored by brands like Facebook, Nintendo, Cadbury, Vail Resorts, Lexus and more.
Patrick is a technology visionary and serial entrepreneur. He started dwinQ to fill the void between social sharing and being fully engaged in a real world activity. He has started four successful technology companies and understands the future of technology and how it will impact business and life in a way that creates value and is truly 'making a dent in the universe." His vision has translated not only into successful start-ups but also more than half a dozen technology patents. He is a frequent contirbutor to CNBC on Social Media Social Media for Forbes and Socal Media Today. When he's not buildig companies he's looking for crazy challenges and trying to learn from them - like this three day moutnain bike race across Costa Rica he blogged about for CNBC.
