Social Media Influencers and Brand Ambassadors
Social Media Influencers and Brand Ambassadors
Social media influencers and brand ambassadors are great marketing strategies for companies. Influencers and brand ambassadors can be used as an effective tool to reach the right consumers, increase brand awareness and brand loyalty. These marketing strategies create relationships with the brand through social media. As the influence of social media personalities grows, companies are choosing to use influencers and or brand ambassadors. For those companies are not sure who to contract as their social media influencers and brand ambassadors, there are agencies who are the bridge for the company and influencer who can find the right match for their target audience. Although influencers and ambassadors often appear to be similar positions, they both have two distinct roles and positions in social media advertising.
Bumble Bizz: The New Tool for Professional Networking
Bumbles new feature, Bumble Bizz is the new tool for professional networking. The tool sticks to the original style of online dating format. Instead of featuring potential love matches the app connects you to professional contacts. Swipe right for those who you want in your network, and if they swipe right on you too, you match.
Barstool and ESPN Part Ways
Barstool and ESPN part ways after one full week of partnership. The two came together over the last few weeks to structure a deal that featured a new show, Barstool Van Talk. The partnership yielded a fairly divided response from ESPN’s constituents. Barstool is known for its in-your-face online content. Additionally, Barstool is led by many strong on-air personalities including their president, Dave Portnoy. Portnoy, has been heavily scrutinized for his posts (both past and present). Because of Barstool’s unrated past, many assumed that the partnership would be a failure. Others thought that the revitalizing spirit Barstool generates with its younger audience would pair nicely with ESPN’s pristine production team. The latter could not be more wrong. Continue reading
Instagram Adds New Shopify Integration and It’s About Time
October proves to be a busy month for Instagram and its updates, including their new Shopify integration. This feature allows Shopify businesses to sell directly on their Instagram accounts without users ever needing to leave the app. Instagram continues to enable the thoughtless spending epidemic. Continue reading
Custom Facebook Avatars Will Be Exceptionally Accurate
It is no secret that people like creating cartoon versions of themselves. Previous examples of this trend are the Sims videogame, the Mii feature on the Wii console, caricature drawings at a carnival and so on. Currently, the most popular trend in custom cartoons is Bitmoji. Bitmoji became so popular, in fact, that in 2016 it teamed up with Snapchat to further personalize users’ snaps. 
However, the newest update on the avatar craze comes from Facebook. New technology has been created that can generate custom Facebook avatars for you simply by taking a picture. Continue reading
Share the Screen with a Friend Over Instagram Live
Instagram is a social media channel used by professionals and individuals. The app and online website are made to share pictures and videos. Instagram first came out with Instagram Stories that is like Snapchat Stories. This allows users to share photos for 24 hours. Recently, Instagram came out with a feature called Instagram Live. This feature enables Instagram users to broadcast to their followers in real-time. As a result of the popularity, Instagram launched a new feature for followers to join in on a live video they are watching. Continue reading
Google Emerges into Mobile Payment Industry
We’re seeing quick progression in online shopping trends, so it makes sense that we’re also seeing the mobile payment industry increase. Forget carrying around your wallet or having to take your card out to make an online purchase. Google is catching up with services like Apple Pay, PayPal, and Venmo with their own service called ‘Pay with Google’. Continue reading
Amazon Key System Revolutionizes Indoor Deliveries
No one wants strangers entering their home when they’re not there, right? What if its the delivery man bringing your last-minute Halloween costume that you need right when you get home? Amazon thinks yes. The company is introducing the Amazon Key system, which will help you with problems just like that.
Snapchat Context Cards Provide Users With More Access than Ever Before
Snapchat is rolling out a new feature called ‘Context Cards.’ Snapchat Context Cards are a new way to find more information about any snap that users share. The Context Cards will include information like restaurant reviews, reservations, and business contact information. The new feature will also assist with hailing Ubers and Lyfts as part of the update. Continue reading
2 Million Retailers Add “Pay with Venmo” Option to Online Checkout
If you don’t know, Venmo is the person-to-person mobile payment app that has become wildly popular among millennials. Last year alone, Venmo processed over $9 billion in transactions. From splitting the cost of pizza, to splitting monthly rent, Venmo quickly achieved widespread use. However, the free app is not popular among investors. Venmo’s parent company, PayPal, hopes to change this by adding a Pay with Venmo option to over 2 million online retail sites. Continue reading
Now You Can Discover and Interact with New Snapchat Context Cards
You won’t have to leave the app to explore a geotag on a Snap due to the new Snapchat Context Cards feature. Snapchat announced this feature last week to enhance users discovery of information about locations. This feature further engages users all while remaining in-app. If you’re curious or intrigued by a location tagged in a friend’s Snap Story, now you won’t have to go look it up elsewhere. Continue reading
The Psychology of Color Impacts Customer Engagement
According to Entrepreneur, the psychology of color greatly impacts marketing and branding. Messages are in the colors companies use in their products, and ultimately, colors play a major role in consumer purchasing. Continue reading
Barstool Sports is Partnering with ESPN
Barstool Sports is partnering with ESPN for the first time ever. Barstool is an off-the-wall, men’s lifestyle and sports media company. They have been producing content for over ten years. Initially the content was sports, sports gambling, and fantasy football. Eventually, the p
rint paper company (what it began as) grew into an online haven for sports fanatics and guy’s guys. Today Barstool Sports is a multi-faceted group that churns out content, through podcasts, daily video-streaming shows, a Facebook show, blogs, and social media. If they weren’t at least posing a threat to ESPN, they made it seem like it through their content. President, Dave Portnoy, has never had fond things to say about ESPN. For this reason many thought the partnership was strange. Continue reading
Why Micro-Influencers Drive Income
In the new age of social media marketing, we have seen a rise in micro influencers. Specifically how micro-influencers drive income to brands more than their larger counterparts. While many brands aspire to work with the big name influencers, the real money is in the ones with significantly smaller followings.
Online Retailers Now Accept Venmo Payments and Shopping will Never be the Same
PayPal steps up its game today with a new way to pay. Online stores now accept Venmo payments on retail sites where PayPal is accepted. Lululemon, Forever21, Etsy, and almost 2 million online retailers are participating in this exciting change (via CNBC). Continue reading
The Power of Citizen Journalism
The height of the digital age we live in has brought to light the power of citizen journalism. Crucial moments and crises are live streamed, recorded, and posted to social media seconds after they occur. Not only does this leave less room for lies and fabrication, it also gives the public direct access to news. Due to the nature of the way we use our smartphones, someone is always there to catch a crucial moment in real time.
Social Media’s use in Businesses
In recent years, social media’s use in business has shifted from important to imperative. There are a variety of different channels companies can utilize. These channels can be selected based on relevance to and needs of the specific company. There is something for everyone with social media. It allows businesses to meet people’s needs and interests. The top social media channels that businesses should consider are Facebook, Google +, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube. All seven of these channels are popular and offer a broad reach. These platforms have demonstrated effective use by businesses in a variety of ways, from marketing to publicity to even sales. Continue reading
Snap is teaming up with NBC Universal to make Snap scripted TV shows
The parent company of Snapchat, Snap is teaming up with NBC Universal to make Snap scripted TV shows. This partnership is a major move in an effort to compete with Amazon and Netflix.
Target Joins Google Home’s Voice-Activated Shopping Service
Online shopping used to be the ultimate convenience. Now, we expect overnight shipping and suggested products. We expect to repeat a previous order with one click. Retailers that are not adopting these features will not stay relevant in the online marketplace. In 2016 Google released their first smart speaker, Google Home, to compete with the Amazon Echo. Here is how they put a twist on one of the most highly-anticipated features: voice-activated shopping.