Facebook Timeline for Brands Coming…
It was only a matter of time, but Facebook Timeline for Brands is coming. By some accounts, as soon as later this month. Marketers have been watching the issue closely. Facebook introduced the Timeline feature for personal profiles back in September. There were several dates targeted by which all personal profiles would automatically roll over to Timeline.
For some reason or another, there are still personal profiles out there that haven’t converted automatically, yet. There has been a lot of user backlash, but that’s not uncommon for any change to Facebook features or page layouts.
However, whether or not brand pages would migrate to Timeline (or rather when they would) has been unknown. Perhaps they will take a slow approach, working with specific large brands first, just as Twitter did for their new brand pages.
Forbes has published an article by Reggie Bradford that poses the opportunity for brands to utilize Timeline for storytelling and modifying the way that they engage with customers. Mashable has also published a few great brand Timeline page concepts produced by various companies and agencies.
It may be a while before smaller businesses get Timeline, but it’s definitely worth planning for.
UPDATE 2/29: Brands now have 30 days to curate before their Facebook Pages are switched over to Timeline on March 30th.
New #NewTwitter is more brand-friendly and more user focused
With some seemingly subtle user interface changes, Twitter has managed to become both more brand-friendly AND “put you and your interests front and center” on profile pages.
Twitter Brand pages now present a layout and a few specific features (such as a “sticky” tweet) that makes them feels more like a destination, similar to brand pages at Facebook and Google+ brand.
User profile pages also inch closer towards a Facebook-like experience with better placement of user-specific features such as favorites and lists.
Both page types also feature in-stream content viewing.
Google+ Launches Branded Pages
It’s official - Google+ Brand Pages have launched. Now the fun begins - helping businesses, organizations, brands and other entities decide how to utilize this new social platform.
Vic Gundotra, Google’s Sr. Vice President of Engineering, introduced the new brand pages in a post where he explains the inspiration for the new platform, “So far Google+ has focused on connecting people with other people. But we want to make sure you can build relationships with all the things you care about — from local businesses to global brands — so today we’re rolling out Google+ Pages worldwide.”
When businesses decide to integrate social media into their overall marketing strategy, the first step is “going where the consumers are”. So far, that has largely meant Facebook (and Twitter), but Google+ has been steadily growing as an alternative or an addition to a consumer’s social footprint.
One foreseen key advantage is that Google+ Brand Pages will undoubtedly be tied very close with Google Search. For small businesses, that very important feature is called “Direct Connect” and does indeed link Google Search to Google+ Brand Pages. Google points out that this feature is in development for a number of large brands initially, but will open up soon.
Thinking back to when I was a small child, I’ve always been visual.
One very clear recollection is from a dimly lit corner dive eating a grilled cheese and tomato soup with my mom. She would have lunch once a week with a few extremely wrinkled and bent over ladies from the neighborhood. As I was not a part of their conversation, I would kneel on my chair and draw the items that were in the center of the table on my placemat. (Using a linty, ball point pen dug out from the bottom of my mom’s purse.) You know the items: the breadstick basket, the salt/pepper shakers, the sugar caddy, etc.
I love to draw. I always have. I may not be good at it, but I don’t care. And, consequently, it has always been easier for me to explain my thoughts to my classmates, professors, co-workers, bosses, and clients through a doodle. Not art, not perfection, but a sketch. A doodle that is serving its purpose to get the pictures out of my head and in front of others.
“Sunni Brown makes the case for unlocking your brain via your pad and pen.” I enjoyed her updated definition of a doodle, and hope that the reps at Webster’s Dictionary really are listening. -Jeanine
OK, we’re already suckers for a great infographic, but combine one with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Education and we’re really sold! Props to @Microsoft for commissioning the research.
Check out the full infographic at Mashable and the research results over at Microsoft’s Press Release.
Looking forward to Google+ Business Profiles
Like the rest of the Internet and business world, we’ve been keeping up with Google+ very closely. Will it be the social network that finally gives Facebook a run for its money? We think it just might - but more importantly, how will Google+ help small to mid-size (SMB) businesses? Considering that Google has a significant grip on both search and maps - there are very compelling reasons to have a business presence.
Google has asked that business and brands hold off on developing profiles on Google+ because it will roll out support and features for Business Profiles later this year. Google+ is already integrating many of its consumer-focused services, including the Picasa photo sharing service and its long standing blog platform, Blogger.
Undoubtedly, its Business Profile integrations will expand to its many business-oriented services, such as:
- Mapping and Location-Based Check-ins (Google Places, etc.)
- Analytics and Advertising (Google AdWords)
- Productivity and Business (Google Docs, etc.)
- eCommerce (Google Checkout)
- Mobile Payments (NFC technology)
We’re very excited about the potential of the new Google+ social ecosystem for business tied tightly with features such as analytics, search and maps.
Are you on Google+, yet?
Recently chuckled when Gary Vaynerchuk likened trying to measure the ROI of social media to measuring the ROI of your mom. Flowtown stepped up to the challenge and we love it! Check out the full infographic to see more reasons why the ROI of your Mom is incalculable!
If you still think social media is a fad, you may want to think again - especially if you are a business owner. Stats like these should be a pretty strong motivator to jump into social media, if you haven’t already:
- Over 50% of world’s population is under 30-years-old; 96% of them have joined a social network
- 78% of consumers trust peer recommendations against 14% that trust in advertisements
- Fastest growing segment on Facebook: 55-65 year old females
Check out these stats and the full infographic by One Lily.
A World Without Facebook Infographic
What would the week be without another fun, yet informative, infographic. SingleGrain just produced a great one with the latest Facebook stats. We won’t give away all of the details, because part of fun is seeing the graphic representation. Some of the highlights include:
- Percentage of users by age, women vs. men
- Countries with most users
- Average amount of friends
- Average user visit time
- 70% of local business use Facebook for Marketing
Check out the full infographic at SingleGrain!
