While some continue to question the motivation behind Facebook’s recent acquisition of Instagram, the reason is suddenly becoming clearer as consumers increasingly move toward more private, smaller social media networks in an effort to protect their privacy and maintain greater control over their personal information. As a result, the major social networks will need to respond to this trend by allowing consumers to establish tighter networks, while marketers will have to figure out how fewer personal connections will affect a brand’s ability to get “viral” exposure. For a look some of the smaller social networks capturing consumers’ attention today, Businessweek.com compiled the following list of online alternatives.
CONTINUE READING THIS CONTENT »
Online advertising is constantly evolving as new trends and hot topics steer both the marketers and the markets in exciting directions. Google recently defined the three latest trends affecting online advertising and DirectMarketingNews.com reported on the digital details.
Facebook recently announced plans to develop its own app center, as well as intent to allow for paid Facebook apps. Users will soon be able to search for apps from a dashboard featuring detailed descriptions and user ratings, which should be a considerable improvement over Facebook’s current app placement within the same search bar used to search for people and events. In addition, Facebook will start charging for apps in an attempt to increase revenue for app developers, as well as for the social network itself. Mashable reported on these intriguing app happenings.![It's all about images [Infographic]](http://www.mdgadvertising.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/its-all-about-images-infographic_cutoff.jpg "It's all about images [Infographic]")
Recent research from WordStream has shed some light on the amount of energy it requires to run the Internet, which revealed both the helpful and harmful impact of digital technology on the environment. While more than 250,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) are produced annually to power Google searches, the ability that the Internet provides for telecommuting could reduce carbon emissions by up to millions of metric tons each year. To understand how the Internet is affecting the preservation of our planet, MediaPost.com reported on the following findings.
Pinterest is showing digital marketers the vast power of pictures. The visually driven social media site that lets users “pin” images of interest and share them with a rapidly growing online community is capturing the zeitgeist of today’s visual Web. Many of these images promote the products and personalities of brands large and small, which makes Pinterest a desirable digital marketing platform for companies seeking to increase their social media exposure and build a following. The New York Times recently reported on how brands and marketers are racing to develop a presence on Pinterest in order to make an impression on millions of social media users.
Facebook is a powerful advertising tool for brands and its growing strength is driving an increase in advertising spending on the social network. Companies are realizing that fueling their Facebook presence takes a steady investment in resources that support their social content and commentary. While Facebook offers a variety of free resources that many businesses use regularly, the industry shows that Facebook ads are receiving a growing share of company budgets. AdAge.com reported on how the size of a brand’s Facebook presence often correlates directly to its advertising spend.
The popularity of social media can lead hospitality marketers to realize the power of these platforms to promote their hotels, yet consumers have definite preferences over the type of information they want from a hotel’s social media channels. A recent USA Today reader survey discovered consumers’ honest views on what they expect from a hotel’s social media outlets. HotelMarketing.com reported the revealing results.
