Freia Lobo says, “Facebook is now making it easier to keep your information private and secure. As part of Data Privacy Day on Jan. 28, Facebook is launching a new version of its Privacy Basics page to help people understand how to take control of their information on the site. The new site is mobile-friendly and redesigned based on user feedback. Facebook is also partnering with state attorneys general, privacy experts and others to help users understand how to manage their privacy online. There are 32 guides in 44 languages on the site, covering topics like managing your privacy, customizing... [...]

Tom Brant says, “Facebook — like Snapchat and Instagram before it — is getting an ephemeral, video-based Stories feature. The social network is testing Stories in Ireland, where as of today members can use the new format to share videos and photos with their friends that will disappear after 24 hours and won’t automatically show up in their News Feeds. The idea is that people will use their Facebook iOS or Android app to add photos and videos from their smartphone throughout the day, and their friends will tap through the stories to see what they’ve been up to. It’s... [...]

Nikki Gilliland says, “It was predicted that 76% of online shoppers would be using click and collect services by 2017. So, here we are. Commercial space travel might still be a pipe dream, but are we all racing to pick up our online orders in person? Here’s a few facts and figures on the current state of click and collect, as well as a bit of insight into how the service might evolve in future. Consumer demand for convenience Before we get on to any changes in the click and collect model, it’s worth noting that consumer expectations for a seamless and multichannel experience have... [...]

Samantha Merlivat says, “Intuitively, it makes sense that if a consumer engages with a brand’s ad or marketing message, this should count as a positive outcome. Yet, we’ve spoken to a number of marketers and measurement companies that found that optimizing for engagement ultimately did not help them drive positive business outcomes – instead leading them to waste time and media dollars on the wrong users. The issue we keep encountering in discussions around engagement is that advertisers count interactions – clicks, shares, likes, comments, views – as proxies for engagement. There’s... [...]

Victoria Godfrey says, “If you have read the annual prediction articles in the last few years, one of the prominent projections you’ve likely seen is, “This is the year data-driven marketing campaigns take hold.” But really, data-driven marketing has always been critical — and in 2017, it’s going to continue to be at the forefront of marketers’ strategies. As we make our predictions for 2017, one thing is clear: using data to tailor your messages will remain a critical part of any marketing strategy. Today’s companies are focused on maximizing data to provide insights that ultimately... [...]

Tamar Weinberg says, “As always, Facebook is constantly refining the user experience for the benefit of both content creators and consumers. Today, Facebook shared some information regarding changes made to the way videos are ranked in the News Feed, specifically addressing the value it gives to how much a video is watched so that users can find the best possible videos on the social network. Various signals are evaluated to determine prominence, including live video status and engagement based on length of time watched, as a metric known as “percent completion.” A video that is watched... [...]

Patrick Kulp says, “Facebook can only pop so many advertisements into your News Feed before it drives you crazy. But it needs to keep selling more and more of them to keep up its juggernaut growth. And the company is worried that it could run out of ad space in its News Feed this year. That’s probably why Facebook is now turning to some untapped real estate: its Messenger platform. The company announced Wednesday that it’s testing new ads in Messenger that look a lot like ones you might see in your News Feed. The ads are carousel-style, meaning that users can swipe sideways through... [...]

Leslie Ye says, “Good communication is crucial to sales success. Sounds obvious, right? You can’t make a sale unless you’ve demonstrated value to a prospect. You can’t do that unless you’ve understood their problems and devised a strategy to solve them. In turn, you can’t do that until you get your prospect to tell you what’s wrong. And so on, and so forth … What Is the Importance of Communication in Sales? The root of sales success is the ability to gather and provide information in a way that makes your prospect want to do business with you. Your value proposition, your pricing,... [...]

Sona Jepsen says, “Transforming your team’s approach to sales requires a shift from just pushing products to creating genuine connections with people. And those genuine connections don’t include fraud and mistrust. Along those lines, consider how 2016 had its share of the shady sales practices that dog the business world. From the Wells Fargo case of opening fraudulent accounts, to the allegations surrounding Trump University throughout the recent election, multiple examples of unfair sales tactics made front-page headlines on a regular basis last year. And 2017 probably won’t... [...]

Kane Jamison says, “At least once or twice per month, I talk to a small e-commerce store owner who wants to invest in content marketing. Often times, I have to break it to them that they’re not ready for content marketing. You see, before you spend a bunch of time generating traffic from your target audience, it’s important to make sure those visitors get the best experience possible while browsing your store. So, in this post, I want to give store owners and e-commerce newbies a clear idea of where they can invest their time before investing in more paid and organic traffic to their... [...]