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The Problem with Facebook [Video]

The problem is the only way Facebook has found to make money is by treating all entities on the site as advertisers and charging them to share their content.

This business plan backfires because 1) not all entities ARE advertisers and 2) it was the content from these people, specifically friends, family, and creators that made the site worth visiting in the first place.

Now the incentives are misaligned:

  • Individuals want to see great content, but they are now seeing more paid content and organically shared content which appeals to the lowest common denominator (babies, weddings, and banal memes)
  • Creators want to reach fans but their posts are being throttled to force them to pay to be seen
  • Brands and advertisers have to pay once to advertise their page on Facebook, and then pay again to reach the people who have already liked their page. Plus Facebook is not a place where people generally go to buy things.

Facebook stands in contrast to other social media like Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram where all content is shared with all followers.


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Facebook to reveal ads targeted to user behavior patterns

Facebook AdChoice

Facebook is now compliant with the Online Interest-Based Advertising Accountability Program, and has to show the AdChoice icon in behaviorally targeted Facebook Exchange (FBX) ads. This allows users to know when an ad is marketed to them on their browser behavior. The catch, however, is that the icon is only displayed when a user interacts with it by scrolling of the gray "X" over the ad.

Facebook will change the "Report this Ad" text with "Learn About Facebook Ads," and users can choose to opt out of specific ad networks. As Engadget notes, however, whether this legally complies with the Federal Commission guidelines for "clear and prominent notice" is unsure, as the ads only reveal itself as targeted once a user interacts with it.

AdChoice implementation will start at the end of March.

Read More | ASRC Reviews via AdAge


Australian courts overturn ruling the ACCC brought against Google

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Google,

google aaac ruling

Six grueling years of the ACCC dragging Google in and out of Australian courtrooms and hearings for "misleading advertisements" displayed in search results have now come to an end.

Five Australian High Court judges have overturned a ruling requiring Google to set up programs that properly vet ads. The lawsuits started because of the specific claim that if one were to search Google in 2006 for "Honda Austrailia," the user would also be shown sponsored ads from competing car companies. This new ruling, however, proves that the concern of the ACCC is an outdated one.

Read More | Reuters

Marketing Samsung Galaxy Devices visualized

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News,

There's a high cost for making Samsung Galaxy devices. Horace Dediu, from Asymco, breaks down the math and visualizes them into nifty graphs. There's no question that the mobile Galaxy line embedded with Android has been a success for the South Korean conglomerate but, apparently, it comes at a cost of marketing the products. Sales, general and administrative (SG&A), is part of the equation being extrapolated for the results for past trends from 2009 to 2012. In other words, Samsung basically spends roughly four times more on marketing than its most rival mobile competitor. A good marketing example is seeing a payed advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy S III at the top of the Twitter Trend. Or those now infamous "Next Big Thing is Here" commercials basically trolling Apple customers at a line for a faux launch.

Click to continue reading Marketing Samsung Galaxy Devices visualized

Read More | Asymco

How to disable Interest Based iAds and limit ad tracking on your iPhone and iPad

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Software,

Interest Based iAds

Recently, it has been reported that, with iOS 6, Apple has a new tracking mechanism built-in that allows targeted advertising. Basically, this just means that when there are ads in apps, that they can display ads that Apple feels will be more relevant to you, rather than having them be completely random. Some users don't appreciate any sort of behavior tracking, and would rather turn this feature off. One easy way to get to this setting is to visit the following address from your iOS device: http://oo.apple.com. That will redirect you to the opt out panel for Interest Based iAds. Turn the setting to OFF to disable the feature, and you'll no longer see ads that are targeted to your interests.

Click to continue reading How to disable Interest Based iAds and limit ad tracking on your iPhone and iPad


Lexus CinePrint ad uses iPad to merge print and digital to promote 2013 Lexus ES (video!)

Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Misc. Tech, Transportation,

Lexus calls it CinePrint, we call it brilliant. The luxury auto maker has created a very nifty interactive marketing ad, which utilizes a user's iPad to bring a 2013 Lexus ES to life in a magazine. From a marketing standpoint, the illustration is very impressive and gets the reader involved in the process of merging print and video. This is surely lacking when just reading a static page or watching a traditional car commercial on TV, at which point we usually just turn the page or tune out. It's still an ad, but it's pretty freaking cool. Check out the video after the break.

Click to continue reading Lexus CinePrint ad uses iPad to merge print and digital to promote 2013 Lexus ES (video!)


Items Du Jour: Betsey Throws a Contest, Mischa Barton Opens a Store

Britney Spears for Elizabeth Arden Fantasy Twist+ Britney Spears posted a sneak peek on Twitter of her upcoming Elizabeth Arden Fantasy Twist campaign. If the unoriginal Cleopatra theme actually sells you on the fragrance, you can pick up a bottle beginning September 1.

+ In order to garner more buzz about her upcoming retrospective runway show, Betsey Johnson is throwing a contest for fans through Facebook. If you're determined enough to dig up your closet (or your mother's!) for vintage Betsey, you can upload a photo of yourself wearing it and may just end up showing it off on the runway.

+ Mariah Carey follows in the footsteps of Katy Perry and the Muppets with her upcoming nail polish line. In a collaborative deal with OPI, the songstress will choose eight new shades to be sold under her name in January.

+ Reality star-turned-fashion designer Nicole Richie models for her Macy's line looking like her usual smokey-eyed, bohemian chic self. Early sketches of the design reveal Richie's love of the seventies and peacocks.

Click to continue reading Items Du Jour: Betsey Throws a Contest, Mischa Barton Opens a Store


Beastie Boys Songs Banned From Adverts

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Artist News, Gossip, Hip-Hop & Rap, Rock,

Beastie BoysAdam Yauch's will prevents his music being used in adverts.

The Beastie Boys rapper - known as MCA - passed away from cancer in May aged 47, and his will lists a clause preventing his music or art being used in adverts or promotions. "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in no event may my image or name or any music or any artistic property created by me be used for advertising purposes," it reads. Rolling Stone noted the last part of the line was added in handwriting.

The will also leaves his fortune of $6.4 million to Yauch's wife, Dechen Yauch, and their 13-year-old daughter. Dechen also has the right to sell and manage her husband's artistic property.

It is not clear how the will's wording affects the potential use of Beastie Boys' music in adverts in future, as the band also comprises Adam "Ad Rock" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond.


Gabriella Wilde and Roo Panes Join Burberry

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Celebrities, Fashion Designers, News,

Gabriella Wilde and Roo panesGabriella Wilde and Roo Panes are the new faces of Burberry's Fall/Winter 2012-13 campaign.

The British actress-and-model and the musician have replaced Cara Delevingne and Eddie Redmayne to front the range, and Christopher Bailey, Burberry's chief creative officer, is delighted to have attracted the "incredibly talented" pair for the promotion to help bring the collection "to life."

"We wanted to play with everything that's at the heart of the Burberry world - celebrating our brand and London through imagery, film, music, weather and our iconic outerwear, all in a very poetic and British way. Using London as the backdrop, we shot the series of cinematic, emotive black and white images and short films with the incredibly talented Gabriella Wilde and Roo Panes, who effortlessly bring the campaign and our collections to life across all of our platforms."

Gabriella and Roo were photographed by Mario Testino as they posed against Greenwich's Royal Naval College among cinematic smoke and fog, and wet pavements.

Click to continue reading Gabriella Wilde and Roo Panes Join Burberry


Katy Perry Signs Pepsi Deal

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Movies, Music, Television,

Katy PerryKaty Perry has agreed a deal with Pepsi to promote her concert movie.

The "Firework" hitmaker's Part of Me 3D concert film will be promoted by the soft drinks firm in a series of advertisements across radio, TV, print and online media ahead of its release on July 5. As part of the deal, fans will be given the chance to win tickets to the world premiere of the film - which will be streamed live online by Pepsi - in Los Angeles, at which Katy will perform.

"Pepsi is one of the world's leading brands, and this integrated partnership provides an incredible platform for us to build fan anticipation to see this exciting glimpse into Katy's world when the movie comes to theaters this summer," said LeeAnne Stables, an executive for Paramount.

As well as chronicling Katy's 2010 and 2011 California Dreams tour, the movie also features a series of backstage clips and sees the star speak candidly on a range of subjects, including her religious upbringing and her struggle to find success. A teaser trailer for the film also included glimpses of newspaper headlines detailing her split from husband Russell Brand in December.


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