It's the year-end predictions, the questionable decision to unbundle, virtual assistants abound, Facebook live video expands, local services get a boost, Uber's dual fate in Seattle and Austin, Airbnb and landlords, video and marketing strategy, shutting down one service guarantees an exodus to another, Watson goes open source and Holmes uses artificial intelligence, the trait that separates great marketers from good ones, plus our weekly trivia challenge, the podcast pick of the week and more, it's the final edition of The Week in Digital.
A roundup of relevant links affecting our industry. If you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links — and additional ones — by subscribing to The Week in Digital Magazine at http://smonty.co/flipdigital.
Please note that this will be the final edition of The Week in Digital. We'll be rebranding and relaunching in 2016. Thank you for all of your support throughout the year and have a very Happy New Year.
We're using Facebook Mentions each Sunday evening at 9:30 pm ET to bring you 15 minutes of commentary and previews of what to expect from the week's newsletter. If you follow on Facebook and tune in every Sunday night, you can get a preview and join in the commentary as well.
#SundayswithScott #13 - Live video commentary and Q&A
Posted by Scott Monty on Sunday, December 20, 2015
Industry
- This is the time of year when you see the predictions for next year. In this case, eMarketer has six predictions for what will happen in 2016.
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- Included are the rise of mobile payments, marketers will participate in messenger apps, voice-activated search through smartphone-enabled personal assistants, the shift from mobile shopping to mobile buying, and Facebook becoming nearly entirely mobile.
- As equally important to cover are five predictions for what won't happen in 2016.
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- Ad blocking won't get solved, the definition for a viewable impression won't be determined, Facebook won't kill YouTube, young people won't abandon Facebook, digital ad spending won't surpass TV.
- But let's not let 2015 get away from us without a little reflection. The Guardian notes that 2015 was the year of the email newsletter. As you're reading this, we'd imagine you concur. Even thought it may seem like a throwback, logically it makes sense; the rising streams of content across your mobile device means that a predictable and more private communication via email makes an impact.
- Facebook made a splash with the unbundling of Messenger from the main Facebook app. But companies are finding that unless they have the scale of Facebook, unbundling isn't all that it's cracked up to be.
- The war against ISIS will increasingly be fought online. Which is why the U.S. is recruiting students to help on Facebook and YouTube.
- Last week we reported that Netflix hogs 37% of the Internet's data. Now with its new video encoding, Netflix uses less data than previously.
- Virtual personal assistants are the future. And while Siri, Cortana and Google Now are well established, Facebook's M drove more buzz than its competitors. This is what happens when you release it primarily to the Silicon Valley-area self-anointed technology royalty, who are typically enamored with the latest shiny object Anyone remember Ello?
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- If you'd like to know what it's like to have your meetings scheduled by a virtual assistant, meet Amy. She's been my assistant since I started by own business six months ago.
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Each Monday we publish this newsletter that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, business, digital communications and marketing in order to keep leaders up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in your job. A new issue is available every Monday morning. Please subscribe to keep up to date on developments.
In case you hadn't noticed, this took a lot of time to assemble. Do you get any value out of it on a regular basis? If so, please consider becoming a patron to help support this newsletter by going to Patreon. Yes, you can pledge a dollar a month, but that's a paltry amount, don't you think?
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*B2B Content Marketing 2016 Benchmarks, Budgets and Trends (Content Marketing Institute & Marketing Profs)
Platforms
- Yahoo
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- The questionable decision making continues at Yahoo, as noted in a report submitted to Yahoo's board by hedge fund manager Eric Jackson. It includes outsized salaries, investments, purchases and budgets for parties and trips.
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- Google will make its driverless car division an Alphabet company in 2016.
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- If you've been enjoying our #SundaysWithScott live video, you're about to see more like that. Facebook has opened live video to verified pages. Lots of opportunities ahead for brands, from product reveals to Q&A sessions with executives.
- With Facebook's local business services page (http://ift.tt/1IS1eH2), Facebook is taking on Google, Amazon, Yelp and Angie's List with its home services play.
- It's too bad Angie's List turned down a $500 million offer to acquire it last month.
- Facebook Messenger is getting more functional, as you'll be able to order an Uber from directly within the app. Very similar to what the Asian messaging apps have been doing for some time.
- Instant Articles are available on Android devices now.
- Pinterest, Vine, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.
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- Pinterest has a feature that will notify users of price drops on buyable items.
- Vine's "For You" channel has curated videos that it thinks you'll find interesting, in the hope of generating more use. If this sounds like Twitter's Moments feature, it should. Twitter owns Vine.
- Brands can learn from Generation Z's Snapchat experience.
Trivia question: What is Uber thinking of replacing its five-star rating system with? *
Collaborative Economy
- Uber's recent spate of layoffs is contained to the communications department. Pando Daily shamelessly brags about how smart it is to have figured it out.
- While the rush to go public has plagued some companies, Uber is in no danger of that, as market rules have changed since Facebook and Twitter went public, and Uber tightly controls its shares. Given the amount of pressure and scrutiny it regularly comes under, Uber may be better off remaining private.
- As seemingly innovative as Austin, Texas is, it still has a problem with ridesharing.
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- Meanwhile, Seattle has voted to let Uber and Lyft drivers unionize.
- Big landlords and Airbnb may be cutting a deal that allows the landlords to get a cut of any Airbnb deals by their renters.
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- It may be a different story for those who rent out their college dorm rooms, though.
Audio
- Something to keep you busy over the holiday break: 100 podcasts that will make you smarter, better, and wiser.
- Pandora will now be required to pay artists 20 percent more, thanks to the judgment of a little-known tribunal.
- Podcast Recommendation of the Week. This week, check out The Business of Story. Learn how to craft and tell compelling stories that drive business results. Do you have a podcast recommendation for us? Add yours to our Google Sheet: http://smonty.co/yourpodcasts
Content / Customer Experience
- Alibaba and Disney have made a licensing deal for an over-the-top content system in China called DisneyLife. This is a clear strategy to support their new theme park in Shanghai.
- Video is more important than ever.
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- Here are six ways to integrate video into your marketing strategy.
- The good, the bad and the ugly: the CMO's ultimate guide to Facebook video.
- And if you're looking for ways to boost engagement on your Facebook videos, here are ten.
- Content marketers can learn to tell better stories with data.
- Consumer experience is lacking the kind of personalization it promised because of the overwhelming volume of conversation coming from brands. The solution? Brand managers need to pay more attention to consumers than themselves, creating contextually relevant interactions based on consumer actions and behaviors.
Privacy / Security / Legal
- A new law in Europe that restricts how companies may use personal information may severely restrict the likes of Google, Facebook and other ad tech companies. We're not exactly sure Europe understands how the Internet works — or more specifically how it can work if given the right chance.
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- In addition, the legislation will restrict anyone from under the age of 16 using social networks. #craycray
- Related: in Brazil, the government ordered WhatsApp to shut down for 48 hours in the wake of a disagreement with WhatsApp's privacy policy. The closure lasted only 12 hours before the decision was reversed.
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- However, messaging app Telegram gained nearly 5 million users during the closure. If you'd like to see how the European under-16 ban will play out, read on. Determined users will always find a way.
Measurement / Metrics / Data
- Trends are all the rage, and digital metrics are no different. Here are digital analytics trends for 2016.
- IBM is open sourcing Watson, its artificial intelligence system to help advance the Internet of Things.
- Where there's Watson, there's Holmes. The BBC is using artificial intelligence to track down new audiences for the January 1 debut of Sherlock: The Abominable Bride.
- If you enjoy all things data, you might think about becoming a data analyst — with some help.
* Answer to the trivia question above:
- Using thumbs up, thumbs down, smiles and other options, Uber is testing out a system of rating with emoji.
When You Have the Time: Essential Watching / Listening / Reading
- Video stars on YouTube, Vine, etc. may seem like they have it all, but the stark reality is far from that truth.
- Our modern status system is not well suited for the online world. How the world has changed but human needs have remained the same. And why you might need to unplug.
- The one trait that separates great marketers from merely good ones: curiosity.
"Curiosity is the cure for boredom. There is no cure for curiosity."- Dorothy Parker
Each Monday we publish this newsletter that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, business, digital communications and marketing in order to keep leaders up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in your job. A new issue is available every Monday morning. Please subscribe to keep up to date on developments.
In case you hadn't noticed, this took a lot of time to assemble. Do you get any value out of it on a regular basis? If so, please consider becoming a patron to help support this newsletter by going to Patreon. Yes, you can pledge a dollar a month, but that's a paltry amount, don't you think?
I advise brands and agencies to help them improve their communications and digital acumen. Please get in touch if you'd like to put my experience and digital smarts to work on a project, to consult with your group, or to address an audience at your next corporate or industry event.
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This post appeared first on scottmonty.com
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