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It’s Friday, which means it’s time to catch up on social media highlights from the week. From earth seemingly stopping because of a Twitter crash to the most “social” cities and landmarks across the globe, we’ve got the social media high points covered for you.

TWITTER

Twitter Down

As you are probably well aware, Twitter crashed on Thursday right before noon ET. Service returned about an hour later, and then the outage came back less than an after that. Hacker group UGNazi claims it took the website down in a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, but Twitter says there was a  “cascading bug in one of [its] infrastructure components.”

It comes as no surprise that the online public was up in arms about the disruption to social networking life. Even humor site, someecards.com, already had joke topical “cards” created within the hour of the site being down. Can life go on without Twitter? Turns out, it did. http://cnnmon.ie/MlmEtQ

Twitter Ads Expanding

This week, Twitter announced that it will expand its ad services to 50 countries this year. Twitter’s ads are currently only available in the U.S., and so this expansion seeks to reduce the company’s reliance on American revenue. Twitter predicts $1 billion in advertising revenue from this move, said people familiar with the forecast. http://bloom.bg/KVSCNn

FACEBOOK

Social Cities

This week, Facebook shared the most social cities/landmarks around the world. Among the most social destinations are Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Paris, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Dublin, London and Tokyo, among others.  Facebook aggregated check-ins from its site and third-party apps using the Facebook API, and data dating back to August 2010 when check-ins first launched.

As it turns out, sports stadiums and arenas were some of the most popular venues in the world. Take note for your next geotargeted campaign! http://nydn.us/KPVdNy

GENERAL SOCIAL MEDIA

Who’s Pinning?

Digital media agency Modea developed an infographic with findings from a February ComScore report that shows Pinterest users’ favorite…well, everything. The report findings in the infographic breakdown Pinterest users favorite supermarket, mobile phones and carriers, alcohols, magazines, vacation destinations, TV channels, and the list goes on.

Take a look and see how the findings may help you in your social media strategy. http://on.mash.to/LKJpsx

 

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Facebook is facing the largest IPO in Internet history. (Photo courtesy of newsjunkiepost.com)

It’s no secret. This week, Facebook takes the cake, as details of its upcoming IPO steal headlines. However, there was more that happened in the social world…Facebook just overshadows it by…a lot.

Take a look at the below and get up to speed!

TWITTER

Personal Customer Service

According to a new report from American Express, consumers who have resolved a customer service issue via social media at least once in the last year are willing to buy “significantly more” from a company than those who routed complaints through the more traditional phone or email channels.

It’s reported that experts attribute the finding to the fact that consumers may feel loyalty toward a company when they receive positive customer service. It’s easier for a company to grow good feelings over social media, than through email/phone.

Leon Widrich with SocialMediaExaminer.com says that Twitter can create a more personalized experience, because companies incorporate names and individual photos of the company reps, making the experience seem “more approachable and human.”

All the more reason to encourage positive, speedy and personal social relationships with your clients’ fanbase. It really has a positive impact! http://huff.to/IpidLY

Twitter Improving Personalized Experience

On Tuesday, Twitter announced that they are beginning to roll out a new version of its Discover tab, making it even more personalized for the users. The company has improved its personalized algorithms to better understand users and display stories that are relevant to people in real time.

Things you find on the Discover tab will be driven by the data Twitter finds from the people users follow. For me, I follow about 1,000 (I exaggerate) tech journalists, so this Discover tab, may actually give me even more targeted tech news than my traditional feed gives me.  I can’t believe that could even be possible! http://bit.ly/IQgoYZ

FACEBOOK

$$$$$$

On Thursday, it was reported that Facebook set its shares at $28 to $35 each for its upcoming IPO. That translates to be around a $95 billion value. Facebook’s IPO is expected in a couple weeks and would be the biggest IPO for an Internet company in history. It goes unsaid, but this will be the most anticipated stock debut for Silicon Valley in several years and is expected to set records for funds raised and valuation for an Internet company. As of now, Google currently holds the largest IPO.

This will definitely be an exciting month ahead for tech and Wall St. http://on.wsj.com/K4NPK9

Organ Donor Awareness

This week, Facebook unveiled an organ donor option for Timeline. This is another recent move Facebook has made to be more socially conscious. The company recently rolled out an anti-bullying initiative and a referral system for friends expressing suicidal thoughts.

The organ donor option was designed to help more than 114,000 people in the U.S. and millions more around the worlds that are waiting for a life-saving heart, kidney or liver transplant. Designating yourself as an organ donor is fairly simple. You go to Timeline, click on “Life Event” and then “Health & Wellness.”

Mashable reports that a driving force for this feature was Mark Zuckerberg’s friendship with Steve Jobs, whose life was extended following a liver transplant. http://on.mash.to/Im4pXE

GENERAL SOCIAL MEDIA

Signed, FPRockStar2012

Nielsen reported a release last Friday that shows that women are more likely to engage with social media than men. In addition, women are eight percent more likely than the average online adult to build or update a personal blog. Women are also 18 percent more likely than the average American to follow a brand on social sites.

Is it just me, or is this completely obvious? I don’t intend to be stereotypical, but come on; women are known for being more social. Therefore, the more social gender will obviously be more social online. At least this report gives solid results for that conclusion, perhaps encouraging us to potentially aim our online content more toward women, in some cases… http://on.mash.to/KkZsKk

 

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How does this pin relate to social media? Read our Social Media Week in Review to find out!

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for your weekly social media update! Maybe you’ve been busy following election details, the new iPad or the Rush Limbaugh scandal. For whatever reason you haven’t been staying up to speed on social media, we forgive you.

After taking a read through of the below, you’ll be well ready for your weekend dinner party chatter…

FACEBOOK

Mobile Use is Up, Way Up

On Wednesday, Facebook disclosed that its mobile audience has increased in the last year by 76 percent (That’s a lot of percent!). Facebook reports that at the end of December 2011, the company had 432 million regular mobile users. “Regular users” being those who log on more than once a month. Facebook even says that it now has 58 million regular users who log on exclusively though a tablet or phone. The company said that the growth is largely due to the introduction of its iPad app last fall and its acquisition of Snaptu.

In an unscientific survey of myself, I’d say that 70 percent of the time I’m logging onto Facebook, I do so on my smartphone as opposed to my desktop PC or laptop. I would say this is 90 percent true of my friends as well (unscientifically, of course), which is why Facebook’s recent mobile audience numbers don’t appear to be that shocking. Read more here: http://bit.ly/wP7PZC

Kony 2012

Have you been on Facebook in the last few days? Of course you have, which means you’re probably familiar with the Kony 2012 campaign. The 30-minute YouTube film has seemingly taken over the Internet, promoting an Invisible Children campaign to bring attention to Joseph Kony and the rebel group Lord’s Resistance Army.

The viral video, which was uploaded on March 5, has more than 40 million views, and #stopkony has been trending worldwide on Twitter.

No one knows what will make a video viral. There’s no science to it. It’s a matter of human interest and either incredibly smart or unintended strategy. In this case, the human interest and incredibly smart strategy worked hand in hand to bring a cause to the forefront of our News Feed. Let’s wait a few months to see if it remains at the forefront of our minds. Read more here: http://nyti.ms/wGgh5o

GENERAL SOCIAL MEDIA

Social TV

On Wednesday night’s live American Idol, judge Randy Jackson received heavy online buzz because of a sparkly beaded pin he was wearing. Tweets were coming in wondering what his pin was, and after noticing the chatter during the episode’s first commercial break, Jackson posted an image of it on Pinterest. Jackson’s post responded to viewers questions and gave them a chance to win it on Facebook.

This live and organic communication makes social TV exciting. Fans watching the live show get to participate in two-way communication. Kudos to Jackson for jumping on the conversation and making it an engaging opportunity for the fan base. Read more here: http://on.mash.to/z3X942

TWITTER

What your client can learn from Lady Gaga

This week, Lady Gaga proved that you can in fact acquire 20 million Twitter followers, making her the first user to reach that level. In addition, she also has an impressive 48 million Facebook fans and more than 800,000 circles on Google+.

Yes, it can be done, but manage your expectations, people. Unless your corporate client feels comfortable rebranding itself by wearing a dress made of meat or showing up to the Grammy’s inside an egg, then they probably aren’t going to reach the same type of social media stardom.

However, lessons can be learned. As Stewart Townsend, from the Twitter marketing and analysis firm Datsift, pointed out—Gaga is active on Twitter. She’s not a manufactured robot in the Twittersphere. “She’s active, she participates, she listed, she engages,” Townsend said. “A lot of brands or agencies are just in listening mode – and don’t react.”

Sure, she may have a content calendar, but she (and her people) isn’t afraid to break free and show real personality and engagement. Hey, it worked for Lady Gaga, and she has 20 million followers. Read more here: http://bbc.in/xAsyo4

Twitter forecasting elections

In a world where people tweet what they’re eating, thinking and doing, it’s not far off to assume that Twitter can accurately forecast election results. In the case of Super Tuesday, however, social-analytics firm Attensity got it half right.

A company spokesperson nailed the correlation right on the head, saying, “The fact that people are talking about candidates on Twitter doesn’t necessarily correlate to those people going out and voting.” Another drawback is the lack of location-based data among Twitter users. Not all users have the “location” feature turned on in their mobile devices. More people with the feature enabled would yield more accurate localized information and analysis.

At this point, many agree that social media is better used by candidates to mobilize their communities rather than predict election outcomes. That may be the case for 2012, but 2016 will likely be a whole different ballgame in the exponentially growing and developing social arena. Read more here: http://usat.ly/ylmOZ6

 

 

2Social Media Week in Review

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Hi there, I’m Emily Gilbert from our Los Angeles office, where I work with clients such as Logitech, Hyundai Hope on Wheels and Long Beach Memorial/Miller Children’s Hospital. A native Texan, I rely on social media to connect with my friends and family in The Lone Star State.

This week I’m kicking off our weekly social media updates. Check back every Friday to receive the latest in social media from the top social media minds at Finn Partners. So read on and we’ll see you back here next Friday!

If you were caught up in CES all week and missed what was happening in the rest of the world don’t worry; I’ve got the social media beat covered for you.

Google and Twitter jumped into the online boxing ring to fight out social search; the First Lady graced us with her presence on Twitter; a new study shows that Facebook is—surprise, surprise—growing; and much more!

Take a peek below to get up to speed on all things social.

TWITTER

Social Search Battle

Ding ding! In the right corner we have Google, and in the left corner, we have Twitter! As a result of the recent “Search Plus Your World” launch, Internet giants Google and Twitter are having some words, you could say, with each other.

If you’re new to the topic—the new Google feature increases the placement of content from Google+, leaving out relevant results from other social sources. Previously, social search on Google included Facebook, Twitter and others, but the deals expired and were not fulfilled by Google.

Twitter has been very unhappy with the matter, and a series of statements have been released from both companies. Now there’s talk about anti-trust issues and an FTC investigation. Things will likely get ugly from here, unless Google folds under the pressure. http://bit.ly/Aze3o5

Welcome to Twitter, Mrs. Obama

A lot of people join Twitter each day—business as usual, but last Thursday, it had to put on a tie. First Lady Michelle Obama joined the ranks. Sort of. Campaign staff will primarily manage the account, unless the tweet is clearly signed “-mo.”

It’s no surprise Michelle joined when she did. As the campaign heats up for the Republicans, it’s almost time for The Obamas to kick it into high gear, and we all know campaign “high gear” means Twitter these days. http://cnet.co/zeYrHp

FACEBOOK

A Million [Users] Isn’t Cool

You know what’s cool? A billion [users]. OK, OK, I couldn’t resist. It was there for the taking! According to a Wednesday study by Gregory Lyon with iCrossing—a digital marketing firm, Facebook will likely hit a billion users by August 2012. A billion users—should we be surprised? Probably not.

The firm used a process of linear regression on data from the end of 2008 to present to base its projection. The study notes that growth has slowed dramatically in the United States and United Kingdom but is expected to now come from developing countries, like late adopters India and Brazil that have seen dramatic increases in the past year. http://bit.ly/zXyY7y

Listen With Friends

By now you’ve probably started seeing your friends’ current music selections pop up on your Facebook News Feed. It’s probably even gotten you to check out a new band or song too. In the olden days (pre-early 2000s), back when real-life socializing was the norm, you’d hop in a friend’s car and flip through his/her CD collection or take a peek at a friend’s home CD tower.

Now, Facebook is integrating that natural curiosity the modern way. On Thursday, the company added a “Listen With” button via the chat sidebar, so you can easily join a friend’s live playlist while chatting in real time. Sound familiar? That’s because Turntable.fm does a pretty similar thing. http://nyti.ms/zVivsY

GENERAL SOCIAL MEDIA

Signed, FPRockStar2012

Turns out, if the above, FPRockStar2012 (or any pseudonym for that matter), were my online name, I’d be a better commenter. According to a study by Disqus, commenters who use pseudonyms tend to offer better, more quality comments. On average, commenters using an alias contributed 4.7 times more often than commenters identified by Facebook, and 6.5 times more often than anonymous commenters.

While better commenters are more engaging to a news article or client blog post, there’s an important connection from knowing the person behind the opinion—whether positive or negative. Either way, comments should be taken seriously. Oftentimes in PR, we only pay attention to what editor X thinks of our new product or announcement and sometimes fall guilty to just counting the number of blog post comments our client gets, instead of addressing the sentiment.  Reader comments should be taken into great consideration. They are the people who care enough to comment and should likewise be acknowledged. http://bit.ly/zxS54J