Thursday 27 June 2019
Tuesday 25 June 2019
Google’s staff banned from protesting YouTube under the company’s banner
Google has warned its employees that those who plan to ride the company’s sponsored float will not be allowed to protest against YouTube’s LGBTQ+ policy decisions. The tech giant points out it would be in violation of the company’s code of conduct. However, employees are allowed to peacefully protest YouTube or Google in other parts of the Pride parade, just not in their capacity as employees. Google’s employees are not happy with this response. Today, @Google told employees that while marching in the Google contingent in the @SFPride parade any protest against @YouTube‘s current policies,interpretation of policies,and so forth would be…
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Patients’ social media use can threaten the reliability of clinical trials
Testing new pharmaceutical treatments is a complicated process. Very often, participants have preferences or hopes, either about what the test should measure or about what the outcome should be. Patients often enrol in the trial seeking access to experimental drugs while physicians usually have guesses about which treatment will work better. The sponsor will only recover millions of investment in the drug development if the trial is successful. Making sure that all these preferences do not shape the outcome of the test is crucial for its credibility. For that reason, treatments are often masked –“blinded” – so that neither physicians…
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Here’s how to delete or deactivate your Facebook account
Welcome to TNW Basics, a collection of tips, guides, and advice on how to easily get the most out of your gadgets, apps, and other stuff. Social platforms like Facebook walk a fine line between being handy and consuming your whole life. Whether your screen time notification says you’ve spent a horrendous amount of time on your phone today, or you just don’t feel the need to share every inch of your life on a news feed anymore — it might be time to finally pull the plug on your online life and delete your account temporarily… or forever. Although…
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Monday 24 June 2019
You can’t offer to murder cops on Reddit unless you’re on r/TheDonald
Reddit has a very specific policy prohibiting people from threatening bodily harm or attempting to incite violence. It uses this policy as the basis for banning individual accounts, discussion threads, and whole subreddits. Basically if you cross the line, you’re gone. Unless you’re a member of the r/TheDonald subreddit, in which case the rules don’t apply to you. The past 24 hours has seen a surge in posts on r/TheDonald calling for citizen violence over the current political kerfuffle in Oregon – yet there’s no evidence that Reddit is doing anything about it. In essence, the Democrat-led assembly in Oregon…
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Sprout Social named to Crain’s Fast 50 list for a third year
Sprout Social is proud to be included on the 2019 Crain’s Fast 50 list, which recognizes the fastest-growing businesses in Chicago who are at least six years old and have achieved at least $15 million in 2018 revenue. This is the third year Sprout Social has been included on the list and we are honored to be recognized alongside the region’s best and most innovative companies.
“Our sustained growth is a testament to the hard work and passion our team puts in every day, and the emphasis we’ve placed on our customers and our people,” said Justyn Howard, CEO of Sprout Social. “We’re grateful to have our efforts recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business for a third year and look forward to continuing to provide world-class solutions and service to our 20,000+ customers around the globe.”
From opening our EMEA headquarters in Dublin to reaching almost 600 employees worldwide to ongoing partnerships with brands of all sizes across the globe, Sprout’s footprint continues to expand. We are looking forward to another year of impactful growth following Sprout’s latest round of funding in December 2018, which will accelerate plans for deepened platform capabilities and increased international expansion.
Thank you to our team for being relentless about solving hard problems, and to our customers who not only believe in our product, but who play a pivotal role in making our continued growth possible.
Want to join Team Sprout? We’re hiring.
This post Sprout Social named to Crain’s Fast 50 list for a third year originally appeared on Sprout Social.
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Saturday 22 June 2019
Friday 21 June 2019
Thursday 20 June 2019
Wednesday 19 June 2019
Sprout Social’s Justyn Howard named a Glassdoor Top CEO for a third consecutive year
I’m pleased to announce that Sprout Social founder and CEO, Justyn Howard, has been recognized as a Glassdoor Top CEO for U.S. companies with 1,000 employees or less in 2019. This is the third year in a row that Justyn has been placed on the list and is a reflection of the supportive culture we’ve been able to establish and maintain at Sprout. Recognition from Glassdoor is entirely based on reviews from Sprout employees who share their thoughts about job and company satisfaction, senior leadership and company culture.
Justyn is a strong leader for many reasons, but what he’s most known for internally is his contagious empathy. His ability to put himself in the shoes of our customers and our team informs every decision he makes. Keeping both of these perspectives in mind allows him to drive the business forward while simultaneously providing ample opportunity for personal and professional growth for our team members.
“We have two primary objectives at Sprout: to help our people and our customers thrive,” said Howard. “These two objectives reinforce each other and are critical to the success of our business. I’m honored to work with a team that is so committed to our people and to be recognized by Glassdoor for the work we do.”
Over the past year, we’ve scaled our team to almost 600 employees, expanded our international footprint within the EMEA region and have earned the trust of over 20,000 customers. Amidst this rapid growth, Justyn has maintained a 99.9% CEO approval rating and an overall company rating of 4.8. His direction is the glue that holds our team together and has allowed us to embrace every change along the way.
So, what does #TeamSprout have to say about our CEO?
“He treats every person at the company, regardless of position, like they really matter and his gratitude, vision, and passion is infectious.” – Account Executive
“Our CEO, Justyn, is extremely passionate about caring deeply for our employees and customers, which makes a positive impact on how everyone carries themselves.” – Product Marketer
“I’ve worked at various organizations over the past decade, but the executive leadership at Sprout is unmatched. They have the ability to inspire not just through their words, but the way they live their lives and manage their teams.” – Anonymous Employee
We are grateful to our team members who have shared their experience of what it’s like to work at Sprout on Glassdoor, and for a leader who prioritizes the growth, development and wellbeing of our team.
Want to join Team Sprout? We’re hiring.
This post Sprout Social’s Justyn Howard named a Glassdoor Top CEO for a third consecutive year originally appeared on Sprout Social.
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Tuesday 18 June 2019
Monday 17 June 2019
Friday 14 June 2019
‘YouTube recommendations are toxic,’ says dev who worked on the algorithm
Where else could you go for you daily dose of how-tos, like this oneabout draining washing machines, or 15-minute compilations of cats vomiting? This is what YouTube was made for, and it’s beautiful. At the same time, as YouTube has become the place for videos on the web, it’s led to a raft of new problems. Content moderation is a constant struggle and YouTube can do better, but there will likely always be some amount of offensive videos that people can seek out. However, the real issue is the videos we don’t seek out: YouTube’s recommendations. Recommendations are a waste of…
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Wednesday 12 June 2019
Facebook, Twitter and major social media sites blocked amid Liberian anti-corruption protest
Telecommunications companies and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Liberia have restricted Internet access in the country by blocking Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat amid anti-corruption protests by citizens. The move seems to be an instruction from Liberian authorities in a bid to try and suppress the “Save The State” protests mainly taking place in the capital, Monrovia. Based on a report by Netblocks, the restrictions came in effect on 7 June 2019. “Concerned about the rapid decline of Liberia’s image, diminishing global and geopolitical standing as well as its deteriorating business and investment climate; Determined to help avert the…
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Tuesday 11 June 2019
People with disabilities are finding empowerment from Instagram communities
When I search for “bipolar mother” on Google Images, I find a lot of women with their heads in their hands, their crying children in the corner. These images actually understate the broader stigma of being a bipolar mother — the stories that I hear daily about interactions between mothers and their families are disheartening. As a bipolar pregnant woman, I was terrified that my first psychiatrist was right when he told me I should never allow myself to get pregnant; he said I might kill my baby. When empathy and understanding are not part of our daily life, we suffer. But social…
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Wednesday 5 June 2019
10 Pinterest statistics marketers must know in 2019
Pinterest was the fastest standalone site in history to reach 10 million unique users in 2012.
Since then, the platform has maintained and grown the highly engaged audience that helped it reach that initial milestone. Pinterest users are also doubly likely to say their time on the platform was well-spent.
Pinterest usership remains strong as its audiences frequently turn to the platform for social activities that require more attention and focus, such as learning things through how-to posts or planning out boards for visual inspiration.
With more than 175 billion Pins to browse through, there are opportunities for every type of brand on Pinterest.
So, how useful can the platform be for your marketing campaigns?
Let’s check the Pinterest stats to find out.
1. Pinterest has 291 million monthly active users
As of the first quarter of 2019, Pinterest reported 291 million monthly active users worldwide. Over one third of Pinterest’s current monthly active users are from the U.S., so there’s room for international audiences as well. According to Pinterest statistics from the brand in 2018, about 80% of new sign ups came from outside the U.S.
On top of that, the channel has an awareness reach of 72% as of February 2019.
So, what does this mean for your brand? Simply put, Pinterest has potential for both local and global companies alike. With a little help from a tool like Sprout Social, you may even find out exactly where your audience comes from and tailor your content accordingly.
2. Women on Pinterest power buying decisions
As of 2019, 79.5% of Pinterest users are female, according to Statista. The male audience share has also increased over time from 14% in 2013 to 20.5% in 2019.
Considering the power of Pinterest as a platform for showcasing products, these demographics are significant. Women ages 25 to 54 make 80% of the buying decisions in U.S. households.
According to Pinterest, these “deciders” on the platform see Pinterest as a valuable part of their purchasing journey. On Pinterest, users plan ideas, visualize their future and strategize about their goals.
- 83% of women on Pinterest use it to plan life moments, compared to 44% for Instagram and 53% for Facebook
- 43% plan on getting their ideal home within the next five years
- 1 in 2 plan on taking a vacation in the next 6 months
Moreover, these Pinterest shoppers invest in what they’re passionate about.
- 52% use their platform to develop their knowledge of great food and drinks.
- 70% use Pinterest to find accessories, watches and jewelry.
- Additionally, another 52% of Pinterest users spent $500 or more on beauty products for over six months.
Simply put, if your company has a visual marketing strategy, Pinterest could be the place to let it shine as audiences turn to the platform for ideas on where to spend.
3. 50% of millennials use Pinterest every month
One out of every two millennials use Pinterest every month. Social-savvy millennials are used to planning their future and looking for new ideas on the platform, and they’re increasingly likely to buy the things they Pin. Forty-seven percent of millennials on Pinterest purchase something they interact with.
Fortunately for your strategy, most Pinterest users are all but passive consumers of content – more than 75% of saved Pins come from businesses. Combined with millennials’ tendency to research products on social before buying, brands have a strong opportunity to connect with their most interested and engaged audiences on the platform.
4. 27% of marketers are already using Pinterest
Data published in January last year found that 27% of global marketers are already using Pinterest for promotion.
For brands, educational content is particularly useful on Pinterest. People love shopping around for new ideas when there’s plenty of tips and insights to go alongside them. This channel is an excellent place for wedding brands, niche companies and more to show off what makes them unique.
Audiences are just as interested in discovery through Pins as well – 51% of women Pinterest users have found new brands just by browsing Pinterest.
5. Pinterest users actively research purchases
Pinterest isn’t a platform that only rewards great photos. Many users are are actively looking for information and inspiration.
Ninety percent of weekly users turn to Pinterest to help them make their purchasing decisions – either immediately, or when planning for later purchases. Additionally, 55% of Pinners log onto the site specifically to find products. These factors help make Pinterest nearly four times more effective at generating sales than other digital campaigns.
Even when your customers are walking around stores in-person, they’re still looking for help on Pinterest. Sixty-seven percent of users say they use their smartphone app when shopping in brick and mortar stores.
6. 78% of users say content from brands is useful
On most social media channels, it’s crucial to find the balance between promotional and engaging content. The good news is that since Pinterest is so focused on ideas and themes, you’re competing less with posts from your audience’s friends and family. More often than not, your followers are looking for your content.
The key to making the most out of this brand-loving audience is to figure out how to use Pinterest effectively. For instance, Pinterest Promoted pins often make up a valuable part of a user’s feed. Half of Pinterest users say they buy something after seeing a promoted Pin, and 78% say content from brands is useful.
Start by making sure that you’re creating content that’s relevant to your target audience. It’s also helpful to use Pinterest analytics or a tool like Sprout Social to determine exactly what your audiences are responding to.
7. 80% of Pinterest users access the channel via mobile
Like much of today’s online activity, there’s a growing demand for mobile access on Pinterest. Users prefer reaching the platform via their smartphones, specifically 80% of Pinterest users are using it on their phones.
For brands, this means that it’s essential to understand the needs of your users when creating content. Keep your material clear and easy to read on smaller screens. Remember to stick with high-quality images and the correct specs for the platform to make your pins stand out. With the right approach to Pinterest content, you can get your audience to stop scrolling and explore your brand’s content in depth.
8. The average time spent on Pinterest is 14.2 minutes
Pinterest statistics suggest that the amount of time you have to capture your customer’s attention is growing. The 14.2 minutes spent on Pinterest per session is a significant opportunity to earn your audience’s interest.
To make the most of the time that your audience is spending on Pinterest, make sure that your content is as engaging as possible. If you convince your customer to Pin what you’re sharing, then they’ll come back to it time and time again. They may even share your information with more users too.
Fitness company Gymshark used Pinterest to drive engagement with more than 1.8 million followers. The brand was able to adjust their tone of voice correctly to speak to their target audience and deliver the right message in a shorter amount of time.
9. By 2020, Pinterest ad revenue is projected to surpass $1 billion
The overall value of Pinterest is dramatically increasing, so if there were ever a great time to get involved with Pinterest, now would be it.
The reach of the platform has made it especially appealing to advertisers, as you’ve read with previous Pinterest stats covered here just how engaged users are and how much of an essential discovery tool it remains for planning and purchasing alike.
10. Travelers are 2x more likely to use Pinterest
When considering your Pinterest content strategy, consider reading up on the various trends compiled and shared by the platform itself. For example, in 2018, Pinterest found that travelers are two times more likely to use Pinterest over standard online travel sites.
Among the specific types of searches it found to be up year over year were the likes of “abandoned castles,” “less traveled islands” and “small town travel” among many others.
Outside of the travel space, Pinterest also broke down top trends for 2019 in health and wellness, hobbies and interests, momentous moments, food, home, men’s and women’s style, beauty and kids and parenting, giving brands from various industries a great starting point for the year ahead.
Time to get Pinning
This year’s Pinterest stats show that the users of the platform are dedicated shoppers, with a desire to dig into social content.
With tools like Sprout Social, companies can create highly engaging visual content that puts their brand in front of some of the most motivated shoppers.
Are you active on Pinterest yet? Let us know about your strategy in the comments below!
This post 10 Pinterest statistics marketers must know in 2019 originally appeared on Sprout Social.
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Monday 3 June 2019
The #1 Tip for Writing Mobile-Friendly Emails
Your smartphone lets you stay in touch with friends, access nearly any information on the internet (why are hamburgers called hamburgers when they’re made of beef, not pork?), get directions, play games, maintain your calendar . . .
And check email.
Depending on your audience, as much as 77% of your subscribers may open your emails on their mobile devices — which means they’re staring at your content on a screen slightly larger than a credit card.
That's why you should always break up your email copy into shorter, easier-to-read chunks.
Related: How Long Should Your Subject Line Be?
Long blocks of text are difficult to read on a smartphone. They force the reader to scroll and scroll and scroll, which is a horrible user experience for your subscribers. Plus, long paragraphs make it easier for your subscribers to lose their place since mobile readers are often distracted readers.
So how short should your paragraphs be? My recommendation: 2 to 3 sentences max.
Breaking up paragraphs will feel unnatural at first, but your subscribers will thank you. It'll make it easier for your audience to scan your emails and it'll drive them forward from one sentence to the next.
The result: They’ll be more likely to read your content and click on your call to action. And that's good for business.
Related: 8 Powerful Copywriting Techniques to Use in Your Next Email
How to make your email copy more mobile-friendly
Below are 5 more simple ways to make your emails more consumable on a phone — and you can do them all inside AWeber's easy-to-use drag-and-drop email builder:
- Separate sections with headlines
- Add bullet points when listing multiple items or tips
- Include a button instead of hyperlinked text for your call to action (CTA)
- Use any of the hundreds of mobile-optimized templates inside AWeber
- Be concise (skip the run-on sentences, wordiness, jargon, buzzwords, and overly-difficult terms)
Try AWeber risk-free for 30 days so you can experience how simple it is to connect with your audience and accelerate the growth of your business.
The post The #1 Tip for Writing Mobile-Friendly Emails appeared first on Email Marketing Tips.
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