Facebook Bets $1 Billion on Mobile App Instagram

Facebook's anticipated post-IPO buying frenzy has begun before the social network has even gone public.

By Ryan Willumson • April 9, 2012

Can Brands Market on Facebook Without Actually Spending Money on Advertising?

While estimates diverge on how much brands are spending on Facebook ads vs. "resources," the consensus is that ads will see a growing share.

By Ryan Willumson • April 8, 2012

Explore the Trendline➔

Retail Marketing

Top stories that underscore the leading influences on retail marketing, including Gen Z, pop culture and generative AI.

By Marketing Dive staff

Video is Lifeblood of Li-Ning's 'New China' Sneaker Launch

Video-centric Beijing brand sells online only.

By Ryan Willumson • April 6, 2012

Pinterest Could Be Key for Retailers, Study Says

Experian also reports Facebook ads are getting 50 percent conversion rate for retail brands.

By Ryan Willumson • April 6, 2012

Email Is Still the Best Way to Share Content Among Consumers and Businesses

Social media tools such as Pinterest and Facebook may be all the rage, but email remains the top social network and is also the bedrock of B2B interactions.

By Ryan Willumson • April 6, 2012

How Ford Engages Customers With Social Media

Scott Monty, head of social media at Ford, talks with Social Media Examiner about strategies employed by the automobile manufacturer. 

By Ryan Willumson • April 6, 2012

The smart publisher's survival guide

Article touches on focus, content, social, mobile and more.

By Ryan Willumson • April 5, 2012

Google Loses Search PR Director Gabriel Stricker To Twitter

Gabriel Stricker is still listed on Google as Director of Communications, Search. However he’s now VP of Communications for Twitter. He follows Karen Wickre, Google’s former Senior Media Liaison, who joined Twitter about seven months ago. 

By Ryan Willumson • April 5, 2012

26 Elements of a Gamification Marketing Strategy

Gartner, Inc. predicts that more than 70% of Global 2000 organizations will have at least one gamified application by 2014.

By Ryan Willumson • April 5, 2012

Carnegie Mellon Study: Advertising Icons Cause Confusion

The majority of participants mistakenly believed that ads would pop up if they clicked on disclosure icons and taglines.

By Ryan Willumson • April 4, 2012

Looking Back At Larry Page's First Year At Google's Helm

Two articles appeared today that reflect on the first year of Larry Page’s return to the CEO role at Google. Bloomberg’s Brad Stone does a Q&A with Page in which he discusses the larger competitive challenges Google faces and some of his management philosophy. The other piece i...

By Ryan Willumson • April 4, 2012

2012 Social Media Marketing Industry Report

The report from Social Media Examiner is free for download until April 19.

By Ryan Willumson • April 3, 2012

How to Track Social Media Traffic With Google Analytics

You have a website and you are building traffic to it, but what do you know about your visitors?

By Ryan Willumson • April 2, 2012

The Single Most Important Way to Get More Out of the New Facebook

You’ve probably read your share of tutorials talking about the new Facebook Timeline changes and how to get the most from them. I’ve even added my own thoughts on the subject, but here’s the deal, not much has really changed. Yes there are what amounts to cosmetic changes...

By Ryan Willumson • April 2, 2012

How Serious Is Facebook About Search?

An article in BusinessWeek suggests that Facebook is planning a deeper push into search. Will that be limited to improving search for the site — or will it be something more comprehensive? It’s clear that Facebook needs better internal search. Right now the search function...

By Ryan Willumson • March 30, 2012

Traffic Estimates Return To Google Maps

About a year ago, Google dropped traffic estimates from Google Maps driving directions and now they are back in the form of “current traffic conditions.” To see the traffic conditions, go to Google Maps and type directions from point A to point B. Google will show...

By Ryan Willumson • March 29, 2012

HootSuite Gets $20M from Canadian Pension Fund

Deal cements the company's position as a winner in the third-party-Twitter client space.

By Ryan Willumson • March 29, 2012

How to Automate Your Social Activities

Are you looking to simplify management of your social activities? If so, then Ifttt is for you.

By Ryan Willumson • March 29, 2012

Facebook Speaks Out Against Employers Asking for Passwords

Trend of employers asking for facebook passwords shows an incredible lack of trust, and Facebook's chief privacy officer speaks out.

By Ryan Willumson • March 28, 2012

Why Facebook is Hiring Ad Agency Creatives

Just in case you were wondering, Facebook is not trying to build an ad agency, despite a recent hiring of some of the industry's creatives.

By Ryan Willumson • March 27, 2012

Using Pinterest to Engage Users and Boost SEO

Pinterest has amazing potential to boost SEO, and grow an online tech startup brand, and online marketers will want to make use of it for link building.

By Ryan Willumson • March 27, 2012

Mascots Are Brands' Best Social-Media Accessories

Charlie the Tuna earned a new catchphrase. Spam spawned Sir Can-A-Lot. M&M's Ms. Brown runs her own Pandora channel. And Captain Morgan made his TV debut. Brand mascots are rebounding as marketers redeploy old characters in new ways, create fresh ones from scratch and use digital m...

By Ryan Willumson • March 26, 2012

"Nobody's going to be fired for spending on Facebook."

Ad Age takes a look at where all the first quarter ad dollars have gone.

By Ryan Willumson • March 26, 2012

5 Tips for Moving Social Media Leads Into the Sales Funnel

Brands have significantly grown their audiences via social media channels, but what next?

By Ryan Willumson • March 26, 2012

Google Says Panda 3.4 Is 'Rolling Out Now'

Only ~1.6% of queries noticeably affected. 

By Ryan Willumson • March 23, 2012