Daily Minute Master Series – November 13, 2019

Social Media

Facebook Rolls Out Facebook Pay to the US, Expanding On-Platform Payments

Facebook has announced the roll-out of Facebook Pay to US users, which will facilitate on-platform payments, in-stream, making it easier for people to buy products on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Initially, Facebook Pay will be available as a payment option for fundraisers, in-game purchases, event tickets, person-to-person payments, purchases from select Pages using Facebook Checkout and businesses on Facebook Marketplace. Facebook says that it hopes to expand Facebook Pay to more people and places, including use across Instagram and WhatsApp, over time. Even without Libra, Facebook is able to move ahead with its payment tools, and that could open up a whole new world of opportunities for businesses. Instagram, for example, launched Instagram Checkout with selected partners earlier in the year. Facebook is taking extra care to ensure that people are aware of the safety measures it has in place, while it’s also moving to distance Facebook Pay from the Libra project. 

For the full article click here

Instagram Goes After TikTok with New ‘Reels’ Mode

Instagram has launched a new feature which aims to replicate the key functionality of rising app TikTok. But rather than taking on parent-company Facebook’s usual tactic of launching a separate app, Instagram is adding its new ‘Reels’ feature as an element within Instagram Stories, using the app’s scale to try and beat TikTok at its own game – and blunt its potential to take away younger users. Reels will enable users to create short videos which can be shared and remixed – just like TikTok. Those videos can include music, utilizing Facebook’s expanding music library, while Reels also includes a range of creative editing options, like variable playback speed and ‘ghosting’ which enables users to create more seamless scene transitions. The new mode, which will initially only be available to users in Brazil, will be available within the Stories Camera.

For the full article click here

Facebook Expands its ‘Breaking News’ Tags to More Regions

Facebook has this week announced that it’s going to give more publishers in even more regions access to its ‘Breaking News’ post tags.  Facebook says that its breaking news tags will now be made available to selected publishers in Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. Facebook will also give more publishers in regions where the tags are already available access to the tool. The expansion of Facebook’s Breaking News labeling may also link into the roll-out of Facebook’s dedicated News tab, which is now being tested among selected users in the US. 

For the full article click here 

Marketing

Google Adds Local Ad Options Ahead of the Holidays, Including Google Maps Listings

Google is rolling out three new local ad tools to help businesses reach consumers within their vicinity. First off, Google is adding a new way to showcase your store locations in Google Maps with business icons and markers highlighted when people conduct a local search. In addition to this, Google is also adding new catalog-like listings to Display Network ads. The option expands your opportunity to connect with audiences through Google’s Display Network, showcasing more of your products with a mini-website like feed, in-stream. And lastly, Google’s adding more options to list your local store pick-up options within Local Inventory Ads. Local Inventory Ads highlight your product and store information to nearby shoppers via search – you can read more about the option here.

For the full article click here