Intern Insights: Are Your Photos Worth A Thousand Words?

In the digital world, visuals are essential to grab attention, convey messages, and make a lasting impression. In this blog post, I will walk you through the basic elements and techniques to take the best eye-catching photos. By utilizing these tricks, you’ll be able to consistently generate high-quality images for your future projects.

A picture is worth a thousand words

A well-crafted image portrays a message better than a one-thousand-word essay (with far less effort too!). It is important to create the best quality work when representing your brand. Is your photo relevant to the work it is connected to? Is it a dynamic photo that will catch your eye when scrolling through your social feed? An article with an attention-grabbing image is far more likely to generate engagement than a poorly chosen one.

Know your equipment

Knowing your equipment increases your capabilities as a photographer. Once you understand the basics, you can step out of your comfort zone and experiment with different settings to create some fun effects. Also, know how to upload your image to your computer without losing resolution. Regardless of how clear the picture is, it can become blurry if the process is handled incorrectly.

Master composition

Set yourself up to take a picture with a visually pleasing background that conveys the intended message and mood. Also, make sure you are successfully lining up your photo. One way to do this is by utilizing the grid. The grid is a helpful composition tool featured in many cameras and smartphone apps. Using this feature can help you to align your subject within your frame and maintain symmetry.

Fix your lighting

Understanding the different qualities of natural light versus artificial light is also important. Different types of lighting can impact the mood, color temperature, and overall aesthetic of your images. When taking photos outdoors, it is important to learn how to harness the natural light to your advantage and to avoid shadows and sun glare. When taking photos indoors, it is still ideal to take advantage of the natural lighting. Whether or not natural lighting is available, it is important to make your lighting look as natural as possible.

Combine these skills to take the perfect photo

Remember, a well-crafted image can make or break your project, leave a strong impression, and help grab attention. By harnessing these skills, you will be equipped with the knowledge to elevate your photography, helping you and your business increase engagement and polish your aesthetics.

 

Justin Picciuto

Public Relations Intern

SCG Advertising & PR

Misguided Victoria’s Secret Campaign Result of Inadequate Fan Research

Five years ago, Victoria’s Secret put on its last fashion show. This show was an iconic event each year where viewers would see their favorite models glide down the catwalk in angel wings, wigs, and accessories. The most popular artist at the time would perform, too. A line of models would parade in the brand’s lingerie for around 42 minutes. The tradition lasted for 20 years and was watched in more than 100 countries. It was beloved…until it wasn’t.

 

During a time of heightened awareness for women’s rights, starting with the MeToo movement in 2017, Victoria’s Secret began getting backlash. People started to call out the brand for being out of touch with real women, being the antithesis of what women were trying to accomplish. So Victoria’s Secret retired its wings and its show.

 

Now, VS has decided to rebrand. And that being the case, I’m sharing some insight from the perspective of a branding professional.

 

On September 26, Amazon Prime dropped the film The Tour ’23, which shows all the work the brand has done to change its image and be more inclusive to women around the world. This documentary is mainly about giving women a platform without gaining capital from it.

 

So what’s gotten everyone upset? The campaign choices. Victoria’s Secret has become extremely active on its Instagram, posting daily. One of the campaign themes dropped was “Icons,” featuring some of the most iconic ’90s and 2000s models. People responded well to the older models. Yet some of the new influencers and current models in the campaign were bashed for not being true icons or real supermodels. People also thought the new models looked unkempt and their garments were unflattering. Spectators claimed that they would have preferred the original campaign instead. Feedback from your audience is so important to take note of when running a digital campaign.

 

Overall, I think Victoria’s Secret had the right intentions, but there’s been far more backlash from the new campaign than the original one. The original show was very successful. The VS brand is popular, but it’s been stripped and remodeled, leaving people disappointed. The downfall of this Victoria’s Secret social media campaign was the company’s failure to listen to its massive following. Social media enables the brand to know what followers want, but it seems VS neglected the opinions of its audience. The campaign ultimately backfired, and fans were let down when they didn’t see the campaign they were familiar with. Fortunately for Victoria’s Secret, it’s been a household name for a long time, so it may still have time to repair the damage.

 

Madison Trumino

Account Coordinator

SCG Advertising & PR

Intern Insights: What is Threads?

Social media is constantly evolving. If you blink, you could find yourself behind on the latest app. Not every site will be a juggernaut like Facebook, but you don’t want to be late to the ones that end up succeeding. In this blog, we’ll discuss the new platform Threads, including its pros and cons.   

 

So, What’s Threads?

Threads is a companion app to Instagram that allows users to share text, photos, and videos. It is similar to Twitter in terms of the content and tone of its posts. In its first week, Threads reached more than 100 million users, which may be attributed to being owned by global media giant Meta, which currently has more than three billion daily users.  

 

Pros 

Threads runs smoothly compared to other platforms in the early-release stage. It uses the same design and structure as Instagram,  meaning major issues have been dealt with on Instagram before Threads was introduced. It is also easy to connect with your Instagram followers via Threads. You need to use your Instagram login to access Threads, so everyone you follow on Instagram will be shown to you upon signing up. Threads is also similar to Twitter, a smashing success for more than a decade, which is a positive indicator for its future.  

 

Cons 

Threads is Instagram’s companion app, meaning you need to have an Instagram account to sign up. This has proven to be problematic (At this point, in 2023, anyone who doesn’t have an Instagram most likely has no intention of changing that). Over the years, people have become so comfortable with Twitter that many wouldn’t leave it unless they were left with no other choice. A new platform means starting from scratch, and it takes months for an algorithm to be properly tailored to one’s interests. Lastly, Threads is currently only available on iOS and Android devices, which, despite making the milestone of 100 million users more impressive, isn’t a sustainable model for social media success.  

 

 In the rapidly evolving world of social media, Threads holds promise for individuals and businesses alike. Threads swiftly established itself as a potential powerhouse, and the best way to avoid being left behind in this fast-paced world is to pay attention to the newcomers.  

 

Justin Picciuto

Public Relations Intern

SCG Advertising & PR

Using Social Media for Recruitment: Is Your Next Hire One Meme Away?

Did you know?

  • 96% of employers use social media to hire talent
  • 86% of job seekers use social media to search and apply for jobs
  • 63% of job seekers look at social media for information about a company’s workplace diversity
  • 65% of job seekers read at least 5 reviews about an employer before applying
  • 75% of potential hires are not actively seeking jobs on job boards

Social Media Recruiting– an asset many companies know they should be using social media for, but are unsure where to begin. Some assume getting started would be as simple as creating a social media profile, but really, the first step should be determining your objectives and developing a strategy.

In order to use social media recruiting to effectively hire candidates and promote your employer brand, organizations need to develop a clearly defined strategy, build relevant and engaging content, and have the bandwidth to monitor interactions and track performance– all while ensuring an accurate and professional representation of your brand.

 

 

If you’re thinking about getting started, here are 10 tips to jumpstart your recruitment efforts on social.

  1. Tell your employer brand story

 

  1. Don’t say it, show it.

 

  1. Stay ahead of the curve

 

  1. Engage. Engage

 

  1. Be authentic

 

  1. Empower your team

 

  1. Plan ahead

 

  1. Understand your audience

 

  1. Get leadership buy-in

 

  1. Commit resources

 

 

Contact SCG today to learn more about how we help our clients use social media to reach job seekers and build a candidate pipeline.

What if you decide to abandon Twitter?

Tada Images – stock.adobe.com

One of the best-known of all social media platforms, Twitter, is in the process of dramatically altering itself. Some changes that have already been implemented – or are thought to be coming soon – are concerning both to individuals and organizations that have utilized Twitter for years. So, in the event you find yourself making a decision about shifting away from Twitter, here are several alternatives to consider.

TumblrIt began as a microblogging platform in 2007, and has a vast number of users. Tumblr’s fanbase may not be as passionate as those of other platforms, but the site offers a wide variety of options for posting and sharing text, images, video, audio, and links.

LinkedInMore sophisticated than many other social media platforms, LinkedIn’s emphasis is on helping users locate new clients and employees, and share details of professional successes. While it may be business-focused, it’s the online home for individuals in a broad range of endeavors.

Hive SocialOn the rise since 2019, Hive Social’s audience has grown by one million users since changes began at Twitter. The platform enables users to post content without length limitations and already offers an editing function. The key drawback with Hive Social is loading time and a few other technical irregularities.

Discord – Beginning as a communications app for sharing voice, video and text chat with friends, game communities, and developers, Discord has steadily expanded. It is currently popular for networking, particularly in the music, entertainment, and sports sectors, with emphasis on internal group chats.

MastodonIt’s a federation of independently operated interconnected servers, offers microblogging features akin to Twitter, but also features other functionality allowing for message that are 500-characters in length. Mastodon also offers extensive privacy features, plus the ability to hide spoilers and add trigger warnings.

Post – For now, there’s actually a waitlist for joining the platform. Post is intended to be “A Social Platform for Real People, Real News, and Civil Conversations,” and is geared toward journalists who want to share stories without being edited.

Or … do nothing – Sometimes, taking no action is the most appropriate action. If you have an audience on other platforms and all is going well, it may be fine to simply step away from Twitter without identifying a replacement.

For more information about the recent and upcoming Twitter changes, check out the following articles:

https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/25/elon-musk-says-twitters-new-multicoloured-verification-will-launch-next-week/

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-11-07/twitter-layoffs-media-verification

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/24/musk-twitter-suspension-policy-00070819

https://www.fastcompany.com/90804776/elon-musk-massive-changes-twitter-one-week

SCG Trendwatch: MarCom Industry News – January 2021

Trendwatch Marketing

Welcome to your monthly round-up for busy MarCom professionals. Each month, we share the latest news, strategies, tools and trends affecting the industry landscape. Check-in for the latest updates from all over the web.  

Super Bowl Viewers Support Social Justice Ads, Study Says

It’s too early to tell whether this month’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines will affect people’s plans to gather to watch the game, though 70% said they don’t plan to attend a Super Bowl party, according to Morning Consult’s Dec. 10-13 survey. Despite potential changes to watch parties and additional uncertainty around when the game will be held, it is likely that, as in the past, viewers will pay close attention to the ads. However, Morning Consult’s survey raises the question of whether Super Bowl LV ads will focus more on social issues in a reflection of how marketing evolved during 2020.  Read more…

One View Of The Future Of Events: Niche And Hybrid

We’re all still trying to work out virtual events, as well as looking forward to next year when the COVID vaccine might ultimately herald a return of in-person engagement, perhaps in tandem with virtual content. Everyone has an opinion, not least Ben Hindman, CEO at event marketing platform Splash.

Earlier this month, he raised some hackles on LinkedIn by predicting that COVID would break the addiction to massive events, and that the shift to “bite size” is underway. Splash followed up Hindman’s opinion piece with some supporting data in their report “Online, Shorter, and Here to Stay: An Outlook on Virtual and Hybrid Events in 2021.”  Read more…

How Marketers Can Get The Highest ROI Out Of Podcasts

The new at-home lifestyle brought about by the onset of COVID has driven a significant increase in the numbers of listeners and the numbers of programs in the podcasting and audio-streaming space, and where the channel was a secondary or tertiary option for most marketers, having a podcast strategy is now part of many marketing plans for 2021.

“Podcasting is still a vast, open space that brands are smart to jump into,” said Lindsay Tjepkema, CEO of Casted, a podcast-centered marketing platform. “When you consider there are about 1 million podcasts, but more than 600 million blogs, you can see how much opportunity still exists for brands to own their own space,” she continued. “And listenership continues to rise dramatically, even in the midst of a pandemic, as people are actively seeking connection. Podcasts that offer that ability to connect an audience with a brand like not other form of content can and, in doing so, build trust and loyalty.”   Read more…

Facebook Reportedly Developing Cameo Copy To Key Into Custom Celeb Video Boom

Super is still in internal testing, according to Bloomberg, and NPE’s mission is centered on smaller digital experiments that Facebook acknowledges aren’t always likely to take off. Still, moving to capitalize on a trend driven by apps like Cameo wouldn’t be surprising for the social network: If it gains traction, Super could provide a powerful way for the social media giant to leverage a livestreaming boom in tandem with a broad network of creators and celebrities who already use Facebook-owned apps like Instagram to stay in touch with fans.

Cameo has continued an upward trajectory during the pandemic, serving as a moneymaking tool for celebrities who have seen work slow with production challenges related to COVID-19 and the shuttering of entertainment venues. Read more…

Marketing The COVID Vaccine Faces Familiar Challenges

Not only is the COVID vaccination effort the biggest in U.S. history; the public education campaign launched by DHHS — effectively to market the vaccination — is also large-scale. The Department has budgeted $250 million against a background of widespread mistrust. Some one in four Americans are currently reluctant to take the shots.

It’s a situation familiar to marketers. There’s a vast audience out there, but it’s unlikely to be responsive to just one, singular message (or, for that matter, to a single spokesperson). To better understand the challenge facing this campaign, we spoke with the founder and CEO of DeepIntent, a former Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center data scientist, Chris Paquette.

It comes down to empathy. “The campaign is in the planning stages right now,” said Paquette, “and they’re launching wave one in January.”  Read more…

Technology Saving Retail Businesses From Going Under

The pandemic is changing the game for retail, and fast. Not only is the competition fiercer than ever before, but the coronavirus has been the cause of a dramatic decrease in in-store traffic, making it difficult for retailers to stand out from the crowd.

While the situation has forced some companies to shut down, many have realized that if they want to break through and maximize profits, they will need to adapt to more flexible business models with the adoption of new technologies. In order to remain competitive, online and offline experiences must “wow” the consumer. Having a great product is not sufficient to satisfy today’s buyer profile.

In order to master the art of selling in a COVID era, one must first focus on addressing the negative aspects of traditional shopping. Waiting in long queues to settle transactions and being immersed in large crowds are the most obvious customer pain points. Retailers need to understand that shopping experiences need to be quick and painless. Checkout processes must be safe and convenient. Extra effort should be put especially into converting a customer into a loyal one.  Read more…

social media afterlife

Social Media in the Afterlife?

social media afterlifeWhile we’re all adjusting to a new normal of remote work and virtual classrooms during the COVID pandemic, social media can be an important connection to family and friends. A Harris Poll conducted between late March and early May found that between 46% and 51% of US adults were using social media more since the outbreak began.

2020 has been a tough year for all of us, and not any easier with the untimely loss of friends and colleagues. Imagine my surprise when receiving status updates for the recently departed.  Thirty million Facebook users died in the first 8 years of its existence and statisticians tell us that the dead will soon outnumber the living on Facebook according to this article on loop.com.

This has become such a big issue that we now have the FADA (Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act) which was set in place to extend the traditional power of a fiduciary to manage tangible property to include management of digital assets. So far, 25 states have enacted some version of FADA.

We should all take basic steps to get our digital affairs in order:

  • Make sure you have computer passwords, phone passcodes, etc. safely stored and accessible to trusted family/friends.
  • Have online usernames and passwords in a secure location for a trusted contact/executor. At a minimum, make sure they are written down in a safe place but do consider a reputable password manager software. Consider Roboform, 1Password, Lastpass. Your unique situation can determine if a free solution works or you need something more robust in a paid subscription.
  • Establish a legacy contact on Facebook and other sites that allow it. A legacy contact can make decisions about memorializing your profile, how to respond to tributes, or to request removal of the profile.
  • Include a ‘digital estate plan’ with your will and power of attorney.

COVID also left 40 million Americans unemployed at least temporarily. As those job seekers look for new opportunities, many turn to LinkedIn for networking. This can be more difficult with many outdated profiles on LinkedIn. I’ve seen many examples of people who start fresh when leaving one employer. That may be because a profile was “hacked” or they didn’t want to be identified with a bad experience, or simple oversight. These dormant profiles may seem like no big deal, but I would worry about them being bait for hackers who know you aren’t paying attention. If you don’t want to update/maintain a profile from a previous employer, you can delete/deactivate. Here’s a link to instructions on how to do that, even if you don’t have access to the original email account or password. It’s a little dated but should help.

I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. It’s supposed to be quite eye-opening to concepts of technology addiction, social engineering, and surveillance capitalism. Yowza! If you’ve seen it, share some feedback. I will be watching in the next few days and look forward to the discussion.

Here are a few links if you’d like to research further:

https://beyond.life/help-centre/admin-legal/social-media-accounts-loved-one-dies/

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/get-your-digital-accounts-ready-in-case-of-death/

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-prepare-your-digital-life-for-your-death

 

 

tiktok

Can Microsoft save TikTok?

tiktokTikTok is relatively new to the social media landscape. And it could be gone next month.

The US government recently gave the Chinese internet company ByteDance 45 days to sell TikTok or the app will be banned in the United States. Microsoft is negotiating to purchase the app, but serious competitors are moving in to steal its audience.

TikTok has been under scrutiny in the U.S. and around the world for months now over concerns that the Chinese government can access its user data.

India banned TikTok at the end of June, citing data security concerns. This was a massive blow, as India’s 200 million users were the company’s largest market outside of China. The app was banned on many U.S. government smartphones in 2019, and in early July, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. was considering banning the app.

In late July, President Trump’s reelection campaign started running ads against TikTok on Instagram and Facebook. The ads state, “TikTok is spying on you,” and “WARNING: China is spying on you.” They lead viewers to a petition to ban the platform in the United States.

However, TikTok reportedly has more than 100 million U.S. users. Banning the app might result in anger toward the administration ahead of the presidential election. Allowing a company like Microsoft to purchase the app might be a win-win for the administration and for TikTok.

Such an acquisition would make Microsoft a major competitor in the social media market. Microsoft already owns LinkedIn and Xbox, but does not have a service that can compete with Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter.

TikTok also recently launched TikTok for Business to increase the app’s appeal to advertisers. And if Microsoft successfully purchases the app, it could secure TikTok as a key platform for advertisers to reach young people.

Though Microsoft might keep the app in the United States, scores of TikTok creators and users have already left the app and found alternatives.

One rival, Triller, recently passed TikTok and Snapchat in the app stores. TikTok stars with tens of millions of followers have migrated to Triller. Many celebrities such as Cardi B, Chance the Rapper, and Eminem have used the app to spread their music.  Triller has also raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors. The company plans to use these funds to boost its marketing, improve its platform, and entice TikTok influencers to join the app.

Meanwhile, Byte, a new app by one of the creators of Vine, has seen a surge in downloads. On July 9, Byte passed TikTok in the Apple App Store, with 622,000 installations.  The app’s audience is mostly Millennials and members of Gen Z who are fans of Vine, but it is also gaining users at TikTok’s expense. Dom Hofmann, Byte’s creator and one of the founders of Vine, aims to avoid the pitfalls that led to Vine’s demise in 2016. This includes ensuring that revenue is shared with content creators on the app.  Byte lacks many of the features of TikTok, although the company has announced new updates which will give its users more options.

Both Byte and Triller’s downloads spiked at the end of July but their audiences are still far smaller than TikTok’s 800 million users. However, there is a TikTok competitor that already has a large audience: Facebook.

Facebook plans to compete in this arena with its new Instagram Reels. Unlike Byte, which emulates Vine, Instagram Reels will be more like a copy of TikTok.

Facebook plans to release Reels in the U.S. in early August. The company has already tested the feature in India, France, and Germany. On July 20, The Economic Times reported that Facebook signed a licensing agreement with the Indian Performing Rights Society. This will give Facebook and Instagram users access to music they can incorporate into videos they create on the platforms.

If Reels takes any substantial share of TikTok’s market, it will strengthen Facebook’s dominance over social media’s largest and most diverse audiences. For marketers, this would be another reason to invest in social media and digital advertising on Facebook’s platforms.

It’s still uncertain whether Facebook, Byte, or Triller will successfully topple TikTok, especially if Microsoft successfully acquires it. Marketers and advertisers should follow these companies to ensure they effectively reach young audiences.

 

James Neidhardt is currently a member of the SCG’s Amplify Team.

 

snapr pic

Check Out These Cool Networking Tools

Shapr app
Shapr Interface

Many traditional business practices over the past few decades have evolved into having some sort of digital or mobile alternative. Technology is continuously creating new ways to do just about everything, including networking. What used to consist of simply shaking hands and in-person conversation has also hit the digital world with the emergence of social sites such as LinkedIn and some cool networking tools.

 

Although they can provide a way to foster a professional connection that would be otherwise difficult to attain, the way people use social platforms in general can take away the true intention which is to develop a personal relationship that is mutually beneficial.  If you are trying to connect with someone for a specific reason, they may accept your request, but they could have also accepted any number of people that day and now you’re just another connection they may or may not interact with.

 

The good news is, there are many tools out there in addition to LinkedIn that can be used for meeting people and networking, and they take a different approach compared to traditional social and networking platforms. They aim to create an experience that encourages people to go beyond the platforms to actually meet with people for lunch, coffee or at an event to form a genuine professional relationship.

 

Some of them are specific to certain kinds of meetings or interactions like Extendee and Let’s Lunch, while others, like Shapr, are a tool simply for networking with people in the area.  One of the more specific-use platforms, Extendee, is used to meet people that are attending the same conferences, festivals, marathons or any other type of event. You can then begin a conversation with like-minded people before even getting to the event, or even share a ride from the airport to the venue. The most important element that the Extendee boasts is maximizing ROI. When you have invested time and money into traveling to and attending an event, you want to get the most out of it, and Extendee helps you do that.

 

Another one is called Let’s Lunch, which has a mission to empower people to get more out of their lunch time in a unique way. Let’s Lunch connects you to companies that you could go have lunch with and experience the company culture and even discover job opportunities. Forbes said, “while there are a lot of incredible tools and resources that make it easier to network with people from all over the world, there’s still nothing quite like Let’s Lunch.”

 

The platform that I have interacted with the most is the Shapr app. The easiest way to describe it is to say it is similar to Tinder or Bumble, but for professional networking. It has a very similar interface and you swipe left for “no” and right for “yes” on the people you come across.  The app shows you approximately 15 people per day based on your location, but there is more to it. You can log in using LinkedIn, and the algorithm also uses your professional experience and tagged interests. So, if you are interested in entrepreneurship, technology and marketing, you can make that a part of your profile and Shapr shows you people that are also interested in those topics.

 

According to the app’s founder, Ludovic Huraux, the limit of 15 is important to the central idea of Shapr which is to “make networking a habit.” The limit forces people to come back daily and people don’t have the ability to swipe through tons of people every day, which would diminish the impact and effect of the app.

 

In the Shapr app, you swipe anonymously and get notified when both people swipe yes, and then a conversation can be started. Unlike some other platforms, it is less focused on sales or jobs and instead intended to cultivate relationships and get people to meet up offline.  The app has been used by all sorts of people, from company executives to entrepreneurs, recruiters, and students looking for some guidance or mentorship.  Shapr is great for finding people and simply starting a conversation.  If you are not looking for a specific type of meeting or for people going to a certain event, you might use Extendee or Let’s Lunch instead.

 

I stumbled upon Shapr from a social media post and thought it sounded very interesting so I downloaded it right away. I began using it and swiping through people without much of an expectation. I was interested in talking to people working in the marketing field who could offer some career advice. I was able to speak with people in the industry who were more than willing to provide some insight on their own career path.  That is why the Shapr app is an excellent tool for more personal (but still professional) networking. Instead of a pool of thousands at your fingertips, Shapr shows you a limited amount everyday based on what your profile says you are interested in.

 

These tools put a spin on networking on bigger platforms which gives you a pool of thousands at your fingertips. They are more focused, and most users are looking for some insight just as much as they are willing to share knowledge and guidance, which is what makes them powerful.  Most users are looking for help just as much as they are willing to share knowledge and guidance, which is what makes these tools so great.

 

Facebook security

Is it time to quit Facebook? Both users and brands are wondering.

Facebook security

Privacy has always been a concern for users on social media and across the internet, but these issues have come into the spotlight amidst recent reports of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. And both users and brands are wondering is it finally time to dump Facebook. Across Twitter, #DeleteFacebook began trending. Celebrities made announcements that they were leaving Facebook. Several big name brands including Mozilla and Sonos temporarily suspended their Facebook advertising.

 

But what does this really mean for marketers? Should you pull back on your Facebook ad spending right now? Here are four reasons why companies should not be afraid to continue business as usual on Facebook.

 

1. Only a small number of people are leaving Facebook.

There are still over two billion users on the world’s largest social media platform, whose daily lives are entwined with Facebook. Although people are concerned, most are taking steps to be more cautious about data being shared rather than outright deleting their accounts.

 

Few companies are making changes to their ad spending as a result of the news, at least for now. According to Pathmatics, digital intelligence platform, of the top 1,000 ad spends on Facebook, only seven pulled ad spending following the Cambridge Analytica reports.

 

2. Facebook has been through issues before – and survived.

Facebook has already begun to make changes, including removing 3rd party data providers from its ad targeting, pausing all messenger bots and developing a new certification tool for marketers to guarantee email addresses used for ad targeting. Right now, Facebook’s priority will be to actively pursue solutions to earn back the trust of consumers.

 

Last year when Google-owned YouTube came under fire for showing brand ads next to hate speech and offensive content, brands boycotted YouTube but returned after a few months because of their quick response to remedy the situation. YouTube did not suffer any losses in earnings or growth.

 

3. Facebook advertising works.

The effectiveness of Facebook advertising has always been due to its hyper-targeting abilities. As the demand for transparency increases and access to data is limited, marketers may have to get more creative with targeting and begin to rethink their digital strategies, but as long as Facebook ads continue to deliver results, brands will continue to use it.

 

4. It could have happened to anyone.

This is the time we live in and privacy has been the tradeoff for the benefits of technology. And while the target is on Facebook right now, this is an overall consumer privacy issue across all digital media that needs to be addressed.

 

At the end of the day, leaving Facebook is a personal decision. As an ad agency, our job is to stay educated on the matter, monitor the situation closely for further fallout and help our clients determine the best strategy moving forward. And for brands, unless enough users leave or if the targeting regulations hurt performance, there is no reason to panic.

 

Regarding your personal account, learn ways to protect your data here.

 

Read more here:

http://adage.com/article/digital/marketers-wrangle-cambridge-analytica-fallout/312932/

https://marketingland.com/advertisers-didnt-leave-youtube-and-they-wont-leave-facebook-237063

https://www.impactbnd.com/blog/should-you-delete-your-facebook-account