Facebook app that blackmails you to be more productive

/

Aherk! threatens to publish embarrassing photos to users’ Facebook profiles, in order to encourage them to complete tasks within a deadline.

alttext

This app is simple:

  • The user defines a goal 
  • The user uploads a compromising picture 
  • The users friends decides if the user reached the timebound goal - if not, the picture get's posted

I'm a big fan of social pressure to achieve goals. My biggest concern here, wouldn't friends indicate that the user did not achieve their goal...even if the user did...just to embarrass their friends. That's what friends do.

What do you think?

Consumer Trust In Traditional Media Ads Fall, While Confidence In Mobile, Social And Online Rise (Via @nielsen)

/

People don't trust mobile display/text ads. Is this because we're not creating good ones?

A TV ad is far away, it's content pushing, it's mass, I can forgive an ad made for the masses. My mobile is an extension of me. It's personal. If you talk to me through a mobile ad then talk to ME, not to the masses.

Are you using personal mobile add space to talk to everyone? Time to rethink that proposition.

​

Forrester’s Facebook Impact Model Quantifies The Impact Of A Facebook Fan

/

Without going through methodology and doing some fact checking. Some impressive numbers here. 

At Antics we often say it's not about the likes of the followers, it's about the engagment with your crowd and what your fans do after that like or follow. We frown at brands that are just looking to pump up their likes and followers.

But in the end, even if there is no clear goal or strategy yet. It's ok to listen. It's ok to start getting more social media fans. It's ok to just start getting involved.

That's the beauty with digital and social media, it's not meant as a one off hit. It's a marathon of activities and communication. So go ahead and start, at whatever pace you would like.

Has your company waited too long?

AOL's focus on ad serving starts rewarding

/

​In June of 2011 I wrote how AOL was re-aligning itself and becoming more focussed. It's proven business model of ad serving and collecting media outlets that bolstered that model was to set a base of ad serving growth.

And it has. 

As VentureBeat reports: 

Fourth quarter 2011 highlights:

  • AOL grew global advertising revenue by 10 percent — its third consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth.
  • Total revenue decline was its lowest rate of revenue decline in 5 years.
  • 15 percent growth in global display revenue — AOL’s fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth.
  • AOL reported the lowest rate of search and contextual revenue decline in approximately 3 years, due in large part to growth in search revenue on AOL.com.
  • Dial up subscription revenue declined 18 percent (lowest rate of decline in five years), with a monthly average churn of 2.2 percent year-over-year.
  • AOL’s Adjusted OIBDA expensess, excluding Traffic Acquisition Costs (TAC) and an $8.5 million legal settlement were $360.4 million, down from $391.3 million and $368.0 million in Q2 and Q3 2011, respectively.
  • AOL’s operating income and Adjusted OIBDA grew $46.2 million and $37.4 million sequentially. Both declined year-over-year due to lower total revenue, strategic investments and an $8.5 million legal settlement. Net income declines year-over-year also reflect the gain on sale of AOL’s investment in Brightcove in Q4 2010.

Nice job staying focussed AOL.

 

​