When it comes to Thanksgiving, debate at our house these days is deep fried turkey vs. traditional. Sometimes a compromise is in order: Both are delicious, so both we shall have. Based on the political unrest sweeping our nation, we Americans hopefully go into this holiday by putting aside our differences and enjoying what holidays are really all about—family, friends, and perhaps that second glass of wine. If you’re outside the U.S., please feel free to join us on that second glass of wine, beginning at any time. Before we get there, let’s take a look at what’s happening that you need to be in the know about. Here goes:
More people are multi-tasking while watching TV, especially live TV. When commercials interrupt the latest Walking Dead episode—and there were many last week—my hands and eyes go to my mobile device. I’m not alone on this front, as a third of us are browsing related content, or checking in on social to see what friends are saying, while we watch our favorite shows. What about you? via [eMarketer]
Brands are testing Pinterest’s new auto-play ads, just a few months after click-to-play ads débuted. The ads will show up in the explore tab—which looks not unlike Instagram’s—and will automatically loop into a brand’s other video content once the ad has completed. via [Marketing Land]
Apple Glasses could open a world of augmented reality in 2018. CEO Tim Cook believes AR has potential over VR to take hold in the market, and has begun discussions with investors. There are several factors that need considered—battery life, functionality, style, and price, to name a few—but Apple could be poised to tackle them all. We’ll be watching. via [Marketing Land]
Snapchat has grown to over 10 billion video views per day compared to Facebook’s 8 billion in Q3 of 2015 – its last reported number. Snapchat’s popularity is growing, making it one of the most powerful social platforms. This vibrant infographic will break down the Snapchat anatomy and explain why you should be there—if you aren’t already. via [B2C]
Looking for a primer on eCommerce holiday marketing? November and December rake in 30 percent more revenue than non-holiday months, and with a four percent increase in eCommerce holiday sales in 2015, you might want a bigger slice of the online shopping pie this year. These eight tips could be the brush up you need (or your eCommerce website needs) to be ready for the holiday rush. via [SearchEngine Journal]
Beware the fake news. A large percentage (40 percent) of Americans get their news from Facebook these days, not surprising when you consider the amount of time we spend on the site. How much trust can we put into the news that is pushed out alongside the latest viral cat video? Not much, apparently. Many of these popular news stories are nothing more than clickbait powered by the slimy underbelly of SEO. That’s right. We can thank search engine optimization for pushing these eye-grabbing, and many times false, headlines to the top of our feed. So, how do you spot a fake news story? Google and Facebook have announced this week that they are willing to help—the question is, why has it taken so long? via [B2C]
Finally, have you seen the latest viral internet craze? Teens around the US have been creating and sharing #MannequinChallenge videos. Most are set to the song Black Beatles from Hip Hop duo Rae Sremmurd and Gucci Mane. As the craze gains steam, students, families, sports teams, celebrities, businesses, and even family pets are getting into the act. This one is my personal favorite:
For our U.S. based friends and readers, we wish you all the best for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. For our friends and readers based elsewhere, have the very best of weekends.
Photo Credit: tonymarquesbarreira Flickr via Compfight cc