Michael Rabinovici

Mary Meeker’s 2014 Internet Trends Report – An Annual Must Read

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If this is not on your reading list already, it should be.  It is insightful, well written, and considered by many as the State of the Union Address for all things Internet.

Here are some highlights:
•    Internet user growth has slowed below 10%; smartphone growth is still strong but slowing. But mobile data traffic is accelerating—up 81% year-over-year—thanks to video, where mobile is now 22% of consumption.
•    Only 30% of the world’s 5.2 billion mobile users have smartphones—still room for growth.
•    There are still more global TV users (5.5 billion) than mobile phone users (5.2 billion).
•    97% of smartphones share OS “made in USA” vs. 5% in pre-iPhone era.
•    Mobile advertising is still underperforming vs. time spent on mobile devices, whereas print is still significantly over performing.
•    About 5 million Bitcoin wallets exist, up 8 times year-over-year.
•    Tinder users “swipe” 800 million times per day, up 21 times year-over-year.
•    66% of U.S. tablet owners are surfing the web while watching TV. 44% are shopping.
•    52% of ESPN’s digital users access only on smartphones and tablets, representing 48% of time spent.
•    China’s mobile Internet users now ~80% of total China Internet users. More critical mass for mobile web than anywhere, and leading mobile commerce revolution.
•    Six of top 10 Internet properties “made in USA”—down from 9 of top 10 last year—with more than 86% of their users outside America. “China rising fast.”

Read the full report here – http://www.kpcb.com/internet-trends

Michael Rabinovici

Tweets, Facebook Posts and Headlines – Is There an Ideal Length?

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According to a recent article in Fast Company Magazine, there are , in fact, optimal lengths for our various missives on social media networks.  The article also provide some backup research.

Here are the highlights:

•    Perfect tweet length was right around 100 characters, resulting in a spike of re-tweets
•    Facebook posts of 40 characters or less receive 86% higher engagement
•    Six word headlines increase the chances that the entire headline will be read (Yes, the research showed that our attention spans have decreased to the point where we not only scan the body of an article or post but the headline as well).

For more fun facts, read the full article here.  Once you do, let me if your own experience backs the research up and how you are addressing it in your own marketing campaigns.

Michael Rabinovici

Facebook Marketing – What Works and What Doesn’t

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An excellent piece in the Social Media Examiner looks at which marketing tactics are most effective on Facebook.  Read more

Michael Rabinovici

Where is the Social Media Bus Going in 2013?

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In a space that moves so fast, it’s a good idea to follow the companies and publications that are setting the trends. This time, we’re laying our bets on Ryan Holmes, CEO of Hootsuite, one of the web’s leading social media management companies (and Canadian to boot). In an end-of-year article in Fast Company magazine, he crystal balls social media’s path in the year ahead. Some highlights include:

• Social media will move beyond the marketing department

• Big data will grow but get more manageable

• Social media education will become formalized

Click here to read the full article here.

A happy holiday season, and a joyous, healthy, and prosperous new year to you and yours from all of us at AR Communications.

Michael Rabinovici

Benchmark 2012 Lead Generation – Key Industry Trends for Generating Leads of the Highest Quality – Free Excerpt

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I thought  this may be of interest to anyone in the midst of Q4 and planning their 2013 campaigns.
This is the company we regularly follow, and that we trained with a few years ago. 

This free excerpt from the report is excellent for anyone looking to take their lead gen to the next level in 2013 – http://bit.ly/lead-generation-2012

The information and insights from this company on lead generation are pure gold  and well worth reading.

For the latest developments in social media and mobile marketing follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/mikerabinovici

Michael Rabinovici

You Like it Now but You’ll Learn to Love it Later

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Last week, I tweeted that if you only read one business article for the week, it should be the one in I referred to in Fast Company about chaos being the new order. I was wrong. If you only read one business article this year, that’s the one you should read.

The whole subject of chaos, and how we know we should embrace it but yet are afraid of it, is best summed up for me in a few lines from Robbie Robertson’s classic “Somewhere Down The Crazy River”

Wait, did you hear that
Oh this is sure stirring up some ghosts for me
She said "There’s one thing you’ve got to learn
Is not to be afraid of it."
I said "No, I like it, I like it, it’s good."
She said "You like it now
But you’ll learn to love it later."

Indeed we will.

Read the Fast Company article here http://bit.ly/chaos-is-the-new-order

What are your thoughts?  How has your company dealt with chaos? Comment below.

Michael Rabinovici

Dollar Impact of Social Media – How does a Cool Trillion or so Sound?

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One of the most frequent questions we hear from clients relates in one form or another to the dollar ROI from social media.  As the industry matures, more data is becoming available to shed light on this question.

A recent report from the McKinsey Global Institute examines the current usage of social technologies in four commercial sectors:   consumer packaged goods, retail financial services, advanced manufacturing, and professional services.  It concludes that the potential value to be unlocked by leveraging these technologies across the four sectors could potentially contribute $900 billion to $1.3 trillion in annual value.

Although the value that can be captured varies from industry to industry, all of them can benefit.  The key to success? Creating the conditions for the full and enthusiastic participation of employees.

Click here for a copy of the study. Click here for a review of the report in Fast Company Magazine

For the latest information on, and best practices for, Mobile and Social Media marketing follow me on Twitter at Twitter.com/mikerabinovici

Michael Rabinovici

B2B – Which Social Media Platform Rules?

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Many of our B2B clients use a number of platforms when it comes to their social media marketing efforts.  In these (relatively) heady days of social media marketing efforts, that’s a good thing.  As this marketing channel matures, however, focusing marketing efforts on the social networks that deliver the best ROI becomes increasingly important.  According to a report by BtoB Online, 30% of the marketers surveyed  ranked LinkedIn as the most important social media channel.  Here is how the others stacked up, as well as some other helpful statistics.

Social Media Network Used Most Often

•    LinkedIn (83%)
•    Twitter (80%)
•    Facebook (79%)
•    YouTube (60%)
•    Blogging (50%)

Social Media Use by B2B Marketers

•    32% are "very" or "fully" engaged in marketing via social channels, up from 21% in 2011. That number is expected to increase to 53% by 2013, according to BtoB:
•    35% began marketing via social media in the previous two years alone
•    Only 13% report using social media marketing for more than 4 years  

For an excellent summary of the report click here. For related information go here.

For more mind blowing research and insights on social media and mobile marketing follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/mikerabinovici or email me at michael at ar-com.com.