Facebook | Internet Marketing Blog

Eight cool social media infographics

Yesterday I noticed quite cool infographic being passed around online. Made by the guys at Trendstream, it maps social media access and involvement around the world.

I love infographics. I think they’re a smart, creative way of displaying data in a way that’s easy to understand and is engaging. I’ve also noticed that they seem to be becoming more common, permeating not only technical subjects, where they seem to have originated from, but other areas, such as mainstream media, design and of course, the internet.

So, inspired by the newest of social media infographics, I thought it might be useful to collect some of the better examples in one place as a source of inspiration and information. Links to the actual graphics are in the headline titles.

by Jake Hird 16 December 2009 10:16am 17 comments

As social networking goes public, will users stop sharing?

Social media matters to individuals (and subsequently marketers) because people trust information sent by friends more than data shared by strangers. But are moves to make social information public going to send people fleeing from sharing their information online?

That's the argument from Julia Andwin, who writes today in The Wall Street Journal that she's going to submit to Facebook's new public policy. And never share anything of value again online:

by Meghan Keane 15 December 2009 22:11pm 6 comments

What would a Tory government mean for SEO?

Although it’s by no means a sealed deal, it’s very possible that in the 2010 election, the government will change and the Conservatives will lead the country. What might that mean for our industry?

by Kevin Gibbons 14 December 2009 10:30am 7 comments

Five social media tips for 2010

2009 was a banner year for social media. Fueled in large part by the impressive growth of Twitter and Facebook and the adoption of both by major brands and recognizable individuals, it's safe to say that social media truly went 'mainstream' this year.

That means new opportunities, and new challenges, in 2010 as social media finds its place in the overall mediasphere. Here are five tips for companies looking to take their social media efforts to the next level in 2010.

by Patricio Robles 11 December 2009 11:53am 18 comments

Facebook goes public — and hopes that users don't get in the way of its plans for digital domination

Facebook today went live with new privacy settings the company announced this summer. The new settings purport to give users more control of the ways their information is shared, but the default settings (which most users never touch) are set to send user data to the greater web.

Why is that? Because for Facebook to capitalize on its store of in depth user information, it needs to make that information public.

by Meghan Keane 09 December 2009 21:37pm 1 comment

Friendster makes a break for the Asian market

Friendster may not be fresh in your mind when it comes to social media, but the pioneering social nework is relaunching tomorrow. And if it looks like the site has a newly Asian focus, there's a reason for that. Friendster just got bought by an Asian company.

by Meghan Keane 03 December 2009 23:36pm 0 comments

Q&A: Maura Curtin, Social Media Advertising Consortium

There's a new trade group in town. The Social Media Advertising Consortium (SMAC - pronounced "smack") is newly-formed, but burgeoning body dedicated to best practices, measurement, defining and shaping one of the fastest-growing channels in digital advertising. We caught up recently with Executive Director Maura Curtin to learn more about what SMAC is up to...and what its plans are for the future.

by Rebecca Lieb 02 December 2009 20:15pm 3 comments

Facebook could send small marketers running with contest rule changes

Three weeks ago, Facebook changed the rules for brands trying to create contests and promotions on the social network. Marketers are still trying to figure out how the guidelines will affect them. But it looks like some of the best tools on the network will no longer be available for brands. For marketers looking to get a lot of marketing reach without a lot of spend, it looks like Facebook may no longer by the place to go.

by Meghan Keane 01 December 2009 23:55pm 4 comments

The secret to successful Facebook fan pages: pre-existing popularity

What's the secret to success on Facebook? Having a pre-existing fan base. It also helps if you're a Fortune 500 company. At least that seems to be the conclusion of new research on the social network.

While brands have helped increase their reach and engagement, research from both Slate and social media monitoring and analytics firm Sysomos show that it's big brands that get the most out of Facebook — not upstarts that get the word out through their Facebook pages.

According to Slate's The Big Money, massive brands that combine their own content with user uploads have seen the best results on Facebook.

by Meghan Keane 01 December 2009 16:44pm 7 comments

Facebook's virtual currency conundrum

Social networking giant Facebook is reportedly going to pull in approximately half a billion dollars this year in advertising revenue. It's a significant amount, but hundreds of millions of dollars more are being made on Facebook through virtual currency transactions that Facebook has no part of.

Facebook, of course, has its own official virtual currency, Credits, but most Facebook app developers can't integrate them with their apps, and are not required to use them.

by Patricio Robles 27 November 2009 11:30am 4 comments