Social Media Roundup: November 11, 2014

Ello!

Ello is the hot new, invitation-only social media network that went public in August. It's free for now, but will eventually adopt a freemium model, adding new features that users will find useful and fun enough to pay for upgrades. Ello has no advertising, no suggested posts, doesn't track your every move, and won't spam your address book. As with Twitter, once you've joined Ello, it may not be immediately obvious what you should do. You'll need to follow some people and post some content to get started. Ello has been getting 34,000 requests an hour for invitations, so you won't lack company for long.

LinkedIn: No More Connecting through Groups

A useful feature of Group membership on LinkedIn has been dropped by the business social media giant. When sending a contact request to someone on LinkedIn, one of the answers for "How do you know so-and-so?" was as a fellow member of a Group. Along with restricted search filters, which were curtailed some time ago, this makes LinkedIn less useful for building a robust business network. Maggie McGary, on her blog Mizz Information, tells why she thinks this is a bad idea.

Pinterest Congratulates People Getting Married - Who Weren't

Sending targeted email messages is a popular practice, but it can go awry as Pinterest learned recently. Peril for marketers and brands enters the equation, experts say, when those emails cross the line into personal matters, often based on what those marketers (or their automated proxies) gather about a person (consumer) online. Some who received the emails, intended to drive them to wedding-related sites, actually were getting married, but many were not. Some Pinterest users took the errant messages in stride, but others were offended and complained - on Twitter and other social media platforms, of course. No social media crisis to be sure, and Pinterest reportedly handled the gaffe with a light, humorous touch. In his blog on Marketing Land, Martin Beck, Third Door Media's social media reporter, takes a whimsical look at the situation, as well as other examples of emails gone wrong.

Google: Third-Party Policy Changes Ahead in November

Starting in November (yes, this November), third parties who manage Google Adwords advertising for clients will be required to itemize their fees for all the individual services they provide. While contractors were already obligated to account for Adwords costs, they now must also disclose all management fees associated with their services. If you're using a third-party contractor to manage Adwords, make sure they provide you with the customer IDs for your accounts, so you'll be able to reach out to Google in case you have any concerns about your contractor. According to Google's Advertising Policy web page, "If we find you in violation of any of the above program policies, you'll receive a warning. If you fail to correct the violation within 15 days, your membership and access to Google programs will be reviewed for corrective action."

Study: 30% of Google Ad Conversions Are on Mobile Devices

The strong performance of mobile search continues to grow. There is early evidence that the new, large form-factor iPhone 6 and other larger smartphones contribute to the trend, as many users without tablets find larger smartphone screens easier to use for mobile search. In the third quarter this year, one of three ad conversions on Facebook happened on a mobile device, according to Matt Southern, lead news writer at Search Engine Journal, reporting on a study from Marin Software.

Daniel Lieberman is the founder of Daniel Lieberman Digital ("I speak Geek - You don't need to"). Based in Shelburne Falls, Mass., he helps companies, organizations, and individuals learn to use the Internet to communicate, market, and brand themselves using the most up-to-date tools and techniques. Contact him at 413-489-1818 or daniel@daniellieberman.org.