Social Media Roundup: June 24, 2014

Is That Why it Says "Ad" On it?
Research shows that 36% of people tested still don't realize that Google's Adwords ads are actually advertisements (down from 41% in 2013). In fact, the study found, one in four tested don't know that Google has ads at all! In 2013, 91% percent of Google's revenue was attributed to advertising. It must be nice to be a company whose customers don't know that they're the product you're selling.

Don't Trust Google? Try DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo, the small search engine that distinguishes itself from Google and the other large search engines by its guarantee of user privacy, has added a number of new features to make itself more attractive. Now DuckDuckGo users get auto-suggested searches, maps (using OpenStreetMap) and local search, and weather, image, and recipe search. If you're worried about Google knowing too much about you for your own comfort, give DuckDuckGo a try. It's fast, secure, and does a good job with search results. And if you don't find what you want, it provides links to other search engines.

A Breakup Letter to Facebook
A discontented brand marketer reviews her relationship with Facebook and decides it's time to move on. The reasons are the usual ones for unhappy couples: they've grown apart, she can't trust Facebook, the grass is greener over at Twitter, and Instagram has such a pretty face. Fun and insightful take on how Facebook has changed over the years. When reviewing your online ad spend, ask yourself if some of your customers might feel the same.

Saying it Better with Photos, Symbols, and Emoticons
This handy guide to non-textual elements can help you add some pizazz and provides advice about using them to stand out from the crowd on Facebook and Twitter. Examples:

•  Twitter: Keep tweets short. Symbols can help you do it (109,000 are available).
•  Twitter: Use photos. Tweets with images get 150% more retweets, 89% more favorites, and 18% more clicks.
•  Facebook: Pin important updates. Pinned Updates stay at the top of the Timeline, no matter how much you or your fans post.
•  Facebook: Many of the fields in a status update are now customizable.

Manage Social Media from Your Cell Phone
Here's a useful roundup of social media apps for use on mobile platforms, by blogger Corey Smock, writing on likeable.com. Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook all offer free, easy-to-use mobile apps so you can deal with your social media on the go. Also, don't miss Zite, a smart magazine app that can be a great source of new, fresh content for your feeds.

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.