Digital Guap

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In this digital age, there seems to be the belief that print media is either dead or dying. One potential culprit for this thought is that the younger generations are “addicted” to devices such as smartphones, and therefore have no interest in print media.

However, a report by Ipsos shows that Millennials and the previous generation, Generation X (Gen X), are both experiencing an upward trend of mobile internet usage. Even the Baby Boomers, while using mobile internet far less than either Gen X or Millennials, are still seeing an increase of use.

Furthermore, despite this increase in digital reliance, the same study found that Millennials were more likely to pay attention to newspaper and magazine adverts (40%) than to adverts on their laptop (35%), mobile (34%), or tablet (29%). So, not only is print not dead, the Millennials are a far cry from the prime suspect in its demise.

In fact, quite the opposite. It appears that the Millennial generation is actually bolstering print media’s popularity. According to Omnipress, 89% of Millennials use print media for professional and educational material.

Where’s this love for print coming from in the usually tech-savvy age group? Well, there’s certainly an argument to be made for escapism — the younger generations in the UK particularly are noted for having poor mental wellbeing. The Guardian reported on findings from the Varkey Foundation, in which people were asked about their feelings, how loved they felt and what worries they had. With a rising fear of terrorism and climate change, along with concerns for the future and aspects like not being able to own a home, it’s no wonder that this generation is fond of escapism.

And where better than in the pages of a book? You may think Millennials and the generation after, Generation Z, are hooked to video games and don’t read anymore. Not so — in 2014, figures showed Millennials read more printed books (88%) than Gen X did (79%). Furthermore, the sale of digital books has actually been in decline, with physical book sales starting to rise again. Not only is the younger generation seeking an escape, it’s seeking stability; something it can physically hold on to. There’s likely an element of nostalgia in reading a physical book too, and nostalgia is all the rage right now. Nostalgia is a form of escapism in itself, in that a person yearns for a different time or place away from the current reality. Looking back with rose-tinted glasses is comforting to many.

Physical print is also seeing a resurgence in magazine print. In particular, independent magazines are seeing a revival in print, and some believe it is down to a rebellious attitude rising against the internet. Considered to be the least-trusting generation, could it be that Millennials are looking for a way to consume media that hasn’t been heavily edited or filtered as the internet is these days? Or, in a world where they are told so often that they are the generation addicted to technology, is this enjoyment of print media a way to shirk the stereotype?

Whatever the reason, it’s working in print media’s favour, as 2018 saw newspapers enjoying a rise of 1% in print display advertising in its first quarter. Again, this falls into the area of trust, with social media outlets having had a tough time in that regard in recent years after a number of data breaches and scandals hitting the headlines. With its fall from grace, it looks like print media, such as newspapers and magazine, can step back into the limelight as a “tried, tested and true” traditional medium.

Plus, returning to this medium after exploring all the possibilities of digital adverts and being forced to get creative to be noticed in the oversaturated market has lead to some fantastic print advert designs! Take the Glacial beer company, for instance. It ran a print paper advert that served more purpose than just advertising — it was functional, too. The paper was infused with salt, and the advert called for readers to tear the page out, wet it, and wrap a bottle of beer with it before popping it in the freezer. As a result of the salt, the beer would chill in half the time.

On the other hand, print and digital advertising don’t have to be at odds, either. Sonera ran a printed advert to spotlight its 4G, with the printed advert forming a board game layout. Putting an iPhone in the centre of the ad set the stage for a two-player game that took place on the paper and on the screen!

Print is far from dead. In fact, it’s enjoying something of a resurgence thanks partly to a kindred spirit: the Millennial. Both print and the Millennial generation are looking to buck the trend and prove the naysayers wrong. And if the figures are anything to go by, they’re succeeding.

This article was brought to you by United Carlton, a leading supplier of Visitor Management systems.

Sources:

https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/02/addicted-online-checking-phones-7788523/

https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/2017-05/ipsos-mori-millennial-myths-realities-full-report.pdf

https://www.omnipress.com/blog/infographic-millennials-print/

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/08/uk-second-japan-young-people-poor-mental-wellbeing

https://www.printweek.com/print-week/news/1165127/printed-books-turn-a-new-leaf-as-digital-sales-decline

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/22/independent-magazines-buck-trend-for-print-decine

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/31/national-newspapers-in-uk-enjoy-first-print-advertising-rise-since-2010-research-finds

http://creativity-online.com/work/glacial-beer-freezer-print-ad/38511

https://graphicartsmag.com/articles/2018/05/millennials-consume-print/

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/interactive-print-ads

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It has already been discovered that Instagram has been responsible for surpassing both Facebook as well as Twitter in terms of the total number of users who are active. Currently, Instagram is the most preferred social networking platform that most of the businesses use for marketing their business. Instagram is simple, convenient, and user-friendly. The growing popularity of Instagram is what has helped businesses to trust this platform more in comparison to the various other platforms that are there. There are few businesses that are still confused as to why Instagram is ideal for them as well. According to blog.hootsuite.com, there are almost 25 million businesses on Instagram.

Consider the list of reasons to find out why Instagram is going to be perfect for your newly established business.

Instagram hashtags are on the rise

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You already know about the Instagram hashtags and this is not something new. Hashtags are responsible for making the Instagram posts discoverable and people who are looking for the type of business that you are into will easily come across your business with the help of hashtags. Hashtags are considered to be one of the most straightforward ways of connecting with people who are interested in your business and the services and products that you are offering. If you use appropriate and relevant hashtags, you can be assured that you are going to get more customers, and this can even increase your business revenue. You can also use Like4Like in the caption so as to receive more likes on your posts.

Business profiles on Instagram

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Businesses that are on Instagram can make use of the business profiles in order to make them look more professional. Business profiles have numerous advantages and you will have the option of adding your contact details as well. The contact details will help people to locate you or contact you in case if they have any kinds of questions. Apart from that, you will have the option of understanding how all your posts are performing.

You will get detailed knowledge regarding when your audience is active and also the kinds of content that they are interested in receiving from you. In addition, you will also understand the number of website clicks that you are receiving. If you have just started your business on Instagram, it is suggested that you switch to your business profile so that you can get the best out of it.

Increased duration of videos

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Earlier, videos on Instagram had a length of 15 seconds only. This made it extremely tough for marketers to highlight the important stuff. However, currently the duration of the videos on Instagram has been increased to one minute and this has been proving to be truly beneficial for numerous businesses already. You can make use of Instagram videos for displaying how your products are created or interesting behind-the-scenes, that will arouse the interest of your present and potential audience.

Conclusion

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There is no denying the fact that marketing on social media is crucial for all businesses, whether they are big or small. Make sure that you are also taking your business to Instagram so that you can taste success faster in comparison to the other social networking sites.

Author Bio

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Walter Moore is a notable management consultant and digital marketing expert. He is an experienced digital marketer and has helped e-commerce businesses in all niches gain with his effective marketing strategies and guidance.

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Social media plays such a vital role in our lives now. We can’t imagine life without it. This has become a global phenomenon and still widely spread. Social media is a medium that reaches people all around the globe. People are so connected these days; it is true that in the last 15 years, social media has taken the world by storm. Not so long ago was life still black and white? It was still a life where cell phones have not taken our lives completely and where we still use telephones to connect. The internet was used restrictedly, but this was just 10 -15 years back, and till then, social media management and the internet has taken our lives by storm. It is estimated that in the next 15 -20 years, everyone will have access to the internet.

When we talk about the internet, we can’t ignore the social media sites be it Facebook or Instagram. These two sites have taken the world by storm and are conquering both the youth and the older generations. How social media gained popularity.

Social media – How it all began

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When the social media sites of hi5 and Orkut was created and launched, it didn’t impact the people too much because at that point the internet was not introduced in the cell phones at a cheap rate. The internet was accessible only through laptops and computers. Although these sites like hi5 and Orkut gained popularity, the youth and older generation alike didn’t get addicted. The first internet services introduced in phones was in 1996, but the internet services were limited and really expensive, and this carried on till the year 2004 -05 when the internet services started becoming more popular in cell phones, it was around this year 2004 that the internet sensation Facebook was launched too and there’s no looking back.

With the introduction of cheaper internet rates and Facebook in 2004, the internet became a household name, and its popularity isn’t taking aback by anything since then. Let’s take a look at youth and the social media

Youth and Social Media 

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 Previously the internet was accessible to people, but it didn’t play such a pivotal role in their life. Yes, it connected everyone, but people would use the internet only using email, but with the dawn of Facebook and other social sites, it has completely taken away the time of the youth who spends about 5 -6 hours on the social media sites such Facebook, Instagram, and other such addictive sites. Facebook was created and used in 2006-07, and Instagram was launched in 2010 and has gotten the whole world hooked on them, and this is not slowing down thousands of people are creating their Facebook and Instagram account so as we’re talking.

Effect of social media 

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There is a widespread effect of social media, especially Instagram and Facebook. The most common negative effect is addiction.

Addiction 

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The youth especially are addicted to these social media site, and social media control every aspect of their lives. They spend so much time on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and the latest addictive site TikTok. It can be assumed that social media has more addictive quality than cigarettes and alcohol, and this is alarming.

Sleeping Pattern 

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Another effect of social media is unhealthy sleeping patterns. With the youth becoming increasingly addicted, they have unhealthy sleeping patterns. Because the youth use their social media until the late wee hours of the night, they generally lose their sleep. The social media sites are not only addictive, but it also affects the sleeping patterns because the youth would use the social media sites until the late hours of the night they generally fall asleep with their phones and wake up the next day holding on to their phones.

Depression

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Another side effect of social media is poor mental health. It is found in studies that the excessive use of social media results in poor mental health and poor mood, which leads to numerous mood swings. It is found that the more time you spend on the internet or social media sites, the more it has adverse effects on your mood.

Unrealistic Expectation 

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Because of the pressure to look good and present you in the best way at all time, this creates unrealistic expectations. For example, Instagram is a site where you upload your photos so generally the youth or the older generation would like to upload only photos where they look good, or they would like to upload photos of places they’ve visited. This instant need to look good and present yourself and your lifestyle in a grand manner lead to harming ways in which the individual either spends so much money to look good and spend money on their trips just so to look good on social sites and impress their followers on Instagram.

Ruins Body Image 

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If you scrutinize Instagram, you’ll see that the celebrities play a major role in it and the celebs would post a picture of their perfect body and rich lifestyle and this creates such a disparity between the celebs and the common man. The common man starts building negative body image, and they would also like to become more like the celebs, and this harms them more than anything else.

Briefly 

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It is therefore important to curb our needs and use of social media. If we use social media in moderation then there are no ways we’ll get addicted to it, and we can perform our daily functions without many troubles because social media really mess up with our daily functionality instead of doing our homework we spend our time on the social sites and this creates havoc to our daily lives.

Finally

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To conclude, it is important to maintain moderation in life, be it in everything we do. So the same goes to social sites if we spend around 1 hour or at the most two hours on the social sites this doesn’t hamper with our daily lives and routine and it is good to be connected too.

Author Bio

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Walter Moore is a notable management consultant and digital marketing expert. He is an experienced digital marketer and has helped e-commerce businesses in all niches gain with his effective marketing strategies and guidance.

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If we only forward the easy, short and funny things we read online, why are we surprised that our inbox is filled with nothing we’ll remember tomorrow?

What would happened if instead, we shared the most complex, useful and thoughtful things we discovered instead?

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There are numerous ways of improving web-page performance. Each of the methods varies from one to the other Besides, and it also works differently for each person.
Users left with no patience. Hence, they want the website to load faster, quicker, and of course, user-friendly to navigate. There are three core areas to focus on.

1. Hardware i.e. Web Server
2. Server Side Scripting
3. Front-end Performance

Those mentioned above are the three main areas to focus on web development. With that thought in mind, we have a curated blog that shows the necessary changes needed for the improved webpage performance. Curious to know? Let us check out the blog! 

HTTP Requests

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HTTP stands for the Hypertext Transfer Protocol. The requests from the HTTP are numbered whenever a browser fetches the information, picture, or file from the server. 

As per the statistics, the HTTP requests tend to consume 80% of the webpage loading time. Besides, the browser will limit the requests to 4-8 connections per domain. Hence, this will result in using more HTTP requests. It will take longer to load as retrieving the data consumes time. 

So, try to minimize the HTTP requests by combining the CSS or JavaScript files. In addition to that, you can also reduce the number of images used. If they are huge, compress them to for fewer HTTP requests. 

Inline CSS and JavaScript

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It’s by default that the browsers fetch the external CSS and JavaScript. When the user shifts from the landing page, the browser will store the stylesheets and of course, the JavaScript files.

If you are using plenty of CSS and JavaScript files in the HTML document, then you unable to take full advantage of the web-browser’s caching features.  

Speed-Optimized Theme

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If you are a WordPress user, then you can improve the webpage performance by using the speed-optimized themes available for free and paid versions. For someone who lacks in coding, this turns out to be a brilliant option in optimizing the speed.

Also Read
Top 8 SEO Plugins For WordPress Website

Minimize Resources

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When the web developers design the website, they use plenty of spaces, indentations, and line breaks for secure communication within the team. While this is helpful to them, it does make the webpage look clutter and longer. It also increases the page-loading time.

Therefore, a simple way to resolve it is by minimizing the resources that make the coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript leaner. You can also use the plugins for page loading time. 

Fixing Broken Links

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Broken links tend to upset the customers and make the UX look poor. It also slows down the speed of the website. So, one has to check the broken links. If you try to do it manually, then it will undoubtedly become a tedious task. 

Thus, use the tools and plugins available to take care of the broken links. Once, you have installed the tool or plugin, then it will monitor all the links and gives notification via email or WordPress dashboard. 

Compressing Images

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According to the statistics, 60% of the average bytes loads per page, this is around 1504 KB. Images consequently consume a large amount of the HTTP requests. Most of the times, we tend to download the photos from the stock and without knowing the size and later uploading it on the server without optimizing the images for the web that leads to a slower response.

If you find yourself in such a situation, then you can install the plugins that automatically optimizes the images. There are even software options available Image Optimizer and Compressor.io for optimizations. 

Dedicated Hosting

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Last but not least comes the dedicated hosting options. If you are using the shared hosting option and not happy with the output, then it is high time to shift towards the dedicated hosting plans. It’s costly, but the investment is worth it.

One does not have to deal with the traffic surges and other small problems that occur in slowing down the web-page performance. But, when you have a dedicated hosting option, many advantages on your way. 

Time is money, especially when it comes to web-page performance. As we mentioned earlier, visitors go away from the websites that run slow; one has to make subsequent efforts in improvising it. 

The above seven changes help optimize web-page performance. Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are plenty of ways to try. So, go ahead and bring changes to your website. If you like the blog, then do share and drop suggestions in the comment section below. 

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The following is a guest contributed post by Fernando Saiz, CMO at Tappx.

The rewarded video ad format is adored by the mobile gaming and advertising worlds. We now finally have an ad format that satisfies the needs of advertisers, publishers and gaming audiences. Rewarded video ads provide gamers with a reward for watching the entire length of a video ad. In the mobile gaming world, this format works extremely well in mobile games. For developers, rewarded video ads offer the potential to increase in-app purchases and lengthen play session times, therefore increasing loyalty and retention. Also, they provide advertisers with advantages that stimulates higher ROI and engagement levels. Finally, many users express greater amenability for watching rewarded video ads over any other ad format.

Can rewarded video ads help drive in-game purchases?

Imagine if you’re playing a game, and you’ve just finished an end-of-level boss with a life remaining. Following this level, you watch a rewarded video ad and you’re then given an extra life. This method of non-disruptive advertising gives players the chance to extend play time, without hassle or interruption to game play. Extending the amount of time spent in a game is perhaps the single most important way players become more invested in games, thus building loyalty. This then translates to increased gaming session times and retention. As players invest more time and energy into their games, this leads to greater levels of excitement, therefore increasing the probability that they will conduct in-game purchases. Also, developers can receive a higher CPM for rewarded video ads than static ads. In addition to earning more, developers benefit from displaying ad formats that positively contribute to the overall user satisfaction within a game.

Facebook commissioned mobile games research has reported that mobile gamers are a staggering 18% more likely to conduct an in-app purchase when served a rewarded video ad, versus non-choice based advertising. See the May 2017 report here.

The key point is to build the right rewards, and to then decide when are the optimum moments to serve rewarded video ads, and balance the timing for delivery of ads during gaming sessions. The main objective is to provide gamers with a taste of all the benefits of a game, whilst earning a remnant revenue. Don’t let these ads eat into your main source of revenue, so be considerate about your content and it’s delivery times.

Constantly review your metrics and decide whether or not to deploy rewarded video ads. What’s the conversion rate from player to paid player? What’s your ARPDAU? Or what are the valuable items that remain unsold and should be promoted? Rewarded video ads can serve as a research A/B machine for testing new features and getting acceptance from your current ones.

How do Rewarded Ads benefit the Advertiser?

The key thing for advertisers to note is that users choose to engage with rewarded video ads. Therefore, the user is engaged with the video and is incentivised to complete watching the video ads. What’s more, the video is guaranteed high viewability. The developers also have the incentive to place as many rewarded video ads as is practical, such as between game levels or during loading screens. This provides the potential for repeat ads within the game, thus promoting brand recall. Some of the key benefits which rewarded video ads offer advertisers include high viewability, engagement, and completion rates, as well as increased brand recall.

Why are users excited about rewarded video ads?

In one survey done, almost 80% of gamers expressed interest for watching rewarded video ads in exchange for in-app benefits. For mobile gamers, these benefits could be in the form of in-app virtual money, extended gameplay life or other in-game assets. All of these examples enhance the quality of the user gaming experiences, which makes gamers increasingly happy. In the best case scenarios, rewarded video ads can deliver rewards that extend the user’s play-time, which benefits both the gamer and the developer.

Secondly, rewarded video ads work best when they give the user the option to engage with them. This way, the user feels that they themselves have made the decision to exchange their time for watching an ad for a reward. Game apps which provide the option to pay or watch ads receive a 10-15% boost in user reviews.

The proportion of mobile users that does conduct in-app purchases is relatively quite small, so it’s advisable to deploy rewarded video ads to convince users about the benefits and value of additional (paid) game features. A comprehensive survey conducted by Facebook reported that 71% of mobile gamers prefer to ‘pay’ for in-game content by watching video ads. The same survey reported that almost half of US gamers prefer rewarded video ad over any other ad format. This all clearly shows that rewarded video ads are hugely popular and effective, as they expose players to paid in-app features, they assist in increasing retention, LTV and more importantly, revenues.

The post How Rewarded Video Ads Can Drive In-Game Purchases appeared first on Mobile Marketing Watch.

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