Digital News Round-Up

Da-da-dum, da-da-dum… rejoice Star Wars fans, this week it was announced by J.J Abrams that a short trailer for the much anticipated new Star Wars film will be released. Of course, this sent social media into overdrive with the title trending on Twitter. The trailer will be premiered in selected cinemas in the USA and online over Thanks Giving weekend.

THANKSGIVING pic.twitter.com/46811BgWiF

— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) November 24, 2014

In other (perhaps less exciting) news…

Tumblr and Pinterest now fastest-growing social platforms

Whilst Facebook may still be the largest social media platform, in terms of subscriptions, others are hot on its heels including Tumblr and Pinterest. A report by Global Web Index this week highlighted by Tech Crunch shows the two social platforms are now the fastest-growing. Snapchat too is rapidly growing, becoming the fastest growing app.

Apple may replace Google as its default search engine

Last week we reported how Firefox was replace Google as its default search engine with Yahoo. It appears this week, Apple, whose contract is coming to an end with Google, is also looking to replace the search engine, with Yahoo and Microsoft are already vying for the tech giant's attention. 

http://mashable.com/2014/11/26/apple-ditching-google/

News UK sees digital subscribers for The Sun soar 120%

Whilst subscriptions to print press may be dwindling, online views are far from over, with News UK seeing its subscription to The Sun grow by 120%. Highlighted this week in The Drum, the news came as its chief marketing officer Chris Duncan branded Facebook's mobile publishing proposal "terrifying". 2015 will no doubt become a hotly contested year for ownership of news publishing amongst social platforms and news outlets alike.  

#BlackFriday

Today many will take to their laptops, mobiles or perhaps even venture to the high-street for the big pre-Christmas discount shop day. According to research from Nielsen, more men are expected to shop in store today while most consumers are expected to hold off and shop on Cyber Monday this year.

The research highlights the growth in popularity of shopping via our smartphones. Whilst laptops were expected to be the most popular device for online shopping (89 per cent), a third of consumers were expected to shop with their smartphone or tablet.

By James Mulrennan, Digital Account Director

THE WEEKS DIGITAL NEWS ROUND-UP FROM CLARION

THE WEEKS DIGITAL NEWS ROUND-UP FROM CLARION

From partnerships to app launches, this week’s hottest digital news stories can be found here.

Uber partners with Spotify

This week the taxi service has been in the news for several reason but one most notable was its partnership with Spotify. No longer will we need to ask drivers dreaded questions like ‘busy night?’, instead we will be able to select our own personalised music from the streaming service.

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/11/17/uber-chases-emotional-connection-and-teams-spotify-offer-personalised-music

Facebook is cracking down on 'overly promotional' posts from brands

This week Facebook announced it was cracking down on so called promotional posts, in others words, posts that:

1.       Solely push people to buy a product or install an app.

2.       Push people to enter promotions and sweepstakes with no real context.

3.       Use the exact same content from ads.

At Clarion Communications we see this as good news. For too long have many agencies and brands alike been regurgitating content and ‘Like bating’ fans. It is time comms teams create truly engaging content that resonates with the audience.

http://mashable.com/2014/11/14/facebook-is-cracking-down-on-overly-promotional-posts-from-brands/

Facebook Groups: Now there's an app for that

Facebook continue their offering in the app arena, this time with a dedicated Facebook Groups app. According to Zuckerberg some 700 million Facebook users are using groups on a monthly basis.

http://allfacebook.com/facebook-groups_b136279

Ello to ‘topple’ Facebook's earning might

From Facebook, to new kid on the block Ello. The social network, that promised it would never put advertising on its platform, has found an alternative income method… selling t-shirts. http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/11/18/ello-topple-facebooks-earning-might-t-shirt-sales-initially

Samsung launches Android Milk Video app to undermine YouTube

A week after YouTube launched its own music offering, Samsung are now seeking to launch a competitor to YouTube with Android Milk Video. The app based service will be an ad-free service will provide users with the latest viral videos. Brands Condé Nast, Funny Or Die, Red Bull, Vevo, Buzzfeed and Vice are on board for the launch.

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/11/19/samsung-launches-android-milk-video-app-undermine-youtube

Firefox to switch default search from Google to Yahoo

A major win for yahoo this week as Firefox have announced the search engine will become its default search engine going forward. With several new purchases under its belt, could 2015 be the year for Yahoo?

http://mashable.com/2014/11/19/firefox-default-yahoo-search/

Billboard's albums chart shakeup to include streaming music for rankings

Billboard will soon start using use Nielsen SoundScan's streaming data and download numbers of individual tracks to rank the top albums on its long-standing Billboard 200 chart. This is seen as a move to keep the album chart relevant.

http://mashable.com/2014/11/19/billboard-200-albums-chart-changes/

Twitter now lets you search through every tweet ever tweeted

Ever wanted to search for that Tweet from a time long forgotten? Well now you can as Twitter has upgraded its search functionality to allow you to go back as far as you wish.

https://blog.twitter.com/2014/building-a-complete-tweet-index

Twitter cofounder Biz Stone launches Super, an app that's 'just fun'

Talking of Twitter, its cofounder this week launched Super. Which according to Mashable is ‘one part secret, one part meme generator’. The app is all about sharing short ideas with friends and people nearby in creative, somewhat offbeat ways.

http://mashable.com/2014/11/17/biz-stones-super-app/

And finally

21 greatest selfies of 2014

Christmas is here and that means endless list of the top ten ‘this’ or the top worsts ‘that’. How better to start than with selfies, featuring Ellen Degeneres  famed Oscar one amongst others.

http://mashable.com/2014/11/16/best-selfie-2014/

Boast your Roast!

Do you cook the best roast dinner? The Aunt Bessie’s team are busy working with OK! Magazine to find the nation’s best roast chicken dinner, which of course wouldn’t be a roast without Yorkshire puddings! The competition featured in this week’s issue of OK! magazine, asking OK! readers to post a photo of their favourite roast dinner via social media and nominate the chef; themselves or their friend or family member.

Did you know 1 in 5 British households served Yorkshire puddings with a roast chicken dinner last year?* Clarion has been working hard with Aunt Bessie’s to raise awareness and encourage roast lovers to include a Yorkshire pudding on their chicken dinner. The OK! partnership is part of a wider campaign which included a debate at the prestigious Oxford Union Debating Society, arguing the motion ‘This house believes Yorkshire puddings should be served with roast chicken’. Debaters battled out the puds rightful place on Brits dinner plates and if the tradition of serving Yorkshires with beef should be upheld. So which side are you on?

^* Kantar Worldpanel Roast figures: 52 w/e Dec 2013

WINNERS!

Attending the Asian Trader Awards 2014 last night to support and cheer on agency clients who were all in contention for various supplier awards, Clarion were also absolutely delighted to pick up an award themselves.

In recognition of excelling in communication with independent retailers through editorial, advertising, PR, retailer education and guidance, Clarion Communications were awarded the Marketing and Communications Award, presented by Associate Publisher George McCracken.

Jonathan Smith, Senior Associate Director, collected the award on behalf of Clarion in front of a packed-out Park Plaza Westminster, with guests including Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Dr Virander Paul, Deputy High Commissioner, High Commission of India and Kalpesh R. Solanki, Managing Editor – Asian Trader.

It is the first time that an agency has been recognised by this award, an achievement that we are rightly extremely proud of. Thank you Asian Trader!

By Fraser McIntosh, Account Manager, Clarion Communications

LINDT SANTAS TAKE A PRESS TRIP IN THE REINDEER CAR

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and what better way to start the celebrations then with some sumptuous Lindt chocolates?

Luckily the Clarion Lindt team were on hand and ventured on the road with the Lindt Reindeer Car. The annual tradition delivered Lindt Christmas products to media including the Daily Mail, London Evening Standard, Metro, S Magazine, PA, Style, Fabulous and Notebook.

The beautiful red glossy packages tied with Lindt ribbon contained a range of delicious Lindt chocolate including gold Lindt Bears, a 1KG Santa, and a chocolate Reindeer with fluffy antlers - the perfect festive headwear.

To create excitement amongst the media, the Clarion team created this fun Vine to show the Lindt Santas leaving the Clarion office to grab a lift in the Reindeer Car. A cute festive video to get everyone in the Christmas mood (and the mood for delicious chocolate) - we’re sure you’ll agree!

Ooh, look what's lurking at Express towers today... #deathbychocolate pic.twitter.com/39LjDeX2yt

— Amy Packer (@AmyPacker) November 14, 2014

THE WEEKS DIGITAL NEWS ROUND-UP FROM CLARION

This week, social media chatter varied from the heartfelt discussions and images shared to commemorate Armistice Day to debates around reality TV stars. Brands too had their share of voice, from rock bands to fashion houses, not to mention new platform launches - it was another exciting week in digital.

The Who to launch virtual reality app for Facebook's Oculus Rift

My Generation meets digital generation as the famous rock band launch a virtual reality app. To celebrate their 50^th anniversary, the legendary rock band created the app that allows fans to listen to the bands classic hits whilst driving on a Lambretta.

The app, which is due to be released in early 2015, is preceded by a smartphone and tablet app for Android and iOS, which launched this week. Check out the trailer here.

Foo Fighters & HBO engage fans with content marketing

From one rock band to another, Foo fighters launched their new album, “Sonic Highways”, this week with much fanfare. The album was created across 8 American cities and in turn, a documentary was filmed in each. HBO are showing this series and it has already proved popular amongst critics, including the Guardian who called it have partnered with HBO to

Check the trailer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0TrqXHoL10

Google's new YouTube music service is here, but invite-only for now

It must be the week for music as YouTube launch their music service however many of us will still have to wait as the service is currently invitation online.

The subscription service, called YouTube Music Key, will offer six months free followed by a promotional price of $7.99 per month. The regular price on its broad release will be $9.99, the same as Spotify. UK prices are yet to be confirmed, click here for more information. 

Twitter is changing

YouTube aren’t the only social platform developing their offering. Whilst music may not be on the cards for Twitter they are looking to develop several new apps in the future and are seeking to update their platform. Expect to see new updates ‘Timeline Highlights’, ‘Instant Timeline’ and  ‘breaking News Alerts’ amongst others

 

Yahoo! to acquire BrightRoll for $640m

Yahoo! has started to spend big on their earnings from Alibaba’s stock float. Their biggest buy to date is BirghtRoll, the programmatic video platform. Announced by Yahoo! chief executive Marissa Mayer the purchase will unite the publisher’s desktop and mobile video ad inventory with BrightRoll’s programmatic video platform and publisher relationships

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/11/11/yahoo-acquire-programmatic-video-platform-brightroll-640m

 

ASOS pushes AW14 collection with interactive YouTube music video

From music to fashion and back again, ASOS this week launched an impressive new interactive YouTube music video. The video is designed to promote their new AW14 collection by driving engagement amongst their audience.

http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/11/13/asos-pushes-aw14-collection-interactive-youtube-music-video

And finally

Social media is parents' greatest online fear, research says

Research conducted for the non-profit Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) found that only 26% of those surveyed felt the benefits of allowing their children to use sites such as Facebook outweighed the potential risks. More worryingly, some 43% of parents thought the negative aspects of their child having a social media account outweighed the benefits. The full report is available on The Guardian.

 By James Mulrennan, Digital Account Director, Clarion Communications

BLOGGER EXCLUSIVE: TEETHING TIME TUTORIAL WITH BOIRON

Yesterday, the Boiron team at Clarion were nappy-deep in baby bloggers as we hosted an exclusive preview event of research for National Teething Week (17-23 November), in an attempt to enlighten these very hands-on blogging parents.

 

Transforming a suite of rooms at a the luxury Pelham Hotel, South Kensington, we provided our influencers with insights, infographics and product demos of Camilia® Oral Solution. The event opened with a short presentation on the signs and symptoms of teething by Dr Philip Wander and ended with a calming baby massage master-class for our bloggers and their little ones.

 

The team and Dr Wander then lunched with the attendees, answering many more burning questions on teething before the bloggers departed, press packs in hand. The event was one of several activities planned as an awareness driver around National Teething Week.

 By Clarion Boiron Team, Clarion Communications

 

10 Things That Journalists Like In A Story

Clarion research topics to grab a journalist’s attention

What do ‘photos of animals’, ‘health breakthroughs’ and ‘research showing what we as a country fail at’ have in common? They’re all things that journalists like in a story. 

Take a look at our full list here.

Take a look at our full list here.