Google today suspended Pinduoduo – the popular Chinese shopping app – from the Play Store. The search engine giant took action after malware was found in versions of the app.
Malware is a piece of software that is designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. When concealed in otherwise genuine-looking apps, malware may be used to gain access to sensitive information on a user’s phone.
“We have suspended the Play version of the app for security concerns while we continue our investigation,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement released on Tuesday.
This suspension comes at a time when tensions are high over Chinese-owned apps like TikTok that U.S lawmakers fear may pose a security threat as they may be used to spy on American users. TikTok has already been banned on government devices in the U.S., Canada, and the EU.
Pinduoduo is already a popular shopping app in China that is known for generous discounts when users join up and purchase multiple items. Riding on the success of Pinduoduo, the US-listed public company (PDD) launched Temu (a US-based shopping platform) last year.
Google on Tuesday warned its users to remove any Pinduoduo app installations that were not downloaded from its Play Store.
“Google Play Protect enforcement has been set to block installation attempts of these identified malicious apps. Users that have malicious versions of the app downloaded to their devices are warned and prompted to uninstall the app,” the company said in a statement.
In a statement to CNN, Pinduoduo said that it had been informed about its app being ‘temporarily suspended’ because it was not compliant with Google’s Policy. The company added that it was reaching out to Google for more information.
It’s not clear – at this moment in time – whether similar security concerns apply to Apple users. The iOS version is still available for download at the Apple Store.
Apple has launched a Shop with a Specialist over Video service that will enable customers looking to purchase an iPhone to engage with the company’s retail team over video. This live shopping experience will only be available for US customers on Apple’s digital platform.
This is perhaps the latest move when a leading technology company has demonstrated confidence in social commerce. The likes of TikTok, Shopify, YouTube, and Pinterest have all launched a flurry of social commerce and live-stream shopping features over the last few months – as the sector continues to record positive growth in the US.
Through Apple’s new live shopping experience, consumers will be able to access expert advice and guidance from Apple specialists to help select the right iPhone model from the company’s range. Some of the latest devices on offer include the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. In addition to discovering available devices, consumers will also be able to use this service to learn more about financing options, Trade-In offers, and more.
“We’re constantly innovating to deliver an even more personalized experience for our customers, meeting them where they are to deliver the best of Apple. With Shop with a Specialist over Video, our team members are excited to connect with customers and provide exceptional service as they learn about which iPhone best suits them,” said Karen Rasmussen, head of Apple Retail Online.
Shop with a Specialist over Video will be available between 7 am to 7 pm daily at apple.com/shop/buy-iPhone. There will be a provision for consumers to engage the specialists via chat or phone should the session be unavailable. The new program is somewhat similar to Today at Apple, which also connects consumers to Apple staff members so they can be assisted in selecting products and accessories.
The US government has demanded that TikTok sell its China stake or else face a possible ban in the country.
One of the largest (and fastest-growing) short video platforms in the market today, TikTok is owned by ByteDance (a Chinese company). Officials have been concerned that it poses a data security risk through information gathered on millions of users.
American officials have for years raised concerns that data collected on US-based users could somehow be accessed by the Chinese government. The app has already been banned from government phones in the US, Canada, and the EU.
The request for a change of ownership was first reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and later confirmed by TikTok. According to the WSJ, President Biden’s administration wants ByteDance to divest itself in order to create a total break from Chinese reach. The move was unanimously recommended by the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States, which oversees national security risks.
But according to TikTok, divesting its stake would not do much to change the current data flows and access.
“If protecting national security is the objective, divestment doesn’t solve the problem: a change in ownership would not impose any new restrictions on data flows or access. The best way to address concerns about national security is with the transparent, US-based protection of US user data and systems,” a spokesperson of the company said. TikTok also says it has already carried out an effort to move data on American users to the US as part of an initiative it referred to as Project Texas. Earlier this month, the company also launched a similar initiative (Project Clover) to allay similar security fears in the European Union.
Amazon is adding a new label to mark popular products’ approximate sales for each product on its website and app public.
The company is testing a new label that will highlight how many of each item have been sold recently (e.g. ‘100K+ bought in past month‘). Instead of providing a precise tally of units sold, the sales number will be an estimate rounded up into hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands. The maximum sales tally that will appear is capped at 100K, and the time range will vary from a week or a month. While the new changes are not available to everyone, some users can already see the new label on Amazon product pages.
Help Popular Products Stand Out
The new metric is a welcome update that will help popular products stand out on the platform. So far, shoppers have only been able to see the sales rank, a popularity rank that loosely indicates the volume of recent sales in relation to other products. But because sales rank has been one among many other details on a product page, many shoppers seem to be unaware of it. Simply seeing how many units of a certain product have been purchased by other shoppers in the recent past makes it easier to gauge popularity, especially when buying from a little-known or unrecognizable brand.
Product Research Made Easier
Many creators and third-party sellers often employ product research tools that estimate sales volume based on the sales rank. However, with the new metric, estimating sales volume would be much easier. It certainly wouldn’t replace the product research tools currently in use, but would certainly help improve accuracy. It’s important to note though that the label is primarily designed for shoppers and is not (currently) yet available to sellers via Seller Central or APIs.
Did you already see this label on Amazon? Let us know what you think about this new feature and how it’s going to make a difference in the marketplace (for both vendors and shoppers).
Meta is moving away from crypto projects, even after it had pitched NFTs (digital collectibles) as a part of its ‘meta verse’ plans.
What are NFTs?
NFT stands for non-fungible token, which is a type of digital asset that is unique and cannot be exchanged for another asset on a one-to-one basis like traditional currencies or cryptocurrencies. NFTs are based on blockchain technology to allow for digital ownership and verification of authenticity. They have become increasingly popular over the last few years as a way for artists and creators to monetize their digital creations.
Out after less than 1 year
Stephane Kasriel, the company’s head of commerce and financial technologies, wrote on Twitter that the social media giant is retiring its NFT features on both Facebook and Instagram.
NFTs have had a particularly short lifetime at Meta given that the company only began testing the feature last May. The company had then expanded support to creators in 100 countries in July last year.
“We’re winding down digital collectibles (NFTs) for now to focus on other ways to support creators, people, and businesses,” Kasriel wrote on Twitter.
Moving towards Meta Pay?
It’s likely that the company is planning to prioritize Meta Pay and similar products that are focused on ensuring that creators can earn money off its platforms. Still, this announcement adds to a flurry of ‘peculiar’ changes the company has made over the last year. It’s only recently that they canceled Live Shopping on Facebook and then Instagram.
Q1 of 2023 is almost over and we have seen some interesting developments in the creator economy. While Meta appears bent on ditching social commerce, almost every other big player has been launching tools for creators. The important thing though is that the sector is making progress and is expected to reach over $62 billion by the end of the year.
From the increased popularity of micro-influencers to the use of ephemeral content, this article explores some of the trends that are already taking center stage.
Micro-influencers continue to rise in popularity
AI-powered influencer marketing becomes more prevalent
Video content is king in influencer marketing
Influencers take a stand for social causes
Long-term partnerships with influencers are prioritized
The use of ephemeral content in influencer marketing
Influencers become more authentic and relatable
1. Micro-influencers continue to rise in popularity
Micro-influencers (influencers with fewer than 10,000 followers) continue to gain momentum in 2023. Brands are recognizing that they can generate just as much impact (if not more) by partnering with multiple micro-influencers instead of one macro-influencer with a larger following. This is because micro-influencers tend to have a more engaged and loyal following, and their content is seen as more authentic and trustworthy. In addition, micro-influencers are typically more affordable, making influencer marketing campaigns more accessible for small businesses and startups.
2. AI-powered influencer marketing becomes more prevalent
Artificial intelligence is transforming influencer marketing by providing brands with more data-driven insights into the performance of influencer campaigns. AI tools are helping analyze massive amounts of data, including social media engagement rates, content themes, and audience demographics. This allows brands to identify the most effective influencers for their campaigns. AI-powered influencer platforms like Logie.ai are also helping automate tasks like influencer discovery, outreach, and performance tracking – saving marketers valuable time and resources.
3. Video content is king in influencer marketing
Video content continues to be a dominant force in influencer marketing. With the likes of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, influencers are increasingly creating short-form videos that are highly engaging and shareable. Brands are leveraging these video platforms to reach younger audiences and capitalize on the trend of snackable content. More so, long-form video content such as IGTV and YouTube videos also continue to be a popular format for influencer collaborations – as they allow for more in-depth storytelling and product demonstrations.
4. Influencers take a stand for social causes
As consumers become more socially conscious, influencers are using their platforms to raise awareness and advocate for important causes. In 2023, we can expect to see more influencer campaigns centered around social issues like sustainability, diversity, and mental health. Influencers are also using their voice to hold brands accountable for their actions and demand more transparency in influencer marketing partnerships.
5. Long-term partnerships with influencers are prioritized
Brands are shifting their focus from one-off influencer collaborations to long-term partnerships with influencers. These partnerships allow brands to build a more authentic relationship with an influencer’s audience and generate more consistent results over time. Long-term partnerships also give influencers the opportunity to become brand ambassadors and create more personalized content that resonates with their followers. This trend also leads to more effective influencer campaigns as brands and influencers better align their content and goals.
6. The use of ephemeral content in influencer marketing
Ephemeral content, or content that disappears after a short period of time, is becoming an increasingly popular format for influencer marketing. Platforms like Snapchat, Instagram Stories, and WhatsApp Status allow brands to create time-sensitive content that creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity for their audience. This format is particularly effective for product launches and flash sales, as it encourages immediate action from consumers. Ephemeral content also offers a more behind-the-scenes look at a brand or influencer’s life, creating a sense of intimacy and authenticity with their audience.
7. Influencers become more authentic and relatable
Influencers continue to prioritize authenticity and relatability in their content. Consumers are becoming increasingly skeptical of overly polished and staged influencer content, and are seeking out more relatable influencers who share their values and experiences. As a result, influencers are leaning into their individuality and creating content that feels more authentic and less commercialized. This trend is also leading to more diverse and inclusive representation in influencer marketing, as brands seek out influencers from different backgrounds and with different perspectives.
Conclusion
Influencer marketing continues to evolve to meet the dynamic needs of both brands and consumers. In addition to the influencer marketing trends, we also see that there’s a greater emphasis on diversity and representation and that marketers are spending more money on TikTok. Staying on top of these trends is a great way to continuously guide your strategy and meet evolving needs.
Facebook and Instagram influencers will no longer receive attractive payouts for video content published on the platforms. This is an interesting development given that the program has previously paid creators as much as $35,000 in bonuses (per month) for netting more than 58 million views through Reels videos. Many successful creators on Instagram could get anywhere between $600 and $1,000 for a few million views over the past year when the program has been active.
According to Business Insider, the company decided to suspend the lucrative creator rewarding incentive for creating short-form reels on Facebook and Instagram. The program was available to Facebook creators from all over the world but only restricted to Instagram creators based in the U.S. A Meta spokesperson however clarified that anyone who already signed up for a creator bonus over the last 30 days would still receive their payment.
This move comes after a flurry of changes that have put the social media giant in opposing paths with the competition. While the majority of social media and eCommerce platforms in the U.S. have been investing big in social commerce, Meta has been keen to kill it. Many analysts argue that Meta is trying to re-align to new goals but it’s not clear how that is going to happen if it keeps abandoning shopping features and the bounty-for-views programs that have appeared to work so well. Before this announcement, Meta influencers have had a number of ways for monetizing content. One of the top ways to earn money has been through overlay ads that show on Reels. Creators have also been able to generate income through paid online events, subscriptions, badges, and branded content.
Regulators in California last Friday shuttered Silicon Valley Bank. This was a stunning closure for an institution that has been around since 1983, and that has diligently served startups – including emerging e-commerce ventures. It was the 16th largest bank in the U.S. Not only did build a name as a reliable financial institution for startup banking and venture banking. Silicon Valley Bank also led to a rise in competition as traditional lenders such as First Republic and JP Morgan also started targeting startups.
The fall of Silicon Valley Bank
The bank last week revealed that it had recorded a $1.8 billion loss (post taxes). This was even after the organization had sold off about $21 billion in securities and had plans to raise a further $2.5 billion to strengthen its financial position. In light of the bank’s unstable position, news broke out on Thursday that several leading venture capital firms had advised their clients to pull their money out of Silicon Valley Bank. This led to a ripple effect that ultimately culminated in the bank’s downfall.
How does this affect ecommerce startups
eCommerce startups have not historically raised vast amounts of venture capital and many of them are thus less reliant on Silicon Valley Bank. However, there have been concerns about seismic ripple effects because companies that do business with eCommerce firms could be affected by the bank’s collapse. For instance, if a technology partner or vendor is affected, then this could lead to an adverse disruption that in fact affects the day-to-day running of firms in the eCommerce sector. Many companies were by Friday afternoon assessing how the bank’s collapse would impact them. Some are resulting in issuing notices to their customers reassuring them that their operations will not be affected while others are scrambling for ways to pre-empty any negative implications.
Short video giant TikTok has launched ‘Project Clover’, which it hopes will allay security fears and avert potential bans in Western markets.
The company has already sent senior executives to European marketers to outline data localization plans and appease European politicians. This move is similar to ‘Project Texas’, an initiative that the company carried out to appease U.S. lawmakers in 2020. It comes barely two weeks after EU officials banned the app on officials’ gadgets due to data security fears. Many have been concerned that, through the app, users’ data could be accessed by the Chinese government’s long arm.
Project Clover essentially focuses on keeping European users’ data in Europe and allowing an EU-based security company expansive access to audits and cybersecurity controls.
“That process is there to ensure a level of data sovereignty that we believe goes beyond what any company has done, and indeed believe what any of our peers said was possible,” said Theo Bertram, Europe’s vice president for government relations and public policy.
Under Investigation
TikTok is going through an active investigation led by the EU privacy regulator (the Irish Data Protection Commission) over allegations it illegally transferred EU users’ data to China. It’ll be interesting to see how effective this new initiative is in erasing fears and potentially creating a smooth European operating environment for the ByteDance-owned social media company.
Both Instagram reels and TikTok videos can be a great way to build a community around your shoppable content. What platform you want to prioritize will depend on what exactly you’re looking to achieve. Instagram Reels can be ideal if you want to create community-oriented, feature-packed content. However, if you’re looking to reach a wider user base, TikTok makes a lot of sense.
Regardless of the short video platform you use, knowing how to get your reels out there and make them go viral can make a whole lot of difference for your content strategy. This article explores strategies to expand the reach of your video content on Instagram and TikTok.
1. Pick a Trending Topic
One of the best ways to make a reel go viral is to tap into a trending topic. Look for hashtags and challenges that are popular on Instagram and create a reel that’s relevant to that topic. For example, if there’s a popular dance challenge going on, create a reel that shows off your moves. 58% of people say they visit Instagram to stay up to date with the latest trends. A lot of TikTok users will also visit the platform to catch up with entertaining content around the latest trends.
2. Use the Right Hashtags
Hashtags are essential for getting your reel seen by a wider audience. Make sure to use relevant hashtags that are related to your content. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, so use as many as you can to increase your reach. You can add as many hashtags to TikTok as you wish as long as they fit into the app’s character limit of 2200. According to Hootsuite, posts with at least one hashtag get 12.6% more engagement than those without.
3. Create Eye-catching Visuals
Your reel should be visually appealing to capture the attention of viewers. Use bright colors, interesting camera angles, and unique transitions to make your reel stand out. According to a study by Socialbakers, videos with bright colors and fast-paced visuals tend to perform better on Instagram.
4. Keep it Short and Sweet
Reels are meant to be short, so make sure your content is concise and to the point. Viewers are more likely to watch a 15-30 second video than a longer one, so keep that in mind when creating your reel. According to a study by Hubspot, videos under 15 seconds tend to perform the best on Instagram. Internal TikTok data that was given to creators in mid-2021 showed that the optimal TikTok video length was somewhere between 11 and 17 seconds. It later changed to between 24 and 31 seconds towards the end of the year.
5. Add Captions
Adding captions to your reel or TikTok short video can help increase engagement and make it more accessible to a wider audience. Not everyone watches videos with sound, so including captions can help viewers understand your content without having to turn on the sound. According to Instagram, 60% of people watch videos on their feed with the sound on, while 40% watch with the sound off. Another extensive study carried out by Verizon Media and Publicis Media in 2019 demonstrated that 69% of people see video with sound off in public places and 25% watch with sound off in private places. The same study also showed that 80% of US-based users are likely to watch an entire video if it has captions.
6. Collaborate with Other Creators
Collaborating with other creators can help you reach a wider audience and potentially go viral. Look for other creators in your niche and collaborate on your next reel or TikTok video. This can help you tap into their audience and vice versa. According to Hootsuite, collaborations can help you increase your reach by up to 60%.
7. Post at the Right Time
Posting your reel at the right time can also increase your chances of going viral. Look at your analytics to see when your audience is most active on Instagram and schedule your post accordingly. A study by Later showed that the best time to post on Instagram is between 11 am and 1 pm on weekdays.
The best time to post on TikTok USA (EST) is as follows (based on 2023 data):
Monday: 6 am, 10 am,11 pm
Tuesday: 2 am, 4 am, 9 am
Wednesday: 6 am, 8 am, 11 am
Thursday: 9 am, 12 pm, 7 pm
Friday: 5 am, 1 pm, 3 pm
Saturday: 11 am, 7 pm, 9 pm
Sunday: 7 am, 8 am, 4 pm
This may however vary from person to person based on the kind of content that you are publishing. Try to dig into your dashboard and see what the data says. What videos seem to do well? Is there a consistent pattern with regard to when they were posted?
8. Promote Your Reel
Promoting your reel can also help increase your reach and get more views. Share your reel on your Instagram story, promote it on other social media platforms, and encourage your followers to share it with their friends. The same goes for TikTok videos. According to Instagram, 75% of users take action after being inspired by a post.
Conclusion
Making a reel go viral takes a lot of effort and strategy. Tapping into trending topics, using the right hashtags, creating visually appealing content, and following some of the other strategies highlighted in this article can help. If you have a special method that seems to work well for you and is not on this list, let us know as well.
Logie streamlines influencer discovery, product distribution, and content performance to drive measurable sales for eCommerce brands. We also equip content creators with the smart tools, brand partnerships, and commission opportunities they need to turn content into income.
