Google Maps Updated With Pit Stop Support on iOS

After releasing its ‘pit stop’ update for Google Maps users on Android in October 2015, Google has announced the launch of the feature on iOS, allowing users to add new stops to their navigation routes without losing their original turn-by-turn directions.

With this update, users can search for gas stations, restaurants and other destinations by tapping the magnifying glass at the top right corner of the screen in the app’s navigation mode.

This brings up a list of suggested search terms, like gas stations and grocery stores (as examples), or users can search for other destinations by name or category. The app includes support for searching using voice commands.

When viewing search results, each destination is listed alongside its rating, and the estimated ‘detour’ time users can expect by adding the spot to their trip.

Google Maps is available to download for free on the iTunes App Store and Google Play. This feature will begin rolling out to iOS users February 29.

from SocialTimes | RSS Feed http://ift.tt/1RgBCSh
via IFTTT

Here Are The Top 7 Reasons You Should Attend MarTech

MarTech: The Marketing Tech Conference is right around the corner and we’re excited to share this incredible experience with you. If you haven’t registered yet, take a moment to review the top 7 reasons you should attend this year’s conference in San Francisco, March 21-22: Actionable content....

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.

from Search Engine Land: News & Info About SEO, PPC, SEM, Search Engines & Search Marketing http://ift.tt/1TM4lmv
via IFTTT

Facebook’s Moments App Now Supports Videos

Facebook’s emphasis on videos was extended to its stand-alone Moments application in updates Monday.

Moments users on both iOS and Android can now share videos alongside photos, and Facebook said in an email to SocialTimes that the ability to add videos to Moments slideshows will be included “in the coming weeks.”

Moments users: What are your thoughts on Monday’s update?

from SocialTimes | RSS Feed http://ift.tt/1LrkvQX
via IFTTT

SearchCap: Bing’s Search Wave, Mobile Page Speed Insights & Leap Day Google Doodle

Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web. The post SearchCap: Bing’s Search Wave, Mobile Page Speed Insights & Leap Day Google Doodle appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.

from Search Engine Land: News & Info About SEO, PPC, SEM, Search Engines & Search Marketing http://ift.tt/1oTGzdr
via IFTTT

More Instagram Advertising Means Less Organic Engagement (Report)

Has more advertising on Instagram led to poorer engagement for brands on the Facebook-owned photo- and video-sharing network?

Social analytics and reporting company Locowise released its January Instagram data, and its findings included:

• Follower growth remained strong. The January figure of 0.37 percent was up 60.87 percent from December and marked the highest growth since last August. Facebook only saw page like growth of 0.16 percent in January, while Twitter’s follower growth for the month was just 0.11 percent.
• However, Instagram’s post engagement rate of 0.95 percent of total audience marked the lowest since Locowise began studying the network 10 months ago, and it was down 12.04 percent from December. Locowise said Instagram post engagement rate has fallen 66.07 percent over the past 10 months.
• Despite the slump, the post engagement rate for Instagram in January was still higher than those for Facebook (0.46 percent) and Twitter (0.09 percent).
• 91.83 percent of posts on the brand accounts studied by Locowise in January were images, and image posts engaged 0.97 percent of their total audiences, while that figure slipped to 0.68 percent for video posts.

Locowise said in a blog post revealing its January results:

During the same period, Instagram has ramped up its advertising business as Facebook is pushing the platform to deliver return-on-investment. Some reports show that the volume of Instagram ad impressions has increased by a factor of 13 over the past five months. The plan is to get even more advertisers on board.

Analysts predict that Instagram will grow to 520 million monthly active users during the year and that it will generate up to $2 billion in revenue by end of 2016. Instagram no longer seems as independent as it was in the years since its acquisition by Facebook in 2012. It’s interesting to think about how long WhatsApp will be able to hold to its commitment to not run advertising.

Readers: What did you think of Locowise’s Instagram findings for January 2016?

from SocialTimes | RSS Feed http://ift.tt/1RgjI1S
via IFTTT

Next Fallout Shelter Update Includes Crafting, Parrots, More

Bethesda has revealed the next content update for Fallout Shelter on iOS and Android, which is set to launch later this week. The version 1.4 update will introduce a new crafting system to the game, allowing players to create armor and weapons for their Dwellers.

The 1.4 update will include two new rooms for weapon and armor crafting, and will allow users to collect ‘junk’ items to use as crafting materials. Players will be able to collect junk by sending explorers into the Wasteland, or by opening lunchboxes (each will contain a junk card).

In addition, this update will introduce new weapons and armor from the Fallout 4 video game, which players will be able to craft or find in lunchboxes.

Elsewhere, a new Barbershop room will allow users to customize the appearance of their Dwellers, and players will be able to collect a third type of pet for their Vault: parrots. Additional dogs and cats will also be introduced in this update, along with new pet bonuses.

Finally, the update will introduce a realistic day and night cycle to the game.

Fallout Shelter is available to download for free on the iTunes App Store and Google Play. The game takes place in the popular Fallout universe, and sees players construct an underground Vault to protect survivors from the Wasteland.

Fallout Shelter launched on iOS in June 2015, and over 85 million Vaults were created in the game’s first month. The game released on Android in August 2015.

from SocialTimes | RSS Feed http://ift.tt/1QQlYmb
via IFTTT

Study: Instagram Users Think Positively of Gambling

A new study from OnlineCasino.ca analyzed Instagram posts from around the world to determine what Millennials think about gambling. The company analyzed hashtags related to gambling and gambling tournaments, and used AlchemyAPI to determine whether posts had positive or negative user sentiment.

The report found Millennials overall have a positive opinion of gambling. To be specific, the company found 33,926 Instagram hashtags that were determined to be positive, and 9,636 hashtags that were negative. Another 8,309 hashtags were considered neutral, while the sentiment of 4,776 posts couldn’t be determined.

When looking at individual hashtags, the report found two gaming hashtag categories had the most positive average sentiment: bingo and slots. On the other hand, the LA Poker Classic and roulette hashtag categories were found to have the most negative average sentiment.

The study found France, Canada, the U.S., Great Britain, Spain, Japan and Germany had the most positive gambling sentiment on Instagram, while countries like Chile and Pakistan had more negative sentiment scores. In the U.S. specifically, OnlineCasino.ca said more affluent areas tend to have more positive feelings about gambling.

Readers: Have you ever posted about gambling on Instagram?

from SocialTimes | RSS Feed http://ift.tt/1ncrUZ2
via IFTTT

Biggest #Oscars Moments on Social: Leo, Chris Rock and Spotlight

Hollywood award season is in full swing and for the 88th Annual Academy Awards, the social chatter started in mid January with questions about diversity. As promised, host Chris Rock addressed the diversity controversy in his monologue, while Leonardo DiCaprio generated buzz for his Best Actor win.

Overall, some 24 million Facebook users were responsible for 67 million interactions (posts, likes and comments) during the 88th Annual Academy Awards. DiCaprio generated the most buzz of the night both on Facebook and on Twitter with more than 440,000 Tweets per minute — beating the record set by the famed Ellen selfie from 2014.

DiCaprio used his acceptance speech and his post on Facebook as a moment to discuss the need for action on climate change. By Monday morning, his post had tallied more than 1.5 million likes.

According to Amobee Intelligence, it was Rock’s monologue, where he addressed the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, that was the runner up for most buzz on Twitter with 370,440 live Tweets. Bette Midler even took a jab at the Academy with a pointed Tweet that was Retweeted more than 30,000 times.

The Oscars are today! You know, the awards show where Leonardo DiCaprio is “overdue” but black people can “wait till next year.”

— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) February 28, 2016

Rock also won the most awkward moment when he finished his monologue by inviting Fox & Friends Host Stacy Dash on stage as the director of the Academy minority outreach program. The moment, generated 158,211 mentions on Twitter and was met with silence and a smattering of confused laughter from the audience as Dash walked on stage and wished everyone a Happy Black History Month.

The top Oscar moments on Facebook included:

1. Leonardo DiCaprio wins Best Actor
2. Spotlight wins Best Picture
3. Lady Gaga performs Til It Happens to You
4. Alejandro González Iñárritu wins Best Director
5. Mark Rylance wins Best Actor in a Supporting Role

The most-talked about people on Twitter were:

1. Leonardo DiCaprio (780,147 Tweets)
2. Chris Rock (370,440 Tweets)
3. Lady Gaga (271,908 Tweets)
4. Stacey Dash (158,211 Tweets)
5. Sam Smith (134,649 Tweets)

Image courtesy of Leonardo DiCaprio on Facebook.

from SocialTimes | RSS Feed http://ift.tt/1ScTu5i
via IFTTT

SEO & The Zero Moment of Truth

Columnist Marcus Miller discusses how the customer journey has changed in the digital age and recommends ways to reach consumers at each stage of the journey via SEO. The post SEO & The Zero Moment of Truth appeared first on Search Engine Land.

Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.

from Search Engine Land: News & Info About SEO, PPC, SEM, Search Engines & Search Marketing http://ift.tt/1RAwMSu
via IFTTT