Social Media This Week

Find out the exciting developments that happened in the Social Media universe in the week that went past. These changes can change the way you use Social Media.

Anonymous Login from Facebook

Facebook members have always been concerned about sharing personal information with apps. They can breathe easy now.

Facebook has announced the launch of Anonymous Login, a feature that puts “power and control squarely in people’s hands”.

Facebook will now provide two logins on your mobile. The first is the Facebook Login. This login is an updated version of the existing login, and gives members “the option to pick and choose what information apps get”.

The second is Anonymous Login. Facebook members can use this log in when they want to try an app but they are not willing to share personal information.

Facebook in its announcement said, “We are testing Anonymous Login with a few developers, and we plan to open it up to more developers in the coming months.”

Twitter introduces Website cards for advertisers

Twitter has a new gift for advertisers — the Website Card. According to Twitter, the Website Card “ will help advertisers drive relevant traffic to any page of their site because “users will be able to preview an image, related context and a clear call to action in their timeline before tapping”.

The Website card will allow advertisers to target customers based on signals like interest, keywords, or tailored audience segments.

Twitter says it has already tested the Website Card with a handful of brands like Citrix and Betabrand, and found that that their clicks shot up.

Pins to guide you

Search has a new address: Pinterest. You can now use the Guided Search launched by Pinterest to locate the right pins from the 30 billion Pins hand-picked by travelers, foodies, and other Pinners.

This is how Pinterest explains the difference between its Guided Search and the regular search: “Search engines are great for answering specific questions—the weather in San Francisco or the capital of Peru—but Pinterest can help with the questions that have more than one right answer.” For instance, you can use Guided Search to decide: “Where’s your next vacation or what’s for dinner tonight?”

You can do so with the Visual guides. Explains Pinterest, “Say you’re looking for plants to green up your apartment, guides help you get more specific—indoors, shade, succulents—so you can hone in on the ones that suit your space.

“Or when it’s time for your next haircut, search by specific styles—for redheads, curly hair, layers—to find your next look.”

Pinterest is rolling out the Guided Search first on mobiles. It will be in English to start with. You can get the app for iPhone, iPad or Android and give it a try.

Insert an Intro on your YouTube video

Now, amateurs and first timers can boost their channel’s recognition on YouTube by creating a distinctive intro for their videos.

The intro, according to YouTube, can be inserted in three easy steps:

Step 1:    Upload the three-second intro video you’d like to use to your channel as an unlisted video.

Step 2: On your channel’s InVideo Programming page, click “Add a channel branding intro” and select the intro from a list of eligible videos.

Step 3: Select which videos you want the intro to appear on.

You can always remove or change the intro later.

 (Published every Sunday)