Mediaboss Marketing

Given the lockdowns that kept most of us at home throughout much of 2020, it likely comes as little surprise to learn that gaming saw a huge surge in popularity, as people sought alternative forms of entertainment and connection.

But the scale of that growth is fairly amazing. Last week, Facebook shared its latest insights into the growth of gaming that it saw throughout the year, including a 50% increase in mobile gaming in the UK. And this week, Twitter has shared its latest data on the rising gaming discussion on its platform.

As per Twitter:

"For the first time ever, there were more than 2 billion Tweets about gaming throughout the year. This is up 75% from 2019, with a 49% increase in unique authors."

A 75% jump in gaming-related discussion. That, as noted, makes sense in the context of the COVID-19 lockdowns. But even so, at such scale, you can absolutely expect gaming to become a more habitual, formative element of connection, particularly for younger audiences, even once we're able to go back to a level of normal in the wake of the pandemic.

In terms of specific topics, 'Gaming' in general was the leading point of interest, but it's also worth noting the rise of eSports, and the specific games getting attention.

Twitter also that Japan - Twitter's second-biggest user market(behind the US) - lead the way in gaming discussion:

It's interesting, too, to note the rise of gaming culture, including events:

Gaming events are now big business, and they provided an even more significant connection opportunity amid the pandemic, with the biggest events seeing millions of viewers tuning in from around the world.

Their growth and popularity also underlines the legitimacy of eSports as a genuine rival for traditional sports in terms of fan engagement - which also relates to eSports stars, who are now becoming major celebrities in their own right.

The numbers once again underline the important role that gaming now plays in online culture, and its capacity to fuel communities of passionate, like-minded users. Indeed, five of YouTube's top ten channels of 2020 were also gaming related.

That means that marketers need to be paying attention to gaming, and gaming culture, as a means to connect. And even if it doesn't seem like an ideal fit for your brand, there are rising opportunities for in-game marketing which could present new avenues for branding to link into this growing segment.

Indeed, Pokemon GO just announced a new collaboration with The North Faceon digital clothing for your in-game avatars, which Snapchat is also working on for its Bitmoji characters. Expect more in-game, interactive tie-ins like this, as well as digital billboards and other connection opportunities that could provide new ways to link into the gaming cohort.

Because gaming is only going to grow, and become more influential over time. Ask any young YouTube viewer who their favorite creator is and they'll likely refer to a gaming streamer.

This is a key market segment to watch, and to consider within your broader digital outreach plans.

You can check out Twitter's full 2020 Gaming Tweets overview here.

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Twitter Reports 75% Increase in Gaming-Related Tweets in 2020 - Social Media Today

While the full economic impacts of COVID-19 still unclear, and are likely to keep expanding for some time yet, the bottom line is that, right now, many, many people, in many regions across the world, are without jobs, and getting as many of them as possible back into work will be a key focus to help re-build societal structures in the wake of the pandemic

That will be a massive task, and while the gradual roll-out of vaccines will re-open a range of new opportunities, and spark new growth, it's also important that those looking for work have some guidance as to the key areas of demand, to help them refine their skillsets in-line with market need.

Which is where LinkedIn is looking to help. Using its unmatched database of professional insights, LinkedIn has this week announced that it's launching a new report to highlight emerging opportunities.

As per LinkedIn:

"To support those millions of job seekers, were changing LinkedIns Emerging Jobs Report - our annual report identifying trends over a period of five years - to focus on where the opportunity is right now. The new 'Jobs on the Rise'list features the 15 fastest-growing job trends from 2020 and the skills you need to land those jobs."

The new, interactive report includes a range of insights into the key roles in demand, including job titles, core skills, salary ranges, and more.

The listings also helpfully include insight into how many of the roles in each category can be conducted remotely, aligning with the rising WFH shift.

In addition to this, LinkedIn's also looking to provide relevant training opportunities to help people re-skill as required:

"Based on the millions of professionals who got hired last year, today we identified the top five hard and soft skill coursesthey watched before landing their new role, and made them all free."

LinkedIn has made a range of LinkedIn Learning courses available for free over the past year in response to the pandemic, and by further extending such access, it could help to make the platform a more critical provider of professional education and career development, aligning, again, with rising market need.

Looking at the latest list from a digital marketing perspective, it's good to note that 'digital marketing professionals', 'digital content creators', 'user experience professionals', 'data science specialists' and 'artificial intelligence practitioners' make the cut of in-demand roles.

Of course, this is based on LinkedIn data, so it makes sense that organizations in these areas would be more actively looking for employees on the platform, but it does show that your skills are in demand, and it's worth keeping up to date with the latest (by, say, reading Social Media Today) to stay on top of changes and shifts.

It's a good initiative, and another step in LinkedIn's broader effort to position itself as the key platform for professional and career development, using its massive database of professional insights to show the way forward on potential advancement and opportunity.

No platform has ever had more information on this front than LinkedIn, and it continues to develop new ways to use its data to help people find the best way forward - which, over the next 12 months, will be increasingly important.

More here:
LinkedIn Launches New 'Jobs on the Rise' Report to Assist in Economic Recovery - Social Media Today

Los Angeles, CA / November 2020Marketing communication has greatly evolved with the turn of the century. Gone are the days when marketing was a one-way street. With the emergence of the digital space, marketing has become an open conversation between brands and their customers. On a mission to help companies engage their audiences, AK Digital was built to assist clients navigate todays cutthroat social media marketing industry.

If youre on TikTok, youve probably heard of Kaansanity! His real name is Aakaanksh Autade and with just over 3.8 million followers on the app, hes hard to miss! Coupled with his large TikTok presence, he also runs a marketing agency named AK Digital where he has worked with tons of clients around the world.

AK Digital is reshaping the digital landscape with its innovative and practical solutions, tailored to fit various markets from all walks of life. The company generates thousands annually through its diverse clientele and AK Digital caters to various social media management and digital marketing needs, including Facebook ads, paid traffic, and lead generation.

AK Digital has been pivotal to the success of some of the worlds largest e-commerce companies and multiple online ventures. Over the years, the company has created engaging advertising campaigns for Grammarly, Chegg, Amazon, Public, Bartlebys and more! Known for its strategies in establishing paid traffic for its clients on social media, AK Digital has allowed brands to sail a cut above the rest. The company primarily utilizes Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok (one of the fastest-growing platforms today) for implementing its strategies.

We provide results-driven social media marketing services and work closely with marketers every step of the way to integrate social media as an essential business practice, remarked AK Digital CEO Aakaanksh Autade. Furthermore, the company believes that social media is the essence of modern marketing, recognizing its role in bridging the gap between consumers and brands and the ability to connect people anywhere in the world. If brands want to be relevant to consumers, they must take a social media approach to marketing communications, added the CEO.

As a child, I always wanted to work for myself. I loved the world of entrepreneurship and took part in reselling, dropshipping, stocks, and web design, shared Aakaanksh. He began by learning the ropes of Facebook ads before finding his niche in e-commerce and social media marketing. Today, Aakaanksh is furthering the cause of social media marketing through AK Digital.

Asked if AK Digital has some tips for emerging online businesses, Aakaanksh shared that an entrepreneur should first find an excellent market to establish ones niche and build a business model around it. Second, one should focus on what the customer wants. Its important that all of your energy goes into the customer experience, said Aakaanksh. Next, a good entrepreneur should always know their competition. Keeping good records is also on his list, highlighting organization and accountability. Lastly, Aakaanksh shared that one should be persistent in business to succeed.

Take every opportunity as a learning experience, shared the CEO. On top of managing AK Digital, Aakaanksh Autade also takes time to grow further by building a non-profit company called Snap-Tutors, focused on bridging the gap between students and the opportunity to learn amid these trying times. The CEO noticed how students were struggling because of the lack of a one-on-one classroom setting and Snap-Tutors not only allows them to learn but also provides meaningful volunteering opportunities.

Learn more about AK Digital on its website.

Company Name: AK Digital

Email: aakaanksh.business@gmail.com

Phone Number: 408 888 9662

Website: http://www.aakaanksh.com

Instagram: @kaansanity

TikTok handle: @kaansanity

Published January 1st, 2021

Opinions expressed here are the opinions of the author. Influencive does not endorse or review brands mentioned; does not and can not investigate relationships with brands, products, and people mentioned and is up to the author to disclose. VIP Contributors and Contributors, amongst other accounts and articles, are professional fee-based.

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AK Digital and the Kaansanity Brand Highlight the Importance of Social Media in Marketing Communication - Influencive

After his company, XX Artists, raked over $1 million in revenue in 2019, 2011 McNary grad Kyle Kuhns ended 2020 by being named to the Forbes Top 30 under 30 list of entrepreneurs who are transforming marketing and advertising.

Kyle Kuhns was named to to the Forbes Top 30 under 30 list (Submitted).

When Kyle Kuhns graduated from McNary High School in 2011, he was unsure of what he wanted to do with his life.

Now, Kuhns is founder and CEO of XX Artists, one of the biggest marketing agencies on the west coast, representing names such as Robinhood, Brie Larson and Jennifer Hudson as well as YouTube, Lilly Singh and NBC Universal.

After the company raked over $1 million in revenue in 2019, Kuhns ended 2020 by being named to the Forbes Top 30 under 30 list of entrepreneurs who are transforming marketing and advertising.

It's a huge honor. I feel like it's a reflection of my team more than anything else and it's definitely beyond what I ever imagined in this realm, Kuhns said.

XX Artists is a boutique digital marketing agency located in Playa Vista, CA. that provides social marketing services. Their goal as a company is to be an extension of their clients' teams, creating community through content and executing strategies that bring brands to life on the internet by delivering tailor-made, end-to-end digital marketing campaigns.

Kuhns has also expanded the platform to include business verticals such as social marketing, creative services, talent partnerships and music digital.

Even after three years, Kuhns still has moments of being starstruck by a number of his clients.

It's a bizarre feeling to represent people that you are huge fans of but it helps me do my job better. Everyone we work with is a normal human like anyone else, Kuhns said. I'm grateful that I have a staff that helps these people elevate themselves and their brand.

After graduating from McNary, Kuhns planned on going the collegiate route, attending Chemeketa Community College for two years, then transferring to Willamette University after receiving a partial scholarship. But after a year at Willamette, Kuhns decided that he needed to change things up. His plan was to take a year off school and live in Los Angeles to figure out what a possible career would look like.

Kuhns eventually got the opportunity to work as an executive assistant to the CEO of Le Chef Costumier, a costume company in Southern California. Alongwith being in charge of projects and contract management, Kuhns also did some marketing for the company, and discovered that he had a gift.

Even though I had never really thought about marketing as a career, I realized that there was something here. Im good at it and I enjoy it, Kuhns said.

Kuhns began to take one to two days per week to start marketing independently. He started off by representing the Salem band, My Brothers and I, and did social marketing for YouTube Premium formally known as YouTube Red.

Kuhns began to develop a passion for content creation, platform management and bringing ideas to life online. After working for Sony Music Entertainment in digital strategy and content production for a little over a year, Kuhns officially launched XX Artists in 2017.

I just knew I wanted the company to be and said yes to the opportunity, Kuhns said.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been rough on numerous businesses throughout the country, XX Artists has continued to thrive.

We were well positioned to ride this out, mainly because people stopped going out and instead were spending a lot of their time online most social platforms have seen growth during COVID, Kuhns said.

After another successful year, Kuhns is hoping to expand his staff from 35 employees to 55 in 2021.

I just want to continue to work with cool brands that are creative and look at the internet as an experiment, Kuhns said.

Read the original post:
Kuhns named to Top 30 Under 30 | Keizertimes | You think you know. To be sure, read Keizertimes. - Keizertimes

Apple now allows users to tailor which apps get info from their device. Facebook is arguing that this feature loses value for advertisers and hurts small businesses.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. If youve spent any time scrolling through Facebook or Instagram over the past few days, chances are youve come across a video like this onea montage of small business owners, produced by Facebook, accusing Apple of essentially sabotaging their marketing efforts.

Social media is so crucial to every small business that I know, said a man in the video. I dont know where my business would be if I wasnt able to run a personalized ad, a woman featured says following.

Facebooks gripe with Apple is over the latest iOS 14 update (software your iPhone or iPad may be running right now, whether you realize it or not). The feature that you or I probably noticed first was the redesigned home screen, but another part of the update hidden under the surface is the source of the latest tech drama.

Apple is now letting users proactively decide whether or not to allow apps theyve downloaded track certain data, like the websites they visit or the things theyve shopped for recently. Apple has argued this puts the power in the hands of the user to decide what information about them is shared.

Advertisers worry that users will decide not to share, and that in turn has Facebook worried. One of the reasons apps like Facebook and Instagram can be offered for free is because businesses see high value in their ad potential. Targeted ads, specificallyfor example, a running shoe ad for a person who has been searching for them onlineis a marketing model that is particularly valuable.

Will this new update hurt small businesses like Facebook is claiming?

To be sure, different entrepreneurs will have different opinions and answers to that question; but, we spoke with Randy Blevins, the founder of Think Tank Marketing in Louisville.

Think Tank is a small business that helps other small businesses in our area market themselves, particularly through social media. In other words, he is well-poised to weigh in on this topic.

Blevins said this update could negatively impact some businesses particularly larger ones that offer specialized products and sell exclusively online, but well before this he has always advised his clients to take an all-encompassing approach to advertising so they are not as vulnerable to the changing winds of tech.

Im not mad about it, but obviously from my point of view its going to affect how we do things, said Blevins. For example, if Im working with my popcorn company, I cant easily find out that you like snack foods and popcorn anymore. So, its not that youre not going to get adsI think youre still going to get adsbut it may not be the ads that youre interested in at all.

Therein lies the trade off in tech when it comes to privacy. One way to look at target ads is to view them as intrusive on your web activities across different sites. Apple is planting its flag squarely in the privacy side of the debate.

However, some, including Blevins, view marketing as a service not only for the businesses employing it, but for the potential customers as well. Some customers shopping for new running shoes may be glad be informed of a current sale going on, even if it means that store offering the sale is targeting them based on their search history.

Thats why Blevins said plans to allow his social media apps to continue collecting his web traffic data.

Ive gotten shoes that I like, Ive found new brands that I like during COVID for masks and things, because theyve been serving me ads based on my preferences, Blevins said. So Ill probably opt in.

Contact reporter Rob Harris atrjharris@whas11.com. Follow him onTwitter (@robharristv)andFacebook.

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Facebook, Apple are feuding over ads | What does it mean for local businesses? - WHAS11.com