Time Inc.’s Business Strategy, Google I/O Announcements, New Snapchat Algorithm, Change to Twitter Character Limit, Media Metrics, TFP Infographic Pick of the Week
Welcome to Technology for Publishing’s roundup of news and tips for media industry pros! This week, we’re sharing stories about Time Inc. CEO Joe Ripp’s 2016 road map, announcements from Google’s I/O developer conference, a new Snapchat algorithm that will change how users see messages, Twitter’s plan to exclude photos and links in its character limit, and more.
- Time Inc. CEO Joe Ripp laid out his business strategy for the coming year, telling investors and journalists, “We are not a magazine company. We are a content company.” He acknowledged, though, that print will account for two-thirds of its 2016 revenue while just one-third will come from digital advertising. “[Print is] still an incredible cash machine,” Ripp said. “People pay us a year in advance.” According to a WWD report, the company is also focused on native advertising, e-commerce, video, live events, and cloud-based advertising technology it’s acquiring from Viant. And while he wouldn’t comment on rumors that Time Inc. is looking to buy parts of Yahoo’s business, Ripp said the company is interested in more acquisitions in general as the prices of digital companies come down, noting many properties have been “dramatically overpriced” given they “don’t make a nickel.”
- At its I/O conference this week Google detailed plans for virtual reality, artificial intelligence, mobile, and how it intends to bring all of those pieces together. BuzzFeed provided ongoing reports on a number of the announcements, including an AI-powered virtual assistant; a new feature called Android Instant Apps, which will let users run apps without installing them; a big update to its Android Wear platform, adding new features for watch faces, messaging, and fitness; and a new virtual reality platform for mobile called Daydream. As part of its all-in strategy in the VR space, the company is also setting up a new Google Play store with partners including The New York Times, CNN, Netflix, and the NBA.
- Digiday reported Snapchat is preparing to roll out an algorithm that will work much like Facebook’s, acting as “a gatekeeper between publishers and brands and their audiences.” Currently, app users see messages in chronological order, but that would change with the new algorithm, effectively making Snapchat the curator of publishers’ content. “It’s going to be the same model Facebook has: It’s free for everybody to share content, but an algorithm will penalize some people and boost others,” a source said in the article. No word yet on when the change is going to happen. Of course publishers also have the option of signing up for dedicated channels on Snapchat Discover. Check out a related Digiday post that looks at why some media companies go that route while others use free personal accounts to reach their audiences.
- In an effort to give users more flexibility, Twitter is planning to stop including photos and links in its 140-character limit, according to Bloomberg. Though the company hasn’t made a formal announcement, the change is expected to happen within two weeks, the report said. Links now take up 23 characters, even though Twitter automatically shortens them. As a platform geared toward real-time discussion around live events, Twitter earlier this year shot down the idea of raising its limit to as many as 10,000 characters, instead sticking with its current shorter, more concise format. This latest move, however, is intended to make it easier for users to include more media in their posts, Bloomberg said.
On the Technology for Publishing Blog
- This week’s infographic pick highlights A/B testing, a website optimization tool that compares two versions of a web page to see which produces the best conversion rate. It lays out a list of the key elements to test, steps involved in successful campaigns, and pitfalls to watch out for.
- Media Metrics: This month’s roundup covers long-form storytelling on mobile, consumers willing to pay for ad-free browsing, the continuing growth of social media, brand awareness on social platforms, and more.
- Adobe Experience Manager Mobile: Don’t miss Monica Murphy’s latest tip covering AEM Mobile’s partial match support for filtering content.
Image: WWD
Visit our blog for highlights of interesting and noteworthy stories from the publishing world every Friday, and sign up for TFP’s This Week in Publishing newsletter. Think we missed something great? Let us know! Leave a comment below or drop us a note.
Posted by: Monica Sambataro
