AMP Stories Rollout, Google Offsetting Facebook Shortfall, Digital Media at the Olympics, Lack of Content Marketing Talent, TFP’s Infographic Pick of the Week, TFP’s Book Picks
Welcome to Technology for Publishing’s roundup of news, stories of interest, and tips for media industry pros! This week, we’re sharing posts about new AMP “stories” technology, a jump in Google-generated pageviews as those from Facebook decrease, cool digital media at the Olympics, a lack of talent as the line between advertising and entertainment blurs, and more.
Publishers got access to a developer’s preview of new Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) technology that lets them create mobile-optimized Snapchat-like “stories,” featuring swipeable slides, graphics, videos, and the like. Publishers now testing it out include Vox Media, Condé Nast, Meredith, and CNN, The Wall Street Journal reports. Problem is, AMP stories don’t yet support advertising—a big stumbling block that could slow adoption. Still, “several publishing executives expressed willingness to experiment with the format in the hopes of an eventual payoff,” the report says.- In related news, recent data shows Google is stepping up where Facebook is falling short in terms of driving traffic to publishers. A Recode post says while the latter announced it’s adjusting its algorithms to favor posts from family and friends over articles from media outlets, Google’s AMP publisher program has grown 25% since October, with 31 million sites participating. The result: In the first week of February, Google sent almost 40% more pageviews to publishers than it did in January 2017 (mostly from mobile and AMP), according to the article. In contrast, pageviews from Facebook were down 20%.
- The Olympics are a great opportunity for news orgs to test out new digital media, says Nieman Lab, and this year’s Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, are no exception. We’re seeing everything from VR/AR and Snapchat Live shows to special podcasts and messaging apps. For example, it reports, NBC’s Sports VR app lets you view event footage using either VR headsets or your phone. Or you can get personalized content about your favorite events and Olympians via the New York Times’ revamped messaging app and see coverage in augmented reality, either in the Times’ iOS app or on its website. Check out other cool features on Nieman’s site.
- As advertising and entertainment merge, publishers, agencies, and brands are finding it increasingly difficult to find people with the right balance of skills, says Digiday. In fact, recent surveys show that while 76% of marketing departments are increasing their content marketing budgets this year, 43% can’t find the hires they need. What are the skills most in demand? User experience, experiential, digital design, 3D motion graphics, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, says staffing firm VP Sarah Pak in the article.
On the Technology for Publishing Blog
- TFP’s Infographic Pick: How much information are you willing to give up for personalized experiences? That’s what brands are trying hard to figure out—and as this week’s infographic pick shows, trillions of dollars are at stake.
- TFP’s Book Picks: Learn how to build a better business, from creating an optimal work culture and leveraging the science of timing to ensuring positive customer experiences and closing the gender gap.
- ICYMI: In our latest Media Metrics roundup, get key stats on phablets, mobile video traffic, consumers’ reliance on tech, behavior tracking, and more. Also check out Monica Murphy’s InDesign Tip on size and position settings that boost the functionality of object styles.
Sadly, we join people across the nation in expressing our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims of the Parkland, Florida, school shootings this week.
Image: The Wall Street Journal/Jewell Samad, Agence France-Presse, Getty Images
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Posted by: Monica Sambataro
