This Week On Twitter: The Google+ Ghost Town, History Of Marketing And Social Media Influence

Need a little weekend reading? We’ve compiled our top ten Twitter stories of the week, which includes a new study that shows the ineffectiveness of Google+ compared to Twitter as a sharing platform, the history of marketing, how social media influence is more about who follows you (not how many), vacationing the social media way and how to track Twitter conversations. Here are our top 10 Twitter stories of the week. 1. Twitter Beats Facebook For Social Sharing (And, Yes, Google+ Is A Ghost Town) [STUDY] You’ve probably heard it a million times: Google+ is a ghost town. Heck, I’ve said it myself. It is a ghost town. Google might claim 170 million users, but because anyone with a Google account – you know, Gmail, YouTube and so on – is effectively bolted on to Google+ automatically, it’s debatable how many of those folks are truly active. And because Google isn’t exactly forthcoming with key data, like actual usage statistics, or session length, it all feels a little duplicitous. Sneaky, even. So what do we know? Back in February, independent data suggested that users spent just 3.3 minutes on Google+ in January, compared to 7.5 hours for Facebook. Now, a new study has revealed just how ineffective Google+ is as a social sharing platform, certainly compared to Twitter. 2. From Print To Social Media – The History Of Marketing [INFOGRAPHIC] The history of marketing goes back a long way – probably further than you thought! 3. Social Media: It’s About Who, Not How Many [STUDY] Despite the massive number of followers that folks like Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber boast on Twitter, they’re not necessarily the social media leaders they appear to be. A new study suggests that the demographic makeup of fans and followers means more than the sheer number of connections you have. 4. Vacationing The Social Media Way [INFOGRAPHIC] Did you know that 52 percent of travelers use social media for summer vacation inspiration? Mobile devices are quickly becoming portable, pocket travel agents, offering instant access to airfare prices, contact information, flight schedules and bookings. Facebook is the traveler’s social network of choice, with 29 percent using this platform for holiday inspiration, ahead of Twitter (6 percent) and Pinterest (4 percent). 5. Track Conversations On Twitter With @Conweets After recently noticing a certain someone interacting with another certain someone on Twitter you . . . have questions. Snoopy questions. And you wonder just how often these two connect and what they talk about. So you scroll through one (or both) of their twitter streams and begin your search. And then you happen upon some back and forths after expanding @mentions . . . and it’s all very tedious, really – so you eventually give up. Well, despair not super snoopers! There’s a new (free) service that you’re going to love. 6. London 2012 – A Very Social Olympic Games [INFOGRAPHIC] The 2012 London Olympics are well underway and while China and the USA lead the medals table, Great Britain has had its most successful Games since it first hosted the event back in 1908. Team GB’s current tally of 22 golds and 48 total medals have surpassed its total at Beijing in 2008, and we still have a week to go. Not bad for a place roughly half the size of California. Britain’s success aside, what London 2012 might most be remembered for is that this is the first truly social Olympics. Both Twitter and Facebook have seen remarkable growth over the last four years – Twitter has 23 times as many active users as it did in 2008 – and this, alongside the BBC’s world-beating television and online coverage (sorry NBC watchers) has led to an unprecedented level of social conversation. 7. The Underground Twitter Economy: Buying And Selling Followers [INFOGRAPHIC] There is a whole seedy underbelly to Twitter that I bet you know nothing about. It’s the shadowy Twitter follower black market: shifty websites and Twitter accounts offering thousands of followers or retweets for just a few dollars a pop. And here’s another thing you may or may not know: one of the presidential candidates’ Twitter accounts might be a part of this underground Twitter economy. 8. .@Mention Pro Tip: How To Let Everyone See What You’ve Replied You’re witty, well-versed in theoretical physics or some sort of creative wunderkind and your Twitter followers have no idea. How can this be? Well, you’re not the showy type and this side of you only comes out when you’re @replying to certain folks – and as we all know, a tweet that starts with an @mention is only seen by you, the recipient and folks following both of you. If only there was a quick and simple way to share those tweets with all of your followers. There is. 9. If Social Networks Were Dinosaurs… [INFOGRAPHIC] They’re nowhere near extinct, but what if social networks actually were dinosaurs? Can you take a stab at which ancient beast Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the rest would be? 10. What Are The Top Social Networks For Business Owners? [INFOGRAPHIC] When you’re new to social media, certainly as a business owner, it can quickly become overwhelming. You’ve heard all of these great things about Twitter and Facebook, and their proven track record, but Pinterest seems all shiny and exciting, too. LinkedIn you know is a business network, but does that make it better than Facebook for your brand? And what about Google+, Instagram and Foursquare – where exactly are you supposed to begin? Did you know we have a newsletter? Sign-up to receive a daily digest of all things Twitter, sent straight to your inbox. 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This Week On Twitter: The Google+ Ghost Town, History Of Marketing And Social Media Influence

Shea Bennett

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Shea Bennett