Facebook has once again quietly made adjustments to its page guidelines and the rules surrounding cover photos.  However this time, the changes actually work in favor of brands as Facebook has loosened the rules a little.

As of March 6th, Facebook page administrators can now include contact information, purchase information and even a call-to-action on their Facebook cover photos.

The current Facebook cover photo rule:  All covers are public. This means that anyone who visits your page will be able to see your cover. Covers can’t be deceptive, misleading, or infringe on anyone else’s copyright. You may not encourage people to upload your cover to their personal timelines. Covers may not include images with more than 20% text.

The one rule that does remain from the original set – much to the dismay of our design team – is the dreaded 20% text rule. Facebook cover photos still can not have more then 20% text. The same 20% rule applies to images used in Facebook ads and promoted posts, which we somewhat agree with. We don’t want to clutter up user feeds with text-heavy ads. But why only 20% on the cover photo and no limitations on “regular” none-promoted photos?  For that, I have no answer. However, I do make sure to follow the guidelines. Do you?

Here is a link that will help you better understand exactly what 20% text looks like:
www.facebook.com/help/468870969814641/

What do you think about the 20% rule when it comes to the cover photo? Tell us below.

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Read more Facebook’s “20% rule” in the latest 360Social Digital Download, a round-up of digital marketing news for brands.

FTC Crack Down on Social Media Advertising - The FTC is heavily monitoring advertisers on Twitter and Facebook to protect consumers from misleading ads. If you suspect that your ad may be misleading, add a disclosure or rephrase the copy. Remember that disclosures need to be clear and visible on all devices and platforms that consumers may use to view the ad.

Facebook Lessens Regulation on 20% Text Rule - Brands are now able to include calls to action, contact info, or references to price or purchase information in the cover photo, but there is still a 20 % limit for text overlay. The new guidelines offer brands more flexibility in the sort of content included in cover photos.

#Facebook to Incorporate Hashtags? 
- Twitter created the hashtag to allow users to collate tweets relating to a single topic or news event, and Instagram quickly followed suit, but is Facebook next? Facebook is testing the hashtag feature, which would allow Facebook users to click on the hashtag (#360PR) to pull up all posts about similar topics or events so it can quickly index conversations around trending topics and build those conversations up, giving users more reason to stay logged in and see more ads.

Brands Start Using 6-Second Video App Vine - 6-second video sharing app Vine was acquired by Twitter in December, making people wonder if it could be this year’s hot new app on the block. Hopeful of its rise in popularity, many brands have jumped in to create their own microvideos to share both on Vine and Twitter. Mashable ranked the 10 Best Brands on Vine. Stop Motion videos are beginning to define the Vine tone between both users and brands. Brands are creative, inspiring, and funny.

Google Reader Out. Feedly In - Since Google announced that they would be killing off Google Reader, many users turned to the app Feedly to get their RSS Feeds. A few performance glitches from Google Alerts have thrown users into a whirl of speculation that Google may terminate of Alerts next. Google has said nothing about ending the service, but everyone is in search of a back up free email alert system.

Filed under: Design, Digital Digest, Digital PR, FaceBook, Internet, Mobile Industry, Social Media, Social Networking by Kyle-Bishop - No Comments →

In 360PR’s 10th year, we are celebrating by sharing some of the things we’ve learned along the way in a “10 minutes with…” series featuring interviews with our practice leaders! Last time we chatted with the Account Director of our Parenting practice, Caroline Pierce.  Now we’ve sat down with Mike Rush, Account Director of our @Home practice, to learn more about him and some of the trends he has spotted!

Nesting has certainly been a pervasive trend the past several years.  What other trends are you leveraging for 360 clients in the home goods space?

Many of 360’s @Home clients are focusing on energy- and cost-savings, helping homeowners build the castle of their dreams while not breaking the bank.  Savings benefits are being communicated in a variety of ways — through tools such as online savings calculators, Facebook coupons and DIY tips.  As a team, we’ve been exploring consumers’ tertiary uses for home products, too, which can help create buzz – like running a humidifier to create white noise and a quieter sleeping environment (in addition to reaping all the other benefits of using a humidifier).

How much have eco-trends affected the home space?

It’s not just about recycling, ENERGY STAR, and eco-friendly packaging anymore.  After what seemed like a green-washing epidemic, there’s been a more meaningful discussion of tangible eco-benefits that hit close to home, like low-VOC paint.  Many 360PR @Home clients are turning to qualitative research to get to the root of eco-trends in their specific industry.  A recent survey Honeywell Air Purifiers, for example, found that only 1/3 of Americans have actually considered how indoor air can be affecting their health.  A scary thought given the EPA has found that VOC levels on average are 2-5 times higher indoors than outdoors.

How have media responded?

HGTV, in particular, has groomed a new generation of home experts and stars.  There’s Mike Holmes from “Holmes on Homes,” David Bromstad from “Color Splash,” and Sabrina Soto from “Get It Sold,” who recently signed as a spokesperson for both Target and Claritin.  Magazine editors at the home magazines have also become the faces of the morning shows – Sarah Humphreys at Real Simple and Elizabeth Mayhew from House Beautiful are two of my favorites who both regularly appear on TODAY.

What are some of your go-to sources for the newest home products and home design trends?

Urban Daddy is my source for off-beat home design trends and products – just last week I was tempted to buy a Merriam Webster Dictionary hollowed out with a flask for whiskey inside and I don’t even like whiskey!  I’m also an avid reader of all the home magazines.  Suzanne Kasler and Thomas Paul are two of my favorite designers.  Top designers are teaming with retailers for exclusive lines – like Suzanne’s collection of furniture and accessories available through Ballard Designs.  And I love the style that Martha Stewart brings to The Home Depot (if you haven’t checked out HD’s upscale spin-off site HomeDecorators.com, you should).

What’s your newest can’t-live-without purchase at home?

Hands down it’s my Cuisinart Griddler. Prosciutto Jarlsberg paninis are the best on it and it’s a life-saver for grilling chicken!

Filed under: 10 Minutes With Our Practice Leaders, 360 Public Relations, Design, Media and Press by Admin - 1 Comment →

By Vanessa MacAulay

Starbucks started 2011 off with a bang by unveiling their new logo. In a bold twist they removed their name and now feature only the green symbol of the Starbucks mermaid.

Many companies have taken this same approach in the past, removing the brand name from their logo: Target, Nike & McDonald’s are some great examples. Target has one of the most recognized symbols across the world, only trailing to the smiley face. The question is, was Starbuck’s ready to make this move?

Personally, I think it was a smart move for Starbuck’s for a couple of reasons. First, they are receiving tons of media coverage from it. In addition, it was a transitional and planned out concept (see photo below), and shows they have confidence in themselves as a company.

What do you think of Starbuck’s new logo?

Filed under: Consumer Marketing, Design, Retail by Admin - 5 Comments →

The Annual Webby Awards is THE platform for designers to show off their web skills and for fellow creatives to view a collection of inspiring online campaigns in categories ranging from Online Film & Video to Interactive Advertising.

The winners of the 2010 Webby Awards were just announced earlier this week and one contestant who really broke the mold was TBWA\Chiat\Day with the “We’re All Fans” site promoting the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Rightfully so, the site swept both Webby & People’s Voice for the “Best Use of Online Media” as well as the People’s Voice for “Best Visual Design – Aesthetic”.

What makes this site so unique? It collages conversations happening across social media together to form a portrait of a selected musical artist. You really have to see it to believe it! The viewer can even “Join the Conversation” from the site itself and view their post within seconds. Not to mention, the site is incredibly eye catching with its sleek, black design.

We’re All Fans was supported with print and TV spots leading up to the night of the Grammy’s to encourage fans to connect with others by visiting the site. According to the Media Encoder Blog, of the New York Times, viewership for the 52nd Grammy Awards attracted it’s biggest audience in six years with 28.5 million viewers, a 35 percent increase from 2009.

As 360’s resident interactive designer, it is great to see the power of design and social media connecting fans from across the world – I’d say this campaign was a booming success. Did you have any favorites from this year’s Webby’s?  We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Filed under: Design, Digital PR, Social Media by Admin - 3 Comments →