Outsource Digital – Part of Outsource UK Ltd. We're committed to bringing you the most interesting headlines and latest industry insight.

Thursday, June 05, 2014

How Twitter considering buying music streaming as we know it.
If you're reading this in the UK - it's Spotify
If you're reading this in the US - it's Pandora
If you're reading this and you're Dr Dre (congratulations, by the way) - it's Beats Music.

That's pretty much the streaming music landscape, but it's a terrain that'd look very different if Twitter had completed a few of the acquisitions it was considering. The tweeting blue-bird apparently fluttered with the idea of opening its wallet for Spotify or Pandora and has only recently backed off from buying Soundcloud, reaching the advanced stage of holding talks with the company. 

(credit: techcrunch)


Twitter has already made one notable music purchase in its past, taking rather-good Spotify app We Are Hunted and turning it into the ill-fated Twitter #music. In the process robbing many Spotify playlists of decent emerging acts. Nevertheless Twitter integration is arguably much more promising fit for music services than the likes of Facebook as the average user's Twitter communities often much more closely mirror their tastes than Facebook friends gained through the dubious shared experience of proximity. Or to put it succinctly: just because you went to went to primary school with a girl, doesn't mean you'll share her love of showtunes.


We Are Hunted, when it was a very useful Spotify app
(credit: mitchmalone)


While Twitter has reportedly gone off the idea it's hard not to imagine how different things could be if these acquisitions were made. A much closer relationship between music and the content created around it and the artists' own association with their creation.

As someone who writes about social media, but also writes about music, it's a fascinating prospect and Twitter surely needs something to shake up its slowing growth. Numerous times major brands have prospered by associating themselves closer with music and it must be one of the most effective ways to successfully catapult into mass conciousness while also cementing a brand image with intelligent choices.

Converse has built a brand on its rock and roll association.
(credit: ning)


From my point of view this discussion of how Twitter could try to buy Spotify or Pandora is almost secondary to how Twitter should try to buy Spotify or Pandora. If the numbers don't add up for Twitter though, which is not unlikely as Spotify and Pandora rack up huge valuations, then the Soundcloud deal would have been ideal - except it's just abandoned it.

Who's with me?
Read More
Tuesday, June 03, 2014

WWDC: How Apple aims to seduce developers
While the average consumer may be disappointed by the lack of shiny, wallet-draining, new electronic toys announced by Apple at their developer's conference, WWDC, developers themselves have a lot to look forward to (and maybe a little bit to be afraid of).

Say hello, Swift. 
(credit: wired)


The headline news is Swift - Apple's brand new programming language, announced on Monday night in downtown San Francisco. It promises to blend in seamlessly with the language it'll supercede, Objective-C, and to democratise development with easier entry and faster processes. More than that though it can run code as it's written, rather than needing completed blocks to be processed. Beyond that they're 'borrowing' some almost Android-like features, better communication between apps and even third-party widgets, adding customisation to the famously locked-down experience. Albeit they do risk some backlash from the likes of WhatsApp and Snapchat by pretty blatantly lifting some of their most innovative features for the revamped iMessage.

Apple's courting of the developers is hugely important, as is it seemingly letting down its barriers with regards to more co-operation with other large companies. Including Bing as its search driver for its revamped Spotlight feature Apple is taking aim at a clear enemy, and before it really goes to do battle its amassing allies left right and centre (even buying Beats). The co-operation with Microsoft and a welcoming embrace for third-party widgets are a clear indication of Apple looking to bring as many people on board as possible in its overall quest to topple its largest rival, one that just stole its crown of 'most valuable brand'.

Finally Apple is looking to deliver the 'thermonuclear war' it promised; Google is in its sights.
Read More
Friday, May 30, 2014

What's Apple got in store for WWDC14?
"And life will be different as a result".

That's the bold claim Apple are making as the slogan to their latest developers conference. Not even "the" result, just "a" result. While not exactly known for their aversion for hyperbole it's still a pretty ambitious statement so let's take a look at the front running candidates for exactly what wares Apple will have to show, and some of the best mock-ups that the internet can throw up.

The likely

Mac OSX 10.10 Syrah - The desktop is likely to get the same beautification as the mobile OS, expect Jony Ive's signature gradients, rounded corners and consistent flatness.

(credit: cultofmac)


The Internet of Apple things - Apple are rumoured to be storming into the smart-home market with their own communication platform for all the various connected objects of the future. 

iOS 8 - iOS 7 is sure to see its translucent expanse slightly upgraded and refined as Apple makes tweaks rather than sweeping changes to their mobile OS. The most important debuting feature is likely to be split-screen multi-tasking.

Healthbook - Apple is likely to ride the wave of health apps with a whole roster of sensors and software that helps users track their fitness and health.

(credit: macrumours)


The most obvious issue with this list is that Apple is largely playing catch-up to its competitors, Healthbook competes with Samsung's S Health, multitasking is common across Android and Microsoft tablets and Google have purchased the one of the most promising companies in The Internet of Things, Nest. The rest is evolution, not revolution and it's hard to see Apple producing something truly disruptive or jaw-dropping, if its coming from this list. Instead Apple is set to cement and improve its software offering as it expects to see the hardware side of the business slow in the coming years.

The unlikely

iWatch - With the wearables market gently building into a roaring blaze of interest what better time to announce Apple's venture in the market? Later in the year, apparently. 

iPhone 6 - Apple's latest phone is just not ready yet, says the chatter, and the rumour mill is all too slow-turning to suggest a landmark handset launch. Still, nothing's impossible - at least not compared to our final two options.

Top iPhone leaker Sonny Dickson says this is the iPhone 6 and the technology press are slightly more convinced by this option than any of the others.
(credit: Sonny Dickson)



The spectacularly improbable

The Apple TV - While the set-top 'puck' is here to stay, and will likely be upgraded, the chances of a physical TV being released by Apple are slimmer than a Macbook Air. 

This won't be seeing the light of day (not least because it seems to be in a bunker).
(credit: ajklijs)


The Apple Car - Google's got a car, so why not Apple? Well Google's also got robots, balloons, Ray Kurzweil, and a project to nullify human ageing - all technology-led craziness that, the relatively safe (by these new standards) Apple isn't likely to involve itself in. As the world's most cash-rich company it's a strategy that's not done them too much harm so far.

There is zero chance that this will ever exist. Sorry.
(credit: gadgethelpline)



Read More
Tuesday, May 27, 2014

How UKIP won the social election.
In the recent European parliament election UKIP took the most seats of any party, 24, even managing to take a seat in every constituency across the country.

UKIP are now the second most followed political party on Facebook. In taking that spot, behind The Conservatives, UKIP overtook Labour, who’ve had a combined 40 years as the ruling party in Britain.

Beyond that UKIP are dwarfing the engagement rates of the other parties, scoring a huge 87% engagement. Their growth is astronomical, increasing followers by 85% between the 29th of April and 26th of May alone, compared to the Conservatives’ 7.82% and Labour’s 3.95%.

UKIP's Facebook page buzzed with positive support, one commenter saying - "I don't recall any other political party making its voters feel a connection to each other in such a positive way".


Simply: UKIP gained fans and engaged the ones it already had at a completely unmatched rate.

While the content of UKIP’s messages was heavily criticised, it was able to build widespread furore and attention into momentum with which to push the campaign beyond the apathy surrounding the three major parties (although I think that should be ‘two’ now). UKIP’s passage on social media was not a smooth one, as seen by the hijacking of ill-advised hashtag #whyimvotingUkip but repeatedly the party was able to use opposition to project itself as a viable challenger brand.

It continued its brand-like tactics by using targeted calls to action socially, unlike the other parties, and using bold, largely unsupported statements, in a way traditional political promotion would shy away from.

Way To Blue’s data from 16th to 22nd of May shows how UKIP managed to gain 198,000 mentions socially. I think we can assume many of them were negative, but over 2,000 professed an intention to vote for the party. Meanwhile Labour, who were unlikely to have fielded as many accusations of racism or sexism, managed only 70,000 mentions with only 945 of those suggesting that’s how the user would be voting at the polling box.  By this point the Lib Dems had fallen off the map altogether, behind The Green party.



Perhaps most shockingly, as someone who’s seen a not-exactly-warm reaction to UKIP, they weren’t the party to the garner the most negative sentiment, or the least positive sentiment; those dubious honours fell to Labour (47% negative) and the Conservatives (8% positive). The filter bubble effect of social media with regards to Ukip is discussed brilliantly in this article.

It was a bumpy road for UKIP on Twitter, losing the odd MEP to controversial tweets, but the data shows the fervour created managed to balance engaged support against some pretty stinging opposition. Beyond that UKIP were able to be much more brand-led in having a figurehead of Nigel Farage that consistently grabbed headlines in a way the other parties and their leaders failed to. The result mirrored a Europe-wide swing to the anti-EU far-right (and sometimes far-left) that could have implications way beyond any level of electioneering.

Putting aside the content, UKIP’s execution and delivery outshone the other parties, creating compelling content for its audience and projecting a resolute brand. Farage’s promise of a “political earthquake” was delivered wholly on social media and that phrase alone reflects the whole campaign – not particularly reasoned or nuanced, but impactful and attention-grabbing.

Realistically if you can make half an audience love you and half audience hate you you’ll likely end up better off in a popularity contest than the options that no-one particularly feels much towards either way. Or to borrow Dan Wieden's famous phrase - "Move me dude!".

Advertising legend Dan Wieden (of Wieden + Kennedy) discussing his principles of brand communication.


Beyond this one event though the question must now be asked – could social media bring about the end of politics forever seeking the most attractive middle ground instead relying on heavily engaged niche audiences instead? With a hundred years of two-party politics it seems almost unprecedented – but that’s exactly what social brands do.
Read More
Friday, May 23, 2014

The Social World Cup: Marketing's Golden Goal.
As we head into Brazil 2014, only a tantalising 19 days away, marketers are already twitching excitedly about the prospect of a huge and highly engaged audience ripe for the picking.


Each of the nations competing has at least one player with a verified account on Twitter, even Iran where Twitter is banned is represented by Hossam Masini. Savvy Social Media Managers may be dreaming of the footballing equivalent of another “Oreo moment” and looking back at past World Cups it’s not hard to imagine where the talking points might come from:

Over his head

Nowhere near his head

Improper use of his head

With more people tuning in to watch the World Cup than the Olympics, Tour De France and the Superbowl (sorry America) combined this World Cup is neatly coinciding with the rise of the 'second screen'. More and more people are watching with a mobile in hand and soaking up the information and reaction on social media as well as making searches based on the events of the game.

Above is how the searches were made during the 2010 world cup final. Largely desktop with the most queries immediately after the final whistle.

Below is how the searches were made during a major Champions League game in 2014. Predominantly mobile, with the most searches made around key moments in the match.

All of this points to an active audience ready to react in real-time to anything truly engaging. Perhaps surprisingly young survey respondents are casting increasingly disapproving glances at ambush tactics in favour of "classier" official sponsorship. Young consumers are increasingly aware of the showboating antics of the some brands and guffaws are turning to weary sighs. On the other hand, through traditional sponsorship, major brands are dominating YouTube with World Cup focussed content racking up millions of views, with the not inconsiderable muscles of Nike and Adidas flexing most successfully. Even the official England team announcement was made on Twitter, a platform that didn't even exist when the likes of Lampard and Gerrard were making their debuts, long since they'd spent a good few years getting in each others' way.

A very Twitter-centric England squad announcement


Samsung is building on the success of its Ellen selfie by giving the entire England team Samsung phones to use, and if league winning teams are anything to go by we won't be seeing an end to the selfie just yet. 

Manchester City players, Lescott, Kompany and Hart celebrate Permier League win with a selfie.

Now though celebrity endorsements are an artform all to themselves, as Hart proves advertising anything he can get his capable hands on, user generated content has matured into a pillar of marketing strategy and 9/10s of the world loves a bit of the beautiful game. With 87% of UK Twitter users expecting to watch the World Cup and the hashtag #worldcup already having been used 10 million times it's almost hard to anticipate the scale of World Cup fever the network is going to be crushed under. For fans and marketers alike the excitement is at vuvuzela-pitch but hopefully marketers will have more interesting and intelligent things to say than "OMG" or ":(" following the inevitable penalty shoot out exit.

Whatever happens lets hope we have some worthy world champions, that Wayne Rooney improves on a tally to match me and you - of zero World Cup goals, and that 'soccer' produces something to finally dethrone that imperious Oreo.
Read More