Two more of the Internet's most used social companies are taking big, new steps into advertisement.
Last weekend, SnapChat, the mobile app that allows users to send pictures and videos that can only be viewed for a few second before they are erased, introduced paid advertisements to the app. In a blog post about the launch, the company said quite clearly that they are introducing ads because “we need to make money.”
Furthermore, the company said they will not be using targeted ads, which they called “creepy.” One of the first ads was a short video for the upcoming, Universal Pictures-distributed horror film “Ouija.” Like other “snaps,” the video disappeared as soon as users watched it.
And last Monday, Foursquare, the local search and discovery service, launched its first ever ad campaign, with signs in subway cars, airports and city bike share hubs. The ads are introducing the company’s new catchphrase: “The new Foursquare learns what you like and and leads you to place you’ll love.” Each poster features two people with three, specific interests of each listed to the side.
To gauge the response to these new ad campaigns, Benzinga turned to another hub of online social activity (that has already begun capitalizing on ads): Twitter Inc TWTR.
Several people brought up the fact that Snapchat will be shying away from targeted ads, which has become standard for other social media presences that advertise.
By calling targeted ads "creepy," Snapchat is shunning a practice that's now standard among all major Internet companies. Brazen or naive?
— Doug MacMillan (@dmac1) October 17, 2014
ah, the good ol' days when ads were far more random. http://t.co/8KL76zuVCN pic.twitter.com/TcAtwC1p2L
— Brian Morrissey (@bmorrissey) October 17, 2014
Some responded to the blatant honesty of Snapchat's blog post:
Refreshing honesty: Why is Snapchat introducing ads? "We need to make money." http://t.co/WOsJRt019R
— Shira Ovide (@ShiraOvide) October 17, 2014
While others did the math and were pretty excited:
If Snapchat had ads it's 700 million photos/videos per day would be worth ~ $7 MM/day, $200 MM/mo or $2.4 Bill/year http://t.co/Mg3Je1BY6D
— @paulcimino (@paulcimino) October 15, 2014
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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