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June 19, 2012

Social Samosa: Facebook Exchange – That’s the way the ‘cookie’ crumbles!

In the last article I wrote about Facebook, I talked about how Facebook is doing a lot to spruce up things at their end especially after the Facebook IPO crackdown… Even before the IPO was launched, facebook had made its intention clear about mobile platforms and of course advertising on mobile is something that they have started working on already. Its current shortfall in advertising revenue has prompted it to take further steps in that direction.

Facebook plans to introduce a new service called Facebook Exchange! It will give the option to its advertisers to bid in real time for ads on its platform. The feature will allow advertisers to reach out and target specific types of Facebook users / potential customers based on their browsing histories. This will be based on cost per 1000 viewers.

Facebook Exchange will only be allowed for conventional Facebook sidebar ads and not sponsored stories or mobile.

In the last article I wrote about Facebook, I talked about how Facebook is doing a lot to spruce up things at their end especially after the Facebook IPO crackdown… Even before the IPO was launched, facebook had made its intention clear about mobile platforms and of course advertising on mobile is something that they have started working on already. Its current shortfall in advertising revenue has prompted it to take further steps in that direction.

Facebook plans to introduce a new service called Facebook Exchange! It will give the option to its advertisers to bid in real time for ads on its platform. The feature will allow advertisers to reach out and target specific types of Facebook users / potential customers based on their browsing histories. This will be based on cost per 1000 viewers.

Facebook Exchange will only be allowed for conventional Facebook sidebar ads and not sponsored stories or mobile.

How does it work?

  1. Let’s say a potential customer visits a shopping site that has tied up with a Demand side platform (a third party technology partner that will be a mediator for Facebook Exchange)
  2. A cookie is captured on that page when they have shown purchase intent.
  3. If the customer doesn’t make the purchase and just goes away as a non-sale or if the advertiser wants to target that user again, then typically they can contact the demand site platform and get the users anonymous user id.
Read the rest of the article here

June 16, 2012

Social Samosa: An Interview With Pinstagram Co-Creator

Just a month ago, Pinstagram was launched, a combination of the two of the amazing social media sensations on the internet. Pinterest + Instagram! As they proclaim, it certainly is a visual treat and most definitely the best way to view your Instagram photos on the web. Yes, that’s right, a complete experience of your Instagram feed on the web in Pinterest style. The beauty of Instagram photos with the elegance of Pinterest.


And, just a few days ago they also launched their iPad app. So if you haven’t already started using it on the web, we recommend you do and the ones who have an iPad, we recommend it as a ‘Must DO’ especially if you are an avid Instagram user and love Pinterest too!


So, on behalf of Social Samosa, I decided to speak to the Co-creator of Pinstagram and Managing partner at FireSnake labs, Pek Pongpaet and figure out what their plans are for this very interesting mashup product of theirs.

What is Pinstagram?

It’s a combination of Pinterest and Instagram with the best of the both interfaces. Most importantly it’ll allow you to view your instagram feed on the web and now on your iPad. Pinstagram lets you view your feed, popular photos, and more.

How did it start?

Pinstagram was created by Brandon Leonardo and me as a weekend project. We were jokingly throwing around ideas and thought a Pinterest for Instagram would be a funny concept. What would happen if you combined the two of the fastest growing, and hottest web properties?

With Pinterest and Instagram being one of the hottest properties, did you anticipate similar services already existing, as your competion?

I think there is always room for more or better. If you think you have a better idea or a different take on an idea you should do it. Just because the Ford Model T was around does that mean Ferrari, Porsche, BMW should not be making cars?

Read the rest of the interview here

Social Samosa - Social Blogging: Facebook integration for WordPress

If you thought that Facebook is doing a lot to spruce things up after the IPO, well you thought right. Besides a lot of acquisitions and announcements on the mobile front with news for developers on Facebook, it has recently announced the launch of a WordPress tool. An integration for the WordPress users that will allow users to cross post content from their WordPress blog to their Facebook Timeline or Facebook pages at the click of a button.

Social Publishing is what the developer blog states this to be. One of the most important features is that it helps WordPress publishers to easily integrate Facebook features, such as Social Publishing, mentions, tagging friends etc through this new plugin. Which would also mean hassle free update of their content directly on Facebook and since it’s originally on their WordPress blog, the whole worry of content ownership is taken care of. While there have been third party apps like Networked Blogs which gave this option or Facebook’s Note which lets you pull RSS feed of your Blog directly to your Facebook, this one’s a different ball game altogether.

The primary objective of the “ Facebook integration for WordPress ” is to help you make your content Social with just a click. What’s more, the plugin will also work on mobile. Once the content is published on your blog, it can be posted to your Facebook timeline.

Read the rest of the article here

June 08, 2012

Social Samosa - New Foursquare Design Here

Finally the long wait is over. The new foursquare design is here. All this while, we’ve been hearing the buzz especially from Foursquare who has been talking to us through their social networking platforms about the New Foursquare to be launched, and many of us have been waiting for it in anticipation. The wait is over. Yesterday evening, Foursquare rolled out it’s update.

Now checking in virtually to places has become spicier. A lot more than what it was before. Besides the look and feel, some of it’s features that it rolled out makes it more social as opposed to what it was earlier. Not only does the new look seems great design wise, but also encourages people to interact more on each other’s check in’s especially with the photographs being accompanied with their checkins. The layout and dimensions of the photos that you can upload now, gives the whole foursquare timeline an Instagram like feel, assuming a lot of people would add more photos to their checkins. But that’s not all that is there to the New Foursquare!

Profile Page


The profile page design looks neat, it features user’s pther social network urls, photo, short bio, the friends he/she has, the badges he has explored, tips he/she has left and the lists that he/she has subscribed to. All this makes profile viewing a value creating activity. Love the look and feel and the intuitiveness of it all.

Home Screen


The home screen layout itself is more appealing, even with or without photos being put up by the users, it kind of makes you want to interact with them especially with the comment and ‘heart’ sign screaming there in front of you… Again, something that is borrowed from Instagram. The experience of interactivity increases, be it with people whom you may personally know or just have been acquainted on via other social networks (read: twittter.) Certainly encourages the users to stick around for a lot longer than before.

Read the rest of the article here

Featured Image: Courtesy: nan palmero

June 07, 2012

Social Samosa - LinkedIn Passwords Hacked

LinkedIn Security Breach:

Just yesterday LinkedIn said that it was investigating a probable breach of data and some of the reports suggest that over 6.4 million passwords were stolen. Many security researches reported this breach and traced it down to a Russian hacker forum. Apparently, the hacker could crack many of the passwords using simple resources in a short period of time.

“Our team is currently looking into reports of stolen passwords. Stay tuned for more” this was Linkedin’s first tweet on this issue.

They also blogged later on confirming the news.

Read the rest of the article here