If you are trying to escape Inauguration Day and political news, this is not the Bee Update for you. This edition is flush with political stories and Trump craziness. Read on!
Trump’s Terrible Facebook Targeting: A Case Study
I always recommend Facebook advertising because of the amazing ability to target niche audiences. But this week, Facebook users got a lesson in how not to run their ad campaigns. The media mocked Trump for paying to promote his own inauguration, but I laughed at his terrible ad targeting skills. According to The Verge, one version targeted everyone in New York City age 27 and up.
Behind Every Successful Man… is a Successful Data Firm
On the flip side of the Facebook ad debacle is news about Cambridge Analytica. This data firm’s sophisticated use of targeted messages and social data helped propel both Trump and Brexit to victory. The firm is expanding big time and has recently hired Republican National Committee’s chief technology officer, reports Wired. The New York Times article on Cambridge Analytica’s technique is fascinating and (if you take a lot of Facebook quizzes) disturbing.