Machine Learning Explained, Fake Ads Found & Airbnb Reviews Mapped

When the Journey is the Goal
Many nonprofits use social media to promote education and awareness of a cause. They don’t necessarily have conversion in mind. So how can a savvy nonprofit communicator evaluate this type of social content and campaigns?  Well, MarketingLand does a nice job of explaining alternative metrics. (Interested in setting this up for your website? Reach out. )

Explain Like I’m Five: Machine Learning Edition
“Machine learning” is one of those buzzy terms that gets thrown around a lot. I was happy to stumble on this nice explanation of what it is (and is not).

And now that we know about machine learning… here’s Engadget explaining how Facebook uses the technology to detect fake ads.

Talking to Your Data
I recently covered Google Analytics’ new feature that is supposed to allow analysts and business people to get data by asking questions, rather than running reports. Well, it looks like Tableau is barking up the same tree. They recently acquired start up ClearGraph, a service that lets users visualize data through natural language queries (think “this week’s transactions over $500”).

I Look Good in Valencia
What does your Instagram filter say about you? Here’s Business Insider on an analysis of how filter use links to depression. Yes, really.

And in other links…

Fat fingers? Facebook is reworking how it counts clicks to account for accidental tapping.

Half the world(!) is on social media, reports Mashable.

Check out Amazon’s new social media site, aka “Instagram meets e-commerce.”

Advice of the Week

Tidy Up Those Title Tags
Slow week at work? The August slump might be the perfect chance to do some website clean up and improve your site’s SEO. Here’s practical advice in reworking your website title tags.

Cool Visualization of the Week

Deep in the Heart of Paris
I just got back from vacation (where I stayed in an Airbnb), so I’m still in the traveling mood. In this visualization, designer Benat Arragi takes the neighborhood ratings of Airbnb guests and applies them to maps of those cities. The takeaway here is that everyone likes it downtown. Cue Petula Clark’s classic.