[Roundup] Binge-Worthy Digital News from May 2018

[Roundup] Binge-Worthy Digital News from May 2018

I live in an old house, and the A/C works best in my bedroom. So, I spend a lot of time with my shows. Bob’s Burgers, Riverdale, Game of Thrones — they’re all on the binge list. (In the office we have a few Game of Thrones experts, but I’m not one of them, so no spoilers please this is my first time through).

But enough about Netflix and HBO and Hulu (oh my). Here’s some binge-worthy digital news from May 2018.  

1. Facebook Takes On Dating

Cute couple showing affection. Maybe they met through an online dating service.

At its F8 conference, Facebook announced that it’s launching its own take on a dating app. It’ll use your social networks to help you find a date.

But what would make Facebook a better dating app than, say, Tinder or Bumble? Pretty simple — Facebook thinks its dating app will spark meaningful connections that turn into actual relationships instead of one-night stands. 

Which makes me wonder if Facebook is also developing a wedding planning app. . . .

Get personal with Facebook’s dating app »

2. Spelling in the “Gray” Area

Wondering if your new beach towel is grey or gray? And maybe whether it’s slate or stone or platinum? We can’t help you out with which shade it is, but the easiest way to understand which vowel to use for that color depends on who you’re writing for.

The quick summary: for American readers, use “gray.” For Brits, use “grey.” 

Personally, I think “grey” looks pretty cool. Guess I need to move.

A little more about “gray” vs. “grey” »

3. More About Those Emojis

Woman holding emoji balloons against a colorful background.

Okay, so we love emojis. I mean, how awesome is it that you can convey how you’re feeling with a single little icon?

So we’ve been pretty excited about using them in some of our ads and emails. We’ve done a few tests about whether or not emojis are effective in Facebook ads, and our findings match the Internet’s: emojis may or may not be worth it.

Moral of the story: it depends on your audience. 

How to use emojis in the ad world »

4. Ford Has Exciting News for Its Dealers

Ford had some big news at the NADA conference this past week, which means more money for Ford dealerships to help sell their inventory.

We’re having a little happy dance party at our office because we’re so excited about what this means for our Ford clients!

Check out Ford’s news »

5. All of the Things Happened

May was crazy with holidays and big happenings. The royal wedding, the new season (and the new men) of The Bachelorette, Mother’s Day, the new Star Wars movie, the Deadpool 2 premiere, Cinco de Mayo, and more.

It would be super hard to actually cover all of them, so I’m just going to let this collection of trending topics this past month do the talking for me.

Catch up on May’s hottest trends »

6. Google Assistant Just One-Upped Itself

"You are going to be fine" graffiti on a door, which is going to be even more accurate after the Google AI update.

If you’ve ever said, “OK Google, set my alarm,” you can soon say, “OK Google, schedule my haircut.”

No, really! The Google assistant will soon be able to call a salon and take care of ironing out the details for you, so you can keep going about your day.

It’s just one more way that Google’s assistant artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving to help make our lives better. 

See the latest Google magic »

7. I’m Not Done Talking About Google

Let’s be honest, I’m mildly obsessed with Google. I’m one of two in the office who use a Pixel, I’m on Project Fi, and my Google Calendar knows my life better than I do.

Speaking of Google Calendar, we love it. It’s how we keep our professional lives organized.

And here’s another mini Google party: Google updated its calendar! No, that’s not exactly new news, but it’s still exciting. Google just keeps getting more intuitive for its users, especially when it comes to using its calendar for organizations.

The great Google Calendar overview »

8. Use Your Calendar Wisely

“Just like email, conference calls, and less-than-great coffee, meetings have always been a necessary evil in the workplace.”

Evernote hits the nail on the head with that one. (Although bad coffee shouldn’t be a standard, IMO. . . .)

Have you ever heard of Jeff Bezos’ “two-pizza” rule? It just means that you shouldn’t have a meeting so large that you’d need to buy more than two pizzas to feed the attendees. But this article does a better job of explaining that.

How to have more productive meetings »

9. Here’s Why You Might See 2019 Car Models Soon

A car seen from behind, speeding into the future.

Do you know why new car models are released waaaay before their model year? Well, it has to do with FDR, a bill in the ’30s, and still-current labor laws.  

And probably just a little to do with good ol’ tradition.

Here’s the story »

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