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• 🌐 Breaking up a giant

  The U.S. DOJ has proposed that Google divest its Chrome browser to dismantle its illegal monopoly in online search, as per a recent court filing. Judge Amit Mehta will decide Google's fate, potentially reshaping the internet landscape. The DOJ suggests Google spin-off Android and cease exclusionary contracts while licensing search data to rivals. Google argues this intervention would harm users and the tech industry. The company plans to respond next month.

• 📱❕A great exodus?

  A great migration is occurring online. Users are fleeing Elon Musk's X in droves and rushing over to Bluesky, in a post-election resettling that is giving way to a new social media order in the USA. With more than 1.5 million people joining the app, Bluesky became one of the most downloaded apps in Apple’s App Store. Google Trends data has shown a spike in searches seeking instructions on how to deactivate X

• #️⃣ 400%

  The increase in check fraud last year, according to the Treasury Department. Scammers are increasingly using message boards and social media to promote low-tech paper-check cons and figure out which banks to target next. By depositing altered checks and quickly withdrawing the cash, fraudsters exploit banks’ requirements to make customer money available before fully verifying checks.

Biz Hacks

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Time to Grow on LinkedIn Video is Ripe

LinkedIn’s "TikTokification" has got the wordsmiths upset. But growing evidence suggests the platform’s focus on video is here to stay. 

Currently, over 75% of U.S. adults spend up to two hours daily watching short-form videos, making video creation a natural evolution for LinkedIn. It’s why UberEats, Glassdoor, and many others have added short-form video experiences.

Catching up: Its nascent support for video began back in 2017, but in 2024, LinkedIn introduced several new features that highlight further momentum. Furthermore,

• Microsoft’s Q4FY24 earnings report indicates that video has a 34% year-on-year increase in uploads. 

• Weekly immersive video views have increased 6x quarter-over-quarter. 

• Total video viewership on LinkedIn is now up 36% year-over-year.

Here’s why you should be cashing in on the opportunity.

LET’S DIVE IN 👇️ 

1) Scarcity ▶️ Demand

The early days of Instagram reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok showed a gap between video consumers and creators. This low-supply, high-demand ecosystem means that video creators face less competition for eyeballs on LinkedIn. Remember, this advantage won’t last forever. 

2) LinkedIn is Priortising Video

The platform’s algorithm favours video posts. Here’s why: 

• Higher engagement rates: Video content is likely to generate 5x the engagement text and image-based posts garner. 

• Viewership: LinkedIn influencer Darren McKee just cracked the code: 14 days 3,000,000+ impressions. And here's the kicker - this isn't just about his brand. His clients with a mere 2-10k followers? They're replicating the same viral results.

• Growing demand: A survey by Wyzowl found that 54% of consumers say they want to see more video content from brands they support. 

3) Best Practices

• Aim for videos under 2 minutes—ideally under 90 seconds— and include a hook at the beginning. Record in the 9:16 format. 

• Don’t aim for polished videos. Simple videos shot on smartphones can outperform highly produced ones if they resonate better with the audience. 

• Thumbnails are not a priority on LinkedIn right now. Choose an appealing frame that looks good on a standard feed. 

• Accompany your video with interesting captions. A great caption provides context the video might not cover. 

4) Videos Pair Well With

• Consulting: Potential clients can see and hear you, providing insight into the value you offer. 

• Sponsored content: B2B buyers report that short-form video content helps inform their buying decisions. 80% say it is the most trusted form of content. 

• Education: Share your perspectives at conferences or workshops with talking-head video content. Reuse these clips from past speaking engagements as teasers for upcoming events. 

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