Facebook Has Launched Slideshow Ads for Emerging Markets

(Mirror Daily, United States) – In yet another project designed to improve the experience of users in emerging markets, Facebook has launched Slideshow ads, a series of images to replace the data-consuming video ads that are often a hassle on cheaper mobile devices with slow Internet connections.

Facebook’s title of number one social network is still unchallenged, as more than half of its revenue already comes from overseas. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is now looking to make the whole experience as enjoyable and whole as possible for the next billion people coming online.

As we’re approaching with quick steps a world where almost everyone has Internet access, Facebook seeks new ways to capture the attention and wallets of the new users. As chief product officer Chris Cox expressed in a recent press conference at Facebook’s headquarters, the company needs to make the experience possible for people who “look less and less like us.”

With slideshow ads, advertisers will be able to create 15-second videos made up of three to seven photos and Facebook. According to the first tests with Netflix and Coca-Cola, the new ad format has performed better than both traditional videos and still photo ads.

In addition to being designed to fit the size of the screen they’re played on, slideshow ads were tailored to work smoothly on all devices – even when only a 2G connection is available. Trying to tap into the popularity video ads seem to have in emerging markets, the new ads also load up to five times faster than the traditional video ads.

Analysts presume slideshow ads will cost less per view than regular video ads but more than text ads. However, seeing that most major markets are already saturated by Facebook and Google services, it’s only natural that the big Internet players will race to reach beyond, diving into the emerging markets where people have spotty access to the Internet, or not at all.

Conquering and cashing in on the rest of the world is a big competition with equally big results. Having more and more people come online – whether it’s because they check their status updates or streaming a YouTube video – means increased revenue for the service provider.

And so, it makes sense that Google’s Project Loon has recently announced their Internet-beaming balloons will begin testing next year over Indonesia. At the same time, Facebook’s fleet of satellites and solar-powered drones are not far behind, getting ready to deliver Internet to remote areas.
Image Source: Jenman African Safaris

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Tara Hamilton

Tara has graduated from the University of Oregon, with bachelors degree in Spanish Literature in 2010. She lived in Miami for one year and travelled extensively before settling down in El Paso.