Hardest. Job. Ever.

Twitter has rolled out the last of their new profile page layout design, including new features to maximise user engagement.  Applicants react boldly to an interview for the world’s toughest job in our viral video of the week.  A case study into how a small spice shop in Prague received nearly 800 likes in less than a week, without paid advertising.  Messaging apps take the spotlight this week as Facebook announces the mandatory downloading of their Messenger app, whilst WhatsApp reaches the 500 million mark.  And our Tip of the Week explores the best ways for your business to utilise Facebook.

Twitter recently launched their new layout design for user profiles and have been rolling them out arbitrarily over the last month.

The changes include a larger profile photo, three column layout (similarly to Facebook and Google +), customisable header, a “following” list (or collage, rather) highlighted top Tweets (allowing users to tout their most successful interactions), a “pinned” Tweet (for users to summarise the essence of their account) and filtered Tweets (allowing users to filter Tweets viewed on a profile to Tweets, Tweets with photos/videos, or Tweets and replies).

For a complete guide to utilising the new Twitter profile layout, click here.

135 to unlimited hours a week, no breaks and no salary.  Sound appealing?  Greeting card company American Greetings released this viral video last week featuring a series of interviews from applicants for a fake job advertisement.  When the interviewer, a paid actor, reveals that the job is, in fact, motherhood, the interviewees’ responses turn from sour and confused to teary and emotional.

The video was a strategic advertising campaign launched in time for Mother’s day, calling for audiences to buy a card for their mothers (it’s the least they can do).  The ad’s creator, Mullen advertising agency, say the inspiration for the ad came from an overwhelming babysitting ordeal during a family holiday.  The ad currently has over 15 million views on YouTube and has been shared more than 1.3 million times on Facebook.

So what makes this video so successful?

The ad is set in reality: Although the interview is a prank, it contains real people and real reactions, which tends to impact audiences harder than staged action.

Like most successful viral videos, it triggers emotions, causing reactions and experiences for audiences.

It is on topic and relevant to the product/service.  There is a call to action (buy a card), and a direct, online route to the product

Two other important pieces of news:

Facebook will begin phasing out the chat function on their mobile app and introduce the mandatory downloading of their Messenger app in order to send and receive messages.  The company this week announced that European users will need to download the app within the next few weeks, before the rest of the world are required to follow suit.  A spokesperson for Facebook has stated that this change, which includes the added feature of voice calls, will improve efficiency and overall usability.

WhatsApp Co-Founder and CEO Jan Koum announced this Tuesday that the messaging app recently acquired by Facebook has reached over 500 million active users.  The app, which has grown fastest in Brazil, India, Mexico, and Russia, boasts more than 700 million photos and 100 million videos posted daily.

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Want to know the best ways to kick-start your business’ Facebook presence?  The Small Business Guide to Facebook is a useful, easy to understand tool that offers customised resources and guidance for small businesses starting out on Facebook.  All your questions are answered here.