Here are the top digital marketing data and case studies that caught our eye.

Rise of ‘Dark Social’ channels: Just 19% of social sharing occurs on Facebook

Brands are still in the dark about three quarters of their online audience, with new research showing that UK consumers are sharing over three times more information on ‘Dark Social’ channels than via social channels like Facebook.
View some key findings from the full report here:

Digital predictions for 2015: Google to buy Go-Pro, Netflix sale and 3D printing flop

What does the future hold for digital industry? A new report predicts that 2015’s headlines will be dominated by Go-Pro and Netflix being snapped up by larger rivals, closer alliances between East and West firms and 3D printers will struggle to get mainstream adoption.

10 predictions for 2015 and beyond
1. The consumer 3D printing bubble bursts.
2. Google buys GoPro.
3. Despite Apple’s entrance, wearables remain a highly fragmented market until at least 2017.
4. Internet acquisitions will occur at multiples higher than WhatsApp’s.
5. European regulators become more sympathetic to mobile operators.
6. Western companies acquire internet players in the East during 2015.
7. A major Web player buys Netflix in 2015.
8. Google introduces a subscription-based video streaming service in 2015.
9. Vodafone acquires Sky in 2015.
10. Passwords as we know them become obsolete by the end of 2018.

Social media marketing tips: How sequenced ads improve Facebook engagement

Advertisers who position and sequence their Facebook ads to take customers down the conversion funnel can experience an uplift in view-through and subscription rates, according to research from Facebook.

‘Manic Monday’ to replace Cyber Monday as shoppers ‘leave it later than ever’

Online retailers should brace themselves for the busiest December on record, as UK shoppers plan to leave their Christmas shopping later than ever, according to new research.

Online video marketing in Spain: Branded content most popular for advertisers

Eight in ten internet advertisers in Spain use video for their marketing or communication, with branded videos proving most popular and short form videos the fastest growing, according to new research.

Ecommerce trends: Mobile users ‘more likely to buy the PC users’

On mobiles, internet users purchase two times faster than from a desktop, and are far more likely to buy a product on the spur of the moment, according to new research.

CASE STUDIES

Video case study: How Cardstore got 22m views with a surprise ending

To celebrate Mothers Day 2014, retailer Cardstore created a viral video with a twist. This case study looks at how the US card retailer filmed fake webcam job interviews for the ‘world’s toughest job’ to become a viral hit and get 22 million YouTube views.

Mobile case study: User controlled Android app takes over Times Square

In November 2014,Google took control of the largest digital screen in North America promote Android with an innovative app that projected user creations into the skies above Times Sqaure, New York. The company has rented the outdoor display, created by Clear Channel, until January 2015, at an estimated cost of $2.5m (£1.59m) per four-week period. Google will use the billboard to showcase a number of its leading products, including the newly-released Nexus handsets and tablets, Android Wear, Chrome and Google Maps. The company is also planning to give over some of its allotted time and media space to six different non-profit organisations, as well as the Google-related cause project Made with Code.

Ecommerce case study: How Japan’s Muji used big data to personlise the shopping experience

With nearly 600 retail stores and a strong online presence, Muji deployed InteractEdge from Infosys to generate higher sales through personalised product recommendations for over two million registered customers. This case study looks at how the Japanese firm strengthened customer loyalty and boosted revenues.