The Weekly Download – December 4, 2020

December’s here, and so is another edition of The Weekly Download! 

There’s plenty to discuss this week, so let’s get right to it: Not-Amazon makes shopping local easier, Salesforce buys Slack, TikTok tests longer videos, Apple releases its list of top free apps of 2020, Facebook helps businesses boost their social impact, Twitter shares tips for holiday outreach and promotions, and Ryan Reynolds gives us a hilarious peek at a match made in hell.

Not-Amazon Makes Shopping Local Easier

Amazon has seen exponential growth during the pandemic, and with part of the country (and world) back in lockdown, many more people are turning to the e-commerce giant to purchase necessities and complete holiday shopping.

A Toronto-based social media manager, Ali Haberstroh, is doing something smart to help small businesses thrive during this trying time using a $10 URL – not-amazon.ca.

It all started with a simple Google spreadsheet, but Not-Amazon has grown into a simple but functional website featuring local spots in Toronto, Halifax, and Calgary (so far) offering curbside pickup, delivery, and shipping. Haberstroth hopes that the initiative will help shoppers consider local businesses when shopping.

Since going viral, over 500 businesses have been added to Not-Amazon’s directory. It’s completely free to submit a local business to the directory. 

Salesforce Buys Slack for $27.7 Billion 

If the pandemic has you working from home, Slack is probably one of your most-used tools. For our team, it’s been an essential part of our workflow for years. Now, it’s about to become a part of the Salesforce enterprise, after sparking a deal valued at $27.7 billion.

According to Salesforce co-founder Marc Benioff, the purchase is a “match made in heaven.”

Benioff also said that “together, Salesforce and Slack will shape the future of enterprise software and transform the way everyone works in the all-digital, work-from-anywhere world.”

The purchase puts Salesforce more on par with competitors like Microsoft, whose Teams product has been a direct challenger against Slack in the market.

Will Slack remain open to small business customers who aren’t Salesforce’s target audience? Only time will tell. 

TikTok is Reportedly Testing Longer Videos

TikTok, the platform famous for its short-form video content, is reportedly letting some users create videos up to three minutes long. The previous limit was just 60 seconds.

As shared by The Verge, part of what makes TikTok so successful (and addicting) is the ability to consume video after video in quick succession. 

Will longer length videos continue to work well for the platform? Only time will tell!

Apple Releases its List of the Most Downloaded Free iPhone Apps of 2020

And 2020’s most-downloaded iPhone app is – drumroll, please – Zoom!

Are we surprised?

Zoom’s rise to popularity can be attributed to the rise of work from home culture and digital socializing thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of February, Zoom said it had already added more users in the first two months of 2020 than it had all of 2019.

TikTok and Disney+ were just behind Zoom in the second and third spots. Other notable mentions included the usual suspects: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Messenger.

Check out the full list of the top free apps here.

Facebook Launches New Website to Help Businesses Boost Social Impact

Facebook’s latest launch focuses on resources and tools to help businesses advance their social impact. 

As explained by Facebook: 

“We designed our new social good website to help businesses achieve their purpose and change the world. From insights and inspiration to programs and resources, you can use this site to learn how your business can make an impact.”

The minisite includes information about how to start a fundraiser, how to donate to causes through your business, and also provides case studies about positive brand impacts.

Facebook hopes that by providing small businesses with related tips and tools, business owners can help change the world, unlocking a better future for their customers and the world.

Twitter Shares Tips for Holiday Outreach and Promotions

In advance of the holiday season, Twitter is sharing helpful tips and tricks to help brands and businesses boost outreach and promotions. While many businesses already have social media strategies in place for this time of year, the tips serve as a helpful reminder for many.

From using polls to refreshing your profile, the top organic and advertising tips come directly from Twitter’s Customer Success team. Check out the full list here.

Friday Fun

Match.com Teams Up with Ryan Reynolds for New Campaign That Will Have you LOLing

From the mind of Ryan Reynolds comes a hilarious (and very 2020 appropriate) commercial for Match.com.

We don’t want to give too much away – check it out for yourself!

 

Line drawn peony from Spodek Co Site