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Evading rate limits for agencies on social platforms (like Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr)

TL;DR: I’m making a field guide for agencies and brands who want to avoid getting snagged in spammer nets on social platforms like Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr, and now is the time to let me know what you need included in it.

(breathe)

As my Twitter family saw earlier today, I’ve been conducting some live-editing parties (they get pretty crazy, *nerd snort*) on Google Docs for a new field guide that will be released in 2013 all about…

RATE LIMITS ON SOCIAL PLATFORMS

</voice of God>

Basically it’s all about Twitter Jail, Pinterest Jail, getting annoying captchas thrown atcha every other second, and getting suspended… when you’re an innocent agency just minding your own marketing business.

This field guide is not for agressive marketers. It’s for agencies and brands who manage lots of accounts, and accidentally get treated like spammers. #injustice

As people who’ve been in on the Google Docs editing sessions know, there is already a lot of structure and content, but it’s not too late to throw stuff at me about what you/your agency needs included.

The usual contact methods:

twitter @bluechoochoo
tumblr [reblog this post w/commentary or send Tumblr Mail]
email: lilbluechoochoo [at] google’s mail situation

If you wanna be kept in the loop, sign up for the mailing list.

(screenshot/preview from live-editing session below. Ripped from the Google Docs)image

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Instagram brand management tools having API hiccups

(Most individual users won’t notice this, as they don’t use 3rd party tools dependent on Instagram API)

Brands/organizations using 3rd part Instagram management tools may be noticing some hiccups in their tools.

I’m hearing from various folks that there are some big Instagram API issues. Basic social interactions like Liking and Following are broken for many.

Based on what I’m hearing from a few developers, and what I can gather from frantic spammers (always a good canary in the coal mine to monitor), I’m guessing Instagram is changing some rate limits, and will probably make a formal announcement soon.

In the meantime, the Instagram API Google Group is popping.

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When Instagram gets a fully-realized web version it will be a mixed blessing. As cool as phone apps are, I can&#8217;t help but think nothing&#8217;s really Internet until it&#8217;s on the web. So of course I want a web version. On the other hand, I spend a lot of time in spammer marketing forums (they are the best place to get up-do-date policy/rate-limit information about a variety of services). And these folks are licking their chops for Instagram. They are already botting it to death on the phone versions. The only thing slightly holding them back is the extremely compromised value of a spam link on a phone-only app. (Compare to Pinterest, with its deluge of iPad and Starbucks gift certificate offers.) I have no idea if Instagram&#8217;s web restraint was an anti-spam tactic. But if it was, perhaps this is why they are getting closer to a fully-realized web version. The spam is here anyway, might as well jump on the web. iamcolereinke: Online Instagram profiles coming soon? Clicking on the link lead me to a 404 error at my profile address. When I looked to see if it was still there three hours later, it had disappeared. But before I saw the option appear, Instagram went down for a minute or two. Update: When I asked MG Siegler if he thinks it’s coming soon he replied, “yup.”

When Instagram gets a fully-realized web version it will be a mixed blessing. As cool as phone apps are, I can’t help but think nothing’s really Internet until it’s on the web. So of course I want a web version.

On the other hand, I spend a lot of time in spammer marketing forums (they are the best place to get up-do-date policy/rate-limit information about a variety of services). And these folks are licking their chops for Instagram. They are already botting it to death on the phone versions. The only thing slightly holding them back is the extremely compromised value of a spam link on a phone-only app. (Compare to Pinterest, with its deluge of iPad and Starbucks gift certificate offers.)

I have no idea if Instagram’s web restraint was an anti-spam tactic. But if it was, perhaps this is why they are getting closer to a fully-realized web version. The spam is here anyway, might as well jump on the web.

iamcolereinke:

Online Instagram profiles coming soon? Clicking on the link lead me to a 404 error at my profile address. When I looked to see if it was still there three hours later, it had disappeared. But before I saw the option appear, Instagram went down for a minute or two.

Update: When I asked MG Siegler if he thinks it’s coming soon he replied, “yup.”

(Source: creinke)