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Snap Will Cease Production of its Pixy Drone Due to Worsening Economic Conditions

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Snapchat Unveils Drone Camera, Advanced AR Tools and New Commerce Integrations at Partner Summit

As it continues to grapple with steadily worsening economic conditions, Snap Inc. will reportedly cease production of its Pixy selfie drone, which it launched just four months ago as a new way to capture content.

Snap’s $230 Pixy drone is designed to fly a few feet above you, and capture both photos and videos, with the content then automatically uploaded to your Snap Memories. The drone then folds up and can fit in your pocket, making it a handy complement to your phone as a capture device.

But evidently, demand hasn’t been huge for the tool.

As reported by The Wall Street Journal:

Snap Chief Executive Evan Spiegel recently told staff during a regular question-and-answer session of the decision around the Pixy drone. The effort to halt further development of the project is part of broader reprioritization of company resources, Mr. Spiegel told staff.”

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Snap won’t stop selling Pixy at this stage, but it does seem like once the current supply is sold out, that could well be it.

It’s a blow to Snap’s broader hardware expansion, though it’s not the first time that the company has had to deal with lower than expected demand.

Back in 2016, Snap released the first version of its Spectacles camera-equipped glasses, which attracted a lot of hype early on, that didn’t necessarily translate into huge sales. A year after Spectacles’ launch, reports circulated that Snap had severely miscalculated demand for the glasses, and as a result, hundreds of thousands of unsold Spectacles were left sitting in a warehouse in China.

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel later admitted that the company made the wrong decision in ramping up production of Spectacles based on early demand.

That’s not the same case this time around, with Snap simply struggling with tougher market conditions, which have forced it to rationalize current expenditure to keep things on track.

Last month, Snap announced that it would “substantially reduce” hiring as part of broader cost-cutting efforts, while in May, it also issued a profit warning due to a worsening ‘macroeconomic environment’. Part of that can be attributed to the global downturn, which has impacted all digital platforms, while Apple’s ATT update has also caused major challenges for Snap’s ad business.

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The end result is that Snap will now need to scale back its expansion plans, which could also impact the future of its AR Spectacles, which are still in development, and may now need to take a back seat as it works to maintain financial performance.

Which is why this announcement is more significant than the de-prioritization of the Pixy drone itself. Really, if Snap were to cease production of Pixy entirely, that wouldn’t be a major strategic shift, as it’s so early on in the product’s development that it couldn’t be a key element for the company just yet.

But from a broader vision perspective, the announcement signals the scale of the impacts that Snap’s dealing with, in order to ensure that it remains on track.

Could that see a bigger reduction in Snap’s research and development costs overall – and what will that mean for its longer-term bets?

Snapchat Q2 2022

Not re-upping the Pixy project is one thing, but the fact that Snap has been forced to abandon it so early on is a potentially bigger consideration in this shift.

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.

The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.

According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.

Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.

Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.

The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.

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This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.

Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.

As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?

Only time will tell.

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.

When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.

“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.

Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.

“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.” 

“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.

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“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.

Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.

As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.

That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.

Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.

That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.

Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.

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Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.

We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.

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