Weekly Digital Roundup (11.4.13)

Companies are getting quite creative with campaigns and their digital tie-ins, from preying on selfie takers to offering kitten deliveries with a mobile app. Without further ado, here’s what we found to be the biggest news, so you may comfortably remain snuggled under a rock.

Smitten with Kittens

National Cat Day was last week, and the Uber taxi service made their customers’ day with kitten deliveries in New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. For the low price of $20, Uber customers could request 15 minutes of cuddle time with an adoptable kitten, through the brand's free mobile app. The buzz spread fast across Twitter, and Uber even faced a kitten shortage! The proceeds went to helping local pet shelters. Aw.

Twitter Makes a Visual Appeal

Twitter’s got a new look. The latest update places images and Vine videos front and center in the feed, allowing rich media and Promoted Tweets to make a bigger impact with the redesign. A Twitter representative said in a blog post, “These rich tweets can bring your followers closer to what’s happening and make them feel like they are right there with you.” We all know visual content is where it’s at, so +1.

Campaign for Selfie Fiends

Love taking selfies? Then you should check out Bloomingdale’s Instagram account. In an effort to boost their social following, the brand is currently running a contest asking fans to submit pics and a beauty or styling tip. Snap a photo of that fabulous face and you could win a $1,000 gift card.

Facebook for the Five-O?

The latest startup buzz is around a social network for law enforcement professionals, called BlueLine. It’s meant to be an interactive space to share best practices, gear tips, and experiences on the job. The startup was founded by Bill Bratton, a former Los Angeles and New York police chief who created the CompStat crime-mapping system. Like any other channel, privacy is an issue, but this untapped market may really see the value in an online community. Especially if there are donuts.

A Grande Gesture

We all know someone who could really use a cup o’ joe. Well, now you can help out an energy-deficient friend by sending a simple tweet. Starbucks introduced a program that allows customers to send coffee gift cards through Twitter. By syncing their Twitter and Starbucks accounts, users may mention their friend’s Twitter handle to @tweetacoffee to send a $5 digital gift card. For your buddy having a rough day at the office or cramming for a quiz, a little tweet can say a latte.

Mobile Apps in SERPS

Google announced that mobile apps will be indexed in search, meaning the search engine will now display the app logo next to the results and give you the option to open more information directly in the app. Not only is this great for app promotion, but this presents new insights into areas like revenues, engagement and overall app usage.

Google Plus Us

Moz put out a fun Halloween-themed video for Whiteboard Friday, reminding us yet again of the importance of Google+ for SEO. Oh, hey—by the way, you should put us in your circles. #shamelessplug