> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nearmedia.co/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # All Reviews Matter, Meta-Giphy Split, Cyber Monday $100M Short - URL: https://www.nearmedia.co/all-reviews-matter-giphy-bye-bye-cyber-monday-falls-short/ - Published: 2021-12-01T17:48:52.000Z - Updated: 2021-12-01T17:54:08.000Z - Author: Greg Sterling - Tags: News ### Cyber Monday Comes Up a Bit Short As with Black Friday, Cyber Monday's spending disappointed. Last year US consumers spent $10.8 billion on Cyber Monday. However this year sales were down 1.4% to $10.7 billion, according to [Adobe Analytics](https://business.adobe.com/resources/holiday-shopping-report.html?ref=nearmedia.co). Adobe had predicted between $10.2 billion and $11.3 billion in receipts; $10.7 billion is the midpoint. Salesforce had a slightly [larger number](https://www.salesforce.com/resources/research-reports/retail-holiday-insights/?ref=nearmedia.co): $11 billion. According to [Numerator](https://www.numerator.com/holiday-trends/cyber-weekend?ref=nearmedia.co), Amazon was the single biggest winner over "Cyber Weekend," capturing nearly 18% of all online sales on Black Friday. The online retailer itself [touted](https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/customers-drove-record-breaking-black-friday-through-cyber-monday-sales-on-amazon?ref=nearmedia.co) "record sales" over the five-day period. Numerator also reported that 38% of sales on Black Friday occurred online. Placer.ai, a location analytics firm, said in-person shopping at malls was up roughly 84% from 2020 but fell short of 2019 levels. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-12-01-at-6.28.42-AM.png) Source: Salesforce **Our take:** - Holiday shopping got started *really* early. Amazon's holiday promotions began October 4, prompting other retailers to follow. - General uncertainty and [diminished consumer confidence](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-confidence-declined-in-november-301434044.html?ref=nearmedia.co) are also impacting willingness to spend. - Going forward, we're probably looking at "Cyber Month" not Cyber Weekend. It's also still possible overall holiday sales will outpace 2020\. ### Meta (Facebook) Told to sell Giphy Last May Facebook [bought](https://www.axios.com/scoop-facebook-to-buy-giphy-for-400-million-4a75a359-833b-484d-b15b-87e94d3de017.html?ref=nearmedia.co) Giphy for roughly $400 million. The transaction was small by Facebook standards and the deal closed – without regulatory approval. Now, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has [ordered](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-directs-facebook-to-sell-giphy?ref=nearmedia.co) Facebook (now Meta) to divest Giphy. The regulator argued, "Facebook’s acquisition of Giphy would reduce competition between social media platforms and \[ \] has already removed Giphy as a potential challenger in the display advertising market." There's a fair degree of speculation in the opinion. Regardless, this move is significant and may signal an aggressive new phase of regulatory intervention in which big-tech acquisitions are routinely blocked. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/12/giphy.gif) Source: Giphy **Our take:** - Facebook proposed a range of potential "remedies" for competition concerns raised by CMA, which rejected them entirely. - Facebook can appeal the decision, but it will involve a protracted process with an uncertain outcome. It's likely the company will do so. - CMA's move will inspire US regulators to take similarly strong positions on big-tech acquisitions with a potential ripple effect in the VC market. ### Google: All Reviews Matter Reviews matter. No one reading this would dispute that or the fact that consumers rely heavily upon reviews in making purchase decisions. The just-published [Local Search Ranking Factors survey for 2021](https://www.nearmedia.co/local-search-ranking-factors-2021/) identifies "high numerical Google ratings" as the most influential "conversion factor" for local search users. Google also relies on reviews as a local ranking variable as part of [its "prominence" criterion](https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091?hl=en&ref=nearmedia.co). In updated review management [guidance](https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122?hl=en&ref=nearmedia.co), Google says businesses should not fear negative reviews: "Customers find a mix of positive and negative reviews more trustworthy. You can always respond to a review to show the customers that you care and provide additional context." Google also reminds marketers that if reviews violate content [guidelines](https://support.google.com/contributionpolicy/answer/7400114?hl=en&ref%5Ftopic=7422769&ref=nearmedia.co) they can be removed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/12/fake-reviews2.png) **Our take:** - An Uberall-Transparency Company [study found nearly 11% of Google reviews were potentially fake](https://www.nearmedia.co/meh-ta-moment-fake-reviews-gmb-a-big-lead-driver/), which could amount to \~200M reviews in the US alone. - At Search Engine Land, Barry Schwartz [speculates](https://searchengineland.com/google-says-it-values-all-local-reviews-both-positive-and-negative-376503?ref=nearmedia.co) that perhaps Google is telegraphing it will scrutinize GBP accounts with 5-star ratings. That would be nice, but I'm skeptical. - Reviews are heavily gamed by business owners, which is where the bulk of review fraud comes from. The FTC knows this. We'll see what they do. ## Recent Analysis - **Local Search Ranking Factors 2021: What's New**?, [by Greg Sterling](https://www.nearmedia.co/local-search-ranking-factors-2021/) - **Apple Maps: The Road to Discovery (Part 2),** [by Mike Blumenthal](https://www.nearmedia.co/apple-maps-the-road-to-discovery-part-2/). ## Short Takes - How **D2C** brands are [reinventing physical retailing](https://streetfightmag.com/2021/12/01/how-d2c-brands-are-capitalizing-on-physical-stores-and-shifting-metrics-of-success/??ref=nearmedia.co). - Bret Taylor, co-creator of Google Maps, [becomes Co-CEO](https://investor.salesforce.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2021/Bret-Taylor-Promoted-to-Vice-Chair-and-Co-CEO-of-Salesforce/default.aspx?ref=nearmedia.co)of **Salesforce**. - Key Facebook exec./crypto maven **David Marcus** [is leaving the company](https://www.facebook.com/davidm/posts/10166264804120195). - The **Twitter** Paradox: Indispensable, yet [business model challenged](https://stratechery.com/2021/twitter-has-a-new-ceo-what-about-a-new-business-model/?ref=nearmedia.co). - Inside **Google's** amazing **project Starline** [next-gen videoconferencing](https://9to5google.com/2021/11/30/google-project-starline/?ref=nearmedia.co). - Will the **metaverse** [be more privacy safe](https://www.marketingdive.com/news/why-metaverse-could-be-breakthrough-privacy-compliant-digital-marketing/610661/?ref=nearmedia.co) than the 2D internet? - 68% of Americans [aren't interested](https://morningconsult.com/2021/11/02/meta-facebook-brand/?ref=nearmedia.co) in the **metaverse** (so far). - Huh?: Virtual Yacht in **virtual world The Sandbox** [sells for $650,000](https://jalopnik.com/this-whole-metaverse-mega-yacht-nft-makes-me-want-to-di-1848131215?ref=nearmedia.co). - **Amazon** [launched](https://venturebeat.com/2021/11/30/amazon-debuts-iot-twinmaker-and-fleetwise/?ref=nearmedia.co) AWS tool that enables "digital twins" of real-world things. - **Google**, partners [teaching](https://thenextweb.com/news/googles-teaching-ai-to-see-and-hear-at-the-same-time?ref=nearmedia.co) AI to "see" and "hear" simultaneously. - VW [promoting](https://media.vw.com/en-us/releases/1636?ref=nearmedia.co#images) Taos SUV with **AR experience** on Amazon boxes. - SMB-focused fintech **Fundbox** raises $100M more, [now worth $1.1 billion](https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/30/fundbox-raises-100m/?ref=nearmedia.co). - **Microsoft CEO Nadella** [sells](https://www.geekwire.com/2021/satya-nadella-sells-half-his-microsoft-stock-weeks-before-state-implements-new-capital-gains-tax/?ref=nearmedia.co) half his shares in the company. - **"Living robots"** [learn how to reproduce](https://gizmodo.com/tiny-living-robots-figured-out-how-to-reproduce-1848139260?ref=nearmedia.co) – not scary at all. Listen to our [latest podcast](https://www.nearmedia.co/memo/). [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/03/80/0380d96d-ef7e-450e-96b3-2963e18aaab5/content/images/2021/02/near_memo_banner.png)](https://nearmedia.co/memo?ref=nearmedia.co) How can we make this better? Email [us](mailto:gsterling@nearmedia.co) with suggestions and recommendations.