Eric von Coelln digs into the numbers behind social media, marketing, casual games and more.
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FarmVille Horse Stable Promo Replicated for Other Zynga Hits

Successful viral marketing promos in FarmVille have been quickly passed along to two other Zynga hits: Cafe World and Mafia Wars. Whether they will see similar traffic boosts remains to be seen.

Can Users Find Their Games in the New Facebook Homepage?

Users seem to be struggling in finding games in the new Facebook homepage redesign. While there is a lot of promise in the newly introduced games dashboard, further education cannot overcome the fundamental design flaw of not having “games” as a persistent part of the site navigation, visible from every page.

How FarmVille Finally Broke Through 30 Million Daily Active Users

FarmVille bucks the no-growth trend, passing 30 million by twisting the “gifting” mechanism from sending gifts to asking for gifts.

Early Winners and Losers from Facebook Platform Changes

When viral marketing tactics were curtailed by Facebook’s platform and policy updates, the question wasn’t whether developers would take a hit, but how much? And whether those that thrived on aggressive viral tactics would be hurt more than those that didn’t. I look at what appears to be behind those who did well and those that took a major hit.

Top Social Games Take a Hit: Seasonal Declines or Something Bigger?

The top games on Facebok are down 11% from their highs this month. While it looks like it might be due to the holidays, the successive declines in the peaks of the latest Zynga releases might suggest the life cycle for social games is changing.