Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 5th, 2024

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 17th, 2024 Hi everyone, In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown, we'll talk about advertiser-branded QR codes on YouTube, Netflix entering the ad technology space, and more. Let's dive in.  YouTube Introduces QR Codes for Advertisers to Enhance Viewer Engagement YouTube is set to enhance interactivity within its advertising platform by introducing QR codes that advertisers can incorporate into their ads. This new feature allows viewers to scan QR codes displayed in video ads to directly access websites, promotions, or additional information, bridging the gap between advertisement and action seamlessly. The introduction of QR codes aims to simplify the process for viewers to engage with ad content, potentially increasing conversion rates and providing advertisers with a direct and measurable way to gauge ad performance. The deployment of QR codes within ads represents a strategic move by YouTube to adapt to evolving digital marketing trends, where convenience and quick access are highly valued by consumers. This feature not only facilitates a smoother viewer experience by eliminating the need to manually search for the advertised product or service but also enhances the ability for advertisers to offer more complex and interactive content. As this feature rolls out, it could significantly shift the dynamics of viewer engagement on the platform, offering a more interactive and integrated approach to video advertising on YouTube. For more on this, click on the link below: https://9to5google.com/2024/05/15/youtube-advertiser-qr-codes/ Google to Limit Functionality in Suspended Ads Accounts Starting June 2024 Starting in June 2024, Google will enforce new restrictions on the functionality of suspended Google Ads accounts. Advertisers whose accounts have been suspended will still be able to access them, but their capabilities within these accounts will be significantly reduced. The following capabilities will still be there for suspended accounts: - Billing options: Make a payment, download tax documents, add a payment method - Account settings: Cancel account and claim refunds - Appeals and verification: Appeal a suspension, complete advertiser verification - Security Settings: Update security settings within the Google Ads account - Navigate to any page on their Google Ads account - Read information and download associated reports from their Google Ads account All other actions will be disabled until the suspension is removed.  For more on this, click on the link below: https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/14899401?hl=en#:~:text=Advertisers%20will%20be%20informed%20in,documents%2C%20add%20a%20payment%20method Netflix is Developing In-House Advertising Technology  Netflix is taking significant steps to advance its advertising capabilities by developing an in-house advertising technology platform. This strategic move is aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of ad delivery on its streaming service. By transitioning to a proprietary system, Netflix seeks to better control the integration and management of advertisements, offering a more seamless viewing experience for subscribers who opt for ad-supported plans. This shift suggests a potential decrease in reliance on third-party advertising partners and technology, which could streamline operations and potentially increase ad revenue. As Netflix continues to innovate within the competitive streaming market, this in-house approach may provide the flexibility and agility needed to adapt quickly to changing market demands and viewer preferences. For more on this, click on the link below: https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/15/netflix-in-house-advertising-technology-platform/ Meta Faces New EU Probe Over Allegations of Addictive Algorithms Harming Children Meta is under scrutiny once again as it faces a new probe by the European Union regarding its algorithms. This investigation aims to determine if Meta's algorithms violate EU laws designed to protect minors from digital harms. Concerns have been raised about the nature of content delivery mechanisms used by platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which may prioritize engagement at the risk of exacerbating issues related to mental health among young users. The EU's inquiry will examine the specific ways in which Meta's algorithms engage users and the extent to which these methods may be considered harmful. This probe is part of broader efforts by the EU to enforce stricter regulations on digital platforms, ensuring they uphold a high standard of responsibility, especially when it comes to protecting younger audiences. Meta's practices have come under increasing pressure as regulators push for more transparency and accountability in how social media companies operate their algorithms and manage user data, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children. Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on our social media channels using the link below.  https://linktr.ee/kavanahmedia Author: Sean Ralls Article Published: May 17th, 2024

Weekly Marketing Rundown - March 29th, 2024 Hi everyone, In this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown, we'll talk about a new WhatsApp extension being tested with Google Ads, Meta Ads metrics in development, and more. Let's dive in.  Google Ads is Testing a WhatsApp Messaging Extension  Google Ads has begun testing a new search ads extension that would allow people to start a WhatsApp conversation with one click directly from the ad. This is very similar to the messaging ad function with Meta Ads. The feature is currently being tested on some ad accounts in India, with a worldwide rollout hopefully coming sometime this year.  For more on this, click on the link below: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bramvanderhallen_whatsapp-googleads-ppc-activity-7177941024898437120-DZZr/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Google Analytics Rolls Out Update for Unified Conversion Measurement  Google Analytics is introducing an update that promises some positive changes for the measurement platform. This update aligns how conversions—actions like email sign-ups and purchases—are defined in both Google Ads and Analytics, providing a consistent view of advertising performance across Google platforms. The term 'key events' in Google Analytics will replace what has been called conversions for behavioral analytics. These key events are designed to help site and app owners measure crucial user behaviors more consistently. With this change, conversions will be uniformly represented whether viewed in Google Ads reporting or Google Analytics reports. This addresses long-standing discrepancies in conversion reporting between the two platforms, a major improvement for marketers. Conversions in existing reports and exploration modules in Google Analytics will now be considered key events, enabling businesses to identify and analyze the most important customer actions.  For more on this, click the link below: https://blog.google/products/marketingplatform/analytics/evolving-google-analytics-for-more-insightful-measurement/ New Metrics in Development for Meta Ads  Meta has been quietly developing a few new metrics for ad reporting. Here are a few of the most notable: - 3, 5, and 7 Second Dwells: The number of times your display ad is completely visible, or covers at least 50% of someone's screen, for at least 3, 5, or 7 seconds.  - 2, 3, and 5 Message exchanges: The number of times a messaging conversation reaches 2, 3, or 5 back-and-forth exchanges with your page, attributed to your ads.  - Returning messaging contacts: The number of accounts that messaged your business in a given time period and any prior time period, attributed to your ads. This won't include returning messaging contacts on WhatsApp, or those delivered in Europe or Japan. For more on this, click the link below: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bramvanderhallen_facebookads-digitalmarketing-digitaladvertising-activity-7178644868917800960-0Sfy/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Google Ads 2023 Safety Report Google has published its annual Ads Safety Report, detailing its efforts to maintain a trustworthy and safe digital advertising ecosystem. A significant focus in 2023 was on the impact of generative AI on the digital advertising industry. This technology, while bringing exciting changes like performance optimization and image editing, also posed new challenges. Google says they have been proactive in addressing these challenges, particularly in enhancing enforcement efforts. Large Language Models (LLMs) have been instrumental in their efforts, providing rapid content review capabilities that surpass traditional machine learning models.  Last year alone, Google blocked 5.5 billion ads, as well as 12.7 million ad accounts for violating their policies.  For more on this, click the links below: Press release: https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/google-ads-safety-report-2023/#election-integrity Report PDF: https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/ads_safety_report_2023.pdf Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on our social media channels using the link below.  https://linktr.ee/kavanahmedia Author: Sean Ralls Article Published: March 29th, 2024