Tag: LinkedIn

Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google Ad’s New Updates, YouTube’s Updates for Creators, Pinterest’s Verified Merchant Program and more…

1. Google Ads Improves Asset Reporting for App Campaigns With 4 New Updates

Google Ads is enhancing asset reporting in app campaigns with four new updates to provide advertisers with detailed and actionable insights. This includes helping marketers with clearer performance ratings, keeping tabs on assets, tracking ads performance and previewing assets before they go live. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

2. YouTube Updates for Creators: Improved Analytics for Live Streams & More

YouTube announced several updates for creators, including better analytics for live streams, in its latest video on the Creator Insider channel. For the first time, creators can see a breakdown of viewers for live streams versus regular uploads. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

3. Pinterest Launches Verified Merchant Program With Applications Open to All

Pinterest has always been a destination for shopping inspiration but now customers are shifting even more of their spending to online channels, the company says. Pinterest is now rolling out its new Verified Merchant Program, which comes with a blue checkmark and other perks. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

4. Reddit Launches Polls, Providing Another Way for Redditors to Engage With Content

Reddit has launched a new Polls option which enables Redditors to pose questions to their audiences, helping to boost on-platform engagement, and activate the many ‘lurkers’ – people who scroll through the various posts but don’t post, share or comment themselves – within the app. [Source: Social Media Today]

5. Now, analyze more accounts in Google Ads Report Editor

Google Ads has expanded the number of accounts you can work with in Report Editor from 10 to 200. Agencies and enterprises will be able to create reports and run analysis potentially across the full set accounts in their Manager accounts within the Google Ads interface instead of having to download the data. [Source: Search Engine Land]

6. LinkedIn Shares Tips on What to Post During COVID-19 Lockdowns

LinkedIn has seen an influx in user activity over the past two weeks. It has provided some more general posting tips, beyond the COVID-19 situation alone, which could help you improve your posting strategies for the platform. [Source: Social Media Today]

7. Pinterest Provides Tips on How Brands Can Communicate Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pinterest has provided a new set of tips to help brands that are looking to maintain audience connection amid the COVID-19 crisis helping them to maintain revenue flow, and engage customers, amid the rising anxiety and uncertainty. [Source: Social Media Today]

8. Instagram’s Testing a New Option to Promote the Sale of Gift Cards via Your Business Profile

Instagram is working on a new ‘Links’ option within its business profile settings that would enable brands to add a new quick link, via a profile button or sticker, to guide visitors to purchase gift cards or make donations. [Source: Social Media Today]

9. Twitter Provides More Tweet Copy Tips via Its ‘Good Copy, Bad Copy’ Program

Twitter provides some more great tweet copy lessons with the help of ‘Good Copy, Bad Copy’ program. Twitter has added two new videos in this series by providing valuable thought on how to improve your tweet approach and compose more effective, impactful tweets. [Source: Social Media Today]

10. Pinterest Adds New ‘Today’ Discovery Listing to Highlight Trending Ideas and Inspiration

With more people turning to Pinterest for inspiration and discovery amid the COVID-19 lockdowns, the company is launching a new feature called ‘Today’, which will showcase the latest trending ideas from across its network. [Source: Social Media Today]

March 27, 2020
Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google Latest COVID-19 Tools, Facebook’s Ad Approval Delays, LinkedIn’s New Conversation Ads and more…

1. Google Outlines Latest COVID-19 Tools on Google and YouTube, Including Changes to Content Reviews

Google has provided an update on the measures that it’s implementing in order to help users in a range of ways amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Google is seeking to promote critical information to users via Google Search, Maps and on YouTube. [Source: Social Media Today]

2. Facebook Warns of Ad Approval Delays Amid Staff Changes Due to COVID-19 Impacts

With Facebook shutting down its offices, and asking staff to work from home amid the COVID-19 outbreak, that’s meant that many contract workers who are not able to work out of the office are simply not working, which has reduced Facebook’s capacity in several areas. [Source: Social Media Today]

3. LinkedIn Introduces Conversation Ads: A New Message-Based Ad Format

LinkedIn is launching a new type of message-based ad that uses conversation to deliver a customized experience for each user. Its build off of its current Message Ads and are designed to be more personal and engaging. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

4. Instagram to Roll Out IGTV Advertising in Challenge to YouTube

Instagram plans to sell advertisements in IGTV, its home for longer videos, a bid to compete with YouTube for a larger share of the booming market for online video. The company will start testing the ads this spring. [Source: Bloomberg]

5. Facebook’s Testing a New Option Which Would Connect Brand Loyalty Programs to In-App Activity

Facebook ads to connect with their loyalty program members on the platform, using Custom Audiences to target those who’ve previously created a profile with the business. These ads will have a new ‘Link Account’ CTA in the bottom of the post which will allow the user to link their brand and Facebook accounts. [Source: Social Media Today]

6. Instagram’s Testing the Capability to Add Hashtags and Location to Stories Highlights

Instagram is testing out the capability to add up to four hashtags and a location to your Instagram Stories highlights. That could prompt more business, in particular, to use Stories highlights, while it could also change approach towards Instagram highlights. [Source: Social Media Today]

7. Facebook Commits to Helping Small Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic

Facebook is making efforts to help small businesses get through the COVID-19 pandemic with several initiatives launched this week. In addition to creating a dedicated hub for businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak, Facebook is planning to roll out a $100 million grant program. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

8. Twitter Now Enables Users to Invite Guests to Live-Streams Ahead of Time

Twitter has updated its real-time video connection feature, adding a new option to add audio guests into your Twitter live-streams before you actually begin your broadcast. [Source: Social Media Today]

9. Google Ads Makes it Easier to Appeal Disapproved or Limited Ads

Google Ads is launching a feature that makes it easier for advertisers to appeal policy decisions and get ads approved. This new feature allows advertisers to resubmit an ad immediately after fixing the policy issue. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

10. Facebook Says That Approvals for AR Effects Submitted to Facebook and Instagram Will Be Put on Hold

Facebook says that all of its Spark AR reviewers will soon not be operating. As a result, no user-submitted AR effects, for either Facebook Stories or Instagram, will be approved until further notice because of the staffing changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Source: Social Media Today]

March 20, 2020
Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google Partner Program’s New Requirements, Microsoft’s New Advertising Features, YouTube’s ‘Applause’ Feature & more…

1. Google Partners Program Puts New Requirements on Companies

A new Google Partners program is launching later this year, which may require current partner companies to make a number of changes. In order for companies to maintain their Google Partner status, they will have to meet a new set of requirements that go into effect in June 2020. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

2. Microsoft Advertising Introduces New Features for Shopping Campaigns

Microsoft Advertising is bringing new functionalities to shopping campaigns which are designed to help advertisers save time and gain more insight into account performance. These changes will be rolling out to all Shopping Campaign advertisers over the next few weeks. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

3. YouTube Tests New ‘Applause’ Creator Donation Feature, Expanding on ‘Super Chat’

YouTube is testing out a new way for fans to donate money to their favorite creators, expanding on its Super Chat streamer donation system. The new option, called ‘Applause’, would enable fans to purchase an applause animation, which they could then allocate to approved YouTube videos. [Source: Social Media Today]

4. Google: Use (relevant) keywords in your Google My Business description

A new “Describe your business(es)” section in the “Improve your local ranking on Google” page of the Google My Business (GMB) Help site encourages local business owners to include relevant keywords in their GMB descriptions. Google also still advises in the “Relevance” section on that page to give it as many signals as possible about your business. [Source: Search Engine Land]

5. Conditional IF functions now available in all Microsoft Advertising accounts

Support for IF functions is now available globally in all Microsoft Advertising accounts. This will allow you to automate customized messaging in expanded text ads based on a user’s device or audience segment. This function can be used in expanded text ad headlines and descriptions, but not URLs. [Source: Search Engine Land]

6. Google Search Console adds review snippets performance, enhancement and testing reports

Google announced new reports within Google Search Console to help you with your review snippets. Google added a new enhancements report, a new performance report and added new support for review snippets on the rich result testing tool. [Source: Search Engine Land]

7. New chart annotations make Google Ads’ change history reports much easier to navigate

Google added annotation cards in change history reports in the Google Ads UI. There are also new sections for using annotations. You’ll see a little triangle icon below the change history performance chart indicating an annotation. [Source: Search Engine Land]

8. LinkedIn Sales Navigator adds features to streamline workflows

LinkedIn rolled out several new features for Sales Navigator to make it easier to add leads from the sales prospecting platform to Salesforce, share content within a Sales Navigator account, get alerts when a company account shows signs of growth and more. These features are designed to streamline sales tasks and create more efficient workflow processes for sales teams. [Source: MarTech Today]

9. Google to Discontinue Classic Version of YouTube on Desktop

Google plans to discontinue YouTube’s older desktop interface as of March 2020, nearly three years after introducing the new version. Starting next month, users will only be able to access the current version of YouTube. Those who are still using the older interface will begin seeing notifications advising them to switch to the new YouTube. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

10. Google’s Gboard introduces Emoji Kitchen, a tool to mash up emojis to use as stickers

Gboard for Android is introducing a feature called “Emoji Kitchen” that allows users to mash up different emoji then use them as stickers when messaging. The stickers will work across apps, including Gmail, Messages by Google, Messenger, Snapchat, Telegram, WhatsApp and others. [Source: TechCrunch]

February 14, 2020
Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google’s New Shopping Section, Instagram’s New Boomerang Modes, LinkedIn’s New Features for its Business Pages & more…

1. Google Introduces a New Shopping Section in Search Results

Google is rolling out a new addition to search results this week which makes it easy to shop for popular products. This new section will show up when searching for clothes, shoes, and accessories. This new feature will help drive organic traffic to merchants. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

2. Instagram Adds New Boomerang Modes and Capability to Trim Boomerang Loops

Instagram has added some new options to its Boomerang camera mode for Stories, including ‘SloMo’, ‘Echo’ and ‘Duo’ variants. The new options add more ways in which you can use the Boomerang mode to liven up your Instagram Stories. [Source: Social Media Today]

3. LinkedIn Brings 3 New Features to LinkedIn Pages

LinkedIn pages are gaining three new features designed to facilitate more community engagement and form stronger relationships with followers. The new features include invite to follow, LinkedIn Live integration, and new posting options. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

4. Google Ads Introduces Bid Simulator Support for Smart Bidding

Google Ads is rolling out bid simulator support for the Target ROAS (return on ad spend) bid strategy, as well as a new budget simulator. This marks the first-time bid simulator support has been available for a smart bidding campaign. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

5. TikTok is Developing a Feed of Curated Content, Similar to Snapchat’s Discover Stream

The rising video app TikTok is investigating the possibility of a curated content stream, similar to Snapchat’s Discover surface. The added curation would give TikTok’s moderators more control over the viewing experience, ensuring that advertisers don’t end up having their ads wedged in-between controversial posts. [Source: Social Media Today]

6. Responsive search ads available globally in all Microsoft Advertising interfaces

Markets can now set up responsive search ads in their Microsoft Advertising accounts. The system then automatically serves headline/description combinations predicted to improve click-through rates. You have the option to pin headlines and descriptions if you have to ensure specific content always shows. [Source: Search Engine Land]

7. Google Ads Makes Parallel Tracking Mandatory for Video Campaigns

Google Ads is making parallel tracking available for video campaigns, which is optional for now but will soon become mandatory. Parallel tracking is designed to improve mobile site speed by bringing visitors directly to the landing page while measuring the ad click in the background. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

8. Facebook Backs Off on Plan to Bring Ads to WhatsApp

Facebook is reportedly reversing course on its plans to insert ads into messaging platform WhatsApp. That would mean that while WhatsApp has more than 1.5 billion users, it won’t be contributing significantly to Facebook’s overall revenues anytime soon. [Source: Social Media Today]

9. Google Chrome: Third-party cookies will be gone by 2022

Third-party cookies have been living on borrowed time, given their increasing rejection by the major browsers. Google announced support for third-party cookies in its Chrome browser would be phased out “within two years.” The company seeks to replace them with a browser-based mechanism as part of its “Privacy Sandbox” initiative. [Source: MarTech Today]

10. Google Expands Domain Name and Icon Listings in Search Results to Web Queries

Google is expanding this new format to web-based queries. In addition to brand icons to the left of the domain listings in each result, the format for Google ads has also been updated, with a bold ‘Ad’ notifier beside the top paid result. [Source: Social Media Today]

January 17, 2020
Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google Chrome’s Warning For Slow Pages, Facebook’s New Fundraising Tool, Instagram’s New ‘Reels’ Mode and more…

1. Chrome May Warn Users of Slow Pages Before They Click

Google Chrome announced a plan to introduce badging as a way to encourage publishers to improve site speed. Google proposed a contextual menu on links that will tell users, before they click, that a site is slow. The goal is to reward fast sites. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

2.Facebook Rolls Out New Fundraising Tools and Options Ahead of Giving Tuesday

Facebook has announced a new set of fundraising and cause awareness tools to assist non-profits in boosting their activity. Facebook is adding its fundraising stickers to Facebook Stories. Facebook is also expanding its charity donation tools within gaming live-streams. [Source: Social Media Today]

3.Instagram Goes After TikTok with New ‘Reels’ Mode

Instagram has launched a new feature which aims to replicate the key functionality of rising app TikTok. But rather than taking on parent-company Facebook’s usual tactic of launching a separate app, Instagram is adding its new ‘Reels’ feature as an element within Instagram Stories, using the app’s scale to try and beat TikTok at its own game – and blunt its potential to take away younger users. [Source: Social Media Today]

4.Facebook Releases New Overview of Content Removals, Fake Profiles and Enforcements

The Social Network has released its latest Community Standards Enforcement Report, which outlines all the content removals and actions it’s taken as a result of posted material that breaks its established rules. [Source: Social Media Today]

5.Google expands Local campaigns inventory, BOPIS offers for Shopping campaigns

The new features, including new Maps inventory for Local campaigns, are rolling out over the coming weeks. Shopping campaigns are also getting updates for brick-and-mortar promotions and optimization. [Source: Search Engine Land]

6.Instagram’s test to hide like counts expands to the US and across the globe

Instagram, which has been running a test to hide like counts on posts in seven different countries, announced today that it is expanding the test globally. This follows an announcement last week that the test would be expanding to the US as soon as this week. [Source: The Verge]

7.LinkedIn adds Data Validation to Sales Navigator

LinkedIn launched Data Validation, a feature designed to help users manage their contacts and ensure they have the most up-to-date contact data. Data Validation will automatically flag contacts who are no longer with the company listed in users’ CRM. [Source: MarTech Today]

8.Microsoft Advertising talks intelligence, UI updates, audience solutions in SMX keynote

The growing complexity of the consumer’s digital footprint means advertisers need to understand the advanced technologies and innovations that drive meaningful brand engagement. Microsoft is setting out to help reimagine how advertisers serve customers and grow your business, deliver more engaging customer experiences that unlock new revenue and fuel future growth. [Source: Search Engine Land]

9.Snapchat Publishes New Insights into Snapchat User Buying Behavior [Infographic]

Snapchat has published a new research report which looks at how Snap users research and purchase, and how brands can connect with them via the app and if you’re looking to reach younger audiences, it’s worth taking note. [Source: Social Media Today]

10.TikTok Tests Social Commerce Links in Videos

TikTok continues to race towards full monetization with a new test of options to add links into user bios and eCommerce URLs directly into uploaded videos. [Source: Social Media Today]

November 15, 2019
Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google’s Expanding Shopping Ads, Facebook’s New Logo, Pinterest’s Renewed Mobile App and more…

1. Google Expands Shopping Ads to Over 50 New Markets, Adds New Features

Google is expanding shopping ads and introducing new features to help advertisers target shoppers worldwide. The new features are multi-country feeds, automated feeds and new merchant center experience. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

2. Facebook Unveils New Logo With Unique Branding for All of its Products

Facebook updated its company branding with a new logo that appears with different colors to distinguish each company it owns. The company says the new branding is designed for clarity – to make it clear that it’s the parent company of many popular apps. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

3. Pinterest Launches a Refresh of Its Mobile App

Pinterest has updated the look of its app for iOS and Android with a renewed focus on personalized recommendations and a more efficient use of space. The most obvious change when opening the app after the update is the reduced space around pins. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

4. Google Adds New Visual Ad Options for YouTube and Google Images

Google announced two new visual ad options for YouTube, and a new shopping ad option for Google Images, expanding your opportunities for direct consumer connection via these surfaces. [Source: Social Media Today]

5. YouTube Launches a Redesign of its Desktop Homepage

YouTube updated the design of its desktop homepage and the homepage of its apps on iPads and Android tablets. The company has added the option to add to queue on desktop – simply hover the cursor over a video and it can be quickly added to your list of videos to watch next. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

6. LinkedIn Adds New Language Translation Settings to Broaden Usage Capacity

LinkedIn has added two new language translation options in order to better facilitate on-platform communication. It will automatically translate it to English – but now, when you tap on the ‘Rate this Translation’ prompt at the bottom of the post, you’ll be able to find additional translation options under ‘Language Settings’. [Source: Social Media Today]

7. Google Finally Launches the Anticipated Page Speed Report in Search Console

Google is rolling out the highly anticipated page speed report in Search Console that was shown off earlier this year. The company’s new page speed report pulls data from the Chrome User Experience Report and automatically groups URLs into the categories of “Fast,” Moderate,” and “Slow.” [Source: Search Engine Journal]

8. Google Rolls Out New Extensions for YouTube Ads

Google is introducing new extensions for YouTube ads, which are similar to the extensions for search ads. Like Google’s search ad extensions, the extensions for video campaigns invite users to take additional action beyond the traditional ad click. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

9. Facebook Expands Access to Brand Collabs Manager, Adds New Insights to Creator Studio

Facebook announced some new additions to its publisher tools, including expanded access to its Brand Collabs influencer discovery and connection database, and new metrics within its Creator Studio dashboard. [Source: Social Media Today]

10. Google Ads Editor Gets New Features & Support For New Campaign Types

Google Ads Editor has been updated with support for new campaign types as well as several new features. The new features are searchable errors, shared negative keyword lists, condensed edit pane, image names and maximize conversion value for search campaigns. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

November 8, 2019
Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google’s Adaptive Anchor Banner Ads, Instagram’s New IGTV Series, Microsoft Advertising’s Redesigned Interface & more…

1. Google Launches ‘Adaptive Anchor Banner’ Ads to Better Cater to Varying Screens

Google is launching a new banner ad type which can adapt to varying screen size, helping to maximize performance in line with evolving consumption behaviors. [Source: Social Media Today]

2. Instagram Adds IGTV Series Option to Categorize Videos

Instagram added a new IGTV ‘Series’ option which will enable creators to segment their videos into dedicated collections. The new Series option will help creators better brand their content, and encourage return viewing, by giving their series a dedicated label, along with an on-screen tab which viewers can tap to get notifications of new episodes. [Source: Social Media Today]

3. Microsoft Advertising unveils interface redesign

Microsoft Advertising is redesigning the interface to better align with the update Google Ads rolled out in full a year ago. The new user experience will feel familiar to Google Ads users. You will recognize the left-hand oriented navigation menus that anchor the Google Ads interface and Overview pages with visual charts. [Source: Search Engine Land]

4. Google Ads Rolls Out 2 New Tools for Responsive Search Ads

Google is introducing two new tools for responsive search ads, which are now available to all advertisers in all languages. In addition, responsive search ads can now be set up from Google Ads Editor, the Google Ads API, and the mobile app. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

5. LinkedIn Rolls Out New Format for its ‘Daily Rundown’ Professional News Updates

LinkedIn is looking for more ways to facilitate discussion, and get professionals connecting over key topics. The company has announced that it’s making some changes to its Daily Rundown professional news listings, which users can opt-in to, in order to be sent a key business news overview each day. [Source: Social Media Today]

6. Google Ads to Improve the Optimization of App Campaigns

Google Ads is improving the way it tracks the performance of app campaigns. Advertisers with active app campaigns will automatically have their campaigns updated. The new data will also help advertisers make more informed design decisions. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

7. Twitter’s Considering a New Checkmark to Highlight Bots on the Platform

Twitter is looking into putting a label for bots on the plaltform. This could be a good move, and it would definitely help clarify who, or what, is behind each account. [Source: Social Media Today]

8. Google Ads now showing cart metrics for Shopping campaigns

Merchants running Google Ads Shopping campaigns can now see e-commerce cart data in the UI to gain a clearer sense of which products are driving profitable cart transactions. [Source: Search Engine Land]

9. Pinterest Begins Rolling Out an Updated Pin Format

Pinterest has begun rolling out a new Pin format, which includes some minor functional tweaks, and separates each Pin element more specifically. [Source: Social Media Today]

10. YouTube to Sell Artists’ Merchandise Underneath Videos

YouTube has partnered with Merchbar to help artists sell official merchandise on their video pages. This collaboration allows artists with an official artist channel on YouTube to surface apparel, vinyl, and other forms of merchandise underneath their videos. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

October 25, 2019
Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google Ad’s New Ways to Target Users, Facebook Ad’s in Search Results, LinkedIn’s New Features for Companies & more…

1. Google Ads Introduces 2 New Ways to Target Users in Google Search

Google Ads is rolling out two new ways to reach your target audiences in Google Search. The company will be launching affinity audiences and seasonal event segments for in-market audiences. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

2. Facebook Ads in Search Results Rolling Out to More Advertisers

Facebook is giving more advertisers the ability to place ads in search results. An official announcement states that Facebook Search Results will be automatically included as a placement when running ad campaigns that utilize Automatic Placements. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

3. LinkedIn Rolls Out 3 New Features for Company Pages

LinkedIn is introducing new features designed to help companies stay better engaged with their employees. These updates will help keep employees informed so they can share the latest content from the company they work for. LinkedIn is also rolling out new tools to help companies optimize their pages. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

4. Facebook Launches New ‘Disruptor Hub’ to Outline How Businesses are Seeing Major Growth Online

Facebook has launched a new resource hub for marketers which looks at the key factors driving online business growth, how innovative, disruptive brands are tapping into these trends, and how Facebook’s various advertising and promotion options can help to fuel such. [Source: Social Media Today]

5. Snapchat Introduces a New Ad Unit for Ecommerce Advertisers

Snapchat is rolling out Dynamic Ads – new ad unit designed specifically for Ecommerce advertisers. The company is selling the ad unit as a simple way to create mobile ads at scale while maintaining brand identity through mobile-first templates. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

6. Facebook Publishes New Data on the Effectiveness of Combining News Feed and Stories for Ad Campaigns

Facebook is looking to make it as easy as possible for advertisers to expand their campaigns into Stories also, and the research here suggests that it may well be worth considering. [Source: Social Media Today]

7. Instagram Adds New Options to Control Third-Party Access to Your Account Information

Instagram has improved its options to help users better manage which third-party apps can access their Instagram account information, and what specific data they can get. [Source: Social Media Today]

8. YouTube to end support for third-party pixels early 2020

Google has been working with third-party measurement companies to migrate their services into Ads Data Hub. YouTube expects those migrations to be completed early next year. At that time, it will no longer allow advertisers to use third-party pixels on YouTube. [Source: MarTech Today]

9. Facebook Announces Change to Organic Page Impressions, Removal of Gray Verification Badges

Facebook is making a couple of changes to business Pages, which will impact both presentation and data tracking elements. Facebook’s gray verification badges – not the blue ones – are available to all Pages which have verified their official details with Facebook by going through an identification process. [Source: Social Media Today]

10. LinkedIn Gets a New Tool for Planning In-Person Networking Events

LinkedIn is introducing an Events hub, which is a new tool to help users plan in-person networking meetups. The tool allows users to create and join professional events, invite connections, manage events, have conversations with other attendees, and stay in touch afterward. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

October 18, 2019
Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google’s New Data Security Tools, Instagram’s Branded Content Tag, Microsoft’s Audience Targeting Solutions & more…

1. Google Adds New Data Security Tools, Including YouTube History Auto-Delete and Password Check-Up

Google has announced a new set of data control and security options to help users better maintain their digital presence and avoid potential misuse. The company is adding a new incognito mode to Google Maps, giving the option to hide location history. [Source: Social Media Today]

2. Instagram Adds Branded Content Tags for IGTV

Instagram’s Branded Content Tags are still not available to all users, for those who can access them, they are now also being expanded to longer-form IGTV content. [Source: Social Media Today]

3. Microsoft Introduces New Ways to Target Audiences With Search Ads

Microsoft has new audience targeting solutions combining customer data with new technology to reach customers when they’re ready to buy. The new audience targeting solutions are available now as part of an open beta. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

4. Google Search Console adds Change of Address tool to new interface

Google announced that they have added the Change of Address tool to the new interface of Google Search Console. The change of address feature was available in the old Search Console but was not migrated when Google shut down the old interface. [Source: Search Engine Land]

5. LinkedIn Campaign Manager adds audience targeting logic, demographic forecasts

LinkedIn is adding audience forecasting information directly to the Campaign Manager dashboard and introducing new Boolean targeting logic for building audiences — both available globally. The platform is also introducing new demographic reporting metrics that will begin rolling out to all advertisers over the next two weeks. [Source: Marketing Land]

6. Instagram Launches Product Launch Reminder Stickers and Tags to Capitalize on Audience Interest

Instagram is adding in new features and options which encourage shopping in-app, providing new functionality for users, and new opportunities for businesses to get more out of their Insta presence. [Source: Social Media Today]

7. Facebook advertisers can now use Stories ads to start conversations in Messenger

Brands can now drive Facebook, Instagram and Messenger Stories ad traffic to start conversations on Messenger. Users can swipe up on Stories ads that have the new “Send Message” call to action to start a conversation with the business in Messenger without leaving the app they’re in. [Source: Marketing Land]

8. YouTube Adds New Comment Filters in YouTube Studio

YouTube has announced a new set of comment filters within YouTube Studio, which will make it easier for creators and brands to identify key video responses of interest. [Source: Social Media Today]

9. Google Shopping Updated With New Design, Price Tracking, Local Inventory, More

Google has upgraded Google Shopping with a redesign and several new features that make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for. The new experience starts with a personalized homepage that includes suggestions for new products, as well as sections to reorder common items or continue previous shopping research. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

10. Google to update GoogleBot’s user agent

Google will update Google’s user agent to represent the version of Chrome that GoogleBot is running. It is important to update any code you may have that may look at the user agent of GoogleBot to support this change going forward. [Source: Search Engine Land]

October 4, 2019
Weekend Digital Media Round-up: Google’s changed GMB listings, Facebook’s ‘Like’ Button Removal, YouTube’s Change in Data Collection and More…

1. Google Makes Changes to GMB Listings With Distance-Based Service Areas

Google is going to automatically apply changes to Google My Business listings with distance-based service areas. Managers of Google My Business listings affected by this change will have the opportunity to review these updates after logging into their account. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

2. Facebook Might Follow Instagram By Removing Like Counts

Facebook may take a page out of its own playbook by removing like counts, similar to what’s being tested on Instagram. The screenshots shared by Wong indicate that Facebook’s hidden likes will work the same way. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

3. YouTube Announces Changes to Data Collection and Ad Targeting on Videos Aimed at Children

YouTube has announced a range of new measures to better protect children using its platform, reducing data collection on content aimed at kids, and the capacity for advertisers to target young viewers through ads on such content. [Source: Social Media Today]

4. Google Introduces New Structured Data for Movie Carousels

Google is rolling out a new type of structured data to help movies appear in new dedicated movie carousels. In order for a movie to be eligible to display in a carousel, only the title of the movie and an accompanying image need to be defined using structured data. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

5. LinkedIn Launches New Course on Building a LinkedIn Presence and Utilizing its Ad Tools

LinkedIn has launched a new course designed to educate people on how to make best use of the platform for brand-building and marketing, covering all aspects of LinkedIn’s on-platform tools. [Source: Social Media Today]

6. Google Search Console Makes it Easier to Verify Domain Properties

Google is working with domain name registrars to automate the process of verifying domain properties in Search Console. Domain properties were introduced to Search Console this year as a way of providing site owners with a complete view of their data. [Source: Search Engine Journal]

7. YouTube Outlines its Improving Efforts to Remove Inappropriate Content

YouTube has provided a specific update on the first element listed – removing inappropriate content, and how it’s been working to improve its efforts on this front. [Source: Social Media Today]

8. Google launches an open-source version of its differential privacy library

Google has released an open-source version of the differential privacy library it uses to power some of its own core products. Developers will be able to take this library and build their own tools that can work with aggregate data without revealing personally identifiable information either inside or outside their companies. [Source: Tech Crunch]

9. Facebook Begins Rolling Out Updated Desktop Layout

Facebook has now started rolling out the new experience to users, with a prompt notifying them of the change. The new layout aims to make it easier to navigate to your favorite elements, with tabs along the top of the screen, and a more compressed view. [Source: Social Media Today]

10. Facebook Updates Face Recognition Permissions to Provide More Control

Facebook has announced that it is removing its current ‘tag suggestions’ setting, which relates to the prompts it generates based on people it can identify in an uploaded image and improving its face recognition permissions, enabling users to opt-out of the process with one click. [Source: Social Media Today]

September 6, 2019

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