1. Facebook is launching a new ’Creator Collaborations’ feature, which will enable creators to collaborate with others on content to expand their reach. Creator Collaborations will enable multiple creators to be listed on a single Facebook post, making it easier for fans of one creator to discover and follow others. The feature will also allow creators to tag each other in posts, making it simpler to connect with fellow creators and build
collaborative relationships. According to Facebook, the goal of Creator Collaborations is to help creators build bigger audiences and create more compelling content. The feature will be piloted with a small group of creators in the coming weeks, andfacebook plans to roll it out more broadly in the near future.
2.WPP PLC, a London-based advertising company, has agreed to acquire Bower House Digital for an undisclosed sum. Bower House Digital is a marketing technology services agency in Australia that designs, builds and deploys digital experiences for clients. The acquisition will give WPP access to Bower House Digital's client base, which includes Bunnings Group, British United Provident Association Ltd (Bupa), and Target Corp. This is just the latest in a
string of acquisitions by WPP, which has been on a buying spree in recent years as it looks to bolster its digital capabilities. With the addition of Bower House Digital, WPP will be better positioned to compete in the rapidly changing world of marketing.
3. YouTube is running a new experiment that will enable selected creators to set a time limit on their Community Posts in the app. The experiment will see those updates disappear after 24 or 72 hours. YouTube said it is running the experiment to see if setting a time limit on Community Posts will encourage creators to post more frequently. The experiment is currently limited to a small group of creators, and there is no word on when or if it
will be rolled out more widely.
4. Earlier this month, Raymond James analysts hosted an online advertising conference call with an industry expert who has visibility into about $2 billion in ad spending across Fortune 1,000 advertisers. The expert expects about 25% year-over-year growth in 2022 for online advertising, down from 30% initially. The slowdown is primarily due to the base effect of the pandemic driving higher growth in 2020, as well as increased ad prices and
concerns about ad fraud. The analyst noted that many advertisers are still not targeting their ads effectively and that there is room for improvement in terms of campaign measurement. Nonetheless, the outlook for online advertising remains positive, with the expert expecting double-digit growth over the next few years.
5. Google is again testing bolding the domain name or portion of the domain name in the search results. Google has tested this numerous times over the years, but it's unclear if the latest test will lead to a permanent change. The company has not provided any comment on the matter. However, some users have reported seeing the domain name bolded in the search results for certain queries. It's possible that Google is testing different variants of
the feature and has not yet settled on a final design. As always, it's important to take any changes to the search results with a grain of salt until they are officially announced by Google.
6. In a move that could revolutionize the way advertising is bought and sold, Yahoo and DIRECTV have announced a partnership that will make their combined inventory of addressable TV and streaming households available to buyers through the Yahoo DSP. This is a significant development because it will provide access to 25 million addressable TV households, which is a major increase from the current estimated base of 15 million. By making this
inventory available to buyers, Yahoo and DIRECTV are opening up a whole new world of possibilities for marketers looking to reach specific audiences with their messages. And because the inventory is being made available through the Yahoo DSP, it will be easier than ever for buyers to target their campaigns and get the most bang for their buck. This is a landmark partnership that is sure to change the landscape of TV advertising.
8. A recent study by Vixen Labs found that 92% of voice assistant users in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany use the technology to search the web. Of those, 40% use it regularly. The study also found that more than half of voice users in the United States use the technology to shop. These findings suggest that voice assistants are becoming increasingly popular and are being used for a variety of tasks. As the technology continues to
evolve, it is likely that even more people will begin using voice assistants for a variety of purposes.
9. Nexstar Media Group, one of the largest broadcasters in the U.S., is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire a major stake in The CW from co-owners Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global. According to a number of reports, Nexstar would secure a 75% equity stake in The CW, with Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Global retaining the remaining 25%. The deal would value The CW at $5 billion. Nexstar already owns a number of local TV stations
across the country, and the acquisition of The CW would give the company a major national footprint. The move would also come as the broadcast TV landscape continues to consolidate. In recent years, a number of major broadcasting companies have been acquired by larger conglomerates. If the deal is completed, it would further cement Nexstar's position as one of the most powerful players in the U.S. broadcasting industry.
10. Facebook is launching a new ’Creator Collaborations’ feature, which will enable creators to collaborate with others on content to expand their reach. Creator Collaborations will enable multiple creators to be listed on a single Facebook post, providing both additional brand awareness, through the tag, and expanded reach to the combined audience of both collaborators. This is a great opportunity for content creators to team up and create even
more engaging and inspiring content for their fans. With the combined reach of both creators, there is potential to engage with a whole new audience and build a stronger following. So far, the response from creators has been positive, with many saying that they are excited to start collaborating with other like-minded individuals. If you’re a content creator, keep an eye out for this new feature – it could be a great way to boost your reach and engagement.
11. In an effort to compete with Facebook, Snapchat has introduced a new subscription service that gives users access to exclusive filters and other content for $3.99 per month. However, the service still includes ads, which has led some users to question whether it is worth the price. While Snapchat’s subscription service is less expensive than similar offerings from Facebook and Instagram, it does not provide the ad-free experience that many
users are looking for. In addition, the selection of exclusive filters and content is relatively limited, making it unlikely that users will be willing to pay for the service on a long-term basis. As a result, Snapchat’s new subscription service may not be the game-changer that the company is hoping for.
12. Facebook is revamping its Groups feature to make it more like Discord. The change, which is currently rolling out to a small subset of users, includes a new layout that puts the focus on conversation threads. It also introduces features like @mentions and hashtag support, which should make it easier for users to discover and join conversations. The revamped Groups also include a “Recent Activity” feed, which shows users what’s been happening
in their groups. The changes are designed to make Facebook Groups more “engaging and useful,” and they come as the social network looks to take on dedicated chat apps like Discord. Facebook says the new features will be available to all users in the coming weeks.
