1.The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and the Media Rating Council (MRC) have teamed up to develop new guidelines for measuring advertising in video games. Significantly, the new guidelines create a baseline for measuring so-called "intrinsic" ad experiences in gaming environments, including ones utilizing various forms of extended reality (VR, AR, etc.) that many see as the precursor for metaverse advertising
formats. The guidelines also include a new industry acronym: "IIG" or "intrinsic in-game." While some may see this as a step in the right direction, others are likely to ask: why stop at video games? After all, if advertising can be intrinsic to a game, why can't it also be intrinsic to other aspects of our lives? Perhaps we could have IIG experiences at work, at home, or even while engaging in leisure activities. The possibilities are endless! Only time will tell how these new
guidelines will impact the world of advertising.
2. If you thought cyber security was a snooze, think again! The super sleuths at Bitdefender have just uncovered a nefarious plot by 35 apps on Google Play. These apps are hiding their presence on devices by renaming themselves and changing their icons, making it harder for users to deinstall them. Once installed, these apps deliver aggressive ads, intending to confuse and
frustrate users. But don't worry, the experts at Bitdefender are on the case and are determined to put a stop to this dastardly scheme. So if you're worried about being caught in the crosshairs of these aggressive ads, make sure to stay up to date on the latest news from Bitdefender.
3.Google's recent update to Smart Bidding conversion values now allows you to apply different values to different conversion actions. This is a significant change
from the old system, where all value rules applied equally to all conversion actions. The new system gives you much more flexibility in how you assign values to different conversions, and it means that you can more accurately reflect the true value of each conversion. This is especially important for businesses with multiple product categories, as it allows you to assign a different value to each category. For example, if you have a high-end product and a lower-priced product, you can
now assign a higher value to the high-end product than the lower-priced product. This change is sure to be welcomed by digital marketers, as it provides a much needed level of flexibility and granularity when assigning values to conversions.
4. eBay's latest move into the growing trading card market is their acquisition of TCGplayer, an online marketplace for trading cards. The deal, worth up to $295 million, will give eBay a leg up in the
booming industry, which has seen huge growth during the pandemic.
TCGplayer is a popular buying and selling platform for trading card games like Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering. The company also provides valuable tools and services for collectors and players, making it a valuable asset for eBay. With this acquisition, eBay is positioned to become a major player in the world of trading cards.
Whether you're a casual player or a serious collector, keep your eye on
eBay as they make their move into the exciting world of trading cards.
5. It's no secret that Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming platforms out there. But did you know that one in 10 of its users are power users? That means they're the ones who open the app every day. Compared to other platforms like YouTube Music, SoundCloud and Pandora, Spotify has the highest engagement. So what does this mean for the average
person? Well, it just goes to show that if you're looking for a platform with high engagement, Spotify is the way to go. And if you're looking for a platform with low engagement, you might want to consider one of the other options.
6. Twitter is one of the most popular social media platforms, with millions of users worldwide. The platform is known for its open and allows users to share their thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics. However, this openness has also led to
some abuse, with users often resorting to offensive or harmful language. In an effort to combat this problem, Twitter appears to be working on a new Reply filter. The filter would stop users from seeing replies that contain harmful language. This would likely be a welcome change for many users, who have long been subjected to abusive or offensive tweets. However, it remains to be seen how effective the filter will be in
practice.
7.Branch, the mobile measurement company, is expanding its offerings with the acquisition of AdLibertas, a first-party data platform. AdLibertas will help Branch developers gather and analyze their first-party data in one place. This is a big move for Branch, and it's sure to shake up the mobile measurement landscape. With Ad Libertas, Branch will be able to offer developers a complete suite of tools for measuring, managing,
and analyzing their mobile data. This acquisition is just the latest in a string of recent moves by Branch to expand its offerings and solidify its position as a leader in the mobile measurement space.
8. If you're one of the many people who've cut the cord on cable TV, there's good news: You can now watch even more free, ad-supported programming, courtesy of Vizio. The smart TV maker has announced that it's expanding its
WatchFree+ platform with the addition of four new channels from Scripps Networks. The new channels are Food Network Kitchen, HGTV Kitchen, Travel Channel and DIY Network. And if you're worried about ads interrupting your favorite shows, don't be: Vizio says that its FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) service "is designed to minimize interruptions." So there you have it: even more free TV for cord-cutters to enjoy.
9. OneSignal, the
engagement platform that helps businesses keep their customers informed and engaged, has won $50 million in Series C funding. The round was led by BAM Elevate, an investment division of Balyasny Asset Management, with participation from Nimble Partners and existing investors SignalFire and Zach Coelius. OneSignal’s other existing investors include Rakuten Ventures, Yes.vc, HubSpot, and Y Combinator.
This latest round of funding brings OneSignal’s total financing to $80 million and
will be used to help the company continue to grow its customer base and expand its product offerings. OneSignal CEO Jim Ryan said in a statement that the new funding would also be used to “double down on our investments in Machine Learning and AI.”
With this new infusion of cash, OneSignal is well-positioned to continue its growth trajectory and maintain its position as a leading engagement platform.
10. As the world's leading
search engine, Google is no stranger to putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to basketball. The company has increased its investment in the sport, becoming the first women's-only global partner with FIBA - the organization that defines the rules of basketball, such as the equipment and facilities required. The partnership with FIBA is scheduled to begin with this year's FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia on September 22. This is where Google becomes the
title partner of the event, as well as an official sponsor of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Women's NBA G League (WNBAGL). In addition to these high-profile partnerships, Google has also teamed up with USA Basketball to be the Presenting Partner of their Women in the Game initiatives. These initiatives are designed to increase female participation in basketball at all levels, from grassroots to elite. With its increased investment in basketball, Google is clearly
committed to growing the game globally and providing more opportunities for women to participate.
11. If you haven't heard, Meta really wants you to post more Reels. Reels are the fastest-growing engagement surface across its apps, and already take up more than 20% of the total time that people spend on Instagram. In fact, video in general is Meta's most engaging content format, occupying some 50% of the time that people spend on
Facebook. As such, it's no surprise that Meta keeps pushing for more video content from users. But what exactly are Reels, and why are they so popular? Simply put, Reels are short, fun videos that can be created using Instagram's built-in editing tools. They're perfect for showing off a new product, sharing a funny moment, or just giving your followers a glimpse into your day-to-day life. And with Instagram's massive reach and active user base, it's no wonder that brands and influencers are
clamoring to get in on the action. If you're not already creating Reels, now is the time to start!