1.Instagram has quietly scaled back its in-stream shopping features, as the Facebook-owned company re-examines its approach to e-commerce. The changes come just months after Instagram launched in-stream shopping, which allowed users to browse and buy products from brands without leaving the app. However, it appears that Instagram is now having second thoughts about the feature. In recent weeks, the company
has removed the “Shop Now” button from shopping posts, and it has also removed the ability to view product details within the app. For now, it seems that Instagram is takes a more cautious approach to in-stream shopping. It will be interesting to see if this is a temporary set-back or if Instagram permanently abandons its plans for in-stream shopping. Either way, it’s clear that Instagram is still trying to figure out how best to approach e-commerce.
2.If you're in the business of marketing, Microsoft's September product announcements are sure to pique your interest. The tech giant unveiled a whopping 5 new ad products and updates, including the debut of 34 new markets and additional import tools. Perhaps most exciting of all, however, is the Performance Max beta, which promises to help businesses get the most out of their advertising budget. With so many new offerings on the table, it's clear that Microsoft
is serious about staying ahead of the curve in the ever-changing world of online advertising. So if you're looking to stay ahead of the competition, you'd better keep an eye on what Microsoft is up to.
3. RIn what may be the most Gen Z thing to happen in 2020, STARBURST is sending TikToks into space. The push, which launched last week, features an astrophysicist videos and a hashtag challenge (#ReachForTheStarsBURST) in an effort to
reconnect with the demographic. And while some might write off the campaign as a marketing gimmick, there's actually some science behind it. According to research conducted by the brand, 71% of Gen Zers say they're more interested in space since being on TikTok. Additionally, the campaign is also targeting influencers with large followings in order to reach as many people as possible. So far, the campaign has been a success, with over 1 million views and counting. Who knows - maybe this will be
the beginning of a new era of space exploration.
4. André Ferraz, founder and CEO of Incognia, has warned that fraudsters are manipulating food delivery driver apps with location-related fraud tactics. He said: "Fraudsters are using location spoofing to accept deliveries from busy locations, charge for deliveries that were not made, and report longer rides. The implementation of location intelligence in the mobile food delivery apps
can help detect these kinds of frauds." Ferraz added thatlocation intelligence can also help food delivery companies to optimize their operations, by providing insights into areas where there is high demand for deliveries. He concluded: "By usinglocation intelligence, food delivery companies can improve their customer experience and also save costs."
5.In 2018, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) named “brand purpose” their word of
the year. In response, the ANA has released guidelines for brand marketers to avoid so-called “purpose-washing.” The guidelines are intended to help brands ensure that their marketing efforts are aligned with their core values and that they are not merely exploiting social issues for commercial gain. Among other things, the guidelines recommend that brands clearly articulate their purpose, implement policies and practices that support it, and measure and report on progress. While some
may see the guidelines as a way to rein in rogue marketers, others will no doubt see them as an impediment to creativity. Either way, it’s clear that the ANA is taking brand purpose seriously. So if you’re a marketer, you should probably do the same.
6. In the newest Rick and Morty commercial, which is also a Wendy's ad, the titular characters find themselves transformed into breakfast food. After Morty comes home to find that Rick
has turned himself into a Wendy's Frosty-ccino, he soon realizes that the same thing has happened to his family. In short order, Morty is turned into a package of French Toast Sticks. The commercial is funny and clever, but it also highlights the partnership between Rick and Morty and Wendy's. The fast food company has previously partnered with the animated series on promotional campaigns, and this latest ad is yet another example of their successful collaboration. If you're a fan of Rick and
Morty, or just looking for a laugh, be sure to check out the new commercial.
7.It looks like LG is getting into the world of NFTs with its new LG Art Lab marketplace. For those not familiar with NFTs, they are basically digital assets that can be bought, sold, and traded like any other commodity. The cool thing about them is that they're completely unique and can't be replicated, which makes them perfect for things like digital
artwork. With LG Art Lab, users will be able to browse and purchase high-quality digital art directly from their LG TVs. The app is currently available only to US-based users with an LG TV running webOS 5.0 or later, but we imagine it will eventually be rolled out to other countries and regions as well. So if you're an early adopter of new technology, keep your eye on this one!
8. Today is a sad day for the advertising industry. We lost a
great agency, Dentsu International, which has been an important part of the landscape for many years. It's a huge loss, and our thoughts go out to all of the employees who are affected.
We don't yet know all of the details about what happened, but it seems clear that Dentsu Group is making a major shift in strategy. They're moving to a "one management team" approach, which means that the role of global CEO of Dentsu International will be phased out. Wendy Clark, who has been in that
role for the past few years, will be leaving the company at year-end.
This is obviously a big change for Dentsu Group, and it remains to be seen how it will affect their business in the long term. For now, we can only mourn the loss of an industry giant and hope for the best for all of those who are affected by this news.
9. Amazon has topped Kantar's latest Media Reactions report, with consumers viewing ads on the e-commerce giant as
more relevant and engaging than those on other leading digital media platforms. The analysis ranks channel perceptions among both consumers and marketers, and it's clear that Amazon is seen as the most effective platform when it comes to advertising.
10. Gap is placing culture-shapers center stage for its fall campaign, titled “Icons,” according to a press release. The campaign launched Sept. 6 and will run across
digital media, out-of-home and Gap’s brand channels. The company has enlisted the help of icons in various fields, such as tennis champion Naomi Osaka, musician Tig Notaro, chef Marcus Samuelsson and model Adwoa Aboah. Each individual was photographed in Gap apparel to coincide with the launch of the campaign. In addition to the images, Gap has also released a series of short films featuring the icons discussing what personal style means to them. The campaign is an interesting departure from
Gap’s usual marketing strategy, and it will be interesting to see how it performs.
11. Mediamond, the company behind the popular mobile game Diamond Dash, today announced a new partnership with Adomik, a Paris and New York-based company that provides an advertising analytics platform to publishers worldwide. Under the terms of the agreement, Mediamond will use Adomik's platform to manage and optimise its programmatic campaigns with the aim of
maximising revenues.
According to Mediamond CEO Simone Smiraglia, the partnership is a natural fit for the company. "Our games are enjoyed by millions of users around the world, and we're always looking for ways to improve the experience for our players," said Smiraglia. "Adomik's platform will help us to do just that by giving us greater insight into our programmatic campaigns so that we can optimize them for maximum effect."
Adomik co-founder and CEO Pierre-Camille Guay
added that his company is thrilled to be working with Mediamond. "We're very excited to be partnering with Mediamond," said Guay. "Their games are extremely popular, and we're confident that our platform will help them to increase revenues and deliver even better experiences to their players."