1.The FTC's report on Dark Patterns is a real eye-opener. I had no idea that companies were using such sophisticated Tactics to Trick and Trap consumers. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, though. With the growth of the internet, companies are always looking for new ways to reach consumers. And what better way to reach consumers than to use tactics that are designed to trick
themSome of the tactics mentioned in the report include disguised ads, difficult-to-cancel subscriptions, buried terms, and tricks to obtain data. All of these tactics are designed to make it difficult for consumers to understand what they're getting into. And once they're in, it's even harder for them to get out.
I think the most important take away from the report is that we need to be more careful about the companies we do business with. We need to make sure we're dealing with companies
that are transparent and honest. Otherwise, we run the risk of getting trapped in a cycle of deceit and deception.
2. It seems like TikTok just can’t help itself when it comes to copying other social media platforms. First, there was the whole drama with Instagram Stories, and now the app has taken inspiration from BeReal with its new ‘TikTok Now’ feature. For those who aren’t familiar, BeReal is a social media app that allows users
to post short videos of themselves in real-time. TikTok Now is essentially the same thing, except it also includes a few extra bells and whistles. For example, users can add filters and effects to their videos, and they can also choose to Livestream themselves. It’s unclear why TikTok felt the need to copy BeReal, but one thing is for sure: the app is quickly becoming the king of plagiarism.
3.This week, the possibility of a TikTok ban was
raised when TikTok COO Vanessa Pappas appeared before a US Senate Committee Hearing into the impacts of social media on democracy. Various questions were leveled at Pappas over TikTok’s connections to, and obligations to, the CCP. However, it is important to remember that a TikTok ban would not be the end of the world. There are other social media platforms out there that can fill the void, and people would quickly find new ways to consume short-form content. So, while a TikTok ban
would be disruptive, it is not something we should necessarily fear.
4. According to Gartner, a leading research and advisory company, 60% of CMOs will cut their marketing analytics teams by 2023. The main reason for this is the increasing popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), which can automate many of the tasks currently performed by human analysts. Marketing analytics is a complex and time-consuming
process, involving the collection and analysis of large amounts of data. By using AI and ML, businesses can reduce the need for human analysts, resulting in significant cost savings. However, it is important to note that AI and ML cannot completely replace human analysts. There will still be a need for skilled professionals who can interpret the data and provide insights that can guide decision-making. As such, while the role of marketing analytics may change in the years ahead, it is unlikely
to disappear entirely.
5.The Federal Trade Commission has been trying to crack down on fake reviews online for over a decade now. In 2009, they issued guidance stating that people who posted endorsements should disclose any relationship with the company being reviewed. But it seems like the problem has only gotten worse in recent years.
There are a number of reasons why fake reviews are such a problem. For one thing, they can be
used to manipulate consumers into thinking a product is better than it actually is. This is particularly true of products that are reviewed on platforms like Amazon, where reviews can have a major impact on sales. In addition, fake reviews can also be used to hurt rival businesses by artificially inflating their negative ratings.
Thankfully, the FTC is still working on ways to combat fake reviews. In March of this year, they sent letters to a number of platforms warning them about the
problem and asking them to take steps to address it. Let's hope that these efforts will finally start to make a dent in the fake review problem.
6.If you thought Walmart's attempt to muscle into the world of social media influencers was a late-July prank, I have some bad news for you. The retail giant is dead serious about getting into the business of using social media stars to help sell its goods and services. As someone who closely
follows the influencer space, I can say with confidence that this is going to be a complete disaster. For one thing, Walmart has zero credibility when it comes to fashion or lifestyle trends. Sure, it might be able to convince a few fitness influencers to do posts extolling the virtues of its cheap workout gear, but when it comes to trendsetting, Walmart is about as cool as a VHS player. And good luck getting any of the A-list influencers to even consider working with Walmart. These are people
who are used to being courted by luxury brands and given free trips to exotic locations. They are not going to be impressed by an offer from Walmart to do a few Instagram posts in exchange for a discount at the store. In short, Walmart's attempt to jump on the influencer bandwagon is doomed to fail. But that doesn't mean it won't be entertaining to watch.
7. The India Affiliate Summit (IAS) is one of the biggest events in the affiliate
marketing industry. Every year, thousands of marketers from all over the world gather in Delhi to network, learn from each other, and do business. And this year's summit was no different. The three-day event was packed with seminars, workshops, and panel discussions on everything from traffic generation to conversion optimization. And of course, there were plenty of opportunities to meet and mingle with fellow marketers. But the real highlight of the summit was the keynote speech by
super affiliate Anil Aggarwal. In his address, Anil promised that next year's summit will be even bigger and better than this year's. So mark your calendars for next year's India Affiliate Summit! It's sure to be a can't-miss event for anyone in the industry.
8.If you’ve ever shopped for lingerie, you know that the experience can be a bit…intimidating. From the uncomfortable changing room lighting to the sales associate who seems to be judging your every move, it’s no wonder
that so many women dread lingerie shopping. Aerie is looking to change that with its “unretouched” campaign, which features real women in their underwear. The company hasn’t retouched photos for its ads since 2014, and the result is a more accurate representation of what people actually look like when they wear Aerie’s products. The company is continuing to do so with its advertising efforts this fall, touting user-generated content as social media and
influencer marketing takes up more ad dollars for the brand. With its refreshing take on advertising, Aerie is helping to make lingerie shopping a less daunting experience for women everywhere. (Digiday)
9. Apple is at it again, this time notification
developers of new search placements arriving on its app marketplace just in time for the holidays. The iPhone maker’s ad sales operations revolve around the App Store, which to date has offered a slim amount of inventory. While details are unclear on the latest additions, the firm in July said it would expand ads to the App Store’s front page and in the form of sponsoredSearch Ads. So if you’re an app developer, be on the lookout for Apple’s new search placements- and maybe consider
creating an ad or two of your own!
10 As reported by The Verge, Judge P. Kevin Castel claimed the “Jedi Blue” deal broke no laws because of “Facebook’s motivation to use its economic clout as an advertising to drive the hardest of bargains does not constitute anticompetitive conduct under the antitrust laws.” While this ruling may come as a relief to the social media giant, it doesn’t mean that Facebook is in the clear just yet. The
case against Google, which alleges that the search engine used its dominance to stifle competition, is still ongoing. And with the US government reportedly considering bringing antitrust cases against both Facebook and Google, it seems likely that this is only the beginning of a long legal battle.
11. The deprecation of third-party cookies has been a controversial topic in the advertising industry for some time now. While many believe
that this move will ultimately benefit consumers by increasing privacy protections, it also presents a number of challenges for advertisers. One of the biggest problems is attribution measurement, which is essential for understanding the effectiveness of ad campaigns. Without this data, it would be difficult to make informed decisions about where to allocate budgets. Fortunately, Ipsos MMA has partnered with Adform to implement a first-party, AI-based data solution that can solve these problems
on a global scale. This solution will help advertisers to continue to measure the performance of their campaigns, even in the absence of third-party cookies. As a result, they will be able to make more informed decisions about where to invest their advertising dollars.
12. Programmatic advertising is a growing industry with immense potential. According to 'Programmatic Advertising Global Market Report 2022 - Market Size, Trends, And
Global Forecast 2022-2026' published by The Business Research Company, the programmatic advertising market is expected to reach $18.42 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.67%. As per the programmatic advertising market overview, the increasing growth of the mobile ad spending and the adoption of sophisticated technologies by publishers and marketers are the major drivers for the growth of the programmatic advertising market. Also, as mentioned in the report, one of the
major trends in this market is the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in programmatic advertising. AI is helping marketers to target consumers more effectively and efficiently. With its ability to analyze large data sets, AI can help marketers identify patterns and trends that would otherwise be missed. This, in turn, can help marketers to make better decisions about where to allocate their resources and how to best reach their target consumers. Thus, it is evident that the use of AI
in programmatic advertising is likely to increase in the coming years, which will drive the growth of the market.
13.iHeartMedia, the popular American radio station, has announced that it is entering the world of online gaming by sponsorship of the popular game Roblox. The company plans to build a digital presence in the game, which will be used to interact with young people who enjoy playing video games. The avatar of Jake from State
Farm will be appearing in the game as part of the company's marketing effort. This is an interesting move by iHeartMedia, as it tries to tap into a new market by using a platform that is popular with millennials and Generation Z. It will be interesting to see how this sponsorship affects the game and its players.
14. The video service aggregation and subscription channels store landscape is currently being roamed by giants like Amazon, Roku,
Apple, Comcast and Google. But next year, emerging players like Redbox, Charter, MyBundle.TV, Plex, DirecTV Stream and Scener will each stake a claim and work to build user bases filled with consumers who want everything they watch in one place. While the big names have deep pockets and established customer bases, the new kids on the block have something else going for them: innovation. Redbox, for example, is focused on simplifying the user interface so that it's easy to find something
to watch. MyBundle.TV promises to offer more customization than any other service on the market, while Plex is all about giving users a way to access their personal media libraries from anywhere.
15. Amazon's new Tailored Audiences program is a game-changer for email marketing. Now, instead of just being able to target brand followers, sellers can reach out to repeat and recent customers, as well as high-spending customers. This
is a great way to increase sales and build customer loyalty. And the best part is that Amazon will send the email directly to the customers you select. So what are you waiting for? Start using Tailored Audiences today and take your email marketing to the next level!