1. So long, and thanks for all the (referral) links! That's right, folks, Coinbase is shutting down its affiliate-marketing program on July 19. The move comes as the leading US crypto exchange looks to tidy up its act amid increasing scrutiny from regulators. It also follows a similar decision by Binance, another major exchange, which shuttered its affiliate program back in March. So what does this mean for the average crypto user? Well, for
starters, it's going to be a lot harder to get those sweet, sweet referral bonuses. And if you were relying on Coinbase's affiliate program to help pad your wallet, you're out of luck. But on the bright side, at least you won't have to worry about your referrals accidentally sending crypto to the wrong address anymore. So there's that.
2. Opinion: The fall of performance marketing is the best thing that could have happened to the industry. For too long, companies have relied too heavily on direct advertising, and the costs have been rising. But now that performance marketing is falling, companies are starting to realize that they need to
focus on other aspects of their business, such as customer service and product development. This change is long overdue, and it's good to see the industry finally waking up to the fact that direct advertising is not the be-all and end-all of marketing.
3. You've likely read a lot about gentleminions, music discovery and how all culture today starts with TikTok. But maybe that's not true. Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw takes a torch to the notion that Double T created Minions, Encanto, and other popular media. He's right to focus on TikTok as an amplification engine, but I still think so many trends start on TikTok, and done right you can catapult your brand
into the stratosphere. Yes, some of the big hits have come from brands with deep pockets and professional teams behind them. But I would argue that even those professional teams were informed by what was happening on TikTok. And when it comes to Encanto and Minions, I would argue that those two characters were created by TikTok users in the first place. The thing about TikTok is that it's a breeding ground for creativity. There are no rules and no boundaries. And that allows users to experiment
and come up with new ideas that can quickly go viral.
4. I never would have thought that one of the biggest issues facing the media marketplace would be a shortage of printed books. But that's exactly what's happening, according to new data from the Book Manufacturers' Institute. The institute estimates that demand for printed books has skyrocketed in recent months, and that the supply chain is having difficulty keeping up. This is leading to long delays and backorders at many bookstores. It's
ironic that this is happening at a time when digital media is supposed to be taking over. But it seems that people are turning to printed books as a way to escape from all the digital noise in their lives. In a way, it's a return to a simpler time. But it's also creating some headaches for those who are trying to keep up with the demand.
5. According to industry insiders, Disney's recent upfront advertising deals are a sign that the company is finally starting to get serious about streaming. After years of being content to let Netflix dominate the market, Disney is now making a major push into the streaming space with its new Disney+ service. And it seems that advertisers are taking notice, as the company has pulled in a record-breaking $9 billion in upfront deals. While some
may see this as a sign of Disney's hegemony, others see it as a sign of the company's desperation to catch up to Netflix. Either way, it's clear that Disney is now a force to be reckoned with in the streaming wars.
6. OTT services are becoming more and more popular, and it's easy to see why. With so many options to choose from, there's something for everyone. And with prices generally lower than traditional cable or satellite TV packages, OTT is a great way to save money. According to a recent report, 40 million U.S. households trial and subscribed to an OTT service in the first half of 2021. That's a lot of people streaming their favorite shows! Not
surprisingly, the most popular genres among OTT users are comedy and drama. So if you're looking for a good laugh or a tearjerker, you're in luck. Interestingly, the report also found that OTT users are more likely to be male (54%) than female (46%). And they're also more likely to be young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 (39%). So if you fit into either of those categories, you're more likely to be an OTT fan.
7. Google is making some changes to the requirements for political content policy ads. The updated policy aims to clarify the disclosure requirements for election advertising using ad formats and features available across Google when the advertiser is responsible for including a “Paid for by” disclosure directly in the ad. This change comes after much scrutiny from the public about the lack of transparency around who is funding political
ads. Google is hoping that by making this change, it will help to restore some trust in the company. However, some people are skeptical about whether or not this will actually make a difference. We will have to wait and see how this all plays out in the coming months.
8. It looks like the metaverse is going to be a pretty commercial place. According to a survey conducted in May 2022, over 35 per cent of respondents said they were comfortable with advertising in a metaverse space. That means that, for every three people you meet in the metaverse, one of them is
going to be trying to sell you something. The other 25 per cent of respondents said they were undecided, which means they're probably going to be swayed by whatever company offers them the best deal. And the remaining 40 per cent? They're just not comfortable with the idea of marketing and advertising in a virtual world. You can't really blame them - after all, who wants to be bombarded with ads while they're trying to escape from reality? Still, it looks like the metaverse is going to be a
pretty commercial place.
9. Metaverse, according to the highly-respected global management consultancy McKinsey & Co., is going to be huge. In fact, they predict that the metaverse will become a USD$5tn (£4.1tn) economy by 2030. That’s bigger than the entire economy of Australia! The report, titled “Value Creation in the Metaverse”, is based on 3,400 consumers’ and executives’ thoughts about the metaverse and its adoption. The report also includes respondents’
thoughts on the metaverse’s potential, and how it could go on to revolutionise areas such as education, healthcare, retail and entertainment. Of course, with such a huge potential market, it’s no surprise that companies are already starting to invest in the metaverse. So if you’re thinking of setting up a business in the metaverse, you might want to get in early before all the good names are taken!
10. Ladies and GentleMinions, welcome to pop culture icon status. The Minions have caught the attention and affection of what seems like just about everyone. It’s a franchise that continues to create lovable hits with no sign of stopping, with sustained fandom for kids and kids at heart and experiences well beyond the silver screen. It evokes memories for older generations and forms brand new ones for the younger ones, making it one of the few
truly timeless phenomena in recent history. And it all started with a little yellow creature that first graced our screens in 2010. Since then, the Minions have taken over the world, one movie, TV show, short film, toy line, breakfast cereal, and piece of memorabilia at a time. There’s even a Minion-themed ride at Universal Studios! It’s safe to say that the Minions are here to stay – and we couldn’t be happier about it. Thanks for making us laugh, bringing joy into our lives, and always being
there when we need a good pick-me-up. We salute you, our beloved Minions! Long may you reign!
11. Hulu has been on a roll lately, with new subscriptions outpacing those of Disney's flagship streaming platform, Disney+, in 18 of the past 24 months. And total new subscriptions to Hulu have exceeded those to Disney+ in each of the past 12 months. What's behind Hulu's success? Well, for one thing, the company has been loading up on more adult-focused entertainment in a bid to expand its reach to a wider variety of viewers. This strategy
appears to be paying off, as Hulu is now attracting a larger share of 18-49 year olds than any other streaming service.So if you're looking for something to watch that's a little edgier than what you'd find on Disney+, give Hulu a try. You might just be surprised at what you find.
12. Woody Harrelson's dispensary, The Woods, is the real deal according to Leafly's review. It may not be surprising, as Harrelson has been an advocate for cannabis legalization, criminal justice reform, and environmentalism for decades. The Woods is a place where you can find high-quality cannabis products and services. The dispensary is located in a convenient location and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. The prices are fair and the
selection is good. If you're looking for a dispensary that is the real deal, then The Woods is worth checking out.
13. A recent study by Georgia State University has found that video game players show enhanced brain activity and decision-making skills. While this may come as a surprise to some, it's actually good news for gamers. The study found that playing video games can improve your ability to think quickly, make decisions, and problem-solve. So, if you're looking for a way to give your brain a workout, gaming may be the answer. And, who knows, you may
even find yourself getting better grades in school or performing better at work. So, next time someone tells you that gaming is a waste of time, you can tell them that you're actually enhancing your brain power. Who knows, maybe you'll even be able to teach them a thing or two about gaming.
14. In the latest string of troubling times for Shopify, the company is cancelling its internship program and pulling back job offers. According to The Globe and Mail, the company is halting hiring to focus on addressing its plummeting stock price. The cancelled internships, meanwhile, mostly impact students and could put their graduating status in limbo if they can't find a new role. In other words: Shopify is in big trouble and things are only
getting worse. So, if you're considering a career in e-commerce, you might want to look elsewhere. After all, who wants to work for a company that can't even keep its interns?
15. It's no secret that Samsung has been gunning for a piece of the gaming market for a while now. The company has been building a massive advertising ecosystem to support how publishers and brands reach consumers through gaming experiences on its smart televisions and mobile devices. And it looks like their efforts are paying off: the number of gamers in the Samsung TV Universe increased significantly in 2021 to nearly 20 million, up from 16.4
million in 2020. Gamers spent an average of just over two hours per day gaming on Samsung devices last year, and the company is hoping to increase that number even further in the coming years.