1.Amazon has been offering discounted Washington Post subscriptions to Prime members since 2015, but it appears that the program is coming to an end. According to NiemanLab, Prime members will now have to pay $12 per month for their Post subscriptions, up from the previous rate of $3.99. While this is undoubtedly bad news for Prime members who enjoy reading the Post, it's not as dramatic a price increase
as was initially reported. Nevertheless, it's yet another example of how Amazon is constantly changing the benefits that Prime members receive, and how those changes can sometimes come as a surprise.
2. It's official, AI-produced video is now a thing. And not just a thing, but a thing with multiple competitors. Google and Phenaki both recently announced their own video generators, joining Meta in the race to create the best AI-generated
video. So what's the story?
Google's Imagen generator can produce high definition videos several seconds long. The images still look a little distorted and objects can look unnatural, but the results are still remarkable. Phenaki's text-to-video generator is also impressive, prompting users for narratives and stories that can be turned into videos lasting several minutes. It's wild to think that only a few years ago, this technology seemed impossible. But now it's a viable
industry with multiple players. Who knows where it will go next?
3. Google's release of two updates for Display & Video 360 is great news for online marketers. The first update, optimized targeting, may help marketers increase their reach by combining machine learning algorithms with campaign settings. This update is currently available for YouTube Video Action campaigns, but will be expanding to all display and video campaigns in
the next few months. The second update, exchange provided identifiers (EPID), will help Display & Video 360 trade signals with first party publishers in Google's backend to improve ad quality without compromising user privacy. This sounds like great news for both publishers and customers.
4.The four-day workweek is here to stay, and digital marketers are rejoicing. The traditional workweek just doesn't fit the demands of a
24/7 industry, and the four-day workweek is a perfect solution. It's a good fit for digital marketing because it allows for more flexibility and creativity. It also gives team members the opportunity to take on additional projects or clients. And, most importantly, it allows for more time to focus on results. When considering the four-day workweek, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, it's important to make sure that team members are able to complete their work in a timely manner.
Second, consider how you will manage workloads and deadlines. Finally, be sure to communicate with your team about the change. The four-day workweek is an excellent solution for the challenges of the digital marketing industry, and it's here to stay. (SearchEngineLand)
5. With the launch of two new Planning Studios
in the Los Angeles area, Ikea is making it easier than ever for city dwellers to get their hands on the retailer's iconic home furnishings. In this video interview, Area Manager Gustavo Tinajero discusses the rationale behind the new store format, why L.A. was chosen as the location for the pilot stores, and where Ikea sees the potential for future growth. Tinajero highlights the unique shopping experience that consumers can expect at Planning Studios, how technology plays a role in
creating a personalized in-store experience, and how the centrally located stores complement Ikea's four existing full-size stores in the greater Los Angeles market. With convenient access to Ikea's affordable and stylish products, it's no wonder that the home furnishings retailer is a hit with urbanites across the country.
6. APeloton is cutting another 500 jobs in a move that CEO Barry McCarthy said should position the struggling fitness
equipment maker to return to growth. The cuts, which amount to about 12 percent of Peloton’s workforce, mark a pivot point for the company, McCarthy told CNBC on Thursday. Peloton already has had multiple rounds of layoffs this year. McCarthy said the company now has to prove its recent spate of strategy changes, including equipment rentals and partnerships with Amazon and Hilton, can help it grow. But with the pandemic still raging and people increasingly focused on their health and
fitness, it’s hard to see how Peloton will be able to make a comeback. So if you’re thinking about getting a Peloton bike, you might want to wait until the company is out of the woods before making your purchase.
7. The pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone, and it's certainly not over yet. We've all had to develop new skills and adapt to a new reality. Among the most important things we've learned are empathy and
transparency. These are the two qualities that SMBs have reminded us are most important to consumers. If we want to continue to survive and thrive in this period of uncertainty, we must lead with these values intact. Empathy and transparency will help us preserve the trust of our community, and that's essential if we're going to make it through to the other side. (TotalRetail)
8. In the month since a federal appellate court revived a 2019 lawsuit against ad tech firm NaviStone for invasive targeting practices, 10 more lawsuits have been filed against various
companies for similar privacy violations. The new lawsuits target companies that use so-called "geofencing" technology to pinpoint the location of users' devices and serve them targeted ads. These lawsuits allege that the defendants unlawfully collected and used consumers' personal information, including their precise location, without their consent. The plaintiffs also allege that the defendants failed to adequately disclose how they would use this information and failed to take
reasonable steps to protect it from unauthorized access. If these lawsuits are successful, they could set a precedent that will make it more difficult for ad tech firms to engage in this type of data collection and use. (Emarketer)
9. Walmart has been dabbling in
virtual reality for a while now, but its latest foray into the world of online gaming is something else entirely. The retail giant has launched a pair of "immersive experiences" in the popular online platform Roblox, which it is presenting as an ambitious move into the metaverse. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that these "experiences" - two online worlds dubbed Walmart Land and Walmart's Universe of Play - are really just ways to advertise toys to children. There's no
doubt that Walmart is hoping to tap into the growing popularity of virtual worlds among young people, but at the end of the day, these "experiences" are little more than cynical marketing ploys. (Read full story on ADOTAT.com)
10. Casey Bloys has been promoted from chief content officer to chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max, reporting directly to WBD CEO David Zaslav. Bloys will be responsible for all aspects of HBO and HBO Max's programming, including original series, movies, sports, documentaries, and specials. He will also continue to oversee the development and production of Warner Bros.'s direct-to-consumer offerings. This is a big promotion for Bloys, who has been with Warner Bros. since
2016. He has shepherded some of the company's most successful shows, including "Game of Thrones" and "Westworld." With his new title, Bloys will have an even bigger role in shaping the future of Warner Bros.'s TV business.
11.McDonald's new adult Happy Meals appear to be a hit — so much so that demand is weighing on employees in ways that bring to mind past promotions run awry. A report in Kotaku pointed to an outpouring of posts on
sites like TikTok and Reddit from staff at the fast food chain who have been overwhelmed by customers rushing to get in on the limited-time deal, which is part of a collaboration with cult streetwear brand Cactus Plant Flea Market. Some diners are reportedly placing large orders of the nostalgia-themed boxes that come with a combo meal of either a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets and one of four toys. What's more, the children of some customers are apparently asking for the Happy Meal
because they think it's cooler than the standard offering. It remains to be seen how long the promotion will last, but it's clear that McDonald's has tapped into something with its adult Happy Meals.
12. In a new report, titled “The Gen Z Field Guide: A Marketer’s Manual for Following the Niche Over the Norm,” Horizon Media identified five categories — and 12 subcultures within them — that have become critical to understanding and reaching
this next generation of consumers. Among a cohort fragmented in its perspectives, the one thing they all seem to agree on is there’s no one theme uniting them. According to the research, 91% of 18- to 25-year-olds believe mainstream pop culture is a thing of the past.Mainstream brands are no longer resonating with young consumers, who are shaped by a unique set of values and experiences. In order to reach this group, marketers need to understand the trends that are driving them. Here’s
a look at five key categories from the report.
13. Colorado's new privacy law is a victory for consumers who have long been at the mercy of companies that collect and use their sensitive data without permission. The law not only requires companies to get people's permission before collecting or using sensitive information, but also prohibits them from using "dark patterns" to obtain consent. Dark patterns are interfaces that are
designed to thwart users' choices, and the state attorney general has proposed regulations that offer details on the kinds of tactics that could be considered prohibited dark patterns. This is a welcome development for Coloradoans who value their privacy, and it sets a strong precedent for other states to follow.
14. On Thursday, the video SSP Beachfront and Canoe Ventures, an addressable TV solutions provider, expanded their ad-serving
partnership across several more programmers. The two companies had integrated their tech stacks in 2019 so that broadcasters or streamers that work with Canoe could channel inventory more effectively to Beachfront’s programmatic pipes. Six more programmers, including Kabillion, Afro TV and TV One, are now using the integrated solution. According to Peter Fondulas ofHub Entertainment Research, the new arrangement helps “create efficiencies for buyers and sellers alike." But it’s not just
about efficiency – it’s also about getting your ad in front of the right eyeballs. And that’s where things get really interesting. With addressable TV, you can target your ads very specifically – not just by demographics like age, gender and income, but also by interests and even behaviors. So if you’re selling a new kind of toothpaste that’s supposed to be good for people who grind their teeth at night, you can target your ad to people who actually grind their teeth at night. No more wasted ad
dollars on people who will never use your product! It’s a win-win for both advertisers and viewers.
15. Google has unveiled two new features that will help brands to tap into first-party data and machine learning: optimized targeting and Exchange Provided Identifiers (EPID). Optimized targeting is currently available for YouTube video action campaigns within Display & Video 360, and it uses machine learning to help advertisers
find new and relevant customers who are likely to convert within their campaign goals, without relying on third-party cookies. EPID will be available in the coming months and will help brands to identify potential customers across exchanges, without relying on cookies. This is a huge development for the online advertising industry, and it will be interesting to see how these new features are used by brands in the future.
16. Facebook is
scrambling to catch up to TikTok. The company's leaders have admitted that some of the app's core features are not up to par. They recognize that people often have more social interactions with media in private message threads rather than in public feeds. Additionally, they understand that content from friends and family can be less interesting than content suggested by AI. As a result, Facebook is changing its strategy. However, this will be no easy task. Tom Alison, who is in charge
of the Facebook app, recognizes the importance of making relevant content. He knows that he has his work cut out for him. Alison and his team have their hands full as they try to transform Facebook into a competitive platform.
17. B2B marketers are open to new ideas, according to a new study. But most are doubling down on tried-and-true tactics as they brace for a probable downturn. The study, conducted by Twilio Segment, found that
69% of B2B marketers are focusing on channels with high ROI, such as email. Indeed, 83% of respondents said email remains their primary channel despite experiments elsewhere. While the findings show that B2B marketers are open to new ideas, they also suggest that most are still relying on tried-and-true tactics to get the job done.
18. Klaviyo has announced a new integration with Wix.com, a leading SaaS platform for managing clients' online
presence. Klaviyo's powerful tool will allow Wix users to easily create and send personalized communications to their customers, strengthening customer relations and boosting revenue. "We are excited to offer this powerful tool to our users," said Billy Kovalsky, head of the Wix App Market. "It will help them better understand their customers and communicate with them more effectively." Klaviyo's easy-to-use interface and extensive features will make it a valuable addition to the Wix
platform. With Klaviyo, brands can easily create customer profiles, segment their lists, and automate their email marketing campaigns. Additionally, Klaviyo provides detailed reports that show how each campaign performed, making it easy to track and optimize results. We look forward to seeing how brands use Klaviyo to grow their businesses on the Wix platform.
19. The fact-checking website Snopes.com today released a five-part investigative
series, “The Grift Empire: How Max Polyakov Hides His Financial Interest in an International Web of Online Deception,” based on publicly available records in multiple countries. Meticulously reported and written over 18 months by journalist Alex Kasprak, this is the most complex project from Snopes’ investigations desk and a striking demonstration of the power of
open-source investigative methods and web forensics.