It has been a great month in digital marketing, with nine new updates to Microsoft Ads, new Reels features on Meta, new types of Shopping Ads on TikTok, real-time analytics on Pinterest, and more.
ICYMI, here’s what happened in digital marketing in August.
- Live Test of Twitter’s ‘Status’ Markers in Tweets
- Real-Time Analytics in Pinterest Mobile App
- Nine New Updates to Microsoft Ads
- Facebook To End Live Shopping on October 1
- Clickable Link Option for LinkedIn Posts
- New eCommerce Tracking Hub in TikTok
- New Shopping Annotations in Microsoft Bing
- Meta’s Expanded Automated Ad Optimisation Options
- More Ads on Apple’s iPhone and iPad
- New Reels Features on Meta
- New Bulk Ads Editor in Apple Search Ads
- TikTok Introduced New Types of Shopping Ads
- “Tweet Tiles” Display on Twitter
Live Test of Twitter’s ‘Status’ Markers in Tweets
Twitter has begun the initial live test of its new ‘Status’ feature with some users in Australia and the US. The ‘Status’ feature will pop up when users open the app.
From there, users will be able to add a Status indicator to their tweets, with 17 activity options to choose from, including ‘Hot Take’, ‘Travelling’, ‘Shower Thoughts’, ‘A Case of the Mondays’, and more.
Real-Time Analytics in Pinterest Mobile App
Pinterest has launched real-time analytics elements within Pin Analytics on mobile, which will provide more data on exactly how your Pins are performing at any given timeframe.
Real-time insights are also available in the web Analytics platform.
Nine New Updates to Microsoft Ads
Microsoft has just announced nine new Ads updates with new automotive ads, expanded smart campaigns, vertical-based ads, new bidding solutions, additional expanded markets, and more.
Microsoft also added a reminder that August is the last month to migrate Expanded Text Ads (ETAs) to Responsive Search Ads. Starting on August 29, RSA will be the only search ad type that can be created or edited in standard search campaigns. Existing Expanded Text Ads will still serve, but you won’t be able to edit or add them.
Facebook To End Live Shopping on October 1
Meta has announced that Facebook will no longer allow users to host live shopping events beginning October 1, 2022, as part of the company’s initiative to shift focus to Reels. Users will still be able to use Facebook Live to broadcast live events, but won’t be able to create product playlists or tag products in Facebook Live videos.
Facebook launched live shopping in August 2020 to make online shopping easier and empower retailers of all types to grow their businesses.
Clickable Link Option for LinkedIn Posts
LinkedIn is rolling out a new feature that allows users to add a new hyperlink sticker to images and video posts. This gives LinkedIn users another way to drive traffic from their LinkedIn page to their website.
The new link sticker feature is rolling out in phases. Geri Silver, Creator Manager at LinkedIn, shared an example of the new link sticker.
New eCommerce Tracking Hub in TikTok
TikTok is testing out a new in-app shopping feature called ‘Order Center’, which tracks any products that you’ve purchased, looked at, or even, potentially, may be interested in, in the app.
The ‘Order Center’ in-app shopping feature is now appearing for some users alongside their “Edit Profile” option in the app. This feature will take you through to a dedicated eCommerce display, where you can track all aspects of your TikTok shopping experience.
New Shopping Annotations in Microsoft Bing
Microsoft Bing has added three notations to its search results pages with price history, available coupons, and ethical choice ratings. These annotations are now available in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France.
Available coupons will be available directly in the search results when coupons are available for a website. Ethical choice ratings are based on a brand’s impact on three areas: people, the planet, and animals.
Meta’s Expanded Automated Ad Optimisation Options
Meta has announced an expansion to its automation program with the addition of “Advantage+ Shopping” campaigns that will provide assistance in ad creation and will be able to automate up to 150 creative combinations at once.
Meta combined all of its automated and machine learning-powered ad products under one roof in March, including lookalike audiences, automated app ads and automatic placements.
More Ads on Apple’s iPhone and iPad
In an effort to drive more revenue, Apple will be expanding ads to new areas of the iPhone and iPad. Apple’s current ads include display ads inside the News and Stocks apps, in the App Store (advertising apps) across all Apple devices, and inside TV+.
For search ads in the app store, developers can pay to have their apps featured in the results when users search terms related to the app.
New Reels Features on Meta
Meta has announced new updates for Reels, across both Facebook and Instagram, which include additional Reels insights, expansion of the ‘Add Yours’ sticker, and ‘auto-created’ Reels clips.
The sticker allows users to respond to other users’ Reels with their own following a prompt or a certain topic.
New Bulk Ads Editor in Apple Search Ads
Apple has launched a new bulk ads editor that allows advertisers to update multiple campaigns and ad groups all at once. The new bulk ads editor allows advertisers to make edits to settings, daily budget, bids, audiences, and more.
Advertisers can access the bulk editor from the Actions menu of the campaigns dashboard.
TikTok Introduced New Types of Shopping Ads
TikTok has launched a new commerce ad suite called “Shopping Ads” to make it easier for brands to advertise on the platform. The company is currently testing three formats of Shopping Ads, including video shopping, catalogue listing, and live Shopping.
Advertisers can utilise these new shopping ads with or without an e-commerce store on TikTok.
“Tweet Tiles” Display on Twitter
Twitter is testing a new format for publisher links called “Tweet Tiles” display.
Today we’re beginning to test Tweet Tiles with @nytimes, @wsj and @guardian. Tweet Tiles will let developers extend the Tweet experience and will pave future innovation for our @TwitterDev developer community🚀 https://t.co/LDyExFq4b1 pic.twitter.com/mKeU87jNIv
— Amir Shevat (@ashevat) August 25, 2022
Tweet Tiles are a new, customised way to expand a tweet’s creative surface area that could give news publishers a way to stand out in feeds.
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