New Features and Innovations in Digital
May came with some outstanding updates & features in digital. From Instagram testing new “away mode” to Youtube introducing new still mage ads, here are 15 new things in digital for the month of May!
1. Instagram is Working on a New ‘Join Chat’ Sticker feature for Stories
Instagram has been putting added emphasis on people using the app more for messaging features in the digital world.
It is experimenting with a new ‘Join Chat’ sticker option which will allow viewers to join a private chat group, directly from a Story.
The sticker prompts the user to add a note on what the chat is about. Meanwhile, a lower note will say: ‘People who view your story can request to join this group chat’.
2. Quora Launches New Google Tag Manager Integration feature
Quora launches new integration with Google Tag Manager to help streamline its data tracking tools.
It is now an official tag vendor with Google, supporting new features for tracking.
Quora Pixel lets you create pixel event audiences to retarget website visitors. Also, it builds lookalike audiences of your best customers.
3. Bing Ads Rebrand itself as Microsoft Advertising
Bing Ads is changing to Microsoft Adverting, which will reflect a broader focus on ad inventory, data, and targeting capabilities.
First, came Microsoft adCenter. Then, Bing Ads. Now, let’s welcome Microsoft Advertising.
4. YouTube Announces Changes to ‘Preferred’ Ad Offering
Youtube is planning changes to its Google Preferred offerings. It will help advertisers hit into the trending content on the platform. Also, it will further maximize their ad efforts.
YouTube is doing this through updates to its Preference Score algorithm – or ‘P-Score’.
“Our proprietary algorithm, the P-Score, looks at the popularity and viewer passion of specific content – things like the amount of repeat views and how often videos are shared, to keep Google Preferred Lineups fresh. It also draws on protection, which places a greater emphasis on content suitability where Google Preferred Lineup ads will only serve on videos that are reviewed first by machine classifiers, then verified by humans.”
– YouTube
Know more about the feature here:
5. Snapchat Announces New Shopify Ads Integration
Snap Inc. will partner with Shopify to enable Shopify merchants to purchase ads on Snapchat. Also, they will manage their campaigns from within Shopify’s platform.
You need to connect your Facebook and Google accounts to manage your ad campaigns.
This, in turn, will give both of the main digital marketing players direct access to Shopify’s 800,000 merchants – and now, Snapchat will have the same, which could give the platform a key boost in ad spend.
6. Facebook Introduces Automated Ads to Help Small Businesses Meet Social Advertising Goals
Facebook is coming up with a new plan to help small businesses meet their Facebook and Instagram advertising goals.
Small businesses may lack the time and resources to advertise on social media, hence, Facebook has created a new tool to make this process easier: Facebook Automated Ads.
“We know small business owners are strapped for time, which is why we’re committed to building tools that save you time and enable you to focus on the parts of your business you love. Today, we’re making it easier for you to manage and promote your business across our platforms through tools such as Automated Ads, appointments and new video editing tools.” –Facebook Business
Facebook will ask you some questions regarding your business, it will then help you develop a customized marketing plan based on your business goals.
7. Snapchat Releases Latest Update of Trending Topics on the Platform
Snapchat provides an overview of all the key topics and trends which are gaining momentum, based on mention volume, among the app’s user base.
There’s potentially a lot of value in these insights – despite ongoing challenges from Facebook, Snapchat remains hugely popular with younger audiences, which means that the Snap Chatter reports are a good indicator of what’s trending among those younger groups.
8. Instagram Is Testing ‘Away Mode’ Feature To Opt Out of The Platform For a While
Instagram has come up with a new safety tool called ‘Away Mode’. This feature will allow the users to opt out of Instagram during sensitive periods and can re-login again whenever necessary.
9. Facebook Updates Video Ranking System to Focus on Original Content
Facebook is changing the way it ranks videos on its social network. This will determine how widely they will distribute themselves.
It will now prioritize videos that focus on original content, where users engage themselves for longer periods of time and where users return repeatedly to watch more.
Moreover, it will focus less on videos that feature “unoriginal or repurposed content” from other sources where there’s been little value added.
10. Messenger, WhatsApp & Instagram are integrating
A new update for messenger is rolling out where it might be possible to message and make calls from messenger to friends & family even on WhatsApp & Instagram.
11. Google Introduces Option to Export Google Ads data to Google Sheets
With this new feature, Google now lets you export your Google Ads data directly to sheets and share the sheet.
12. YouTube Is Adding New Still Image Ads
YouTube- known as the place of moving image content, will soon provide non-video advertisers with a new still image feature that will appear within YouTube home feeds.
This new feature will use audience targeting to display your ads to relevant users. It will be based on their activity and behaviour.
As explained by YouTube:
“Discovery ads are a simple and effective way to tap into the power of YouTube – and you don’t even need a video. Just upload your best images from your social campaign, then we’ll optimize your media mix for maximum performance across Gmail, Discover and the YouTube Home feed. The YouTube Home feed has long been a great place for users to discover their next favorite creator, and it can be a great place for them to discover your brand, too.”
13. Instagram Adds Support for Landscape Videos in IGTV
Instagram is refreshing its layout of IGTV. It will now put more focus on algorithm-defined content recommendations, and less on search.
Moreover, the platform will now allow horizontal videos for IGTV publishers. They can now upload horizontal format videos to IGTV, deviating from its initial focus on more immersive, vertical viewing.
“We realize this is an evolution from where IGTV started — we believe it’s the right change for viewers and creators,” the company says in a blog post. “In many ways, opening IGTV to more than just vertical videos is similar to when we opened Instagram to more than just square photos in 2015. It enabled creativity to flourish and engagement to rise — and we believe the same will happen again with IGTV.”
14. Google’s Updating its Search Listings
Google is coming up with a new look for its search listings. This new look will roll out first on the mobile app.
It is focusing on how ads will be seen on the screen, hence creating less confusion to the users.
Instead of the green text box ‘Ad’ listing on the first result, the ‘Ad’ notifier will now be in bold, which may reduce some clarity around what’s a paid listing and what isn’t, especially for those unaware of the update.
As explained by Google:
“With this new design, a website’s branding can be front and center, helping you better understand where the information is coming from and what pages have what you’re looking for.”
15. Snapchat’s Working on New Music Rights Deals
Snapchat is looking to establish new rights deals with renowned music labels. This will enable Snap users to add music to their snaps.
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