Category: Advertising
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What ads most lead to purchases: TV, Facebook, or YouTube?
It’s the first time a study like that has been done. Karen Nelson Field us a marketing science professor. According to Spots N Dots, she exposed more than 2,500 people to a variety of advertisements (more than 18,200) to study their impact on behavior. One of the more interesting parts…
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Social Media for Publishers: Revenue Doesn’t Match Investment
Despite all the work media companies put into their Facebook and other social media channels, it has not turned into any significant source of revenue. If you’re in the business you know that. You get some traffic from social media, but not any real dollars. A research report by trade…
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P&G Cuts Programmatic Ad Spend by 90% Due to Brand Safety Concerns
SUMMARY: The world’s largest advertiser is cutting back dramatically on ad networks and going back to traditional advertising. The result? Increased reach and decreased spend. The world’s largest advertiser, Procter & Gamble, announced they cut digital advertising spend in 2017 by a whopping $200 million dollars. Halfway through last year,…
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Google and Facebook face potential anti-trust claims
Germany is the latest to level potential anti-trust violations at Facebook and Google. Germany’s anti-trust regulator has started a formal investigation into online advertising. Google and Facebook have said they will cooperate, according to Reuters. When you are an international company, it can be tricky to navigate different laws in…
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Google Chrome Browser Live with Built-In Ad Blocker
The new version of Google’s chrome browser is now live, with its built-in ad blocker. Here’s the short version of what it will block going forward: And here’s Google’s explanation of how it will work. Chrome – the world’s most popular web browser (56% market share) will automatically block ads…
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30 Social Media Stats Every Local Business Should Know
For help with your digital and social media, contact PulseLocal Marketing. In Huntsville, AL, call 256.533.3131.
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Nearly a Quarter of Websites Have as Many as 10 Ad Trackers
It’s no secret that websites are tracking your behavior and dropping third-party pixels on your browser so they can follow you where you go online and serve up ads. In fact, a study by CliqZ and Ghostery of more than 144 million page loads, showed that 77.4% of all page…
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Who should solve the problem of advertisements placed against fake news?
It seems a safe bet to say that it’s an advertising agency issue to avoid placement on questionable websites. Or a tech solution from the programmatic companies to avoid placing ads on ad networks that rely on fake news websites. That’s not how U.S. marketers feel, though, according to a…
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B2B Content Marketing: Why it Works
Nobody likes ads. They intrude into your reading, watching, or listening. That’s helped fuel the use of ad blockers on-line. People want to research before they buy a product, but they don’t want to get their information from advertisers trying to sell them something. Traditional marketing has become less effective. …
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Insider Secrets of the Google 3-Pack
Getting ranked in the Google 3-pack of local businesses has never been more important. With the big shift from desktop to mobile in the past couple of years, it has become easier for local businesses to get featured based on proximity to the mobile user. That opens huge opportunities for…
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YouTube shuts down monetization for smaller contributors
“One of YouTube’s core values is to provide anyone the opportunity to earn money from a thriving channel,” said the email I got from YouTube this morning. Apparently their “anyone” doesn’t include me. YouTube says it is tightening its rules and raising the minimum threshold of subscribers you must have in…
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Which Advertising Medium Do Consumers Trust the Most?
With U.S. consumers being exposed to an average of 10,000 brand messages every day, and 90% of consumers reporting that advertisements influence their purchase decisions, the power of advertising is undeniable. According to research from Clutch, consumers in the United States say Television and Print are the advertising mediums that…
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Making Sure Your Social Media Contests Stay Legal
This article details how to comply with Facebook’s contest rules within the United States and Canada. It is not a substitute for, nor intended to be, legal advice. If you have questions, consult with a legal professional or use a managed Facebook contest platform. Facebook contests and sweepstakes can be a…
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Seismic Shifts in Digital Marketing in 2018
As we look ahead to 2018, there are some clear pattern emerging when it comes to digital marketing and advertising. What’s in and out? Here are my predictions for 2018: Content Marketing, SEO, and Value Exchange With the reduced reach of social and the continuing fragmentation of media, marketers are finding…
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Facebook, Twitter threatened with sanctions over election reporting
At issue: Russian interference in E.U. referendum It’s gotten a lot of media play: U.S. intelligence agencies have publicly reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered actions to interfere with the Presidential election in 2016, including social media. Facebook and Twitter have reported that their own internal investigations show its…
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Five of the Biggest Cause Marketing Fails
Cause Marketing has been a buzzword (or is it a buzz-phrase?) for years in advertising circles. Tie your brand or product to a popular cause and hope that some of the good will rubs off. It sounds good, but it doesn’t always work out the way you want. Even some…
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Who is really using Facebook?
If you’re targeting the masses on Facebook, here’s a quick breakdown of who uses the social medium, according to a study by Pew Research: Gender Men: 38% Women: 62% Ages 18-29: 25% 30-49: 40% 50-64: 24% 65+: 11% Education High school or less: 35% Some college: 33% College+: 32% Race…
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Winners and losers in a rapidly consolidating digital advertising market
Good News for digital ad sellers: Digital Advertising is expected to finish the year with a year-to-year growth rate of 11.5% in 2017 and grow again in 2018 by 11.3%. That information comes from GroupM/WPP, the world’s largest buyer of advertising. Magna (IPG Mediabrands) pegs 2018 digital growth at 13%.…
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Major changes to online privacy – except in the U.S.
Some big changes are coming to online privacy, especially when it comes to companies like Google and Facebook. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) establishes a new set of rules designed to give people more control over their data. Think about how much of “you” is online. Things…
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Internet connected devices on the rise, but Live TV still dominates video viewing
58.7% of TV Households have at least one enabled device. That means at least one internet-connected devices such as a Smart TV, Game Console, or Multi-Media device. The number is growing rapidly. The same figure was 52.2% last June, an increase of 12%. They’re using the devices more frequently as…
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Priceline spends $4.3 billion on digital ads each year. It’s shifting to TV for the future.
Priceline is the travel industry’s largest digital advertiser. It’s built its company using TV and digital advertising, but the majority has been on digital. In 2017, it’s expected to spend $4.3 billion dollars on digital, according to Skift, an industry website that tracks spending within the travel category. The vast…
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10 Steps to Creating Effective Social Media Ads
You can’t just set up a Facebook page and wait for it to attract customers. It takes an active, and consistent, approach to work. Here are 10 strategies for success: Define your goals Define your target market Decide how much you want to spend Create your Facebook ads Optimize your…
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Retail digital ad spend continues to grow, but TV dwarfs other media
eMarketer’s tracking of digital ad spend shows continued spending growth. They predict 2017 will see an increase of 15.8% in the retail sector -the largest spending category. They predict double digit growth in retail online ad spend through the next 3 years. Digital video, per eMarketer, will account for 31%…
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127 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Video Marketing
Video marketing is hot right now, but doing it right takes some work. The folks at Website Builder have put together a really good infographic that highlight 127 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Video Marketing that they made available to me to share. Take a look below. You can visit…
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Maybe the most effective used car commercial you’ll ever see
Proving that great advertising can sell just about anything, you’ll want to check out the ad this guy did for his girlfriend’s used car. It’s a 1996 Honda Accord with 141,000 miles on it. According to Kelly Blue Book, you might get $315 from a dealer on trade in, or…
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Where does Google go when it wants to roll out a new product? Television.
YouTube TV is rolling out across the country, starting in select markets, which will feature a so-called “skinny bundle” of TV channels, including local channels. It is designed to compete – at a much lower price point – against cable and satellite packages in this era of “cutting the cord.”…
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Online Ad Campaign Bill would require more disclosures for digital ads
It’s been a long time coming. Television and radio stations have had to live up to often onerous regulations on political advertising. From requiring identification on funding, how large and prominent certain disclosures are, and maintaining online political files showing who bought what, where it ran, and how much they…
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A Closer Look: Facebook over-estimates reach by dramatic numbers
Maybe you saw the headline: Facebook claims it reaches more people in the U.S. than actually live in the U.S. It’s pretty startling when you realize, according to a report from the Video Advertising Bureau, that Facebook claims to reach 39 million U.S. adults age 18-24… when there are only…
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Can 2 second video views actually drive sales?
P & G – acknowledged as the world’s largest advertiser – says their data reveals the following about digital video ads: The average ad is viewed for 1.7 seconds. Remember, that’s the AVERAGE Only 20% of all ads are viewed for 2 seconds That means that 80% of all ads…
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My first book has been re-released as a free download on Amazon
My first book – “Weapons of Mass Distinction” – has been re-released and is available as a free download on Amazon. Get it here.
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Do you trust audience measurement data?
Trying to accurately measure audience against a plethora of cable, satellite, over-the-top, mobile, tablets, Roku, AppleTV, and on and on is no doubt a difficult task. To date, it hasn’t happened. Everyone in the research sphere will tell you they can estimate based on algorithms and assumptions – but nobody…
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How much do small businesses spend on social media outsourcing?
The lure of social media for small businesses is huge. The promise of a direct connection with local consumers that you can do yourself at no cost is a big promise. For most who try it, though, they realize pretty quickly that to make an impact, it’s a lot of…
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Study: Media Measurement missing 66% of all video consumption
Global marketing company Omnicom handles ad services for more than 5,000 clients in over 100 countries. They are a big deal in ad circles. So, when they talk, people do listen. Here’s what they’re saying: 66% of TV and Video on content consumed by Millennials and Gen Xers is not…
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Just how prevalent is social media for small businesses?
Just how prevalent is social media for small businesses? It’s fair to say it’s nearly universal. Nearly 87% of small business owners say they use Facebook for marketing, according to a new survey from G2 Crowd via eMarketer. So, how’s it going for them? There are mixed results here. 38%…
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Recognized by the National Guard
I was recently honored to be recognized by the Alabama National Guard for WAAY-TV’s partnership. Along with the Alabama Broadcasters Association (ABA), our TV station helps the Guard with recruiting messages and advertising. Major General Sheryl E. Gordon met with the ABA and recognized each of our Board Members, including…
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Bad ads can destroy brand credibility – and cost you money
Bad ads aren’t just hurting your brand. They’re hurting your sales. 60% of adults in the U.S. says they have stopped buying from a brand because they didn’t like its ad campaign, according to new poll from Civic Science. A great ad can bring new business and reinforce your brand…
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Can 2 second video views really be effective at driving sales?
P & G – acknowledged as the world’s largest advertiser – says their data reveals the following about digital video ads: The average ad is viewed for 1.7 seconds. Remember, that’s the AVERAGE Only 20% of all ads are viewed for 2 seconds That means that 80% of all ads…
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Facebook vows to fight back against foreign interference in US elections
CEO Mark Zuckerberg laid out his plan to protect the integrity of US election. He says he wants to make sure “Facebook is a force for good in democracy.” “I don’t want anyone to use our tools to undermine (our) democracy,” Zuckerberg said in a video address. In order to…
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Ad industry revolts against Apple’s browser blocking ad tracking
Apparently the entire digital advertising community is up in arms because Apple is baking anti-tracking into its Safari browser. Marketers will only be able to track your online behavior for 24 hours before it restarts in the upcoming release. So no more “visit a shoe website once and gets ads…
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Facebook: Tracking your in-store visits and serving ads?
When ads target you on-line from where you’ve gone in the real world If clicking on a website once and having its ads stalk you wherever you go on-line wasn’t enough, now there’s real world targeting. Go to a physical store and they’ll re-target you online. Now Facebook appears to…
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Dominating Digital Ad Revenue: Google, Facebook, Amazon, and … ?
Amazon has gotten a lot of attention lately for its move into the advertising sales space, but another online retailer is making moves as well. Wal-Mart is now in the advertising business. Both companies have a dizzying array of consumer information in their databases to target consumers. Wal-Mart is positioned…
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9 NBA teams will have ads on their jerseys this season
The NBA voted it in and now 9 NBA teams will have advertising in their journeys. Here are the teams and advertisers.
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How to check if your website violates new Google Chrome “Annoying Ads” filter
Google recently announced its going to penalize websites that have poor ad experiences in its upcoming update to the Chrome browser. Starting next year, Chrome will block sites with “annoying ads” in search results. If you think because you’re a name brand publisher, you’ll be exempt, think again. Google has…
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Programmatic ad buying continues to rise, but is it really an efficient way to buy advertising?
I’ve written a lot about Programmatic Advertising over the past four years because of the rise in usage among media buyers. While recognizing the efficiency, I’ve also cautioned against eliminating the direct buy of premium websites from name publishers. There’s no arguing that more people are using programmatic – machine-driven…
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What drives ROI in advertising? Creative and Reach
Nielsen, the ratings folks, unveiled a study of 500 advertising campaigns which tracked ROI against sales and media usage. Nielsen – Driving ROI in media 47% Creative 22% Reach 15% Brand 9% Targeting 5% Recency 2% Context
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If Programmatic Ad Buying is the future, why are advertisers not buying it?
We’ve heard so much about “Programmatic Ad Buying” in the past two years, it’s almost become a joke around our place. Everybody tells us it’s coming and we’d better be ready. If you’ve ever bought a self-serve Google ad or a Facebook ad, that’s really the kind of thing we…
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93% of sponsored celebrity posts aren’t FTC complaint
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced it was cracking down on improperly-labeled native advertising and disclosures on paid social media posts. In April, the FTC sent out more than 90 letters reminding influencers and marketers that influencers should clearly and conspicuously disclose their relationships to brands when promoting or endorsing products through social…
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Branding when your name isn’t Apple or Google
Guest Post: Lara Davis Your brand is the core of your marketing, the central theme around your products and services. Your brand is not your Logo or your Company Name, unless of course you are Apple or Google. For people to come and hire you, or buy from you, your…
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World’s largest advertiser cuts $140m in digital ads and grows sales
The world’s largest advertiser – Procter & Gamble- has been vocal about concerns over where its online ads are running and who’s clicking on them made a startling announcement at the end of July. After spending a third of its ad budget last year online – and watching sales diminish…
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Facebook discussing metered paywalls for publishers on platform
Publishers that have tried out Facebook’s Instant Articles have been pleased with the speed in which pages load, but not necessarily pleased about the economics. By keeping readers within Facebook’s walled garden, publishers didn’t see the activity translate directly to page views – and exposure to the accompanying ads. Ad…
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Ad Copy that sizzles and sells
GUEST POST: Adrian Posner, Posner Marketing A successful marketing plan relies heavily on the pulling-power of advertising copy. Writing results-oriented ad copy is difficult. There is no magic formula to write perfect ad copy. So how is any writer supposed to pen a piece of advertising copy that sizzles and…
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Facebook refuses to release political advertising data
Television stations must disclose to the public which politicians bought advertising on which station, how much they spent, and where the ads run. It’s available for anyone that wants to go the station’s section on the FCC website for all to see. Not so for the internet. Facebook, not known…
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Google says no to pop-up and pop-under ads
Google has taken another positive step in trying to help reign in the mess of annoying ads on website. Google will no longer permit placing pop-up or pop-under ads, the company declared in a blog post. They also won’t allow the use of any Google ads on sites that contain…
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In today’s media world, you need to be a Multi-Platform Seller
If you needed more proof on why you need to be a Multi-Platform Seller (MPS) to be successful in advertising today, look no further than Borell’s Annual Survey of Local Advertisers. It’s no longer traditional media or digital, it’s a mix of both. 74% want a package that works. 74%…
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News organizations ask Congress for authority to collectively bargain with Google, Facebook
The New Media Alliance represent almost 2,000 news organizations, primarily newspapers. This week, the organization starting asking Congress for some help in taking on the big internet companies. Call it a pre-emptive strike for collective bargaining with Google and Facebook. It’s no secret that Goo-book dominates digital advertising. In the…
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Advertising coming to NBA uniforms this season
Look for advertising on NBA uniforms this upcoming season. Eight teams have announced deals with brands. Some have showed off the look – it will be in the form of a “patch” on the upper right front of the uniform over the heart. Photos: NBA
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The case for content marketing
The rise in content marketing in advertising circles is staggering. From native ads to blog posts, articles, and videos, it’s re-framed how some businesses do marketing. The adoption of ad blockers and concern over where ads are placed has only accelerated the movement. It’s almost become a universal marketing tactic.…
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Mixing GPS location data with advertising
The privacy folks are about to have a whole lot of new things to worry about. We’ve all been cyber-stalked by ads following us around the internet. Publishers put a pixel, in most cases, on their website that tie into their ad network buys. This allows them to track where…
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Gmail will no longer scan your email and target ads
Did you even know that Google was scanning your Gmail messages and then targeted advertising to you based on the contents? They were. Now, Google says they won’t do it anymore. Well, kind of. They’ll still scan and use the info, but just not serve ads.
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What really drove the sale? When metrics lie
Let me take you back a few years, then we’ll jump ahead to the digital advertising world we live in now. Several years ago, I was talking to the owner of a small business one day about what drove customers to their store. She told me it was simple: the…
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Is the advertiser boycott of YouTube over?
Money talks. Most of the advertisers boycotting YouTube are back in the advertising tent, according to Digiday. MediaRadar said General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, AT&T, Verizon, and Walmart have ads running on YouTube right now. Major brands pulled their ads from YouTube after worries about brand security and where their…
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Despite a year warning, publishers and ad creators aren’t ready for Flash ad end dates
The Interactive Advertising Bureau advocated for an end to Flash video ads by July 2017. Instead, it wants advertisers to use HTML5. Google jumped into the fray by stopping accepting Flash ads as of April and announcing an end to grandfathered Flash ads this July. So, with two months to…
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Game Changer: Google confirms built-in ad blocker coming to its Chrome browser
It’s been rumored for a while, but now Google confirms it will update its Chrome browser to include an ad blocker. If your site has what Google terms “unacceptable ads,” it’s going to block all the advertisements on your site. The list of what is unacceptable will include pop-ups, videos…
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Disconnect between what ad agencies think and what real people do
What percentage of average people in the U.S. watch video content on their TV set (versus other devices)? 250 advertising executives were asked that question. They said 25%. Umm. The number is actually 82%. Research Now did the study on behalf of the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB). They surveyed 250…
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When the majority of people tell me that doing something will negatively impact my brand, I take it seriously
When my son was very young, he was watching television one day and noticed one of the characters was drinking a “cola.” That’s what it said on the can. He asked me if that was Coca Cola and we talked about how they often substituted generic products so they didn’t…
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It’s over: Mobile has won
We passed the tipping point in 2014. Since then, the use of mobile has exploded. If you’re still focusing on your desktop website first, you’re way behind. 71% of web traffic in the United States is mobile, according to ComScore. Mobile usage is larger than desktop in almost every country.…
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The AdWords Illusion: Forget the sales funnel
I’ve written before about the problem with using “last-click attribution” as a key metric for deciding where and how to place your advertising. Who gets credit for driving customers? The last thing they visited. Many marketers are just counting the click and forgetting about all the other marketing it took…
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FTC cracks down on Zombie Cookies that track your online behavior even after you opt-out
The Federal Trade Commission has finalized a settlement with Turn over its use of Supercookies (also called Zombie Cookies). The FTC has accused Turn of deception by tracking consumers for ads even after people tried to opt out. While not admitting any wrongdoing, the settlement will prohibit Turn from misrepresenting…
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If you want customers, you’ve got to invite them to buy
Before you can make a sale, you’ve got to get people in your store. Before you do that, they’ve got to know about you, what you offer, and what makes your business different. Imagine this: You’re a salesperson and you walk into a business for the first time to make…
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Least Intrusive Video Ads with the Best Recall: Pre-Rolls
It’s the eternal questions for advertisers: What works? Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the world shifts again. One day you hear, it’s all about “snackable” content – short clips that can be viewed in less than a minute. The next day, it’s all about long-form video ads. …
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Would you rather pay for content or put up with advertising?
85% say give us ads. 75% say they would drastically reduce their online activities if they had to pay. In fact, Americans assigned a value of nearly $1,200 per year to the array of free, ad-supported services and content currently available to them on computers and mobile devices, according to…
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Self-serve Snap Ads coming to Snapchat
Snapchat is about to launch a self-service ad platform. Digiday reports the interface will allow you to do Snap ads. Snap ads are full-screen videos (vertical) that show up between stories. Previously, you had to buy these through a Snapchat ad partner that would manage the process. That left a…
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Is Google getting ready to launch its own ad blocker?
The Wall Street Journal reports that Google is readying its own ad-blocker as part of its Chrome browser. Chrome is the undisputed most used browser in the world with a market share north of 41%. The ad blocker would be added to both mobile and desktop versions, per the report,…
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Who you trust more: Advertising or News Media?
While we hear a constant drum beat that trust in the news media continues to drop, it’s not the same for advertising. In fact, more people think ads are more honest than they were three years ago, according to a YouGuv survey in March. Trust but verify
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When is a sale not a sale? Amazon under fire for inflated “regular prices”
A Consumer watchdog group is calling out Amazon for what it calls deceptive practices by posting inflated list prices and leading consumers to believe they’re getting a better deal than they really are. The aptly named group, Consumer Watchdog, has petitioned the California Attorney General to investigate Amazon. John…
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Facebook adds a rocket to its lineup
You may have noticed a little rocket icon pop up on your mobile version of Facebook. Tap it and it will take you to alternative news feed. No, not “alternative facts,” but an algorithmic design feed of content similar to what you interact with on your regular feed, but…
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A bad idea: Congress looks at taxing advertising
The Trump administration has put tax reform on the table for debate. There are very few people that would argue what we have right now is working fine. One of the things under discussion, however, is eliminating the business deduction for advertising. Businesses are able to deduct the cost of…
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Internet advertising to surpass TV advertising, but…
For the first time, more dollars are being spent on internet advertising than on traditional television. That news comes from Zenith (a Publicis company) in taking a look at 2017 internet advertising dollars and projections.
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Social Media sites under increasing pressure to police themselves – or risk huge fines and prosecution
It’s not just advertisers putting increasing pressure on social networks and platforms that share user-generated content. In Germany, the government is considered legislation that would fine Facebook, Twitter and the like fines of tens of millions of dollars for failing to remove hate speech quickly enough. In the UK,…
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The marketing trick of the century
Until now, I called it a tie between coffee and water. I mean, really, how did coffee end up costing $4 a cup and water $2 a bottle? New data though ends the tie. It’s over. The winner is water. Compared to tap water, it’s 2,000 times more expensive, less…
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Where to get the best ROI for TV ads
Story worth reading by Jason Lynch in Ad Week. It details a Nielsen study done for CBS that looks at the best place to put ads for the best ROI. The short answer (beyond news and live sports) is sitcoms. Also worth noting this exchange. When advertisers talk about reaching…
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Low renewal rates from ad buyers on Native Advertising: Does it work?
You know native advertising. It’s when instead of running an ad, publishers integrate advertising messages into content. It may be in the form of a news-looking article that features the company’s information or employees. In its best form – clearly labelled as advertising content – it may provide interesting and…
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Google ad changes hurt organic search
When Google announced expanding text ads in April allowing publishers more characters to use in text ads, it claimed it could lead to up to a 20% increase in CTR (click-through-rates) for advertisers. So how did it do?
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At what point does Facebook stop adding users?
In its earnings report this week, Facebook said monthly users of its social media platform now top 1.86 billion people. That’s roughly 25% of the entire world’s population that users FB regularly. In total more than half the world’s population that have Facebook accounts (although to be fair, a lot…
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Facebook testing targeted ads in Messenger app
A test in Australia and Thailand this week may lead to more ads from the folks at Facebook. This time, they’re testing adding advertisements to its Messenger app. “This means that a business is able to place an ad in an area of Messenger below your recent conversations, similar to…
Paul Dughi.com 