36th Week Roundup: Influencer Marketing, Google’s Ad Policies for Crypto and much more!

Discover the latest digital news trends and developments impacting online environments in this digital news roundup. Influencer marketing is outstripping traditional social ad spend, Google is improving political ad transparency, and the U.S. Copyright Office seeks public input regarding AI-related copyright challenges. These highlights showcase how dynamic the online landscape can be, where innovation and regulation come together to shape its engagement and content production future.

 

Influencer Marketing Investments Surge Ahead of Traditional Ads, Reshaping Digital Advertising Landscape

According to Insider Intelligence’s new study, investment in influencer marketing is rapidly outstripping traditional social ad spending, according to its forecasts for 2023. According to this trend, influencer marketing’s remarkable rise will surpass social ad spending 3.5 times faster, evidenced by content creators’ unfailing popularity amid economic instability and stiff competition.

With their influencer-centric culture, TikTok and other creative-driven platforms have catalyzed this rapid expansion. Influencers on such platforms are transformed from digital celebrities into celebrities. Meanwhile, factors like Hollywood writers’ strikes and efforts by social platforms to attract top creative talent could open more avenues for partnerships between influencers and brands and reinforce their role as key components of modern marketing strategy. The experts from the leading social media marketing agency will tell you that these factors indicate a change in consumer engagement patterns, with influencers becoming the primary sources of content and trends online.

Read more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/new-report-finds-investment-influencer-marketing-rising-faster/692931/

 

X Experiments with Live Video Discovery, but Bigger Changes May Be Needed

X is exploring new features centred around live-streaming content to improve video content discovery. Due to X’s current lack of alert systems for live broadcasts, to address this shortcoming, the platform could implement similar features as Spaces, featuring live video broadcasts prominently at the top of user timelines for users viewing live video feeds. However, such steps highlight live video content. It is one small step toward improving the overall video experience.

X has made strides toward increasing video engagement, but its latest update may produce little behavioural change for its user base. Potential capacity constraints might prevent more drastic improvements from being implemented; as time progresses, users may see greater emphasis on video content consumption as it strives to monetize itself through subscription to X Premium services.

Read more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-experiments-improved-discovery-video-live-streams/692945/

 

TikTok Takes Center Stage for Fashion Month with #TikTokFashion Collective

TikTok will mark September’s Fashion Month by unveiling numerous initiatives to celebrate and advance the global fashion industry. From September 6 through October 3, TikTok will be a fashion and beauty inspiration hub featuring Fashion Month highlights.

TikTok Fashion Month’s central feature will be its #TikTokFashion Collective – composed of fashion creators worldwide sharing insights via TikTok – composed of fashion creators worldwide who will offer insights to users across its platform. Additionally, dedicated teams covering major Fashion Month events will provide on-the-ground insights. Furthermore, TikTok will host a “Fashion Month Hub” with highlights that showcase current fashion trends created by brands and publishers, along with tabs to help users explore specific fashion month events or trends more efficiently.

A leading social media marketing agency will tell you that TikTok’s global user views for hashtags related to fashion trends have grown exponentially since 2023; global views for both #TikTokFashion and #BeautyTok saw over 300% increases! Fashion brands and enthusiasts should keep tabs on TikTok Fashion Hub discussions during Fashion Month happenings or search the platform using “Fashion Week” or #TikTokFashion”, searches, as these can give unique access.

Read more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-announces-new-programming-fashion-month/692924/

 

Clubhouse Attempts a Comeback with New ‘Chats’ Feature

Clubhouse, a once-acclaimed audio social platform, is looking to regain its former popularity with the help of an update aimed at making it more messaging-centric. “Chats” allow users to interact asynchronously via voicemail-style group conversations called Chats – similar to voicemail. According to Clubhouse, Chats allow people to stay up-to-date with current conversations by joining discussions whenever it suits their schedule and interacting with those they trust while contributing their thoughts at any time of day or night.

However, this move to become a messaging app seems unlikely to revive Clubhouse’s initial success. While its functionality offers some utility, this change alone likely won’t draw users back onto its platform; indeed Clubhouse recently experienced an exodus from downloads ranking it #214 among social media applications on Apple App Store’s Social category and far below its peak of 10 million active weekly users claimed by them at one time! Regaining its footing remains to be determined, given earlier staff cutbacks and funding challenges faced by it.

Read more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/clubhouse-adds-new-chats-more-like-messaging-app/692944/

 

Instagram Enhances Privacy with ‘Close Friends’ Feed Post Sharing

The experts from the leading social media agency will inform you that Instagram are expanding its user experience by unveiling a feature allowing users to restrict feed posts exclusively with “Close Friends,” keeping up with a rising trend of private group engagement on social media platforms. Users now find an “Audience” selector within their post composer, which allows them to limit visibility for posts only visible within a “Close Friends” list – providing for an intimate sharing experience.

Though this update might not seem significant, it demonstrates Instagram’s efforts to adjust to changing user behaviours and preferences. By catering to their desires for more private content sharing with trusted connections, Instagram hopes to encourage its users to post more frequently without fearing they won’t reach all their contacts.

Read more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagrams-rolling-out-option-share-feed-posts-close-friends/692778/

 

Instagram Tests Location Tags for Notes, Enhancing Connection and Engagement

Instagram is testing a feature that enables users to add location tags directly into Notes, adding another layer of context for shared content. With this trial feature, users can attach location markers that link directly back to Instagram’s location page for that location marker; Adam Mosseri highlighted its potential benefits: strengthening relationships over shared places while serving as inspiration for places worth visiting.

Notes, released by Instagram last December and introduced as an easy way for younger demographics to start conversations within its app, has quickly gained favour with users, particularly younger ones, due to its direct and easy nature of starting them within Instagram. It follows an overall trend where more individuals prefer private sharing within smaller groups over public posting on social platforms, as evidenced by Instagram’s ongoing efforts, such as AI chatbot integration.

Their ongoing expansion efforts demonstrate their dedication and engagement with younger audiences despite competition from platforms like TikTok; some Instagram users currently benefit from an exclusive location tag test feature made available exclusively within Instagram’s messaging tools, while selected users can participate.

Read more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-tests-location-tags-notes/692784/

 

Elon Musk’s X Relies Less on US Ad Revenue as Cost Reduction Measures Pay Off

Although Elon Musk has drawn widespread ire over his approach and decisions regarding X, his recent statements indicate that its financial outlook appears to be improving despite significant U.S. ad revenue declines of about 50% of the total. X is becoming less dependent on U.S. ads.

A leading social media agency will tell you that before Musk became involved, X reported approximately $1.18 billion in revenue for Q2 2022, with advertising contributing almost 90%. Ad revenue contributed the lion’s share with U.S. markets providing roughly 50% – equivalent to approximately $500 million – until Musk reduced spending by 60%, decreasing ad income and cutting staff significantly; now U.S. ads only bring in $200 million quarterly despite substantial cost reduction efforts which have reduced expenses significantly, further decreasing threshold for viability threshold.

Though the exact impact of subscription services, Verification for Organization verification, and other revenue streams remain unclear, reduced expenses have enhanced the platform’s financial resilience, allowing increased resilience from other revenue sources while improving the threshold of financial viability.

Read more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/musk-says-that-x-no-longer-reliant-on-us-ad-dollars/692654/

 

Microsoft Advertising Enhances Audience Targeting and Ad Optimization Features

Microsoft Advertising recently unveiled several features designed to provide greater flexibility and efficiency when managing advertising campaigns, with particular attention paid to audience targeting and optimization. One notable update includes expanding audience targeting options in Microsoft Advertising Editor globally for advertisers to make bulk changes to associations such as remarketing audiences, in-market audiences, dynamic remarketing audiences or custom audiences, providing advertisers greater control and efficiency while running campaigns.

Microsoft Advertising’s auto-generated assets for responsive search ads (RSAs), leading to greater click share and click-through rates for advertisers, have also resulted in greater click share and click-through rates. In contrast, multimedia ads created using existing RSAs offer additional creative freedom and logo extensions have allowed advertisers to strengthen brand presence by adding logos into text ads.

The experts from the leading SEO company in Mumbai will tell you that Microsoft recently integrated Hightouch and Zapier for Customer Match, streamlining the upload of first-party data for targeted campaigns. These updates give advertisers improved tools to optimize their advertising strategies.

Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/microsoft-introduces-audience-features-in-advertising-editor-more/495510/

 

Google Search Central’s Creative Guide to Understanding Common Web Errors

Google Search Central recently posted an eye-opening blog post, providing readers with an insightful perspective into common web errors reported to Google Search Console by visitors to websites. Google Analyst Gary Illyes provides illustrations to make these errors more relatable for website visitors; for instance, DNS errors are described as outdated directions leading visitors toward an imaginary castle but fail to deliver accurate website location details, while network errors resemble obstacles preventing visitors from crossing a moat to reach it.

Errors commonly stemming from firewall settings or router issues must be identified and resolved by website owners or hosting services, often through identification and resolution efforts. Server errors are represented as damaged castle libraries requiring attention by server managers or hosting providers, while client errors such as 404s represent unfulfilled requests from visitors as requests made directly by them and suggest they redirect URLs for user assistance. This creative guide offers a unique take on web errors, making them simpler to comprehend and address.

Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-search-central-creatively-clarifies-common-web-errors/495527/

 

Google Updates Advertising Policy for Cryptocurrencies and NFTs

Google announced changes to their advertising policy regarding cryptocurrency and blockchain-based games that will take effect starting September 2023, which seeks to provide clearer guidelines for advertising non-fungible tokens (NFTs) through Google Ads. Beginning on September 15, advertisers may run advertisements about non-gambling NFT games through Google Ads if these meet certain requirements and receive certification by Google; acceptable ads would include purchases such as apparel, weapons or armour to enhance users’ experiences in these titles.

The leading SEO company in Mumbai informs you that Google will continue to prohibit ads for games where players wager or stake NFTs to win cryptocurrency or other rewards with NFTs, including casino-style gaming featuring NFT rewards. Any advertisers looking to promote gambling-related NFT content must abide by Google’s gambling policy and obtain certification; warnings will be given seven days before any potential suspension for violations. This step by Google aims to balance innovation and responsible advertising in this rapidly emerging space of blockchain gaming and NFTs.

Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-updates-policy-on-cryptocurrency-ads/495549/

 

U.S. Copyright Office Initiates Public Discussion on AI and Copyright Law

The U.S. Copyright Office has recently initiated an inquiry into the intersection between artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright law, inviting public input on various policy issues related to AI and intellectual property. This study seeks to give Congress an overview of the current legal landscape surrounding AI, address unresolved issues, identify areas requiring legislative intervention, inform regulatory efforts by the Copyright Office, and provide valuable insight to judiciary members as well as government bodies dealing with similar challenges; inform Copyright Office regulatory efforts as well as provide insights to judiciary courts as well.

This study’s questions explore an array of AI issues, from training and transparency, copyrightability, infringement, labelling and liability for content created by artificial intelligence to training transparency, copyrightability infringement, and labelling liability as AI technologies become ever more pervasive within society and its effects become ever greater.

With other government agencies exploring the implications of AI on innovation governance and public policy across sectors as AI continues its advancement, addressing such questions becomes ever more urgent. Public comments for the AI study will remain open until October 18, 2023, with reply comments accepted until November 15, 2023, for reply comments to be included in iterations 2 of this year’s version 3rd Quarter 3rd Quarter 3rd Quarter 2023, allowing public comment on both versions 3 of iterations 4.

Read more: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/us-copyright-office-to-investigate-ai/495542/

 

Google’s Use of Bloom Filters Explained for Data Efficiency in Search Console

Gary Illyes of Google addressed an often-asked question regarding this feature by explaining its function through the “Bloom filter.”Bloom filters are space-efficient probabilistic data structures designed to determine whether an element belongs to a set. Gary noted that Google utilizes Bloom filters due to their efficiency and speed when processing large volumes of information, with quick lookups using smaller sets containing hashed versions of possible items in the main set for faster lookup.

Unfortunately, Bloom filters accelerate data retrieval at the cost of some occasional loss, leading to slight inaccuracy. However, smaller sets tend to benefit more from using this approach than larger datasets due to less inaccuracies more prominent among larger datasets, which predict highly accurate predictions over their predictions counterparts.

Read more: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-bloom-filters-search-console-36002.html

 

Conclusion of the Roundup

In this news roundup, Influencer marketing has overtaken traditional social ad spending and is projected to experience exponential growth by 2023 compared to social ad spending. Google is providing enhanced political ad transparency by mandating disclosure of synthetic content election ads while the US Copyright Office invites public input regarding AI-copyright law intersection issues addressing complex policy concerns – these developments reflect an ever-evolving digital environment that shapes content creation strategies online and advertising approaches that work. If you like this blog check out our previous blog Navigating the End of Facebook News: Meta’s Strategic Shift