1. Google Assistant Only Holds 9% of the Virtual Assistant Market
Google finds itself in a rare position, coming in third place in the virtual assistant market after Microsoft and Apple. Google will have to bolster those numbers somehow if it wants to remain competitive in this market. [Source: Search Engine Journal]
2. Snapchat Tests New Image Recognition-Triggered Ads with Popular Brand Logos
It’s taken a while, but Snapchat is now moving forward with its new ‘Snapchat Scan’ ad option, which will enable users to ‘scan’ a brand logo in order to unlock a unique, branded AR experience. [Source: Social Media Today]
3. YouTube gives creators more control over copyright claim disputes with new update
YouTube’s recent Studio update is finally giving people an easier way to deal with copyright claim disputes. The new update now lets creators address copyright disputes directly from their digital back-end workspace and gives them the option to trim out the claimed content in question. [Source: The Verge]
4. Facebook Acquires Video Commerce Startup ‘Packagd’ to Help Boost In-Stream Buying Options
Facebook acquired video commerce startup Packagd, which, prior to the acquisition, had been focused on enabling users to make direct purchases of products via live-stream, unboxing-type videos. As reported by Bloomberg, Facebook quietly purchased Packagd to help build a new live shopping feature inside its Marketplace product. [Source: Social Media Today]
5. Amazon makes it easier for agencies to advertise on their clients’ behalf
Amazon has changed the registration process for agencies and marketers running sponsored ads campaigns for Amazon vendors. This change helps reduce friction for agencies to get managed vendor campaigns up and running — and spending. [Source: Search Engine Land]
6. LinkedIn Publishes New Data on Ad Engagement for B2B Brands Over the Holidays
LinkedIn has identified some key trends in B2B content engagement during the holiday period, which may help to inform your strategic approach. According to LinkedIn’s data, people are actually still engaged with professional content on the platform over the period. [Source: Social Media Today]
7. Top WhatsApp features to expect in 2020: Dark mode, WhatsApp for iPad, blocked contact notice and more
The chat app is working on several new features and some of these features are already live in the beta version of the app. Some of the top WhatsApp features which you should look forward to in the year 2020 include Dark Mode, WhatsApp for iPad, Blocked contact notice, etc. [Source: India Today]
8. YouTube updates mobile app for improved TV experience
YouTube wants to make it easier for people to watch, control, and have the full YouTube experience on any device of their choosing. The platform outlined changes its product team made to its mobile apps this year, including a new feature that allows people to voice search on either the iOS or Android app, even when their phone is casting to a TV. [Source: The Verge]
9. Snapchat Outlines Rising Trends for 2020 in New Report [Infographic]
Snapchat has provided an overview of the key trends of note as we head into 2020, based on on-platform discussion and chatter leading into the latter part of the year. [Source: Social Media Today]
10. Gaana introduces ‘Stories’ – short-format video content
After the vertical video format Gaana Videos, Gaana has launched its own form of video stories – a version of short-form video content to showcase engaging mini videos and influencer clips on the app. [Source: Afaqs]
