1. Google Introduces a New Shopping Section in Search Results
Google is rolling out a new addition to search results this week which makes it easy to shop for popular products. This new section will show up when searching for clothes, shoes, and accessories. This new feature will help drive organic traffic to merchants. [Source: Search Engine Journal]
2. Instagram Adds New Boomerang Modes and Capability to Trim Boomerang Loops
Instagram has added some new options to its Boomerang camera mode for Stories, including ‘SloMo’, ‘Echo’ and ‘Duo’ variants. The new options add more ways in which you can use the Boomerang mode to liven up your Instagram Stories. [Source: Social Media Today]
3. LinkedIn Brings 3 New Features to LinkedIn Pages
LinkedIn pages are gaining three new features designed to facilitate more community engagement and form stronger relationships with followers. The new features include invite to follow, LinkedIn Live integration, and new posting options. [Source: Search Engine Journal]
4. Google Ads Introduces Bid Simulator Support for Smart Bidding
Google Ads is rolling out bid simulator support for the Target ROAS (return on ad spend) bid strategy, as well as a new budget simulator. This marks the first-time bid simulator support has been available for a smart bidding campaign. [Source: Search Engine Journal]
5. TikTok is Developing a Feed of Curated Content, Similar to Snapchat’s Discover Stream
The rising video app TikTok is investigating the possibility of a curated content stream, similar to Snapchat’s Discover surface. The added curation would give TikTok’s moderators more control over the viewing experience, ensuring that advertisers don’t end up having their ads wedged in-between controversial posts. [Source: Social Media Today]
6. Responsive search ads available globally in all Microsoft Advertising interfaces
Markets can now set up responsive search ads in their Microsoft Advertising accounts. The system then automatically serves headline/description combinations predicted to improve click-through rates. You have the option to pin headlines and descriptions if you have to ensure specific content always shows. [Source: Search Engine Land]
7. Google Ads Makes Parallel Tracking Mandatory for Video Campaigns
Google Ads is making parallel tracking available for video campaigns, which is optional for now but will soon become mandatory. Parallel tracking is designed to improve mobile site speed by bringing visitors directly to the landing page while measuring the ad click in the background. [Source: Search Engine Journal]
8. Facebook Backs Off on Plan to Bring Ads to WhatsApp
Facebook is reportedly reversing course on its plans to insert ads into messaging platform WhatsApp. That would mean that while WhatsApp has more than 1.5 billion users, it won’t be contributing significantly to Facebook’s overall revenues anytime soon. [Source: Social Media Today]
9. Google Chrome: Third-party cookies will be gone by 2022
Third-party cookies have been living on borrowed time, given their increasing rejection by the major browsers. Google announced support for third-party cookies in its Chrome browser would be phased out “within two years.” The company seeks to replace them with a browser-based mechanism as part of its “Privacy Sandbox” initiative. [Source: MarTech Today]
10. Google Expands Domain Name and Icon Listings in Search Results to Web Queries
Google is expanding this new format to web-based queries. In addition to brand icons to the left of the domain listings in each result, the format for Google ads has also been updated, with a bold ‘Ad’ notifier beside the top paid result. [Source: Social Media Today]
