What happened in marketing: Youtube's worst and best offers, Tech CEOs vs EU and video AI tools
This Week: YouTube and Meta are all the news with major updates. LinkedIn comes clean and Amazon launches new AI tools. 🧰
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Top 6 Updates of the Week:
Meta joins the list of organisations calling on EU to streamline AI regulations. (ENI)
YouTube’s Pause Ads are here, now accessible to all advertisers. (FG)
LinkedIn updates Terms of services, allowing users to opt-out of AI training. (LN)
Until now the company was training AI on user data without clear disclosure.
Google launches new AI campaign features and expands AI tools to more languages. (BG)
Reddit launches new ad manager updates and top ad library. (RT)
Meta launches new ad tools for marketers ahead of holiday season. (FB)
Trending 🍲
FTC calls for stricter regulations of social media platform data usage. (GV)
Amazon Ads launches AI-powered video. (NJ)
YouTube launches ‘Hype’ feature, allowing viewers to support their favourite creators. (YT)
Hubspot rolls out ‘Breeze’ AI tools for marketing, sales and service. (SJ)
Snapchat shares new marketing research on last click attribution.
74.5% of marketers are either removing away from last-click attribution or would like to do so according to eMarketer study commissioned by Snap.
SocialAI, a new social media platforms with AI echo chamber, interact with millions of AI bots. (WD)
NBCU wants to standarize the pain of creative ad delivery with new automations. (AX)
Snapchat introduces new spectacles and Snap OS. (NS)
Publicis buys Mars United Commerce in deal valuing agency at $600M. (MG)
Music streaming to have a future like Media, Universal Music planning a future subscription service. (JH)
Pinterest launches Inclusion Fund for diverse content producers on the platform. (JK)
Roku launches Ads manager, a direct self-service solution designed for CTV performance. (AT)
Americans clicked ads to get free cash but their health insurance changed instead of free cash. (JN)
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Elon Musk has officially moved X to Texas. (FS)
X/Twitter may return to Brazil, the company is planning new changes and is planning to comply with court orders. (FS)
Substack introduces live video streaming in the app version. (SB)
A bottle of water per 100 word email generated by AI: the hidden environmental costs of using AI chatbots. (WP)
Discord launches end-to-end encryption for audio and video chats. (HN)
Anthropologie unveils holiday house in NYC. (RD)
Patreon launches new tools for creators to turn their free fans into paying ones. (PT)
Doritos revives their iconic ‘Crash the Super Bowl’ contest focused on fan-created ads. (MD)
Google outlines plans to help you sort real images from fake/deepfake images. (GN)
Snapchat reserves the right to use GenAI images of your face in Ads. (LB)
Reddit posts are blowing up on TikTok and Instagram. (FC)
Ben & Jerry’s launch new Noah Kahn ice cream flavour. (BB)
Duolingo is too corporate, Nutter Butter is the new brand with unhinged content reaching extreme levels. (FE)
Twitch cracks down on unoriginal content by banning ‘waiting room’ streams. (TS)
Major US movie theater chains unveil a $2.2 billion makeover plan. (WR)
YouTube’s golden child MrBeast and Amazon sued by show contestants for alleged abuses. (WP)
Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon create new Costumes with Spirit Halloween. (QSR)
Ukraine bans official use of Telegram app over fears of Russian spying. (RT)
The Hague, first city to ban fossil fuel advertising. (AW)
Paramount Global’s ad group lays off staff as part of companywide cost-cutting move. (VZ)
Snapchat announces new UI and AR updates at Annual partner summit. (SP)
Amazon is launching a Shark Tank-like TV show called Buy it now. (WSJ)
TikTok 🎶
TikTok announces new events for Latin Heritage Month. (TT)
TikTok begins legal defense against US sell-off bill. (NPR)
TikTok adds auto-rotate feature for landscape videos. (TR)
Sephora and TikTok partner to help beauty marketers with inclusive branded content creation. (AK)
TikTok and Variety share insights on future of Gaming Trends and Storytelling. (VJ)
TikTok rolling out ‘First comment’ label to more users. (JS)
TikTok is hosting ‘Creative Made Simple’ September webinar for SMBs. (TT)
Nearly half of Gen Zers wish TikTok and X/Twitter ‘was never invented,’ survey finds. (FT)
TikTok is adding ability to automatically translate entire comment section. (Finally)
Instagram & Threads 🗂️
Instagram introduces Teen accounts with built-In protection for teens. (IJ)
Threads gets 20-slide carousels feature like IG. (TR)
Instagram allowing users to attach a link to a reel, verified feature. (OK)
IG is working on the ability to share comments to posts also on threads. (TR)
IG’s new app bug share your post to ‘[Meta Only] Internal Post’. (TR)
Instagram is testing a new “Delete for you” action button for DMs. (RC)
Meta 😅
Meta bans Russian state media for 'foreign interference'. (RT)
EssilorLuxottica extends smart glasses partnership with Meta. (RT)
Three new Meta patents reveal their future Smartglasses and features. (SL)
Meta faces hefty EU antitrust fine over classified ads practices. (FT)
WhatsApp dominates Meta AI usage. (TF)
WhatsApp’s new feature makes it easier to find broadcast channels. (AH)
WhatsApp working on new feature to set default chat themes. (IF)
X (Twitter) 🕹️
X on web now allows you to search for the top posts across all communities. (HN)
Insights on X now support multiple queries with preview charts. (BG)
X claims to advertisers that it has a reach of 570 million monthly active users. (DD)
X working on grok Image analysis feature for public posts. (LS)
X allowing mobile users to format their text in bold and italic. (TR)
Youtube 🕹️
YouTube launches new communities experiences for users. (YT)
YouTube expands Auto-dubbing to more creators. (ZT)
YouTube launches new GenAI features for creators in Studio. (GB)
YouTube against Netflix, new feature for creators to break videos into seasons and episodes. (TV)
YouTube adds ‘Post Activity’ tab to track shared content across channel communities. (LG)
MrBeast, Logan Paul and KSI launch new lunchables competition ‘Lunchly’. (HL)
YouTube CEO says Google faces plenty of AdTech competition. (NT)
Google 🔦
Google wins EU antitrust fine fight but setback for Qualcomm. (SL)
New data shares Google AI overviews show more often to signed-in users. (SJ)
Google announces 4 new Performance Max updates, related to reporting and insights. (SL)
Google revamps entire crawler documentation. (SL)
Google pulls Gemini AI Demo video after ad watchdog complaint. (AG)
Google sheds its nice guy poise as the legal heat dials up. (DD)
Google tests expanded and more discussions/forum search results. (TR)
Google brings AI Ad image editing to search, display and more. (SJ)
Google brings negative keyword exclusions to Pmax. (SL)
Google shares upcoming privacy sandbox developments. (PS)
Agency News
80% Of Brands Worry How Agencies Use Generative AI. (WFA)
ASDA launches creative and media account review. (GH)
Acceleration Community of Companies takes majority stake in DKC. (PR)
Santander reviews global creative and media accounts. (CH)
Timberland hired new media agency for EMEA. (CG)
S4 Capital in dire straights, cuts Monks global workforce by over 1,000. (MK)
Florida Department of Citrus selects Padilla as consumer marketing and issues management AOR. (KM)
Edelman launches global Counter Disinformation Unit. (US)
Laughlin Constable named Travel Wisconsin AOR. (SM)
Project acquires Paris-based integrated creative agency MNSTR to expand global offerings. (KL)
McCain UK begins social media account review. (CN)
Tinuiti joins select group of TikTok Shop agency partners. (ML)
Hilltop Honey appoints St Luke's as lead creative agency. (AN)
Five by Five acquires Influencer and Social Media Agency TSA. (PN)
East Midlands Railway appoints McCann to take brand character Miles on bold new adventure. (NJ)
Haleon selects PubMatic as Supply Optimisation Partner. (MT)
72andSunny LA asks ‘Whats Your Venmo’ in agency’s first campaign for the platform. (LB)
FUSE Create welcomes 5 new clients to creative and media roster. (LB)
SocialChain and Brazen PR appointed by Lamb Weston to launch new consumer-facing brand in the UK. (JM)
SuperHeroes launches SuperHeroes Deluxe, a luxury division to help brands target Gen Z consumers. (AW)
Brands & Ads 🏓
My Favourite: On footwear is getting creative day-by-day and their new FKA Twigs collaboration is the art and message.
Nike’s old CEO is out and the Nike Veteran Elliott Hill is the new CEO. (FT)
Pizza Hut is putting customer resumes on pizza boxes to help with Job applications. (JK)
John Lewis launches biggest campaign to date and brand platform ‘Live Knowingly’. (GH)
People are more than numbers in Meridian Bank’s Anti-Dystopian vision. (MM)
e.l.f. SKIN is salvation to skincare shame in satirical “Divine Skintervention” campaign. (BW)
Chipotle plans digital scavenger hunt to dole out $1M in free quesadillas. (MD)
-196’s latest commercial for launch in US is lemony and captures spirit of Japanese seltzer. (KL)
Ryan Reynolds puts ‘Tony O’Groni’ in his place for Aviation Gin. (KM)
HEINZ celebrates fan's Irrational Love with wedding surprise. (LB)
Ikea turns private homes into mini billboards in latest ad campaign. (MK)
Snoop Dogg provides sports commentary on Patrick Mahomes’ shopping skills in T-Mobile ad campaign. (US)
Frito-Lay’s burner phones encourage fans to cheat on Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. (KM)
Virgin Active calls out cult-like fitness fads and toxic online influencers. (TD)
KitchenAid’s latest musical ad campaign ‘Love the Racks’ is funny and romanticises dishwashers. (LB)
Naomi Campbell, Gigi Hadid and RuPaul reintroduce a Maybelline icon. (AD)
Hershey is turning its candy into energy drinks and protein powders with C4. (MC)
One NZ’s new campaign is suspenseful and engaging and takes you on a journey to Scotland. (TD)
Toronto Raptors honours outsider spirit in 30th anniversary film. (LB)
Decathlon lets customers pay with rubbish for World Cleanup Day. (MB)
Jennifer Hudson hallucinates Dawn Soap’s ducklings in new feather-ruffling spot. (DR)
Alfa Romeo tries to rekindle love affair with Junior SUV drive. (MA)
Atlantic NY shows how Blockbuster signs have been altered by other businesses. (JK)
Busch Light joins the Bullpen and announces sponsorship of Professional Bull rider, Derek Kolbaba. (AB)
Domino’s, Peloton land on Twitch’s new custom-branded Fortnite worlds. (MD)
AI 🤨
Snap is introducing an AI video-generation tool for creators. (TC)
Burson launches healthcare-focused AI service. (CL)
Amazon debuts project Amelia, an AI assistant for sellers. (TC)
Runway introduces API for Gen-3 Alpha Turbo. (ML)
Workday acquires AI document platform Evisort. (GH)
ITV launches GenAI ad production service for TV newcomers. (CL)
Lionsgate gives Runway LLM access to its content library. (WSJ)
Pipedrive Pulse, A new AI-powered lead qualification offering from Pipedrive. (PD)
Adobe unveils innovations in Adobe Experience Cloud for brands to personalize and measure AI-generated Content. (BW)
Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces $120M fund for global AI education. (TC)
Mistral launches a free tier for developers to test its AI models. (MT)
Microsoft & LinkedIn
Microsoft’s Copilot key will be able to launch apps on Windows 11 soon. (MM)
Microsoft announced a list of updates related to CoPilot: Pages, Excel with Python and more. (View)
LinkedIn campaign manager adds new data metric called Audience Penetration. (LN)
LinkedIn updated its Unique view metric, it is now called ‘Members Reached’. (TR)
Microsoft tries to sell businesses on Copilot again. (TV)
BlackRock and Microsoft plan $30bn fund to invest in AI infrastructure. (FT)
Marketing & AdTech
Axel Springer splits media, classified businesses. (DW)
Twitch introduces new depreciating strike program. (TV)
Bluesky addresses trust and safety concerns around abuse, spam, and more. (TC)
Mozilla exits fediverse and will shutter its Mastodon server in December. (TC)
Klarna ditches Salesforce with plans to cut workforce. (CG)
IAB releases In-store retail media definition and measurement standards. (KM)
VideoAmp marks currency momentum, on track to guarantee $1.5B in media dollars. (DF)
Disney and DirecTV strike ESPN carriage deal to end blackout. (SM)
LadBible reports 29% growth and return to profitability. (UM)
Hellmann’s made London Fashion Week debut with launch of luxury handbag. (KM)
Onetag and Adelaide introduce Attention-Based programmatic media planning and activation. (JN)
RainFocus acquires WebEvents Global. (NS)
Coca-Cola commits to ‘critical’ open web advertising through curation. (JK)
Hubspot and Amplitude join forces to bolster product-led growth. (BW)
Locality launches Reach+, a new ad solution for local streaming and broadcast TV ad buying. (PR)
Expedia launches new ‘Influencer Shops’ offering to help creators with monetization. (AK)
Digitas unveils newest S.W.A.T. Iteration. (MP)
Grimace is back and Mets honour the legendary character with a Purple Seat. (MC)
Genius.AI partners with ClickBank to better their digital marketing offerings. (PR)
Nativo launches Brand Rank, allowing advertisers to measure the mid-funnel. (EN)
Giffgaff launches first campaign by Pablo. (NJ)
Hello Kitty x Adidas Gazelles collaboration is here. (HN)
The Pulped; Market Data & Studies of the week
86% of viewers are now watching CTV, which represents a 6% increase from 2022. Younger audiences lead the charge in the switch to CTV with markets like Spain and the UK dominating. (EU)
54% U.S. Adults say they at least sometimes get news from social media, up slightly compared with the last few years.. (Pew)
Havas new study titled, What do 9,000 brand lift studies teach us about attention and memory? is the first to interrogate the specific amounts of attention needed to drive desired brand outcomes, providing a foundation to implement attention metrics into media planning and buying tools. (read)
Magna raises its U.S. ad spending forecast for the year, anticipating revenue growth of 11.4% to $377 billion. (MD)
63% of Canadian CMOs are concerned about losing control in this collaborative process, slightly more than the global average of 60%.
88% of CMOs think it’s vital for brands to be part of the cultural conversation, but at the same time, 74% admit they struggle to figure out how to do that effectively. (DC)
41% of the parents surveyed said that their children find branded products desirable because their friends have them. This compares to 35% who say their children’s brand choices are shaped by social media influencers. Some 14% say that their children do not follow or watch influencers at all. (LN)
72% of consumers surveyed incorporate brands into their rituals at least some of the time, 70% are very, or somewhat, open to adopting new rituals, and 39% feel more positively toward brands that become a part of rituals, the WARC | MSQ report finds. (Read)
Spotify’s global ad revenue expected to reach $2.1 billion in 2024. (WARC)
More than half of gamers believe that looking good in-game is as important as looking good in real life. Blended realities extend to the afterlife, with 47% of global consumers expressing interest in "post-death consumerism.”
31% of global consumers expect delivery of online orders within two hours—this is up from 23% in 2023 and 4%in 2021. (VML)
Newswire’s PR State of Press Release report shows 93% of comms professionals plan to send the same or more press releases in the coming year. Plus, use of the term "AI" within press releases grew 15% worldwide year over year. (more)
52% of consumers globally have reduced their spending at small businesses this year, led by Australia (60%) and Canada (56%).
79% of SMBs who measure their marketing effectiveness feel uncertain that their holiday strategy was effective in 2023.
58% of U.K. consumers start thinking about the holiday season before October, compared to 38 percent of consumers globally. But 42% of SMBs globally wait until at least October to start prepping for the holidays. (Constant Contact)
IAB’s research shares nearly all advertisers (96%) feel their messaging strategies are effective at driving purchases. However, 7-in-10 consumers report feeling annoyed or negative monthly or more often with Commerce Video ads, and one-third at least weekly. (RT)
73% Belgian consumers never return orders. (EN)
In a recent survey, only 19% of respondents reported having an emergency savings fund, with 81% of respondents answering 'no.' Inflation (36%), lack of emergency savings (29%), and credit card debt (22%) are the top factors causing financial stress and uncertainty. (US)
Nearly half of new car shoppers (48%) surveyed in the study said they would like to spend $35,000 or less on their next vehicle, and 14% said they’d like to spend $20,000 or less. (ZH)
60% of U.S. consumers report that having positive customer experience is key to influencing their brand loyalties. (RCX)
Marketers are twice as likely to want brands to feel ‘young’ than consumers. (PMW)
55% of Experian survey respondents believe current AI/ML development times are too long, with 48% stating that they are updating their models more frequently due to shifting consumer behaviour. (more)
Research finds 82% increase in travellers seeking to compare and combine multiple airlines or hotels before booking, as opposed to defaulting to a single airline or hotel offering. Only 3% of consumers choose not to consider multiple airlines and hotels before booking. (MS)
87% of job seekers have job jitters, and it’s scarier than a trip to the dentist, holding a spider or skydiving. (report)
Fall travel costs have skyrocketed 36% compared to last year. But Expedia reports plane tickets usually drop 10% in autumn. (RD)
US Consumer Sentiment rises 1.6% to 69 in early September. (FD)
In US, 65% consumers still send letters and packages monthly. Even more surprisingly, younger generations are also active mailers, with nearly half (48%) of Gen Z mailing 1-2 times a month. (RB)
More than half of Gen Z workers have stopped paying into their pension during their short career as they struggle with daily expenses, according to research. (CD)
Millennials feel the most educated on employee benefits. Thirty-one percent (31%) of Millennials (ages 27-42) say they feel completely educated on company benefits. Other generations all feel very similar in their education: 26% of Gen X + Y workers (ages 43-58) and 25% of Boomers (ages 59+) say they feel completely educated on benefits, and 24% of Gen Z workers (ages 18-26) say the same. (CPA)
48% Canadians are not seeking the help they need from health professionals due to perceived limitations or barriers. (JNM)
86.4% of Prosper Insights survey respondents prefer to speak with a live person at a bank as opposed to 13.6 percent that preferred an AI chat program. (NW)
Every age group has seen declines in religious affiliation during the past decade, but the largest jumps are among Americans ages 30 to 49 — older millennials and younger Gen Xers. (Axios)
Malaysian millennials (ages 28-43) and Gen Z (12-37) frequent these convenience stores during their travels in Japan. It also showed that Gen Z travellers spend 37% of their budget in these stores, while millennials spend 27%. (TS)
Here is exactly how much credit card debt each generation owed on average as of the second quarter of 2023. (TGUS)
Gen Z: $3,148
Millennials: $6,275
Gen X: $8,870
Baby boomers: $6,601
Silent Generation: $3,434
MarTech Finds & AI
Display - The App advertising platform launched new next-gen ad units for content publishers and advertisers.
Glean - A Work AI platform for enterprises.
Plasmic - The visual builder for your tech stack.
LocalIQ - A growth marketing platform focused on local and social marketing.
Everflow - The affiliate marketing platform for businesses to manage and track channels.
Content Opportunities / Ideas of the week
23 September: International Day of Sign Languages / Celebrate Bisexuality Day / Redhead Appreciation Day / Education Technology Day / National Field Marketer’s Day / National Great American Pot Pie Day.
24 September: World Bollywood Day / International Day of Birmingham / National Voter Registration Day / Bluebird of Happiness Day / International Age Diversity Day / Lash Stylists’ Day / National Mofongo Day / South African Heritage Day / National Punctuation Day.
25 September: National Daughter Day / World Pharmacists Day / World Dream Day / National One-Hit Wonder Day / National Lobster Day / National Cooking Day / National Comic Book Day / National Psychotherapy Day / Binge Day / National Quesadilla Day.
26 September: World Maritime Day / Love Note Day / HR Professional Day / National Dumpling Day / Lumberjack Day / National Alpaca Day / World Day of the Deaf / 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards / International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
27 September: National Chocolate Milk Day / Native American Day / German Butterbrot Day / World Tourism Day / National Doodle Day / Save the Koala Day / National Corned Beef Hash Day / National No Excuses Day / National Crush a Can Day.
28 September: International Rabbit Day / Ask a Stupid Question Day / National Good Neighbour Day / National Drink Beer Day / National North Carolina Day / International Day for Universal Access to Information / International Lace Day / World Rabies Day / International Poke Day.
29 September: World Heart Day / National Coffee Day / Business Women’s Day / World Car Free Day / National Biscotti Day / National Police Remembrance Day / National Silent Movie Day / International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste / International Happy Goose Day.