Social Media

On today's podcast episode, we discuss how Snapchat+ is getting on, how much of a focus AR will be for the company going forward, and why user growth is doing just fine ... but revenue growth is not. "In Other News," we talk about the differences between the terms "influencer" and "creator" and what to make of LinkedIn's significant 1-billionth-member milestone. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Jasmine Enberg.

Bad news for news publishers: The percentage of US adults who closely follow news developments continues to decline—pushing advertisers to platforms with healthier viewership.

US marketers are using affiliate strategies throughout the purchase journey, including upper-funnel awareness (56%), mid-funnel consideration (58%), and lower-funnel conversion (50%), per June 2023 Gen3 Marketing data.

Expanding audience reach requires targeting the correct consumers. While true one-to-one advertising is still a dream, similar outcomes can be achieved by reaching the right audiences through affiliate marketing, paid social, and buy now, pay later (BNPL). “This whole trend around personalization really applies to audiences as well,” David Gill, vice president of consumer insights at Rakuten Advertising, said during our recent “Master the Holidays with Winning Performance Marketing Strategies” Tech-Talk Webinar. Data from affiliate marketing and social platforms can be used to identify which kinds of consumers brands should be reaching out to in order to expand their customer base.

Creator economy startups are struggling to survive: Economic woes have been forcing some to sell under unfavorable terms. The troubles could expand to other sectors.

Social commerce sales are continuing to rise steadily, reaching $82.82 billion in the US next year, per our forecast. But it’s getting harder to convert new buyers. Here’s how retailers can encourage more social media purchases and boost their social commerce sales.

Meta launches EU ad-free subscriptions for Facebook and Instagram: Amid changing regulations, it’s a rethink of monetization and ad value.

Amazon is on track for its first-ever $100 billion holiday season, boosted by its unbeatable delivery speeds, while click and collect gives Walmart an omnichannel edge, and Temu draws in price-conscious consumers. Plus, TikTok and mobile apps help retailers connect with consumers and stand out among the competition.

Creator platforms like YouTube have started folding generative AI tools into their products. That means creators and marketers could be using generative AI tools without even realizing it. Advertisers on YouTube have already been taking advantage of AI through recommendations, optimization tools, and other ad solutions, said Tara Walpert Levy, vice president of Americas at YouTube, speaking at Advertising Week New York 2023.

Carnival embraces 'granfluencer' wave: Cruise line teams up with Retirement House and Gronk for a multi-generational TikTok hit.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what social networks can't stop getting wrong, whether Amazon can make its app fun, if enough people care about voice assistants, whether Uber's "Return a Package" feature will take off, how AI may change entrepreneurship, which music format has made the most money for the music industry in the past 50 years, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian, vice president of Briefings Stephanie Taglianetti, and analyst Max Willens.

Gen Z’s attention is split across social media for shopping and search: The cohort’s use of multiple social networks spells opportunity for platforms and advertisers.

Another transformative European privacy bill takes shape: The UK passed the Online Safety Bill, greatly increasing penalties for moderation failures.

LinkedIn boosts user-generated content: The platform emphasizes Collaborative Articles, badges for expertise, and enhanced reactions to redefine networking.

Snap posts strong Q3 earnings, marking a turning point: A difficult year for Snapchat forced severe cost-cutting and a focus on AI.

Meta showcases robust Q3 growth with $34.15 billion in revenues: Facebook and Instagram parent surges, despite Threads struggling to find its footing.

41 states and DC are suing Meta for violating children’s privacy laws. A deluge of fines and possible bans could follow if addictive algorithms aren’t altered.

Meta faces its biggest legal challenge yet: Group of 41 states and DC sue Meta for what they claim are addictive apps that harm underage users.

Overly complicated ideas don’t go viral on Reels. “Be brutal in the simplicity of your idea,” Rory McClenaghan, group strategy director at Molson Coors’ internal agency, Volt, said at Advertising Week New York 2023. If you can’t explain the Reels idea in four frames or fewer, it’s probably too complicated.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss some personalization tips and tricks that emerged from research, examples of personalization done well, and how AI is accelerating it. "In Other News," we talk about why an email exhibition at a design museum made headlines and a plan to charge X (formerly Twitter) users to post content. Tune in to the discussion with our director of Briefings Jeremy Goldman and Malinda Sandman, senior director of global acquisition marketing at Intuit Mailchimp.