Today in Digital Marketing
Episodes
fRiEnDSHIp endeD WItH gErMANY. Now FrANce IS my BesT frieND.
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why do Germans hate social media? Will a government threat finally convince Meta to better support hacking victims? YouTube Shorts gets easier to meas...
The Outage Heard Around the World
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meta's platforms crash in the most terrifying way possible. TikTok engagement is dropping like a rock. Why you're probably pricing your bundle...
How Marketers Are Being Caught in the Email Crossfire
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Caught in the crossfire — how good marketers being penalized for the actions of bad actors. Also: Threads finally gets an API. Performance Max rolls...
Why Are Marketers Being Constantly Logged Out of Facebook?
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does Meta keep logging you out of your account? You're not alone. Also: Wordpress might already be selling your brand's content. The two TikTo...
The Google Ads Micro-Management We Want
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Google caves under industry pressure and lets marketers more finely control their ad campaigns. Money is flowing back into ad-tech. TikTok pulls even ...
Deep Dive: Why the Religious Complain More About Your Brand
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Riza Casidy, Associate Professor of Marketing at Macquarie University, is the co-author of a research paper called "Religious Belief, Religious Pr...
Deep Dive: Finding and Ranking Potential Brand Alliances
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, one of the tasks of a marketing person at a company, is to propose partnerships between their brand and another. This offers the opportunit...
Deep Dive: Exploiting the "Vicarious Hand Effect" in Marketing
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How does a photo holding a product move the needle in terms of that product's consumer perception? More than you'd think. Tod speaks to a rese...
Deep Dive: When Good Deeds Go Bad for Brands
23 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tod speaks with the co-author of a scientific study that questions whether supporting a popular social causes is always a guaranteed win for your bran...
Deep Dive: Preventing Shopping Cart Abandonment
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
New scientific research find that asking people to review product reviews or check out other product pages may be causing people to abandon their cart...
Inside Google Ads — Sample Episode
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tod is on holiday until Feb 29, so in this episode, we're bringing you a sample episode of the new podcast from our Google Ads correspondent, Jyll...
75% of X’s Ad Clicks Were Fake: Report
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
X on the hot-seat over what some say are wildly inflated ad results. Also: The quick way to get more product reviews. A huge bump in programmatic spen...
Go Home, Chatbot. You're Drunk.
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your chatbot could land you in court… TikTok’s playing hardball… Snapchat’s new measurement announcement… a nice Google update for salespeop...
Picking Up the Pieces
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What's next after yesterday’s disastrous day in the Meta ad auction? Also: Pinterest adds the collaboration tools you’ve wanted. Instagram add...
What’s “Next” for Google Merchant Center
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Google is removing Merchant Center and replacing it with a new simplified version — what it means for marketers. Also: European influencers walk a d...
Has Amazon's "Buy Box" Been Gouging Customers?
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon gets sued, and the whole industry holds its breath. How to keep the Nazis off your next X campaign. Threads gets trends. Drift gets bought. And...
Meta is Killing Third-Party Access to Facebook Groups
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Heads up if your brand uses Facebook Groups — Meta is about to close the door on third-party tools. Pinterest’s numbers are up, with concerns abou...
The Uncomfortable Truth About Privacy Consent Banners (deep-dive interview)
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One of the jobs of a marketer is to instill in the consumer a sense of trust — trust in the brand, trust in the product or service, trust in how the...
YOU Get a Sponge! 🧽 YOU Get a Sponge! 🧽
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Shopify is shutting down its Reviews app… We learn what makes up Threads’ discovery algorithm. HubSpot has some nice updates. Google’s Bard is n...
Click Wars: How Companies Are Removing Their Competitors' Ads
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An apparent bug at Google lets your competitors take your ads offline. Snapchat’s numbers are growing but revenue is slowing. The digital ad industr...
Fact-Checking the "Facebook is Dying" Myth
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If Facebook’s dead, why is their user base still climbing? The answer is two letters long. Also: Microsoft beefs up its ads platform. Why your brand...
Everything Counts in Large Amounts
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What matters when it comes to your search engine ranking? Google will tell you, but won’t. Also: More cuts at Snapchat, LinkedIn is killing its Crea...
What Meta’s 2023 Says About Marketers’ 2024
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What this year holds for the Meta ad platform… The web browser that could hurt Google’s ad revenues… A warning about your brand’s TikTok video...
Track to the Future
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
New tracking options on Meta platforms and LinkedIn… Will Threads rescue Trending topics? Adobe gives up on its web design tool. And we tested Googl...
The Day the Music Died
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Biting the hand that feeds it — why is one of the music industry’s biggest players pulling out of TikTok. Also: Google had a great quarter, so wha...
'Top Rated' or 'Best Seller'? Ask Where, Not Which.
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“Top Rated” or “Best Seller” — why where you sell is as important as how you sell. Also: TikTok’s latest product tagging test could turn e...
Help Me Obo-Wan, You'ryre Mie Oonly! Hop!
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why are older marketers using AI marketing tools more than their younger counterparts? Amazon Prime’s ads start today — and there’s only one ad-...
In the End, Will Direct Mail Save Us All?
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meta wants to have AI redesign your ad — worst part is, you may not be able to turn that redesign off. Also: In a world of declining digital ad effe...
Prophetic Papers: Receipts That Can Predict Purchases
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meta moves its AI ad product to more campaign types — whether you want it or not. PayPal’s sales receipts can now predict your customer’s next p...
Why is Apple "Closing" Businesses?
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
TikTok moves squarely into YouTube’s territory. Apple’s Maps is “closing” businesses. Google pulls back on the data it shows marketers. And th...
The Latest Victim of AI: Lookalike Audiences
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
LinkedIn is the latest platform to pull a popular ad targeting tool… Google’s new chatbot will create a whole campaign out of just your web site a...
There's No Business Like Slow Business
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
More layoffs affecting Amazon’s Buy With Prime program and Google’s search quality. TikTok’s growth is starting to slow down. Prime Video’s ad...
How to Stop the Facebook Admin Spam Messages
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Those Facebook spam DMs are out of control. Turns out, there’s an Off switch for them buried in business manager. We’ll tell you how to find it. A...
Mobile Gaming Grows Up: Is It the Next Big Ad Space?
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
That garbage inventory you’ve been avoiding might have just turned into a gold mine. Now even science says Google’s search results are getting wor...
How Google’s Ad Rep Layoffs Will Affect Marketers
17 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hundreds laid off, but how will the downsizing at Google Ads affect your campaigns? A former insider tells us. WhatsApp and Instagram add some nice up...
Inside Meta's Möbius Strip of Support Hell
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Social media collapsing — more than half of consumers say they’re ready to bail out. Google laying off hundreds of reps that marketers rely on. Do...
Idiots Selling Garbage: TikTok's Latest Commerce Obsession
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Meta takes away more targeting, but is anyone using interests anyway? Why Chrome users are now worth less money to your brand. Microsoft’s new ad AI...
Disney Wants to Sell You Ads Right in the Feels
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Disney’s new ad tech tries to get in its viewers feels. Netflix’s new ad tier grows, but can they fight back against Amazon’s alpha move? WhatsA...
Are X's Bots Are Coming From Inside the House?
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Google in the hot seat, as SEO professionals wonder if its advice can be trusted. The new retail tech that might finally creep customers out. More sig...
Rethinking Pink
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The gender illusion — why marketers have gotten marketing to women all wrong. A boardroom battle at one of the most-used marketing platforms. Google...
"I Said, Buy the Salsa!!!"
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s finally here. Google starts turning cookies off. Also: The secret to reaching Gen-Z might be simpler than you think. X’s metrics aren’t as ...
The Cookiepocalypse Has Begun
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s finally here. Google starts turning cookies off. Also: The secret to reaching Gen-Z might be simpler than you think. X’s metrics aren’t as ...
Return to Sender
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Big fees ahead as TikTok kicks off the new year with bad news for marketers. LinkedIn’s CPMs are up dramatically and you can blame Elon Musk. Podcas...
New Year, New Fees: Enshittification Comes for Marketers
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Big fees ahead as TikTok kicks off the new year with bad news for marketers. LinkedIn’s CPMs are up dramatically and you can blame Elon Musk. Podcas...
Social Media in 2024: The Predictions
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this special year-end episode, Tod speaks with Andrew Hutchinson, head of content at SocialMediaToday.com, about Andrew's predictions for the y...
This Is a Legally Binding Episode. (No Takesies Backsies.)
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Threads is about to make its most important marketing move yet. The real reason spam ranks higher than your brand page in Google. In the battle of the...
Cat, I Farted 💨
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The deal is off — Adobe will not add Figma to its design lineup. YouTube postpones its plans to measure co-viewing. How this Saturday will shape up...
Wait, They're Actually Listening?!
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Changes to Meta’s lead forms and collections ads — how will they shake up your Q4 plans? That myth about our phones listening to our conversations...
T Minus 3 Weeks: The Beginning of the End for Cookies
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s happening. It’s really happening! The end of the third-party cookie starts in three weeks. Threads makes it to Europe. YouTube makes ads fewe...
Will Short-Form Video Take a Back Seat in 2024?
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How advertising may have killed the growth of short-form video. Threads and Mastodon are joining forces. Instagram makes going live much easier. All t...
Generation Scroll: How Teens Navigate the Social Seas
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Instagram continues its retreat from public sharing. YouTube gets two big brand safety nods of approval. Google Analytics is rolling out its interest-...
What's Behind the Huge Resurgence in Retail Media Spend?
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Retail media is set for its biggest year ever — and it’s all because of cookies. Now you can tell how much traffic your site’s getting from Thre...
Deep Dive: Cracking the Code on Sponsored Videos
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sponsored videos have become an important marketing tool as the popularity of influencers has grown. In this special episode, Tod speaks with a busine...
Your Business Hours Now Affect Your Google Ranking
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One more reason to keep your business hours updated on Google — it could change how high you’re ranked. YouTube rolls out a tool for brands that c...
Meta Doesn't Understand the Assignment
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How safe is Instagram’s latest attempt at goosing brand engagement? Pinterest’s trends are out and it’s good news for grandpas. Meta’s AI rele...
ㄒotally N𝐨𝐫𝐦al 𝗣𝗼𝗱cast Epɪꜱᴏᴅᴇ, 𝕹𝖔𝖙hing 𝓉𝑜 See ɦɛʀɛ
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
That little trick you’re using in email campaigns might soon get your brand sent to Gmail jail. Programmatic display is falling out of favor with ag...
Consumers Prefer AI-Written Marketing Copy
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A major marketing platform keeps shedding employees. Why Threads isn’t going to give you the search capabilities you want. The global ad market will...
This Podcast Episode Was Created Especially For You
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The pitfalls of overly personalized product recommendations. TikTok’s deep wallets are funding a fight for the future of commerce. Do marketers win ...
He Came In Like a Wrecking Ball
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will there be any X advertisers left after Elon Musk’s unhinged tirade yesterday? Today might be your last day to save that grey account your brand ...
I've Got Ads in Low Places
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ad revenue is climbing, and 2023 might turn out to be a banner year for the industry after all. YouTube brings Shorts ads to more brands. LinkedIn has...
Please Extinguish Your Ad Blockers at This Time and Return To Your Seat
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is it time to completely redefine one of the most basic metrics in our industry? One consortium group of big players thinks so. Also: Consumers don’...
Redefining the Marketing Industry's Most Important Metric
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is it time to completely redefine one of the most basic metrics in our industry? One consortium group of big players thinks so. Also: Consumers don’...
This Episode is 7.38% More Awesome Than Yesterday's
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Science has discovered the discounting mistake you’re making that’s costing you sales. Meta reveals how to get more engagement on Threads. What co...
Why X's Decision Today Might Be the End of the Platform
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
X gives up on brand safety auditing as some of its most important advertisers bail out. TikTok adds a new metric as marketers spend more there. The on...
Meta's Poison Pill Will Block Your Ability to Run Ads
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Careful what box you tick — Meta’s new subscription will cancel your ability to run ads. Also: TikTok’s youth numbers tick downward. Google’s ...
Amazon Turns to Social Apps to Battle Popular Competitors
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meta and Snapchat decide it’s better to make friends with the giant than poke it. TikTok ads are out of control, results are varied, so why are bran...
Special: How Much Damage Can a Single Negative Product Review Have?
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You have lots of great reviews, but is that single one-star review someone left actually hurting your sales? It is indeed — and by a lot more than y...
When CPG DTC Ad CPCs Kill ROAS
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New lead-gen ads coming to Meta’s platform, new ways to get control-freak anxiety on YouTube’s, and the B2B campaign that only hurts because it’...
Meta's New Ad Policy: Trust, But Don't Verify
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More placements coming to Meta’s ads manager — but how will consumers feel about ads in the one place they’re been off-limits? Also: TikTok’s ...
Quick! Only 3 More Podcast Episode Plays Available!
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Scarcity Sidelined: The marketing tactic we’ve used for generations is hurting your revenue. Also: Instagram takes a very big crown from Google. Mic...
Go Home, YouTube AI, You're Drunk.
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Google’s latest algorithm update is particularly volatile… New numbers might fortell the death of free returns. Elon Musk might be scalping your b...
Combatting Click Fraud with CHEQ Essentials— Weekend Edition
04 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More than 27% of internet traffic is invalid, costing advertisers billions annually. And it's only getting worse.In this weekend edition episode, ...
My CEO Made Me Use Fake Burner Accounts
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Confessions from a social media manager — the dirty tactics one brand used to troll critics. TikTok users spent a quarter of a billion dollars on th...
That Time I Made a Barista Cry and Learned About Communication
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A/B testing comes to Reels… A new API will let you post Stories easier… LinkedIn’s new AI is a little underwhelming… HubSpot buys a major B2B ...
The Unfortunate Childhood Adventures of Programmatic Ads
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lessons Learned: Keeping tabs on your low-quality ad campaigns is more important than ever. Your own AI chatbot coming soon, if you care, which you pr...
Marketing Podcasts Near Me
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the Google hack taking over restaurants and local business — but does the “Near Me” name trick actually work? Also: Instagram product tag...
Why Consumers Aren't Using Your Referral Program
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The ad-free Facebook has arrived. But it’ll cost you plenty. Plus: The one change you should make to your referral program. What consumers say about...
Pay-to-Post: X Basically Kills Off Organic Content
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Oversight Skirmish: Has Meta turned a blind eye to its own ad guidelines? TikTok teams up with a seasoned B2B platform. Google’s search themes could...
And They Said Facebook Was Dead
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ad revenue climbs, giving Meta a great quarter. But the war in Israel and Gaza might slow things down again. Also: Threads is now 1/6th the size of Tw...
Is the "Vertical Video" Trend Cooling Down?
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are things looking up? Sunny skies forecast for Black Friday and the holiday buying season. Also: Amazon tries to make TV buying easier… YouTube off...
Is Meta Monkeying With Your Attribution Windows?
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Media buyers concerned that Meta seems to be randomly changing their attribution settings. Also: Are brands giving up on X? New research says it’s w...
Meta Ads Are So Broken People Are Pulling Their Campaigns
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Missing images; glitched out copy — Meta’s ad platform appears to be broken, and the company isn’t talking about it. Also: TikTok pushes its upl...
LinkedIn Has A Pee Problem
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
LinkedIn is getting personal, and not everybody likes it. Google says ad buyers shouldn’t wear hats. And why Facebook is showing your crazy uncle yo...
Four Reasons Brands Should Use Facebook's New Messaging Feature
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon’s new Call-a-Friend feature arrives just in time for Q4. Why marketers might want to consider Facebook’s new messaging upgrade. Behind the ...
New TikTok Dimensions: 48 feet high and 14 feet wide
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
TikTok leaves the phone and wants to be on your street. YouTube adds perhaps the most important update to its product marketing toolkit ever. A new Sn...
Special Episode: Increasing Your Conversion Rate
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One little tweak to your product page can make all the difference in the world — but WHICH tweak, exactly? And how much do you tweak it? The world o...
Special Episode: "Genetic Predisposition" — The Next Targeting Option?
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Marketing scientists have discovered that if we push through uncomfortably high ad impression frequency — even if that generates short-term negative...
Special Episode: Can Too Much Ad Frequency Work in Your Favour?
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Marketing scientists have discovered that if we push through uncomfortably high ad impression frequency — even if that generates short-term negative...
Special Episode: How Privacy Notices Affect Consumer Purchase Intent
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tod interviews the co-author of a new scientific research study called "The Bulletproof Glass Effect: Unintended Consequences of Privacy Notices.&...
A Deep Dive Into Google's New "Ads Data Manager"
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Piles of data, tangles of connections — Google offers a solution to first-party data overload, and we have expert analysis. Plus: How will Californi...
Surrounded by Clones of Meghan Trainor
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Meta gives Reels Ads a big update. Generative AI is coming for your brand logos next. Even YouTube wants to claim part of Twitter’s territory. And t...
Are You Sitting Out on Instagram's Best Marketing Feature?
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the Instagram engagement tool marketers aren’t using. Will its latest update change your mind? Also: Amazon brings stronger targeting to podc...
Where We're Going, Marty, We Don't Need Headlines
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
No headlines for you — X kills off one of marketers’ greatest assets. Why TikTok has pulled out of its fastest growing market. How Buy Now Pay Lat...
Are You Running Ads on X Without Knowing It?
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More AI seeping into the ad platforms on Meta and LinkedIn. Why your brand might be running ads on X right now without realizing it. And the deepfake ...
Amazon's "Secret Algorithm" Revealed in Court Details
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Was your brand on Amazon’s hit list? The antirust case alleges a secret algorithm kept Amazon on top of the market. Also: Agencies are using less an...
How Drug Dealers Use Your Brand's Web Site to Sell Heroin
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The loophole letting drug dealers hijack nearly any brand’s web site they want, and turn it into a shopping page for illegal drugs. Plus: Microsoft ...
My Only Regret Is That I Have... Boneitis
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Better late than never — Meta jumps into the AI party. We have extended coverage. Also: YouTube will let ads appear on controversial videos. The “...
Instagram Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The big one is here — what the Amazon monopoly lawsuit means for digital marketers. Also: Facebook’s under fire for alleged ad discrimination. Mic...
Meta's "Skateboard Over the Shoulder" Moment
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is Meta about to turn itself into a living meme? Shopify adds more big names to its partners list. If TikTok has the eyeballs, why doesn’t it have t...
A Totally Human-Achievable Number
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you can’t beat’ em, partner with them — Google’s strange solution to the TikTok threat. Also: SEO pros probably won’t like Bing’s late...