Daily Edition · Page 10

THE DAILY INDEX

Technology, AI, software, security, crypto and business

NEWS & TRENDS

TLDR Marketing

THREADS SPOTTED EXPLORING ADS, BUT SAYS ‘NO IMMEDIATE TIMELINE' TOWARD MONETIZATION

Multiple developers and reverse engineers have uncovered references to ad products in the Threads app's code, including the word “ads” itself, as well as references to sponsored items and ads configuration. However, Instagram says it's not testing ads in the app and has no immediate plans to monetize. The head of Instagram stated in April that Meta definitely plans to bring ads to Threads eventually, but Zuckerberg himself has said the team must first focus on retention and improving the basics.

SURVEY: 31% OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPERS WILL TAKE ON DEBT TO FUND THEIR SPENDING THIS YEAR

Nearly one-third (31%) of U.S. adults doing back-to-school shopping this year are going into debt to pay for it (or already have), up from 29% in 2022. That includes 24% who are using credit cards and carrying balances, and 13% who are using buy now, pay later services like Affirm or Klarna. Nearly half (46%) of back-to-school shoppers are employing strategies to save money this year, like seeking out more deals or coupons than they did in the past (28%), buying cheaper brands (21%), or buying fewer school supplies than they did in previous years due to the cost (19%). 14% of people feel pressured to spend more on school shopping than they're comfortable with, while 18% say school shopping did or will strain their budget this year.

HOW TO FIND MICRO-INFLUENCERS FOR YOUR BRAND

A micro-influencer typically has somewhere between 5,000 and 30,000 followers and tends to focus on a specific niche. Partnering with these creators generally results in lower campaign costs, more quality engagement with followers, and more relatable and authentic content compared to mega influencers. Find micro-influencers by using an influencer directory, using filtered search on social media platforms, searching through your brand's followers, or asking your community.

HALLOWEEN MARKETING IDEAS FOR EMAIL + SMS

This piece shares 10 email and SMS examples for Halloween inspiration. BABOON TO THE MOON uses seasonal colors to highlight its products, while Printfresh emphasizes team connection over product promotion by sharing movie recommendations. Minor Figures creates an interactive experience with a "trick or treat" theme to build community. BirdDogs entertains with a ghost story, leading readers through a comic-like narrative, and HOMAGE leverages Halloween to offer a BOGO deal, encouraging purchases with discounts.

THREE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT ADOBE'S SEO & BLOG DESIGN

Adobe's SEO strategy, driven by content featuring high-quality images, useful tools, custom experiences, and expert opinions, generates nearly 80 million in monthly traffic. Its site ranks for commercially-aligned keywords, such as "infographic examples", and maximizes the traffic value with a custom page template featuring built-in CTAs. Adobe uses page design to improve the user experience and truly meet search intent, unlike some other SEO heavyweights. The white space on each side and the text spacing also make the blog content much easier to skim and digest than other competing sites.

A YEAR AFTER ‘BARBIE', BRANDED CONTENT IS ALL THE RAGE IN HOLLYWOOD

Authenticity is now crucial, as brands must align their values with the content they sponsor to avoid consumer backlash. This shift has led to a rise in co-promotion opportunities, where brands partner with entertainment companies to capitalize on popular content. Companies like Amazon and Creative Artists Agency are developing new branded entertainment units in response to this demand. Additionally, brands are collaborating with entertainment firms to share content creation costs, especially as marketing budgets become more constrained.

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