Parse notes
Google and Meta secretly collaborated to target Instagram ads at teenagers on YouTube by exploiting a loophole in Google's ad policies. This controversial initiative, aimed at boosting ad revenues and retaining younger users, bypassed restrictions on advertising to minors. The incident raises serious concerns about the ethical handling of data and the protection of vulnerable demographics.
Instagram is updating its metrics to emphasize "Views" as the primary focus for all content formats, including reels, photos, and stories. Creators are encouraged to prioritize reach over follower count, aligning with changes in user behavior where people rely more on algorithmic recommendations than following profiles. The update includes counting repeat views and highlights "Sends per Reach" as a crucial metric, reflecting how content is shared via DMs.
Good formatting makes your writing easier to skim, quote, remember, and share with others. Start every section with a single-sentence opener, such as a vulnerable statement or a strong, declarative sentence. Always look for opportunities to turn long paragraphs into bulleted lists. Use subheads or bolded sentences to help the reader more easily follow your line of thinking. Employ the 1/3/1 writing rhythm to vary sentence length and make it easy for readers to fall into your writing.
Offering free tools and resources on your website, like financial calculators, infographic templates, icon sets, and interactive quizzes, can naturally attract backlinks, which helps SEO.
Treat the cover slide like a movie poster or YouTube thumbnail — it's the thing that makes your audience want to swipe and learn more. For the middle slides, don't jam pack each one with paragraphs or a lot of text. Make your carousel flow like a conversation would, using each slide in the same way you'd take a breath or break when talking. Text placement also matters, so write out your content first, and design it after. The final slide should summarize the key points into a clear takeaway.
Reddit's interactive “Ask Me Anything” posts have gotten several feature upgrades, including scheduling, user RSVPs and reminders, and co-host roles. The updates are designed to make it easier to promote an AMA and help users navigate the Q&As.
LinkedIn has introduced sponsored newsletters as a way to extend the reach of your existing long-form newsletter content. You can now sponsor any member's newsletter content (upon receiving approval) or any newsletter published on your Company Page as a single image ad. There are now over 184K newsletters on LinkedIn, and in the past year there's been a 47% increase in engagement with newsletters on the platform.
Shinesty is a men's underwear brand whose bold branding allowed it to take share from the incumbent industry giants. Its owned media – Instagram, TikTok, email, and website – feature a mix of memes, behind-the-scenes videos, and clever copy. The brand partnered with a college athlete for its paid media in their irreverent way: not signing a chiseled model, but instead using an offensive lineman to model its underwear. Shinesty has also taken a more chaotic (but on-brand) approach to earned media, gaining coverage for covering a customer's bail and offering free vasectomies.
Nathan Jun Poekert, former Head of Social at American Eagle, says that campaign assets often underperform due to rigid playbooks, misguided trend-chasing, and the misuse of content creators. Brands frequently fail by not adapting to the ever-evolving social media landscape and by neglecting audience-driven strategies. Poekert advises marketers to prioritize data-backed content that resonates with audiences over traditional campaign footage.
In a competitive market, customer delight surpasses traditional metrics like CSAT and NPS in driving loyalty and repeat business. The Customer Delight Index (CDI) integrates various sentiment measures to provide a holistic view of customer emotions, making it a crucial tool for businesses aiming to stand out. Focusing on delight, rather than mere satisfaction, can ensure stronger customer retention and long-term growth.
Instagram is rolling out the ability for users to add up to 20 photos/videos to their feed carousels.
Spoiler alert, Tom Orbach shares a (seemingly real) AI-generated UGC video he made with Captions.ai.
Community voting is now available for SXSW proposals that cover AI, tech, advertising, DEIB, and more.