10 Things We Learned About iPhoneX
We stayed up until the wee hours of the morning and watched the official launch of the new iPhoneX. There’s something special about iPhone launches. They’re more of a spectacle in comparison to the launches of other smartphones, That was instilled by Steve Jobs, he wasn’t much of a showman, but he knew what he had in his pocket would change the world.
In a decade, smartphones have changed virtually everything. The way we conduct business, order food, take photos, interact with our friends, listen to music and even find love were all transformed upon the first iPhone release.
And so, 10 years on, what can we expect from the new iPhone?
Take Note Of These Mobile Marketing Stats Today & Create Better 2017 Campaigns!
Unless you’ve been living in an outback tin shack for the past decade, chances are you’re well aware of the significant increase in mobile growth trends. However, what should you be aware of for the coming year ahead?
Below, we share five of the top mobile marketing stats every business should know, in order to capitalise on advertising in 2017!
Mobile Everything!
According to Laura Beaudin from Bain and Company, the average smartphone user interacts with their mobile 13 times per hour. Interestingly, consumers identified that 60% of the ads which they deemed influential in helping make a purchase, were viewed on a mobile device (Think With Google, 2017).
The Future of Mobile Advertising
By 2019, it has been predicted that 72% of all digital ad spending in the US will be represented by mobile advertising (eMarketer, 2015). Meanwhile, according to Salesforce, 57% of marketers believe mobile apps are vital to a cohesive customer journey.
Capitalise On The Growth Of Mobile Users
Everyone knows that mobile use has grown exponentially in recent years, and yet surprisingly, only 13% of marketing budgets are spent on mobile advertising (Bain and Co, 2016). In 2017, make it your goal to prioritise a mobile advertising budget.
Image Source: Marketingland
Keep Mobile Content Short
Customers have short attention spans (approximately three seconds), so think about which platform your content is best suited to. If you’re advertising with video, make sure it grabs the attention of your target audience straight away and delivers the right message in a short period of time.
User-Friendly Content Is Essential
Above all else, it’s also important to ensure your mobile marketing is user-friendly! According to Google, 61% of users will likely give your company the flick if your mobile site is too difficult to use, and 40% will actually go to your competitor (McKinsey and Company, 2014)!
As you can gather, mobile marketing is essential to the success of your business. By keeping an eye on mobile marketing stats and trends, you can ensure you stay ahead of the competition and create strong campaigns for 2017!
How To Successfully do Business in a Multi-Device World
I don’t know about you but I’m sitting here with four devices displaying a variety of entertainment/information. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a male, if sitcoms have taught me anything, and they have, I should not be able to multi-task like I seem to be doing right now. But I’m not going to lie, while I may have all of these devices open, I have to pause Netflix on the TV while I type this, despite the fact that I tried, oh geez did I try, to write this while a comedian peddled their wares in the background. I had to pause every so often because otherwise you’d be reading his material instead of mine (happens all too often).
I want you, yes, you, the person looking to sell their product to me, to sell it in a way that is both subtle, yet in my face enough that I’m impelled to purchase. I want you to place something in front of me that not only am I interested in, but that I am ready to purchase. I WANT to give you my money, why are you stopping me?
I can tell you why, because I understand mass psychology in a way that few do, including people who study psychology. I’m an online marketer. Day in and day out I watch trends online, behaviours of purchasers, and dummy spits of people who don’t purchase because they are annoyed that they have to fill in some innocuous yet tedious section of a form that stands in the way of them and their desire.
I’m logged in from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, literally. This is not hyperbole; I am literally writing this from my bed on my laptop at 11:05 pm (according to studies this makes me creative). I am listening to music on Google Play on my Android and will likely sing myself a lullaby by reading the latest posts of my favourite martial arts forum on my iPad. At all stages I am logged in to my Google account, so why don’t I know about you? If I’ve searched for your product on my mobile on the way home from work, why aren’t you tailoring a cross device strategy to target what I am interested in so when I am comfortable, you’re popping up to remind me that you’re there?
Don’t feel bad, this isn’t about shaming you, but really, I do need that new thing that you have on the market, so get it in front of me. Nobody is doing it, believe me, I’m seeking it, I want someone, anyone, to blow my mind with how they’ve tracked me from my mobile, to my laptop, to my tablet.
Pop up advertising used to be a dirty word, but it’s not (really it’s not). If you can slip something on one of my apps that can replace the usual crap which bears no semblance to my interests, based off my search history, I will be grateful. As much as I understand that my teeth will be whiter with [insert brand here] toothpaste, I do not care, but if you, with that thing that I searched for at home two days ago on YouTube, on my iPad, that then appeared on my darn smartphone with a notification of some sort, man, I’m buying.
I want you to provide me with a marketing strategy from the moment I wake up to the moment I sleep. I want to dream about your product in my possession. This will become easier and easier as more and more operating systems will be able to sustain technology from a variety of platforms. Don’t believe me? Windows 10, you know about it, there’s a pop up at the bottom of your screen that you’ve been putting off ‘upgrading’ for about a month and a bit, well, Microsoft has indicated it will run across smartphones, tablets, desktops, and even gaming consoles. Eventually apps will run on all devices, it will be the job of the operating system to accommodate the differing code. Hell, it’s happening now with all the cloud based services available to individuals and businesses.
There must be a billion possibilities when it comes to integration which are either in the works, in the development pipeline, or in the head of some genius just waiting to hit the stage. Are you prepared to take advantage of the upcoming technological shift? Do you have a website? Is it mobile optimised? If not, you already know you’re behind, but even if you have, I’m here to tell you that unfortunately you’re still running in a pack.
Don’t get left behind. Speak to Get More Traffic on 1300 332 256 and learn what we can do for your online marketing across multiple devices.
Mobile Technology, But Not As You Know It!
The suffix ‘-near me’ is becoming more prevalent in search queries on Google, having experienced a significant increase in the last year alone. As the world becomes more and more comfortable with the fact that the device in their pockets, and more importantly, the websites that they visit are becoming better to navigate on mobile devices, we will continue to see better and more targeted results from Google. Google is putting a lot of research and development into responding to more ‘human’ enquiries. Humans don’t talk in ‘keywords’; they ask questions, make statements, and the more Google is able to recognise these, the more in-depth its returning results will be.
Think about this, you’re driving down the road listening to the music on your device connected wirelessly through your car stereo (this alone is a ‘future is now’ scenario) when the music dims and your GPS navigation reminds you to turn left. As it does this, it also mentions that there is a sale on at that store you like on the same street. Intrigued, you pull up outside said store and wander in. You find that item which has been sitting on your ‘want’ list for quite some time and purchase it.
You jump back in the car with your shiny new item, keen to get home to test it out. You make your way to your final destination of which you have forgotten where you were going. You ask your phone, “where was I going?” and it replies, “to the supermarket for ingredients for the dinner party you’re throwing for your friends”.
You arrive at the supermarket – what are you going to buy? You speak into your phone, “what would you suggest for a dinner party of 15 friends that doesn’t include coriander as an ingredient?” and your phone supplies you with several options. You choose one and log in to the supermarket’s website, pushing your order direct. You saunter up to the counter and pay for your groceries with your phone at the mobile PayPoint. There’s a beep and you’re on your way home.
Believe it or not, this type of mobile device advanced development is 100% in the works. Google has purchased apps to integrate with Maps that will allow companies to push specials to you *as you approach their venue*, and you’ll be able to talk to your phone like you would to a human. Even omni-channel experiences are very much already here in our major department stores. Search is going to change as we know it and it is vital that your business is adaptive and fluid enough to be able to handle that change. Get in touch with Get More Traffic on 1300 332 256.
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What is Meta?
Meta, is a company that has redefined the way we connect, communicate, and consume content. Meta, previously known as Facebook, has expanded its horizons beyond the conventional realms of social networking and now offers a multitude of services under its umbrella. One of the standout components of this transformation is Meta Ads – a dynamic advertising platform that enables businesses to engage with their target audience like never before. Its flagship product, the Facebook social media platform, has grown to encompass a broader vision, leading to the rebranding of the company as Meta. Meta envisions a metaverse that goes beyond traditional digital experiences, integrating augmented reality, virtual reality, and various other technological advancements.
What are Meta Ads?
Definition
Meta Ads, an integral part of Meta’s ecosystem, are a sophisticated form of digital marketing that empowers businesses to connect with their target audience across multiple platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and more. These ads leverage the vast amount of data within the Meta network to deliver personalized and relevant content to users, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
Purpose
Meta Ads serve a multifaceted purpose in the digital marketing landscape. They enable businesses to reach a wider audience by connecting people from all over the world as their potential target audience. It provides a diverse range of advertising formats like video or image which caters to various business goals and creative strategies which maximises engagement. It also helps with analysing results as it provides tools and techniques to track the performance of the campaigns in real-time, enabling data-driven optimizations.
Types of Meta Ads
Facebook Ads
They let businesses use single images to promote their products, services, or brand. Image ads can be used across different ad types, placements, and aspect ratios. Image ads are a good fit for campaigns with strong visual content that can be shown in just one image. These images could be made from illustrations, design, or photography.
Facebook lets businesses use a single video to showcase their products, services, or brand.They’re especially helpful for product demos, tutorials, and showcasing moving elements.
Carousel ads showcase up to ten images or videos that users can click through. Each has its own headline, description, or link. Carousels are a great choice for displaying a series of different products. Each image in the carousel can even have its own landing page that’s specifically built for that product or service.
Instant Experience ads, previously known as Canvas Ads, are mobile-only interactive ads that let users engage with your promoted content on Facebook. Using Instant Experience ads, users can tap through a carousel display of images, shift the screen in different directions, as well as zoom in or out of content.
Collection ads are kind of like immersive carousels — taking the user experience a step up. Collection ads are mobile window-shopping experiences where users can flick through your product lineup.
Instagram Ads
These are single-image ads that appear in users’ Instagram feeds. They are a simple yet effective way to showcase products or services and can be used to drive traffic to a website or landing page.
Video ads are similar to photo ads, but they use videos instead of images to convey the message. Instagram videos can be up to 60 minutes long, but you should prefer much shorter videos for your ad. Video ads are a great way to tell a brand story or showcase a product in action.
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Carousel ads
Carousel ads allow businesses to showcase multiple images or videos within a single ad unit. Users can swipe through the images or videos, giving them a more immersive experience.
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Story ads
Instagram Stories ads are full-screen ads that appear in between users’ stories. These ads are a great way to create interactive and immersive experiences for users and this is why engagement is often higher with this type of ad.
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Collection ads
Collection ads are designed for e-commerce businesses and allow users to shop directly from within the ad. These ads feature a cover image or video and multiple product images below, making it easy for users to browse and purchase products.
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Explore ads
Explore ads appear in the Explore section of the Instagram app, where users discover new content. These ads are a great way to reach a new audience and increase brand awareness. Instagram Explore ads do not appear directly in the Explore section, but are shown after someone clicks on a photo or video from Explore.
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Shopping ads
Designed for e-commerce businesses that have a shop on Instagram, Shopping ads take users directly to a product description page within the app. From there, your customers can easily make a purchase.
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Reels ads
After the launch of Reels, Instagram has also allowed Reels Ads. These ads are usually videos, up to 60 seconds long, that are shown between Reels.
Process
Step 1. Choose your objective
Login into Facebook Ads Manager and select the Campaign tab, then click Create to get started with a new Facebook ad campaign. There are 3 marketing categories – Awareness, Consideration and Conversion that Facebook provides with consumers on what they want their ad to accomplish.
Step 2. Name your campaign
Name your Facebook ad campaign and declare whether your ad fits into any special categories like credit or politics. If you want to set up an A/B split test, click Get Started in the A/B Test section to set this ad as your control. You can choose different versions to run against this ad after it’s published. Scroll down a little further to choose whether to turn on Advantage Campaign Budget+. This option can be useful if you’re using multiple ad sets, but for now, you can leave it turned off. Click Next.
Step 3. Set your budget and schedule
At the top of this screen, you will name your ad set and choose which Page to promote. Next, you decide how much money you want to spend on your Facebook ad campaign. You can choose a daily or lifetime budget. Then, set the start and end dates if you want to schedule your ad in the future or choose to make it live right away.
Step 4. Target your audience
Scroll down to start building the target audience for your ads. Start by selecting your target location, age, gender and language. Under location, you can even choose to include or exclude cities over a certain size. You can also prioritize people who’ve recently shown an interest in the product or service you sell.
Step 5. Choose your Facebook Placements
Scroll down to choose where your ads will appear. If you’re new to Facebook advertising, the simplest choice is to use Advantage+ Placements. When you select this option, Facebook will automatically place your ads across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and the Audience Network when they are likely to get the best results
Step 6. Set brand safety and cost controls
Scroll down to the Brand Safety section to exclude any types of content that would be inappropriate to appear with your ad.
Step 7. Create your ad
First, choose your ad format, then enter the text and media components for your ad. The formats available will vary based on the campaign objective you selected back at the beginning of this process. Use the preview tool at the right of the page to make sure your ad looks good for all potential placements. When you’re happy with your choices, click the green Publish button to launch your ad.
Tips and Tricks
- Use vertical videos: Use a vertical or square aspect ratio. Most people hold their phones vertically, so you’ll cover more of their screen.
- Shorten text: People on Facebook and Instagram scan quickly. In research conducted by the Mobile Marketing Association, it took two to three seconds for two out of three for people to see and cognitively recognise desktop ads compared to 0.4 seconds on mobile. Keep your text short, clear and concise to get your message across.
- Add multiple images using the carousel format: Carousel allows you to show several images for people to scroll through at the same cost. It’s a great opportunity if you have lots of product or brand images.
- Add movement: Ads with movement can stand out in Feed. Templates in Meta Ads Manager can help you create a video ad from your images.
- Use calls to action: A range of call-to-action (CTA) buttons are available for Facebook and Instagram ads. These buttons draw attention and encourage people to engage with your ad. Based on what you want people to do when they see your ad, experiment with the CTA buttons available for different ad objectives and formats. See which ones get your audience to take action.
Resources
Paid Meta Training Resources
Free Meta Training Resources
YouTube is not only a platform for sharing videos but also a powerful advertising tool that allows businesses to reach a global audience in creative and engaging ways. Understanding the various YouTube ad formats is crucial for creating successful ad campaigns that resonate with your target audience. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the different YouTube ad formats, their features, benefits, and when to use each format effectively.
Exploring the differences of YouTube Ad Formats:
Skippable Ads
Best for: Maximizing Brand Exposure
Skippable ads, also known as TrueView in-stream ads, are one of the most common ad formats on YouTube. These ads appear before, during, or after a user’s chosen video and can be skipped after the first 5 seconds. The key features include:
- Ad Length: Skippable ads can vary in length, but the first 5 seconds are crucial for capturing viewers’ attention
- Engagement: Viewers can skip the ad after 5 seconds, so creating a compelling hook in the beginning is essential
- Cost: Advertisers are charged when viewers watch at least 30 seconds of the ad of the entire ad if it’s shorter than 30 seconds
Non- Skippable Ads
Best for: Conveying Important Messages
Non-skippable ads are short video ads that viewers are required to watch before they can access their chosen video content. These ads are limited to 15 seconds in most cases. Key features include:
- Viewing Obligation: Viewers must watch the entire ad, which can lead to higher engagement
- Message Efficiency: Due to the time constraint, these ads require clear and concise messaging
- User Experience: While they ensure ad views, non-skippable ads can be seen as intrusive if not well-crafted
Bumper Ads
Best for: Delivering A Punchy Message
Bumper ads are short, non-skippable video ads that are limited to 6 seconds. These ads are designed to be concise and impactful, making them ideal for mobile users. Key features include:
- Limited Length: The 6-second limit encourages advertisers to convey their message quickly and creatively
- Mobile-Friendly: Bumper ads are effective on mobile devices, where attention spans are typically shorter
- Frequency: They can be used as a supplement to longer ads to reinforce your message
Overlay Ads
Best for: Prompting a call to action (CTA)
Overlay ads, also known as display ads, appear as banner ads at the bottom of the video player. They can be text-based or rich media ads. Key features include:
- Visual Presence: Overlay ads don’t interrupt the video content and are displayed as a semi-transparent overlay
- Engagement: They encourage viewers to click through to your website or landing page
- CTR Tracking: Overlay ads’ click-through rates (CTR) can help measure their effectiveness
Sponsored Cards
Best for: Showcasing products
Sponsored cards are interactive, content-specific cards that promote products featured within the video or related products. They appear as small teasers within the video. Key features include:
- Contextual: Sponsored cards provide relevant information about the products or services featured in the video
- Interactivity: Viewers can click on the card to see mobile details or visit the advertiser’s website
- Engagement: These cards enhance the user experience by offering additional value
Discovery Ads
Best for: Capturing Intentful Viewers
Discovery ads, previously known ad TrueView discovery ads, are promoted videos that appear in YouTube search results, alongside related videos, and on the YouTube mobile homepage: Key features include:
- Placement: Discovery ads are strategically placed in areas where users are actively looking for content
- Viewer Intent: These ads target users who are more likely to engage due to their search or browsing behaviour
- Thumbnail and Title: The ad’s success depends on an attention-grabbing thumbnail and an enticing title
Masthead Ads
Best for: Broad Audience Impact
Masthead Ads, also known as YouTube’s “Masthead” placement, allow your video to take center stage at the top of YouTube’s homepage on all devices, from desktops to mobile devices and smart TVs. The prime real estate grants you unparalleled visibility and exposure, making it an ideal choice for campaigns aimed at maximum reach and brand impact. Key features include:
- Massive Reach: Engaging a diverse audience with prime placement, ensure that your message reaches users across various demographics and interests
- Visual impact: Capture attention instantly with autoplay visuals
- Clickable CTAs: Direct traffic with overlay CTSs for seamless engagement
10 Steps to Start YouTube Ads
Starting YouTube ads involves careful planning and execution, but the potential to reach a massive and engaged audience makes it worthwhile. By following these 10 steps, you will be on your way to create impactful and successful YouTube ad campaigns that drive your marketing objectives.
1.Define Goals:
Clarify your campaign objectives. Are you aiming for brand exposure, website traffic, lead generation, or sales conversions? Having clear goals will shape your entire strategy
2. Create Channel:
Establish a YouTube channel for your business. This provides a dedicated space to host your video content and manage your advertising campaigns
3. Link Accounts:
Link your YouTube channel to a Google Ads account. This integration allows you to manage and track your ad campaign seamlessly
4. Budget:
Determine your budget for the campaign. Decide whether you want to allocate a specific amount per data or for the entire campaign duration. Google Ads offers various budgeting options to suit your needs.’
5. Audience:
Identifying your target audience. Consider demographics like age, gender, location, and interests. The more precise your audience targeting, the higher the chances of reaching the right viewers
6. Choose Format:
Select the appropriate ad format based on your goals. For instance, if you want to create brand awareness, skippable ads might be ideal. If you have a short, impactful message, bumper ads could work better
7. Craft Content:
Develop compelling video content that resonates with your audience. Start with a captivating hook in the opening seconds to capture viewers’ attention and encourage them to watch further
8. Set tracking:
Implement tracking mechanisms, such as Google Analytics or conversion tracking, to measure the effectiveness of your campaign. This data helps you refine your strategy and understand what’s working
9. Campaign Details:
Configure campaign parameters. Specify the campaign start and end dates, ad scheduling (when your ads will run), and geographic targeting (where your ads will be shown)
10. Launch and Optimize:
Review your campaign settings, content, and targeting one final time. Once you are satisfied, launch the campaign. Continuously monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) like click-through rates, view rates, and conversions. Use these insights to optimize your ads for better results over time
As you navigate the world of YouTube advertising, understanding these various ad formats is essential for tailoring your campaigns to your audience’s preferences and behavious. Each format offers unique advantages, and by strategically using them, you can create compelling and experiences that resonate with viewers and drive your marketing goals.
The key to a successful YouTube ad campaign is not only choosing the right format but also crafting engaging content that captures your audience’s attention and encourages them to take action.