Bonded Bitesize – Your Midweek Roundup

LinkedIn expands video ad options and enhances automated campaigns

LinkedIn is introducing new ad features to boost video engagement and streamline campaign creation. Updates include enhancements to Live Event Ads, allowing companies to promote thought leader posts, showcase 30-second previews of broadcasts, and target audiences more precisely. LinkedIn is also expanding its Wire program to offer in-stream video ads in the EU, previously only available in the U.S. Additionally, automated campaign options now support video and document ads, with new objectives like brand awareness and video views. These updates aim to capitalise on the platform’s growing video consumption, with a 34% increase in video uploads year-over-year, and a 14.4% rise in live events. Marketers can expect more effective targeting, improved engagement, and reduced ad costs.

Google testing expandable product ads carousel

Google is testing new search ad formats, including expandable sponsored ads and in-ad search refinements. Expandable ads allow users to expand or collapse ad views, revealing a carousel of ads, while in-ad refinements enable users to narrow their search directly within the ad. These updates aim to make ads more interactive, potentially increasing engagement and user control. However, requiring extra steps to view ads may reduce visibility and impact user experience. While the features could reshape ad strategies, optimising placement will be crucial to ensure users find relevant results quickly. It remains to be seen how these changes, if fully implemented, will affect ad performance and user engagement on Google Search.

LinkedIn Message Ads: Everything you need to know

LinkedIn Message Ads are a direct way for B2B marketers to engage with their target audience through LinkedIn Messaging. These ads blend seamlessly with regular messages and are highly effective, boasting open rates as high as 50-56%. Message Ads feature a single call-to-action, while Conversation Ads offer multiple options. To set them up, you need a sender, a concise subject line, a clear message, and an optional call-to-action or lead form. Best practices include keeping the message brief (under 500 characters), using custom fields for personalisation, and testing before launching. Performance metrics, such as open rate and cost per lead, help optimise campaigns for lead generation and conversions.

Find out more about LinkedIn Message Ads here. 

TikTok Looks To Boost Live Shopping Via British Beauty Council Partnership

TikTok has partnered with the British Beauty Council to boost engagement in the UK beauty industry through TikTok Shop, where beauty products are sold every two seconds. This partnership aims to help UK beauty sellers navigate the platform, which enables brands to host live-shopping sessions and collaborate with creators. Since its U.S. launch, TikTok Shop has seen success, particularly in beauty, offering interactive tutorials, deals, and exclusive product launches. It has become a top beauty retailer in the US and UK, with brands like L’Oréal Paris embracing its potential. TikTok aims to increase its revenue, targeting $17.5 billion by the year’s end, inspired by the success of Douyin, its Chinese counterpart.

Google unveils AI-powered Google Shopping overhaul

Google is launching an AI-powered revamp of Google Shopping in the U.S., designed to personalise the online shopping experience. Key features include AI-enhanced product searches that generate summaries based on user queries, dynamic filters for size and availability, and virtual try-on tools. The updated platform also offers a personalised homepage with tailored product recommendations and a dedicated deals page. These updates aim to improve engagement and conversion rates by offering a more customised shopping experience. While the AI-generated briefs are still labelled as ‘experimental’, Google is collecting feedback to refine its new tools as it rolls out across the U.S.

Google Ads To Remove Data Older Than 11 Years Ago

Google will update its Google Ads data retention policy on November 13, 2024, limiting data storage to the past 11 years. Any data older than this will be deleted from Google’s servers. Advertisers who need data older than 11 years are advised to download it before this date. The change affects all account data, including performance metrics, billing information, and historical reports. While most users may not need to take immediate action, this update could impact long-term reporting and analysis for some advertisers. Google communicated this change via email, and advertisers are encouraged to plan accordingly.

Reddit introduces AI-powered keyword targeting features

Reddit is enhancing its ad platform with new keyword targeting features to improve ad relevance and performance. The update includes placing ads in specific conversations, driving 30% higher conversion rates, and using AI to broaden reach while maintaining relevance. New tools include AI keyword suggestions, multi-placement optimisation across feeds and conversations, and a unified targeting flow for easier campaign management. These features aim to improve targeting precision, conversion rates, and cost efficiency. With Reddit’s community-driven structure, the platform is positioning itself as a strong contender in digital advertising by offering more effective contextual ad opportunities.

Google Merchant Center Adds New Verification Methods

Google has introduced two new verification methods for merchants in Google Merchant Center: verification via a business email or through an e-commerce platform. This brings the total number of verification methods to six, which also includes options like HTML tag, HTML file, Google Tag Manager, and Google Analytics. The supported ecommerce platforms include Shopify, BigCommerce, Lightspeed, Magento, Squarespace, Weebly/Square, Wix, WordPress/WooCommerce, and more. While the Google help documentation hasn’t been updated yet, these changes were spotted by Hana Kobzová on LinkedIn, offering retailers more flexibility in verifying their accounts.

Instagram Unveils Annual ‘Creators of Tomorrow’ Listing

Instagram has unveiled its annual ‘Creators of Tomorrow’ list, highlighting 25 emerging creators across five categories: The Creator’s Inspo (users leveraging the latest editing tools), AI Accelerators (creators effectively using AI for artistic content), IG Besties (relatable creators), DM-Worthy Icons (producers of highly shareable content), and The Vibe Curators (those who evoke emotions and set moods). The platform plans to support these creators over the coming year to enhance their visibility and growth opportunities. The “AI Accelerators” category stands out, showcasing innovative uses of AI in creativity, making it a potential source of inspiration for users looking to enhance their own Instagram presence.

Meta’s Working With Hollywood Filmmakers To Develop Its Text-To-Video Tool

Meta is developing a new generative AI tool called ‘Movie Gen’, which will allow users to create and edit short HD video clips (up to 16 seconds) based on text prompts. Currently in collaboration with Hollywood filmmakers, including Blumhouse and Casey Affleck, Movie Gen aims to serve as an experimental companion rather than a replacement for traditional filmmaking. While it has potential to simplify video editing and inspire creativity, experts emphasise that generative AI cannot replace the essential storytelling aspect of filmmaking, which relies on compelling human-written scripts. Movie Gen is expected to be available to the public in 2025.