Facebook is bringing augmented reality ads to the news feed

With a limited supply of inventory available to advertisers in its news feed, Facebook seems to be trying out slightly more novel ways of ensuring brands are getting the best bang for their buck.  

Limited to its US users at launch, a new augmented reality (AR) feature will enable customers to virtually try on items “in just one click” from certain ads, including fashion accessories and cosmetics, as well as trying out AR-based games and apps.

The social...

12 July 2018 | Advertising Technology

When AI misses the mark: The unlikely casualties of Facebook’s political ad filter

Following its time in the public petri dish over Cambridge Analytica and implications that Russia-backed content on its platform had an influential effect on the US election results, you can’t blame Facebook for being a tad overcautious.

As part of its recently rolled-out political ad policies which requires all political advertisements to undergo verification and feature listed details of the buyer, the social network employs an artificial intelligence (AI) system to identify...

10 July 2018 | Advertising

LinkedIn rolls out Carousel Ads to ‘humanise’ B2B marketing

In similar fashion to its consumer-facing counterparts, B2B social network LinkedIn has launched Carousel Ads, allowing advertisers to display up to 10 customised, swipeable cards within one ad.

According to a blog post by product manager, Rohin Rajiv, the company hopes the update will “humanise” B2B marketing efforts and add a little colour to an otherwise non-too-descript news feed, encouraging users to engage with brands on both desktop and mobile.

The...

12 June 2018 | Advertising

UK marketers are picking up Weibo, WeChat and QR codes to target fast-growth regions

When it comes to digital marketing, there are no longer any borders, but are marketers equipped for effective advertising overseas?

A new UK-based report by Rakuten Marketing has revealed that nine in 10 marketers (89%) are now managing international marketing campaigns as companies pursue overseas growth opportunities in the borderless age of digital.

Of that majority chunk, 55% are active within Europe and an additional 14% are operating further afield.

But while...

12 June 2018 | Advertising

Facebook calls Marketplace onto the pitch for new ad revenue stream

Facebook has announced that businesses will now be able to advertise within its classified ad listing hub, Marketplace, in a duo of updates that finally open up the channel for monetisation.

In addition to news feed, videos, Instagram and Messenger placements, businesses will now be able to advertise directly within relevant Marketplace product feeds, although so far the new feature is only available across the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The second update comes for...

8 June 2018 | E-Commerce

How to lose friends and alienate people: Why brands can’t get lazy with social media

Facebook doesn’t have a lot of friends right now. Fresh revelations are coming to light over the Cambridge Analytica scandal and it was reported that the data of 87 million users were improperly shared with the political consultancy firm.

I’ve argued elsewhere that we shouldn’t give up on social media in the wake of this debacle but that doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to be learned from recent events. As a brand, removing yourself from Facebook and...

26 April 2018 | Branding

How are chatbots evolving the retail industry?

The rise of AI has been well documented over the past few years, and there are countless predictions about how quickly robots will take over the workplace.

Chatbots have become a ubiquitous theme across almost every customer-facing industry, as businesses explore how they can incorporate the technology into their services and platforms, shaking up their customer service function and cutting costs.

As consumers have embraced the convenience of ecommerce, more conversations are...

24 July 2017 | Commerce

Understanding the mind of the modern consumer

With the explosion of channels, data and technology in the retail industry, it is easy for businesses to be overwhelmed and under-informed.

Modern consumers can be an enigma. A typical purchasing decision may include a trip to a bricks and mortar store, a call with a customer service advisor, plus hours of online research.

Shoppers may use a combination of methods on some days and on other days, only use one channel.

Customers also behave differently at different times...

18 April 2017 | Big Data

Four ways to improve calls to action

No marketing activity is complete without asking the customer to do something.

‘Buy now’

‘Sign up here’

‘Pre-order now’

Brands usually place these calls to action (CTAs) at the end of a piece of content in the hope that customers who relate to that content will go on to perform a specific act. 

CTAs may have changed over the years, but the end goal hasn’t: put the right message in front of the right people at...

3 April 2017 | Content Marketing

DueDil takes aim at LinkedIn with latest social selling release

(c)iStock.com/gmutlu

B2B lead generation software provider DueDil is launching DueDil Connect to further integrate company’s networks and ease the selling process – and it has LinkedIn in its sights.

With Connect, users can map their contact network across a pool of public profiles, giving teams visibility on who to contact in an organisation, by whom, and whether it will be a warm introduction or a cold call. “It’s been my dream,” DueDil CEO...

16 March 2016 | Data-driven marketing