What happened in Marketing: CTV + Retail AdTech upgrade spree, LinkedIn AI & TikTok Search

The LinkedIn version of The Social Juice is back, What's missing? The newsletter on substack includes a 'trending news' section and curated marketing data of the week.

You can read the substack version here: The Complete Edition

Top 6 Updates of the Week 🪩

• Youtube rolls out Thumbnail Test & Compare feature, you can test up to 3 different thumbnails.  (TZ) 
• Meta to stop AI training using public content in the EU & UK, the company is disappointed.  (FB) 
• LinkedIn launches new AI feature for Job search, Coaching and more.  (LB)
• Pinterest launches new AI tools for ad performance and creative. (NS)
• X makes likes private for everyone, creators can still see how liked the post. (Eng) 
• YouTube testing server-side ad injection to fight ad blockers, offensive-mode. (XC)

TikTok 🎶 

• TikTok’s new guide in partnership with Ipsos shares insights to improve brand marketing (read)
• TikTok launches new series #OfftheRecord giving an insider look into music artists. (NS)
• TikTok’s new GenAI feature to create custom backgrounds is too AI. (view)
• TikTok takes ninth spot as the biggest online beauty and wellness retailer in US. (NS)
• TikTok expanding access to 60-minute video upload to more creators.  (view)
• CapCut & Shopify partner to launch new app for shop owners. (leak)

 Instagram & Threads 🗂️ 

• Instagram testing new ad format for Stories, a new ad banner shows at the top or bottom of the story, people are annoyed.  (404)
• Instagram allowing influencers to share creator insights to advertisers publicly, this is awesome. (TR)
• Threads testing a new option to automatically turn IG post links into Images & Carousels. (TR)
• Threads App launches live scores for MLB games. (MS)
• Instagram working on ability to create custom AI avatars. (XC)
• IG working on folder management for DMs, customise your inbox like a sheet. (XA)
• Instagram’s multiple prompts sharing best reels practices. (thread)

Meta 😅

• Meta shares safety measures they are taking to protect athletes and fans in this Summer Sports Season. (FB)
• Polls for Facebook Reels are here.  (JL)
• Facebook now shows highlights reels under insights. (VW)
• Proposed EU Chat Control law wants access to scan your WhatsApp messages. (IT)
• Meta and other Big Tech platforms to join IARD to crackdown Underage Alcohol Ads. (read)
• WhatsApp upgrades calling features on desktop and mobile with speaker spotlight and audio improvements. (WA)

X (Twitter) 🕹️

• X could get shut down in Indonesia over the new adult content policies.  (XD)
• X goes official with launch of advanced analytics for premium members. (PM)
• Hidden replies on X Posts have a new “click-to-view” label: Show more spam. (GV)
• Premium users can now turn on “show me funny Gork stories” in xAI.  (PR)
• X regains Brand-Safety accreditation from TAG. (XD)
• X executives are claiming 65% of advertisers have returned to the platform. (NY)
• X will soon let you gift premium subscriptions to other users. (SK)

Youtube 🕹️

• YouTube pushes controversial Desktop UI to all premium members. (YT)
• YouTube tests AI-generated live chat summaries and Channel QR Codes.  (SB)
• Youtube adds image search to the platform using Google Lens. (GG) 
• Youtube tests User-generated effects for Shorts. (AP)
• New test of AI summaries for comments section in YouTube Shorts. (AH)
• Youtube handles now available in more languages. (View)

Google 🔦 

• Google launches Custom Event Data Import for GA4. (SJ)
• Google Ads phasing out card payments . (SL)
• Google streamlines product listings through website crawl. (LN)
• Google Search announces support for return policy markup at the organisation level. (SL)
• Google Ad manager updates give publishers more creative control. (SL)
• Google Analytics fixes paid search attribution. (SL)
• Google launches WhatsApp Integration for Business listenings/profiles in Brazil. (ST)
• Old Google Ads UI to sunset on 30th August. (TC)
• Google Ads testing new call & location extension ad format. (SR)
• Google Merchant Center Certification required for carbon emissions related labelling. (GB) 
• An Interview with Elizabeth Tucker, Directors, Product management , Google Search. 
• Google reveals new LLMs for health and wellness. (GR)

Agency News 

• Sainsbury’s appoints PHD as sole media planning and buying agency. (MB)
• Former Adam & Eve/DDB Chief Executive Matt Goff and Anomaly managing director Mike Wilton launch new agency, Ark. (CL) 
• Hanes appoints Special U.S. as creative AOR. (RG)
• Greater Anglia and Stansted Express appoints Atomic London as Integrated Creative Agency. (LB)
• Bega Group appoints The Royals to its Dairy Farmers Brand Portfolio. (BL)
• Designit hired as Creative and Media AOR for Zipfizz. (MP)
• Hanson Dodge appointed to run creative for JOJO’s Chocolate. (PR)
• Volkswagen Group selects Omnicom for global media account. (AD)
• C Spire appoints Lewis as agency of record. (BY)
• William Grant & Sons hires eight&four for social launch of new luxury whisky brand. (LB)
• Clemenger BBDO Launches Social, PR and Influence Practice + Chemistry Set.  (LB)
• Atlantic NY flips the RFP process, inviting brands to pitch the agency at Cannes. (AD)
• Publicis to launch new anti-BS AI bot at Cannes.  (MB)
• Priceline Selects Omnicom's PHD as New Media Agency of Record. (PR)
• Birds Eye Owner Nomad Foods review pan-European creative account.  (CL)

Brands & Ads 🏓 

My Favourite: Liquid Death’s new ad campaign stars The Deep from The Boys TV Show, calling out the sugary drinks economy. 

• IKEA’s latest campaign spotlights victims of domestic campaign in their traditional ad style. (FC)
• Adidas UK’s Euros campaign featuring Jude Bellingham uses ‘Hey Jude’ from The Beatles to target hopes of Brits. (MA)
• KFC’s new campaign asks consumers to have faith in chicken, when things go crazy, don’t get lazy, get KFC.  (MT)
• Apple’s ad campaign ‘Big Fish’ promoting iPhone & Apple Watch in a bundle. (ZT) 
• Three UK is targeting mums and their problems and solving it with new slogan ‘Life needs a big network’. (watch) 
• British Heart Foundation honour Young Football fans who lost their lives to Heart disease. (LB)
• Stripe launches first brand campaign, it’s typical campaign targeting enterprises.  (LB)
• Paris Hilton helps Absolut to get the pink vibes, trying to win the summer with Pink. (ad)
• PLEZi’s ad campaign starring Kristen Bell calls out Sugary babies.  (LB)
• Lemonade Dolls use edutainment in their ad campaign to send a strong message across UK. (watch)
• Ryan Reynolds introduces ‘Vasectomy Cocktail’ in father’s day campaign promoting new deadpool edition of Aviation Gin. (AW)
• Budweiser’s ad campaign “Bring It Home” uses the memories of joy and Geoff Hurst, only survivor of England’s 1966 Word Cup winning team. (watch)
• Corona’s new Olympics ad spot, transitions from golden moments on the track to nature. (VW)

AI 🤨

• Edward Snowden & Others are criticising the news of a former NSA director joining OpenAI’s board.  (FT)
• Open AI selects Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to Extend Microsoft Azure AI platform. (PR)
• Apple introduces Apple Intelligence/AI for iPhone, iPad and Mac. (AP)
• Picsart partners with Getty Images to launch Commercially-Safe AI image generation. (PA)
• Luma Labs launches Dream Machine, a new video generation model. (LL)
• Apple’s AI for Image generation has a taste problem. (MT)
• Databricks expands Mosaic AI to help enterprises build with LLMs.  (TC)
• OpenAI welcomes new CFO AND CPO. (OA)
• Forget Apple Intelligence, Havas Red launches Agency Intelligence. (HR)
• Elon Musk drops new lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman. (JP)

Snapchat & Reddit

• Reddit partners with IAS and DoubleVerify to launch third-party verification for advertisers. (MB)
• Snapchat brings AR lenses to Skype. (NS)
• Snapchat+ now allows you to add Bitmoji pets to chats. (SP)
• Snap applies for a new patent to changes user voices with AI. (DU)

Pinterest 

• Pinterest and DoubleVerify expand their partnership to bolster authentication. (DV)
• Pinterest’s new partnership with composable commerce platform VTEX to scale social commerce. (PM)

Microsoft & LinkedIn

• LinkedIn newsletters get new updates for audience engagement and cover images. (check)
• Microsoft delays Recall AI + admits that maybe surveilling everything you do on your competitor isn’t a brilliant idea. (FT)
• Microsoft accepts responsibility for issues raised in hack report. (AX)
• Microsoft to sunset GPT Builder on July 10. (MS)

Marketing & AdTech 

• Nielsen teams up with LiveRamp to Connect Advanced Audiences for Big Data and Cross-platform Measurement. (NS)
• Samsung Ads join U.S. Joint Industry Committee, a step to provide their audience data to third-party firms.  (PR)
• Yahoo and The Trade Desk in an ongoing crisis, Desk could end access to Yahoo’s media inventory.  (DD)
• DoorDash announces new alcohol delivery partnerships, ad features + new AI partners. (AB)
• IAB Tech Lab launches ad creative ID framework to improve CTV Advertising. (PR)
• US Plastic Pact delays target from 2025 to 2030.  (MB)
• Albertsons Media Collective launches Collective TV, powered by First-Party Data. (NW)
• Yahoo upgrades their mobile news app with new AI features from Artifact App. (WD)
• XR and AD-ID partner to improve cross-platform ad experiences.  (MT)

• MNTN launches MNTN matched, A keyword-based audience builder for CTV.  (MN)
• Stagwell expands Global Affiliate network with additions of four independent agencies. (NS)
• Walmart signs as partner for Forbes’ inaugural Creator Upfronts.  (MD)
• Smart TVs tracking what people watch, to inform your ad campaigns.  (NS)
• Publicis Groupe Canada launches 2 new data-driven solutions. (GC)
• Harps partners with Grocery TV, expanding retail media network to 4,800+ stores. (PG)
• IRIS.TV and PMG partner to Boost Carl's Jr. CTV ad campaign with AI-Enriched Contextual Targeting. (PR)
• Discord’s new monetization features will help developers make money easier than before. (TV)
• Dominos UK and Brewdog partner to ride the Euros vibe. (FC)
• Comcast and ITG announced a strategic relationship and integration between AdFusion and Storyteq. 

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MarTech Releases & AI

• Jacquard - A new enterprise tool for brand messaging at scale.
• Sonobi - The Audience-first programmatic platform launched new solutions for Precision Political Campaign Targeting. 
• Connatix - The VideoTech platform for premium advertisers launches Data Intelligence Suite. 
• VoxQI -  The platform offering predictive analytics for real-time message testing and risk assessment for social and content.
• Portless - You can ship orders directly from China in just 6 days.*
• DanAds - The Automated Ad sales platform, announces new partnership with Brand Metrics.

* highlights a paid partner, you can book your ad spot here.

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