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Tag: Ads

  • Some YouTube Users Seeing 10 Ads Before a Video

    Some YouTube Users Seeing 10 Ads Before a Video

    YouTube is stretching the limits of its users’ patience, testing up to 10 ads before a video.

    A Reddit post popped up earlier this week, with users discussing the fact that YouTube is routinely displaying five or six ads at a time before a video plays. To make matters worse, the ads are unskippable, and the videos still have longer, albeit skippable, ads midway through.

    According to TechViral, some users see as many as 10 ads before the start of a video.

    According to a tweet by TeamYouTube, the company is experimenting with more ads but said each ad is no longer than six seconds.

  • Get Ready for More Ads on Your iPhone and Mac

    Get Ready for More Ads on Your iPhone and Mac

    In a move that is sure to upset users, Apple may be preparing to bring far more ads to its iPhone and Mac platforms.

    Apple has positioned itself as a champion of privacy, going so far as to thwart the efforts of other advertising platforms to track its users. Despite that, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the company “is going to, over time, significantly expand its own advertising business,” bringing more ads to users’ iPhones and Macs.

    Apple already displays ads in some of its products, such as News, Stocks, and the App Store. Unfortunately, for users, Gurman believes Apple plans on bringing ads to its Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, and Maps platforms.

    “I believe that the iPhone maker will eventually expand search ads to Maps,” Gurman writes. “It also will likely add them to digital storefronts like Apple Books and Apple Podcasts. And TV+ could generate more advertising with multiple tiers (just as Netflix Inc., Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. are doing with their streaming services).”

    On the plus side, Gurman doesn’t believe Apple will try to revive its iAd business and embed ads in third-party apps.

    Even so, the expansion of ads within Apple’s products is sure to ruffle features, and rightfully so. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: While ads are an expected trade-off for a free service, there’s no excuse for users being subjected to ads when they’re already paying for a premium product or service.

    The issue is even worse when looking at Apple’s financials. In its most recent earnings report, the company generated $83.0 billion in revenue, a record for a June quarter. It’s truly hard to fathom how the company can justify trying to make even more money off of its customers. It’s going to be even harder for the company to justify crippling competitors’ ads, only to then ramp up its own.

  • NHTSA Ruling Opens Door to Fully Autonomous Vehicles

    NHTSA Ruling Opens Door to Fully Autonomous Vehicles

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a ruling that opens the door to fully autonomous vehicles in the US.

    Virtually every major automaker is working to develop and deploy autonomous vehicles, but regulations have been as much an impediment as the actual technology. The Department of Transportation’s NHTSA has taken a major step forward in addressing the regulatory issues with the first-of-its-kind safety standards, designed to protect passengers in vehicles with automated driving systems (ADS).

    “Through the 2020s, an important part of USDOT’s safety mission will be to ensure safety standards keep pace with the development of automated driving and driver assistance systems,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This new rule is an important step, establishing robust safety standards for ADS-equipped vehicles.”

    “As the driver changes from a person to a machine in ADS-equipped vehicles, the need to keep the humans safe remains the same and must be integrated from the beginning,” said Dr. Steven Cliff, NHTSA’s Deputy Administrator. “With this rule, we ensure that manufacturers put safety first.”

    In particular, the new standard stipulates that occupants of ADS-equipped vehicles must be afforded the same level of safety as a traditional vehicle provides.

    The full content of the new rule can be accessed here.

  • Google Makes it Easier for SMBs to Launch YouTube Ad Campaigns

    Google Makes it Easier for SMBs to Launch YouTube Ad Campaigns

    Google is making it easier for SMBs to launch YouTube ad campaigns in its first-ever YouTube Small Biz Day.

    According to Google, 72% of small businesses in the US rely on YouTube to boost their online presence. Unfortunately, SMBs did have to fully wade into Google’s ad platform to launch a YouTube campaign, something that smaller businesses may not have had the time or experience to tackle. With the new approach, things are greatly simplified.

    We’re also committed to making it easier for small businesses to use video to reach their customers. Last year we introduced Video Builder, a free tool that allows small businesses to quickly set up a video ad using just two images and a logo. Today we’re introducing a faster, easier way to create video ad campaigns on YouTube. Just add the video ad, the audiences you want to reach and your budget to launch a campaign in minutes. And with the new mobile experience, you can now more easily measure campaign performance. Access the new experience today at youtube.com/ads.

    The move should be a big help for SMBs, especially during a time when an online presence is more important than ever.

  • YouTube Runs Ads On Creators’ Videos Without Paying Them

    YouTube Runs Ads On Creators’ Videos Without Paying Them

    Starting Wednesday, YouTube began running ads on some content creators’ videos without sharing the revenue those ads bring in.

    Traditionally, YouTube shares ad revenue with content creators in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). In order to qualify to be in the YPP, a creator must have more than 1,000 subscribers and have accrued 4,000 viewing hours over the previous 12 months. It was relatively rare or specific circumstances that would cause creators not in the YPP to have ads play on their videos.

    It appears YouTube is expanding those circumstances, however, with plans to monetize videos from creators that don’t qualify to be part of the YPP. The change was outlined in an update to the YouTube Terms of Service:

    Right to Monetize
    You grant to YouTube the right to monetize your Content on the Service (and such monetization may include displaying ads on or within Content or charging users a fee for access). This Agreement does not entitle you to any payments. Starting November 18, 2020, any payments you may be entitled to receive from YouTube under any other agreement between you and YouTube (including for example payments ​under the YouTube Partner Program, Channel memberships or Super Chat) will be treated as royalties. If required by law, Google will withhold taxes from such payments.

    The company clarified its new Right to Monetize clause:

    We added this new section to let you know that, starting today we’ll begin slowly rolling out ads on a limited number of videos from channels not in YPP. This means as a creator that’s not in YPP, you may see ads on some of your videos. Since you’re not currently in YPP, you won’t receive a share of the revenue from these ads, though you’ll still have the opportunity to apply for YPP as you normally would once you meet the eligibility requirements. You can always check your progress toward eligibility on the monetization tab in YouTube Studio.

    It’s safe to say this will probably not be a welcome change. Many content creators will likely take issue with YouTube making money off of their hard work—before they’re able to reap any benefits themselves.

  • Facebook Will Allow Users to Hide Political Ads

    Facebook Will Allow Users to Hide Political Ads

    Facebook has made a major change to how it handles political ads, giving users the ability to hide them for the first time ever.

    Facebook has been under ongoing scrutiny and criticism for how it handles political ads. Critics across the political spectrum have accused Facebook of not doing enough to combat misinformation. The company has so far resisted attempts to police political ads, exempting them from any kind of fact-checking. This has created an environment where a politician can say virtually anything about a rival, with no consequence.

    In an op-ed in USA Today, CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the company’s stance, saying “accountability only works if we can see what those seeking our votes are saying, even if we viscerally dislike what they say.”

    At the same time, for those who want to log on to Facebook to catch up with friends, see what the family is up to and watch a cute cat video or two, all without the stress of being bombarded by political ads, Facebook’s new feature will be a welcome one.

    “Starting today for some people and rolling out to everyone in the US over the next few weeks, people will be able to turn off all social issue, electoral or political ads from candidates, Super PACs or other organizations that have the ‘Paid for by’ political disclaimer on them,” reads a company blog post. “You can do this on Facebook or Instagram directly from any political or social issue ad or through each platform’s ad settings. However, we know our system isn’t perfect. So if you’ve selected this preference and still see an ad that you think is political, please click the upper right corner of the ad and report it to us.”

    It’s probably a safe bet this feature will be one of the most used options Facebook has ever rolled out.

  • Chrome Will Start Blocking Resource Heavy Ads

    Chrome Will Start Blocking Resource Heavy Ads

    Google has announced that Chrome will soon start blocking resource intensive ads.

    Internet ads may be a fact of life, but not all ads are created equal. Some, such as poorly programmed ones, can consume a disproportionate amount of resources, draining a laptop’s battery and slowing down a network. Google is working to address the problem, experimenting with ways of identifying those ads and blocking them.

    “We have recently discovered that a fraction of a percent of ads consume a disproportionate share of device resources, such as battery and network data, without the user knowing about it,” writes Marshall Vale, Chrome Product Manager. “These ads (such as those that mine cryptocurrency, are poorly programmed, or are unoptimized for network usage) can drain battery life, saturate already strained networks, and cost money.

    “In order to save our users’ batteries and data plans, and provide them with a good experience on the web, Chrome will limit the resources a display ad can use before the user interacts with the ad. When an ad reaches its limit, the ad’s frame will navigate to an error page, informing the user that the ad has used too many resources.”

    This is good news for Chrome users, especially those who primarily use a notebook. Google will continue working on the solution for the next few months, with rollout planned for August.

  • Google Expands Advertiser Identity Verification Policy

    Google Expands Advertiser Identity Verification Policy

    Google has announced it is expanding its advertising identification policy in an effort to improve transparency.

    The company initially rolled out its identify verification policy in 2018, although it applied primarily to political advertisers. In recent years, however, Google and other tech companies have been fighting an increase in misinformation, including misleading and fraudulent ads. As a result, Google wants to help shine a light on the companies behind ads that customers see, adding a degree of accountability and transparency. The feature will begin rolling out this summer, with an “About the advertiser” disclosure, similar to the current “Why this ad?” information.

    “This change will make it easier for people to understand who the advertiser is behind the ads they see from Google and help them make more informed decisions when using our advertising controls,” writes John Canfield, Director of Product Management, Ads Integrity. “It will also help support the health of the digital advertising ecosystem by detecting bad actors and limiting their attempts to misrepresent themselves.

    “We will start by verifying advertisers in phases in the U.S. and continue to expand globally. Because we are working closely with our advertising partners to scale the program while continuing to ensure we are surfacing helpful information to our users, we expect that this process will take a few years to complete. Advertisers can learn more about the identity verification program here.”

    This is good news for customers and will hopefully help cut down on misleading and fraudulent ads.

    Image Credit: Google

  • Online Ads Gaining Traction Amid Pandemic

    Online Ads Gaining Traction Amid Pandemic

    Research shows that ads are gaining traction as more people are working online and relying on the internet for all aspects of life.

    As the coronavirus pandemic continues spreading around the globe, an untold number of individuals are working from home. For many, e-commerce has suddenly become a lifeline, providing a steady supply of food and essentials. Zoom, Slack, Skype, Teams, and other videoconferencing applications are keeping employees connected to work, and families connected to loved ones. Mobile apps are serving as a welcome distraction for people struggling to maintain some semblance of normalcy.

    Amid such conditions, many companies have pulled back on their advertising efforts and budgets. According to Playground XYZ, however, there are a number of advertising categories that are experiencing greater engagement during the pandemic. Specifically, Playground XYZ found that consumer attention on ads was up 7% for February and 6% for March, compared to the previous six months. Home & Garden, Personal Finance and Food & Drink saw the largest gains, at 21%, 23% and 21% respectively. Another significant finding is that users paid more attention to ads the longer they looked at a site. For example, users who spend approximately 300 seconds on a site had a 250% higher attention index over the baseline, emphasizing the need for companies to focus on long-form and editorial content.

    Similarly, Global Web Index (GWI) found that 27% of individuals are reading Business & Finance articles online. Similarly, “87% of U.S. consumers and 80% of UK consumers say they’re consuming more content.” While video and streaming take the top spots, the point remains that people are craving more information now than ever before. Just as important, “68% of millennial podcast listeners say they intend to keep consuming just as much after the outbreak, indicating potential areas of revenue for digital content providers in the aftermath of the crisis.” Again the point is clear: patterns of behavior and content consumption that are created now will likely continue long-term.

    While the coronavirus pandemic is creating challenges and hardships for businesses of all size, there is also a tremendous opportunity to deliver the content users are looking for—and gain lifelong customers as a result.

  • Apple Will Allow Push Notification Advertising

    Apple Will Allow Push Notification Advertising

    iPhone and iPad users may soon be receiving advertising via push notifications, according to Apple’s latest App Store review guidelines.

    First reported by AppleInsider, the new guidelines will allow developers to push advertisements using push notifications, as long as the user has opted to allow it. The move comes as Apple is facing increasing scrutiny over what is perceived as an unfair advantage its own apps have over third-party developers.

    Previously, third-party apps could be banned for pushing ads via notifications, but some of Apple’s own push notifications blur the line between information and advertising. As The Verge points out, there were also ambiguous cases, such as whether a retailer can push a notification to inform an existing user about an upcoming sale.

    Opening the door to push notification ads at least provides a way for everyone to be on a level playing field, and ensures that the practice is fairly regulated. It will open up new avenues of communication between developers and customers, and help Apple answer critics regarding how it manages the App Store. Overall, it will likely end up being a win-win for everyone involved.

  • Mozilla Launches ‘Firefox Better Web with Scroll’ Test Pilot

    Mozilla Launches ‘Firefox Better Web with Scroll’ Test Pilot

    Firefox has announced the launch of a new Test Pilot program, Better Web with Scroll, aimed at improving the web experience for both publishers and users.

    Firefox is one of the most privacy-oriented companies in the world, and is constantly working to tackle problems related to privacy and the overall health of the web. Its latest initiative is designed to help publishers who have been hard hit by various privacy features, while at the same time incentivizing them to focus on quality content, rather than ad-driven quantity.

    “If we’re going to create a better internet for everyone, we need to figure out how to make it work for publishers,” writes Matt Grimes. “Last year, we launched Enhanced Tracking Protection by default and have blocked more than two trillion third-party trackers to date, but it didn’t directly address the problems that publishers face. That’s where our partner Scroll comes in. By engaging with a better funding model, sites in their growing network no longer have to show you ads to make money. They can focus on quality not clicks. Firefox Better Web with Scroll gives you the fast, private web you want and supports publishers at the same time.”

    The new initiative is based on Mozilla’s previously announced efforts to find alternative ways for publishers to monetize their content, without relying on ads. This is what led the non-profit to partner with Scroll. To join Firefox Better Web, users need to sign up for a Firefox account and install an extension. For the first six months, the service is discounted 50%, costing $2.50 a month. The money goes into a fund that is used to compensate writers and publishers. According to Mozilla, early tests show sites make at least 40% more than they would relying on ads.

    “Firefox Better Web combines the work we’ve done with third-party tracking protection and Scroll’s network of outstanding publishers,” adds Grimes. “This ensures you will get a top notch experience while still supporting publishers directly and keeping the web healthy.”

  • Google’s Troubles Mount As DOJ Focuses On Ad Tools

    Google’s Troubles Mount As DOJ Focuses On Ad Tools

    According to the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department is ramping up its investigation into Google, focusing heavily on the company’s ad tools.

    According to the report, the DOJ has increasingly been directing its questions—both of competitors and Google executives—toward “how Google’s third-party advertising business interacts with publishers and advertisers.”

    At the heart of the issue is the fact that Google essentially controls the entire process, resulting in its ad software being the dominant player at every stage of the relationship between online publishers and advertisers. Google reinforced that even more in recent years with two key decisions, according to the WSJ. The first was when it integrated “its ad server, the leading tool for websites to put ad space up for sale, with its ad exchange, the industry’s largest digital ad marketplace. The second move was Google’s decision to require advertisers to use its own tools to buy ad space on YouTube.”

    Competitors have alleged that Google’s tying their services together gives the company an unfair and anticompetitive edge, making it impossible to compete with Google on merit alone.

    At least one rival is pleased with the direction the questioning is going. Michael Nevins, chief marketing officer of Smart AdServer told the WSJ: “They are zooming in on the right topics, and that’s a good thing.”

  • eBay Pursuing Sale Of Its Classified-Ads Business

    eBay Pursuing Sale Of Its Classified-Ads Business

    eBay has been considering selling its classified-ads business for some time, but it appears the company is finally taking steps in that direction.

    The company’s classifieds business is estimated to be worth some $10 billion and mainly operates internationally, similar to Craigslist in the U.S. Selling the classifieds division would leave eBay with its core marketplace business.

    According to The Wall Street Journal, “Private-equity firms including TPG and Blackstone Group Inc. and strategic bidders including Naspers Ltd. and German publishing company Axel Springer SE have recently expressed interest in the business.” eBay has also been approaching other companies to gauge interest.

    Both Naspers and Axel Springer have existing online classifieds businesses, and the addition of eBay’s business would no doubt significantly increase their reach. The WSJ reports that indications of interest are due in March.

    We will continue to monitor developments and report updates.

  • Google Backtracks on Misleading Search Results

    Google Backtracks on Misleading Search Results

    Google is apparently walking back a recent search redesign that made it difficult to distinguish ads from organic results, according to TechCrunch.

    Google was in the news recently for blurring the line between organic search results and ads, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. The move was important because Google only makes money when users click on ads, as opposed to organic results. Therefore, it’s in the company’s interest for users to click on as many ads, or sponsored links, as possible.

    The move did not sit well with anyone, however, with consumers, journalists and politicians alike slamming the search giant. As TechCrunch points out, Senator Mark Warner told the Washington Post:

    “We’ve seen multiple instances over the last few years where Google has made paid advertisements ever more indistinguishable from organic search results. This is yet another example of a platform exploiting its bottleneck power for commercial gain, to the detriment of both consumers and also small businesses.”

    The company has now acknowledged, via Twitter, that it needs to go back to the drawing boards to deliver an update that addresses user concern.

    “Here’s our full statement on why we’re going to experiment further. Our early tests of the design for desktop were positive. But we appreciate the feedback, the trust people place in Google, and we’re dedicating to improving the experience.”

    —Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) January 24, 2020

  • Facebook Backtracks On Ads In WhatsApp

    Facebook Backtracks On Ads In WhatsApp

    More than a year after WhatsApp’s founders resigned in protest, Facebook is backtracking on its plans to include ads in the messaging app, according to The Wall Street Journal.

    WhatsApp’s founders, Jan Koum and Brian Acton, were so strongly opposed to ads being implemented in the app that “the two changed WhatsApp’s terms of service to explicitly forbid displaying ads in the app, and complicating any future efforts to do so,” people familiar with the matter told the WSJ.

    When Facebook acquired WhatsApp, Mark Zuckerberg said he agreed that ads were not a good fit for messaging platforms. Eventually, however, Facebook starting looking for ways to recoup the $22 billion price tag and put ads on the table. Koum and Acton’s response were likely an effort to stave off Facebook’s changing views.

    As Facebook became more determined to implement ads, the two founders decided to part ways with the company, leaving “a combined $1.3 billion in deferred compensation” on the table.

    Now, it appears that Facebook has again had a change of heart. According to the WSJ, the team responsible for figuring out how to best integrate ads into WhatsApp has been disbanded, and “the team’s work was then deleted from WhatsApp’s code.”

    Instead, WhatsApp is focusing on commercial interactions, since the messaging service is increasingly being used by companies to provide customer service. This opens all new ways for Facebook to monetize the platform without undermining the privacy and security that made it what it is today.

  • Microsoft Slips Ads Into Windows 10 and This Time They Can’t Be Disabled

    Microsoft Slips Ads Into Windows 10 and This Time They Can’t Be Disabled

    MSPoweruser is reporting that Microsoft has—once again—slipped ads into Windows 10 apps, including Mail and Calendar. Unlike previous instances, however, this time the ads cannot be disabled.

    The last time Microsoft placed ads in their flagship apps was over a year ago, in November 2018. At the time, the ads were labeled an “experiment,” and did not display for paid Office 365 subscribers. In contrast, this time around, the ads are displaying for all users.

    According to MSPoweruser, when asked about the ads, Microsoft said:

    “The ads within the app itself will be displayed regardless of which email address you use it with. It is not removable, but you can submit it as a suggestion within the Feedback Hub on Windows 10 here: https://msft.it/6012TVPXG.”

    It’s one thing for companies who provide free software and services to support those offerings with advertising. It’s entirely another, however, for paying users of premium software to be subjected to ads, let alone ones that cannot be disabled. Microsoft is setting a horrible precedent with this decision.

    For a company that has taken admirable steps of late to respect users and protect their rights, hopefully they will reverse this abysmal policy.

  • Time Warner Cable’s New Ad Strategy: Poke Fun at Crappy Customer Service

    A few years ago, Domino’s Pizza started talking about how much Domino’s Pizza sucked. That sort of ad campaign – the we know we suck but now it’s going to be better campaign – isn’t new, but now it’s being utilized by a company that ranks near the bottom of pretty much every customer satisfaction survey out there.

    Time Warner Cable is now taking the we know we suck approach, and is promising to offer better customer service.

    The company has put out a few new ads that poke fun at wait times – both for scheduled maintenance visits and for customer service calls.

    It’s not as if the customer service improvements TWC’s offering are revolutionary, but they are a welcome change. What is interesting is that the company is adopting this “apology tour” ad campaign as more and more people cut the cord.

    “We get it. We know how you feel about cable companies. We’ve seen where Time Warner Cable
    falls on customer satisfaction surveys and we know the ‘cable guy’ jokes by heart,” says Time Warner Cable. “We hear you loud and clear. We also know that your video, phone and Internet services are critical to your daily lives and deserve our highest investment and very best effort. So we’ve made some changes to get better. Changes that we hope add up to more respect for your time, more value for your money and the kind of experience you expect from a leading entertainment and technology company.”

    According to The Verge, this ad ran i newspapers across the country this past weekend.

    Comcast, the other company that routinely finds itself at the bottom of aforementioned satisfaction surveys, also recently admitted it needs to improve its customer service.

  • Pandora Turns 10, Offers One Ad-Free Day for All

    Pandora Turns 10, Offers One Ad-Free Day for All

    Pandora is celebrating a big birthday this month, and it’s handing out a small gift to its users.

    On September 9th, Pandora will turn 10. It’s declared the day “Listener Love Day” and with that comes 24 hours of ad-free streaming – for everyone – no matter what you pay for the service.

    Everyone in the US will enjoy ad-free streaming from 12am to 12pm ET.

    “We promise to keep this short, but it’s hard since each and every one of you has played a huge role in making Pandora the most streamed music platform in the world. Together, you have listened to 74 billion hours of music, thumbed up or down over 55 billion times and created 8 billion stations. Those are a lot of big numbers, but it boils down to one simple thing – when Pandora was created 10 years ago, we had one goal – to play the best music for each listener. That has not changed, it will not change, and we thank you for spending the past 10 years with us – here’s to decades more!” says the company in a blog post.

    Pandora has been exploring a few different options concerning ads and streaming. Of course, the company offers a “Pandora One” subscription (which it hiked the price on last year) that gives users ad-free listening. The company is experimenting with day passes for those who don’t want to pay for an entire subscription.

    And last month, it rolled out Sponsored Listening, which offers users a deal: one ad-free hour of music, uninterrupted, if they just pay special attention to one (longer) ad first.

    If you’re a Pandora free user, make sure to load up the app on September 9th. I’m sure Pandora’s hoping you’ll see how awesome it is without ads, and think about a subscription.

    Image via Pandora, Facebook

  • Kim Kardashian Forced to Post a ‘Corrective Ad’ After FDA Called Previous One Misleading

    Kim Kardashian Forced to Post a ‘Corrective Ad’ After FDA Called Previous One Misleading

    Future first lady and Instagram queen Kim Kardashian has been forced to post a #CorrectiveAd on Instagram after she and a drugmaker ran afoul of the Food and Drug Administration over a deceptive ad.

    In now-deleted Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook posts, Kardashian touted the amazing benefits of a morning sickness drug called Diclegis, made by a drug company called Duchesnay.

    But according to the FDA, the post was “false and misleading.”

    “The Office of Prescription Drug Promotion of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reviewed the Kim Kardashian Social Media Post for DICLEGIS (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine hydrochloride) delayed-release tablets, for oral use submitted by Duchesnay, Inc. under cover of Form FDA 2253. The social media post was also submitted as a complaint to the OPDP Bad Ad Program. The social media post is false or misleading in that it presents efficacy claims for DICLEGIS, but fails to communicate any risk information associated with its use and it omits material facts,” says the FDA in a letter addressed to Eric Gervais, Executive Vice President of Duchesnay, Inc., dated August 7th.

    “OMG. Have you heard about this? As you guys know my #morningsickness has been pretty bad. I tried changing things about my lifestyle, like my diet, but nothing helped, so I talked to my doctor. He prescribed me #Diclegis, and I felt a lot better and most importantly, it’s been studied and there was no increased risk to the baby,” wrote Kardashian in her original Instagram post.

    Now, Kardashian has been forced to post a follow up ad – this time including the appropriate risk information.

    “#CorrectiveAd. I guess you saw the attention my last #morningsickness post received. The FDA has told Duchesnay, Inc., that my last post about Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine HCl) was incomplete because it did not include any risk information or important limitations of use for Diclegis. A link to this information accompanied the post, but this didn’t meet FDA requirements. So, I’m re-posting and sharing this important information about Diclegis,” she writes.

    The rest reads like any drug ad – a long list of warnings and possible side effects.

    #CorrectiveAd I guess you saw the attention my last #morningsickness post received. The FDA has told Duchesnay, Inc., that my last post about Diclegis (doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine HCl) was incomplete because it did not include any risk information or important limitations of use for Diclegis. A link to this information accompanied the post, but this didn’t meet FDA requirements. So, I’m re-posting and sharing this important information about Diclegis. For US Residents Only. Diclegis is a prescription medicine used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in women who have not improved with change in diet or other non-medicine treatments. Limitation of Use: Diclegis has not been studied in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. Important Safety Information Do not take Diclegis if you are allergic to doxylamine succinate, other ethanolamine derivative antihistamines, pyridoxine hydrochloride or any of the ingredients in Diclegis. You should also not take Diclegis in combination with medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as these medicines can intensify and prolong the adverse CNS effects of Diclegis. The most common side effect of Diclegis is drowsiness. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or other activities that need your full attention unless your healthcare provider says that you may do so. Do not drink alcohol, or take other central nervous system depressants such as cough and cold medicines, certain pain medicines, and medicines that help you sleep while you take Diclegis. Severe drowsiness can happen or become worse causing falls or accidents. Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Diclegis can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby. You should not breastfeed while using Diclegis. Additional safety information can be found at www.DiclegisImportantSafetyinfo.com or www.Diclegis.com. Duchesnay USA encourages you to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

    A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on

    Of course, #CorrectiveAd or not, it’s still an ad. Probably a win for Diclegis.

    Image via Kim Kardashian, Instagram

  • Pandora Gives Users an Hour of Ad-Free Music If They First Pay Close Attention to an Ad

    Pandora Gives Users an Hour of Ad-Free Music If They First Pay Close Attention to an Ad

    Pandora is heralding the full rollout of its Sponsored Listening feature, which has been in beta since last fall.

    With Sponsored Listening, Pandora offers listeners a deal: You can have an ad-free hour of music, uninterrupted, if you just pay special attention to one ad first.

    “In exchange for at least 15 seconds of active brand attention, listeners are rewarded with 1 hour of uninterrupted listening. Active brand attention includes watching a video or engaging with a rich media unit, like a swipeable slide gallery or interactive 360-degree product spotlight. Within the Sponsored Listening session, the advertiser has 100% share of voice, which fosters an intimate connection between the brand and the listener,” says Pandora.

    The ads can last for a couple of minutes, however.

    “As the competition for consumer attention continues to intensify, brands are looking for advertising products that can help them create a lasting impression and resonate with their target audiences,” said Lizzie Widhelm, Pandora’s senior vice president of advertising product strategy and sales. “Sponsored Listening enhances our suite of engagement-based advertising solutions by building on products such as Brand Stations, and is another manifestation of our philosophy that what’s good for the listener is good for the advertiser.”

    According to Pandora, the beta test has been promising, yielding a 12 percent lift in brand awareness and a 30 percent lift in purchase intent for advertisers who participated. So far, that’s included brands like Land Rover North America, Corona Extra, Gatorade, TruTV, Yeungling.

    Today, Pandora is opening it up to all ad partners.

    “Sponsored Listening is truly a win-win ad format. No music lover should be without it, and brands everywhere should look to it as a new gateway to authentic consumer attention,” says Pandora’s Jonathan Eccles.

    If you’re a Pandora user, you can try it out now on mobile.

  • Instagram’s New Focus on Search Should Excite Marketers

    In 2013, boasting a little under 100 million users, Instagram finally decided to pay some attention to its web presence. The social network updated its barebones website to finally offer the ability to browse your feed. Before that, Instagram on the web only allowed you to look at user profiles and like photos. Since then, it’s been adding more and more features to the web.

    Still, Instagram is, was, and will always be a mobile-first network. Instagram.com lags behind the company’s mobile apps in terms of functionality. You just can’t do as much on the web as you can on iOS or Android. This isn’t an accident. Instagram doesn’t hate the web, it’s just content that it’s always been a mobile, on-the-go type service and emphasis has always been placed on chronicling life in the moment.

    Having said all that, Instagram is definitely looking at the potential of its web interface. Instagram has over 300 million monthly active users, which are sharing over 70 million photos a day. Last month, Instagram’s web embeds generated over 5.3 billion impressions. Point is, there are plenty of eyes for Instagram to catch with a web version that at least doesn’t completely suck.

    Are you excited by Instagram’s focus on helping users surface content? Do you see the potential in Instagram search? Let us know in the comments.

    Earlier this week, Instagram finally brought search to the web interface.

    Instagram’s desktop search allows users to search for hashtags, locations, and people.

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    A hashtag search, for example, opens up a page featuring “top posts” at the very top, followed by a real-time stream of the most-recent posts below. Same for a location search.

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    The implications for marketers are pretty clear – Instagram is making it easier for users to surface all types of content on the web.

    And when users surface said content, it’s going to look much, much better than it has in the past. Instagram’s website just received a big redesign with bigger photos. As a marketer, your content will look even more appealing when a user happens upon it via hashtag, profile, or location search on the web.

    But it’s not the current search interface that should excite advertisers – it’s what the future could hold.

    As of now, Instagram’s only ad unit is in-feed ads. Advertisers can create photo, video, or even carousel ads to display in users’ feeds – but that’s it. Instagram has been extremely cautious in rolling out ad formats and volume, as past dustups with users have shown it that it’s best to take things gradually. The Facebook-owned property knows it has to maintain a delicate balance between monetization and user growth.

    But the Instagram of the future could easily integrate search ads into this framework – and having that on the web would be a huge bonus for marketers.

    Instagram could easily introduce promoted posts for hashtag, user, and location search results. It could also promote certain accounts and hashtags in the search field. You can expect marketers to clamor for these options as we move forward.

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    Instagram has expanded its search options even more on mobile, and it’s a preview of what could eventually hit the web as well.

    The company recently unveiled some big content discovery improvements – a new Explore page on mobile that not only added the more powerful search that you now see on the web, but also sections for “trending” hashtags and places.

    “Through trending Tags and trending Places, you can experience moments like #bonnaroo or #fathersday from every perspective,” Instagram said in a blog post. “Rich visual content captures everyone’s unique take — not just what the community is talking about, but also what they’re doing and seeing.”

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    It’s not hard to imagine how these curated sections could be gold for advertisers. Instagram hasn’t yet opened up on any plans to monetize this Explore tab, however.

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    Even without the ability to buy ads based on these new search options, businesses really benefit from users having more ways to discover content.

    This is especially true of the places search. Searching for a place on Instagram on the web now displays a map and the same top posts / recent posts stream.

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    Up to now, Instagram has been slow to open its ad product to smaller businesses. This fall, that’s going to change.

    Here’s what Jim Squires, the director of marketing operations at the company, had to say in a recent interview:

    We’ve spent the last 18 months establishing the platform for large brands. The next logical step is to empower businesses of all sizes. Being able to target narrower segments and achieve different types of objectives is essential. We want to offer a complete solution that allows businesses to purchase through self-serve interfaces and achieve the objectives they want to achieve.

     

    We’re testing the action-oriented formats and buying through the API now, and we will be doing that through the summer with select partners and clients. Then we’ll be opening up globally and to all advertisers in the early fall timeframe.

    So, within months, Instagram is going to open the floodgates (the ads will come with “algorithmic approaches” to keep them up to quality standards, utilizing signals like negative feedback rates, engagement rates, and comments – so it won’t be a free-for-all).

    Will Instagram begin to put ads inside search? It’s hard to imagine it won’t, at some point. The company is sure laying the groundwork.

    Does Instagram’s new search focus make it more attractive, from a marketing standpoint? Let us know in the comments.