Digital Marketing Updates from the Week of June 15, 2020

In 14 minutes, get up to speed on the latest updates from Facebook, Google Ads, Twitter, and Snapchat during the week of June 15, 2020. Check out the podcast for full details.
Facebook Provides New Overview of How its Ad System Works
Facebook published a new overview of how its ad system works as part of their "Good Questions, Real Answers" series. In the series, they highlighted its two key factors to determine which ads to show users.

Check out the link to the episode of ‘Good Questions, Real Answers: How Does Facebook Use Machine Learning to Deliver Ads?” here:

Facebook is looking to expand ‘Collections’ with a new test of an option to share your saved Collections publicly
Facebook’s ‘Collections’ allows you to gather groups of posts, videos, Marketplace listings or ads and save them in a separate list. 

Twitter is testing a new feature that will allow you to tweet with your voice
Twitter aims to add a more human touch to the way we use the platform through Voice Tweets

Twitter Rolls Out List Search, Providing More Options for Users to Follow Topics
Twitter is adding a new list option for all users called list discovery. List discovery is another way to find themed and topic-based lists to follow.

Google announced an additional $200 million in ad grants to support non-profits.
Google's Ad Grants program will add an extra $200 million budget to be allocated for non-profit organizations plus an additional range of tools to help businesses mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 shutdowns. 

Google Adds Quick Insights on Ad Performance and 'Keyword Themes' for Ad Targeting
Google is enhancing its simplified Smart Campaigns offering by adding a new way to quickly check on your Google Ads performance.  It is also easier to check your ad performance in the mobile app. Another update is called the 'Keyword Themes' listing.

Google’s latest training video explains how to utilize the Manual Action Report in Search Console
Google explains how to read, and take action on, the information found in the manual action report in Search Console.

YouTube is Renaming its FameBit Influencer Marketplace to 'BrandConnect'
YouTube’s Influencer Marketplace, FameBit will be evolved to YouTubeBrand Connect by July 31.

YouTube Tests New Shoppable Product Ads and Launches Video Action Campaigns
YouTube is experimenting on a new way to make the advertiser's actionable video ads more shoppable. 

TikTok explains how their Algorithm Works
There are a lot of controversies around the ownership, moderation policies, and growth efforts of TikTok which is why it is trying very hard to show that it has nothing to hide. TikTok is explaining exactly how its recommendations algorithm works and how videos gain traction on its platform.

Pinterest Publishes New Data on Emerging eCommerce Behavior
to Pinterest, an estimated 50% of all US consumers have now grocery-shopped online which is a 40% increase over last year.

Walmart teams up with Shopify to grow its marketplace.
The integration of Shopify is focused on US-based small and medium businesses that complement Walmart’s assortment.
Interested sellers can visit www.shopify.com/walmart to learn more.

Snapchat Launches New 'Snap Focus' Advertising Education Courses
Snapchat has launched a new education platform for marketers called “Snap Focus” that provide tips and notes on how to get the most out of the platform's various ad options just like Facebook’s “Blueprint.”
LinkedIn Publishes New Guide on Using its Events and Live-Streaming Tools

LinkedIn’s new guide looks at how to utilize its native events and live-streaming functions to best effect. It includes a range of tips and pointers to assist in your planning.
To get LinkedIn Live access for your business, visit this link: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/ask/lv-app

Bonus:
Facebook Adds New Functionality to Portal, Including Messenger Rooms and Capacity to Go Live in Groups
You can now jump in and out of Messenger Rooms on your Portal device. Messenger Rooms add another option to your Portal connection tools. You can now also replace your background with a pre-selected image using Portal Spaces while on a call to make it more interesting and get rid of all the clutter while on camera. 

Facebook will now let you turn off political ads.
Great news! Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s CEO, said users will be able to switch off political ads. 

Facebook is also launching a new Voting Information Center
This will offer authoritative information on when and how to vote, as well as details about voter registration, voting by mail, and information about early voting.

Google Makes it Easy to Join Google Meet Video Catch-Ups Via the Gmail App
Meet will now also be available via Gmail on Android and iOS.

Instagram Adds New Features for Pride Month, Including Rainbow Hashtags
Pride Month is being celebrated in various ways on several social media apps. We will be seeing a lot of rainbows as this is one of the simplest ways to show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Facebook Shares the Results of its First Deepfake Detection Challenge
The modern world brings us so many positive things in our daily lives but of course, it can't be all good. Deepfakes are manipulated media where a person in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else's likeness.