1. Google to sunset Message Extensions in Google Ads
Google announced that message extensions will be sunset in AdWords and Google Ads APIs and Google Ads scripts. The sunset date is January 27, 2020. Message extensions will no longer serve, users will not be able to create new message extensions or update existing extensions but will still be able to retrieve data for existing message extensions. [Source: PPC Land]
2. Snapchat will launch Bitmoji TV, a personalized cartoon show
Snapchat’s most popular yet under-exploited feature is finally getting the spotlight in 2020. Starting in February with a global release, your customizable Bitmoji avatar will become the star of a full-motion cartoon series called Bitmoji TV. [Source: TechCrunch]
3. Quora launches Lead Gen Forms Ads
Quora launched a new beta with Lead Gen Forms Ads, enabling advertisers to gain leads directly on Quora’s platform. Quora Lead Gen Forms information is delivered via a downloadable CSV in Ads Manager within 180 days, or it automatically adds each new lead into advertiser’s CRM. [Source: PPC Land]
4. Twitter Previews Potential Enhancements for Lists and Topics, Including Activity Details and Location Sorting
Twitter is working to give lists and topics even more focus, with a range of updates designed to help improve content discovery and connect more people – particularly new users – to increasingly relevant, engaging tweet content. [Source: Social Media Today]
5. Facebook Removes Option to Create a Messenger Account Without a Facebook Profile
Facebook quietly removed the option for people to sign up for a Messenger account without an active Facebook profile. The removal of this option is a small step, but it works to further solidify and merge Facebook’s various tools. [Source: Social Media Today]
6. Google Ads Ends Support via Twitter and Facebook
Google Ads stop providing support on Twitter and on Facebook, starting on January 1, this year. Google says users can get support via a form for all Google Ads account-related questions. [Source: PPC Land]
7. New Bingbot User Agents Will Streamline SEO
Bing announced brand new user agents for crawling web pages. The new user agents will be continually updated and as a consequence, the user agent strings will also change to reflect the latest rendering engine used. [Source: Search Engine Journal]
8. Global Email Benchmark Report Indicates Government Organizations Increased Open Rates by 11% in 2019
Email service provider Campaign Monitor has released its annual global email benchmarks report, offering marketers a glimpse into email marketing performance across industries. Government organizations topped the list as having the highest open rates of over 30% — an increase of nearly 11% over the course of 2019. [Source: MarTech Today]
9. Instagram’s US User Growth Rate Dips in Latest eMarketer Report
Instagram’s US user growth rate sharply decelerated last year, from 10.1% in 2018 to 6.7% in 2019, according to eMarketer’s latest social benchmark report. EMarketer is also lowering its Instagram growth forecast, revised down from 5.4% to 4.5% in 2020, and 3.2% instead of 4.1% in 2021. [Source: AdExchanger]
10. TikTok Leaves Ad Money on the Table for Facebook
Many of Facebook’s major competitors decided to stop selling political ads or restrict their participation in that space. And with that, they leave money on the table for Facebook. [Source: Market Realist]
