🗞️ Digital Marketing Must-Knows

Hello, Marketers. We’re back with another round-up.

Last week we saw Google & Microsoft make their moves in the AI Game of Thrones. Microsoft’s surprise event came the day before Google’s scheduled ‘Live in Paris’ live stream.

For years Microsoft accepted being a Google clone. No big innovation of their own. Perhaps just working in the background (in partnership with OpenAI) attempting to leapfrog with the next shift in technology, AI.

And now:

“It’s a new day in Search” - Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO.'

Let’s jump in.

- Kole

P.S. Start learning foundational digital marketing strategy with 7 email lessons, in 7 days. Go through each email in the time it takes you to enjoy a cup of coffee ☕

Start the free Mini Course

Round-Up

Microsoft positions the ChatGPT-powered Bing as the “future of search”. Microsoft also launched a new version of its browser, Microsoft Edge. (The Verge ↗️)

• The New Bing shows a Chatbot to the right of the traditional search results page.

• Microsoft is using an upgraded version of GPT3.5. Which they are calling Prometheus (rather than GPT4). This model is able to provide answers based on up-to-date information.

• Bing saw a 10x increase in downloads in the US app store after the event.

• Microsoft also launched a new version of its web browser, Microsoft Edge. Competing with Google on a second front, as an alternative to Chrome.

• Edge has a “Chat” feature that allows users to summarize the webpage or document and ask questions about its contents. “Compose” is a writing assistant; helping to generate text, from emails to social media posts. All done without leaving the webpage.

Meanwhile, Google clearly has high AI competency but stumbled out of the blocks with Bard. Which seemed rushed to avoid giving Microsoft the first-mover advantage. Big opportunity for Microsoft. But Google will respond.

2. Twitter doubles down on its subscription business model with new changes. Twitter currently has an estimated 300,000 paying subscribers. That’s ~0.1% of their user base. Snapchat+ launched at a similar time and has over 2 million subscribers (although it is half the price). Here is what Twitter is doing to boost subs:

• 🆕 Twitter Blue now enables users to Tweet up to 4,000 characters.

• 🔜 Subscribers will see half as many ads as non-subscribers

• 💵 Twitter may cut off its API and offer the Twitter management software, Tweetdeck, as an exclusive perk for Blue members.

3. TikTok is adding new features to its advertising portal, Promote. Promote helps small businesses and creators quickly turn their content into ads within the app. Promote now allows advertisers to choose ‘more profile views’ as a goal. As well as ‘more messages’. While ‘Promote for Others’ allows businesses to promote content from creators and track performance. (TikTok ↗️)

4. Pinterest plans to “make every pin shoppable”. This year Pinterest will focus on using AI to find products within videos and make them shoppable. Pinterest also signed an agreement with Conde Nast for 160 exclusive videos. In their latest earnings, Pinterest reported a 30% increase in videos on the platform. (Search Engine Land ↗️)

5. Shopify is expanding its logistics and fulfillment services. Helping small businesses compete with Amazon. Shopify has a new “port to porch” import service to help “level the playing field” for their stores. Allowing them to compete with the convenience of shopping at large retailers. Last year Shopify acquired a fulfillment start-up, Deliverr. Shopify is pitching merchants on being able to focus more on product and marketing instead of shipping headaches. (Wall Street Journal ↗️)

More headlines:

• Instagram is testing ‘Memories’ to boost engagement

• YouTube introduces a way to reply to comments with a Short

• Instagram Reels creators can all now receive ‘Stars’ from their viewers (worth $.01 each)

Longer reads:

• Business Insider: How Microsoft caught up with Google on AI, and the unlikely executive who made it happen

• Acast: North America Podcast Listeners Drive Action for Advertisers

• Business Insider: YouTube is shaking up the business model of its influencer-marketing program BrandConnect

🏁🏁

^_✍🏽 written by Kole Ogundipe

How else I can help:

• Join our Live Digital Marketing course experience (starting March 7). Most of our participants are sponsored by their employers, or expense it for their business.

• Or refer someone else you know by Feb 28 and earn $300 (terms apply).

• Advertise to 87,000+ marketers by sponsoring this newsletter

• Free 7-day Mini-Course: Delivered straight to your inbox each weekday morning