Trend Spotting: New Google and Facebook Restrictions
In the upcoming weeks, Google and Facebook will be implementing changes that will affect millions of businesses. Their new changes include:
Google Policy Change
Starting on Monday, advertisers on Google who promote housing, employment, and credit products and services will no longer be able to target people based on personal attributes, including gender, age, parental status, marital status, and ZIP code. Google is implementing this policy in an effort to create more equal opportunities for everyone regardless of your background.
What does this mean for Gainesville businesses?
If you are selling real estate, promoting employment opportunities or credit lending, your Google ad targeting will be very limited. You’ll be able to target a location generally, for example, the entire city of Gainesville, but you will not be able to target a specific zip code within Gainesville.
Google Bans Election-Themed Ads
Google announced on Friday that they will ban ads on all their platforms, including YouTube, that relate to any concept regarding the federal and state elections after November 3. This is to prevent any false advertising after the election, which Google predicts will have a delay in results.
What does this mean for Gainesville businesses?
With local elections, campaigns in the area should keep this new policy in mind and make sure to stop all campaign ads on Google by November 3. Google is expecting a 48 hour delay in reviewing ad creative once the ban is implemented, so it’s important to ensure all new creative is implemented prior to the election.
Facebook and Instagram Say Goodbye to WordPress Embeds
Starting on October 24, unauthenticated Facebook and Youtube embeds on WordPress sites will break due to an upcoming API update.
What does this mean for Gainesville businesses?
If you have embedded content from Facebook and Instagram on your WordPress site, you are affected by this change. Your embedded content will soon be broken. To solve this issue, you must meet Facebook’s new requirements to be a publisher with a Facebook developer account, have a registered Facebook app in Live Mode, an Access Token and have the Embed Product added to the app.
Shopping Inside Youtube
Millions of creators on Youtube provide links to the products featured in their videos. However, viewers have never been able to buy a featured product without being redirected to another site. To make shopping easier, Google confirmed its plan to add new Youtube shopping features. Every product seen on Youtube could be for sale soon on the network itself with a simple “Buy now” button next to all unboxing and review videos. The new feature is currently under testing with select Youtube channels. Viewers are directly purchasing tagged products through Canadian Shopify inside Youtube.
What does this mean for Gainesville businesses?
Youtube Shopping will soon be another way customers can easily find your products. If you have been contemplating starting a channel for your business or have considered partnering with Youtube creators, now is the time to do it! Youtube will be the next big shopping destination, are you ready for it?
Ok, now what?
Now that you’re up to date with the latest industry news, it’s time to invest in a team that specializes in all things social media and digital marketing. We can help! We are a full-service marketing agency ready to help your business operate to its fullest potential without missing a beat.
