Google Policy Update”Other Restricted Businesses: Event Ticket Sales” Update

This update will clarify the “disclosure” requirement part of this policy, as shown below.

Disclosure information should be prominent, clear and conspicuous, displayed in the top 20% of the area (above the fold) of any target page accessed by users through the ad.

This disclosure information cannot be provided in the form of a dismissible or hideable notification, and the font size must not be smaller than the majority of the text on the webpage.

This means that advertisers only need to provide the disclosure information on the target page accessed by users through Google ads, and do not need to provide it on any page that users can access organically. The updated policy will be released on June 10, 2024 and will be fully implemented within approximately 4 weeks.

Health and Medicines” Policy Update

In June 2024, the content of the Google Ads “Health and Medicines” policy will be updated to allow online pharmacies to advertise their services in Estonia and Lithuania.

The following specific regulations for different countries/regions will be added to the “Health and Medicines” policy page:

Estonia

Online Pharmacies Allowed, but with restrictions

Google allows online pharmacies to advertise their businesses that are registered with the Estonian State Agency of Medicines. Ad customers cannot promote prescription drugs in the ads or on the landing pages.

Ad customers also need to go through Google’s certification process. Please check the application process.

Lithuania

Lithuania, online pharmacies are advertised on Google as follows.

Online pharmacies are allowed to advertise with some restrictions.

Google allows online pharmacies to advertise businesses that have been registered with the Lithuanian State Medicines Agency, but not to advertise prescription medicines.

Advertisers (i.e. online pharmacies) have to be certified by Google in order to place ads.

Advertisers need to check Google’s application for specific certification requirements and processes.

In general, Google allows online pharmacies to advertise in Lithuania subject to a number of conditions, including that the business must be registered with the local regulatory authority, cannot advertise prescription medicines, and needs to pass Google’s certification process.

Updates to the Advertiser Verification Program

In June 2024, Google updated the Advertiser Verification Process with a new optional verification process to verify an advertiser’s/individual’s affiliation with their verified organization. There are no negative consequences if this new verification process is not completed.

Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals” Policy Updates

Google updated its “Health and Drugs” policy in June 2024 to allow advertisers to discuss opioid painkillers, but not to promote or sell them. For example, the updated policy states that advertisers may discuss public policy solutions to the misuse of opioid painkillers if they receive a new certification.

Microsoft Advertising Product Updates

Microsoft Ad Editor

Support for video and connected TV ads

You can now manage video and connected TV ads in bulk using the Microsoft Ad Editor. With this update, you can create campaigns and upload video ad footage directly in the editor. To access this feature, make sure you have updated to the latest version and then select Get Changes. Please note that when managing these campaigns using the Editor, device targeting is automatically created for your campaigns based on the type of campaign you create, i.e. Video Ads or Connected TV.

Use generative AI to create

and Custom Banner Ad Material Sources

Copilot in Microsoft Advertising allows you to easily create and customize a variety of assets using the power of generative AI. For Maximize Campaigns, Adaptive Search Ads, Native Ads, and now Display Ads, you can save valuable time and effort in creating campaigns by automatically fetching recommended image and copy assets based on landing page URLs.

Smart Shopping Campaigns Upgraded to Maximize Results

All advertisers who placed Smart Shopping Campaigns received an email informing them of the upcoming upgrade of Smart Shopping Campaigns to Maximize Results Campaigns, which will be completed over the next few months. Settings, reporting, and results history will remain the same after this conversion, but there will be a 1-2 week campaign learning period after the upgrade.

If you would like to upgrade your Smart Shopping campaign to a Results Maximizer campaign earlier, you can choose to modify the upgrade to a Results Maximizer campaign.

Meta Product Updates

Meta is Testing Automated Creative Changes for Reels

Facebook is currently testing a new automated process that will help you optimize the performance of Reels published on your business pages by trying different variations of content without you having to do anything.

Meta brings its AI chatbot to Indian users

After testing with Indian users over the past few months, Meta is now rolling out new AI search elements to Indian users, starting with English queries.

Instagram Adds New Features to Broadcast Channels

Instagram has announced some updates to its Creator Broadcast Channel option, which provides a private, one-way chat stream to keep your audience informed of important updates. The Broadcast Channel is available to all creators with more than 10k followers, so it’s not a widely available option. However, if you fall into this category, the channel provides an easy way to stay in more direct contact with your biggest fans.

Instagram Tests New ads overlaid on user stories

Instagram is now testing new promoted prompts that show up on your friends’ Stories to draw viewers to promoted apps.

As you can see in this example, the new pop-up ads will overlay your friend’s Stories with a small CTA button to guide the user through.

Instagram adds music to rotating posts with videos

Instagram is keen to offer users more ways to engage with music in the app, this time by adding music to rotating posts that contain video clips.

Tiktok Product Updates

In the TikTok Store Add image search feature for similar products TikTok has extended testing of an image search feature that enables users to search for product listings in the app based on visual examples.

TikTok Will Enable Businesses to Create Their Own Virtual Characters

The next phase of digital marketing is just around the corner, and the platform’s new “Symphony” marketing management platform will include a new option that will enable brands to deploy virtual influencers to sell products for them within the app.

As you can see in this example, TikTok is now entering the next phase of its virtual influencer program, which will allow brands to choose from a range of digital personas that can essentially sell their products for them 24/7 via TikTok Live.

TikTok launches new

Sharing App – “Whee”

TikTok is experimenting with another app as it seeks to expand engagement opportunities and capitalize on broader usage trends.TikTok’s latest app experiment is Whee, an Instagram-like photo feed designed to be shared only with friends.