Daily Minute Master Series – May 30, 2019

Social Media

Twitter Officially Rolls Out ‘Go Live with Guests’ Option

The new ‘Live Guests’ option will allow viewers to apply to take part in the conversation, with their avatar appearing on-screen (when permitted to join by the streamer), and their streaming audio available to all viewers. It seems to be a step behind other streaming platforms, with both Instagram or Facebook Live already offering split-screen video guests as an option within their tools. With the social media arms race heating up in the latest AR and Stories tools, audio-only guests feels a little underwhelming. Interesting, but not overly interesting at the same time.

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Instagram is Testing an “Order” Sticker for Stories

Instagram has been spotted testing “order” stickers in stories, which may indicate it’s working on new ways to complete transactions. It’s unclear what functionality this sticker might offer. Instagram has been rapidly expanding its shopping capabilities as of late. However, shopping in stories has been available since last year. Instagram stories are a popular channel for promoting upcoming events, so it would be fitting to let users order tickets from stories. It’s important to note that Instagram hasn’t officially acknowledged that it’s rolling out an “order” sticker.

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Marketing

ALEXA, SCRATCH THAT: AMAZON TO LET USERS DELETE VOICE COMMANDS

Amazon.com Inc. is updating its Alexa voice software to let users delete recordings of their voice using a spoken command, a move that follows criticism of the company’s privacy practices related to its digital assistant. Bloomberg reported last month that some Amazon employees listen to users’ voice recordings as part of an effort to improve the software. In some cases, those workers can access the location of the person whose voice they are transcribing. Amazon’s privacy and user policies didn’t explicitly disclose either practice. Amazon’s move also comes as other technology giants make a point of touting their own efforts to safeguard user data. The company also gave its Alexa privacy website a facelift, adding a bit more explanation on how the software works. The company’s Echo Show 5, a new version of the screen-bearing smart speaker line, announced on Wednesday, comes with a shutter that lets customers cover the built-in camera.

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Advertising

Google sunsetting two bidding strategies in June

Google will retire the Target Search Page Location and Target Outranking Share automated bidding strategies at the end of next month. Instead, advertisers will be encouraged to use Target Impression Share, which encompasses impression share for certain page position targets. The strategies will no longer be available for new campaigns starting in late June. This shift is in line with Google’s introduction of new ad position metrics that focus on the top and absolute top impressions and impression share and plan to eliminate average position reporting later this year. Google suggests using the new impression share metrics when aiming to show your ads in particular locations on the page.

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