Setting aside the fact that it was a wonderful feeling being back on the road and back on stage, there were a lot of positives to note within and around the gaming industry. Here are some takeaways from my week at ICE and the iGB Affiliate show in London.
When it comes to the world of gambling – both online and brick-and-mortar – there is a lot to look forward to. The industry is set to have its biggest year ever, and by all accounts, the pent-up demand predicted over the last two years is coming to an apex. That said, there is still plenty on the horizon, and some clear shifts are beginning to take place across the casino world.
Payments Leading the Way
What was perhaps most notable on the ICE expo floor was the prevalence of payment processors. This is nothing new; payment processing is a hugely competitive and saturated sub-market within the online gambling space, but the volume and differentiations are what was most notable this year. First off, crypto and cross-border transactions made what seemed to be their largest appearance ever. As the blockchain moves more into the focus of everyday transactions, operators are looking for the best (legal) ways to begin accepting some form of crypto-integration, even if it means working with a third party that can offer conversion, gas, and processing fees before regulated currencies are deposited. There is still a long way to go in this space before it is widely accepted in the gambling space, but it is particularly interesting to see how many players – both incumbent and nascent – are looking for ways to offer it.
Data Consolidation and Improved Customer Experience
On my panel during the ICE VOX Masterclass sessions, we discussed steps that need to be taken toward an improved online customer journey and experience. While each panelist provided some phenomenal insight, there was a clear theme among each of the ideas shared: data consolidation and data-centric strategy implementation. Anyone who has worked in this space knows that casinos are expert data collectors; when it comes to the use of that data, there is still a lot of room for improvement. While tools exist to help with the automation side of the data world, once casinos are able to internally harness the power that comes from data structuring, engagement, retention, and rate-of-play have the chance to increase significantly.
Going Cashless
During the International Casino Conference component of the week, we had a chance to hear from Scott Sibella, the President of the recently opened Resorts World Las Vegas. As the first new construction on the Strip in a decade, Resorts World has had the opportunity to implement a lot of modern technology both around the resort and on the casino floor that many others have not yet had the chance to do. One of the most notable, and one that is particularly telling of where the casino floor might be headed, is a cashless guest experience. We’ve seen cashless operations in several industries, but casinos by and large have not been a major adopter. How players lean into this shift will be interesting to monitor, as it might indicate that a new generation of casino player is more willing to visit the floor based on technologies that they are more familiar with in other areas of everyday life.
What’s Next for NFTs and the Metaverse?
In what were perhaps the most exciting conversations of the week, it seems everyone has their ear to the ground when it comes to NFTs and the metaverse. I joined a panel at the iGB Affiliate show on this very topic, and it is clear that there is only room for growth in this facet of the industry. With virtually unlimited potential for both casinos and affiliates, it’s only a matter of time before metaverse casinos, NFT affiliate acquisition strategies, and the entire subculture take off. The questions remain: Who will be the first major player to integrate this technology into their marketing strategies, and how will this virtual world work in tandem with a highly regulated market? Time will tell, but it’s sure to be a fascinating ride.
Daily Minute Master Series – April 21, 2022
/by Corey PadveenThe Marketing Rundown
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Everything you need to know about media, marketing, and digital news from the week all together in one place.
News & Updates
TikTok Launches ‘Interactive Add-Ons’ to Help Brands Build More Engaging Ads
For the full article click here
Instagram Tests Removing the ‘Recent’ Tab from Hashtag Searches
Instagram has announced that it’s launched ‘a small test’ which will see the ‘Recent’ tab removed from hashtag search results, in favor of more recent posts and Reels being displayed in the main display.
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Roblox Accused of Deceptive Marketing in Complaint to FTC
For the full article click here
Small Business Marketing 101: Getting Started
Learn how to create a sustainable small business marketing plan that earns new customers and grows your revenue for years to come.
For the full article click here
How To Automate Google Ads – No Coding Required
Gain the tools and knowledge to use automation to your advantage in PPC campaigns even with zero coding experience.
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LinkedIn Reports Most In-Demand Jobs Across All Industries
A report from LinkedIn shows demand for software engineers, RNs, and salespeople are high, while need for service professionals continues to grow.
For the full article click here
Key Takeaways from My Week at at ICE and iGB Affiliate London
/by Corey PadveenSetting aside the fact that it was a wonderful feeling being back on the road and back on stage, there were a lot of positives to note within and around the gaming industry. Here are some takeaways from my week at ICE and the iGB Affiliate show in London.
When it comes to the world of gambling – both online and brick-and-mortar – there is a lot to look forward to. The industry is set to have its biggest year ever, and by all accounts, the pent-up demand predicted over the last two years is coming to an apex. That said, there is still plenty on the horizon, and some clear shifts are beginning to take place across the casino world.
Payments Leading the Way
What was perhaps most notable on the ICE expo floor was the prevalence of payment processors. This is nothing new; payment processing is a hugely competitive and saturated sub-market within the online gambling space, but the volume and differentiations are what was most notable this year. First off, crypto and cross-border transactions made what seemed to be their largest appearance ever. As the blockchain moves more into the focus of everyday transactions, operators are looking for the best (legal) ways to begin accepting some form of crypto-integration, even if it means working with a third party that can offer conversion, gas, and processing fees before regulated currencies are deposited. There is still a long way to go in this space before it is widely accepted in the gambling space, but it is particularly interesting to see how many players – both incumbent and nascent – are looking for ways to offer it.
Data Consolidation and Improved Customer Experience
On my panel during the ICE VOX Masterclass sessions, we discussed steps that need to be taken toward an improved online customer journey and experience. While each panelist provided some phenomenal insight, there was a clear theme among each of the ideas shared: data consolidation and data-centric strategy implementation. Anyone who has worked in this space knows that casinos are expert data collectors; when it comes to the use of that data, there is still a lot of room for improvement. While tools exist to help with the automation side of the data world, once casinos are able to internally harness the power that comes from data structuring, engagement, retention, and rate-of-play have the chance to increase significantly.
Going Cashless
During the International Casino Conference component of the week, we had a chance to hear from Scott Sibella, the President of the recently opened Resorts World Las Vegas. As the first new construction on the Strip in a decade, Resorts World has had the opportunity to implement a lot of modern technology both around the resort and on the casino floor that many others have not yet had the chance to do. One of the most notable, and one that is particularly telling of where the casino floor might be headed, is a cashless guest experience. We’ve seen cashless operations in several industries, but casinos by and large have not been a major adopter. How players lean into this shift will be interesting to monitor, as it might indicate that a new generation of casino player is more willing to visit the floor based on technologies that they are more familiar with in other areas of everyday life.
What’s Next for NFTs and the Metaverse?
In what were perhaps the most exciting conversations of the week, it seems everyone has their ear to the ground when it comes to NFTs and the metaverse. I joined a panel at the iGB Affiliate show on this very topic, and it is clear that there is only room for growth in this facet of the industry. With virtually unlimited potential for both casinos and affiliates, it’s only a matter of time before metaverse casinos, NFT affiliate acquisition strategies, and the entire subculture take off. The questions remain: Who will be the first major player to integrate this technology into their marketing strategies, and how will this virtual world work in tandem with a highly regulated market? Time will tell, but it’s sure to be a fascinating ride.
Daily Minute Master Series – April 20, 2022
/by Corey PadveenThe Marketing Rundown
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Everything you need to know about media, marketing, and digital news from the week all together in one place.
News & Updates
eCommerce and Fake Reviews: 17 Shocking Stats You Need to Know [Infographic]
For the full article click here
Why Updating Images Can Backfire
Google’s John Mueller shares that indexing images is slow, which can negatively impact image heavy sites that update their images.
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Content Marketing Market Growth 2022-2028
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Key Social Media Usage Trends, Based on Analysis of Over a Billion Posts [Infographic]
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How a Brazilian Soccer Team Is Marketing to U.S. Fans—and What it Means for Global Sports Branding
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13 Tips to Schedule Your Day as a Social Media Manager [Infographic]
For the full article click here
Daily Minute Master Series – April 19, 2022
/by Corey PadveenThe Marketing Rundown
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Everything you need to know about media, marketing, and digital news from the week all together in one place.
News & Updates
Elon Musk’s Perspective on Free Speech is Likely Different to Your Own, Which is Important to Note
For the full article click here
Metaverse: What’s to Come for E-Commerce?
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New Report Provides Insight into Best Posting Times on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn
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Website Spring Cleaning In 3 Easy Steps
Spring cleaning is not only essential to keep audiences happy but helps with your appeal to search engines, too. Here’s how to get started.
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New Report Highlights That Instagram Hashtags Don’t Significantly Increase Post Engagement
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The Future of the Web Is Marketing Copy Generated by Algorithms
As we move further into the 21st century, more and more aspects of our lives are being controlled by algorithms. Facebook decides which posts we see in our newsfeed, Google shows us the results of our searches based on their complex ranking system, and Amazon recommends products based on our past purchase history. It’s no wonder then that online marketing is becoming increasingly reliant on algorithms to create effective copywriting. So what does the future hold for the web—will marketing be dominated by machines, or will human creativity always be necessary?
For the full article click here
Daily Minute Master Series – April 18, 2022
/by Corey PadveenThe Marketing Rundown
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Everything you need to know about media, marketing, and digital news from the week all together in one place.
News & Updates
Elon Musk Launches Hostile Takeover Bid for Twitter
For the full article click here
WhatsApp Announces ‘Communities’ to Enhance Group Chats in the App
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10 Different Ways To Get Organic Page 1 Google Rankings
Discover 10 ways to go beyond the old 10 blue links and get more traffic from Google’s enhanced organic search results.
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Amazon Raises Affiliate Commission Rates
Amazon announces a limited time increase in commission rates. How does it compare to pre-Covid commission percentages?
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Google Warns Of Low Realtime Data In Universal Analytics Reports
The Real-Time report in Google Analytics is impacted by an issue affecting Universal Analytics properties only.
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YouTube Adds New Connected TV Capabilities
Google made improvements to its YouTube Connected TV capabilities. These updates allow advertisers to have more confidence in their CTV strategy.
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Daily Minute Master Series – April 15, 2022
/by Corey PadveenThe Marketing Rundown
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Everything you need to know about media, marketing, and digital news from the week all together in one place.
News & Updates
YouTube Launches New ‘Search Insights’ for All Creators
For the full article click here
New Details Emerge of Meta’s Ten-Year Growth Plan for AR Wearables and the Metaverse
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TikTok Expands Test of Downvotes for Video Replies, Adds New Prompts to Highlight its Safety Tools
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Pinterest Announces New Partnership with WooCommerce to Expand Product Listings
Pinterest has announced a new partnership with eCommerce platform WooCommerce, which will enable WooCommerce’s 3.6 million merchants the convert their product catalogs into Shoppable Pins on Pinterest.
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AdSense Pausing Monetization On Some Ukraine Related Topics
Google sent a reminder to publishers that expands on current policy related to showing ads on content about the war on Ukraine.
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Marketing In The Metaverse [Podcast]
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Daily Minute Master Series – April 14, 2022
/by Corey PadveenThe Marketing Rundown
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Everything you need to know about media, marketing, and digital news from the week all together in one place.
News & Updates
Twitter Provides Last-Minute Tips for Your Easter Marketing Campaigns
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TikTok Expands Access to its ‘Effect House’ AR Creation Platform
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Snapchat Launches ‘Dynamic Stories’ for News Publishers to Present Up to Date News Content in the App
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Twitter Acquires OpenBack to Improve the Timeliness and Relevance of Push Notifications
Twitter’s looking to improve the relevance and timeliness of its notifications, while also potentially reducing the impacts of Apple’s ATT update, with the acquisition of Dublin-based app enhancement platform OpenBack, which will provide Twitter with more capacity to customize and personalize its app notifications for every user.
For the full article click here
LinkedIn Publishes New ‘Founders’ Guide’ to Help SMBs Maximize their LinkedIn Presence
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WordPress Reconsiders WebP By Default Proposal
WordPress announced a decision to formally reassess the highly controversial WebP by Default feature.
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Daily Minute Master Series – April 13, 2022
/by Corey PadveenThe Marketing Rundown
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Everything you need to know about media, marketing, and digital news from the week all together in one place.
News & Updates
Elon Musk Rejects Twitter Board Seat After Sharing Various Criticisms of the Company’s Approach
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Meta Launches New Creator Funding Programs to Fuel Development of the Metaverse
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Single-Page Websites: Are They Good Or Bad For SEO?
Could a single-page site hurt your chances of ranking on Google? Let’s look at some examples and discuss the pros and cons to find an answer.
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How to Spot Content Marketing in Search Results
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Google Creates Bubble Chart Template For Data Studio
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Facebook Ads For Beginners: FAQs, How To Set Up & Time-Saving Tips
Discover great Facebook Ads tips to help you get started on your road to Facebook advertising success, from setup to creative to tracking.
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Daily Minute Master Series – April 12, 2022
/by Corey PadveenThe Marketing Rundown
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Everything you need to know about media, marketing, and digital news from the week all together in one place.
News & Updates
Elon Musk Raises More Questions About Twitter’s Approach, Which Could Lead to a Big Shake-Up
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Graphic Design Trends for 2022 [Infographic]
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Live-Stream Commerce Offers Big Potential for TikTok’s Growth Prospects
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20 UGC Advertising Stats & Trends You Need to Know in 2022 [Infographic]
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How To Sell On Instagram: 11 Tips & Social Commerce Examples
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6 Ways Marketers Are Using Interactive Emails To Win More Conversions
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Daily Minute Master Series – April 11, 2022
/by Corey PadveenThe Marketing Rundown
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Everything you need to know about media, marketing, and digital news from the week all together in one place.
News & Updates
TikTok Continues to Lead the Download Charts in Q1, Sees Record In-App Spending
For the full article click here
Twitter Launches Initial Test of New ‘Unmention’ Option, Enabling Users to Remove Themselves from Chats
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Paid and Organic Social Media Are Better Together—Here Are 5 Reasons Why
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Google Adds New Visual and Text Search Options to Enhance Product Discovery
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A Guide To ‘Organization’ Structured Data For Rich Google Results
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Google Discusses Value Of Non-Recommended Structured Data
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