News

The FTC is serious about online advertising. Several weeks after reaching out to the online marketing industry at a conference, an “Enforcement Policy Statement” about deceptively formatted advertisements was published December 22.

Talk with your agency and make sure they can tell you what it means. If you don’t have an agency and still have questions, click the “Write George” button below.

If you use Google’s Search Console (once called Webmaster Tools), your data may have changed. Google says they have updated how they analyze web search logs.

What it means for you:the number of clicks and impressions may be higher. If your data beginning two weeks ago looks very different than what you expected, you’ll want to start analyzing the changes here.

The FTC busted LifeLock in December and now it’s added an Oracle pelt to its trophy case. Without admitting fault, wrongdoing, or paying a fine, the computer giant will have to inform the owners of 850 million computers that the Java SE software on their computer is “outdated and insecure“.

And they have to help people remove the software. The FTC suggeststs people start at this location:  https://www.java.com/en/uninstall/info.jsp

Geico’s “Moversations” ad campaign is garnering a lot of praise thanks to actress Cindy Drummond. You can see them all at AdWeek.
News

Google’s test of FOUR ads at the top of each page is continuing into the holidays, reports SEM Post.

What does that mean for you? It’s a test that you might see now since 1% of searches are affected. We will cover it in detail if it becomes a design change. Until then, remember that ads on Google search pages have a small orange-colored block with the word “Ad” in front. 

Facebook announced changes to Messenger this week that include “Photo Magic”, a feature that will recognize the people in the picture and send the picture with only two taps on your phone. You already know to be careful with this feature. You can even update your mother’s name to “Mom” so you don’t have to message her by her first and last names. Because Mom.
LifeLock will pay $100 million to the Federal Trade Comission (FTC)  for violating a 2010 consumer protection order. 

Please stay informed before buying from this company that spends a lot of money advertising online. This is the second serious action the federal government has taken after a fine of $12 million was levied in 2010. The agency says LifeLock “falsely advertised that it prottected consumers’ sensitive data”. 
 

Google announced plans to restore “Trusted Voice” to Android phones so that you can unlock your cell phone by voice command.

There is a public beta program of the tool for the very brave.

News

Google reminds us to use voice features, Facebook blocks hoax news stories, and Magna Global predicts that online ad revenue will increase 5% in 2016.
 
Thank you for reading this Monday’s issue. free to ask any questions about today’s news or any other marketing issues.

George Bounacos

 
google voice
Google publishes 7 things to try by voice with the Google app on Android
online ad revenue
Reports now project that online ad spend will pass TV ad spend in 2016. Remember we told you several weeks ago that Target already made that move.
hoax news
Facebook updating news feed to reduce spread of hoax stories
video social media
C|Net data on video dominating social media in 2015.