The EU's proposed Digital Markets Act poses a huge problem for Apple and Google
Apple Inc. recently warned that draft rules from the European Union requiring the company to open its mobile operating system to third-party apps would pose a security risk to its users. A statement from the company, which expanded on comments made by CEO Tim Cook, said that if it were required to support the “sideloading”…
Big tech knows there will be a gradual convergence of major technology companies until no small brand can compete in any meaningful way
Walking through a Manhattan subway station recently, I saw sign after sign advertising Google’s latest features on its Pay app. Huge walls of advertisements displayed photographs of happy users seeing how their monthly spending broke down, seemingly reaping the benefits of Google’s total control of their financial affairs. It feels like some dystopian future, with…
As the world’s favoured search engine, dominant email service and most popular video provider, Google has immense power over public opinion
“The Google of today is a monopoly gatekeeper for the internet,” reads the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against the tech giant. The document filed on Oct. 20 alleges the company has used exclusionary agreements to block out competitors. Google accounts for 80 per cent of U.S. internet searches and 30 per cent of U.S.…
Copy well-performing ads, consider more than search ads, start to use remarketing as part of your strategy
Google announced in late March an US$800-million-plus commitment to support small- and medium-sized businesses, health and government organizations, and health workers on the front line. Part of that initiative is US$340 million in Google Ads credits. To qualify, you must have spent money with Google Ads in the past 10 out of 12 months and…
Hashtags tie public conversations from different users into a single stream, which you can find by searching for a hashtag
Hashtags are a way for people to discover certain topics that are posted on social media platforms. As an entrepreneur, you can use hashtags so people who are new to your audience discover your product or service. Instagram is well known for its use of hashtags, and although they seem random and off the cuff,…
This free service is a key piece in organizing your online content and how customers will search for you
Whenever I work with a new client, one of the first things we complete together (if it’s not already done) is their Google My Business page. This free service from Google is a key piece in organizing your online Google content and how your customers are going to search for you. Your Google My Business…
Research how search terms have changed, communicate your benefits, review current ad copy, maintain your brand
Today we’re going to take a deeper dive into Google Ads and the changes this online platform is experiencing. Maybe you run your own Google Ads account or maybe someone does it for you – either way, this information is very relevant. If you use Google Ads to advertise your business, ever since the COVID-19…
Digital technology has, for the most part, been a boon to consumers. Think of how digital technology has enabled Uber to break the taxi oligopolies, Amazon to open up the world of online product choices and Airbnb to deliver affordable alternatives to hotel stays. None of this, however, justifies the use of digital technology to…
The rise of voice-activated searches throws the traditional food marketing model out the window
Your voice will likely become food retailers’ and restaurants’ most significant focus over the next while. Voice searches are increasingly the norm. A recent study suggests that more than 20 per cent of all online restaurant searches in Canada are voice activated. To a lesser extent, grocery shopping is also done through these devices. Since…
Violations of personal privacy occur on a much larger scale than anyone thought possible. But new EU rules address the problem
I first started to realize how dangerous social media was a few years ago. I was on the phone with a friend and I could feel his growing sense of outrage. “I can't believe it,” he said. “Google is reading my mail. They targeted me with ads that could only have come from specific words…