JB’s Digital Update 25th November 2024

This week in the digital world (don’t roll your eyes): TikTok tries to make the internet less awful, Crazy Egg reminds us all how bad we are at writing headlines, Hootsuite declares viral marketing a myth, AI officially takes over your holiday shopping, and Meta steps in to tackle scammers—because apparently, we can’t have nice things.

TikTok’s teaming up with the National PTA to promote online safety education. Their $300,000 initiative aims to fund local PTAs, encouraging families to chat about things like online civility and dodgy content. It’s a step toward making TikTok a safer playground for teens while also boosting its reputation in light of regulatory scrutiny. Read the full story here.

While it’s a clever PR move, this initiative is an important reminder that platforms and brands can’t just shrug off their responsibility for user safety. If marketers can tie campaigns into similar themes of safety and civility, you might just find yourself on the right side of public opinion (for once).

Marketers, take note—authenticity is key. If you’re going to lean into “doing good,” make sure it’s not just a thinly veiled sales pitch. No one likes being sold values that even you don’t believe in.

For TikTok strategies that don’t just scream “look at me,” but actually build trust, our Social Media Management services can guide you. Let’s make your brand a force for good.

Crazy Egg’s guide on how to write a decent headline is essentially the “stop making it about you” of content advice. Forget clever, forget cute—your audience just wants to know what’s in it for them. It’s not rocket science, but judging by most headlines, you’d think it was. Read it here.

Headlines are like first dates. Show up messy, and you’re ghosted. But even good ones don’t guarantee a second look unless the rest of your content delivers. So while your “5 Ways to Revolutionise Everything Forever” headline might get the click, you’d better have the goods to back it up.

Pro tip: Test your headlines, and don’t be precious about them. If you wouldn’t click it, why would anyone else? And please, for the love of clicks, stop making them sound like late-night infomercials.

Need someone to make sure your content hooks them? Let’s chat about Content Strategy and Creation before your next headline embarrasses you.

Hootsuite wants you to know that chasing virality is a fool’s errand. Viral campaigns are unicorns—nice to talk about, but rare and mostly imaginary. The real magic is in making content people actually want to share because it’s, you know, useful. Read it here.

If you’re still wasting time trying to manufacture viral moments, stop it. Instead, focus on knowing your audience and creating content they’ll engage with on purpose. Viral isn’t a strategy; it’s an accident.

The best “viral” campaigns didn’t try to go viral—they just resonated. So instead of chasing the unicorn, maybe try feeding the workhorse. (Alright, no more metaphors, I promise.)

For smart, sustainable campaigns, ask about Digital Marketing and Strategy. Viral might be fun, but consistency wins the race.

MarTech explores how AI is taking over holiday shopping with personalised ads, dynamic pricing, and other futuristic nonsense. On paper, it sounds great—until you remember that most “personalised” ads still feel about as personal as a mass email. Read it here.

Sure, AI can optimise the shopping experience, but marketers shouldn’t rely on it to do all the heavy lifting. AI might tell you what customers want, but only you can deliver it in a way that feels genuine. (Hint: If your campaign screams “algorithm,” you’re doing it wrong.)

Bottom line: AI is a tool, not a replacement. Use it wisely, and you might just sell something this Christmas. Ignore it, and you’ll miss the sleigh entirely.

Need help making AI work for you? Ask about our Conversions and CRO services.

Meta’s latest effort to clean house targets “pig butchering” scams, which trick victims into dodgy investments. They’ve removed millions of scam accounts and are working with law enforcement to keep things above board. Read it here.

While it’s tempting to roll your eyes at Meta’s “commitment to safety,” this one’s actually worth paying attention to. Scammers undermine user trust, and that’s bad for everyone—except the scammers, obviously.

Marketers, if you’re not already prioritising transparency, this is your wake-up call. The more honest and ethical your campaigns are, the better they’ll perform in the long run. (Yes, long-term thinking still exists.)

For campaigns that build trust, not scepticism, talk to us about Pay-Per-Click and Paid Social. Let’s keep your ads scam-free and profitable.

You may have missed these articles and be champing at the bit to read them :-)

• Building a Brand: A Practical Guide for Businesses
• Mastering Project Management for Business Success
• The Power of Content Marketing

Thanks, JB :-)