What Tuesday's Big Google AdWords Announcement Means for You

New AdWords Features Overview

Before we get into the specifics of the new AdWords features, I wanted to provide you with an overview of the key points about these planned improvements. I recently spoke with Aaron Stein, Google’s Global Communications and Public Affairs Manager, who told me that:

  • These features will be entirely optional, unlike last year’s mandatory (read: “destructive”) Enhanced Campaigns update.
  • Also, unlike last year’s EC update, no existing features are being retired as a result of these new features.
  • The new features will be rolled out over the course of “several months”.
  • Rather than larger-scale “event launches,” deployment of these new features will most likely be done on an incremental, piecemeal basis.

France has Banned Emails After 6pm

First of all, who knew you could ban certain types of emails? France did, that’s who—and they’re doing it. Specifically, they’re banning checking your work email between the hours of 6pm and 9am, making it legally mandatory to leave your work at work and focus on home while you’re home. It’s all part of France’s “35-hour work week,” which they implemented in 1999, but has become difficult to enforce following the smartphone revolution. Well, smartphones or not, if you work from home in France, you’d better be prepared to pay the price.

In the meantime, according to Gawker, the average American works 200 more hours per year than the average French worker. …


Read more at http://www.relevantmagazine.com/slices/france-has-banned-work-emails-after-6-pm#PKzVuV7ODYIC8qVV.99

Mad Men and Social Media

Despite how retro the characters on the television series Mad Men seem, the insight they happen to provide is strangely and oddly applicable to modern day social media marketing. Here’s some Sterling Cooper branded advice I recommend that you follow.

“You want to be taken seriously? Stop dressing like a little girl.” – Joan Holloway

That means no more ugly stock photos. Social media is very visual, so take imagery selection seriously. Unless you’re doing a Throwback Thursday feature, be sure to avoid showing a women in torn jeans and other girlish and outdated styles.

“Nostalgia. It’s delicate, but potent…It takes us to a place where we ache to go again.” – Don Draper

Add nostalgic posts to your overall social media strategy. Reminding your audience of things they almost forgot about can help increase engagement. (I did this with my post 9 Things From the 90’s that Social Media Replaced.)

“I don’t think anyone wants to be one of a hundred colors in a box.” – Peggy Olson

Make fans feel special. Try featuring users’ Instagram photos or create a blog post featuring their best comments. By singling out a fan, you make other fans feel like it’s possible they’ll be selected next. Everyone then feels a sense of individuality.

“Maybe every generation thinks the next one is the end of it all. Bet there are people in the Bible walking around, complaining about kids today.” – Roger Sterling

Forget the slew of articles that analyze Millennials’ terrible behavior. Trash them. Every generation struggles to understand the next. Instead, track what your audience responds to and analyze that data to help improve your content. You’re wasting time generalizing a diverse group of 80 million people.

“Believe me, somewhere in this business this has happened before.” – Roger Sterling (again, because I love how irreverent he is)

Brainstorming a campaign without researching is arrogant. Whatever you’re coming up with, chances are, someone has done a variation of it. So find it, learn from it, and make it better this time around.

Facebook Rolls Out Bigger Ads in Right-Hand Column

Facebook will display fewer ads in its right-hand column, but the ads will be larger than before.

Right after Twitter unveiled its profile redesign this week, Facebook decided to display fewer ads that are bigger in size in its right-hand column.

According to a blog post, Facebook will use the same ad proportions in the redesign as those in its desktop News Feed ads. The new look will be visually consistent with the ads in News Feed. 

Here’s how the new right-hand column ads will look:

The new design will only be effective on desktops because the right-hand column isn’t visible on mobile devices.

Facebook will start rolling out the update later this month.