Activate Digital Media

?? YouTube Hits 1 Billion Monthly Podcast Listeners – What This Means for Content Creators & Brands ????? Big news for podcasters, marketers, and brands—YouTube is now the #1 platform for podcast consumption in the U.S., with over 1 billion monthly active listeners! With built-in discoverability, video integration, and monetization options, YouTube podcasts are more than just a trend—they’re shaping the future of content. Takeaways: ?? 1B+ monthly podcast listeners on YouTube ?? 400M+ hours watched monthly on TV screens ?? Video podcasts drive engagement & audience growth ?? Monetization through the YouTube Partner Program Is your brand leveraging YouTube podcasts yet? If not, now’s the time to act! ?? Read the full update here: https://lnkd.in/dzkv4MHb #YouTubePodcasts #PodcastMarketing #DigitalTrends #ActivateDigitalMedia

? We’re making updates to give responsive search ads (RSA) even more flexibility. Here’s what’s new and why increased flexibility matters: ? What’s new: Your headline assets can now serve along with your sitelinks when they’re predicted to improve performance. ??Why this matters: We’re giving our AI systems more opportunities to optimize for each individual search. This allows you to build effective and relevant ads that deliver a great user experience. Learn more about how these updates lead to better advertiser outcomes https://goo.gle/3Xfq6CL

AI Search is Sending More Traffic—But Publishers Are Still Waiting for a Game-Changer A recent report shows ChatGPT referrals to publishers have grown 8x in six months, yet they still make up less than 0.1% of total traffic for major media sites. ?? Who’s Benefiting? The New York Post saw 760K ChatGPT-driven visits in January—just 0.5% of its total traffic. The Guardian and Forbes also gained AI-driven clicks, but still rely on traditional search. Even Perplexity AI, another AI-powered search tool, hasn’t provided consistent traffic growth for publishers. What This Means Beyond Publishers 1?? AI search is growing—but it’s not replacing Google. Traditional search engines still dominate, for both news sites and businesses. 2?? SEO is still king. AI-generated results might reference brands, but organic and paid search are still the main traffic drivers. 3?? The future is uncertain. Will AI search become a major discovery channel for businesses and media alike? Or will it remain a niche referral source? At Activate Digital Media, we help businesses stay ahead of evolving search and AI-driven trends—whether through SEO, paid media, or emerging AI opportunities. https://lnkd.in/g8xKHpj9 #Publishing #SEO #AIsearch #ChatGPT #Perplexity #DigitalMarketing #ActivateDigitalMedia

We’re kicking off our latest batch of Performance Max FAQs with one of the most common questions: “Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns have similarities. How should I use them?” Get the answer and learn more in our hub for Performance Max FAQs ?? https://goo.gle/42SWjDg

Novartis’ breast cancer awareness ad featuring Hailee Steinfeld and Wanda Sykes was one of the boldest plays of this year’s Super Bowl. Instead of the usual humor-driven or nostalgia-heavy spots, this campaign leveraged its platform for real impact. With a 30-second Super Bowl ad slot costing nearly $8 million this year, plus production and talent fees, Novartis made a significant investment to ensure this message reached millions. From a marketing agency perspective, this is a strong example of cause marketing done right—balancing brand awareness with authenticity. Purpose-driven ads like this stand out in an environment dominated by entertainment-first strategies, reinforcing that high-visibility moments can also drive meaningful conversations Imran KhanSaleha Sajid

???YouTube Creators – Exciting News??? YouTube just rolled out a powerful update designed to strengthen connections between creators and their audiences. Introducing the?Communities?feature, which allows for deeper engagement and interactive conversations directly on your channel. ?? ???Key Highlights: 1?? Engage in real-time with live chats & Q&A sessions 2?? Share text updates, polls, images, & GIFs directly with your subscribers 3?? Build stronger, more meaningful connections with your audience 4?? Promote content and gather feedback all in one place This new tool is set to transform how creators connect with their community. Ready to level up your content strategy? ?? ?? Check out our latest article to dive deeper into the new feature and how it can boost your YouTube engagement #YouTubeUpdate #Creators #CommunityBuilding #Engagement #SocialMedia #ContentCreation #AudienceEngagement

???Are you using display ads to their full potential? In our latest guide, we break down?what display advertising is, the different types, and how to optimize them for maximum impact.??? ?? Learn about: ? Responsive vs. banner ads ? The difference between display & search ads ? Retargeting strategies that drive conversions Read now & take your digital ads to the next level. #ADM #ActivateDigitalMedia #DigitalMarketing #PPC #DisplayAds #MarketingStrategy

?? Today in Beer History: A Game-Changer ?? On January 24, 1935, Krueger Brewing Co. sold the world’s first canned beer, revolutionizing the industry! ?? Why it mattered: ? Portable & Convenient: Beer became easier to carry and enjoy anywhere. ? Bold Branding: The can became a canvas for creative designs and logos. ? Mass Market Access: Cans made it cheaper and easier to distribute beer far and wide. By the end of 1935, over 200 MILLION cans were sold. This small innovation changed the way we consume—and market—beer forever. It’s a reminder that bold ideas, no matter how simple, can transform entire industries. Cheers to creativity and innovation! ?? #TodayInHistory #BeerLovers #MarketingInnovation #CheersToCreativity

YouTube is a must-have in any advertiser’s video strategy. Learn how leveraging YouTube Shorts can help you reach new audiences, drive meaningful engagement, and boost your brand’s success ???? Get the insights you need to grow your brand with YouTube Shorts: https://lnkd.in/eP3peWgq

?? TikTok’s Tumultuous Journey: A Timeline of the U.S. Ban and the Latest Update As a marketing agency owner, I’ve been closely following TikTok’s fate—a platform that’s reshaped digital marketing globally. With recent developments, including President Trump’s plan to issue a 90-day extension on his first day back in office, here’s a quick recap of how we got here and what’s next: ?? 2019–2020: Concerns emerge about TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, and its ties to the Chinese government. The Trump administration first attempts to force a sale or ban the platform in the U.S. ?? December 2022: Senator Marco Rubio introduces the ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act, pushing for restrictions or divestiture of foreign-controlled apps like TikTok. ?? 2023: The Biden administration works through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to pressure ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. operations. Legal challenges delay actions as ByteDance contests the decisions. ?? April 2024: Congress passes the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), setting a January 19, 2025 deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a ban. ?? January 2025: ? January 17: The Supreme Court upholds PAFACA, citing national security risks. ? January 18: TikTok is disabled in the U.S. after ByteDance fails to divest. ? January 20: President Trump plans to issue an executive order granting a 90-day extension, giving ByteDance additional time to find a solution and potentially reinstate TikTok’s U.S. services during negotiations. This extension provides some breathing room for marketers, businesses, and creators who rely on TikTok. Stay tuned as we navigate this unfolding situation and its implications for the digital marketing landscape. #TikTokBan #DigitalMarketing #SocialMedia #MarketingNews #TikTokUpdate