Marketing News Digest: July 2017

The summer months rush by all too quickly, which means the marketing news in July and August can easily pass you by. That's why a new month means we gather all of the headlines we've shared in recent weeks and summarize them for you in one simple digest. If you missed anything last month, read on to get all caught up for August! Marketing News Digest: July 2017

July saw some interesting developments for social media marketers, as well as some major announcements from up-and-coming brands. Here are the headlines that caught our attention:

• Facebook has already lured the masses to its Messenger app with its unique mix of promotion and coercion. Now it has business users firmly in its sights, with a new set of features aimed squarely at facilitating conversations with potential customers. Along with chatbots, instant messaging with your audience is a marketing trend that you'll want to stay on top of.
• Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla unveiled its latest car, dubbed the Model T for the digital era. A futuristic blend of minimalist design and maximum technology, the Model 3 launch was an intriguing look at a brand trying to break into the mainstream. The company's celebration of user-generated content (UGC) also proved to be an interesting angle for brand builders.
• Linkedin started to roll out native video integration, which is a big deal for businesses in sectors that aren't typically well-served by Facebook. As the only major B2b video marketing channel, this feature could turn out to be exactly what Linkedin needs to attract serious marketing dollars from the many professionals that use it for networking.
• Technology journalist Marshall Honorof offered some important advice for personal and business profiles alike: keep your phone numbers up to date and regularly delete old information from your page. This coincides with a recommendation from the National Cellular Directory to review the phone numbers you have listed across digital directories. According to the organization's research, consumers report an 84% success rate when looking up numbers via online listings.
• Practical Ecommerce raised the looming boom in what it calls "voice commerce," or consumers using devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home to order products. And with details of Apple's own HomePod product leaking towards the end of the month, it's clear that these smart speakers will be present in most homes within a few years. That qualifies as the long-term for most marketers, but it's always good to know what's on the horizon!
• We looked at a variety of upcoming area code changes and offered tips as to how smart marketers can explain these changes to customers and build a local brand in the process. A win-win telecom tactic, if ever there was one!
• Snap, formerly known as Snapchat, has had an eventful 2017, to say the least. Although it is still considered an effective marketing channel to reach highly-coveted younger audiences, the company has been struggling in terms of earnings and stock offerings. Last month's rejection from a second leading index, the S&P 500, is a reminder that excess hype doesn't always translate to a sustainable business. Brands should certainly explore platforms like Snap, but remember not to put all your marketing eggs in one basket.
• On a similar note, Facebook and Google were once again crowned the kings of digital advertising. Both companies posted high double-digit increases in revenue growth, most of which came from ads. Twitter, meanwhile, posted stagnant results and saw a decrease in its American user base. It's always good to know which platforms are proving successful as a marketer, so that you can understand where your ad spend is most effective and identify opportunities for cheaper advertising channels.

That's all for another month. To keep informed on the latest marketing news, be sure to follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook page, or connect on the professional pages of Linkedin. [search-tag]