Thursday, August 1

🌟 Today’s Highlights:

• Google is adding new security to stop explicit deepfakes in Search

• Threads’ latest tool helps users find trending topics

• Google Ads enables click-to-WhatsApp ads for more leads

• 📊 Stat of the Day: Google mixes ads into organic search results in only 0.31% of desktop searches and 0.01% of mobile searches. (Source: Semrush)

• 💡 Today’s Insight: Younger consumers value social commerce

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💡 Today’s Insight 💡

Younger consumers value social commerce

🗞 TL;DR - A new study of U.S. adults by Walmart and Morning Consult found that 55% of Gen Z shoppers have bought items online while browsing social media in the last six months – by contrast, only 38% of shoppers overall did the same. The findings from the report emphasize the importance of social commerce (social media, influencer marketing, and word-of-mouth) when it comes to eCommerce and the challenges retail-driven brands may face.

💡 Insight - The report focuses on what it calls the Adaptive Retail era, a form of retail that brings shopping to the customer in exactly the way they want and need. As Walmart’s Global Chief Technology Officer & Chief Development Officer puts it, “Retailers must predict shoppers’ needs, reduce decision-making and enable highly personal experiences. Future retail success depends on how well we anticipate and meet these evolving expectations.”

Some additional findings from the report:

• 44% of Gen Z shoppers begin their journey via online searches while 42% start by browsing in stores, 40% by visiting retailers’ mobile apps or websites, and 38% by checking social media

• 49% of respondents said they would buy more if they could access “great virtual try-on” tools

• Walmart-owned Sam’s Club has seen Gen Z memberships spike 63% and millennials by 14% over the last two years

🛠 Things Worth Checking Out 🛠

💡 SOCIAL SKILLS - I've been loving Matt Navarra's Geekout Newsletter. It's how the social media teams at Netflix, Apple, Disney, and others stay ahead! 32,000+ social media pros get it in their inbox every Friday. And it's 100% FREE! Sign up in one click/tap here →

🚨 DON’T MISS EVENT - Agency Owners & Founders! Don’t miss my event with Phil Rivers' in NYC on August 29th where we will walk you through the exact strategies we used to grow our agency & sell them for a combined $10,000,000! Grab your 50% off tickets to The EPIC Agency Lead Gen Workshop here →

🤩 CREATOR ECONOMY - The creator economy is at an inflection point, according to EMarketer. Nearly 4 in 10 U.S. marketers expect to increase their budget on influencer marketing. Here’s what you need to know about this shift.

⚡️ Today’s Headlines ⚡️

🔎 Google is rolling out new safety features to remove explicit deepfakes

🌟 Threads is now highlighting relevant trending topics above posts

🖱️ You can now get leads on Google Ads through click-to-WhatsApp ads

🎥 Vimeo is adding AI video translation for its business customers

✌️ Meta shut down its weird celebrity alter-ego AI chatbots

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