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TikTok Ads vs. Google Ads: Who Will Win Search - Ignite Friday

Introduction

Welcome to this week’s edition of digital marketing news, where we dive into the latest developments in advertising platforms such as TikTok and Google Ads, as well as other significant trends in the industry.

TikTok Launches Search Ad Campaigns

This week, TikTok announced the launch of search ad campaigns in the U.S. Advertisers can now target app users based on their search results within the app. According to TikTok, 57% of users engage in searches, making this a promising avenue for advertisers. Early reports indicate that running search ads alongside in-feed ads can yield a 20% boost in performance. Are you planning to try out search ads on TikTok? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Insights from Optimizer’s Google Ads Analysis

Optimizer, a tool designed for analyzing Google Ads, recently reviewed 1,400 ad accounts that spent between $ 1,500 and $ 5 million per month. Here are some key insights from their analysis:

  1. Manual vs. Automated Bidding: Advertisers using manual cost-per-click (CPC) generally experienced weaker cost-per-acquisition (CPA), click-through rates (CTR), and conversion rates, despite decent returns on ad spend. Automated bidding strategies, particularly those focused on maximizing conversion value, consistently performed better.

  2. Multiple Bidding Strategies: A surprising 48% of advertisers reported using multiple bidding strategies within the same account.

  3. Conversion Thresholds: Accounts with at least 50 conversions within a 30-day window demonstrated superior performance across all bidding strategies. This finding indicates the importance of having sufficient conversion data to inform bidding decisions.

Overall, the study underscores that conversion data is critical for advertisers looking to scale their campaigns effectively.

eMarketer has released several bold predictions for the upcoming years, including:

  • A major company likely rejecting generative AI.
  • Google testing new consent workflows regarding data tracking.
  • A rise in Tubbe as a leading streaming service due to its free, ad-supported model.
  • A potential sale of TikTok to a U.S. buyer by ByteDance.
  • The passage of a children’s online safety law by 2025.

These insights highlight the rapidly evolving landscape of digital marketing, and it’s crucial for businesses to stay informed on regulatory changes that could impact their strategies.

New Features for Google Ads and WP Engine Controversy

Recently, Google Ads introduced a video enhancement feature aimed at improving ad performance through automated adjustments. This new feature creates vertical and square versions of videos as well as shorter cuts designed to optimize video creatives.

In other news, WP Engine, a popular WordPress hosting service, found itself in the midst of a conflict with WordPress.org, resulting in the banning of thousands of WP Engine customers from adding or updating plugins and themes. This internal dispute raises questions about the stability and relationships within the WordPress ecosystem.

Reddit’s New Tools for Small Businesses

Reddit has launched a suite of new tools aimed at helping small businesses create more effective advertisements. These include:

  • Ad Inspiration Library: A repository of successful ad examples.
  • Copywriter: A tool to generate Reddit-specific ad copy.
  • Image Auto Cropper: A feature that recommends optimal image sizes for ads.

A Growing Interest in Threads

Have you considered advertising on Threads? As of August, 28 million people downloaded the app, marking it as one of the fastest-growing apps in the market. With users potentially shifting from X to Threads, it’s worth exploring advertising opportunities on this platform.

Advances at Meta Connect 2024

Finally, at the Meta Connect event, exciting advancements in AI, VR, and AR were unveiled. Meta's new AI glasses with risk control and improvements to their Ray-Ban glasses were announced alongside a new Quest VR headset. Notably, celebrity voices for Meta AI, AI translations, image context capabilities, and enhanced business chatbots were highlighted.

That concludes our digital marketing news for the week. Hope you found the insights helpful! Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts.


Keywords

  • TikTok Ads
  • Search Ads Campaigns
  • Google Ads
  • Cost Per Acquisition
  • Click-Through Rate
  • eMarketer Predictions
  • Reddit Ad Tools
  • Meta Connect 2024
  • Social Media Advertising

FAQ

1. What are TikTok search ads? TikTok search ads allow advertisers to target users based on their search queries within the app, enhancing engagement with app users.

2. How do Google Ads' automated bidding strategies compare to manual ones? Automated bidding strategies generally yield better results in terms of cost per acquisition and click-through rates compared to manual bidding.

3. What new tools has Reddit released for advertisers? Reddit has introduced several tools including an inspiration library, a copywriting tool, and an image autocropper to help small businesses create effective ads.

4. What important developments were announced at Meta Connect 2024? Meta revealed new AI glasses, improvements to Ray-Ban glasses, a new Quest VR headset, and advancements in AI chatbots for businesses.

5. Should I consider Threads for advertising? Yes, given its rapid growth and user interest, exploring advertising options on Threads might be beneficial for marketers.