Google adds automated messaging through Business Profiles frequently asked questions
Google has added a new feature to help businesses automate some of the responses to questions submitted through their Google Maps and Google Search business listings. This new feature is part of your Google Business Profile and can be managed under the FAQs section of the messaging section.
They have automated messaging. Google added a feature where you, as the business, can suggest questions people can ask your business when they start a chat and then set up automated responses to those questions. This is called frequently asked questions.
Where to find it. You can find this in Google Search for “my business” or your business name. Then click on the “Customers” button and click on “Messages.” In that section, click on the three vertical dots, “Message settings” and “Manage frequently asked questions.”
What it looks like. Here is a screenshot of the FAQs section:
Here is the FAQ entry form:
More details. Stefan Somborac, who first spotted this and posted about it on Twitter, explained you can create up to ten FAQs, each question has a 40-character limit and each answer has a 500-character limit. Plus, you can include links in your answers.
Messaging in Google Maps and Google Search can be great for customers but many businesses do not have the resources to respond to such questions in a timely manner. FAQs and automated responses can help these businesses respond to customers in a much more timely fashion, improving customer satisfaction and business resources.
Source: Google adds automated messaging through Business Profiles frequently asked questions
Google launched three new ad creation tools
Google has just announced two new tools in an attempt to make the process of creating ads and collaborating with team members much easier.
1. Asset storage and organization
Multiple team members trying to access images and videos can be a tedious process. Google’s new Asset Library attempts to solve that issue by creating a visual-first database where colleagues can upload, download, and share assets from current and past campaigns.
The Asset Library is currently available for Performance Max, Discovery, App, Local, and Display campaigns as well as some extensions. When you’re ready to create or edit a new campaign, simply access the library and click on the appropriate assets.
2. Create video ads for YouTube
Last week we reported the launch of the Ads Creative Studio, which is intended on giving creators a new platform for customizing video and display ads. Today they announced a new feature allowing advertisers to quickly create video ads for YouTube.
The templates are made specifically for YouTube and designed “to help drive results,” although we suggest testing these templates against your current ads.
3. Voice-over audio
Google reports that videos with voice-over drive better performance. So they have also released a voice-over audio feature integrated into the video creation tool. The feature uses Google’s speech-to-text technology and is accessible through the asset library. There are seven voices available and the languages include English, Filipino, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Malaysian, Mandarin, Spanish and Swedish.
Source: Google launched three new ad creation tools
New searchable Instagram map gives visibility to local businesses
A searchable Instagram map was introduced today by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg via an Instagram Story.
This new map helps users discover popular local businesses and filter by categories, such as restaurants or hotels.
Google recently revealed that Instagram has become a serious competitor. Almost 40% of younger users (age 18-24) are discovering businesses on Instagram and TikTok, not from Google Maps or searches.
How businesses can get discovered. Instagram users can find local businesses by:
- Tapping location tags in Feed posts, Stories, or Guides.
- Searching for a city name, neighborhood, or place on the Explore page.
- Doing a hashtag search, (e.g., #boston).
Instagram users can also save and revisit locations or share places via direct messages with friends or groups. Users who add your location tags or stickers will make it appear on the map.
Source: New searchable Instagram map gives visibility to local businesses
$115M In Ad Spend Lost To Clickbait Sites, Report Finds
A new report has found that almost one-tenth of advertisers’ budgets went to programmatic display and video ads on clickbait sites further reducing ad spend ROI amid mounting privacy and budget pressures.
A new report finds that almost one-tenth of advertisers’ budgets go to programmatic display and video ads on clickbait sites, reducing ad spend ROI amid mounting privacy and budget pressures.
Media investment analysis company Ebiquity found that clickbait and made-for-advertising (MFA) sites captured $115 million of their clients’ $1.47 billion ad budget from January 2020 to May 2022.
This translates to 7.8% of their clients’ ad budget, rising to 9.8% for US clients. A sample of $750,000 in ad spending revealed that just ten advertisers spent more than $1 million on “worst offender domains” on the Global Disinformation Index.
These findings, from Ebiquity’s Tackling Responsible Media report, which was released this week, come as belts tighten and budgets shrink in response to tracking and privacy changes, changing consumer habits, and rising inflation.
Growing Mistrust Driving Sustainable Advertising Trend
While clickbait and MFA sites initially appear to be a good deal for advertisers due to their low CPMs and 77% viewability rate, Ebiquity says advertisers don’t get the ROI they might expect.
Poor user experience and lower impact impressions often translate into little return. Appearing on these sites can also have a long-lasting negative impact on the brand experience. It could even include boycotts and other bad publicity that isn’t always easy to recover from.
Ebiquity’s report found that sustainable advertising would make 84% of consumers more likely to buy. And it isn’t just consumers and spammy sites that advertisers need to consider.
Next Steps For Advertisers
With average advertiser supply chains including 200,000 unique domains and apps, owned by more than 3,000 corporations, and managed through over 200 ad exchanges, there are many complexities and aspects to consider when it comes to advertising. Still, it’s becoming too costly for brands to ignore.
Those looking to nurture their reputations and bottom lines must dedicate time to regular, in-depth analysis of media supply chains, monitoring, and tracking.
The report is available on Ebiquity’s website.
Source: $115M In Ad Spend Lost To Clickbait Sites, Report Finds
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Google confirmed an indexing issue affecting a large number of sites
Google launches Ad Creative Studio to customize video and display ads
