🗞️ Links & Thinks from 2023.02.22
Podcasts Are Boring
Earlier this month I wrote:
podcasts are now just another boring channel to advertisers
Turns out advertisers aren’t the only ones.
While overall podcasting revenue and listenership continue to grow, the runaway exuberance many felt about state of the medium has dissipated lately, even among some of its most ardent practitioners.
Tech’s fall from cash cow status means the money from big platforms for shows is drying up. Exclusives also haven’t proven to be successful in driving subscribers.
The Economy Gets Februaried
Credit card debt and missed payments were both up quarter-over-quarter to end the year. Debt levels beat out pre-pandemic highs, which isn’t great for the 2023 outlook.
Meanwhile, Walmart closed 2022 strong but isn’t feeling so great about the start of 2023.
Walmart CFO John David Rainey told CNBC shoppers are still buying fewer discretionary items, as grocery prices remain elevated.
Stealing Insight
🤯 TikTok releases "Top Product" in the Creative Center! A Game changer?
— Michael Sanchez 🔝 TikTok (@michaelgrowth) February 20, 2023
➡️What the CPA is
➡️Top ranking videos
➡️Which Niche / Product performing the best
➡️What the product is and how much they're spending
➡️Literally everything
Do TikTok Ads / UGC? Check this out ASAP!! pic.twitter.com/mllxeIHxjK
Temu Tops The Charts
Just days ago I wrote about Temu cracking the top 10 for shopping app downloads. Now it’s taken the number 1 spot.
But is this gold or fool’s gold? It’s racking up complaints and two workers for its Chinese twin recently died, putting it in the boycott crosshairs (like Shein).
Just The Headlines
Sustainability Is More Than a Buzzword for E-Commerce Survival (Gen Z is leading the charge on this change)
Amazon eliminates shopping user experience research team (It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for them. (Not a great look for a company that’s been losing shine with consumers.))
This fake Linkedin ad could be one of the first AI-generated phishing campaigns
Microsoft Discusses Coming Ads in Bing Chatbot Experience (Bigger ads are better?)