Apple once set the pace for smartphone innovation, releasing groundbreaking devices every two years. But those days seem to be behind us. How and why did Apple “slow down”?
In the early days of the iPhone, telecom operators pushed Apple to frequent updates, subsidizing device costs in exchange for two-year contracts. This strategy led to iconic models like the iPhone 3G and iPhone 4, which set new industry standards.
Until the mid-2010s, Apple stuck to a two-year redesign cycle. Each new iPhone generation brought noticeable changes in design, functionality, and performance. However, with the launch of the iPhone X in 2017, Apple shifted to a three-year cycle, and now, astonishingly, a five-year one.
Experts note that the iPhone 16, set for release in 2024, isn’t dramatically different from the 2020 iPhone 12. While there are improvements, like a faster processor, better battery life, and a new camera interface, it’s hard to call the iPhone 16 revolutionary.
Instead of radical innovations, Apple is now focusing on artificial intelligence, positioning “Apple Intelligence” as the main reason to buy the iPhone 16. However, this platform is still under development and doesn’t yet match up to competitors. Meanwhile, customers aren’t rushing to buy the latest model.
Some insiders, like Mark Gurman, link this innovation slowdown to the departure of legendary designer Jony Ive in 2019. It’s possible that we have yet to see a new Apple product that wasn’t influenced by his designs. Now, Ive is working with OpenAI to develop an AI gadget.
It’s unclear how long Apple can maintain strong sales by relying on incremental improvements. In a fiercely competitive smartphone market, the company needs to reclaim its reputation as an innovator to stay on top. The question remains—when will that happen?
Orion Augmented Reality Glasses Prototype These AR glasses work both indoors and outdoors, overlaying “holographic screens” onto the surrounding objects. Powered by Meta AI neural networks, they can assist in tasks like suggesting recipes based on available ingredients in your fridge. The glasses come with a “neural” bracelet for control and a wireless device that powers them. The device is operated by eye and finger movements, tracked by the bracelet. They are not intended for general public use.
Quest 3S This device offers the same performance as the Quest series, featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and mixed reality capabilities. The battery lasts around 2.5 hours. Each display has a resolution of 1832×1920 pixels per eye, and the device lacks depth sensors. Quest 3S includes an “Action Button” for switching between image modes. The 128 GB version costs $300, and the 256 GB version is priced at $400. Sales begin on October 15.
📊 57% of consumers still want to see and touch products before making a purchase.
Despite the rapid growth of online shopping and its technological advancements, 32% of consumers place high importance on face-to-face interactions with sellers and consultants in physical stores, while 57% still prefer to see and feel the product before buying.
At the same time, 68% of shoppers have a positive attitude toward personalized offers powered by artificial intelligence. However, 49% had a negative experience with chatbots, as they were unable to get answers to their questions.
Apple’s fiscal calendar determines when app developers receive their payments. It’s important to remember that when a user subscribes, the funds first go to Apple, and payouts to developers only happen on designated days.
Why does this matter? Cash flow gaps and advertising debts can negatively impact your app’s financial health.
Recently, I had the chance to work on an exciting project where we used Facebook and Instagram ads to promote a new podcast. The goal was to drive awareness and increase listenership, and the results were nothing short of impressive. This case perfectly illustrates how powerful targeted advertising can be when it comes to promoting podcasts.
First, we created a series of engaging, visually appealing ads tailored to the podcast’s core themes. The key was to make sure the visuals and messaging resonated with the podcast’s target audience. We used short video clips, sound bites, and eye-catching graphics to spark interest and encourage users to click through to the podcast platform.
Targeting was crucial to the campaign’s success. We identified key audience segments based on interests, behaviors, and demographics. This allowed us to reach exactly the right people—those who were most likely to be interested in the podcast’s content. We also set up retargeting ads to capture users who had previously engaged with the podcast but hadn’t yet become regular listeners.
The results? The podcast’s visibility skyrocketed. We saw a significant increase in downloads and streams, with thousands of new listeners tuning in. The ad campaign also helped build a strong community around the podcast, as listeners began sharing episodes and engaging with the content on social media.
This case shows how effective Facebook and Instagram ads can be when it comes to promoting podcasts. By targeting the right audience and delivering engaging content, you can dramatically boost listenership and create lasting connections with your audience. If you’re looking to grow your podcast, social media advertising is definitely a tool worth exploring!
Over the past 10 years, the number of registered patents in the field of generative AI has surged from 733 in 2014 to over 14,000 in 2023. Since 2017, patent activity has shown strong growth, with an average annual increase of around 45%.
China dominates the patent race, with Tencent and Baidu leading the rankings. Baidu recently unveiled its latest AI chatbot, ERNIE 4.0, based on a large language model (LLM). Tencent plans to integrate generative AI capabilities into products like WeChat. Among U.S. companies, IBM, Alphabet (Google), and Microsoft hold leading positions.
You might be wondering: why does a Russian-speaking Belarusian like myself, Denis Vasilkov, run a personal brand website entirely in English? Fair question! Let me walk you through my reasoning.
English is the universal language of marketing and digital business. Like it or not, English has become the lingua franca of our digital age, and I’m not about to fight that reality. In marketing and tech, English isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. It’s the language where deals get made, innovations spread, and careers take off.
Now, imagine if I wrote everything in Belarusian or Russian instead. Sure, I’d connect deeply with speakers of those languages, but I’d also be talking to a much smaller audience. What’s the point of sharing insights and ideas if only a fraction of the world can engage with them? I want to reach fellow marketers, potential clients, and industry partners globally—and English is simply the most effective way to do that.
There’s also a personal side to this decision. Writing in English keeps my language skills sharp—think of each blog post as a mini workout for my brain. It’s also an interesting experiment: can I actually make it in the English-speaking marketing world? So far, the journey’s been pretty rewarding.
Some of you are probably thinking: “Denis, what about Belarusian, Polish, or Russian versions?” Here’s the scoop: Belarusian and Polish versions are definitely planned—so stay tuned! As for Russian… well, let’s just say I’m already managing quite a linguistic juggling act, and I prefer keeping things interesting and unpredictable. 😉
Ultimately, writing in English helps me grow professionally, connect with a global community, and hopefully provide value to readers whether they’re in Minsk, Warsaw, or San Francisco. So until those other language versions launch, I hope you’ll stick around for my thoughts in the world’s most widely spoken business language.
How to Promote Instagram Reels: A Complete Guide with Meta Ads, Budget Tips, and Audience Targeting
Instagram Reels have become one of the hottest content formats for driving engagement, visibility, and brand awareness. But how do you take your Reels to the next level with paid promotion? In this article, we’ll explore how to use Meta Ads (formerly Facebook Ads) to promote Instagram Reels effectively. We’ll cover detailed setup instructions, examples, and tips on budgets and audience targeting to ensure your campaign is a success.
Why Promote Instagram Reels?
Reels are short, engaging videos that allow users to discover new content in a fun, quick format. Promoting Reels helps you:
Reach a larger audience beyond your followers.
Increase brand visibility and engagement.
Drive traffic to your website, product pages, or other social platforms.
Build a loyal audience by showcasing creative and authentic content.
Setting Up Meta Ads to Promote Instagram Reels
Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating an effective ad campaign using Meta Ads to promote your Instagram Reels.
1. Create Your Reel
Before setting up your campaign, ensure that your Reel is ready to go. Make sure it’s high-quality, engaging, and aligns with your goals. If you’re promoting a product, highlight key features in a visually appealing way. For educational content, keep the messaging clear and concise.
2. Access Meta Ads Manager
Go to Meta Ads Manager and select the ad account you want to use for the campaign.
3. Choose Your Objective
When setting up your ad campaign, choose the right objective for promoting Reels. The most effective objectives are:
Video Views: Maximizes the number of times your Reel is watched.
Engagement: Focuses on boosting interactions (likes, comments, shares).
Traffic: Drives viewers to a landing page or website after watching your Reel.
Conversions: Encourages users to take specific actions like signing up or purchasing.
4. Set Up Your Campaign
Campaign Name: Give your campaign a clear, relevant name (e.g., “Reel Promotion – New Product Launch”).
Campaign Budget Optimization: Turn this option on if you want Meta to allocate your budget automatically across different ad sets for the best performance.
5. Define Your Audience
One of the keys to successful Reel promotion is precise audience targeting. You can target your audience based on:
Demographics: Age, gender, location, language.
Interests: Based on the topics users engage with (e.g., fitness, fashion, travel).
Behavior: Purchase habits, devices used, past interactions with your content.
Custom Audiences: Upload email lists or target people who’ve interacted with your Instagram account.
Lookalike Audiences: Target people similar to your current followers or customers.
Example: If you’re promoting a Reel for a fitness app, you might target men and women aged 18-35 interested in health and fitness, sports, or gym workouts.
6. Budget and Scheduling
When setting your budget, keep in mind that it’s better to start small and adjust as you see results.
Daily Budget: If you’re running an ongoing campaign, you might set a daily budget of $10–$30. This allows Meta to optimize delivery without overspending.
Lifetime Budget: For time-sensitive campaigns, set a lifetime budget (e.g., $300 for a two-week campaign). This ensures that your budget is spent evenly over the campaign period.
Pro Tip: If you’re new to promoting Reels, start with a small daily budget of $10–$15 and gradually increase as you optimize your campaign.
7. Choose Placements
For Reel promotion, make sure to choose Instagram Reels as a placement option. Additionally, you may want to include Instagram Feed and Explore placements for broader reach. Meta Ads Manager will give you the option to either manually choose placements or use automatic placements.
8. Create Your Ad
Now, it’s time to build your ad. Since you’re promoting a Reel, you’ll choose Use Existing Post and select the Reel you want to promote from your Instagram account.
Call to Action: Choose a strong call-to-action (CTA) that aligns with your objective. For example, if you want viewers to visit your website, select “Learn More” or “Shop Now.”
Ad Copy: Keep your copy concise and engaging. Highlight what viewers will gain from watching the Reel, whether it’s discovering a new product or learning something useful.
9. Launch and Monitor Your Campaign
Once your ad is set up, review everything and click Publish. After your campaign is live, it’s crucial to monitor performance using key metrics such as:
Reach: How many people saw your ad.
Engagement: How many likes, comments, and shares your Reel received.
Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of people who clicked on your CTA.
Cost Per Result: How much you’re spending per view, click, or conversion.
If you notice that certain aspects of your campaign aren’t performing well, you can adjust the audience, budget, or placements to improve results.
Budget Tips for Promoting Instagram Reels
Start Small: Begin with a modest budget of $10–$15 per day, allowing you to test audience targeting and ad performance.
Adjust as Needed: Increase your budget only after you’ve seen positive results. If your ads are converting well, scaling to $50 or more per day can boost visibility.
Allocate for A/B Testing: Set aside a portion of your budget (e.g., 10%) for testing different audiences, CTAs, or ad formats. This will help you optimize performance over time.
Best Practices for Promoting Instagram Reels
Keep It Engaging: Reels should be short, fun, and attention-grabbing. The first few seconds are critical—make sure to hook your audience early.
Use Trending Sounds: Leveraging popular sounds and music can increase the chances of your Reel being discovered by a wider audience.
Leverage Hashtags: Include relevant hashtags to improve organic discoverability alongside your paid promotions.
Consistency Matters: Don’t rely on one promoted Reel. Consistently create and promote content to build a loyal audience over time.
Conclusion
Promoting Instagram Reels with Meta Ads is an excellent way to expand your reach, boost engagement, and drive traffic or conversions. By setting the right budget, targeting the right audience, and optimizing your campaign for performance, you can make the most out of your advertising efforts. Start small, test different strategies, and watch your Reels grow in popularity!
YouTube has become one of the most powerful platforms for content creators, brands, and businesses. However, with millions of videos uploaded daily, standing out can be challenging. One of the most effective ways to boost your YouTube video’s visibility is through Google Ads. In this SEO article, we’ll explore how to promote YouTube videos with Google Ads, offering detailed setup instructions, budget tips, audience targeting strategies, and examples to ensure your campaign succeeds.
Why Use Google Ads for YouTube Video Promotion?
Increased Visibility: Google Ads can help get your video in front of a larger audience that may not be exposed to your content organically.
Targeted Reach: Google Ads lets you narrow down your audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.
Higher Engagement: Promoted videos have higher chances of generating likes, comments, shares, and even subscribers.
Control Over Budget: You can control your ad spend based on your goals, whether it’s awareness, engagement, or conversions.
Types of YouTube Ads via Google Ads
There are various ad formats available when promoting YouTube videos:
In-Stream Ads (Skippable): These ads play before, during, or after other YouTube videos. Users can skip the ad after 5 seconds. This is ideal for awareness campaigns.
In-Stream Ads (Non-Skippable): Users must watch the entire ad (usually up to 15 seconds). Great for delivering a concise message.
Video Discovery Ads: These appear in YouTube search results or next to related videos, inviting users to click and watch.
Bumper Ads: Short, non-skippable ads (up to 6 seconds). Perfect for brand awareness.
Outstream Ads: Play on Google partner sites outside YouTube.
Setting Up Google Ads to Promote Your YouTube Video
Step 1: Create Your YouTube Video
Before setting up a Google Ads campaign, ensure that your video is high-quality, engaging, and optimized. Some tips:
Strong Hook: Capture attention in the first few seconds.
Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Encourage viewers to like, comment, subscribe, or visit your website.
Length: Aim for 15–60 seconds for in-stream ads, but longer videos can work well for discovery ads.
Step 2: Set Up Google Ads Account
If you don’t have a Google Ads account, create one at ads.google.com. Link your YouTube channel to Google Ads to access your videos and monitor performance directly from your account.
Step 3: Choose Campaign Objective
Start by selecting the right campaign objective. For promoting YouTube videos, the following objectives work best:
Brand Awareness and Reach: Ideal for creating visibility and reaching as many people as possible.
Website Traffic: If your goal is to drive viewers to your site.
Lead Generation: To collect leads via a form integrated into the video ad.
Step 4: Campaign Type and Ad Format
Next, choose the Video campaign type, which is specific to YouTube ads. Depending on your objective, you can select:
In-Stream Ads: For brand awareness.
Discovery Ads: To appear in YouTube search results.
Example: If you want your video to show up in YouTube search results when users type in related keywords, opt for Discovery Ads.
Step 5: Set Budget and Bidding Strategy
Your budget depends on your goals, but here’s a breakdown of the typical settings:
Daily Budget: Set a daily budget starting from $10–$20 if you’re just testing campaigns. You can increase it later as you see results.
Total Budget: If you prefer a total budget over a set period (e.g., $300 for a month-long campaign), select the Total Campaign Budget option.
Bidding: Choose the bidding strategy based on your campaign goal:
CPV (Cost Per View): You pay for each view (typically between $0.05 to $0.30 depending on your target audience and competition).
CPM (Cost Per 1000 Impressions): You pay for every 1,000 impressions, ideal for brand awareness campaigns.
Tip: Start with CPV bidding if your goal is to engage viewers and drive actions like likes and comments.
Step 6: Audience Targeting
Targeting the right audience is crucial for successful video promotion. Google Ads offers several targeting options:
Demographics: Select age, gender, household income, and parental status.
Example: If you’re promoting a tech product video, target males and females aged 18–34 with interests in gadgets and technology.
Interests: Choose interests related to your content. For instance, if your video is about fitness, target users interested in exercise, healthy living, and wellness.
Keywords: Use specific keywords related to your video’s content to ensure it shows up in relevant searches.
Example: If your video is about social media marketing tips, use keywords like “social media tips,” “digital marketing,” or “grow Instagram followers.”
Placement Targeting: Select specific YouTube channels or videos where you want your ad to appear.
Example: If you know that your audience watches videos from a popular fitness YouTuber, place your ads on that creator’s videos.
Custom Audiences: You can create custom audiences by uploading customer email lists or targeting people who’ve interacted with your brand before.
Step 7: Create the Ad
Now, it’s time to build your ad. You can select an existing YouTube video to promote:
In-Stream Ads: Add your video link, write a headline (up to 15 characters), and a description (up to 90 characters).
Discovery Ads: Choose a strong thumbnail, write a compelling headline, and add relevant descriptions to encourage clicks.
Make sure to add a strong Call-to-Action (CTA) that tells viewers what to do next—whether it’s subscribing, visiting your website, or watching another video.
Step 8: Launch and Monitor the Campaign
Once everything is set up, launch your campaign. Monitor performance using the following key metrics:
Views: How many people watched your video.
View Rate: The percentage of people who watched the ad after it started playing.
Engagement: Likes, comments, and shares generated from the video.
CTR (Click-Through Rate): How many people clicked on your CTA.
CPV (Cost Per View): The average amount you’re paying for each view.
Adjust your campaign as necessary. For example, if one target audience is performing better, increase your budget for that segment.
Budget Tips for YouTube Video Promotion
Start Small: If you’re new to promoting YouTube videos, start with $10–$20 per day. Gradually increase your budget as you optimize your audience and ad performance.
Focus on Engagement: If your goal is to grow subscribers and engagement, choose CPV bidding and focus on audiences with higher engagement rates.
Test Multiple Ads: Don’t rely on just one video ad. A/B test different creatives, lengths, and CTAs to see what performs best.
Best Practices for Promoting YouTube Videos
Keep Videos Short and Engaging: Aim to hook viewers in the first 5 seconds, especially for in-stream ads. Longer videos should maintain engagement throughout.
Use Eye-Catching Thumbnails: For discovery ads, your thumbnail is the first thing users will see—make sure it grabs attention and entices them to click.
Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your video looks great on mobile devices, as a significant portion of YouTube traffic comes from mobile users.
Leverage Trending Topics: If relevant, tie your video content to trending topics or popular events to increase engagement.
Conclusion
Promoting your YouTube videos with Google Ads is an effective way to boost your reach, grow your channel, and drive engagement. By following the steps outlined above—setting a clear budget, targeting the right audience, and optimizing your campaigns—you can significantly increase the success of your video content. Start small, test different strategies, and watch your YouTube channel thrive!
As my blog has gained popularity, many of my friends and readers often ask why I don’t write in Russian or Belarusian. I should have addressed this earlier, but here we are, and I’ll explain—still in English.
First of all, I wanted to challenge myself. I was curious to see how well I could handle writing in English, processing English-language sources, and making it engaging for readers. It’s been a personal journey to improve my language skills.
Secondly, I believe that anyone working in digital should be fluent in English, and it shouldn’t be an obstacle for professionals in the field. It’s a global language for a reason, especially in our industry.
Lastly, if reading in English is a struggle, there are plenty of online translation tools, or—seriously—it might be time to learn English once and for all!
That being said, I do have plans for two additional language versions—Belarusian and Polish—as well as launching a full-scale digital media outlet for Belarusians around the world. Stay tuned!
