🔎 GPT-powered.

The AI race just got white hot, Pinterest’s earning report isn’t bad, and more. February 8, 2023 [Read in browser]( [logo] [sponsor]( Happy mid-week day. If you’re reading this, it means you’re approximately four and a half cups of coffee into the week, and about five and half cups of coffee away from the weekend. So if you’d like the weekend to arrive sooner, just drink more cups, and you’re there. AI MARKETING Microsoft reveals GPT-powered browsers, Google releases Bard [article-image] “The race starts today.” —Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella [during the announcement.]( No kidding. Microsoft and Google have both already announced—and revealed—their AI-powered search engines. And it seems online search may never be the same… The big reveal: During a surprise event, Microsoft previewed new [Bing and Edge browsers powered by Open AI’s GPT 3.5]( – a chatbot more powerful than the ChatGPT we’re familiar with. The demo [showed users asking Bing for recipes, buying furniture, and collecting travel tips]( using a ChatGPT-like chat box that shows the sources cited. Sheesh. And, unlike its predecessor, this new AI model is capable of retrieving the latest news. Nice. Bing has the Edge: Microsoft is also launching two AI-powered features for Edge: - Chat, which lets you summarize a web page or a document and ask questions about the content. - Compose, an AI writing assistant that lets you generate text on the go. Hold my bot: Of course, Google’s not wasting any time either. [The company has introduced Bard, its own AI-powered service](. And it could change the way you google for stuff. Similar to Bing, Google showcased examples of Bard helping users plan a friend’s baby shower or compare two Oscar-nominated movies. For now, Google is rolling Bard out to “trusted testers” before making it more widely available. Makes sense. Why we care: [As the race heats up](, certain industries—like SEOs and media publishers—are worried about “traffic accidents.” Right now, Bard’s answer sits on top of the results page, while Bing’s chatbox takes up the right side of the page, so top-rated articles are still visible. But there’s no doubt that Google will try to accelerate the transition to AI-powered search, which could affect rankings, content, and more. … And that’s not even getting into AI chatbots' biases, inaccuracies, and potential to upend certain industries. PS: What kind of a name is Bard? We want it to be Brad. Just make it Brad. PINTEREST Falling short, but in the right direction Despite missing initial estimates, [Pinterest doesn’t look too shabby](. Slow but steady: The platform reported growth in the number of active users, which now exceeds 450M, climbing 4% year-over-year (YoY), though it missed expectations by 3%. Revenues also increased 4% YoY to $877M, but fell short of the $886.3M estimations. Still rolling: Pinterest says that Idea Pins—its video feature—gained traction, boosted by Gen Z coming to the platform and increasing overall video supply by 30%. “More than 10% of all engagement is video and more than 30% of revenue is short-form video,” [Pinterest CEO Bill Ready said during earnings call](. Monetize, monetize: Pinterest intends to make every Pin shoppable in the future. And yes, video content will be a part of that. The platform will also continue to invest in and explore live-stream shopping. Lots going on! Why we care: After a rough 2021 and last year’s layoffs, Pinterest seems to be picking itself back up. Both users and revenue are steadily growing. And with videos becoming more popular and shoppable, that could open the door for some effective creative advertising strategies. Pin that thought. SPONSORED BY HIGHTOUCH Friends don’t let friends buy a customer data platform (CDP). Here’s why… [article-image]( You have customer data, right? And maybe you’re thinking a CDP could help you squeeze more ROI out of your marketing activities, too. Whoa whoa, hold up. There’s a faster, more flexible, and cost-effective way: using a Data Activation platform, [like Hightouch](. Hightouch is trusted by leading organizations like The NBA and Cars.com to sync data from data warehouses to over 125 SaaS tools, helping business teams get relevant, accurate, and real-time customer data in the tools they engage with. Not only is [Hightouch]( more affordable than [traditional CDPs](, but it also: - Supercharges marketing with advanced features like [pAPI](, [Splits](, and [Priority Lists](. - Doesn’t [store]( your data. It simply activates directly from your data warehouse. - Gives you unlimited [flexibility.]( Use any data model to meet your business needs. Plus, you can create smarter campaigns in days—not months. [It’s the full package:]( a faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective way to create personalized experiences and get value from your customer data. [Read why friends don’t let friends buy CDP.]( [Or book a demo with Hightouch to learn more.]( WEB CONTENT How to make a Contact Us page that makes people actually want to contact you [article-image] The Contact Us page is one of the most underrated pages on your website. Get it right, and you turn cold visitors to hot leads. Get it wrong, and even the most interested prospects may go “eh… nevermind.” To help you find creative inspiration, Ingrid Adames compiled an extensive list of Contact page examples [that nail all the essential elements](. But before we see some of them, let’s first revise what these elements are. Ingrid says each Contact Us page should be visible on the navigation bar and needs to have: - A clear call to action (CTA) – contact us, reach out, give us a call, etc. - Easy navigation and user experience. - A clear message that aligns with your brand and resonates with visitors. - Readable text with no redundant information. - Elements like phone number, email links, and social media buttons. Got it? Sweet. Now let’s move to a few of our favorite examples. #1 – Peloton: [The contact page]( is also a support page, with the knowledge base search bar taking up center stage. The combination of image, helpful icons, and the design and positioning of responsive buttons all make for a smooth experience that leads you to your desired destination. #2 – Freehand Goods: [This page]( is a nice example of a small business doing simplicity right. The simple black-on-white background provides all the info you need: contact information with retail address, social media buttons, and finally, a huge, visible CTA at the forefront. #3 – Kohl’s: Similar to Peloton, [Kohl’s contact page]( is also a help center. What’s different is that you can see a few more interesting buttons added to the page, like tracking order status and checking gift card balances. Sometimes adding more elements can create a feeling of uniqueness and exclusivity to your website visit. That’s not all. There are [41 more great examples on Ingrid’s list]( that could get your designer juices flowing – and your customers converting. SPONSORED BY PANDA COPY Copy turnaround in 2–3 business days. Say what?! [article-image]( Most copywriting projects go like this: You create a brief, post a job, read tons of writing samples, negotiate price, timeline, and expectations. And that’s before your writer even gets started! Meanwhile, [Panda Copy’s straightforward plans]( have a crazy fast turnaround time, so if you order copy today (Wednesday), you’ll get it on Monday. Boom. Done. [Request a project.]( THE CREW’S INSIGHTS Don’t fall for this common Google Ads mistake [article-image] One way to improve the profitability of your ads is by using maximize conversion value bidding strategy, and setting a target ROAS (tROAS). Sounds simple enough, right? Problem is, a lot of marketers are making a big mistake when it comes to tROAS… The Mistake: Being too ambitious with your tROAS can cause your ads to stop delivering. If you reach for a target that’s far away from your current one, you’ll fall short. For example, if you’re currently at a 200% ROAS, and you set your target to 750%, Google won’t be able to deliver your results. So it will stop spending your ad dollars. No ad dollars means no eyeballs and no conversions. Do this instead: If you’re currently sitting at a 200% ROAS, set your tROAS to 240% to try to squeeze more profit out of your ads. After a week, if you begin hitting your goals, continue increasing your target by 20%. The takeaway? Instead of shooting for the moon with your tROAS, try setting a slightly higher target than your current ROAS and gradually increase it over time. That way you’ll give your tROAS some time to learn and adjust. You can still aim high… just give yourself a ladder of sorts. You’ll go farther—and further, too. ROUNDING UP THE STACK [MARKETING:]( Get a chance to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card with The Marketer’s Ultimate Newsletter bundle. Subscribe to these five awesome newsletters in one go, and you’re in for a chance to get that $1,000 gift card. [Enter here for free.](* [SOCIAL MEDIA:]( Flocking back? Mastodon—recently regarded as the post-takeover Twitter alternative—has lost over a million active users. It’s not clear whether those users are returning to Twitter, but it is clear the bird won’t be replaced that easily. [AI MARKETING:]( The robots are knocking. How will companies respond? It seems some will use AI to create personalized quizzes, others will use it to source images… And that’s just the start. This comprehensive report covers the slow ascent into the AI-driven media landscape. [META:]( So… Facebook can flag your valid ad for no reason, but can’t detect basic ad fraud for months? Seems that way. That’s frustrating, given the high computing power of Meta’s algorithm. No wonder Jon Loomer is unhappy… *This is a sponsored post BRAIN TEASER In Okmulgee, Oklahoma, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why? You can find the [answer here](. [poolside-logo] POOLSIDE CHAT Eat cheese, sleep, repeat [article-image] Are you a “dairy dreamer?” If you’re unfamiliar with the term, that’s a person that can fall into a deep sleep after devouring a wide range of cheese. (Aren’t we all?) So if that hits close to home, you may want to check out the dairy dreamers’ dream job: [Eat cheese, fall asleep, and get paid $1000… for three months.]( A sleep product review website is willing to pay for someone to do so and record their experiences. Only downside? The point is to determine whether eating dairy before bedtime leads to nightmares. Yikes! SHARING IS CARING “Cool hoodie… where’d you get it?” —your jealous coworkers When you refer our newsletter to other smart marketers—and they subscribe—we send you the coveted Stacked Marketer Zip Hoodie (50 referrals). And you unlock other rewards along the way, like: - The Crew’s Top 10 Insights (2 referrals). - The Ultimate Holiday Marketing Deep Dive (4 referrals). Zip. Mmm, cozy. Share your referral link below to start unlocking exclusive content and merch! 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