Woop Woop! 2020 is coming to a close. I am so very ready for a vaccine and a return to normalcy that I hope 2021 will provide. However, as I’ve said before, I’m so thankful for the industry in which I work and for the way in which it has continued to thrive. Both the housing and digital marketing portions of my job have been a welcome focus. I’m not sure that the powerhouses that provide the platforms on which we advertise are all too happy with some of the focus that has been brought on them in 2020; read on to see why.
Google’s being sued again, this time by the 10 state attorneys general. Again it’s related to the ads it delivers across the interwebs.
“The state prosecutors said that Google overcharged publishers for the ads it showed across the web and edged out rivals who tried to challenge the company’s dominance. They also said that Google had reached an agreement with Facebook to limit the social network’s own efforts to compete with Google for ad dollars.”
Speaking of Facebook they’re feeling both attacked and a little persnickety over some governmental oversight and changes that Apple is making to iOs.
Let’s cover the FTC item first. The FTC wants to know exactly how Facebook, Amazon and several other social sites collect and use personal data. This is in tandem to the monopoly suit it’s facing and probably derivative of the fact that those ads are ridiculously accurate in their targeting. Hello, why do you think I love them so much as a marketer…they’re good, like really good at finding the right people.
The second item is kind of ironic in relation to the first because basically, Facebook’s mad that upcoming changes to iOs are going to make it harder for them to collect some of that data. The article I highlighted is about an ad Facebook took out, but just look below at the email they sent to their advertisers and also the note that’s been appearing in my Facebook Ad Manager all week. I think it’s fair to say that Facebook is concerned about this change and the impact it will have on their big revenue stream….ads.
HOUSING
I’m closing out this edition on a housing high note. The NAHB says year over year gains for home purchases continue. This info comes from the Mortgage Bankers Association which tracked a record low for a 30 year fixed mortgage rate and show a 26% increase in year over year purchasing. YOWZA! Anecdotally, I spoke to a real estate agent friend the other day who said that in 2019 their team sold 59 homes and in 2020 they sold over 145. That’s an insane increase. Resale, New Home Sales, all the sales had a great 2020.
And on that note I bid you adieu for 2020. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, and Happy New Year! I’ll be back with news you can use in 2021. Which will also bring the return of Homefiniti and Beyond with a new episode focused on apps and tools that team ONeil loves to use to do our jobs. Tune in, Friday, January 8th at 1pm.
