2 Bulletins from the World of Digital Marketing

Stay up-to-date on the latest news that might impact your next digital marketing decisions.[/caption] Ever feel like you’re out of touch on the latest updates in the digital marketing realm? Here are two quick briefs to keep you up-to-speed (and ensure your marketing’s up-to-speed, too).  

1) Another Software Giant, Gone in a Flash

It’s official: With Adobe Flash now used on fewer than 5% of websites, the once-ubiquitous software for showcasing some of the world’s hottest website graphics has now been laid to rest. What happened? A combination of vulnerabilities in the software and the rise of alternatives (like HTML5 and CSS3) led to fewer and fewer sites using the problematic script. After a gradual but unstoppable decline, Adobe announced that it will officially be retiring Flash in 2020. What comes next? Currently, a majority of web developers have switched to Javascript. Many browsers have already stopped supporting or displaying websites with Flash. In fact, Google reported that Chrome users viewing sites with Flash have gone from 80% to 8% since 2014. What does this mean for YOU? If your marketing team is working with designers who are recommending Flash, or your website currently relies on Flash, it’s likely time for an upgrade.  

2) GDPR: Does This New Law Affect Your Marketing?

American advertisers might have missed the memo earlier this summer when Europe decided to set a groundbreaking precedent by embracing GDPR, a law requiring tech users to actively consent to data tracking. Sounds great for individuals! But what does it mean for marketers? Will your strategy change dramatically if their law gets carried out on this side of the Atlantic? What is GDPR? The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect last May in the European Union. It requires media users to actively give software companies permission to gather their data–instead of the tried-and-true method of burying permissions in your terms and conditions (which nobody reads), making data acquisition a passive condition of using a product or joining a service. It also holds them responsible for storing that data safely, while giving users greater control over how companies are able to use it. In theory, by lawfully requiring software to include “data protection by design and default,” everyone’s privacy is more protected. Does it affect Americans? Yup! In fact, it already has. Major software companies that operate globally had to update their privacy policies–you might’ve gotten a flurry of notifications this summer about apps or social sites changing their T&Cs. Some companies had to segregate services for Europe or close out operations there that didn’t comply with the new regulation. What does it mean for YOU? Right now, unless you’re operating software, targeted ads, or apps over in the EU, this might not affect you at all. But if this regulation is popular, it’s possible that we’ll see something similar passed in America. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but you might want to review what, if any, of your own T&Cs, data gathering, lead generation, or opt-in procedures would be impacted if this came through in the next year or two.   Any questions about how the death of Adobe Flash or the rise of GDPR might affect your digital marketing? We’re happy to look at your processes and make sure you’re prepared for 2020.]]>