💾 Trends for 2024

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In Today's Issue

• Techno Optimism and AI

• Small Businesses Need Your Help

• Google Signals Being Removed From GA4 Reporting

• AI at work in 2024 - Deloitte's Tech Trends report

• Back That Data Up!

• Predictions for 2024

• Back That Data Up!

A Reason For Techno-Optimism

As we head into the new year, it’s safe to declare that 2023 was defined by the emergence of AI. Yeah, we’ve all read hundreds of articles, tried developing better prompts, and formed our opinions. Heck, we’ve even been wrong from time to time. But unlike other trends, AI isn’t going away.

That’s why I have spent part of my winter break reading long-form articles about what AI will mean for us in the near future. It started with an article called The Techno-Optimist Manifesto written by Marc Andreessen. Then I noticed a response from Vitalk Buterin, founder of Ethereum, called My techno-optimism. That article links to dozens of more articles about this topic that you may also find interesting.

Heading into 2024 with renewed optimism and a new format for this newsletter, I wanted to share these articles as a clear reminder of where we are heading with AI. Technology is moving faster than ever, and we can only expect that AI will provide even more efficiency in 2024.

As we begin the new year, I suggest you take a few minutes to develop your own thesis about how AI technology will affect your work moving forward and what you can do to prepare before it’s too late.

Small Businesses Need Your Help Right Now

When Google reported their Q3, 2023 performance, I noticed that their numbers were off for where they were making money. You see, they grew their “bread and butter” search advertising product but experienced declining revenues in display advertising.

Why is this noteworthy? Because Google is pushing Performance Max campaigns onto unsuspecting small business advertisers to try and claw back their cash cow. And small businesses are suffering. According to our study of over 300 agencies, advertisers paid more to Google yet got worse results in 2023.

That’s why we are hosting a series of workshops geared toward helping agencies add Google Ads services to their business to meet the demand coming in 2024 as we shift from a growth economy to an efficiency economy, and businesses seek accountability from their agency partners. This workshop is the perfect place to start if you want to add a lucrative business line (or improve your existing services).

🚦Google Signals Is Being Removed From GA4 Reporting Identity

In perhaps the most important news in the history of Google Analytics, you no longer have to worry about your data getting “jacked up” by Google Signals within your GA4 account. This is one of the few occurrences of removing data being considered a very good thing.

My buddy Charles Farina shared his thoughts in this insightful LinkedIn post. Make sure to read Google’s official documentation as well. This change is coming in February 2024.

🪄 2024 Creator Economy Predictions

AI emerged onto the scene so forcefully that it has demanded all the headlines. But there is still a lot of growth present for creators in 2024. Hubspot provides us with some data and predictions for what will be happening with the creator economy in 2024.

📅 The Only Marketing Calendar You’ll Need in 2024

You’re only as good as your plan. And while plans are subject to change, mapping out your calendar for the entire year is a great way to prioritize your efforts and achieve more. That’s why this massive value bomb post from WordStream is a great place for you to get started with planning your upcoming year. The Only Marketing Calendar You’ll Need in 2024 (Packed with Ideas + Free Template!)

• I am predicting Marketing Trends for 2024 with Best marketers I know - Reddit

• What Software Tool Discounts Should We Negotiate for Members? - Data Driven Insiders Slack (paid membership required)

• My Marketing Trend Predictions for 2024 - Nicholas D’Hondt on LinkedIn

AI at work in 2024 - Deloitte's Tech Trends report

Ok, I can’t stop talking about AI. But for good reason, it will surely make us more efficient in 2024. This is key because with high interest rates, we are entering an efficiency economy and may never look back.

I experienced this shift once in my career from 2008-2012, and the signals are eerily similar. But not everything will go back to “normal” this time around because the delegation of low-skill tactical tasks is likely to be forever replaced by machines.

This will change the working world forever, and Deloitte’s report shares the details and predictions. If you want just a summary of what’s included in the report, here’s a good one from ZDnet.

Back That Data Up!

On July 1, 2024, your Universal Google Analytics data will be gone. That’s right, it will vanish into thin air and you’ll log in to see a big fat nothingburger on your screen. No angry posting on X dot com will make your data come back, either.

But there is a solution you can use to proactively back up your data and it won’t break the bank. Back up your old Google Analytics account for $99 per view with Analytics Canvas (some restrictions apply).

• Predictions for 2024 - Business Unfiltered Podcast

• Tesla Optimus Gen 2 Robot has Better Movement and Updates - DPCcars on YouTube

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