{"id":25565,"date":"2025-02-06T00:25:41","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T18:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.karooya.com\/blog\/?p=25565"},"modified":"2025-02-06T00:25:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T18:55:49","slug":"ppcchat-running-ppc-in-world-economic-chaos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.karooya.com\/blog\/ppcchat-running-ppc-in-world-economic-chaos\/","title":{"rendered":"PPCChat | Running PPC in World Economic Chaos | 4th February 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

During this week’s PPCChat discussion, host Julie F Bacchini<\/a> talked about how PPC professionals can support the brands they work with amid ongoing economic uncertainty. The discussion covered topics like the potential global trade war sparked by U.S. tariff threats and the updated X lawsuit targeting advertisers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Q1: Are the brands you work with worried about the current global economic chaos set off by US tariff actions? If so, what are they concerned about and if not, why not?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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They’re more in whiplash mode because the terms keep changing. Some brands are pro tariffs because they don’t understand how they work and think it’s just going to make it easier for them to control their market. others are getting ready to lay off people. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have (had?) a Google search ads client who sells products made out of the US, sometimes to buyers outside the US. They have paused their advertising. @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m worried FOR them but haven’t heard anything from them yet — I also imagine some of it is that things are moving so fast, it’s hard to keep up. We were in a meeting yesterday afternoon with a Google rep talking about how the Canada tarriffs would affect our client and when we got off the phone, it was announced those wouldn’t be going into effect. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is hard to plan because it is so very fluid. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mine are all lead gen right now (phew right?) so there’s less immediate ramifications. Might change soon, whenever tariffs get imposed etc. Right now it’s business as usual, let’s hope it stay this way. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we know if the tariffs will be on services and\/or digital goods too? @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I work mostly with service companies and companies that are US-based and sell in the US. So not really. There’s definitely trepidation with bigger market forces but that doesn’t affect them. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@revaminkoff<\/a> all I’ve heard and read is talking about products. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction is gearing up for big changes. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My husband works for a company that imports a lot of metal from Germany – we’re holding our breath on whether there will be layoffs. I think made in the USA isn’t as “safe” as folks might think it is given how much we import on materials and tools to make things. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

it’s funny to me how people assume tariffs will not just be added to the price (as if they were paid by the producer and not the company importing products).
Secondly, it’s not as if you can just set up production in the US – lack of machinery, raw materials etc… @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People don’t think and don’t know. and they will burn their hand in finding out. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have a few CPG clients, so there’s definitely some concern. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poli Sci and Econ nerd here\u2026Tariffs are designed to protect a domestic industry.  That\u2019s it. And we don\u2019t have those nor can we spin them up in 6 months. The global complexity of the world economy makes large tariffs largely obsolete. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tarif DeepSeek! This is a joke in case it’s not obvious. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hasn’t come up directly for B2B SaaS, but economic chaos affects everyone. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until folks see the impact, they are not talking about it yet. Once it impacts the cost of goods, then they will react. Some are a little happy about Temu and others getting hit though, not gonna lie. Some of these places have made it very difficult for them to compete on price. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think the destablization is the goal and concern. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Temu & Shein impact is going to be fascinating. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do think outside of pure econ, the shift away from inclusive marketing is bigger. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m skeptical the Temu\/Shein impact is going to have an effect on the digital marketing side of things though. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hasn’t it already impacted cost of goods? I mean, what about eggs being the new avocado suddenly? @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twitter is going to lose a lot of ad dollars from Temu. I swear 8 of 10 ads I see there are for Temu @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of the egg price increases are bird flu, I believe, though this clearly isn’t helping anything either…@revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eggs aren’t imported, that’s a longer issue on ag policy. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@revaminkoff<\/a> I was just typing that, LOL @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eggs are expensive right now because of bird flu @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The avocado price hike was paused (temporarily?) so we could all enjoy guacamole for this weekend’s Super Bowl! @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jinx on the bird flu! @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think a lot of folks see the U.S. paying more in taxes\/tarrifs with other countries than we get, so they are sort of on the fence about all this. Most folks also do not have econ backgrounds to understand all the nuances this may bring. Not to mention the media’s trust is pretty in the toilet, so they don’t even listen to them anymore even if they are saying good information. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exactly @lchasse<\/a> – people have a very oversimplified view of all this. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing in an interconnected world is simple anymore. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

it’s not JUST flu, though. There’s impacts from immigration policy there that may or may not be mitigated by loosening regs on contract eligibility. EEOC enforcement changes will impact hiring as well. Again, less about any real policy or changes, more on POV @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q2: Are the brands that you work with being impacted by the current global economic chaos set off by US tariff actions? If so, how are they being impacted and how is it impacting your PPC strategy and management?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Food prices are going up, again and that impacts consumer spending. Brands know this. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m interested if folks are more or less likely to work with a USA based software in this climate. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interesting question @navahhopkins<\/a> we’re keeping a close eye on this for our global SaaS clients. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I used my “impacted” answer to Q1 above … whoops! Sorry, Julie! @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@JonDeNunzio<\/a> No worries. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have an automotive client that’s faced big issues 2 years ago after interest rates skyrocketed. Discretionary spending went in the toilet and they were really struggling for a while.
Thinking it’ll repeat if chaos becomes normal now. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don’t see it affecting budgets for 2025, but it does affect profit margins, so we’re calculating and planning accordingly. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last thing any business needs is nationalistic pressures impacting the market. The economy is too global for that to end well or be easy to navigate. @BorisBeceric<\/a>  I am super glad we replaced our very old cars before this all started. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of greedy brands will use all this as an “excuse” to raise prices. The brands I work with have not seen cost increases (yet), but they are watching it closely. Anyone who already increased prices feels like they did it just to make more money. That being said, I have view to just my brands, so it could have caused increases I don’t see yet. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zero cars are built entirely in the US. *with all US parts I should say.. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pricing is all about perception, so if people think there will be a scarcity, it doesn’t matter if there is one yet or not. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Covid laid bare how interconnected the world\u2019s supply chains are and here we are acting like we did not learn that in a big way. It\u2019s nuts. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah, auto is a big one. One of my auto clients still has not caught back up fully from the interest rate hikes we had previously and inflation. Discretionary spending is a key metric for most ecom folks. The less money in people’s pockets, the less they can spend on “optional items”. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel like price increases are inevitable. Either because of tariffs, or just because it’s an opportune time to be increasing prices. Either way, it’s going to happen. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prices also do not reset back to previous levels after they rise. This is true for ad costs as much as anything else. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They never do…funny how that works @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yep, @NeptuneMoon<\/a> we saw that during covid too. Prices never went back down after supply chains were restored. and CPCs certainly never go down..@beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah, I have had friends ask me if housing prices will go back to normal and I always tell them now is always the best time to buy. The prices may slow rising, but they almost never go back down. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even before this we have been talking about the rising cost of advertising. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talked to a financial guy over the weekend, asking about Monday when tariffs were supposed to kick in. He said watch interest rates … as they go up and people pay more for goods and services, there could be backlash. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one of my first jobs (stocking grocery store shelves for Nabisco,  if you were curious), my boss told me “Prices are always going to rise, like the sun each morning.” That stuck with me.(That said, the rate of increase is not a given …) @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not for nothing, as they say around here, but the last time the US went whole hog on tariffs you know what happened next? The great depression\u2026@NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you watched your retirement accounts yesterday, it was whiplash with the tarrif issue in the morning making your account drop, then the pause caused the accounts to go back up, lol. If I was already retired, I may have been sweating in the morning before the pause. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I think we can look at the UK post-Brexit as a window into how things might roll. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My biggest fear is that Musk has all our SSN. at what point is there any confidence in any market and comfort to buy\/sell when your finances and identity are in the hands of the greedy and they can make you literally vanish @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All your SSN are belong to us. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@navahhopkins<\/a> I read this morning that his merry band of baby programmers are changing the code on US govt websites @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yep @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@navahhopkins<\/a> I read this morning that his merry band of baby programmers are changing the code on US govt web sites. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, he is a gamer but he tells everyone he leveled his character in POE2, but then it was proven someone else did most of the levelling, so that tells you a lot about someone right there. If you are a gamer, you know, lol. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes wow, DOGE being run by 19 y\/o? Elno Skum’s way to shift legal liability to these idiots.@BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of my clients is a import\/export broker, so they’re definitely being impacted by the tariff situation. In fact, it’s sort of awesome because the search volume for their terms has increased significantly! @ScottOmiller<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q3: How concerned are you, as a PPC professional, about the current global economic chaos? What concerns you the most and do you have any plan on how to deal with those concerns? If you are unconcerned, why are you unconcerned?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Focused on work? It is what it is. Personally? It ain’t the tariffs that I care about but what it’s all supposed to mean. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have real questions about how to maintain ethical marketing practices as every platform has bent the knee and is either cooperating or complicit in the highway robbery of millions of people. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not the economic chaos in itself as much as the lack of stability within the government and the fact that this has all happened in the last 2 weeks.  I want to be able to trust that the government is stable in order to plan and for those I work with to plan – and I don’t trust that right now. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main way I cope is by being a force for good on the inside. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know the term \u201cunprecedented times\u201d feels worn out, but it also feels awfully damn accurate right now too. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I agree with @navahhopkins<\/a> that a lot of it is trying to figure out how to be a force for good and also just focusing on what I can control. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talked at length with @navahhopkins<\/a> about this the other week. Basically, how much faith do we have in platforms when it’s clear they dgaf anout ethics? Are we part of the problem by helping people spend money online? What about junk factories in China polluting the place etc. Not fun thoughts to be having. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes the conversation we had a couple of weeks ago about trying to take good care of the brands we work with up to another level. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I live in the DC area and most of my clients are based here. I see potential problems coming for some, and opportunities for others (like my lawyer client who represents people who feel they have been wrongfully terminated). Most of my plan is to ramp up my efforts to add clients, @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a good question @BorisBeceric<\/a> – our mission statement is “We change the world by helping companies with great ideas compete on merit.” – I still believe that online advertising is an important means to do that. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I tend not to lose sleep about things which has served me well for many years. I may think it is not very smart, but I will roll with the punches as needed. Always be agile. Some things will be good and others will be bad. We need to take advantage of the good stuff and mitigate the damage of the bad as much as we personally can.After work, just have a cup of tea or a glass of wine and let it go. My grandmother had that sign on her wall that said God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.I try to keep that in mind when I start getting wrapped up in stuff. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@BorisBeceric<\/a> that conversation was so helpful though because one of the things that’s been killing me is feeling alone. And I think that one of the things we all can do is remember that we’re not alone and there are paths forward. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@navahhopkins<\/a> tell you something, if you just got MOAR SLEEP that would probably help. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@lchasse<\/a> I have that Serenity Prayer hanging up in my hallway. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m doing better – I take my melatonin gummies…@navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are all trying to figure out how to navigate this chaos professionally and personally. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much more concerned about my brothers, sisters, and siblings than bad monetary and taxation policy. To go from “yeah, the government won’t support marginalized groups” to “lol state-sponsored and state-supported terrorism on its own people” is the thing we were all told couldn’t happen because of things that don’t matter anymore. But the kicker isn’t the government — it’s that you’re allowed to be loud again about not supporting people. It’s going to have a chilling effect on marginalized voices in the industry. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To @lchasse<\/a> point … paying a bit less attention to the news and staying off social media are helpful. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I agree that all the hate – and the mainstreaming of it – is the scariest part. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lack of performative marketing is fascinating. Much fewer black history month posts. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@JeffreyHain<\/a> I have to ration my time with the news. Sometimes I’m on my third NYT article and I realize my blood pressure is rising and I need to stop. @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, Google has been chaos enough on its own the past 3-4 years, lol. I am not even sure if ethical marketing still exists in many cases. Seen all the gambling commercials during football games lately? @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the one hand I appreciate that brands are finally waking up that they can’t turn causes into customers, but on the other it sucks how many don’t actually care. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mainstreaming of hate is the point and helped cause the Jan 6 melee that some are trying to erase from history. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@lchasse<\/a> Do not get me started on sports gambling advertising. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@navahhopkins<\/a> I hadn’t noticed the drop in performative marketing … but now I’ll notice it (or not notice it, I guess). Fascinating. @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year, I clocked at least 70 brands doing something for BHM. This year I saw 5.. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not even performative “marketing.” The companies shut down their pipelines and programs. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@JeffreyHain<\/a> Yes, chess is fun and we literally never watch the news anymore. When I was growing up, they were never biased and just reported the news. Now their sole job is the get folks all worked up by reporting negative stuff all the time. Local news is not as bad since they will report good stuff as well (like the local high school team winning a tournament or something). @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@lchasse<\/a> @NeptuneMoon<\/a> The current season of Michael Lewis’s podcast, Against the Rules, is all about the sports gambling industry. It’s scummier than I even imagined. @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@JonDeNunzio<\/a> – agree that local news is a bright light now, compared to what the national news is doing. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes – local news is where it’s at. Much more balanced than national. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@beyondthepaid<\/a> @JeffreyHain<\/a> I am a former journalist who did a LOT of local news in my time. I am with you. But it’s also sad to see how much local news has been hollowed out. @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

True, especially if we’re talking print. Newspapers are not even a shell of what they once were. I used to work in newspaper classified ads – it’s how I got into search, actually – and that’s not even a thing anymore. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@JonDeNunzio<\/a> – I have a journalism degree and have seen how local TV news that impacts people (city, county, schools, etc.) has been replaced by anything that can be defined by a live shot. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@beyondthepaid<\/a> People like you selling ads allowed people like me to do the jobs we did writing, editing, taking photos, etc! I miss it (sometimes). @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haha yes! It was exciting – although I like what I’m doing now better. Less sales. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@JonDeNunzio<\/a> – Agree that ad sales paid for good journalism. I used to run ads in print media for an auto insurance client and they worked well. Then the internet came along and changed pretty much everything. I still subscribe to the L.A. Times (print and online), but it costs almost $1,500\/yr (haven’t threatened to leave) because of my background — and fact my father worked for the L.A. Times as a copy editor and columnist. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q4: Switching gears – this week Elon Musk added more companies to his lawsuit targeting companies which he says unfairly boycotted advertising on X (formerly Twitter) – What are your thoughts on this both as a PPC professional and on behalf of your clients\/brands?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Travesty. Free market absolutionist suing companies for…what exactly? @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest concerns I have about this is Google has X inventory – is he going to sue Google into forcing X into all inventory types\/sue brands who exclude him? @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has never made any sense to me. How does it not get thrown out of court immediately? @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He paid for the current administration – Trump wouldn’t let himself be brought up on charges, why would Elon? @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Total BS – it’s a free market – companies can and should be able to advertise or not advertise wherever they want. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need our legal PPCers because I have no idea about this from a legal standpoint, lol. Mentally on the surface from a legally ignorant person it feels like the person who spilled coffee on themselves going after McDonald’s, but that is from a zero legal experienced person. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The person who spilled coffee on themselves won a LOT of money in that case from McDonalds though…@revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I uh, would suggest looking into the McD’s coffee lawsuit. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always thought my responsibility was to test different media properties and use those that provided positive ROI. It’s not to spend on a site where my brand loses money. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@lchasse<\/a> common sense test holds true. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, I think he’s doing it for publicity. but there is a real concern Trump would actually push his appointed judges to enable the madness @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He thrives on publicity. Why he bought Twitter and fucked up the algo to amplify himself. Edgelord with money.@BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does anyone here run ads on X? If so, how’s it going? @JonDeNunzio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not intentionally. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I won’t say no if it makes sense. It just rarely does. And rarely did, even when an equally awful person ran it. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do not see a path to victory for Twitter here. If I were defense attorney my sole exhibit would be video of him telling advertisers to go eff themselves. But what do I know\u2026@NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haven’t been on it in years because it’s never been particularly effective, but agree I wouldn’t say no if asked for a good reason. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

@ferkungamaboobo<\/a> They did win, so figure there was something there, but just on the surface again felt funny to me to win millions for spilling coffee. By that measure I should be worth a lot more than I am today. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also agree with @navahhopkins<\/a> and he is probably just doing it to keep his name active in the news. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to talk about Zuckerberg pulling controls away from Meta advertisers as he continues to erode facts. it’s just as important as the lawsuit. both of them are trying to outevil the other. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a more serious note, I think the effect is meant more to be chilling on free will of businesses rather than a legal victory? @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would worry if he won though. Could platforms come after brands if they did not feel the platform worked for them. Shoot could they come after us for saying how their platform performs poorly for our brands? Then I would worry big time! @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In any other era, I’d say no. but this is the Trump Era. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Would we get sued for expressing our opinions about how the different platforms worked or did not work for our clients and brands then???? @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elon pushed out the head of the FAA (flight control) who was fining his company for safety. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I need to have faith in the courts to do what is legally right. \/fingers crossed. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tort reform was largely a lie. Would suggest even a cursory look at the case to change your mind on the spuriousness of the claims. I do think that non-US understandings of libel play into this. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then a plane crash happened..@navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The playbook is simple: “Your claims about thing over there are invalid. Therefore, I will make an equally invalid claim as a PR move and a bullying tactic.” @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now the conversation is about validity and not whatever people were talking about. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agree that it seems that we’re being ruled, governed, and operating from fear. And the playbook is to create more fear. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said publicly if companies don’t advertise on x they can “go fuck themselves” so we did. We’re a little busy now, was he interested in us advertising on there again? @JuliaVyse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Q5: Is there anything else on these topics that you\u2019d like to discuss?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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I feel like Amazon has managed to keep out of the news surprisingly well. But they have turned evil just the same as every other platform. I mean Bezos even had a physical transformation from friendly bookseller to Lex Luthor. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon does manage to fly all the way under the radar. It is impressive. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though they are spearheading the enshitification of the internet in a major way. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things I’m hopeful for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. This and other communities where we have a safe space to talk.<\/li>
  2. Data transparency with ad platforms when we work with them. Getting Google to change their tune about PMax API was a huge weight off my shoulders in feeling like there was no hope.<\/li>
  3. Being able to help folks who need help and DESERVE help. In this era, we can afford to be choosier on who we work with. Let the crazies out themselves, we’ll help other brands<\/li>
  4. Buy in from Optmyzr leadership for more data studies: I’m actively working on three really big projects and will share more soon, but just knowing I have the buy in means a lot.<\/li>
  5. My work life balance: now more than ever, is the time to focus on the people and things that matter. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Self-care is going to be more important than ever. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    @BorisBeceric<\/a> Amazon lost a lot of prime members in the wake of the election. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I promise you all, this will always be a safe place to talk about anything. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Microsoft also did a decent job of staying out of the limelight. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    @navahhopkins<\/a> yes they didn’t even show up to the inauguration. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I am hopeful for a good glass of wine after dinner tonight after this conversation, lol. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It’s the social media platforms that got hit hard. The other big ones sort of skated by. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Perhaps the question is what, in this environment, gives you hope? @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As consumers, we vote with our wallets. I’m no longer a Meta customer or Amazon customer. I wish I could pull out of Google and Microsoft but at this point I can’t until I go run my dog rescue. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    People. Always has been, always will be.
    If I can influence my little group and leave this place a bit better, than it’s been worth it.     @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I can’t get my wife off of FB; she’s a first grade teacher and interacts with other teacher groups. I told her BlueSky, but she’s stuck. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Despite all the evidence to the contrary over the past 5 years, I do still believe in the goodness in people. To not would be to give in to things I refuse to give in to. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    @JeffreyHain<\/a> that’s the reason to get her off. I confronted my own addiction during lights out meta (which was only a week) @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Honestly, it’s tough – there are some support groups for rare diseases etc on FB that are literally a lifeline for people. They stay because of that. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    OMG @navahhopkins<\/a> I talk about that all the time, lol. I want to retire and just do something either with pets or veterans full time, because really I probably never want to retire. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A lot of school stuff is run through FB too. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It took an additional week to stop the facebook cravings. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Honestly, I’m off X and don’t miss it at all. @JeffreyHain<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I don\u2019t go on FB very often at all, but for school related stuff these days. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once I do retire, I will have zero social accounts to my name. Everything will be deleted, lol. I may have to celebrate that day hard. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One day I’ll just quite out of the blue, move to a cabin in the woods and play my guitar all day. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I do worry about forests and trees. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Still don’t have Meta back on my phone after LightsOutMeta, but I agree there are a lot of important things on Meta and on Google too. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    @lchasse<\/a> this is the way! @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I still believe that most people are good at heart and have good intentions. @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Me too @BorisBeceric<\/a> except I’ll play clarinet instead of guitar. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So one thing that someone said to me is that you can also choose to do less with platforms and brands you are disappointed in too. It does not have to be all or nothing as we also have to survive. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I’ll dance to all of your music. @navahhopkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    @beyondthepaid<\/a> \u00a0not very rock’n roll of you LOL @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Haha I know – but I can play Big Bad Bill is Sweet William Now by Van Halen on clarinet, so. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, last week I bought everything I would have purchased at Target at Wegmans instead. And I messaged Target\u2019s social team to let them know I had. @NeptuneMoon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We in tech tend to be very granular with approaches. @ferkungamaboobo<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    @beyondthepaid<\/a> I’ll join you with my trombone (and guitar lol – but obvs not both at once) @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    @BorisBeceric<\/a> \u00a0I already have my acreage up in Maine in the woods. We have just been waiting on building our house there. I don’t want to rent it if it is our personal house and I don’t want another property to take care of so we are waiting. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    First thing I play on every guitar I pick up is Unchained. @BorisBeceric<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I dabble in trying to learn piano, but I am terrible still…. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Piano is hard! I never got the hang of it. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Yeah, my finger coordination is not very good with either guitar or piano. @lchasse<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Duolingo teaches Music now @revaminkoff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I can play the clarinet with 20-something keys but not the piano, oddly. @beyondthepaid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    PPCChat Participants<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n