NEW: The government hasn't run a single ad about coronavirus from its official Facebook or Instagram accounts
Or the PM's official account
Or Boris Johnson's personal account
Despite being offered millions in free ad credits by Facebook
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
Or the PM's official account
Or Boris Johnson's personal account
Despite being offered millions in free ad credits by Facebook
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
The government has run six ads from the official NHS account
But they were last updated on 19 March - and given the clear signs of public confusion, the focus on people with symptoms (rather than social distancing or shielding) already looks out of date
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
But they were last updated on 19 March - and given the clear signs of public confusion, the focus on people with symptoms (rather than social distancing or shielding) already looks out of date
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this month that he'd give the WHO "as many free ads as they need" - and promised "millions more in ad credits to other organisations" helping fight coronavirus
Facebook confirmed that includes the NHS and the UK government
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
Facebook confirmed that includes the NHS and the UK government
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
The government is putting out lots of content and is getting record viewings (8m+) for its briefings
But digital experts told me (through gritted teeth) that this was a moment when targeted ads could be really useful
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
But digital experts told me (through gritted teeth) that this was a moment when targeted ads could be really useful
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
I asked the government about it. Here's their reply
Please watch our piece tonight on @SkyNews. We have @carljackmiller and a (good) answer to the question, if you can do this for an election, why not now?
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
Please watch our piece tonight on @SkyNews. We have @carljackmiller and a (good) answer to the question, if you can do this for an election, why not now?
news.sky.com/story/coronavi…
@SkyNews @carljackmiller One final thing that isn't in the piece but really gave me pause.
The govt did launch a coronavirus public info campaign on 2 Feb. It was based around washing hands and always sneezing into a tissue
Here's the poster. Like something from a different age
The govt did launch a coronavirus public info campaign on 2 Feb. It was based around washing hands and always sneezing into a tissue
Here's the poster. Like something from a different age
And there it is: the first UK government ad about coronavirus on Facebook and Instagram
Facebook data says it's had 200-250k impressions from a spend of £200-£299 (not sure why it's listed like that as it should be free)
In ordinary times that'd count as a definite success
Facebook data says it's had 200-250k impressions from a spend of £200-£299 (not sure why it's listed like that as it should be free)
In ordinary times that'd count as a definite success
Targeting data from that ad
As @alexwickham has been reporting, the govt is worried about younger men - but this ad seems to be aimed at older women
No idea if this is meaningful, but a govt source told me yesterday to "watch this space", so we may get a chance to find out
As @alexwickham has been reporting, the govt is worried about younger men - but this ad seems to be aimed at older women
No idea if this is meaningful, but a govt source told me yesterday to "watch this space", so we may get a chance to find out
Detail on that spend figure.
According to someone who's been offered credits, "Donated ad credits still get spent, so the ads still appear to be paid for, they're just paid for with donated credit."
Hardly crucial right right now, but this is good news for FB ad watchers!
According to someone who's been offered credits, "Donated ad credits still get spent, so the ads still appear to be paid for, they're just paid for with donated credit."
Hardly crucial right right now, but this is good news for FB ad watchers!
