What's Hot In Digital

Tired of watching Meta performance slide while the same three creatives fight fatigue? We lay out a clear, practical framework to thrive under Andromeda by turning creative diversity into a repeatable system. No jargon, no fluff—just the ten pillars that help you build a deep ad library, discover new angles, and keep the algorithm fed with ideas that actually convert.

We start by sharpening positioning with us versus them and features and benefits that prove value in the real world, not just the spec sheet. Then we move through problem solution storytelling, high-trust UGC with smart br...

Meta just flipped everything you know about ad targeting on its head. The Andromeda algorithm update means creative now controls who sees your ads - not your audience settings.\n\nJames Walker (Managing Director at WHD) sits down with Thom Riley (Senior Paid Social Specialist at WHD) to break down what's actually changed and how we're adapting our entire approach.\n\nWhat We Cover:\n• Why your old campaign structures are about to fail\n• The creative volume shift - from a few ads to 8-10+ variations per month\n• How Meta now treats your ad account as one full-funnel journe...

Here's what we're seeing: brands slash organic budgets when paid spend ramps up, but they're actually sabotaging their own conversion rates.James Walker chats with Kayla Sylvester about why organic social isn't just nice-to-have content - it's the conversion fuel your paid campaigns desperately need.What We Cover:• Why your ad clicks aren't converting (hint: check your page)• How organic audiences become your highest-performing remarketing pools• The behind-the-scenes strategy that tripled one brand's sale conversions• Why employee-generated content is outperforming big-budget creative• The quarterly vs monthly content split that's working right now────────Worried your paid budget is working harder than it should?WHD combines org...

TikTok's new filtering system is making it easier than ever for users to block promotional content - and that's a problem for brands.James Walker, Managing Director at WHD, and Kayla Sylvester, Head of Organic Social at WHD, break down what this means for your content strategy.What we cover:• Why TikTok's enhanced content filtering could kill your reach• The specific promotional triggers that make users hit 'block'• Whether the tiny landscape video trend is worth your time (spoiler: probably not)• Why your content needs to work across every part of the platform────────Worried your TikTok content is getting flagged as too promotional?WHD h...

Are you burning through budget without actually growing your customer base? Most brands think their Google Ads are performing well, but they're just recycling the same customers.James Walker (Managing Director at WHD) and Brent Neale (Google Ads Specialist at WHD) break down the settings and strategies that separate new customer acquisition from remarketing spend.What We Cover:• Why your Performance Max campaigns might be wasting 70% of budget on existing customers• The customer acquisition settings most agencies don't even know exist• How brand campaigns are inflating your conversion data• Simple audience exclusions that completely change your results────────Tired of ads that look good on paper...

Most businesses struggle with Facebook lead forms - they get volume but terrible quality. Here's how Steph generated 1100 qualified leads at just $26 each in 6 weeks.What We Cover:• Why choosing 'higher intent' over 'more volume' changes everything• The 6-question formula that maintains low CPA while improving quality• How conditional logic filters out unqualified leads before you pay• The Zapier setup that turns 1100 leads into manageable workflow• Why most agencies get lead form quality completely wrong────────Tired of Facebook leads that never convert? Steph has released a course that will teach you her exact method: https://whd.au/master-meta-lead-generation-course/ ────────Hosted by James Walker – Managing Director at WHDGue...

Ever search for your own business and wonder why your ads don't show up? You're not alone - and there's actually good reasons why this happens.James Walker (Managing Director at WHD) and Tia Scott (Google Ads Specialist at WHD) break down exactly why your ads might be invisible to you, even when they're working perfectly.What We Cover:• Why new campaigns seem to disappear when you search for them• The impression share trap that catches most business owners• How Google's audience signals work against you as a business owner• Why clicking your own ads is sabotaging your budget• When you should...

Your Google Ads budget is stuck on the same 5% of products while 92% of your inventory gets ignored. Here's the exact strategy that broke a 7-figure ecom brand out of stagnation and delivered 15% year-on-year growth for the first time in years.James Walker (Managing Director at WHD) and Brent Neale (Google Ads Specialist at WHD) break down the product distribution method that's working right now.What We Cover:• Why 4,500 SKU brands hit spend ceilings (and how to break through)• The script that automatically sorts products into performance buckets• When to kill underperforming products vs when to scale winners• Why your 'best sellers...

Meta just quietly rolled out Threads as an ad placement - but here's the catch: you can't see what your ads look like, you can't track performance, and they're already spending your budget there.James Walker (Managing Director at WHD) and Thom Riley (Senior Paid Social Specialist at WHD) break down why this launch feels half-baked and what it means for your ad accounts.What We Cover:• Why Meta's own preview tools don't show Threads ads• The tracking blackout that's hiding your spend• How this mirrors TikTok's problematic Pangle rollout • The simple campaign structure to test Threads safely• Why our Meta rep w...

If your social strategy is only focused on content pillars, you’re probably leaving reach and engagement on the table.

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, James is joined by WHD’s Head of Organic Social, Kayla, to break down the difference between reach content and nurture content — and how finding the right balance between the two can drive real brand growth.

This is the framework we use across all of our organic social clients to grow audiences and build brand loyalty without relying on paid...

Google Ads is rolling out a new AI-powered feature called AI Max — and it could signal the next big shift in how search campaigns are run.

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, James is joined by WHD’s Google Ads Specialist, Brent Neale, to break down everything we know about AI Max so far, how it compares to Performance Max and DSA, and what advertisers should expect once it’s live.

This isn’t just another feature — this could change how you structure your search strat...

Think your Meta Ads are driving new customers? Think again.

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, James is joined by WHD’s Senior Paid Social Specialist, Thom Riley, to break down one of the most common issues we uncover when auditing ad accounts: budgets being quietly burned on existing customers instead of acquiring new ones.

We’ll walk through the strategies we use to reduce wasted spend, take back control of your targeting, and scale new customer acquisition profitably.

Here’s what we cover:
 • How to properly exclude existing customers u...

If you’re not checking your negative keywords regularly, your Google Ads campaigns are leaking budget — fast.

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, James is joined by WHD’s Google Ads Specialist, Tia Scott, to break down the exact negative keyword process we follow to clean up traffic, improve conversion rates, and get more out of every dollar spent on Google Ads.

We’re not talking theory — this is the day-to-day work that actually drives better results.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Why most accounts waste budget on irrelevant or...

Thinking about using content creators to boost your brand’s reach and credibility?

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, WHD’s Social Media Coordinator, Miller Kerta, joins James to unpack how brands can source, brief, and manage creators to get high-performing content — without inflated costs or overhyped influencer deals.

Whether you’re running paid ads or building your organic presence, this episode will show you how to do creator partnerships the right way.

Here’s what we cover:
• The difference between creators, influencers and ambassadors (and why it matters)
• How to f...

Your TikTok content isn’t getting the reach you expected — and you’re not alone.

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, WHD’s Organic Social Media Coordinator Emma Swan joins James to break down what’s really working on TikTok right now — and why most brands are still getting it wrong.

You’ll learn:

• Why deleting low-performing videos could be hurting your reach

• How to use trends the right way (without chasing empty views)

• What TikTok looks for in native content

Want to get hired in digital marketing? This episode breaks down exactly what stands out — and what gets ignored.

We’re joined by Lauren Macdougall, General Manager at WHD and the person behind most of our hiring decisions. She shares real-world insights into how applicants get noticed (and why most don’t), especially for creative, sales, and social roles.

Here’s what we cover:
•Why a well-written, tailored application matters more than AI perfection
•How to stand out in a sea of resumes (hint: almost no one sends a video)
•The biggest mistakes appli...

Google shut down our Merchant Center — no warning, no real reason, no appeal.

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, James and WHD’s Senior Google Ads Specialist Brent Neale unpack what actually happened, what Google’s crackdown on AI content means for advertisers, and what every eCommerce business needs to be aware of before uploading AI-generated product images.

This isn’t just about one account. With ad suspensions up over 300% in the last year, the rules are changing — and Google’s not explaining why.

We cover:
 • Why our Google Merchant Center w...

What’s working in paid social media right now?

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, WHD’s Head of Paid Social Strategy, Steph McGrath, joins James to break down the strategies that are driving performance across lead gen and eCommerce accounts — from high-quality lead forms to AI-powered Advantage+ Shopping campaigns.

Whether you’re running ads for your own business or managing campaigns for clients, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways.

Here’s what we cover:

• The lead form updates that are improving both quality and vo...

If you’re still relying on platform-reported ROAS to measure your marketing success, you’re missing the bigger picture.

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, WHD’s Marketing Director Lana Hill joins James to unpack how businesses should actually be measuring marketing performance — and why most agency reports aren’t telling the full story.

We break down MER (Marketing Efficiency Ratio), the hidden cost of siloed data, and how to understand true return on investment across multiple channels — especially when you’re scaling or testing top-of-funnel strategies.

Here’s what we cover:...

Most businesses are leaking money on Google Ads without realising it. In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, James is joined by WHD’s Google Ads Specialist, Tia Scott, to break down the four simple but critical fixes that can immediately lift your campaign performance.

If you’re running Google Ads — or paying someone else to — these are the settings you need to check.

Here’s what we cover:

Meta is sneakily switching on ad settings that are tanking your results — and unless you know exactly where to look, you’ll never even know it’s happening.

In this episode, James is joined by WHD’s Senior Paid Social Specialist, Thom Riley, to uncover the hidden traps inside Meta Ads Manager. From sneaky auto-enhancements to dangerous copy changes, we break down what to watch for — and what to turn OFF — before your campaigns go live.

If you’ve ever looked at your Meta ads and thought “this isn’t what I set up,” this episode is for you.<...

Google Ads has just launched a new feature called Platform Comparable Columns. While it might sound technical, it’s a game-changer for anyone running Demand Generation campaigns.

In this episode of What’s Hot in Digital, James is joined by WHD’s Senior Google Ads Specialist, Brent Neale, to unpack exactly what this update means, why it matters, and how it can give you a clearer picture of what’s really driving conversions in your account.

If you’re running Demand Gen and not seeing results, this might be why. This new metric gives credit where it’s...