Maine House Passes What Would Be Toughest US Data Privacy Law

On a 71-68 vote the Maine House yesterday sent LD 1822 - "An Act to Enact the Maine Online Data Privacy Act" - on to the Senate, where a vote could be taken as early as Tuesday next week.

If this bill becomes law it will go further than any state data privacy law now in effect to limit the use of consumers' personal data in marketing.

Internet companies controlling or processing personal data of 35,000 or more Maine consumers would fall under the jurisdiction of the Act.

On top of the rights given to consumers in existing laws of other states, the Maine act would give consumers the right to obtain a list of all third parties to whom their personal data have been provided.

Consumers would also have the right to opt out of the use of their personal data for certain purposes including targeted advertising, selling, and profiling to be used to support automated processes which can produce legal or other significant effects for the consumer.

Furthermore the Act would permit the Maine Attorney General to proceed with enforcement actions against data controllers and processors without advance notice or an opportunity to make corrections.

If this Act would harm your business in any way, get on the phone to your State Senator and Representative before Tuesday please..

Traditional and Social Media Expected to See Greatest Tariff-Related Ad Spend Cuts

Advertising and consumer spending drive much of the US economy. But in the current century to date, two significant rounds of tariffs in 2002-2003 and 2018-2020 resulted in higher consumer prices and reduced ad spend.

A new report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) finds that 94% of advertisers expect new tariffs to lead to reduced ad spending in 2025, and projects that spend in traditional and social media will see the largest cuts.

Ad spends on CTV, audio, paid search, podcasts and online video are projected to be least affected.

57% of ad execs surveyed said they are "extremely concerned" (57%) or "somewhat concerned" (37%) about tariffs having an adverse impact on ad spend in 2025.

Expected magnitude of ad spend reduction which is expected to peak in mid-2025:

• 6% - 10% (cited by 60% of respondents)
• 11% - 20% (22%)

Adjustments advertisers said they plan to employ in 2025 to address financial constraints imposed by new tariffs include:

• Reducing overall ad spend (45%)
• Increased focus on performance-based campaigns (35%)
• Shift to more measurable digital channels (29%)
• Adjust campaign messaging (28%)
• Negotiate for more flexibility (21%)

Separately, AdAge reports that US ad employment fell by 900 jobs in April - the fifth consecutive month of ad job losses. But there's increasing demand in digital marketing roles.

Google Updates Ads Transparency Policy

On Wednesday this week Google announced a change to its Ads Transparency Policy to be rolled out in 2 phases:

In May 2025, for verified advertisers, Google will begin displaying the Google Ads account payment profile name to identify who is paying for the ads, if that name is different from the verified advertiser name. For verified agency accounts, the client payment profile name will be used as payer name if different from the verified advertiser name.

Agencies currently incorrectly identified as direct advertisers will need to correct their information and re-verify before 31 May 2025.

Beginning in June 2025, advertisers will be able to edit the displayed payer name in the billing section of their Ads account. After that, any changes you make to your payer name will display in place of your payment profile name. If you create a new Google Ads account, your payment profile name will be displayed as payer unless you change it during advertiser verification.

Google says this change is being made to increase accountability in advertising.

Go here to see more about the Google Advertiser Verification Program.

UXPA Boston 2025 Conference

From UXPA Boston:

"We are excited to bring together professionals from all over the world ... to discuss the latest trends and techniques in user experience design. This conference will feature insightful presentations, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities to help you further develop your skills and expertise.

"Our local professional conference encourages our community to share their knowledge and experience. Conference programming consists of presentations in various formats like lightning talks, keynote talks, local speakers, and workshops.

Conference will be held 8 AM - 5 PM on Friday 9 May at the Sheraton Boston Hotel at 39 Dalton Street in Boston.

Schedule:

Onsite registration 0730

Breakfast 0800

Event begins 0900

Grab and go box lunch (sometime - ?)

Keynote Speaker

• Luke Wroblewski, MD/Sutter Hill Ventures, formerly Google Product Director

Ticket prices:

Early Bird through 4 April: $349, Students and Unemployed $115

After that $399, Students and Unemployed $130

Group rates available

Go here to register: https://event.fourwaves.com/uxpabos2025/registration

Email here for more information: conference@uxpaboston.org

I'd expect to see more of an agenda later.

New Hampshire seeking PR and Travel Trade Services in Canada

On Monday, 24 February the State of New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) issued RFP BEA 2025-10 seeking Public Relations and Travel Trade Services for Canada

Goals stated by BEA are:

• Serve as BEA's PR and trade relations rep in the Canadian market
• Develop and execute a brand-aligned PR program complementing BEA's advertising and marketing campaigns

Term of the non-exclusive contract would be 2 years July 2025 - June 2027 with option to renew through June 2029.

Schedule:

• Vendor inquiry period 2/24 - 2/27 12 PM
• Agency responses to inquiries 2/28 5 PM
• Proposal due 3/20 2 PM
• Notification of selection 4/9 (est.)

Scope of work:

Public Relations:

• Create, implement and manage for 12 months through regional and national media relations outreach and hosting a program that supports NH's promotional campaigns. resulting in trackable media coverage. Plan will:
  • Generate positive exposure for NH through consumer and industry media measurable by ROI and qualitative measures
  • Include robust and creative support for a niche consumer ad campaign
• Plan and execute a media and trade reception in Montreal or other market to be agreed upon
• Create media target lists for print, online and broadcast
• Facilitate a visiting journalist program including a minimum of 6 individual press trips annually

Travel Trade:

• Create, implement and manage a 12-month travel trade strategy
• Develop and maintain a travel trade target list
• Facilitate meetings and trainings with travel trade
• Develop and create quarterly newsletters for the travel trade
• Coordinate and manage in-market consumer and trade shows
• Coordinate and execute NH presence at events

Administratively:

• Provide translation for content and promotional materials
• Work with BEA on special projects
• Maintain industry memberships
• Store BEA's promotional materials
• Hold bi-monthly and quarterly meetings
• Track and report media coverage
• Prepare monthly, campaign and annual reports
• Participate in NH-based conferences and events

Sole point of contact for this RFP is:

Brittany Littlefield

Brittany.L.Littlefield@livefree.nh.gov

RFP contains the usual fine print about Debarment, Validity, Non-collusion, Public Disclosure, etc.

Proposal scoring:

• Company experience and results 30
• Experience and qualifications of staff 25
• Strategic thinking/planning/innovation 25
• Familiarity with NH and NH tourism 10
• Budget 10

Oral interviews will be conducted if necessary.

"Vendors are advised that this is not a low bid award."

Submitting proposals

Send electronically in searchable PDF format one full proposal and one with all confidential information redacted to:

Brittany.L.Littlefield@livefreenh.gov

cc: amy.O.Bassett@livefrreenh.gov

Subject line must contain RESPONSE TO RFP: Canadian PR/Travel Trade Services

RFP contains more fine print about what proposal must contain: Form P-37, contractor data sheet, etc.

Nowhere in the RFP could I find a dollar figure.

But like BEA's RFP 2025-09 for US PR services, this looks like a pretty valuable job.

Comment: Looks like NH is getting a jump on Maine and Vermont in taking action to counter the adverse effects of Donald Trump's recently announced plans for a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and maybe also annexing Canada as the 51st US state. See more about this over at TourismMarketer.com here:

www.tourismmarketer.com/ar...llations-37274-thread.html

And go here for more on how Google Ads and SEO will up your tourism game.