# Insights

> Research articles and 2026 market briefings.

Source page: https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights
Updated: 2026-10-24

Research and market briefings written by FOCUSADS strategists. Each article states its author, reviewer and review date.

- [Optimise SaaS trials to activated accounts](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/saas-trials-optimise-to-activation): Which free-trial event a software company should give Google, Meta and LinkedIn to bid on, given each platform’s attribution window and import limits. (published 2026-11-03)
- [Hotel direct bookings start with free links](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/hotel-direct-bookings-free-links-first): Independent hotels should set up Google free booking links and click tracking before paying for hotel ads or Meta travel ads, then judge each by cost per booking. (published 2026-10-27)
- [UK advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-gb): DUAA cookie exemptions, PECR fines up to £17.5m and the January 2026 less healthy food ad restrictions: what UK advertisers need to change. (published 2026-10-18, market GB)
- [US privacy rules for advertisers in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-us): Three new state privacy laws, California ADMT and risk-assessment rules, and what they mean for US targeting, measurement and data use in 2026. (published 2026-10-18, market US)
- [Canada news, tax and ad rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-ca): Meta still blocks news in Canada, Google funds publishers under the Online News Act and the DST is rescinded. What it means for Canadian media plans. (published 2026-10-18, market CA)
- [Australia’s under-16 rule and advertisers](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-au): Since 10 December 2025, major social platforms must stop Australians under 16 holding accounts. What it means for audiences, targeting and youth brands. (published 2026-10-18, market AU)
- [New Zealand’s IPP3A and lead generation](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-nz): From 1 May 2026, IPP3A requires notice when personal information is collected indirectly. What it means for bought lists, enrichment and lead ads in NZ. (published 2026-10-18, market NZ)
- [Ireland’s advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-ie): Alcohol broadcast limits, alcohol labels pushed to 2028, the first Online Safety Code investigation, plus EU political ad and AI rules for Irish advertisers. (published 2026-10-18, market IE)
- [Singapore scam and safety rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-sg): The first OCHA directive to Meta, the new Online Safety Commission from June 2026, and what they mean for advertisers verifying accounts in Singapore. (published 2026-10-18, market SG)
- [Philippines 12% VAT on digital ads](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-ph): Since June 2025, nonresident digital service providers charge 12% VAT on services consumed in the Philippines. How it changes ad budgets and invoices. (published 2026-10-18, market PH)
- [Germany’s consent and ad rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-de): Germany’s consent management ordinance and first recognised consent service, plus EU political ad and AI labelling rules for German advertisers. (published 2026-10-18, market DE)
- [Austria’s ad taxes and rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-at): Austria taxes online ads at 5% via the Digital Tax and classic media via the Werbeabgabe. 2026 data, EU political ad rules and AI labelling for advertisers. (published 2026-10-18, market AT)
- [Switzerland’s tobacco ad and consent rules](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-ch): Swiss tobacco advertising rules since October 2024, the revision due in early 2027 and Google’s consent rules for Swiss traffic: what advertisers need to know. (published 2026-10-18, market CH)
- [France’s cookie fines and influencer rules](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-fr): CNIL fined Google €325m and SHEIN €150m in 2025 over cookies and Gmail ads. Plus France’s influencer law and EU political ad and AI rules for 2026. (published 2026-10-18, market FR)
- [Belgium’s gambling ad ban and 2026 rules](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-be): Belgium bans most gambling advertising, stadium ads since 2025 and shirt deals from 2028. Plus EU political ad and AI labelling rules for Belgian advertisers. (published 2026-10-18, market BE)
- [Netherlands gambling ad limits in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-nl): Dutch online gambling operators lost untargeted ads in 2023 and sports sponsorship in July 2025. EU political ad and AI rules for Dutch advertisers in 2026. (published 2026-10-18, market NL)
- [Italy’s influencer code and 2026 ad rules](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-it): AGCOM’s 2025 influencer guidelines and code of conduct, fines of up to €600,000 and a register for relevant influencers. Plus EU political ad and AI rules. (published 2026-10-18, market IT)
- [Spain’s influencer rules and 2026 ad changes](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-es): Spain’s Royal Decree 444/2024 brings large influencers under audiovisual law, Autocontrol’s updated code from October 2025, plus EU political ad and AI rules. (published 2026-10-18, market ES)
- [Sweden advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-se): Sweden in 2026: EU political ad rules, Konsumentverket influencer guidance and Google consent requirements, with the checks to run before launch. (published 2026-10-18, market SE)
- [Norway advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-no): Norway in 2026: the retouched-advertising label, EEA consent rules for Google ads and what EU political ad rules mean for Norwegian brands. (published 2026-10-18, market NO)
- [Denmark advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-dk): Denmark in 2026: EU political ad labels, platform withdrawals, DSA oversight and EEA consent rules, and how they change a Danish media plan. (published 2026-10-18, market DK)
- [Poland advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-pl): Poland in 2026: UOKiK fines for hidden influencer ads, two-level labelling, EU political ad rules and the room for Allegro Ads in a media plan. (published 2026-10-18, market PL)
- [Czech Republic ad rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-cz): Czech Republic in 2026: EU political ad rules, DSA oversight, EEA consent for Google ads and why Seznam Sklik belongs in Czech search plans. (published 2026-10-18, market CZ)
- [Türkiye advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-tr): Türkiye in 2026: the amended advertising regulation from 1 August, influencer and AI ad labels, discount-price rules and the lower digital service tax. (published 2026-10-18, market TR)
- [UAE advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-ae): UAE in 2026: the Media Council advertiser permit for creators, visitor permits, media law fines and how brands should vet creator partners. (published 2026-10-18, market AE)
- [Saudi Arabia ad rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-sa): Saudi Arabia in 2026: the Mawthooq creator licence from GAMR, disclosure of paid partnerships and how brands should set up creator campaigns. (published 2026-10-18, market SA)
- [China advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-cn): Mainland China in 2026: internet advertising measures, PIPL compliance audits since May 2025, network data rules and the domestic ad platforms to plan on. (published 2026-10-18, market CN)
- [Hong Kong advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-hk): Hong Kong in 2026: PDPO direct-marketing consent, what silence does not count as, and how to build consented first-party audiences for paid media. (published 2026-10-18, market HK)
- [Japan advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-jp): Japan in 2026: the stealth marketing ban, the first enforcement order, labelling paid reviews and creator posts, and where LY Ads fits a plan. (published 2026-10-18, market JP)
- [South Korea ad rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-kr): South Korea in 2026: KFTC endorsement guideline changes, PIPC privacy policy rules and why NAVER and Kakao sit next to Google in Korean plans. (published 2026-10-18, market KR)
- [Brazil advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-br): Brazil in 2026: CONAR’s new influencer guide from June, child-focused ad rules, ANPD transfer rules and where Mercado Ads fits a media plan. (published 2026-10-18, market BR)
- [Mexico advertising rules in 2026](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/policy-2026-mx): Mexico in 2026: the new private-sector data protection law in force since March 2025, the end of INAI, and how to keep ad audiences and CRM data compliant. (published 2026-10-18, market MX)
- [Reaching US cabinet distribution buyers](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/us-cabinet-distribution-purchasing-channels): Trade shows, trade titles, LinkedIn targeting and search that can reach purchasing managers in US cabinet and millwork distribution, and how to test each. (published 2026-10-17, market US)
- [When retail media beats paid social](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/retail-media-vs-social-by-category): Category conditions under which retail media sponsored products should take budget from paid social, with a contribution model and the measurement to request. (published 2026-10-17, market US)
- [Measuring offline media honestly](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/measuring-offline-media-honestly): Geo experiments, matched markets, QR and vanity URLs, brand search lift and marketing mix models for offline media: what each can show and where each stops. (published 2026-10-17)
- [Qualify property buyers before cutting CPM](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/real-estate-qualification-before-cpm): Why high-ticket real estate campaigns should define and capture buyer qualification before optimising CPM or CPL, and how US housing ad rules limit targeting. (published 2026-10-17, market US)
- [Why platform ROAS overstates profit](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/break-even-roas-ecommerce): Why a 4.0 platform ROAS can lose money: returns, fees, attribution windows and non-incremental sales. A worked model and a test plan for ecommerce teams. (published 2026-10-17)
- [Where a Google-and-Meta plan stops working](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/channel-availability-by-market): NAVER, Kakao, LINE Yahoo, Seznam, Allegro and Mercado Ads from official sources, plus the China and Russia gates, for multi-market plans. (published 2026-10-17)
- [When DOOH or retail media earns a place](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/dooh-retail-media-local-mix): Entry conditions for DOOH and retail media in a local acquisition mix, the break-even lift a geo test must show, and the measurement standards to ask for. (published 2026-10-17)
- [B2B lead volume against qualified pipeline](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/b2b-lead-volume-vs-qualified-pipeline): Why the cheapest B2B leads rarely become pipeline, how to set the bid event by sales stage, and a model of cost per lead against cost per SQL. (published 2026-10-17)
- [Marketplace ads or your own site](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/marketplace-ads-vs-owned-site-economics): Referral fees, fulfilment, ad cost per order and repeat purchases: a per-order model for choosing between marketplace ads and owned-site campaigns. (published 2026-10-17)
- [Channel and measurement choices by market](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/cross-market-channel-decision-framework): Five gates for choosing channels per market, why fewer markets with readable budgets win, and how attribution, lift tests and MMM differ. (published 2026-10-17)
- [Optimise lead generation to closed sales](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/crm-outcomes-lead-generation): Why lead campaigns that optimise to form submissions attract low-quality leads, and how to send qualified and won outcomes from the CRM back to ad platforms. (published 2026-10-17)
- [How consent shapes UK and EEA measurement](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/uk-eea-consent-measurement): How consent requirements in the UK, EEA and Switzerland affect conversion tracking, audiences and reporting, and what advertisers should check before launch. (published 2026-10-17, market GB)
- [Clear healthcare ad policy before you buy](https://focusads.si/en-gb/insights/healthcare-policy-gates): Healthcare advertising rules differ by country and platform. A checklist for clinics and medical-tourism providers before campaigns launch in new markets. (published 2026-10-17)