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LG Ad Solutions' survey on CTV ads: an eye-opener for brands?

With the increased adoption of connected TV (CTV) and over-the-top (OTT) platforms among audiences, a significant number of brands in the market

Americana’s phygital vault for the public: a gateway to limitless possibilities for brands? 

With NFTs acting as a bridge between brands and their communities, even though it is relatively new, more brands have started to utilise them at scale to explore their potential. 

Phygital toolkit from Faith Tribe: an innovative move to unite the best of both worlds!

The platform seeks to support fashion designers, artists, and small businesses by offering an innovative toolkit that brings together digital and physical solutions. This extensive toolkit will allow fashion designers to develop, produce, market, and share their creations seamlessly.

Audiences flock to ad-supported streaming platforms. Brands, are you noticing?

With the expansion of digital platforms and changing consumer preferences in recent years, the streaming video industry has

Attention-grabbing innovation in CTV advertising, paving the way to connect with viewers like never before!

Due to the ease of access to an array of content options, CTV’s popularity among consumers is only growing. Although it is already known that CTV viewers are mostly younger generations, the data from eMarketer shows that older demographics are not an exception, and they are also gradually switching from traditional TV to CTV.

Roku partners with Shopify, unlocking new possibilities for users and brands!

The usage of streaming services among audiences has phenomenally increased, especially post-pandemic. The convenience and flexibility it provides to watch hundreds of TV shows and movies anytime invariably attract audiences to shift towards it from traditional TV.

App Games - Coin Drop from Taco Bell drives Loyalty and Engagement

Taco Bell has brought its Coin Drop Game back, but in a digital format. The Coin Drop game was a popular counter-top game from the aughts (2000 to 2010) where a customer could drop a coin into a water-filled

Digital Doppelgangers are here - Avatar comes to Meta and Spices up Video Calls

Meta is adding Avatars to Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. In a bid to draw more people into a more advanced digital space and the metaverse, Meta brings digital characters that people can use to represent themselves (or Avatars) there. Meta is pressing forward to a metaverse future and this is one way to draw people there.

BMW Motorrad takes Motorcycle Passion on a Virtual Reality MetaRide

BMW Motorrad has launched MetaRide, a VR platform and is creating waves in the motorcycle industry. MetaRide is a great point where mobility and technology meet. It gives bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts a great new, unique opportunity to ride the new BMW CE 02 electric motorcycle virtually.

Lemonade for the Younger Demographic – a sweet Experience indeed!

Lemonade has released its first brand campaign with three 30-second spots in a bid to position itself as a smarter and a more modern option compared to traditional insurance companies. Some of its competition includes the much bigger and larger Progressive, State Farm and Geico.

Video game advertising: a real game-changer for businesses?

As technology advances, digital platforms proliferate, and the business world is being fuelled by innovations from AI to VR to Web 3. As an impact, audiences have a myriad of options to spend time on, and their expectations are just mounting.

The rise of phygital experiences: a new normal for businesses to thrive?

With Digital adoption growing significantly in recent years, the demand for meaningful customer experiences has also invariably increased

Beyond what one dreams or imagines – the future of retail

The retail landscape, like everything else, is changing. With emerging tech like Web3 and generative AI in the picture, the changes are hugely disruptive and life-changing. There is a new digital-only generation that is gradually growing in spending power. That is also a generation that closely watches a brand’s position (either inferred or stated overtly) on various social, political and most importantly environmental issues, before buying from them.

Web3 and Women’s Football - Credit Suisse scores!

Credit Suisse, the Swiss investment banking giant is launching non-fungible tokens or NFTs, together with the Swiss Football Association (SFA). They are partnering together to give women’s football a step up or a boost. The NFT collection set to launch on July 11th.

Booking.com gets intelligent and chatty!

The Online travel booking platform Booking.com has been bitten by AI. It has launched an AI trip planner that uses Open Ai’s ChatGPT, which is based on a large language model (LLM). This beta version is available only in the US and is meant to give customers a conversational and interactive experience when they plan their trips.

The influence of an influencer – it goes phy-gital

The rapper Snoop Dogg is at the center of new summer marketing efforts from brands. Some are physical – while others are digital. Corona and Jack in the Box are two brands partnering with the rapper, who has a long list of brand work and partnerships.

Lacoste’s novel game with NFT: something brands must pay attention to!

Industry leaders are racing to make long-lasting impressions among their target market by striving to reshape the communication landscape between their customers and themselves by bringing out the digital revolution.

Multi-sensory Marketing and Mastercard

Typical marketing strategy includes the use of two senses – sight and sound.
Mastercard took it to a whole different level by including the other senses as well.

Of Smart Spoons, Taste and the Metaverse

Scientists in Meiji University in Tokyo have invented a smart spoon that when powered on, can send a weak electric current via electrodes embedded in the tip of the spoon to simulate a person’s taste receptors present on his tongue.

Anything Flows – Slurpee re-branding goes one step further!

The rapper Flo Milli and 7-Eleven have released a Slurpee-inspired song called “Anything Flows.” The song also features Kari Faux, 2Rare and Maiya the Don. 7-Eleven is also asking its fans on TikTok and Instagram to put their own unique twist and spin on this song – the best entries will have a chance to be included in a future re-mix of “Anything Flows”!

Roblox is buzzing as Fenty comes to town

Fenty Beauty is stepping into a Web3 space! Fenty Beauty is already known for the way it takes to new digital platforms for marketing. Now the popular beauty brand has launched its first campaign on gaming platform Roblox.

AI- Powered Celebrities – Artificial Intelligence goes full glam!

Jennifer Lopez is Virgin Voyages’ chief lifestyle, entertainment and celebrations officer. Since she does not have the time to call all Virgin’s customers and co-ordinate trips, ‘Jen AI’ does it instead.

Kroger’s Precision Marketing to launch a self-service Ad Platform soon!

Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) will soon launch an enhanced self-service ad platform – which it says will make it easier for advertisers to activate, measure and optimize campaigns.

Brands and AI-Generated Content – is this the Future?

A new survey found that customers preferred AI-generated slogans over the ones created by humans. AI created slogans for many big brands including Skittles, McDonald’s and others, and pitted them against the ones generated by humans. It was found that some of them were really clever and did much better than the ones that humans came up with. But some didn’t do as well.

TikTok Trends and their impact on Brands

No product is safe from the absurd humor of Gen Z. McDonald’s recently launched a Grimace Birthday Meal that includes a choice of a Big Mac or 10-piece McNuggets with fries, along with a purple milkshake. This was just a couple of weeks ago.

Simply the best - Hip-Hop, QR Codes and a Deep Engagement

Hip Hop is 50 and Sprite is celebrating with QR codes and social spend. The beverage brand is diversifying its media mix in a bid to appeal to Gen Z and millennials and honor the 50th anniversary of hip-hop music. They have a 30-second ad spot that features Nas, Rakim, Latto and GloRilla on connected and linear TV.

Artificial Intelligence and Commerce – the best is yet to come!

AI is completely changing the landscape of everything that it touches. Some brands are using this emerging tech to transform their businesses. They experiment with video or ad copy.

Taking an Iconic set of Kicks to a Web3 World

Nike has launched “Airphoria” in Fortnite - a unique, first-of-its-kind gaming experience on Web3. Partnering with Epic Games on a multiyear deal, Airphoria is an effort to combine Nike’s iconic Air Max with the possibilities of the immersive Web3 world on Fortnite. 

The Power of AR-Powered Ads in an AR-Powered Game!

Niantic, an augmented reality (AR) gaming company, has unveiled a new in-game ads product called Rewarded AR. Through this, players can engage with branded AR experiences that will un-lock in-game rewards. This is powered by Niantic’s AR development platform, 8th Wall.

LVMH plays Games on Web3 – say what?

The luxury brand LVMH has struck a deal with Epic Games on its digital journey to Creative Transformation.

Denon raises the Bar - launches Personalized Ear-Buds for Customers

Denon has new ear-buds that the brand says will bring more personalization to their customers’ ears.

Lululemon scores with the Dupe Swap – this TikTok trend could benefit other brands too!

Lululemon hosted a “Dupe Swap” in Los Angeles to promote its Align leggings this spring. At this event, customers could take their

Chick-fil-A brings the beloved Cows back to drive Loyalty

Chick-fil-A’s cows are back and they are here to promote the trivia game that aims to help the chain’s rewards program

Is AI a friend or foe? Machine Uprising or a friend to brands?

Geoffrey Hinton, the man who is widely seen as the father of Artificial Intelligence quit about a month ago, after issuing a

Nielsen makes a smart move, leaping towards unprecedented accuracy and simplicity in analytics.

In the media ecosystem, particularly for advertising on TV, it is critical for all parties involved to understand the users’ viewing

The Fabricant and Highsnobiety Collaborate on Web3 with Limited Edition Wearables

Highsnobiety, the street-wear brand and The Fabricant, which is an NFT luxury fashion brand, are launching a Web3

The Pin Drop Pizza from Domino’s

Pinpoint Delivery is the latest offering from Domino’s Pizza – which now can deliver pizza anywhere to a pin on the map!

When Customer Experiences take on a Regional Flavor

Starbucks opened a unique store at Al Seef in Dubai, the oldest part of Dubai. The store has a thatched roof, traditional

Looking at the World through a Different Lens – Mobiles, AR and Brands

Augmented Reality experiences on mobiles offers immersive and interactive experiences to users and comes with

When AI meets CX – DEI becomes very do-able

For businesses today, to integrate the essence of DEI in their very fabric is essential for success and sustainability.

Hoka’s Murmuration flies High!

Hoka is launching its first and largest (so far) global integrated marketing campaign, after crossing $1 billion in sales.

Google says Aye! Aye! To AI

Google has announced two new offerings for brands. One is an AI-powered AR Try-On process – which will give

Puma goes deeper into Web3

Puma is celebrating its 75th-anniversary by expanding its web3 presence, and creates an always-on retail shopping experience for its customers.

Adidas puts its best foot forward into Web3

Adidas Originals collaborates with one of the most innovative artists in the Web3 realm, FEWOCiOUS, to bring its fans a unique original collection of physical and digital products, and they are releasing a limited edition Trefoil Flower Mint Pass to celebrate!

Staying Spiritually Loyal - Santo Spirits’ Web3 Loyalty Program

Santo Spirits is stepping into the world of Web3, in partnership with Trident3 and introducing a pioneering loyalty program

J. Crew gets Futuristic as it celebrates its Past

J. Crew is 40 years old! And in celebration of this milestone anniversary, J. Crew has launched an inaugural immersive

The Rise of the Machines - AI and Marketing

GroupM, in its 2023 Global Mid-Year Forecast predicts a 5.9% growth in the international ad industry, despite the

Shaking off the old and putting on the new - Slurpee gets a Makeover

7-Eleven is doing a re-design on its Slurpee. The beverage now has bright and bold colors and a whole new vibe. It is a part of a

Going in Blind – lack of transparency in AI media buying platforms

Marketers today are forced to use AI-powered media buying on platforms while being skeptical if AI truly does what is best for the campaign

The Burger Wars – McDonald’s vs. Burger King

McDonald’s and Burger King are at war, thanks to an AI ChatGPT campaign!

Ikea Bags Customers with a Frakta Statue

Ikea has a brand-new bag! Everyone knows its Frakta bag – and now Ikea plans to build 19-foot statues of its iconic Frakta bag in New York, Chicago

Nostalgia fuels McDonald’s Forward

Two months after it brought the Hamburglar back, McDonald’s has brought another classic character back on the scene

I’ll tell you what I want – what I really, really want: Pinterest for the win!

Pinterest is truly in a unique position now. It is deluged by users who come there with an active intent to find and buy new products or

Walmart Connects with Customers – sell where they buy!

Walmart is testing a whole bunch of new in-store advertising formats through Walmart Connect, the retailer’s U.S. advertising division.

Vision Pro from Apple – VR for the rescue?

It is finally here! Apple has unveiled a device that everyone has been waiting for, for almost a decade. The extended reality headset

Cars.com takes influencer marketing to a different level

Cars.com celebrates its 25th year with a major re-design (its first ever), brand campaigns and a media mix that includes influencer

Videos and marketing – the long and the short of it!

PrettyLittleThing, the fashion retailer for women is having their YouTube channel given a complete makeover the production agency

Keeping it Real - Beauty Connects with Gen Z

Gen Z is a large lucrative audience for beauty brands. Brands like E.l.f. Cosmetics are showing giants like Estée Lauder

Linear or streaming: who will win the throne?

Undeniably, with the wide adoption of streaming services by consumers, it has become super-popular in the space of entertainment

Moosehead gets a new look – of brands and re-brands

Moosehead Breweries is getting a re-design, incorporating a modern take on the older historic elements that aims to make its iconic

From vanity to value: How significant is it to take influencer marketing to the next level?

Getting audience attention has become increasingly difficult for brands in today’s online world due to the insurmountable

Instacart gets insta-smart with AI

Instacart has announced that it has started to roll out an artificial intelligence powered search tool that leverages ChatGPT

New Logo and new outlook for Cars.com – keeping pace with the changing times!

Cars.com has a new Logo and a campaign to complement upgrades to its website. The 25-year-old online auto marketplace is

Brands and Social Media Marketing

Aspire did a Survey which found that YouTubers made the most revenues from brand deals even though most creators preferred Instagram.

Sell Insurance to those who don’t need it? State Farms shows you how!

State Farm, the Insurance Company is here with ‘Gamerhood Challenge’ for the second time with bigger challenges and

Disney and Google take AI to their Advertising – raising the bar and how!

At the recent State of TV advertising conducted by Adage, among all the discussions that happened, the role of AI

Gen Z and Car Shopping – dealers, are you ready?

The Harris Poll asked customers about their expectations and experience in buying a car and here are the results

Culture and Gen Z and a new kind of marketing strategy

Culture is at the center of marketing these days – and it can go either way depending on the way it is handled. There is sustainability

Walmart ad biz grows and grows! Watch and Learn!

Walmart Connect is Walmart’s U.S. advertising division. It saw a sales increase of nearly 40% in the first quarter of fiscal year

Diversity Marketing – the true way to be relevant to your customers

Black-owned media company executives had some very interesting points that they raised during the Ad Age’s State

TikTok gets a Tako when AI comes on board!

Tako is the new AI Chatbot on TikTok. It aims to help serve relevant content to users and also be a source of more information for users.

Bacardi embraces the AR wave: will it drive the campaigns to new heights?

Although some big names in the industry have begun to scale back their experiments with web3 and the metaverse, many well-known brands such as

Reddit's impact on app downloads takes flight. How can marketers capitalize on the opportunity?

The advancement in digital technologies enables people to live in a unique world where they can look beyond their own neighbourhoods and find social media and online communities to participate in various interesting talks.

Kroger’s digital smart screens – hitting a home run on customer engagement and innovation

Kroger along with the tech company Cooler Screens is enhancing its in-store shopping experience, with digital smart screens in 500 of its stores across the US. Very soon, hundreds of Kroger stores across the US will have

Is the metaverse taking a backseat? Will it take off in the future?

The buzziest topic in 2021 and 2022 in the tech industry is none other than the metaverse. And, particularly after Mark Zuckerberg adopted Meta as their

Winning Customer Loyalty during an Economic Downturn

Restaurants especially fast food chains, want their customers to think of their apps the next time they want to get some burritos

Ocean Spray partners for the Absolut win! It is not just Hershey!

Ocean Spray has announced new collaborations taking snacking and cocktails to go, to a whole new level! The farmer-owned co-operative has announced two collaborations - a chocolate-covered dried fruit line

The right partners can take brands places – smart lessons for the marketer of today

Screenvision has tied up with TikTok in a bid to connect brands and the younger demographic.

The CMO and 2023 – Do more with Less!

Gartner has released a new report of a survey that probes into the mindset of a CMO against the backdrop of a difficult economy.

Ready to level up your marketing game? Take a leaf out of Bose’s marketing book.

Creators are unquestionably changing the way digital marketing works, and collaboration between established brands and creators is only growing.

Web3 or not Web3 – that is the question!

The feverish frenzy that once gripped everyone like a wave has perhaps died down. But that does not mean that brands have abandoned Web3 as was seen at Ad Age’s Web3 Marketing Summit held recently.

Disney brings true friendships to life – Marketing with Augmented Reality

As part of its Disney100 celebration, Disney has launched a fabulous exhibition called Wonder of Friendship: The Experience. This is a pop-up exhibition with interactive areas built with themes from classic Disney films and character friendships.

Metaverse or AI? Where does the future of marketing lie?

It is AI not Web 3 and all its wearables and collectibles that will have a lasting impact on the marketing landscape according to Coca-Cola. 

Survey from eBay ads gives ecommerce marketers some smart insights

Spring is in the air and with it comes a whole lot of home and garden makeovers. Shoppers clamor at their favorite ecommerce sites.

Unskippable Ads from YouTube may be Unstoppable!

At the YouTube Brandcast event on Wednesday, YouTube announced that it was going to add 30-second unskippable ads to top-performing content watched on connected TVs. And TV advertisers now

Full-funnel audio marketing strategy: will it level up the game for marketers?

According to Nielsen's Commspoint Influence, audio influences 45% of listeners to make a purchase, outperforming TV, social media, video, and other media.

Struggling to find AI use cases for your brand? Take a leaf out of Carvana.

Since the launch and popularity of ChatGPT, generative AI has been the subject of much hype in the industry.

NFL's Strategic Partnership with Gen Z Influencers: A Game-Changer for Brand Marketing to Younger Audiences

As social media continues to pervade our lives, influencer marketing has emerged as a critical strategy for brands seeking to reach their target audience

Metaverse: a potential path to transform the future of the customer experience?

According to Gartner, 25% of people will spend at least one hour per day in the Metaverse by 2026.

Meta comes with more AR experiences: get a step closer to your audiences!

Over the past year, Meta has enhanced its ad sales tactics, particularly as it has diminished the metaverse in favour of focusing on its core business, which includes running advertisements on its platforms such as Instagram,

The See-Now / Buy-Now phenomenon – live shopping is in the house

When you think about it, it is something like the Home Shopping Network experience all over again. While the concept remains the same, the channel is completely different.

NewFronts 2023: A Quick Roundup for marketers!

The IAB NewFronts’ 2023 presentations kicked off in the first week of May. All the big names in the industry, from Meta, Snap, and Google to Roku and Peacock, participated and presented at the event.

What’s on the cards? Multi-cultural marketing

One of the hot trends on TikTok is the “pick your card” where one person shows multiple cards of pieces of paper which has different destinations

Take a leaf out of affiliate relationships: increase accountability of influencer marketing

Although influencer marketing and affiliate marketing work with different strategies, both have been ruling the marketing world lately.

Clarks' metaverse comeback: a wake-up call for marketers?

In the year 202l, the Google search for the term "metaverse" multiplied by many folds, and everyone was excited about the transition of everyday activities to the metaverse. It meant different things to different people.

Retail Media – watch it take wings and soar!

One would think that Meta would have met its match in Alphabet or something. But no – its retail media!

Roku offers valuable real estate to brands – what marketers need to know

It is the month of May and the time for NewFronts and all the big brands are out there to flex their muscles and tell the world of advertisers what juicy promises they have for the future.

Marketers and Snap’s My AI – what brands need to know

Snap has big plans for AI-brd ads in its My AI Chat which it shared in its NewFronts showcase for advertisers. It said that it was testing out the idea of “sponsored links” in My AI – this is very similar to Microsoft testing ads in Bing Chat.

Amazon brings Ad targeting to brands – it’s the jackpot!

With the dawn of May comes the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s NewFronts! The exciting annual four-day series of events gives digital advertisers a first look at all the latest digital content from the biggest names in media and entertainment.

F*#k it! Profanity and Marketing

Here we are – thinking profanity was offensive and not parliamentary language that can be used, certainly not in marketing parlance and there comes a study that proves us all wrong!

Is Microsoft’s AI-powered designer tool something marketers must pay attention to?

Few months ago, Microsoft announced Designer, a Canva-like web app. It can create designs for presentations, digital postcards, and other materials for social media and other channels. It uses user-generated content and OpenAI's text-to-image AI, DALL-E 2, to create designs, with drop-downs for further customization.

Combination of AI and metaverse: A new beginning for brands and marketers?

Artificial intelligence and the metaverse are both prominent technologies that have the potential to improve people's lives and increase the efficiency of many business processes.

Beauty Week in the Metaverse – it is a whole new world!

Glamor comes to the metaverse. And how! The world’s first ever Metaverse Beauty Week is coming soon. It is a five-day festival featuring a whole bunch of beauty brands

Streaming TV takes a dip – what must marketers do to stay on track!

Things were different when the Pandemic controlled our lives. People had no choice but to stay home – and streaming TV made a killing.

Google announces a drop in ad revenues – is this the beginning of the end?

The unthinkable is happening. There is an unprecedented downturn in Google’s Ad revenues, its main money spinner in over 20 years!

Is Gen Z the marketers’ savior amidst a looming recession?

Everybody is talking about a bad recession and an economic downturn that is looming upon us. This has put most people on alert mode, with people choosing to limit their spending to just the essentials. Some people are cutting back on even that.

SMS marketing gains traction: how can marketers reap the best of it?

KBP Brands, a KFC franchisee, is expanding its SMS marketing capabilities across its 847 U.S. locations after testing its targeted mobile messaging in over 160 different cities late last year.

The Magic of AI in Marketing

AI is the newest, smartest and the shiniest new kid on the block. It is ubiquitous and transforms everything it touches, like magic! Marketing is no exception to this.

A new trend is evolving around RMNs and streaming media. Marketers, are you noticing?

Disney Advertising and Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM), Kroger's retail media division, have recently announced their partnership. As part of the deal, KPM will share its first-party shopper data for targeting

The Bud Light Backlash – a modern day marketing story

A couple of Instagram posts by the influencer Dylan Mulvaney has caused all hell to break loose as it were. There is backlash online, all kinds of

Multi-cultural Marketing – the only way to market in a multi-cultural world

America looks different now – no, not the buildings and the landscape, but the people!

Amazon’s Friction Economics – what marketers can make of that!

Amazon is legendary – and everyone knows that. They are known for their massive product inventory and customer service that hits it out of the park every single time.

Metaverse and Gucci – a great marketing plan

Gucci and Vans have both built experiences on Roblox before, albeit separately. Now they are back there again – but this time, they are together.

Beck’s celebrates with an AI beer – sheer marketing genius

Beck’s, the AB Inbev-owned beer brand turned 150. To celebrate this, Beck’s didn’t look back on its long journey to celebrate but looked ahead.

ZA Bank goes into crypto – will Web 3 rise from its ashes?

At a time when everyone eyes anything connected with Web 3 as if it were something the cat dragged in, here is some news!

Amazon’s “Sound it Out” campaign – helping tackle mental health issues in youngsters.

The Ad Council is partnering with Amazon’s ad division to play music through Alexa to pave the way for parents / adults / care givers to talk to young people about their mental health.

Should you bundle products in your campaigns? Take a page from Conagra.

Getting together a huge meal for the whole family during the holidays can be stressful. The endless meal preps and the actual cooking and serving.

Marketing with Technology - a boon for Beauty Brands

Beauty brands face quite a challenge in today’s multi-channel world inhabited by digitally evolved customers. The demand for large amounts of content suitable for various channels and which will increase customer engagement can be overwhelming for brands.

Let’s get phygital – Absolut goes to Coachella. Again!

Absolut Vodka goes again to Coachella – this time also on the metaverse! During a time when AI and ChatGPT put some serious concerns in the minds of people about metaverse – is it dead? Is it dying? Is this the end of metaverse? – Absolut Vodka returns to it for the second time!

Ad-supported media engagement fades: what are its implications for brands and advertisers?

PQ Media, the world’s leading provider of media econometrics, has recently released its research on global media consumption.

When Dermatologists endorse your brand – CeraVe and expert influencer marketing

In today’s creator economy, Influencers are good for your brand. They bring the elements of social proof, credibility and trust to the mix. When the influencer is an authority or an expert in the field, it raises things to a whole different level.

AI in marketing – is it the end of creativity?

It seems as if it is right out of a Sci-fi movie – and it is here! I’m talking about AI it appears to be all-pervasive.

Easy Pizza on CarPlay from Domino’s – marketing lessons from the giant’s latest move

Domino’s pizza has managed to turn cars into pizza ordering devices with Apple CarPlay – where an app turns the car’s infotainment system into a connected iOS device.

Marketing beyond the Super Bowl

Marketers! There is life beyond the Super Bowl. There! I said it! Sacrilegious as it sounds, it is true!

Walmart’s new website – marketing lessons to learn from its race against Amazon

Walmart has a new website and app. In a bid to make them more engaging and personalized, they have swanky images and catchier names for categories, deals and promos on their home page – their gardening section is called “green thumbs optional”.

Costco’s in-store displays – a tale of omnichannel marketing possibilities

Brands create campaigns to get the attention of their audiences and draw them to their products. But most often, once the customer is enticed walk into the store, the story ends.

Trust and Target – a lesson in marketing for brands

Gen Z is all about trust. They grew up in a landscape of political, social, technological and economic flux which understandably has shaken their ability to trust a brand or its promise at face value.

DOOH: A ground to explore for advertisers?

With the streets starting to be crowded with people post-pandemic, marketers started to increasingly incorporate digital out-of-home advertising into their media strategies.

Coachella on YouTube: A big game is on for brands and marketers!

YouTube has recently revealed that it will livestream all six stages of Coachella, one of the most popular music festivals in the world, for the first time.

Amazon is expected to buy AMC theatre chain. How much of an impact will it leave on marketers.

Amazon considers a takeover of movie theatre chain AMC. The shares of AMC Entertainment Holdings reportedly increased by more than

Walmart adds one more arrow to its quiver – marketers, watch and learn!

Walmart is always about big business. And now it only will get bigger. In a National TV spot that is a first for Walmart, the mammoth retailer and wholesaler brought its partnership with

Disney exits the Metaverse – is this the beginning of the end?

Everyone thought it was phenomenal – a new, highly immersive experience that was going to take people beyond the current two-dimensional experience of browsing, viewing, working, socializing and interacting with others.

Levi’s tryst with AI and DEI – something every marketer must watch out for!

Levi’s made a big announcement recently. They said that they are tying up with Lalaland.ai, which is a digital fashion studio that ‘builds models’ – customized models that are AI-generated.

The Rise of the Machines – marketing implications of AI and fast-food drive-thrus

AI is slowly trying to find its level. Like water, it seems to flow to find new avenues; forge new paths and find its place in various receptacles. And it learns and adapts as it goes along, until it finds its spot and it settles, creating an oasis, as it were.

Granfluencers – marketing built on authenticity and trust

When you think of influencers, you almost automatically conjure up the image of a twenty-something peddling beauty products or clothing. Not someone who is almost 100 years old.

Marketing in a sea of dark patterns

Dark patterns are ubiquitous. And most marketers don’t even realize that they are responsible for them.

Roblox's new ad policy changes: Does it postpone the metaverse experiments for marketers?

Roblox recently updated its rules with significant changes to its advertising policies in response to an FTC complaint. It includes the restriction on developers' ability to market to users under the age of thirteen.

L’Oréal’s strategy to keep up with trends-something brands must watch out!

L’Oréal, the undisputed leader in the global beauty market, is focusing on more social listening this year in order to quickly tap into emerging trends.

GM’s double-down on zero-party data—something for marketers to take a leaf out of

General Motors, with its zero-party data strategy, is attempting to make breakthroughs in the automotive industry.

Catching and keeping your audience’s attention – every Marketer’s Angst

Attention is precious. Capturing it is not easy. Keeping it is a whole different game of chess. So content which not only attracts the attention of users, but keeps

Coke invites users to Create Real Magic with AI – sharp marketing lessons for every marketer

A few weeks ago, Coke announced that it was going to tie up with Bain & Company to explore the use of AI, creating a huge amount of anticipatory buzz in the industry and among its fan-base.

AB InBev wins Cannes Lions Creative Marketer Award, twice in a row – big lessons for every brand

AB InBev wins the Cannes Lions “Creative Marketer Award” this year - and they are the first brand to have ever won the award twice!

Getting radio advertising on board, like P&G: A way to success for marketers!

Procter & Gamble is a major player in the packaged consumer goods industry. In spite of having multiple options to reach target audiences, the US FMCG giant has now taken radio as their prominent choice.

Macy’s floats some Main Character Energy – and teaches an important marketing lesson

Main Character Energy is a huge trend right now among Millennials and Gen Z. If your TG includes these two demographic groups, then you should know what it is and include it in your marketing strategy.

Zeus and a BMW EV – the magic of one of the most-watched spots ever!

It has been rated as one of the three most-watched video ads. The 60-second spot is about a car and Zeus and his wife, who have had to move to Palm Springs.

Audi test-drives Dynamic Destinations – a good case for Location Based Marketing

In some very exciting news for marketers, KERV Interactive (KERV), a leading AI-powered digital advertising platform, launched Dynamic Destination. Audi of America was the first advertiser to test-drive KERV’s Dynamic Destination, doing an OTT ad campaign with PHD Media, a global media and marketing communications agency.

Get ready for “March Madness” with Twitter’s insights to ramp up engagement

As the NCAA 'March Madness' Tournament is around the corner, Twitter has released some new insights to assist marketers. It helps them tap into the surrounding conversation and maximize their brand’s reach among March Madness fans.

Hilton’s success with long-form TikTok videos burst the bubble for marketers

Last week, Hilton Hotels' 10-minute-long video went viral on TikTok. The success of the video is prompting the industry to reconsider its TikTok marketing strategy to include long-form content.

Beer Giants woo the Next Gen – a Marpov Xclusive

It did not happen overnight. But slowly the odd “I don’t like drinking because it made me feel sick” or the “gosh! Drinking is expensive”, was no longer a stray comment – but almost a trend.

Miller Lite gets its S#!t together for Women’s History Month

Women’s history month is here! And what better way to celebrate it than have Miller Lite turn all old sexist beer ads into fertilizer! They are calling it the changing of “bad s#*t” into “good s#&*t”!

Nissan and TikTok Now take on March Madness – Smooth Marketing Move!

Nissan is introducing the new TikTok feature – the TikTok Now – into its campaign for the NCAA’s March Madness Basketball tournaments. Nissan comes back as the official sponsor of the NCAA’s March Madness this year again, with its all new Nissan Ariya as the official EV.

The rising need for MarTech for SMBs and mid-market companies: What does it signal to marketers?

The 2023 edition of the marketing technology landscape is underway. Scott Brinker, HubSpot's VP of platform ecosystem, and Frans Riemersma of MarTech Tribe publish the MarTech technology landscape edition every year.

Levi’s 501 Jeans turns 150 – Marketing Lessons from The Greatest Story ever worn

Levi’s celebrates the 150th anniversary of its most iconic pair of jeans, the 501, with a cinematic campaign, “The Greatest Story Ever Worn!”

The rise of the De-influencing Trend: How should brands handle this?

In recent weeks, a new trend known as "de-influencing" has gained momentum in social media with the massive trending of the hashtag "de-influencing."

Heavy Metal and Grannies – takeaways from a commercial for Iced Tea!

Liquid Death has launched a line of iced teas, in its own unique iconic way.

From Hookups to Heaven – Gen Z and Tinder’s new campaign

Tinder has always been known for hookups. Now in a big bold move forward, it is repositioning itself as a platform that goes way beyond hookups to meaningful relationships.

Connecting the dots on Lufthansa’s poster campaign – brands and unethical advertising

Lufthansa’s Ad campaign where it claimed that it was protecting the future of planet Earth, has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK advertising watchdog. ASA has ruled that Lufthansa was misleading consumers, particularly about the environmental impact of flying.

Leveling the Playing Field – Brands and Women’s Sports

There is a popular notion that men’s sports are more competitive and exciting. This contributes to a larger audience at events, larger media spends and wider coverage. But that is slowly changing.

Spotify testing NFT-Based Initiative: Will it unlock new revenue-generating opportunities for brands?

Spotify, an audio streaming platform, is testing a new feature called "token-enabled playlists." It enables holders of non-fungible tokens to connect their wallets and listen to curated music.

Live commerce: The Future of Online Shopping?

The popularity of social commerce is gaining traction for livestream shopping. Instead of a television network, customers are now doing their shopping on social media and retail platforms ranging from Walmart to Amazon.

Where’s the beef? The real beef in the Wendy’s March Madness Commercial

March Madness is around the corner and Wendy’s campaign for it is built around its old, iconic, highly-nostalgic line “where’s the beef?” with a twist – Square’s the beef!

The Beer War Commercials – is this something Advertisers should dabble in?

Molson Coors’s Miller Lite ran an ad with a cyclist pouring a random generic can of light beer on her face with a voice-over that said - “Light beer shouldn’t taste like water. It should taste like beer.”

The Farmer’s Dog wins gold at the Super Bowl – key takeaways for the discerning marketer

The commercial from the premium dog food company, The Farmer’s Dog, has earned USA Today’s much coveted Ad Meter title as the top audience favorite in this year’s Super Bowl.

Authentication Badges from Meta – Do Brands really need one?

Meta has recently launched a subscription service called Meta Verified. Through "Meta Verified," users can verify their identity and will be able to add the coveted blue checkmark to their Instagram and Facebook accounts for up to $15 per month.

TikTok Tests In-App Check-Out: How Relevant Do We Think This is for Brands to Boost Sales?

TikTok has quietly launched its new in-stream commerce initiatives in the United States. It is a long-awaited in-app checkout feature for brands and marketers looking to capitalise on the #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt trend.

Pin it – Longer Idea Pins from Pinterest. Will it be Any Beneficial for Marketers?

Pinterest has introduced longer video clips in its Idea Pins increasing the duration from 60 seconds to five whole minutes!

Radio Gets a New Wave of Media Spending. Why Should Radio be Part of Your Campaigns?

According to a new report published by Radiocentre, commercial radio had a record year for revenue in the UK, rising by 2.8% in 2022.

ChatGPT Handles Giant Spoon's Super Bowl Tweets. What is the Takeaway for Marketers?

Marketing agency Giant Spoon recently announced that ChatGPT will be the brains behind the agency’s Super Bowl tweets this year.

YouTube Introduces Cost-Per-Hour Masthead for Super Bowl LVII. Levels up the Marketing Playing Field.

YouTube introduced the Cost-Per-Hour Masthead, allowing brands to purchase the platform's most prominent placement in a new ad format that will be on display during the Super Bowl.

Drop in Disney+’s Q1 earnings – big lessons to be learnt!

Disney+’s Q1 earnings are not good.

The company reported a drop of 2.4 million subs from 164.2 million the previous quarter. This is the streamer’s first subscriber loss since their launch in 2019.

Quora’s Poe: Making Marketers sit up and pay attention to conversations about their Brands

There are two main types of video ads: in-stream and out-stream. In-stream ads, also known as pre-roll and mid-roll ads, are displayed alongside a video. Whereas out-stream describes video ads that appear independent of any editorial video content.

Michelob Ultra’s First Shoppable TV Ads, Leaning on QR Codes for the Big Game

Instacart and Michelob Ultra collaborated to create shoppable television commercials to coincide with Anheuser-Busch InBev's Super Bowl LVII advertising. This is the first major CPG co-marketing campaign for Instacart, North America's leading grocery technology company.

Google Tests Chatbot-Style Google Desktop Search Results. Race of AI Dominance is On.

Google has reportedly begun testing a new desktop search page design that incorporates chat technology. Following the launch of and reaction to ChatGPT in December, Google CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly issued a "code red," recognising that the technology posed an immediate and significant threat to Google's search business.

Transition of Influencer Marketing: Project-Based to Long-Term Approach

Marketers seek longer-term relationships with influencers as well as influencer marketing agencies as influencer marketing matures. The change comes as marketers shift away from project-based approaches toward a longer-term vision. Nowadays, influencer marketing agencies have started to participate in strategy meetings alongside other agencies.

Google faces an Antitrust Lawsuit for Abusing Monopoly in Online Advertising

The United States Department of Justice has just filed its second antitrust lawsuit against Google. It accuses Google of illegally abusing its monopoly over the technology that underpins online advertising. This new lawsuit, which seeks to force Google to divest parts of its online advertising business, is the first filed under the Biden Administration against the company.

Brands Shift Towards TikTok at the Expense of its Rivals

TikTok has captivated the interest of brands and advertisers with over 850 million global users. Beyond brand awareness and engagement, TikTok's immersive full-screen, sound-on formats, as well as its diverse video content and community, offer massive potential for brands.

What is IAB’s New Multi-State Privacy Agreement?

In the forthcoming months, companies in the US will have to adapt to five new state-level privacy laws. This includes CCPA, the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA, already in effect as of January 2023), and all the others going into effect in 2023; the Colorado Privacy Act (CoPA), the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CDPA), the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA), and Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA).

Alchemer Acquires Apptentive, Helping Enterprises Facilitate Customer Feedback with Ease

Alchemer, a global leader in experience management and enterprise feedback technology, recently announced its acquisition of Apptentive, the industry leader in mobile feedback technology.

Google and Meta Advertising Dominance fades amid growing competition

Google and Meta's advertising market share fell below 50% for the first time since 2014, to 48.4% in 2022. That figure is expected to fall to 44.9% by the end of 2023.

CES 2023: 4 Trends that will shape the future of marketing

After two years in a row with dips in attendance, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was held in full fervor from January 5 to 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. The show floor in Las Vegas was filled with buzzy, headline-grabbing products, gizmos, and gadgets. But the real value of this world’s largest show is how it lays out the vision for where marketing and technology trends may go in the future.

Instagram Updates its UI, Kicking the Shopping Tab Out of Home Feed

Instagram recently announced that it would remove the Shop tab from its main navigation bar. Technically, Instagram is making a few minor tweaks to the app layout and thereby updating its UI.

Reddit Future Tellers Research Revealed at CES 2023: Helping Brands Predict Future

Reddit has already announced its "Future Tellers" marketing insights event for CES 2023. Now, following that, at the CES 2023 event in Las Vegas, Reddit released a special report with insights for brands.

MarTech Stacks and Digital Experience Trends in 2023

As the world enters 2023, brands and marketers must stay on top of MarTech trends in order to keep their marketing priorities on track.

A Bright Outlook for Social Media in 2023 despite Economic Uncertainty

Amid persistent economic woes, an ongoing war, and a series of controversies, social media remains a top digital marketing channel. Over half (58%) of marketers increased their spending on social media in the last quarter of 2022, as per new Advertiser Perceptions findings shared with Marketing Dive.

Mailchain now supports Unstoppable Domain, easing communication in the Web 3.0 space

Mailchain, the developer of the Web3 communication layer, has recently partnered with Unstoppable Domains, the leading provider of NFT domains. Mailchain users, new and old, can now send and receive messages using wallets with Web3 domains such as crypto, nft, x, wallet, bitcoin, and dao.

The Rise of Video and Audio Marketing Mediums

Video and audio content have both benefited the marketing industry in numerous ways. Instead of consumers staring at a dull landing page, sound and visuals pave the way for the future of marketing.

Japan’s Crackdown on Stealth Marketing and Its Repercussions on Influencer Marketing

Japan is set to regulate stealth marketing, whether conducted offline or online. Stealth marketing is a practice that involves paying influencers or celebrities to advertise a product or service under the guise of a genuine opinion.

IAB’s Revised Guidelines for In-Stream vs. Out-Stream Ads and its Implications for the Advertising Ecosystem

There are two main types of video ads: in-stream and out-stream. In-stream ads, also known as pre-roll and mid-roll ads, are displayed alongside a video. Whereas out-stream describes video ads that appear independent of any editorial video content.

How the Rise of Virtual Influencers and AI will Transform Influencer Marketing?

As influencer marketing is expanding rapidly, several businesses are experimenting with new ways to leverage creator content.

Bot Traffic Hits High this Holiday Shopping Season - Time to Go Beyond Analytics Base Code Implementation

Retailers and e-commerce marketers were rejoicing at record sales during the Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday seasons. Although the growth has been promising for bottom lines, some researchers suggest that all the holiday shopping traffic might not be coming from humans.

Black Friday Sales Hit a Record 9.12 Billion: What Lies Ahead?

With Thanksgiving dinner served, and Black Friday Shopping done, what’s next?

OTT & CTV - The Cornerstone of Holiday Marketing 2022

The Holiday Season is in full swing and so is the marketing that goes with it.

Hive Social - The New Social Media App to Keep on your Marketing Radar

Elon Musk's tumultuous Twitter takeover has prompted millions of users to flee the app into the warm, welcoming arms of alternatives. The search for the next big social media app is now on.

Google updates its ‘Consent Mode’ and Helps Advertisers Manage Privacy Permissions Better

Google rolled out new updates to the Consent Mode. These are visible on the Google Ads conversion page. The new features will assist advertisers in configuring and troubleshooting Consent Mode.

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