Today's Digital Marketing Pulse
Accenture Song acquires creator agency Whalar to boost influencer capabilities
Accenture Song announced the acquisition of Whalar, adding a 170‑person global creator and social team while keeping co‑CEOs Emma Harman and Jo Cronk in place. The deal includes a three‑year strategic partnership that gives Accenture access to Whalar’s talent‑management, technology and venture assets, integrating the creator network with Accenture’s data and AI tools.
Men’s Wearhouse Grows Its Audience Through A Campaign Run Solely On Digital Audio
Men’s Wearhouse partnered with Ovation Group and The Trade Desk’s Kokai platform to run an audio‑only campaign from March to June 2025 across Spotify, iHeart, Acast and Pandora. The effort, aimed at younger, digitally‑first men, leveraged Ovation’s EMRge marketing intelligence and LiveRamp‑enabled in‑store conversion tracking. Exposed audiences saw a 16% sales lift, and 48% of households reached had never seen the brand before. The success helped the retailer broaden its post‑rebrand audience beyond formalwear.
Men’s Wearhouse Grows Its Audience Through A Campaign Run Solely On Digital Audio
Men’s Wearhouse partnered with Ovative Group and The Trade Desk’s Kokai platform to run an audio‑only campaign across Spotify, iHeart, Acast and Pandora from March to June 2025. The campaign, aimed at younger “Stylish Steve” and older “Professional Paul” men,...
Brand Buzz: Social Highlights From McDonald's, Aldi, Guinness and More
Campaign’s Brand Buzz roundup highlights how major brands used social media last month to drive conversation and sales. McDonald’s launched a limited‑time menu item on TikTok, sparking viral user videos. Aldi promoted its new eco‑friendly packaging through Instagram Stories, while...
Thrad Joins AgenticAdvertising.org as Founding Member
Thrad, a leading AI advertising infrastructure provider, announced its entry as a founding member of AgenticAdvertising.org (AAO), an initiative to develop open standards for AI‑powered ads through the Ad Context Protocol. The move comes amid OpenAI’s launch of a high‑cost,...
Lumen Launches New Attention Measurement Solution for Advertisers with Netflix
Lumen Research has teamed up with Netflix to launch an attention‑measurement solution that tracks how viewers engage with ads across Netflix’s ad‑supported CTV, desktop, and mobile platforms. The offering is initially available to advertisers in the UK, Germany, France, Italy,...
Zink Talent: Samantha Zink’s Strategy for Developing Long-Term Creator-Brand Partnerships
Zink Talent, founded in 2018 by former fashion PR executive Samantha Zink, now manages about 70 creators across beauty, skincare, fashion and lifestyle. The agency has shifted its roster criteria from raw follower counts to engagement, consistency and business discipline,...
Comscore and Yahoo DSP Partner to Advance CTV Political Advertising with Proximic Political Audiences
Comscore and Yahoo DSP have launched Proximic Political Audiences, a first‑to‑market solution that merges linear TV exposure data with Connected TV (CTV) targeting for political advertising. The partnership leverages Comscore’s local market measurement, Proximic’s activation platform, and Yahoo’s programmatic inventory...
EXTE Joins Forces with HUMAN Security to Protect Ad Inventory Quality & Integrity
EXTE announced a strategic integration with HUMAN Security, embedding the MediaGuard Ad Fraud Defence solution into its programmatic platform. The joint offering combines pre‑bid mitigation and post‑bid reporting to verify impressions, block bots, and curb invalid traffic in real time....
How to Future-Proof Your Business and Win with AI
Gary Vaynerchuk stresses that the era of blindly paying for ads on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok is over; creators should first test content organically and only boost pieces that outperform their norm. He highlights the shift from "social media" to...
10 Steps To Develop A Content Strategy
The article outlines a ten‑step framework for building a data‑driven content strategy that aligns with business objectives and audience needs. It emphasizes defining SMART goals, deep audience research, competitor audits, and selecting the right content formats. Distribution, repurposing, and a...
The Wires 2026: What Makes an Award-Winning Entry?
ExchangeWire’s The Wires 2026 marks a decade of ad‑tech awards and unveils a globally diverse judging panel spanning EMEA, APAC, MENA and the US. Judges from brands, agencies and publishers emphasize consumer‑centric insight, AI‑driven measurement, and clear ROI as hallmarks...
AppHarbr by GeoEdge Launches the First Index Ranking In-App Ad Networks on Ad Quality & Safety
AppHarbr, GeoEdge’s in‑app ad quality platform, released the first In‑App Network Ad Quality & Safety Performance Index, benchmarking 45 ad networks across 25 billion ads. The study found half of the networks fell short of basic safety standards, with iOS apps...
The Real YouTube Pay Per View: Uncovering Creator Earnings & Latest Rates (2026)
YouTube’s partner program pays creators 55 % of ad revenue (45 % for Shorts), with earnings calculated on a cost‑per‑thousand‑views (CPM) basis. Reported CPMs vary widely, typically ranging from $3‑$5 up to $18 per 1,000 views, depending on niche, audience demographics, and...
Accessibility Can’t Stop at the Shelf: An $18 Trillion Lesson for Marketers by AudioEye
Rare Beauty’s new fragrance launch turned its accessible bottle design into the centerpiece of a marketing campaign, generating organic buzz and consumer goodwill. The brand’s inclusive approach illustrates how accessibility can be a growth engine rather than a compliance checkbox....
How Ford Is Accelerating Its Global Campaign Amid Return to Formula 1
Ford is re‑entering Formula 1 after more than two decades, partnering with Oracle Red Bull Racing and extending its global "Ready Set Ford" campaign. The automaker is abandoning traditional TV spots in favor of Apple TV’s sequential ad format, creating a micro‑docuseries that links F1...
TikTok's 2026 Discover List Spotlights 50 Emerging Creators
TikTok revealed its Discover List 2026, highlighting 50 creators to watch across categories like Educators, Foodies, Icons, Innovators, and Originators. The list acts as both a cultural barometer and a pre-vetted talent pipeline for brands looking to partner with emerging...
Debunking SEO Generative Retrieval Misinformation: Facts Explained
Great post from @dawnieando. And the visuals are killer :) -> Debunking and Demystifying Generative Information Retrieval: Misinformation in The SEO Space Covers 'chunking', information gain, llms.txt, and more. Dawn provides a great breakdown of the misinformation going on today while...
Tinder Jumps Straight Into Bed with VCCP Social Club
Tinder has appointed VCCP Social Club as its UK social and influencer agency of record, following a competitive pitch run by Ingenuity+. The newly launched division, comprising more than 80 specialists, will handle social strategy, creator content, influencer selection and...
Google AI Mode Boosts Recipe Links, Tracking Remains Tough
Finally seeing this live today and I really like it. Much better for recipe publishers... But good luck trying to track that in GSC. Standard rules apply for impressions in AI Mode... I'll see if I can find some data...
Orange 142 Launches Ignition+, an Integrated, AI-Enabled Programmatic Media Solution Focused on Transparency and Efficiency
Orange 142, a Direct Digital Holdings division, unveiled Ignition+, an AI‑powered programmatic platform designed for Fortune 1,000 brands and large agencies. The solution consolidates activation, supply access, optimization and measurement into a single stack, promising greater transparency and a flat‑fee pricing...
British Bosses Now Ask AI Whether They Should Use AI
Confluent’s Quick Thinking 2026 survey of 200 UK CEOs reveals that 62% now rely on AI for the majority of their decisions, and 70% admit to second‑guessing their own judgment when AI recommendations differ. The report shows a shift toward...
Give Peas a Chance, Says Birds Eye, in Fresh OOH Push
Birds Eye, the frozen‑food brand owned by Nomad Foods, has launched a new out‑of‑home (OOH) campaign that puts peas at the centre of its messaging. The “Give peas a chance” creative, devised by Havas London, decorates London Underground escalator ribbons...
How Hoteliers Can Use Reddit to Strengthen Visibility and Brand Reputation
Reddit, while not a traditional marketing channel, now shapes how travelers research destinations and evaluate hotels, often appearing in search results and AI‑driven answers. Hoteliers can leverage the platform by monitoring brand mentions and competitor discussions rather than engaging directly....
AI Generates Full Email Series in Minutes, Replaces $2k Copywriters
🤯 Wrote an entire email welcome series in 8 mins 🔥 AI matched my brand voice 🛠️ 5 emails with subject lines 🤵 Built to convert 📦 Plug straight into Klaviyo This is crushing $2k email copywriters Want the prompt? RT + comment 'EMAIL PROMPT'
‘Create Your Own Rom-Com Moment’: Fnp.ae Reveals Strategy Behind Valentine’s Campaign
Fnp.ae turned the crowded UAE Valentine’s market into a cultural moment with its “Create Your Own Rom‑Com Moment” campaign. The brand deployed a fully integrated media mix—DOOH billboards, premium digital screens, front‑page print, cultural publishers and live radio—to saturate commuter...
Study: Advertisers Face a ‘Paradox of Plenty’ in Measurement
The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and the 4As released a study revealing a "Paradox of Plenty" for U.S. advertisers: abundant data and sophisticated tools have not translated into higher confidence in media measurement. Surveying 197 senior marketers, the...
Sallie Has An Ad Business And Meta Is Declining Credit Cards
Meta confirmed it will drop credit‑card payments for ads next month, moving advertisers to invoice‑only billing to curb fraud and the “cashback loophole.” At the same time, student‑loan giant Sallie introduced Backpack Media, a retail‑media network that sells ad inventory...
Personalisation without Paranoia
The marketing industry’s long‑standing belief that more data equals better personalization is being upended by AI and privacy regulation. In the Middle East, the Personal Data Protection Law forces companies to redesign systems around contextual, real‑time signals rather than persistent...
The Big Creator Breakout in 2026 | Behind the Numbers Special Edition
In this special edition of the eMarketer podcast, Principal Analyst Max Willins reveals that U.S. creator earnings are projected to hit $21 billion in 2026, nearly doubling since 2022 and outpacing traditional web‑publisher revenues. He explains how creators have moved from...
Ep. 210: Why Authority Now Matters More Than Visibility in B2B Content
In this episode, host Christian Klett talks with award‑winning copywriter Jamie Thompson about why authority now outweighs visibility for B2B marketers, especially as AI tools flood the market with generic content. Thompson argues that true authority comes from consistent, genuinely...
Ecommerce: Your Follow Up Game Is Limp And It’s Killing Your ROAS
In this episode of the Hamasley Brothers e‑commerce podcast, Mark and Ian dissect why weak follow‑up sequences are sabotaging ROAS. They define follow‑up as the communication between a prospect’s ad click and the final purchase, emphasizing email capture and remarketing...
The Merchandising Calendar Blueprint: Turn Email & SMS Into 30–40% of Your Revenue
In this training episode, Ezra Firestone explains how e‑commerce brands can turn email and SMS into 30‑40% of total revenue by implementing a strategic merchandising calendar. He differentiates major campaigns from micro‑offers, shows how to layer content, product launches, and...
Traffic to Top Tech Publications Has Plummeted Since 2024, New Analysis Shows
Organic search traffic to the United States' leading tech publications has plunged 58% since 2024, according to Growtika’s Ahrefs‑based analysis. Combined visits fell from a 2024 peak of 112 million to just 47 million in January 2026. The Verge suffered the steepest...
Our Top Tips – Social Media for Event Marketing
The article offers a step‑by‑step playbook for event marketers, stressing that the “during” and “after” phases of social media promotion are frequently neglected. It recommends assigning a dedicated digital helper to post live updates, answer attendee questions, and curate user‑generated...
Tony Bandanza, Uber Technologies
Tony Bandanza has been appointed head of Uber’s US&C Restaurant Advertising business, overseeing strategy and execution for one of the company’s fastest‑growing revenue streams. He rejoined Uber in 2022 to lead the global Yum! Brands partnership, expanding Pizza Hut’s presence across...
Awarded Campaigns: Lucky Yatra, on How a Ticket-Lottery Turned Fare Dodgers Into Paying Passengers
In this episode of Behavioral Science for Brands, Michael Aaron Flicker and Richard Shilton dissect the "Lucky Yatra" campaign by Indian Railways and FCB India, which turned ticket serial numbers into a daily lottery to incentivize fare payment. They explain...
Introducing PageSense 3.0 - Agency Edition
Zoho unveiled PageSense 3.0 – Agency Edition, a new experimentation platform tailored for digital agencies, CRO consultants, and growth partners. The solution adds a centralized dashboard, isolated data environments, flexible visitor‑quota management, and real‑time usage alerts to simplify multi‑client testing. Core...
Episode 139 - The Art of Content: Did We Lose the Plot with Blogs?
Episode 139 of the Content, Briefly podcast, titled "The Art of Content: Did We Lose the Plot with Blogs?", examines the waning influence of traditional blog posts in modern marketing. Host Jimmy Daly highlights declining engagement metrics, the rise of...
Google Ads Status Dashboard Flags Ad Manager Reporting Issue
Google flagged a reporting disruption on the Google Ads Status Dashboard affecting Google Ad Manager. The incident started at 13:49 UTC on March 4, and by 13:54 UTC Google confirmed that some users could access Ad Manager but were seeing stale or mismatched...
Google Merchant Center Adds “Build to Order” For Vehicle Listings
Google Merchant Center introduced a new availability value called “build to order,” enabling vehicle dealers to flag cars that are not physically on the lot but can be customized and ordered. Sellers must update both their structured data and Merchant...
VCCP New Biz Machine Crushes All to Top $1bn in Billings
VCCP announced it ended 2025 with over $1.027 billion in new client media billings, topping the global creative‑agency rankings. The growth was driven by a landmark US win with telecoms giant Spectrum and major UK contracts for British Gas, Direct Line,...
Typeface Launches Marketing Orchestration Engine
Typeface unveiled its Marketing Orchestration Engine, a unified operating layer that synchronizes people, AI agents, and enterprise systems throughout the marketing lifecycle. The platform rests on three pillars: a living brand‑intelligence graph (Arc Graph), governed AI‑driven workflows (Arc Agents), and closed‑loop performance...
Stop Chasing Unicorn Prospects; Target Experienced B2B Buyers
When we apply a performance marketing mindset to the top of the funnel, we can end up putting a lot of effort and expense into building an audience that often isn't big enough, and sometimes isn't even real. In B2B...
Google Removes Accessibility Section From JavaScript SEO Section
Google has removed the “design for accessibility” section from its JavaScript SEO basics documentation, citing outdated information. The previous guidance warned that JavaScript could obscure content from search engines and assistive tools, but Google now confirms its rendering engine has...
Google to Disable Customer Match Uploads in Ads API
Google will disable Customer Match uploads via the Ads API for developers who have not used the feature in the past 180 days, effective April 1, 2026. Affected accounts will receive errors and must shift to the newer Data Manager API. The...
Brand Power and AEO Replace Dead Referral Channels
Referrals are dead. Google isn't sending many visitors via blue links and social networks are walled gardens. What does this mean for your startup? 1. Brands matter more than ever -- you're larger competitors have advantage here. ...
Confusing Thumbnails? Get Free Hack Pack Now
This week’s thumbnails demand an explanation 🤔 Like… calling that tiny cube in the middle of nowhere a “hotel”? Get our free YT Thumbnails Hack Pack with 100 more top thumbnails: https://t.co/H5zQZBPsBe https://t.co/tj1CYZoUA6
Google Non-Skip Ad Concerns Bleeding Into YouTube
Google has launched its Video Reach Campaign (VRC) Non‑Skip ads globally, targeting connected‑TV screens, while YouTube mobile users are encountering persistent overlay ads that cannot be dismissed. The ads stay visible despite repeated taps on “Dismiss,” prompting Reddit complaints and...
AI Marketing Toolkit Grows: New Tools Added
The best list of #AI #marketing tools anywhere continues to expand: https://t.co/1MqMiJP4M3 New tools added recently include @flowith, Scribe V2 Realtime by @ElevenLabsDevs, Cellect AI, @humanic_ai, @vyrill, @HiclipAI, @recraftai, Pomelli by @GoogleLabs, and @Nimble.
Query Fan-Out Redefines Keyword Research Methodology
Props to @Lem4 from @Similarweb for publishing some of the most well-thought out and actionable AEO/GEO research I've seen so far. Nice new article about how query fan-out/reformulation changes keyword research methodology: https://t.co/cLJLOo86IQ