Today's Digital Marketing Pulse
Consumer journeys go non‑linear, MiQ study finds
MiQ’s ‘From Funnel to Flexibility’ study, analyzing data from 53 million households and 700 trillion signals, shows 87 % of shoppers change digital activities at least hourly and 42 % describe their purchase path as random. The research, based on surveys of over 4,000 consumers and 600 marketers in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, challenges the traditional linear marketing funnel.
Also developing:
By the numbers: DOJO AI raises $6M Seed round
DoorDash Hires Ex‑Airbnb Exec Nick Sinclair as ANZ Marketing Director
DoorDash announced that Nick Sinclair, who spent a decade leading Airbnb’s APAC marketing, has taken the role of Marketing Director for Australia and New Zealand. Sinclair will oversee growth, retention, brand and partnership strategy across the full DoorDash ecosystem, signaling a push to deepen the company’s market share in the competitive ANZ food‑delivery space.
Canva Acquires Simtheory and Ortto, Bolstering AI‑driven Design and Marketing Automation
Canva announced the purchase of Australian AI startups Simtheory and Ortto, adding agentic AI and marketing‑automation capabilities to its platform. The deals, undisclosed financially, bring Canva’s AI‑acquisition tally to eight and reinforce its push toward an integrated, end‑to‑end work system...
Clickable Caption Links Are Optional; Stick with Bio
Yes... there some people who have access to a new Instagram feature that allows them to have a clickable link in their caption. No... you don't need to change your entire strategy or freak out if you don't have the feature. We...
ReelShort Teams with AIS to Launch 5G Short‑Form Video Service in Thailand
ReelShort has struck a partnership with Thailand’s Advanced Info Service (AIS) to roll out a co‑branded 5G short‑form video add‑on priced at THB39 ($1.15) per month. The deal gives AIS’s 52 million customers ad‑free access to nearly 3,000 microdrama titles and...
Where Mobile Scale Meets Mediation Power: Unity LevelPlay Now Available with PubMatic
PubMatic announced that its OpenWrap SDK now integrates Unity LevelPlay, joining Google AdMob/Manager and AppLovin MAX. The three mediation platforms together command roughly 90% of global gaming ad inventory, a segment projected to exceed $235 billion in U.S. spend by 2027....
Code in OpenAI’s Ads Manager Suggests the Company Is Building Conversion Tracking Into ChatGPT
OpenAI's internal ads manager code indicates the company is adding conversion‑tracking to ChatGPT, moving beyond its current impression‑only model. The system, codenamed “bazaar” and built on the “tapestry” infrastructure, hints at support for click‑ and conversion‑based campaigns. This development could...
Treat CTV as Video, Measure It Modernly
CTV isn’t just a channel anymore; it’s video. And if you’re still measuring it like traditional TV, you’re already behind. In Episode 2 of From Screen to Store, sponsored by @JamLoop , Tim Glover (EVP Media, USA Marketing Partners) joins AdTechGod...
Clarifying Site vs URL Impressions in Looker Studio
Good post from Dana. I know many have been confused by this in Looker Studio -> Site Impression vs URL Impression in Google Search Console: Looker Studio Guide "When you add a GSC data source in Looker Studio, you pick your...
Why Your New SEO Vendor Can’t Build on a Broken Foundation via @Sejournal, @TaylorDanRW
The article warns that a new SEO vendor inherits a website’s existing technical debt, thin content, and low‑quality backlink profile, so quick fixes alone won’t deliver lasting results. Early engagement focuses on audits, crawl‑error remediation, and rebuilding trust with search...
12 Actionable B2B Content Marketing Ideas
The article outlines twelve actionable B2B content‑marketing ideas, starting with a reminder to define clear objectives and metrics before execution. It emphasizes foundational tactics such as optimizing meta titles and descriptions to improve click‑through rates, then expands into thought‑leadership assets...
Maximize Impact by Remixing Every Piece of Content
Too many folks think creation is a one-and-done event. They hit publish and move on. That’s a ridiculously flawed model. The real magic? It’s in the remix. Take that blog post, turn it into a thread. Take that thread, turn it into...
5 Years Of ATT: What We’ve Learned, And What The Future Of iOS Performance Looks Like
Apple's AppTrackingTransparency (ATT) rollout in 2021 saw roughly 80% of iOS users block IDFA tracking, forcing marketers onto the aggregated SKAdNetwork (SKAN) and later Apple’s AdAttributionKit (AAK). The industry split between short‑term probabilistic workarounds and early SKAN‑centric optimization, with the...
AI-Caution Prompts Rising Demand for Authentic, Human-Led Content in Social Buying Journeys
New research from the Retail Technology Show surveyed over 1,000 shoppers and found that 53% distrust AI‑generated social content, rising to 58% among Gen Z. More than half (51%) believe AI threatens brand trust on social platforms, while 43% say authentic,...
Dominate Zero‑Click Keywords to Become Google’s Trusted Source
Target ZERO-CLICK keywords strategically. Instead of avoiding keywords where Google shows the answer directly, dominate them. When people see you're the source of Google's answer, they trust you for deeper questions.
The Publisher’s Playbook for the Google Zero Era
Publishers are confronting a steep drop in Google Search referrals, with traffic falling 33% worldwide and 38% in the U.S. between November 2024 and November 2025. AI‑generated snippets now capture the top of the results page, reducing click‑through rates to just 8%...
Will ChatGPT Ads Become a Meaningful Part of the Performance Media Mix?
ChatGPT advertising is entering the performance media arena, drawing early spend thanks to its large, intent‑rich audience. The article argues that lasting budget allocation will depend less on user numbers and more on the ability to measure outcomes against other...
Yospace Tops 10 Billion Monthly Ad Insertions Amid Streaming Growth
Yospace reported a historic month, stitching over 10 billion ads and delivering 11.6 billion one‑to‑one addressable impressions—a 35% year‑on‑year rise. The growth was fueled by a dense international sports schedule, including Six Nations and the start of the 2026 Formula One season. Yospace...
Unlock 2026 Martech Insights and 70+ AI Use Cases
🚀 Registration is now open for #MartechDay. On May 5, Frans Riemersma and I will debut the new State of Martech 2026 report and the updated 2026 Marketing Technology Landscape. If you register, you’ll be first to receive both — along with...
Google’s CEO Predicts Search Will Become An AI Agent Manager via @Sejournal, @Martinibuster
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said search is evolving from a simple results list into an AI‑driven agent manager that can plan, execute, and coordinate tasks. He envisions future queries becoming "agentic" searches where multiple AI agents run in parallel to...
Body Parts Get Vocal in New Holland & Barrett Ad Push
Holland & Barrett, working with agency Lucky Generals, launched the "Back Your Body" platform to encourage a proactive health mindset. The multi‑million‑pound (≈ $3 million US) campaign features TV spots where body parts sing Robin S’s 1990s hit, complemented by creator‑led social and out‑of‑home activations. The...
The Email Most Creators Are Too Nice to Write
A creator who coaches entrepreneurs writes upbeat, helpful emails for a corporate‑still audience, but sales remain flat. The readers are stuck in salaried jobs and haven’t yet taken the entrepreneurial leap. The coach realizes her messages never name the underlying...
The Art and Science of Brainrot
Meta has open‑sourced TRIBE v2, a foundation model that predicts second‑by‑second brain activity from video, audio, or text inputs. Trained on over 1,000 hours of fMRI data from 720 volunteers, the model often outperforms noisy individual scans by filtering out...
Olivia Rodrigo Sets April 17 Release for New Single "Drop Dead"
Olivia Rodrigo announced that her next single, “Drop Dead,” will drop on April 17, 2026, two weeks after unveiling her third album’s title and June 12 release date. The move ramps up anticipation for the album You Seem Pretty Sad...
GeeLark
GeeLark launches a cloud‑based social media marketing platform that blends mobile‑first cloud phones, antidetect browser profiles, automation, and AI tools for high‑volume, multi‑account growth. Its modular pricing starts with a free tier, then $9.75 Base and $14.25 Pro plans, while...
Simaia Rolls Out AI‑Powered ‘Search on Autopilot’ for APAC B2B Lead Generation
Simaia has launched an AI‑driven marketing service that automates search‑engine visibility and lead capture for APAC B2B SMEs and startups. Early‑access pilots reported up to a six‑fold lift in AI‑driven traffic and a 2.5‑times increase in qualified leads, challenging the...
Stop Optimizing Channels. Start Managing a Marketing Portfolio.
Marketing leaders are moving away from channel‑centric planning toward a portfolio‑based model that treats platforms like Google, Amazon, and Meta as strategic assets. AI‑driven decision engines now automate audience targeting, creative selection and real‑time optimization across these ecosystems, collapsing traditional...
Sweetwater Labs Scales Skincare Brand Using Pure Word‑of‑Mouth, No Paid Ads
Sweetwater Labs, a New York‑based natural skincare label, has built a sizable, loyal customer base without spending on influencer deals or paid advertising. Founder Nadia Doh credits product performance and organic referrals for the brand’s growth, a model that challenges...
I Quadrupled My Revenue With a Newsletter in 6 Months. Here’s How Startup Founders Can Do the Same
Newsletter platforms are experiencing explosive growth, with Beehiiv reporting $19 million in paid subscriptions for 2025—a 138% jump from 2024. A founder who focused on email newsletters doubled his revenue every quarter, ultimately quadrupling earnings in six months. The piece outlines...
Brands Vs. Bots: CMOs, Ad Agencies Tell All About What They’ve Learned Marketing to Our New AI Overlords
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is emerging as the new frontier for brand visibility as large language models (LLMs) become primary sources of product recommendations. A McKinsey report projects AI‑summarized searches to generate $750 billion in U.S. revenue by 2028, warning that...
How to Monitor Live Streams for Optimal Ad Server Performance
Industry leaders at Streaming Media Connect 2026 highlighted the observability gaps that can cripple live‑stream ad insertion. They stressed that encoding quality, manifest integrity, and SCTE‑35 cue signals are the first line of defense against broken ad breaks. Real‑time “eyes on...
TikTok vs Instagram vs YouTube: Which Platform Converts Fastest?
The article compares time‑to‑conversion across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, showing that TikTok fuels impulse buys in minutes, Instagram spreads purchases over several days, and YouTube’s trusted long‑form content can shave up to six days off a buyer’s journey. It highlights...
2026 FIFA World Cup Viewing Set to Fragment Across Linear & Streaming in UK, Nexxen Forecast Finds
Nexxen released a forecast for UK audiences of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, showing that while TV remains dominant, viewing is increasingly split between linear and streaming platforms. The report finds 24% of fans will blend traditional TV and streaming,...
Meta Rolls Out AI-Led Shopping Tools Across Reels and Creator Ecosystem
Meta unveiled a suite of AI‑driven shopping tools that embed product tagging directly into Reels and expand creator‑brand collaborations. The updates add generative AI voiceovers, automatic translation, and product‑set optimisation to streamline multilingual video ad creation. Reels Trending Ads now...
Rapido Rolls Out ‘First Ride Free’ Campaign During IPL 2026
Rapido has launched a "First Ride Free" campaign timed with IPL 2026, featuring 10‑second regional‑language films that dramatize the instant confirmation of a ride. Created by tgthr. and directed by Arjuna Gaur, the ads blend exaggerated scenarios with everyday commuter...
Grab Uses AI to Change How Brands Are Discovered in Its App
Grab Holdings announced 13 AI‑driven features at its GrabX 2026 event, branding the app as an "Everyday AI Companion" that suggests food, rides and payments based on user habits. The new Intelligence Layer draws on more than 20 billion rides and...
Livpure Appoints SW Network to Handle Digital Communications
Livpure has appointed SW Network as its digital communications partner to shift the brand narrative from product‑centric messaging to a lifestyle‑led focus on health and wellbeing. The agency will develop social‑first campaigns that tie everyday water consumption to broader wellness...
Brunei Tourism Names Global Agency for Digital Content and Strategy
Brunei Tourism has appointed Denver‑based ELMNTL as its first international agency of record to drive social media strategy and content production. The partnership gives ELMNTL responsibility for creative direction, paid‑media optimisation, and performance reporting across key markets, while collaborating with...
Google’s March 2026 Core Update Hit Affiliate Sites Harder Than Any Other Category
Google’s March 2026 Core Update, rolled out on March 27, dealt the steepest ranking blows to affiliate sites, with 71% of the 600,000+ pages tracked showing measurable drops. The update followed a spam‑targeted sweep and re‑evaluated rankings without link‑spam signals, exposing thin,...
Rodd & Gunn Appoints The Thoughtful Agency for Full-Service Digital Performance in Australia
Rodd & Gunn, the New Zealand premium menswear brand, has appointed The Thoughtful Agency as its full‑service digital performance partner for the Australian market. The collaboration will manage the brand’s e‑commerce operations and its hospitality division, The Lodge Group, delivering...
INTERVIEW: How Wayfair Uses Creators and TikTok to Drive Growth
Wayfair is leveraging TikTok creators and influencer‑driven content to fuel its next growth phase, positioning social platforms as the primary discovery engine for home‑ware shoppers. The company pairs inspirational videos with personalized product curation, encouraging users to explore multiple style...
Scaling Success: How AI Is Reshaping Publisher Deals
Advertisers and publishers are turning to contextual AI to replace static private marketplace (PMP) deals with dynamic, real‑time audience expansion. Illuma’s AI analyzes live content consumption, scaling reach while preserving relevance without relying on cookies or personal identifiers. A pilot...
Digest: CMO and Execs Exit The Trade Desk; BBC Studios Launches Airline Streaming; Tesco Media Introduces Premium Video Ads
The Trade Desk announced a leadership shake‑up, with CMO Matthew Henick and two senior executives departing and Anna Sayre stepping in as interim CMO while Rob Caruso leads its Ventura TV platform. BBC Studios launched BBC Player, a rights‑cleared streaming...
MLS Pens New Deal to Get Greater Insights Into Brand Exposure and Fan Engagement
Major League Soccer has inked a multi‑year agreement with Vision Insights to integrate its Decoder Media platform, an AI‑driven tool that scans broadcasts and flags sponsor logos in real time. The system will generate a visibility index for MLS and...
Martech in 2026: The Shift Toward Data-Centric Engagement Platforms
Martech in 2026 is defined by data‑centric engagement platforms that fuse data, analytics, automation and personalization into a single ecosystem. The shift eliminates siloed tools, giving marketers a unified view of every customer touchpoint from web to in‑store. AI and...
Nectar Social and Reddit Announce Strategic Data Partnership
AI‑native social commerce platform Nectar Social has entered a strategic data partnership with Reddit, gaining access to the Reddit Data API. The integration allows enterprise brands to pull real‑time conversations from over 100,000 Reddit communities and combine them with data...
YouTube Cuts Affiliate Shopping Threshold Eligibility to 500 Subscribers as Platform Race Heats Up
YouTube announced on March 25, 2026 that creators need only 500 subscribers—down from 1,000—to join its Shopping affiliate program, which lets them tag products and earn commissions. The reduction applies across Shorts, long‑form video, and Live, but creators must still...
From ₹20L to 8‑Figure Months with Automated Ads
Since 2015, I’ve built 3 businesses and helped scale 9 online ventures with my team spread across India and beyond. We’ve generated over ₹150 crore in revenue. Now, I help ecommerce and business owners go from ₹20L–25L to 8 figure per month...
90‑second Non‑
A Reddit user is exposed to a 90-second, non-skippable YouTube ad in a 40-minute video on CTV. https://t.co/BukQnrjahx
Rebuilding Pipelines Cuts Costs 3×, Boosts Ad Quality
Found major tech debt in our GTM stack. Rebuilt our Meta pipelines from scratch - ad quality scores way up, early costs down ~3x. Great engineering fixes a lot of ills.
Red Flags Emerge in Khaby Lame's $975M TikTok Deal
Exclusive: new red flags are popping up around @tiktok_us star @KhabyLame's $975M deal. Details from @dwhate & I: https://t.co/LRbQpJI28n