Today's Digital Marketing Pulse
Accenture Song Acquires Whalar to Bolster Influencer Marketing
Accenture Song announced the acquisition of Whalar, adding a 170‑person global creator agency and keeping co‑CEOs Emma Harman and Jo Cronk in place. The deal also 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 capabilities.
Hypermedia Advances Unified Programmatic Offering with Integrated Digital Revenue Function
Hypermedia, the UAE‑based digital out‑of‑home and retail media network, has launched an Integrated Digital Revenue Function that merges its DOOH assets with the programmatic expertise of DXTA Technology, its ad‑tech arm. Led by Head of Digital Sales Hicham Dergham and supported by Digital Sales Managers Noha Bakri and Bahaa Azzam, the new unit consolidates sales, technology and marketing under one roof. The unified offering spans petal ads, gaming, video, display and geofencing, enabling performance‑driven, cross‑channel campaigns. This move aims to capture growth from performance budgets rather than relying solely on traditional media spend.
AI Across the Advertising Value Chain: What the Latest Research Reveals
Artificial intelligence is reshaping every stage of the advertising value chain, from concept creation to media execution, according to new research by Madison & Wall. The study, presented by CEO Brian Wieser, Managing Director Luke Stillman, and Adobe’s Principal AI...
5 Ways to Sell on TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop has transformed from a pure social platform into a full‑fledged commerce ecosystem, demanding coordinated paid, affiliate, and live strategies for scalable growth. The article outlines five core tactics—direct storefronts, creator‑driven affiliate marketing, shoppable videos, TikTok Lives, and branded...
Daydream Secures $15 Million Series A to Fuse AI SEO Agents with Human Oversight
Daydream, an AI‑powered SEO startup, closed a $15 million Series A led by WndrCo, with First Round Capital and Basis Set Ventures participating. The funding will expand its hybrid AI‑human platform that automates keyword strategy, content creation and technical audits, targeting...
Meta and Google Hit with $381 Million in Child‑Safety Verdicts, Shaking Creator Monetization
Meta and Google were ordered to pay a combined $381 million after juries found their platforms negligent in protecting children. The rulings threaten creator monetization, push brands toward safer influencers, and could trigger sweeping design changes across social media.
Basis Wants To Help Marketers Bring Agentic AI Into Media Planning
Basis introduced Compass, an agentic campaign‑planning platform that integrates directly with its DSP and other buying systems. The solution synthesizes advertisers' first‑party data and broader market signals to auto‑generate omnichannel media strategies and audience personas. Early adopter SMZ found the...
Basis Wants To Help Marketers Bring Agentic AI Into Media Planning
Digital‑ad platform Basis unveiled Compass, an agentic campaign‑planning tool that integrates with its DSP and other buying platforms. The solution synthesizes advertisers’ first‑party data with broader market signals to generate omnichannel media strategies, while allowing a conversational back‑and‑forth with the...
Post on Saturdays for 40% More Views
Most Threads creators think weekdays are the best time to post. We analyzed 20,000+ posts from 255 creators last month. Saturday averaged 2,912 views per post. That's 40% higher than Wednesday. Everyone takes weekends off. That's exactly why you shouldn't.
LinkedIn Is Rewriting the Rules of Visibility
In this episode, host Michael Stelzner and co‑host Jerry Potter sit down with LinkedIn ads authority AJ Wilcox to unpack LinkedIn’s new visibility mechanics—from AI‑driven content discovery and semantic markup to revamped ad personalization tools and stricter rules on automated...
Why Your Video Strategy Has a Scale Problem
Olivier Reynaud, former Teads executive, launched Aive to solve the video‑scaling dilemma facing brands and agencies. Netflix’s production of 1.5 million distinct Stranger Things trailer versions highlights the impossibility of manual editing at such volume. Aive’s platform converts video into data,...
Boost Milkshake Finds ‘The New Secret of Mahi Energy’ in VML India Campaign
Boost Milkshake, a Hindustan Unilever brand, has launched "The New Secret of Mahi Energy" with VML India, featuring cricket legend MS Dhoni. The social‑first, month‑long campaign blends out‑of‑home billboards in Mumbai, Chennai, Guwahati and a national digital push, targeting Gen Z fans...
Attekmi’s Roman Vrublivskyi on Ad Tech Trends, Ad Strategy, and AI
Attekmi CEO Roman Vrublivskyi outlines the five ad‑tech trends shaping 2026, highlighting first‑party data and AI as the top drivers. He explains that privacy‑driven first‑party data is replacing third‑party identifiers, while AI now powers bidding, creative generation and forecasting. Supply‑path...
Performance Max for Hotels: Pros & Cons To Consider
Google Performance Max (PMax) consolidates ads across Search, Display, YouTube, Discover, Gmail and Maps into a single AI‑driven campaign for hotels. Independent properties can leverage the platform to broaden reach, automate bidding and creative optimization, and capture more direct bookings....
The "Software Finder" Cash Machine
In this episode, Adnan Malik, founder and CEO of Software Finder, explains how his bootstrapped B2B software marketplace generates $20‑$25 million in annual revenue with 15‑20% profit margins by offering free, 10‑minute human consultations to buyers and charging software vendors for...
When #Ad Vanishes: Why the ACCC Is Cracking Down on Hidden Sponsorships
Australia’s competition watchdog fined Photobook Shop AU$39,600 (≈US$26,100) for orchestrating undisclosed influencer endorsements, marking the first penalty of its kind under Australian Consumer Law. The retailer gave influencers products worth $50‑$400 and required them to omit any mention of sponsorship, even...
Meta’s Bid to Woo Creators to Facebook Just Might Work, Despite Its Recent Legal Woes
Meta unveiled the Facebook Creator Fast Track, promising $1,000 a month for creators with at least 100,000 followers and $3,000 for those exceeding one million, with payouts lasting three months and a perpetual reach boost. The initiative aims to tap...
Criteo Unveils Self‑Service AI Platform GO and Hires Former Google Shopping Lead Courtney MacConnell
Criteo announced a full self‑service version of its AI‑powered GO platform, letting small and mid‑size advertisers launch cross‑channel campaigns in as few as five clicks. At the same time, the company named former Google Head of Shopping Courtney MacConnell as Vice...
Google Leads 2026 Webby Nominations with 46 Nods as Brands Vie for Digital Ad Supremacy
The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences unveiled the 2026 Webby Awards nominees, giving Google a record 46 nominations and placing PBS, Disney, NBCUniversal and Netflix among the top contenders. The list spotlights high‑profile ad campaigns, AI‑driven creator work...
Brands Struggle with AI Disclosure as Usage Surges Across Marketing
Nearly 80% of multinational brands now incorporate AI‑generated or AI‑enhanced assets into their consumer‑facing marketing, according to the World Federation of Advertisers. While 67% have drafted internal disclosure policies, eight‑in‑ten still call for clear global guidance as regulations remain fragmented....
Creators Need To Be In The New Media Plan
TikTok’s new whitepaper projects Australia’s creator‑driven commercial contribution to reach US$100 billion (≈AUD $144 billion) by 2030, a 1.3‑fold increase from 2025. The growth is spreading beyond beauty and fashion into gaming, financial services, apps and consumer electronics, as brands seek authentic creator...
This Is Flow Wins $16M Cranky Health Media Pitch
Australian media agency This is Flow has won the $16 million (≈$10.6 million USD) Cranky Health media account, covering its flagship The Man Shake and three sister brands. The agency will handle all media planning and buying across traditional, performance and e‑commerce...
Leverage View-Through Attribution to Boost Meta Campaign ROI
Something we're noticing across multiple 8-figure brands we're managing. After the changes to click attribution Meta started to heavily favor and over-utilize view-through attribution. As we swapped some brands over to 1DC/7DC exclusive optimization the total back-end performance and profitability is growing...
Prioritize Core SEO Technical Fixes Over Minor Details
I don't disagree with the premise, but those are minor things and not major issues. Focus on indexing, redirects, internal linking, hreflang issues, schema (if it gets you SERP features). These are valuable things. Things that will move the needle.
2degrees and TBWA New Zealand Launch ‘Ring Ring’ to Stop the Scroll and Start the Call
New Zealand telecom provider 2degrees, together with TBWA New Zealand, has introduced Ring Ring – a limited‑edition thumb ring engraved with a phone number to nudge users toward voice calls instead of endless scrolling. The campaign follows research showing over two‑thirds...
CMO and CIO Merge Roles in Workday’s AI Marketing
When the CMO and CIO Share the Same Job: Inside Workday's AI Marketing Build https://t.co/tjsP1WGw7C
Why Every Social Strategy Needs a Performance Audit Before Q2
A social media audit is a structured review of account health, content performance, competitors, and goals, providing an objective snapshot of what works and what doesn’t. Teams that conduct quarterly audits grow faster than those that only react to problems,...
Timing and Messaging Triple Paywall Conversion Rates
I built a skill for Claude Code that optimizes in-app upgrade screens so free users actually convert to paid. It rewrites your paywall from the ground up — triggering it at the moment of value (not buried in settings), showing what...
Snapchat Expands Creator Subscriptions to All Eligible Users
Snapchat has broadened its Creator Subscriptions, allowing any creator who meets its eligibility criteria to monetize content through paid tiers. The program, launched in February and previously limited to verified Snap Stars, now includes users with public profiles, active Stories,...
TikTok Tests In-App DM Games
TikTok has rolled out a new emoji‑based game that can be launched directly from private or group direct messages, making it the latest in‑app entertainment feature for the platform. Users send a single emoji, tap it, and then guide the...
The YouTube Mentorship Is Finally Here
Leea’s new YouTube 101 Mentorship launches, offering entrepreneurs a one‑on‑one, done‑with‑you program to turn YouTube into a revenue engine. The mentorship covers branding, website integration, channel setup, and a systematic content strategy, with Leea personally reviewing each participant’s work. It targets...
I Discovered What the Notes Algorithm Actually Loves. (Hint: It’s Not Your Writing Quality.)
The author reveals that Substack’s Notes feed rewards subscriber growth, not polished prose. Quick, story‑focused notes consistently attract more followers than meticulously edited essays. By using templates and publishing daily, the writer grew to 16,000 subscribers and over $100K in...
Meta’s March Bug Skews Click‑only Attribution, Hurting Optimization
I think this is a good visualization for the impact of TWO major Meta items in March. 1. An overspend bug that occurred on Sunday 3/16. Spend spiked against 0 reported value. (lots of refund coming) 2. The changes to click based...
How OLLY Is Staying Visible in AI-Driven Search
OLLY, the wellness supplement brand, is leveraging AI‑driven search technologies to keep its products front‑and‑center in an increasingly algorithmic retail landscape. By deploying generative‑AI keyword clustering, structured‑data markup, and voice‑search optimization, the company has lifted organic traffic and captured higher‑intent...
‘Jeopardy!’ Debuts First‑of‑Its‑Kind YouTube Special with Top Creators
Sony Pictures Television’s ‘Jeopardy!’ aired its first YouTube‑only episode, featuring creators like Monét X Change, Rebecca Black and Brennan Lee Mulligan. The digital spin‑off preserves the show’s classic gameplay while targeting the platform’s younger, creator‑centric audience.
How to Choose Influencer Marketing Services for Your Brand
Choosing the right influencer marketing service hinges on whether a brand needs a DIY platform, a niche agency, or a full‑service partner. Platforms supply creator databases and outreach tools but leave strategy and execution to internal teams, while full‑service agencies...
How Search Visibility Influences Consumer Buying Decisions in Retail
Retailers increasingly rely on search engine visibility to capture shoppers at the moment they begin their buying journey. Appearing on the first page of organic results builds credibility and influences both online purchases and in‑store foot traffic, especially through mobile...
Media Scale Comes From Data, Not Headcount
$100M with 30 people MarketBeat does $50M/year with 19 employees... @MediaKing thinks he can get to $100M with 30... "To go from a million subscribers to two... you don't actually produce more content. You just don't need more people." Scalable media businesses aren't...
My Recommendation on How To Do Product Seeding
In this 7‑minute episode, the host breaks down product seeding as a systematic funnel rather than a one‑off giveaway, emphasizing its role in generating user‑generated content, social proof, and valuable signal about which creators truly drive results. He outlines a...
Outsourcing Social Media May Dim Your Brand’s Voice
Social media is often one of the first things businesses outsource. But content can also lose its luster after outsourcing... 👀
Inside Paramount: March Madness & Martech Chaos with Ian Reisman
Ian Reisman, after 17 years at Paramount, reveals how managing billions of emails across in‑house and enterprise platforms turned into operational chaos, especially during high‑pressure events like March Madness war rooms. He contrasts the build‑versus‑buy dilemma, noting that vendor demos crumble...
Let AI Automate Your Most Frustrating Marketing Tasks
One of the most friction-filled parts of my job (and for 12 years as a marketer) was lead magnets. ↓ Not the making of them. All the stuff to get them shipped: ↳ The setting up the landing page ↳ Connecting to Kit ↳...
Balancing Growth and Ethics in AI Marketing
#TimTalk - How can companies balance growth with the need to be ethical in AI-driven marketing? with Nicole Alexander https://t.co/3iLT5JKwip via @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence #TechNews #Marketing #MarketingStrategy #MarketingSuccess #AI
Delivery Status Stuck on “Preparing” Despite Successful Spend
In multiple accounts we're having the delivery status show preparing or in review but they are spending just fine. Anyone else seeing this? https://t.co/rDihGnGjDd
Baidu's New English Wiki Boosts US Visibility
Baidu's English pages appear to be exploding in visibility in the U.S. It looks like it's tied to the core update, but I think it's actually that they launched an English Wiki site within the last week: https://t.co/O54gTff7C8 https://t.co/R6b5Ntxk0B
Ahrefs Traffic Value Proves SEO Success Timeline
Ahrefs traffic value is still an excellent SEO leading indicator. I bet you can tell when this client started working with me 😎 https://t.co/e9my8JP4uP
DataForSEO: Built‑in SEO Data, No API Key Required
DataForSEO comes built in. No API key needed. The agent can pull keyword data, search volumes, SERP analysis, and rank tracking out of the box. Most SEO tools make you bring your own data source. This one's already there. Waitlist invite emails going...
Ahrefs Gains Ground on Semrush with Recent Updates
Is @ahrefs getting better then @semrush now ? 🤔 I think the tides may be turning a bit with all of the updates they have been pumping out. Nice work team 🤝
Discover Your Brand's Current Rank in Google's AI
You gotta try this out: Check how your brand ALREADY ranks in Google's AI memory Nice work @dejanseo 👏 https://t.co/5NPluH3Fw9
One Algorithm Change Can Wipe Out Your Reach
Most people are one algorithm change away from losing everything. It feels safe until your reach drops overnight and you can’t control it. https://t.co/hJYQSD9Fij
Affiliate Loops Reveal Need for Independent Research
AJ from Lucid Trading exposing the circular affiliate game - firms pay ranking sites for visibility, then become affiliates of those same sites to recoup costs. Smart margin strategy but shows why independent research matters. Check https://t.co/1I4O2dByrK for unbiased comparisons...