YouTube Shares Insights Into NFL Engagement
YouTube’s latest Culture and Trends report reveals that NFL content drives massive engagement on the platform, with fans flocking to highlights, game clips, and halftime moments. The study shows that 30 % of NFL‑related views occur during the off‑season, underscoring year‑round interest. Fan‑created videos are on the rise, adding a grassroots dimension to the league’s digital footprint. Marketers can leverage this sustained activity to target highly engaged audiences beyond the regular season.
Amanda Farley Talks Broken Pixels and Calm Leadership
Amanda Farley, CMO of Aimclear, discussed the pitfalls of broken tracking infrastructure and the broader need for data hygiene during episode 340 of PPC Live. She highlighted how a global campaign’s pixel failure revealed systemic onboarding and validation weaknesses, prompting...
From Svedka to Anthropic, Brands Make Bold Plays with AI in Super Bowl Ads
The 2026 Super Bowl featured a wave of AI‑centric ads, with brands like Svedka debuting a primarily AI‑generated commercial and Anthropic using its spot to mock OpenAI. Meta highlighted AI‑powered glasses, while Amazon introduced Alexa+ through a tongue‑in‑cheek narrative. Ring...
How to Automate Google Business Profile Management with Semrush
Semrush Local’s GBP AI Agent automates core Google Business Profile tasks such as posting updates, uploading photos, and replying to reviews. The tool begins with an audit that evaluates current posting frequency, photo activity, description quality, and keyword relevance, then...
It Just Got Easier for Claude to Check in on Your WordPress Site
WordPress introduced a new Claude connector that lets site owners share back‑end data with Anthropic’s chatbot on a read‑only basis. Users can select which data to expose and revoke access at any time. The integration enables queries such as traffic...
Performance Max Built-In A/B Testing for Creative Assets Spotted
Google has launched a beta feature that lets advertisers run structured A/B tests on creative assets within a single Performance Max asset group. Users can define control and treatment asset sets, split traffic—commonly 50/50—and run the experiment for several weeks...
Google Ads Adds a Diagnostics Hub for Data Connections
Google Ads has introduced a diagnostics hub within Data Manager that monitors the health of data connections such as offline conversions, CRM imports, and tagging. The centralized dashboard assigns status labels—Excellent, Good, Needs attention, or Urgent—and provides real‑time alerts for...
Saks Global Brings Back Neiman Marcus Exec to Oversee Marketing, E-Commerce
Luxury retailer Saks Global has appointed Cheryl Han as its new Chief Marketing & Digital Officer, a role that consolidates marketing strategy and e‑commerce oversight. Han, a former Neiman Marcus executive, previously held senior digital positions at both Neiman Marcus...
Freemans Hails ‘Exceptional’ Growth over Golden Quarter
Freemans reported an "exceptional" 12% sales surge in the four weeks to Christmas, driven by a first online‑only holiday advert that ran on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Over the 12‑week period to 2 January, total sales rose 9% after a 16%...
3 Performance Max Updates for 2026
Google introduced three 2026 updates for Performance Max: Experiments that let advertisers run split‑tested campaigns against Shopping, Search, or Display; a new data exclusions feature that adds customer‑match and remarketing lists to the audience blocklist; and a Product Overlap view...
How PR Teams Can Measure Real Impact with SEO, PPC, and GEO
PR measurement often stalls due to siloed teams and limited analytics resources. By partnering with SEO, PPC, and emerging Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) teams, PR can link media coverage to concrete customer actions. The article outlines a three‑step framework—connecting outreach...
Google AI Mode Follow Up Search Suggestions
Google is testing a new set of follow‑up search suggestions within AI Mode results, displayed as short prompts in white bubbles beneath the AI‑generated answer. The layout replaces the earlier arrow‑based follow‑up prompts and resembles traditional query boxes, similar to...
Bing Unshipping Frankenstein Recipes In Search
Microsoft Bing is removing its AI‑generated "Frankenstein recipes" feature after criticism that it mashed steps from multiple publishers into inaccurate suggestions, such as substituting ginger with mace in pho. The problematic feature sparked backlash from publishers like Inspired Taste, who...
Report: ChatGPT & Perplexity Treat Structured Data As Text On A Page
A recent test by Mark Williams‑Cook showed that ChatGPT and Perplexity treat JSON‑LD schema markup as ordinary page text, extracting data even when the markup is invalid. The experiment used a fictitious company, DUCKYEA t‑shirts, and placed its address solely inside malformed...
Opinion: In-Game Advertising Can ‘Enhance Relevance’
ITV introduced picture‑in‑picture advertising during the opening match of the 2026 Six Nations, using a split‑screen format that aired alongside live action. Ease Live CEO Kjetil Horneland argues this reflects a broader industry need to monetize premium sports rights without...
How CMOs and CEOs Are Rewriting the Rules of Leadership in the AI Era
ADWEEK convened a select group of CMOs and CEOs at Davos for its inaugural Marketing Vanguard Inspiration Excursion, partnering with Adobe and Microsoft. Over two days, participants explored agentic AI, ethical governance, brand evolution, and the necessity of C‑suite alignment...
Sacked Postie’s Start-Up Takes on Royal Mail and Whistl
Former Royal Mail postman Mark Redmond has launched The Private Postman, a start‑up that claims its Core One Step software can verify leaflet delivery down to the individual letterbox. The company now delivers over one million leaflets each week across...
Consumers Approaching Valentine’s Day Comfortably and Intentionally: Lightspeed Commerce
Lightspeed Commerce’s latest consumer data shows Valentine’s Day is shedding traditional gifting pressure, with 62% of North American shoppers feeling little obligation to spend. Instead, more than a quarter are already purchasing gifts for themselves, and 57% say they spend...
Bondi Sands Bets on Feeling, Not Forecasts, with ‘Summer Never Ends’
Bondi Sands launches the "Summer Never Ends" global platform, shifting its narrative from a seasonal tagline to a year‑round confidence mindset. The campaign relies on authentic, mood‑driven creative and diverse ambassadors, extending across social, OOH, digital and in‑store touchpoints. It...
Mrge Releases New Industry Report “State of Commerce Advertising 1/2026”
mrge released its semi‑annual “State of Commerce Advertising 1/2026” report, highlighting a market shift from pure traffic provision to trusted authority. The study finds consumers increasingly rely on AI‑summarised results, making “zero‑click discovery” a critical factor. Only 11.3% of companies...
Glossy Pop Newsletter: Why Are so Many Skin Care Brands Hitting the Slopes?
Beauty brands are turning ski resorts into experiential marketing stages, hosting influencer trips and multi‑year resort partnerships to showcase product performance in cold, high‑altitude conditions. Rhode’s Snow Club activation in Big Sky, Montana features top beauty creators and pre‑seeded product...
Affirm Details New AI Tool for Merchants
Affirm is piloting BoostAI, an AI‑driven tool that lets merchants A/B test promotional financing offers to identify the most effective rates and terms. Early adopters—47 enterprise clients and hundreds of SMBs—report a 5%‑15% lift in gross merchandise volume. The initiative...
AI Can Make You Multilingual Overnight — Or Create Chaos Just As Fast
The episode explores how generative AI and machine translation are reshaping enterprise localization, turning multilingual content from a niche function into a pervasive capability across all business units. It warns that treating AI translation as a simple toggle leads to...
DX3 2026 Reimagines Canada’s Leading Retail Conference
DX3 2026 will return to Toronto with a redesigned, intimate format that moves away from traditional trade‑show crowds toward senior‑level strategy sessions and curated networking. Under the Economic Club of Canada’s ownership, the conference positions itself as a thought‑leadership platform...
Google Shows How To Check Passage Indexing via @Sejournal, @Martinibuster
John Mueller clarified that Googlebot rarely hits a 2 MB HTML limit and that page size is not a primary factor for indexing. He emphasized that what matters is whether important passages are indexed, not the total bytes. Mueller suggested checking...
Threads Looks to Tap Into Super Bowl Engagement
Meta is turning the Super Bowl into a launchpad for Threads, installing a branded studio in the NFL media center to host podcasters and creators. The move aims to cement Threads as the go‑to venue for real‑time sports conversation, building...
Dear Littler: Are There Any Concerns About Letting Our Employees Post Videos About Our Products?
A retailer’s marketing manager asks if an employee‑influencer can post a product video on social media. The FTC mandates a clear disclosure of any material connection between the employee and the company, and violations can result in fines. The company...
TikTok Offers Enhanced Shops Promotion Program
TikTok introduced the Smart Promotion program on Jan 20, 2026, replacing its Co‑funded Promotion model. The initiative co‑invests marketing spend with merchants, guarantees a 5× return on investment and reports a 70% GMV boost during Black Friday. Fees are streamlined to 3.5%,...
X Calls on Users to Submit Grok-Generated Video for Super Bowl Promotion
X is launching a $1 million contest inviting users to create Grok‑generated video ads for its upcoming Super Bowl promotion. Participants must use the newly released Grok Imagine 1.0 engine to produce 30‑second clips that showcase the tool’s video and audio capabilities....
Google Releases Discover Core Update – February 2026
Google rolled out the February 2026 Discover core update, initially to English‑speaking users in the United States, with a global rollout planned over the next months. The algorithmic change aims to surface more locally relevant, in‑depth, and original content while demoting...
How First-Party Data Drives Better Outcomes in AI-Powered Advertising
First‑party data is now the most powerful lever for AI‑driven advertising, according to Julie Warneke of Found Search Marketing. By feeding CRM‑derived signals into Google’s AI bidding, advertisers can boost conversion quality, revenue, and ROAS even as CPCs rise. Performance...
Google Local Hotel Photos "Good To Know" AI Labels
Google is testing AI-generated “Good to Know” labels on hotel photos in its Google Hotels listings. The labels provide brief descriptions summarizing the photo content and related user reviews, and appear on both owner‑uploaded and visitor images, though not on...
Abercrombie, Ebay, Aldi Opt for IRL Activations to Capture Super Bowl Fervor
Brands are sidestepping the $7 million Super Bowl TV spot by rolling out real‑world activations across the Bay Area. eBay is converting its End Zone pop‑up into a live‑shopping studio, while Abercrombie & Fitch debuts an NFL‑licensed capsule and Pro Bowl...
5 Content Marketing Ideas for March 2026
The article outlines five March 2026 content‑marketing ideas—spring renewal, National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day, Live Long and Prosper Day, Make Up Your Own Holiday Day, and the America at 250 celebration. Each concept pairs a seasonal or cultural moment with product‑focused storytelling...
Microsoft Advertising Tests Magazine Answer Card Ad Format
Microsoft Advertising is piloting a magazine‑style layout within its Answer Card ad format on Bing’s search results page. The new design places ads in the prominent card slots that appear at the top of queries. Advertisers can access the space...
Kentico Unveils Major AI Leap Bringing Agentic AI Workflows to Marketing Teams
Kentico announced the AIRA Agentic Marketing Suite, expanding its AI‑powered Xperience platform. The suite introduces specialized AI agents, starting with a Content Strategist, that automate tasks across the marketing lifecycle. Built directly into the platform, the agents eliminate the need...
Lads, Lads, Lads? Forget It, Footie Fans Are Far More ‘Sick’
GWI surveyed 26,000 UK male football fans ahead of the 2026 World Cup and found only 9% feel represented by current advertising, which still leans on the outdated "lager lout" stereotype. Nearly half now choose non‑alcoholic beer and 10% abstain...
Freshpaint (YC S19) Is Hiring a Senior SWE, Data
Freshpaint, a Y Combinator S19 startup, is hiring a senior software engineer focused on data to expand its HIPAA‑compliant infrastructure for healthcare marketers. The company enables 100s of healthcare businesses to collect, protect, and activate customer data while staying privacy‑first....
Four Tatari Clients to Air Commercials During NBC’s Super Bowl LX Broadcast, Underscoring Its Role as the Go-To Partner for...
Tatari announced that four of its clients—Ro, Manscaped, Tecovas and Life360—will run commercials during NBC’s Super Bowl LX, marking the highest number of advertisers the platform has placed in a single game. The company secured two streaming‑only placements on Peacock,...
It’s Complicated: Trust in All Ads Rises but There’s a Snag
New Credos Trust Tracker data shows public trust in advertising climbed to 40% in 2025, the strongest level in five years. Trust is strongest for TV (46%) and traditional channels, while online, social media and influencer ads lag behind at...
Making It Whole
Author Seth Godin argues that true integrity is built through countless small, consistent actions rather than occasional grand gestures. He warns that large corporations often sacrifice their founding mission for short‑term gains, eroding brand trust. Using the calculus integral as...
Bringing a B2C Mindset to a B2B Challenge - Piyush Sagar Mishra, Twilio Head of Marketing Innovation and AI, Explains...
Twilio created the Head of Marketing Innovation and AI role for Piyush Sagar Mishra, leveraging his B2C background to re‑imagine B2B go‑to‑market. Mishra’s team built the MAISON framework—a trust‑first AI stack that combines a solid knowledge base, sandboxed models and agentic workflows....
Influencer Marketing ‘Must Grow up to Thrive in 2026’
The SAMY Marketing Trends 2026 report shows that 87% of CMOs will maintain or increase influencer marketing spend despite tightening budgets. While the channel remains resilient, executives are demanding clearer performance metrics, tighter integration, and demonstrable ROI. The study highlights...
Google Bets on ‘Helpful AI’ to Push Gemini Into the Zeitgeist in Super Bowl Ad
Google is debuting a 60‑second Super Bowl commercial titled "New Home" to promote its Gemini generative‑AI assistant. The ad follows a mother using Gemini’s image‑generation tools to visualize a move, emphasizing the platform’s "helpful AI" narrative. The spot anchors an...
AA Signs Times Media Deal to Big up £66.6bn Sector
The Advertising Association has struck a strategic partnership with Times Media to launch “The Success Files”, a campaign that will turn the findings of its “Advertising Pays 25” report into real‑world case studies. The report showed UK businesses invested £66.6 billion...
Industry Urged to Adopt New GenAI Best Practice Guide
Advertising Association, backed by the UK government’s Online Advertising Taskforce, has released a voluntary “Best Practice Guide for the Responsible Use of Generative AI in Advertising.” The guide translates eight core principles—transparency, data use, fairness, human oversight, harm prevention, brand...
Chris Hemsworth Thinks AI Is Trying To Kill Him in Amazon’s Super Bowl Ad
Amazon debuted its new generative AI voice assistant Alexa+ in a 60‑second Super Bowl spot starring Chris Hemsworth. The ad humorously imagines Alexa plotting lethal scenarios, from decapitating Hemsworth to trapping him underwater, before ending with a benign massage booking....
![Why Off-Page SEO Still Shapes Visibility In 2026 [Webinar] via @Sejournal, @Hethr_campbell](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://cdn.searchenginejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1-1-261.png)
Why Off-Page SEO Still Shapes Visibility In 2026 [Webinar] via @Sejournal, @Hethr_campbell
The Search Engine Journal webinar, hosted by Michael Johnson of GrowResolve, explains why off‑page SEO remains pivotal for visibility in 2026 despite AI‑driven SERP changes. It outlines which signals—links, brand mentions, topical authority and trust—still influence Google’s rankings. Attendees receive...
EClerx Recognized as a Gold-Level Adobe Solution Partner
eClerx Services Ltd has been named a Gold‑level Adobe Solution Partner for the Americas, joining an elite tier of certified providers. The designation reflects the firm’s mature Adobe practice, AI‑driven capabilities, and a workforce of more than 1,500 specialists. eClerx...
Krikey AI Launches Advanced 3D Video Editor Tools to Revolutionize Marketing Videos for Business
Krikey AI unveiled an enhanced 3D video editor tailored for marketing teams, enabling brands to produce cinematic‑quality promotional videos in minutes. The platform offers customizable characters, immersive environments, and templates that align with Gen Z graphic design trends. By automating...