12 Ways to Improve PPC ROI With Automated Bidding (2026)
The article outlines twelve practical steps for boosting pay‑per‑click (PPC) return on investment through automated bidding. It stresses defining a clear success metric, fixing conversion tracking, and selecting the smart‑bidding mode that aligns with business goals. Campaign segmentation by intent and the use of portfolio strategies keep automation from diluting performance. Finally, it recommends guardrails—alerts, experiments, and regular reviews—to sustain ROI while the algorithm learns.
Sales Planner – Newsletters
Backyard Ventures, an Austin‑based media partnership agency with over 200 clients, is hiring a Sales Planner for its newsletter vertical. The role blends advertising operations, campaign reporting, client management, and introductory sales tasks, allocating roughly 80 % of time to execution...
Seedtag Welcomes Brendan McCarthy as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Seedtag announced the appointment of Brendan McCarthy as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer. McCarthy, former CMO of Criteo, brings over 20 years of marketing leadership at Fortune 500 firms. He will oversee global marketing, brand, demand generation, and communications to...
Apple, Google Wallets Get Personal
Digital‑wallet platforms from Apple and Google are evolving beyond simple payments, with startups like Badge turning them into interactive commerce channels. Badge’s infrastructure lets brands push real‑time, location‑aware offers and loyalty updates directly to a consumer’s wallet. The San‑Francisco‑based company...
Onsocial
OnSocial repositions influencer marketing as a social‑data problem, offering a toolkit that includes creator discovery, analytics, sponsored‑post tracking, audience overlap analysis, and an always‑on API. The platform targets agencies and brands that need defensible, data‑driven creator selections rather than an...
IDeaS Updates Spotlight Marketing Solution
IDe aS unveiled a major upgrade to its hospitality marketing platform, Spotlight, adding a predictive "Potential to Influence" score that quantifies how responsive a market segment is to price and promotional changes. The solution, built on IDeaS' forecasting analytics, will...
Builderius WordPress Page Builder Integrates Claude AI via @Sejournal, @Martinibuster
Builderius launched an experimental integration that connects Anthropic’s Claude AI to live WordPress projects via the Model Context Protocol. The AI can read the full JSON‑based template, CSS, GraphQL schema and element tree, then apply structural edits, style changes, and...
Kochava Expands Certified Partners Program, Welcomes New Leaders Across the Global Integrations Ecosystem
Kochava announced the expansion of its Certified Partners Program, adding LG Ad Solutions, InMobi, Digital Turbine, Jampp, Adikteev and AppNext to its roster of vetted integrations. The certification requires strict adherence to integration best practices, traffic health standards and completion...
Meta Introduces Click and Engage-Through Attribution Updates
Meta is overhauling its ad measurement framework by restricting click‑through attribution to link clicks only, while moving likes, shares, saves and similar actions into a newly named “engage‑through attribution.” The update also halves the video engaged‑view window from ten to...
Daily Search Forum Recap: March 3, 2026
Google clarified image‑thumbnail selection for Search and Discover, confirming it relies on both schema.org markup and the og:image tag. The AI Mode sidebar was found to drop referrer data, a bug the Search team is investigating. Knowledge panels are being...
TapClicks Expands Unified Marketing Intelligence with AudioGO and Instacart Instant-On Connectors
TapClicks announced two new Instant‑On connectors—AudioGO for streaming audio and Instacart Ads for retail media—expanding its AI‑powered Smart Marketing Cloud. The additions let agencies and brands pull audio and grocery‑shopping campaign data into a single platform for unified reporting and...
QYOU Media Launches Performance Media Unit to Scale Creator Campaigns Across Paid Channels
QYOU Media has launched QYOU Amplify, a performance‑media unit that combines creator strategy, paid media buying, advanced targeting and real‑time analytics to scale influencer campaigns. The new unit aims to identify high‑performing content early and reallocate spend instantly, treating creator...
Dstillery, Keynes, and The Trade Desk Partner to Advance Agentic Advertising
Dstillery unveiled its DS-1 agentic advertising platform, partnering with CTV technology firm Keynes and major DSP The Trade Desk. The platform connects directly to Keynes’ Slack workspace via the Model Context Protocol, compressing audience discovery and custom modeling from days...
Comic Relief Unveils Red Nose Day Livestream Campaign with Mr Doodle
Comic Relief has launched a new Red Nose Day livestream campaign featuring artist Mr Doodle, produced by Amazon Ads' Brand Innovation Lab. The initiative streams on Twitch, showcasing Mr Doodle’s live drawing while integrating a Red Nose Day store app...
Cendyn Unveils New Meta Hotel Ads to Drive Bookings Across Digital Platforms, Impacting Hotels in North America and Europe
Cendyn has added Meta Hotel Ads to its Digital Marketing Platform, enabling hotels to run AI‑driven, real‑time ads on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Audience Network. The ads display live pricing and availability, targeting high‑intent travelers based on behavior. Integrated with...
Brick Marketing Develops System for Balancing SEO, AI Search, and Content Marketing
Brick Marketing unveiled a structured system that unites traditional SEO, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) for AI‑driven search, content marketing, and coordinated social media promotion. The framework aims to keep brands visible in classic search while also positioning them within AI‑generated...
YouTube Shopping Guide for Brands (Not Just Creators)
YouTube Shopping has expanded in 2026 to let brands turn any video—Shorts, long‑form, or Live—into a direct storefront. By linking a product catalog through Google Merchant Center, brands can tag SKUs within videos, letting viewers purchase without leaving the platform....
Dstillery Has A New Agentic AI Interface For Refining Audiences Faster
Dstillery unveiled DS-1, an agentic AI interface that lets advertisers create and refine custom audience segments in minutes instead of days. Built on the Model Context Protocol, DS-1 integrates with Slack, Microsoft Teams, browsers and pushes audiences directly to The...
Dstillery Has A New Agentic AI Interface For Refining Audiences Faster
Dstillery unveiled DS‑1, an agentic AI interface that lets advertisers build and refine custom audience segments in minutes instead of days, integrating directly with Slack, Teams, browsers and pushing audiences to The Trade Desk. The tool, built on the Model...
Instagram “Sends per Reach” Playbook: Designing Posts People Send In DMs
Instagram’s algorithm now prioritizes Sends per Reach (SPR), measuring how often posts are privately shared via DM relative to their reach. Adam Mosseri confirmed SPR as a key ranking signal, shifting focus from likes and saves to intentional private sharing....
Magellan AI Integrates Nielsen DMA® Data to Bring Local Market Measurement to Podcast Attribution
Magellan AI has licensed Nielsen’s proprietary DMA® data, adding local‑market measurement to its podcast attribution platform. The integration maps podcast performance onto Nielsen’s 210 standardized U.S. media markets, enabling advertisers to evaluate impact at the geographic level. This capability aligns...
Cross-Posting Matrix: What to Change per Platform
Cross‑posting short‑form videos in 2026 demands platform‑specific tweaks rather than simple duplication. The article outlines a matrix that details required changes in aspect ratios, safe‑zone placement, caption rewrites, and audio licensing for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Brands are...
Loveholidays Taps Creators for ‘the Weird and Wonderful’
Loveholidays has unveiled an “always‑on” influencer platform called Book What You Love, created with SocialChain’s The Fifth. The initiative pairs creators’ niche passions with specific destinations, positioning travel as a form of self‑expression. It launches with four creators from Germany,...
Google Updates Alcohol, Prescription Drugs, Gambling & Government Policies
Google announced four policy updates affecting Google Ads and Merchant Center. Alcohol subscriptions are now allowed for U.S. merchants, requiring the Alcoholic Beverages product category and the subscription_cost attribute. Certified U.S. online pharmacies can promote prescription‑drug subscriptions, bundles, and consultation...
EssenceMediacom Extends 10-Year Tesco Relationship
EssenceMediacom, WPP Media’s merged agency, has been reappointed as Tesco’s media agency partner across the UK and Central‑Eastern European markets for another ten years. The renewal follows a formal review by Tuffon Hall Consultancy and expands the scope to include...
Holland & Barrett Sales Boosted by TikTok Trends, as Losses Widen
Holland & Barrett reported an 11% rise in annual sales to £981 million, propelled by TikTok‑driven health trends and appetite‑suppressing products. Store revenue climbed to £731.3 million, and gross profit increased to £579.9 million. However, pre‑tax losses widened to £71 million, reflecting higher staff...
Prost8 Gets Arse in Gear for Bum-Controlled DOOH Blitz
Prostate cancer charity Prost8 has launched “Dodge The Finger,” the world’s first bum‑controlled digital out‑of‑home (DOOH) campaign. Developed by TBWA\MCR, the activation won gold at Ocean Outdoor UK’s Digital Creative Competition and the European Grand Prix, showcasing a retro arcade...
The Trade Desk Welcomes OpenTTD, The Partner Integration Portal To Rule Them All
The Trade Desk unveiled OpenTTD, a unified partner integration portal, at LiveRamp’s RampUp conference. The platform consolidates logins and analytics for partners who act as advertisers, data sellers, and developers, eliminating the need for separate accounts. OpenTTD ties into the...
How Cinnabon Built a Social Fandom by ‘Marrying’ Slim Jim
Cinnabon’s social media manager Hannah Gregus sparked an unexpected dialogue with Slim Jim on X, initially without a formal plan. The spontaneous banter evolved over a year into a fan‑driven narrative that culminated in a tongue‑in‑cheek "wedding" featuring vows, polls, and...
DMWF Spotlight: How Ecommerce Marketers Gain a Competitive Advantage – without More Complexity
E‑commerce marketers are confronting rising acquisition costs and a fragmented, multi‑device buyer journey that traditional search and social channels no longer dominate. Autonomous AI platforms now analyze live intent signals across the open internet, allowing brands to reach high‑intent shoppers...
DMWF Spotlight: Stop Personalising More. Start Thinking Better.
The article argues that CRM success isn’t driven by more personalization or automation, but by better judgment and restraint. Companies often assume that increasing messages boosts engagement, yet customers feel overwhelmed and ignore the noise. Atombit advises focusing on what...
Brands May Actually Benefit From Advertising Next to AI Content, Per Study
A new OM Media Trials and Zefr study of nearly 5,000 U.S. and Canadian consumers finds that ads placed after certain AI‑generated videos can actually enhance brand perception, especially when the content is satirical, youthful, or artistic. Conversely, ads next...
Stran & Company Launches STRAN Digital Solutions to Strengthen Client Retention and Support Scalable Growth
Stran & Company unveiled STRAN Digital Solutions, a proprietary SaaS platform that consolidates digital asset management, CRM‑connected workflows, web‑to‑print, logistics, and direct‑mail capabilities. The integrated solution aims to simplify program execution, give clients self‑service ordering portals, and allow Stran’s national...
Agoda Launches Artotel Group Flagship Store on Its Platform
Agoda has launched Artotel Group’s first branded Flagship Store, consolidating over 100 Indonesian hotels onto a single dedicated page. The storefront leverages Agoda’s distribution network, customer insights, and promotional tools to boost Artotel’s brand visibility and simplify traveler discovery. By...
Hisense VIDAA TVs Reportedly Add Unskippable Startup Ads Before Live TV
Hisense Smart TVs running the VIDAA platform are now showing a full‑screen, unskippable advertisement immediately after power‑on, before users can reach live broadcast channels. The same behavior has been reported on Toshiba and JVC TVs that share the VIDAA OS,...
Third-Party AI Agents Can Now Plug Into LiveRamp’s Platform
LiveRamp announced that third‑party AI agents can now plug directly into its data collaboration platform, removing the need for custom API calls. The integration enables agents to automate audience planning, segmentation, measurement and to interact with partner and proprietary agents....
Bupa UK Picks Ace of Hearts to Work on Creative and Strategy
UK health insurer Bupa has selected the creative agency Ace of Hearts to lead its new advertising and strategic initiatives. The agency was chosen after a competitive pitch process coordinated by Ingenuity+, a specialist agency network. The partnership is expected...
The One Centre Group Creates and Scales the Brands of Tomorrow with ‘Zephyr One’ Launch
The One Centre Group has rebranded its 2019 investment Zephyr Social as Zephyr One, joining its constellation of specialist branding firms. The 12‑person agency now offers commercial strategy, performance media, and creative services through its proprietary System One model. Founders...
WTF Is Meta’s Manus Tool?
Meta has embedded an AI agent suite called Manus into its Ads Manager, following a $2 billion acquisition of the Singapore‑based startup Butterfly Effect. The tool promises automated competitor analysis, audience research, campaign measurement and reporting across Facebook and Instagram. Early...
OpenAI’s Ad Push Begins, and The Knot Is Co-Piloting
OpenAI has launched a trial ad platform inside ChatGPT, enlisting The Knot Worldwide as one of its first brand partners. The wedding‑planning service is testing ad performance, brand‑safety protocols, and data insights while also debuting its own app within the...
Agent99 and Born to Host Free Senior Marketer Webinar ‘Bravery, Budget & Bullsh*t: What Actually Drives Impact’ at 12pm, March...
Agent99 PR and Born are hosting a free webinar titled “Bravery, Budget & Bullsh*t: What Actually Drives Impact” on March 12 at noon, aimed at senior marketers. The session will dissect where brands overspend and pinpoint tactics that deliver genuine commercial...
Alphabet Vs. The Trade Desk: Which Is a Better Buy?
Alphabet posted an 18% revenue jump to $113.8 billion in Q4, with Google Cloud surging 48% and net income rising 30%, underscoring strong AI‑driven growth and operating leverage. The Trade Desk reported $847 million in revenue, up 14% YoY, but its growth...
Concerns with Third-Party Partner Could Derail LinkedIn’s Verification Push
LinkedIn is rolling out broader identity verification, adding company confirmation and executive‑level title checks that require a corporate email address. The move aims to curb recruiter scams and misrepresentation on the platform. However, the rollout relies on third‑party verification partner...
Google AI Overview Citations From Top-Ranking Pages Drop Sharply via @Sejournal, @MattGSouthern
Ahrefs’ latest analysis of 4 million AI Overview URLs shows a sharp decline in top‑10 ranking pages being cited, dropping from 76% in July 2025 to 38% now. The study attributes the shift to improved citation detection and Google’s expanding query...
Inside a TikTok Outage: A Practical Playbook for PR and Social Teams
In late January TikTok experienced a nationwide outage after a power failure at a U.S. data center disrupted video uploads, comments and personalized feeds. The glitch coincided with a controversial Terms of Service update, amplifying user distrust and prompting many...
Podcast Advertising – The Safest Bet
Tom Webster’s June 2024 article introduces the research report “Podcast Advertising – The Safest Bet,” which compiles recent studies on podcast ad performance. The report challenges common objections from traditional marketers by showing podcasting’s low‑risk, high‑return characteristics. Findings highlight strong brand...
How Voice Search Ads Are Changing The Search Term Report in 2026
Voice search has reshaped Google Ads’ Search Term Report, turning short keyword lists into lengthy conversational transcripts. Average spoken queries have jumped from 2.8 words in 2022 to around nine words today, blurring intent and inflating low‑confidence matches. Advertisers now...
VRC Non-Skip Ads Are Now Generally Available, Allowing Brands to Reach TV Audiences with Google AI.
Google has made its VRC Non‑Skip ad format generally available worldwide through Google Ads and Display & Video 360. The offering targets connected‑TV inventory, delivering 6‑second bumpers, 15‑second standard and 30‑second non‑skippable spots that play in full. Google’s AI dynamically selects...
Google Uses Both schema.org Markup and Og:image Meta Tag for Thumbnails in Google Search and Discover
Google updated its image SEO guidance, confirming that both schema.org markup (such as primaryImageOfPage, mainEntity, and mainEntityOfPage) and the og:image meta tag are consulted when selecting thumbnail images for Google Search and Discover. The new documentation outlines how publishers can...
DFS Partners with ITV to Deliver an Integrated Marketing Campaign with Britain’s Got Talent
DFS has partnered with ITV to embed its brand into the 19th season of Britain’s Got Talent, featuring 10‑second TV commercials and bespoke sofas on set. The campaign includes an Amanda Holden‑branded sofa collection, social media sponsorship, and a competition...