Today's Marketing Pulse
McKinsey predicts agentic AI will power two‑thirds of marketing activities
McKinsey’s new report forecasts that agentic AI could drive up to two‑thirds of marketing activities, shifting AI from a productivity add‑on to a core campaign engine. Early adopters are already using generative tools, while the next wave will involve autonomous agents that coordinate decisions across workflows. The firm outlines a five‑step roadmap for implementation.
Costa Cruises Launches ‘Costa Cruisetelling’ Training Program for Advisors
Costa Cruises has introduced “Costa Cruisetelling,” an online training platform for North American travel advisors. The program features six interactive modules, each under ten minutes, covering the brand’s heritage, onboard product, and global positioning. Advisors who complete the course and pass a final quiz earn a “Costa Certified” badge and a certificate, plus a 10% discount on worldwide Costa cruise bookings. The initiative aims to boost advisor knowledge and sales readiness for the Italian‑style cruise experience.
Google Ads Drops Display and Video Planning From Performance Planner
Google Ads has removed Display and Video campaign planning from its Performance Planner, ending support for impression‑share based forecasts. The change also eliminates metrics such as impression share, top impression share, and absolute top impression share from the tool. Advertisers...
Show Up Daily: Consistency Beats Quality
Counterintuitive content truth: consistency beats quality in the short run. A good post published daily outperforms a great post published whenever you feel ready. Algorithms reward frequency. Audiences reward familiarity. You don't need to go viral. You need to show up.
Scheduling Posts Won’t Damage Instagram Reach, Says Mosseri
Adam Mosseri confirmed what I have been telling you for YEARS... scheduling your content does not hurt your reach on Instagram. 👏
Growing Hispanic Pork Demand Shapes National Pork Board Campaign
The National Pork Board launched the "Explora Todo El Gusto Del Pork" campaign to spark long‑term pork demand among Hispanic Gen Z and Millennial consumers, who make up 40% of the U.S. Hispanic population. The initiative highlights pork’s flavor, versatility and...
Earn $1M on YouTube with Just 1K Subscribers
How do you actually make significant money on YouTube? @TintinSmith is the ex-manager of Ali Abdaal. In this YouTube business masterclass we cover: - How you can hit $1M with just 1,000 subscribers - The exact system you should use - Who to hire and...
Link Every Post to a Launch, End Randomness
The fastest way to stop “random posting” as a solopreneur is to tie every piece of content to a specific launch. My simple Launch Content OS: - Pick 1 offer + 1 date - Map 3 buyer questions - Turn each into: a story,...
YouTube 90-Second Unskippable Ads on TVs Spotted
YouTube is testing 90‑second unskippable ads on TV devices, extending the previous 30‑second limit. The ads appear before any content and can exceed 90 seconds before a skip button becomes available. The move creates premium, TV‑style inventory with digital targeting,...
Why Impactful Branding Is Essential for Your Business
Impactful branding is more than a logo; it’s a cohesive identity that shapes customer perception and drives growth. Consistent visual elements, tone, and values build trust, enable premium pricing, and improve conversion rates. In saturated markets, a strategic brand differentiates...
The Campaign Customers Wrote Themselves – How Trust Earned Tapi’s Biggest Brand Moment
Tapi, the UK’s leading flooring retailer, has launched its largest ever brand advertising campaign, turning authentic Trustpilot reviews into animated shoes, slippers and socks that speak at floor level. The rollout follows a rapid expansion phase that included the 2024...
All Things Creator Marketing with Tiffany Rivers
Tiffany Rivers, VP of emerging media and influencer marketing at Media Cause, will speak at Marketing Brew’s "The Next Phase of Social and Creator Marketing" on May 12. She advises nonprofit clients such as the University of Florida, Parkinson’s Foundation,...
Discord Introduces Full‑Screen Hero Ads and Instant Play Quests
Discord is working on two new ad formats. 🖥️ Hero Ads: A full-screen takeover format. 🎮 Instant Play Quests: Stream/Play within Discord.
McDonald’s Gundam Crossover Returns With White Base Crew
McDonald’s Japan has launched a limited‑time Gundam crossover, introducing three new Chicken Tatsuta burger variants, McFizz and McFloat citrus‑yogurt drinks, and Shaka Shaka fries. A 15‑second ad features White Base crew members showcasing the items, with the menu available from April 15, 2026. The...
From Chaos to Predictable Pipeline: A GTM Audit That Turns Into a 90-Day Plan
In this episode, host Javier Lozano explains how a comprehensive go‑to‑market (GTM) audit can transform chaotic, unpredictable B2B pipelines into a structured 90‑day growth plan. He walks listeners through the audit’s three phases—kickoff and questionnaire, customer‑journey mapping workshop, and a...
Jung Von Matt SPREE To Lead VW's Global Social Media
Jung von Matt SPREE has been named Volkswagen’s global social‑media lead agency, tasked with strategy, channel management and content creation across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Threads and Facebook. The partnership aims to make VW a culturally resonant, digitally‑first brand. In parallel,...
Googly Eyes, Zero Budget Energy, and the Art of Not Trying Too Hard
Half Batch Brewing, with creative agency Stereo Creative, launched the “100% Beer” campaign featuring beer cans with googly eyes. The low‑budget, DIY‑style production reportedly cost about $17 and was shot with simple craft‑store supplies. By using lo‑fi, character‑driven visuals, the...
Merrell’s Pitch to Non-Outdoorsy Consumers: Go Outside Instead
Merrell, the 45‑year‑old hiking‑footwear brand owned by Wolverine Worldwide, unveiled its first global brand platform, “It Starts Outside,” aimed at making outdoor activity feel accessible to everyday consumers. The 30‑second digital spot features Olympian Alexi Pappas, marathoner Lisa Thompson, and...
Triptii Dimri Becomes Victoria’s Secret’s FIRST Indian Brand Ambassador: “It’s Like a Dream Come True”
Victoria’s Secret announced Triptii Dimri as its first Indian brand ambassador at an exclusive event in Mumbai on April 9, 2026. Dimri will front the brand’s Summer Signature collection, emphasizing comfort and individuality. The appointment reflects the company’s strategic push...
AI Automates Event Banner Creation, Saving Minutes
Successfully taught Antigravity (aka Gravy) to create an event banner in my community. I say to it, "Hey pls make a banner for our next event" and it opens up a browser, clicks around and makes the banner. First attempt it forgot...
TikTok Content Ideas: Real Examples and Where to Get Them
The article outlines a systematic approach to generating TikTok video ideas, highlighting the platform’s Creative Center, the For‑You Page, search suggestions, and direct audience feedback as primary inspiration sources. It emphasizes crafting detailed AI prompts for tools like ChatGPT to accelerate...
SAMY & L’Oréal Launched TikTok Shop in Spain Together: Here’s What the First Year Taught Them
When TikTok Shop launched in Spain in late 2024, L’Oréal partnered with influencer agency SAMY to test social commerce. Over the first year, SAMY produced 18 live shopping events—42 hours of content—expanding from L’Oréal Paris to Maybelline, NYX and Garnier....
Dippin’ Dots Signature Beaded Ice Cream Enters the Freezer Aisle
Dippin’ Dots’ signature beaded ice cream is now available in grocery freezers nationwide in three flagship flavors—Cookies ’N Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Ultimate Brownie. After a slight reformulation that lets the beads stay stable at the typical 0 °F store freezer, J&J Snack Foods can offer multi‑pack...
Libas’ Next Big Thing After Hitting The ₹600 Cr Revenue Mark
Libas, the Indian ethnic‑wear brand founded in 2014, has surpassed the ₹1,000 Cr (~$120 M) annual revenue run‑rate after a decade of bootstrapped growth. The company began by targeting affordable workwear for women online, later pivoting to a fast‑fashion model that slashed...
YouTube Launches Unskippable 90-Second Ads
Google’s YouTube is rolling out mandatory 90‑second ads for viewers using the platform on smart TVs, replacing the traditional skippable format. The move follows a March announcement about unskippable 30‑second spots and aligns with YouTube’s goal to treat TV viewers...
Your Owned Content Is Losing To A Stranger’s Reddit Comment via @Sejournal, @DuaneForrester
AI assistants increasingly source answers from Reddit rather than brand sites, thanks to licensing deals that give Google and other models real‑time access to Reddit content. Between August 2024 and June 2025 Reddit was the top‑cited domain in Google AI Overviews and...
Asus Expands ProArt Creators' Brand Into Networking with First Wi-Fi 7 Router, Ethernet Switch
Asus has launched its first networking devices under the ProArt brand, unveiling the PRT‑BE5000 Wi‑Fi 7 router and the PQG‑U1080 Ethernet switch. The move mirrors the company’s earlier strategy with the Republic of Gamers line, extending a creator‑focused portfolio that already...
EXCLUSIVE: Soccer Media Startup Footballco Wants to Own New York’s World Cup Summer
Footballco, a UK‑based soccer media startup, will launch a two‑week pop‑up called House of Goal in Brooklyn’s Industry City from July 4 to July 19. The free event coincides with the final weeks of the World Cup and features themed zones for...
Stagwell Recruits Petersen as Chief Brand & Comms Officer
Stagwell announced the appointment of Lena Peterson as its chief brand and communications officer, reporting directly to CEO Mark Penn. Peterson arrives with more than three decades of experience at agencies such as UTA MediaLink, Publicis Media’s Starcom MediaVest, and...
LoopMe Launches Chartboost Direct, Bringing Brands Into Mobile Apps to Drive Publisher Growth
LoopMe has unveiled Chartboost Direct, a brand‑focused SDK that lets mobile app publishers tap directly into brand demand without overhauling their ad tech stack. The solution offers direct pay, direct deals and marketplace deals, enabling real‑time transactions with premium brand...
How Coca-Cola Is Embedding Itself Into World Cup Anticipation
Coca‑Cola unveiled its second global World Cup film, “Uncanned Emotions,” positioning the brand inside the tournament’s emotional narrative rather than beside it. The spot features legendary commentator Peter Drury, lending authentic football gravitas, and dovetails with a 38‑stop North American...
Inflection.io Acquires Keyplay to Add AI‑Driven Account Scoring to Its Sales‑Enablement Platform
Inflection.io announced the acquisition of Keyplay, a Seattle startup that scores target accounts for sales teams. The deal reunites CEOs Aaron Bird and Adam Schoenfeld after 15 years and adds AI‑driven account‑identification to Inflection’s marketing automation suite, expanding its global...
Snap's Health Ad Push Triggers 1.5% Stock Dip Amid Investor Skepticism
Snap unveiled a health‑centric advertising platform, but its shares fell 1.5% to $4.73 as investors questioned whether healthcare ad spend can become a lasting growth engine. The dip comes amid ongoing child‑safety lawsuits, an EU probe and activist pressure.
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...
The AI CMO: Growth Accountability Gets Next-Level
Forrester’s new report "The AI CMO" argues that artificial intelligence is not eliminating the chief marketing officer role but reshaping it into a growth‑orchestration function. AI agents will handle routine campaign execution, freeing CMOs to make enterprise‑level investment and automation...
The Art of Making Fintech Cool With Catherine Ferdon of Coinbase
Coinbase CMO Catherine Ferdon explains how bold, risk‑aware creativity can break through the sterile image of regulated fintech. She outlines a three‑question framework for giving voice to intangible products and cites the polarizing Super Bowl karaoke ad that prioritized conversation over...
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...
The Real AI Race Isn't About Models or Data. It's About Context.
Companies are pouring money into AI tools but see little impact because they lack the business‑specific context that turns raw data into actionable insight. HubSpot argues the missing piece is a contextual infrastructure—its Agentic Customer Platform—that captures and continuously updates...
Fever-Tree Mixers Celebrate Mixology with First US Creative Platform
Fever‑Tree has launched its first U.S. creative platform, “Mix With The Best,” developed with Droga5 and backed by Molson Coors, which took an 8.5% stake for $89 million. The campaign runs across TV, online video, and social, targeting events such as...
JKR’s Refresh For Bar Keeper’s Friend Adds Some Much-Needed Shimmer and Shine
Bar Keeper’s Friend, the 144‑year‑old cleaning staple, has undergone a brand refresh led by design agency JKR. The redesign keeps the iconic gold metallic can while adding a modern logo, smoother typography, and a new “sparkle apostrophe” star. Illustrated before‑and‑after...
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...
Exit Five Hires AI‑savvy Marketers for Growth & Content
Wanted: two AI-pilled marketers for @exitfivemedia. Timing: ASAP. We just opened two new jobs at Exit Five this morning: • Growth Marketer (this is ads, discovery, conversion, and a big focus on growing our email list) https://t.co/DnQOorUR3F • Content Engineer (manages our podcast/newsletters/webinars,...
Timberland Casts Off In Berlin
Timberland is reviving its iconic boat shoe with a Spring‑Summer 2026 collection that blends rugged hand‑sewn construction and a Vibram outsole. The brand partnered with Highsnobiety for a maritime‑themed launch event in Berlin, turning the Unter den Linden space into...
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...
Most Marketers Skip Journey Mapping, Undermining ABM Success
Only 17% of marketers have fully mapped their customer journey. And yet… many are running ABM programs anyway. Saul Marquez explains why that disconnect is holding teams back—and how to fix it.👇 https://t.co/Nsm8MBJQ6A @OutcomesRocket #ABM #HITsm
Data‑Backed Traits of Sites Thriving After Google’s Traffic Shift
New Post: Google decimated traffic to legions of websites. But traffic to other websites rose What makes the winners different? To quantify it, I analyzed 400+ sites, and the answers became obvious 5 Data-Backed Features Of Websites Winning Google in 2026 (1/2) https://t.co/kFpQIWh8yB
10x AI Visibility Drives 50% SaaS Sign‑Ups
I helped a SaaS increase its sign-ups by 50%. How? By increasing their visibility in the AI results by 10x, and their Google search results by 354% I'm thinking about helping 2 founders do the same. Are you in? https://t.co/717oQGOuTd
MovieFlow Releases Seedance 2.0, Kling
🚨 MovieFlow just launched Seedance 2.0 and Kling 3.0. And you can generate your first 15 seconds completely free right now. No card. No catch. Here's everything you need to know 🧵
Build a Loyal Blog Audience with Proven Strategies
RT @InspireToThrive @CoriWriterBWP How You Can Attract Loyal Readers to Your Blog https://t.co/3arR38PFok via @CoriWriterBWP
Live Social Shopping: Time to Dig Deeper Now
Please let this be the post that forces you to start really digging in deep on what’s going on in live social shopping 🛒 https://t.co/pMu340vBxg
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.