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 all marketing functions, shifting AI from a productivity add‑on to a core strategic engine. The analysis notes early adopters are using generative tools, while the next wave will involve autonomous agents that orchestrate decisions across workflows, guided by a five‑step implementation roadmap.
Rebuilding a $100M Hospitality Brand: Pinky Cole, Slutty Vegan CEO, on Failure and Franchising
In this episode, Pinky Cole, founder and CEO of the $100 million Slutty Vegan brand, recounts her journey from a two‑bedroom Atlanta apartment to a national vegan empire, detailing how she leveraged bold branding, TV‑style storytelling, and social media to attract both vegans and meat‑eaters. She explains the rise, near‑collapse, and rebirth of the company—Slutty Vegan 1.0 amassed $20 million in debt before a pandemic‑driven surge, leading to a 2025 restructuring and a daring buy‑back that birthed Slutty Vegan 2.0, now focused on franchising across 32 states. Cole shares hard‑won lessons about scaling, the perils of over‑expansion, and the power of authentic, experience‑driven branding, while emphasizing the importance of staying true to the product and culture.
Volkswagen Group Builds Generative AI Pipeline for Brand-Compliant Vehicle Assets
Volkswagen Group partnered with AWS to build a generative‑AI pipeline that creates photorealistic, brand‑compliant vehicle images for its ten marques. By fine‑tuning the Flux.1‑Dev diffusion model with DreamBooth on proprietary digital‑twin data and deploying it on Amazon SageMaker, the company...
Radio Holds 64% of Registered Voter Share of Ear In Ad-Led Audio
Radio commands 64% of ad‑supported audio time among U.S. registered voters 18+, far outpacing streaming services. Podcasts are the next biggest share at 21%, while ad‑free platforms hold the remaining 47% of daily audio. Over half of voters’ audio consumption...
Brand Like a Rock Star: Lessons From Steve Jones
Radio executive Steve Jones argues that stations achieve legendary status by delivering a rock‑star experience, not just a better product. In his book *Brand Like a Rock Star*, he maps music‑industry branding tactics—memorable identity, authentic storytelling, and fan‑centric engagement—to radio,...
UK Consumers Shift From Browsing to Intent as High‑value Home and Finance Leads Surge
Analysis of 67 million email messages shows UK consumers are becoming more selective, clicking less but converting at higher rates. The shift toward an “intent economy” is driven by cost‑of‑living pressures, prompting shoppers to focus on home improvements and financial services...
Mumbai Indians and Kinnect India Turn Fandom Into Family with ‘Fans Nahi Fam’
Mumbai Indians has partnered with Kinnect India to launch the "Fans Nahi Fam" campaign, positioning its supporters as family rather than mere fans. The initiative spans films, key visuals, branding and on‑ground activations, aiming to embed the team deeper into...
McDonald’s Collectables Bring Customers Back
McDonald’s has launched a new promotion linked to the animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” embedding collectible photo‑cards and QR‑enabled access cards in its meals. Customers scan the codes via the McDonald’s app to unlock exclusive digital content, creating a loop...
Samsung Ads TotalView Gives Advertisers a New Lens on TV Reach
Samsung Ads has launched TotalView, a unified measurement solution that aggregates linear and streaming ad reach across Samsung’s 70 million European Smart TVs. The platform provides deduplicated audience data for pre‑campaign planning, in‑flight activation, and post‑campaign reporting, eliminating traditional blind spots....
Heathrow Highlights Role as Gateway to Emotional Joy
Heathrow has launched a new out‑of‑home and digital campaign, created by St Luke’s, that spotlights the emotional rewards of travel rather than just its destinations. The "LHR > XXX" concept pairs the airport’s three‑letter code with words like WOW, NOM and ZZZ to...
Redfin Just Listed Rocket Arena as Its Biggest Open House, and Everyone’s Invited
Redfin announced an unprecedented marketing activation by listing Cleveland’s Rocket Arena as an open house, even though the venue isn’t for sale. The event, part of the "Own the Dream" campaign, features a community‑focused garage sale, historic Cavalier memorabilia, and...
A New Wave of Challengers Is Ramping Up the Mayo Marketing Arms Race
Mayonnaise remains a staple in American kitchens, with 77% of households storing a jar and 67% of consumers expressing strong preference. A fresh wave of challengers, including newcomer Ayoh and revitalized regional label Duke’s, is intensifying the marketing battle for...
![How To Identify Which LLM Is Actually Working For You [Webinar] via @Sejournal, @Hethr_campbell](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://cdn.searchenginejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/callrail-webinar-041426-llm-conversion-rates-768.png)
How To Identify Which LLM Is Actually Working For You [Webinar] via @Sejournal, @Hethr_campbell
Search Engine Journal is hosting a live webinar to help marketers pinpoint which large language model (LLM) actually drives conversions in specific industries. Panelists Danielle Wood of CallRail and Natalie Johnson of SweetGlow will share real‑world conversion data for ChatGPT,...
How Jack Daniels Found Its Big Idea
Jack Daniel’s appointed Sophia Angelis as its first non‑US, female Managing Director in January 2020 and tasked her with modernising the heritage brand amid a global pandemic. She launched “Make It Count,” the company’s first truly global campaign, built on...
Changhong and Grundig Form Strategic Partnership
Changhong, a leading Chinese home‑appliance maker, has secured a strategic partnership with Germany’s Grundy brand, obtaining a license to sell Grundig products across Europe (excluding Turkey), the Asia‑Pacific region, the CIS and China. The deal gives Changhong control of the...
Nonprofit Branding Strategy: 10 Tips and Key Elements to Include
Nonprofit branding extends beyond logos to every donor touchpoint, shaping perception and trust. The article outlines five strategic approaches—uniqueness, personalized messaging, belonging, emotion, and thought leadership—and details five essential elements of brand guidelines, from mission to communications. It highlights how...
Thermochemical Energy Storage Leader Redoxblox Rebrands as Tempo
Redoxblox has rebranded as Tempo, signaling its shift from research to commercial scaling of a thermochemical energy storage platform that delivers continuous, combustion‑free heat up to 1,200 °C. The system can charge fully in four hours, allowing factories to capture low‑cost...
PubMatic & Amnet Launch the First Agentic Advertising Campaign in France Using the Claude LLM
PubMatic and trading desk Amnet have launched France’s first Agentic advertising campaign, built on PubMatic’s AgenticOS and the Claude large‑language model, for client Interbev. The video‑focused effort targets cooking enthusiasts and consumers of responsibly sourced French meat, aiming for high...
Instagram Tests a Feature to Let You See Your Ex's Stories without a Trace — and It's Going to Cost...
Instagram is piloting a paid subscription that lets users watch Stories anonymously, extending the feature set with audience lists beyond Close Friends and a 24‑hour story extension. The test is live in Mexico, Japan and the Philippines and costs roughly...
EXCLUSIVE: Spotify Debuts Carousel Ads and Branded Playlist Takeovers
Spotify is introducing interactive carousel ads that let brands display up to six swipeable product cards within the Now Playing screen, with Priceline and GNC among early testers. The service also launches branded playlist takeovers on high‑traffic lists such as...
The Difference Between Growth Hacks and Growth Systems
Brand Tribe warns that many companies chase fleeting growth hacks instead of building durable growth systems. While hacks can generate a viral spike, they depend on timing, platform algorithms, and external trends, leading to inconsistent results. In contrast, growth systems...
Marriott’s 39th Brand: A Two-Property Italian Wellness Resort
Marriott announced a joint venture with Italy’s Lefay Resorts to launch its 39th brand, marking the company’s first dedicated wellness label. The partnership brings Lefay’s two boutique resorts—one on Lake Garda and another in the Dolomites—under Marriott’s long‑term management while...
CIMM Is Out To Prove That All Media Isn’t Equal
The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) is releasing a paper that challenges the industry’s assumption that all media is interchangeable, especially in the fast‑growing CTV space. It argues that media quality can be objectively measured using probabilistic signals such...
Beauty Briefing: How Fragrance Is Winning on TikTok Shop
Fragrance brand Snif saw explosive sales on TikTok Shop after influencer Mikayla Nogueira livestreamed a product demo, highlighting the platform’s power for scent categories. The surge underscores how live video and creator seeding can turn traditionally tactile products into impulse...
Stitch Fix Is Targeting People Mid-Transition, From GLP-1 Users to Newly Divorced Men
Stitch Fix is pivoting to hyper‑targeted life‑stage segments, focusing on GLP‑1 weight‑loss drug users and recently divorced men who need rapid wardrobe updates. The company posted Q2 revenue of $341.3 million, a 9.4% year‑over‑year increase, and a record $577 revenue per active...
The 10 Hashtags Driving the Most Beauty Sales on TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop’s beauty category generated more than $670 million in sales over the past year, driven primarily by hashtag‑centric video content. The #skincare hashtag alone accounted for roughly $142 million, making it the top revenue generator. K‑beauty tags such as #Koreanskincare and...
The In-Store Unlock: Retail Media's Next Stage | Behind the Numbers Special Edition
In this special edition of the eMarketer podcast, analyst Sarah Marzano explains why U.S. retail media has been built for e‑commerce rather than physical stores, despite stores accounting for over 80% of sales. She highlights the massive $70 billion retail‑media spend...
The Trade Desk Shakes up Identity Alliance Payouts, with a New Focus on Incrementality
The Trade Desk is revamping its Identity Alliance compensation, moving from a volume‑based payout to an incrementality‑focused model that rewards unique identity signals. The change, slated for early 2026, includes a temporary revenue guarantee and new APIs to help partners...
Time Pitches GEO Insights Into a New Brand Offering
Time is launching a new GEO product that audits how AI search engines portray brands and sells tailored branded content to correct mismatches. The service leverages tools from TollBit, ScalePost and Mobian to analyze up to 100 prompts across ChatGPT,...
WNBA Player Lexie Hull Launches Forta, Aimed at Creating a New Category of Performance-Driven Makeup
WNBA star Lexie Hull and investor Bella Guller have launched Forta, a performance‑driven makeup line built around sweat‑resistant polymers. After two‑and‑a‑half years of formulation, the brand debuted direct‑to‑consumer, seeding products to athletes across the WNBA, gymnastics, soccer and volleyball. TikTok...
Coach Won over Gen Z in North America. Now It’s Stepping up Its Focus Abroad
Coach has leveraged deep Gen‑Z consumer research to revitalize its brand, first in North America and now across Asia and Europe. Tailored partnerships with streetwear labels like Clot and Matin Kim, plus localized ambassador programs, have driven double‑digit revenue growth—22% in...
Malibu Taps Creator Sabrina Brier for ‘Get Ready With Me’ Campaign to Promote New Pink Spirit
Malibu has introduced Malibu Pink, a rum‑based spirit flavored with guava, coconut and pineapple, and is launching it through a "Get Ready With Malibu Pink" campaign. The brand partnered with comedian‑creator Sabrina Brier to produce #GRWM videos and a stop‑motion...
Inside Pixel Moda’s Human-Led Approach to AI-Powered Fashion E-Commerce
Pixel Moda, a global e‑commerce content producer, uses generative and assistive AI to accelerate fashion visual asset creation. By combining AI with human creativity, the company can generate up to 15 high‑quality images per SKU within 24‑48 hours, cutting image costs by...
Elevate Production Quality to Attract High‑Value Whale Clients
If your goal is to attract whale clients, cheap-looking content is probably working against you. Here’s how I raise the production bar to make sure I’m attracting the right leads:
OMG Group Names Today the Brave as Brand, Retail and Media Agency Partner
OMG Group has appointed Today the Brave as its full‑service agency partner to drive end‑to‑end brand growth. The agency will oversee brand strategy, social and paid media, as well as trade and retail activation for existing brands like Blue Dinosaur...
Samsung Strikes BTS Tour Deal to Put Galaxy at Centre of Fan Experience
Samsung Electronics announced a global partnership with BTS’s “ARIRANG” world tour, positioning its Galaxy lineup—headlined by the new Galaxy S26 Ultra—as the core technology for fan experiences. The collaboration includes interactive activations in Seoul and on‑the‑road, allowing concertgoers to use...
Alchemist's 50‑Course Menu Sparks 2 Million‑Person Waiting List
Copenhagen’s Alchemist, helmed by chef Rasmus Munk, announced a waiting list of roughly two million diners for its 50‑course tasting menu. The chef attributes the demand to the restaurant’s storytelling focus, marking a new benchmark for high‑end gastronomy.
What Are the Key Digital Marketing Trends for Estate Agents in 2026?
Estate agents must adapt to AI‑driven digital marketing in 2026, with AI Optimisation (AIO) and Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) becoming essential for visibility in AI‑powered search. Advanced video generators such as Higgsfield, Sora 2 and Nano Banana 2 enable rapid production of high‑quality...
Beyond Aggregator Dependency: How Balancing Your Channels Turns Into a Strategic Advantage. A Practical Framework
Restaurants are rethinking reliance on third‑party delivery aggregators as commissions climb above 30% and data walls limit customer insights. A new framework advises brands to treat aggregators as acquisition tools while building intuitive direct channels that capture up to 60%...
‘Obsess Over Your Customer’: The Secret To Staying Afloat As A Heritage Label In A Trend-Obsessed Market
SABA, a 60‑year‑old Australian fashion label, is leveraging a customer‑obsession mindset to stay relevant in a trend‑driven market. General Manager Lucinda Grice Ross emphasizes that the brand’s timeless DNA—quality, construction, and strong lines—must be paired with modern lifestyle insights. The company...
Tourism Tasmania Brings Back Its ‘Off Season’ Campaign Celebrating Those Who Embrace The Cold Via BMF
Tourism Tasmania has launched its sixth “Off Season” campaign, urging Australians to become "winter people" and embrace the island’s cold months. In partnership with BMF Australia, the initiative showcases over 500 winter‑specific offers ranging from luxe stays to nocturnal wildlife...
Scandinavian Nations Accelerate ‘Quietcation’ Trend, Targeting Digital‑Detox Travelers in 2026
Sweden has officially joined Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland in a coordinated push to market “quietcations,” low‑stimulus, digital‑detox getaways for 2026. The Nordic bloc is betting on silence as a luxury to capture wellness‑focused travelers seeking respite from constant connectivity.
Google's AI Headline Rewrite Test Triggers Publisher Outcry
Google is piloting an AI-driven feature that rewrites the headlines of news articles in Search results, prompting sharp criticism from publishers who say the move oversteps consent and threatens editorial integrity. The dispute highlights growing tension between the search giant...
Same Video, Millions Elsewhere, Barely a Handful on X
I create content for X, IG, YouTube, TikTok, and email. The video below will do 1-3 million views on IG, YouTube and TikTok but will perform horribly on X (maybe 20-50k views). The video also has a longer total life...
Break Out of Echo Chambers to Grow Digital Reach
Escaping the Echo Chamber: A Whiteboard Guide to Expanding Your Digital Territory https://t.co/83JZyxQupB via @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesTips #SalesLeader #Marketing #MarketingSuccess #MarketingStrategy #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #Tech #TechNews
Marketing in the Agentic Era
On April 9 at 10:00 AM PDT, former CMO Lena Waters will host a new version of Theory Ventures’ Office Hours. Waters, who led marketing at Notion, Grammarly and DocuSign, will discuss how companies can redesign their marketing organizations for an AI‑driven world. The...
Gucci's Gaming and AI Ventures Prove Revenue‑Driving
Gucci Continues Its Push Into Gaming, AI And Virtual Worlds “There is sometimes a temptation to see projects like this as creative experiments that generate headlines but not necessarily revenue. The numbers suggest otherwise.” https://t.co/h0pVwZDXd0 https://t.co/WMeDPDOCBJ
Droga5 ANZ Wins Qantas ‘Project Sunrise’ Pitch
Droga5 ANZ has been awarded the creative lead for Qantas’ “Project Sunrise” campaign, which will market the airline’s upcoming non‑stop flights from Australia’s east coast to New York and London. The win follows the final ground‑testing phase of the first...
Virgin Australia Moves to Build Retail Media Network
Virgin Australia has appointed former McKinsey and VML executive Scott Moore as head of a new Travel Media Network, signaling the airline’s move into retail media. The initiative will leverage Virgin’s digital properties and Velocity’s 80 commercial partners and 300...
Free Tool Reveals Hidden Weaknesses in Email Subjects
Your email subject lines are probably weaker than you think. I built a free grader to help you improve them. It scores 8 things most tools ignore: Length (mobile cuts off more than you think) Spam triggers Curiosity gap Urgency signals Personalization Power words Emoji usage Preheader text Live inbox preview....
Stop Using Black Vernacular for Marketing
I got sick of brands talking like black people. So I wrote about it. https://open.substack.com/pub/mocktalecreative/p/your-brand-is-not-a-black-person?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web