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.
Meta's GEM: Bringing LLM-Scale Architectures to Ads Recommendation
Meta introduced GEM (Generative Ads Model), a foundation‑model approach that treats ad recommendation like a large language model. The architecture separates sequence and non‑sequence features, uses an InterFormer to handle long user histories, and adds a Student Adapter to keep distilled knowledge fresh. GEM delivers a 23‑fold rise in effective training FLOPS and a 1.43× boost in model FLOPS utilization, unifying click and conversion ranking across Facebook and Instagram. The system promises linear accuracy gains as parameters and compute scale.
Anyone Can Build AI Agents in Hours
We gave every person at Wynter 1 week to build their own AI agent. Budget of about 4 hours each. Today was demo day. Everyone presented what they built. Most had never built anything like this before. Some had zero technical background....
Run 36,000 AI Experiments Nightly for Free
Your competitor runs 50 marketing experiments a year. You can now run 36,000. For free. Andrej Karpathy just open-sourced Auto Research. It runs AI experiments every 5 minutes on a single GPU while you sleep. We’re already testing this at Single Grain....
EBay Beta Testing Video Ads in Promoted Listings Priority Cost-per-Click Placements Starting in Australia
eBay has begun beta‑testing a video‑enabled version of its Promoted Listings Priority in Australia. The feature allows sellers to attach 5‑ to 60‑second videos that auto‑play in eligible ad placements, reverting to static images where video isn’t supported. Pricing remains...
How a Fortune 100 Retailer Rebuilt Its Mobile Foundation To Outpace Desktop
A Fortune 100 retailer overhauled its mobile architecture, adopting a unified deep‑linking and QR‑code framework to accelerate app installs and transaction volumes. The new foundation integrated privacy‑first measurement tools, allowing the retailer to track cross‑channel performance without compromising user data....
Scotland's 'Kingdom of Fife' Shops for PR
Scotland’s Kingdom of Fife is issuing a two‑year RFP for a destination‑marketing firm to run its “Welcome to Fife” campaign. The effort seeks to brand the region as a world‑class, sustainable tourism hub, highlighting historic sites, golf courses, fishing villages...
Diversify Income: Speak, Partner, Publish for Predictable Growth
Most freelancers focus on services only. That is risky. When I crossed $270K in revenue, I was not relying on one income stream. I had services, courses, ebooks, affiliate sites and speaking fees. Some were distractions. Some were strategic. If I were starting today,...
MediaScience Unveils Breakthrough AI “Ad Cloning” Technology That Enables Element-by-Element Creative Testing
MediaScience introduced Creative Twin, an AI‑powered tool that replicates ads element‑by‑element for precise testing. In a study with 812 U.S. respondents, participants could not distinguish AI‑generated copies from originals. The platform lets marketers modify individual components—such as talent, hair style,...
Patrón Ties Spirits to Filmmaking Craft in Ads Led by Guillermo Del Toro
Patrón Tequila has launched a global campaign titled “The Perfect Pour,” directed by Oscar‑winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, marking his first television commercial. The ad features del Toro overseeing a set staffed by animated skeletons, tying his meticulous storytelling to Patrón’s handcrafted,...
Global Signs Nectar Deal to Boost Digital Audio Activity
Global Media has struck a data partnership with Sainsbury’s Nectar360, merging first‑party shopper information with its own listener data on the DAX digital audio platform. The integration lets advertisers target UK audio audiences using anonymised purchase insights and directly measure...
Robot Food Serves Up Some Much-Needed “Japan-Ease” For Mizkan’s European Debut
Robot Food has crafted a new visual identity for Mizkan as it enters the European market, centering on the "Japan-ease" concept that makes Japanese cooking feel approachable. The design fuses traditional Japanese motifs with vibrant food photography, bilingual labeling, and...
Meta Ads Q&A – What’s Actually Working in 2026
In this episode, Smart Marketer’s Molly Pittman and Director of Advertising Denis Paskalev field live questions about what’s actually working with Meta Ads in 2026, covering campaign structure, creative testing, and scaling strategies for various business types. They emphasize that...
When an Affiliate Marketing Article Turns Into a Tool
KonverJ’s recent thought‑leadership piece argued that affiliate marketing succeeds when treated as a partner ecosystem rather than a single channel. Reader demand for actionable guidance prompted the firm to convert the concept into a practical planning aid called the Audience...
The 20 STEPS Lovable Growth & Virality Guide
The post presents a 20‑step framework that reframes growth as a trust problem rather than a channel problem. It argues that product delight fuels sharing, which builds trust and drives sustainable virality. The guide outlines tactics—from a minimum lovable product...
FreeWheel Integrates Tunnl Audiences to Accelerate Political and Public Affairs Targeting Across CTV for 2026 Campaigns
FreeWheel announced a direct integration with data‑partner Tunnl, adding more than 3,500 issue‑driven audience segments to its CTV buying platform. The partnership promises a roughly 90 percent match rate on premium CTV inventory, reducing waste and accelerating activation for political advertisers....
Lottery Operator Launches In-House Agency, Studio 59
National Lottery operator Allwyn is establishing Studio 59, an in‑house creative and content studio slated to open in April. The unit will unify creative, social, production, planning and brand marketing to accelerate content creation across retail, digital and communications channels....
Outsourced Content Can Drain Your Brand’s Spark
Did the social media content for your business lose its luster after you outsourced it? Before all you social media managers come at me, hear me out:
How To Build An SEO Commissioning Workflow: From Tickets To Requirements via @Sejournal, @Billhunt
Enterprise SEO often fails because teams are involved too late, operating reactively with ticket‑based fixes that delay implementation and repeat structural errors. The article proposes an SEO commissioning workflow that embeds search requirements at the design stage, defining intent, eligibility...
Sprout Social Alternatives: Social and Influencer Platforms for Scalable Brand Programs
Sprout Social has long served as an all‑in‑one hub for social publishing, engagement, analytics and, more recently, influencer campaign management. As brands’ influencer programs mature, many find that a single suite can’t meet the deeper relationship‑building, payment tracking, or listening...
Best Instagram Walls for Websites With Real Examples
Instagram walls transform Instagram posts, influencer content, and user‑generated media into continuously updated website assets. By aggregating multiple pieces of social content, they turn fleeting feeds into persistent social proof that supports trust, product discovery, and conversion. The guide outlines...
Twirl Alternatives: Comparing Creator Marketing Platforms for Growing Brands
Twirl remains a popular choice for structured creator‑led content, but growing brands are seeking platforms that can handle larger creator volumes and more flexible workflows. Alternatives such as Modash, Humanz, Creator.co, Billo, Collabstr, Insense, Influee and Trend.io each emphasize different...
Human Voice Beats AI-Generated Content in Marketing
I had a planning call this week and we ended up talking about the "content marketing is dead" idea. I think it’s the opposite. AI makes average content cheaper to produce, so average content gets ignored even faster. If you want your...
How Coca-Cola’s World Cup Marketing Is ‘De-Averaging at Scale’
Coca‑Cola North America is deepening its FIFA World Cup partnership by placing Panini collectible stickers on 20‑ounce Coke and Coke Zero Sugar bottles, reviving a soccer‑sticker tradition that dates back to 1970. The activation, rolling out from April 20, features...
The Real Reason Social Media Isn't Working for You
In this episode Gary Vaynerchuk explains why most real‑estate agents’ social‑media efforts fall flat and what they need to change. He argues that content quantity and quality both matter, but the real breakthrough comes from treating attention like a real‑estate...
Here's What I Learned After 100 Posts on Substack
The author celebrated 100 Substack posts for Tracy’s Tidbits, reflecting on lessons learned about audience composition, publishing cadence, and content formats. Consistency—publishing every Wednesday—proved essential, while cross‑posting to LinkedIn emerged as the primary traffic source. Visuals and short “Notes” added...
Why Communications Doesn’t Pause, It Pivots in Uncertain Times
Communications in the GCC don’t halt during geopolitical turbulence; they pivot to topics like business resilience and community support. Brands are urged to align storytelling with journalists’ current interests, emphasizing employee welfare, adaptation, and social responsibility. The article highlights Ramadan...
Pick a Niche, Stay Consistent, Get Early Traction
New blogger? Do these 5 things immediately: • Pick a clear niche • Publish helpful content • Comment on other blogs • Network with bloggers • Stay consistent Speed + consistency = early traction.
AI's 2026 Role in B2B Marketing Revealed
Where AI Will Be Used by B2B Marketers in 2026: DGR Interview with Jasper’s Loreal Lynch https://t.co/cwzgShtPlg via @DG_Report
How Delivery Platforms Are Becoming the New Digital Shelves for Brands
Food‑delivery aggregators such as Talabat, Deliveroo and Careem have turned into digital shelves for restaurants across the UAE and wider Middle East. Visibility on these apps—driven by algorithmic rankings, menu presentation and promotions—now determines a brand’s ability to attract orders,...
Huge Performance Gap Revealed in 2026 Email Benchmark
The 2026 Klaviyo Email Benchmark Report is here 📊 We analyzed: • 600+ brands • 740M emails • $300M in 30 days ($3.6B annualized) And found a massive gap between top performers and everyone else. Most ecommerce brands have no idea where they actually stand. https://t.co/N9YXthbeeI
Tweet Relevant Content to Appear in Google Discover
How to show up in Google Discover 2026 edition: tweet things you also might be interested in 😅 https://t.co/QuiAVIpyCy
Revlon Lands Licence for Salt Life’s First Fragrance
Revlon has signed a licensing agreement with Salt Life, the ocean‑focused apparel brand owned by Iconix International, to develop its first fragrance collection. The debut line, inspired by Salt Life’s “ocean‑driven lifestyle,” is scheduled to hit retail shelves in 2027....
Marketers Reveal Top AI Tools Shaping 2026
Real Impact in 2026: 20+ Marketers on Their Essential AI Tools and Workflows https://t.co/VrZTQ1aEsO via @hotinsm in Social Media Tips and Tricks
Why Cultural Insight Beats Product Messaging Every Time
UScellular abandoned product‑centric messaging in favor of cultural insight, launching the "Phones Down for Five" campaign that highlighted growing screen‑time fatigue. By framing phones as both connectors and distractors, the brand tapped a tension people already felt, prompting genuine conversation....
UK Exclusive: Revive Collagen Signs Spice Girl Mel B as Ambassador for Menopause Range
Revive Collagen has appointed Spice Girls icon Mel B as the ambassador for its new menopause product range. The 50‑year‑old MBE, known for her advocacy of women’s health, said the brand’s focus on supporting women during menopause resonated with her. The...
How CRO Drives Ecommerce Longevity
Founder Adam Pearce explains that ecommerce longevity hinges on diversified traffic sources and a robust conversion rate optimization (CRO) program. He details how CRO improves advertising efficiency, strengthens organic search and generative‑AI visibility, and fuels personalized email marketing. Real‑world examples—from...
Gen Z Fave Dua Lipa Joins George Clooney as Nespresso’s Global Ambassador
Nespresso has appointed pop star Dua Lipa as its new global ambassador alongside longtime face George Clooney. The partnership will launch on April 14 with the “Vertuo World” campaign, signaling a creative shift aimed at attracting Gen Z coffee drinkers. Nespresso’s...
Battersea Power Station Director on Why Social Influence Is Redefining Retail Destinations
Battersea Power Station’s leasing director says social influence has become a critical leasing KPI, reshaping how landlords curate retail mixes. Gen‑Z now turn to social media before search engines, prompting landlords to prioritize brands with strong digital followings. Battersea leverages...
The Economic Value of Outsourced Link Acquisition for Agencies
Agencies are turning to white‑label link‑building marketplaces to outsource link acquisition, allowing them to meet fluctuating client demand without expanding permanent staff. This model shifts costs from fixed overhead to variable, campaign‑based expenses, improving margin flexibility. By leveraging established publisher...
SEO Test Shows It’s Trivial To Rank Misinformation On Google via @Sejournal, @Martinibuster
An SEO professional deliberately inserted an AI‑generated hallucination about a non‑existent March 2026 Google core update into a LinkedIn newsletter. The fabricated article quickly ranked on Google’s first page for “Google March update 2026” and appeared in the AI Overview feature....
Podcast: Porsche MEA & India’s Manfred Bräunl on Creating Communities for Customers and Fans
Porsche Middle East, Africa and India CEO Dr. Manfred Bräunl explained the brand’s shift toward experiential marketing and community‑centric initiatives. The company launched the DRVN by Porsche café and the two‑day "Icons of Porsche" event, drawing over 30,000 participants. Porsche now...
New Report ‘Brings the Receipts’ on ROI of Women’s Sports Ads
WPP Media’s new “Women’s Sports Playbook” report shows rapid growth in advertising within women’s sports. Ad impressions rose 79% year‑over‑year and overall spend reached about $127 million, up roughly 70% YoY. Brands such as Ally Financial saw 85% higher engagement on...
Google Explains Why HTTPS Migration May Negatively Impact SEO via @Sejournal, @Martinibuster
Google’s John Mueller explained that moving a site to HTTPS can temporarily hurt rankings because the change functions like a full site migration. The process forces Google to recrawl and reprocess every URL, and mis‑configured 301 redirects or misuse of...
BambooBox Announces $6.6 Million to Build the Managed ABM Operating System for Enterprise Revenue Teams
BambooBox announced a $6.6 million Series A round led by Peak XV’s Surge to accelerate its Managed ABM Operating System. The platform blends AI‑driven orchestration with forward‑deployed ABM experts, aiming to solve the execution gap that many enterprises face with traditional ABM tools....
In a Play for Profitability, Kraft-Heinz Kicks Off Five-Year Alliance with the NFL
Kraft Heinz announced a five‑year deal to become the NFL's official condiment partner, giving roughly 20 of its brands high‑visibility placements at games and related events. The agreement arrives as the company has paused a planned split into two publicly...
Coach and Kate Spade Conclude Global Media Pitch
Luxury conglomerate Tapestry, owner of Coach and Kate Spade, has appointed Dentsu as its global agency of record for media planning and buying outside the United States. The agreement covers the APAC region—including Japan, China, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and...
Uber Eats Sponsors Comedy Category on Prime Video UK
Amazon Ads announced Uber Eats as the first brand to sponsor Prime Video’s comedy slate in the UK, launching on March 19 2024 alongside the Season 2 premiere of *Last One Laughing UK*. The partnership runs through the end of 2026 and includes...
Gen Z Doesn’t Hate Your Brand, They Hate Being Talked Down To
Brands that try too hard to mimic Gen Z often backfire, eroding credibility. Successful examples like Tower 28, SULT, and Hinge demonstrate that treating Gen Z as peers, embracing transparency, and leveraging authentic long‑form storytelling resonate better. The article outlines...
Can Penguin's Playful Flock Carry the Brand Into the Digital Age without Losing Soul?
Penguin Random House unveiled “Playful Penguins,” a modular visual identity featuring a suite of illustrated penguin characters in varied poses and props. Unlike a single mascot update, the kit allows the brand to mix and match illustrations across campaigns, seasonal...
Some Creators Don’t See Immediate Value in Instagram’s Controversial ‘Shop the Look’ AI Test
Instagram tested an AI‑driven “Shop the Look” feature that automatically tags products in creator posts, aiming to boost social commerce. The rollout, launched in February, sparked backlash as tags appeared without creators’ consent, linking followers to unvetted items and knockoffs....