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.
Bharat Vedica Contrasts Fast Living with Slow Food in New Brand Film
Bharat Vedica unveiled a brand film called “The Art of Slowing Down,” showcasing traditional Indian food practices. The video contrasts today’s fast‑paced lifestyles with time‑intensive methods such as making Bilona ghee, wood‑pressed oils and stone‑ground flours. It emphasizes patience, cultivation and conscious consumption, positioning the brand as a champion of authentic, minimally processed ingredients. The film is now live on the company’s website and social‑media channels.
Google Ranking Volatility Spikes, Possible Unconfirmed Update
Google Search ranking volatility heating up today - May 8th - may be an unconfirmed Google update - what are you seeing https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-heated-41293.html #google #googleupdate #googlealgorithmupdate #googleseo #seo
Mona Kattan’s Kayali Teams up with Calm to Make Wellbeing Tools More Accessible
Fragrance brand Kayali, founded by Mona Kattan, has partnered with mental‑health app Calm. For the month of May, every Kayali online purchase includes a unique code that unlocks three months of Calm Premium for free. The offer gives users full...
Paula's Choice Boosts India Presence with Tira Beauty Launch
Paula's Choice, the Seattle‑based skincare line owned by Unilever, is expanding its Indian footprint by launching on Reliance Retail’s omni‑channel platform Tira. The partnership gives the brand presence across both digital storefronts and select brick‑and‑mortar locations, debuting with three flagship...
ProWebChat Emerges as a Leading AI-Powered Chat Assistant Redefining Engagement With Advanced AI Integration
ProWebChat, the AI‑powered engagement platform from Ground Zero Intelligence, is gaining traction as a comprehensive solution that goes beyond basic chat widgets. It offers instant, 24/7 visitor interaction, real‑time lead capture, and the ability to embed custom AI tools into...
Quaker’s Latest Campaign Puts Breakfast Nutrition in Focus
PepsiCo India has launched a refreshed Quaker brand campaign emphasizing protein and fibre in its oats, featuring updated packaging and a new television commercial. The initiative aligns with a Mintel report that identifies protein and fibre as top considerations in...
OTB Group and Google Cloud Launch AI-Powered Hyper-Personalised Shopping Experiences
OTB Group, the owner of Diesel, Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, Marni and Viktor & Rolf, has teamed with Google Cloud to roll out an AI‑driven, hyper‑personalised shopping experience. The service uses Google Cloud’s Virtual Try‑On API, powered by Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform,...
Sell the Future Self, Not the Current One
People buy who they're becoming, not who they are. Position your offer as progress toward their desired identity and outcome.
Predictable AI Openings Undermine Content Credibility
I got some feedback recently that made me stop and think. Someone told me they could tell my LinkedIn posts were AI-generated before they finished the first sentence, and the giveaway wasn't the content, it was the opening. Always "last...
AI Companies Are Selling Heartwarming Ads – They’re Racing To Automate Your Job via @Sejournal, @Gregjarboe
OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are running heart‑warming consumer ads that portray their AI as friendly household helpers, while simultaneously developing agentic systems that automate complex professional workflows. Their latest models—OpenAI’s GPT‑5.5, Google’s Gemini 3.1 Pro, and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.7—are being positioned to replace...
Sector Snapshot: Sales And Marketing Gets An AI Makeover
Venture funding for sales, marketing and CRM startups has steadied around $8 billion annually, far below the $20 billion peak of 2021‑22. AI‑centric companies now dominate the share, pulling in $3.7 billion in 2026 so far. Notable deals include Sierra’s $950 million round at...
Earning Buyer Trust in an AI Driven Marketing World
Artificial intelligence now powers most demand‑generation tactics, with 96% of marketers deploying some form of AI. Yet the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer shows only 32% of U.S. respondents trust AI, creating a confidence gap that can stall B2B deals. The...
Campaign Trail: Tecate Empowers Repatriated Mexicans
Mexican beer brand Tecate launched the "Welcome Back, Paisano" campaign to spotlight the labor void created by the recent deportation of roughly 170,000 Mexican workers from the United States. The satirical ads depict U.S. employers lamenting the loss of Mexican...
Why My Agency Doesn’t Have a Strategy Department
Claire Grecian argues that experiential marketing is more than a delivery tool; it serves as a rich source of strategic insight that most agencies overlook. She notes that agencies typically treat experience as a production function, lacking a dedicated strategy...
Tapestry's Coach Targets Gen Z with ‘Expressive Luxury’ Strategy, Drives 23% Revenue Surge
Tapestry reported a record third quarter, crediting Coach’s new “expressive luxury” positioning aimed at Gen Z. The strategy helped lift pro forma revenue 23% year‑over‑year, added 2 million new customers and set a full‑year revenue target of $7.95 billion.
Inside the Stream: Disney+ Will Have Central Role for Disney Fans
Disney reported its latest quarterly earnings and, without releasing subscriber counts, CEO Josh D’Amaro outlined a new strategy for Disney+. The streaming service will evolve into a central hub that connects content with theme‑park ticketing, merchandise, and interactive experiences, turning...
Soralios Launches AVAATR, an AI-Based Digital Cloning Platform for Professional Communication and Automation
Soralios announced AVAATR, an AI‑powered digital cloning platform that acts as a 24/7 “Better Self” for professionals. Unlike static clones, AVAATR can conduct voice and video conversations, integrate a user’s entire knowledge base, and operate across social, CRM, and meeting‑room...
The New York Times Grew Digital Ad Revenue 32% in Q1. Here’s How to Copy It
The New York Times posted a 31.6% year‑over‑year rise in digital advertising revenue in Q1 2026, reaching $93.3 million. The growth follows a 24.9% increase in the prior quarter, marking two straight quarters of outsized ad performance. Chief advertising officer Joy Robins credits a clear...
Virgin Records Sails Into Cruise Market with Virgin Voyages Partnership
Virgin Records has teamed up with Virgin Voyages to embed its music heritage into the cruise line’s flagship ship, Brilliant Lady. The collaboration rolls out 25-plus curated music zones, live shows and a memory‑first brand experience, marking the label’s first...
How to Connect Social KPIs to Larger Business Objectives
Patrick Pho, head of the content studio at Volkswagen of America, stresses that social media must be tied to clear business objectives to avoid wasted effort. He outlines a three‑step process: define a specific objective (exposure, consumption, or engagement), set...
Titan’s IRTH Launches ‘Always a Little Ready’ Campaign
Titan Company’s IRTH handbag line unveiled the “Always a Little Ready” campaign, a short film that frames handbags as extensions of women’s daily routines. The spot highlights the brand’s Spring/Summer collection, which leans toward softer palettes such as dusty blue...
CTV Evolves Into Guaranteed Performance Channel with LG Partnership
Last week at Possible Miami, I had the pleasure of hitting the stage with Serge Matta, President of LG Ad Solutions ((@LG_Ad_Solutions). Serge made the points that CTV is no longer just about "awareness" - it’s officially a performance channel. In fact...
Virat Kohli, RCB Players Spotlight AI Seat Finder in ConfirmTkt’s New Campaign
ConfirmTkt, the official train‑ticketing partner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for 2026, has rolled out AI Seat Finder, a conversational feature powered by ixigo’s TARA AI. The tool scans real‑time rail inventory and surfaces only trains with confirmed seats, letting...
Marketers Stuck in Never-Ending Loop of Transformation
The World Federation of Advertisers and Ogilvy Consulting released a Global Brand Transformation study showing that 96% of multinational brands are currently in a state of perpetual marketing transformation, with 80% viewing it as an ongoing condition rather than a...
Himalaya BabyCare’s New Ad Focuses on Emotional Milestones of Motherhood
Himalaya BabyCare launched a Mother’s Day digital campaign featuring a short film set to the lullaby “Chanda Hai Tu.” The ad follows a mother preparing her daughter for school, recalling earlier milestones such as massages and bath times to underscore...
How Web Gaming Is Applying Behavioral Analytics Principles That E-Commerce Pioneered
Web gaming is catching up to e‑commerce by leveraging large‑scale behavioral analytics. Traditional game testing relies on internal playtests and recruited panels, which suffer from observer bias and cannot mimic first‑time user behavior. Poki, a web‑gaming platform, reached 100 million monthly...
Demna Wants You to Meet Gucci’s Story in Florence — Through Gucci Storia
Gucci has launched the “Gucci Storia” exhibition in Florence, housed within the 14th‑century Palazzo della Mercanzia. Curated by creative director Demna Gvasalia, the show spans nine rooms that trace the brand’s 105‑year heritage through archives, iconic accessories, and immersive installations....
Why Your A/B Test Winners Are Noise And What That Costs with Andrea Bronzini #240
In this episode, host Akhil Jabbar talks with systems engineer Andrea Bronzini about why most A/B test winners are actually noise rather than true lifts. Bronzini explains that conversion rates are stochastic, leading to large measurement variability that can dramatically...
How to Find and Fix What AI Gets Wrong About Your Brand
Brands increasingly discover that generative AI models such as ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity are shaping public perception, but the answers they return often contain outdated facts, fabricated details, or misattributions. Because AI draws from a mix of training...
How Can Beauty Brands Prepare for the Next Wave of Agentic Shopping?
A new Pattern Group report finds 59% of beauty brands are exploring AI‑powered search and shopping agents, yet only 27% feel fully prepared to make agents a primary discovery and purchase channel. Fiona Reid, Director of International Business at Pattern,...
Write2Sell: My Welcome Email Formula Behind 21% On-the-Spot Upgrades
Writer Yana G. reports that 21% of new paid Substack subscribers upgrade on the spot after receiving her welcome email, far above industry norms. She attributes the lift to a conversion‑focused email built on a four‑part PPSA (Pain → Proof...
RingCentral Brings Always-On AI to the Front Lines of Customer Engagement
RingCentral announced new capabilities for its AI Receptionist (AIR), extending the service to shared SMS inboxes, call queues and integrations with Shopify, Calendly and WhatsApp. The AI agent now supports multi‑language detection for ten languages and can be deployed in...
Santoor Lime’s New TVC Turns Freshness Into an ‘Everyday Recharge’
Wipro Consumer Care’s Santoor Lime has launched a new television commercial that spotlights its “3x freshness” claim, built on a blend of lime, aloe vera and menthol. The ad follows a teacher‑mother juggling work and home duties, illustrating a moment...
Why Independence Is a Powerful Strategy
The Guardian’s brand team, led by Joel Midgley, is redefining how a legacy news outlet competes by treating platforms like Spotify and charities as direct rivals for audience attention and wallet share. A hyper‑focused outdoor campaign in New York—single‑city, high‑impact...
Organic Tattva’s New Ad Explores How Food Connects Indians Abroad to Home
Organic Tattva has launched a new digital campaign starring chef Vikas Khanna that spotlights how Indian expatriates use familiar meals to stay connected to home. The film showcases dishes such as sambar and chole bhature, positioning the brand’s organic ingredients as...
Gamefam Teams with Borussia Dortmund for FIFA Super Soccer on Roblox
Borussia Dortmund partnered with Gamefam to launch its 2026/27 Puma kits inside Roblox’s FIFA Super Soccer on May 8, 2026. The limited‑time event runs for a week, letting players compete as the German club, complete themed quests, and unlock a unique lightning‑strike...
Prioritize Genuine Value over AI Loophole Shortcuts
🚨 Focusing your AI search optimization strategy on exploiting AI systems’ weaknesses and shortcomings to achieve faster results is a déjà vu for anyone who has been doing SEO for more than five minutes, and it rarely ends well. Creating parallel...
Malaysia Airlines, Tourism New Zealand to Support Travel Demand
Malaysia Airlines and Tourism New Zealand have signed a two‑year partnership to jointly market New Zealand to Asian travelers, especially Malaysians. The collaboration will promote nature‑based, adventure and cultural experiences to young professionals, groups and experience‑seeking tourists. Malaysia Airlines currently operates ten...
Fix the Leak: Build From Ten Loyal Customers
Awareness-first marketing is built for companies that already have product-market fit. When you push volume into a leaky funnel, you don't fix the leak — you spend more to compensate. Find ten customers. Understand exactly why they chose you. Build outward...
Why Relevance Matters More than Visibility in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s market is evolving from a translation‑focused approach to a transformation‑driven one, demanding culturally grounded insights and integrated execution. Global brands that rely on superficial localization miss the sophisticated, expressive digital audience that shapes content. Clients now expect strategies...
The Simplicity Advantage in Marketing
Brand Tribe’s latest newsletter argues that in today’s cluttered media landscape, simplicity, not complexity, drives marketing success. While teams often equate layered campaigns with strategic depth, the piece shows that consumers make decisions based on immediate clarity. By stripping away...
5 Takeaways From Glossy’s Leaders Dinner: Retail’s Growth Playbook Is Getting More Human
At the Glossy and Modern Retail Leaders Dinner hosted with Global Payments, senior brand and retail executives examined the forces shaping growth, including AI, climbing customer‑acquisition costs, wholesale channel volatility, shifting discovery habits, and the changing purpose of physical stores....
Luxury’s Future After the War in Iran
The ongoing war in Iran is accelerating a downturn in the global luxury market, especially in the Middle East where Gulf wealth—estimated at $7.5 trillion and projected to double by 2050—has traditionally driven sales. Luxury groups such as LVMH derive roughly...
Luxury Briefing: Pinterest’s Luxury Pitch Is AI Discovery, Not AI Answers
Pinterest’s latest earnings call revealed a sharpened luxury strategy that pivots the platform toward AI‑driven visual discovery rather than conversational answers. The company aims to become the go‑to engine for shoppers who start with images and want instant, shoppable recommendations....
Case Study: Customer Response to a Dying Category
The case study shows that cutting the assortment of the Apparel Tops fashion category caused a sharp decline in both rebuy rates and the number of new or reactivated buyers. Rebuy rates fell from a high of 3.0% to 1.5%,...
How To Optimize Facebook Ads To Boost Online Sales
Facebook ad optimization is essential for ecommerce brands seeking higher ROAS and lower CAC. Retail conversion rates average 3.26%, but marketers can exceed this by consolidating campaigns, aligning budget across the funnel, and leveraging Meta’s Advantage Plus and dynamic product ads....
Praxis Advertising Launches a Specialised Division for High-Impact Education Marketing
Praxis Advertising has unveiled Praxis Edge, a new division focused exclusively on education marketing in the UAE. The unit promises an end‑to‑end solution that blends brand strategy, digital campaigns, enrollment tactics, and campus design. Its launch coincides with Dubai’s Education...
Google Captures Intent; Meta Builds Demand
Google Ads capture existing intent—people already searching for a solution. Meta Ads create demand by putting your offer in front of people before they even start searching.
AI Advantage: Smarter Marketing Primer
I wrote this 2 years ago and still applies. I explain the concepts like RAG and other terms hopefully we'll The AI Advantage for Smarter Marketing – A Primer https://t.co/d0FGwWACsm
SEO Delivered $80K Annual Value for SaaS
10 months of SEO for this SaaS. If you were paying for all this traffic, you'd be paying $6,638 per month. That's about $80,000/year. It'll increase further because the client won't stop doing SEO. What we did in the next tweet....