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.
Podcasting Has Already Overtaken TV. Here’s the Proof
The 2026 UK Advertising Landscape Study, funded by Sounds Profitable with a multi‑million‑pound (≈$2.5 million) investment, reveals that podcasting now reaches more 18‑34‑year‑olds (60%) than broadcast TV (57%). While TV still dominates older viewers, podcast reach among 35‑54‑year‑olds is strong, with 16% naming it a top‑four ad‑supported platform. Younger listeners also consume popular podcasts on screen as often as via audio, blurring medium boundaries. The data challenges the long‑standing TV‑first planning hierarchy for brands targeting under‑45 audiences.
White Stuff Launches Good Stuff – Its First-Ever Loyalty Programme
White Stuff, the British lifestyle retailer owned by TFG London, has introduced Good Stuff, its first loyalty programme. The tier offers personalised discounts, birthday treats, VIP event invitations, free styling sessions, monthly flower‑seed pickups and a spin‑the‑wheel feature that can...
The Guardian Draws on Its Past for New Campaign
The Guardian has refreshed its iconic 1980s "Points of View" television spot with a new campaign called "The Whole Picture," released to mark its 205th birthday. The updated ad re‑engages original director Paul Weiland and features veteran actress Kathy Burke, who...
CredSpark Launches Banter: A New Brand Focused on Transforming B2B Marketing and Sales Through Interactive Experiences
CredSpark has launched Banter, a new B2B brand that converts static marketing assets into interactive, data‑driven experiences. The platform leverages over 400 million interaction data points and AI‑enhanced analytics to deliver real‑time lead scoring, segmentation and actionable buyer insights. Banter’s capabilities...
Inside the Modern Beauty Discovery Dilemma and How Brands Can Beat It
Beauty shoppers, especially Gen Z, face a paradox of choice: while product variety has exploded, many struggle to find items that truly match their personal aesthetic. Nearly half of Gen Z say decisions are harder than a year ago, and 48% admit...
VisRank Launches Free SEO and AI Search Visibility Audit Tool
VisRank has launched a free, 30‑second online audit that scores a website’s visibility across SEO, AI readiness, security and local presence. The tool evaluates 49 signals and delivers a 0‑100 Visibility Score along with prioritized fixes. It emphasizes Answer Engine...
![Is Your Small Business Showing Up in Local Search? Here’s How To Find Out [Webinar] via @Sejournal, @Lorenbaker](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://cdn.searchenginejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-2-27.png)
Is Your Small Business Showing Up in Local Search? Here’s How To Find Out [Webinar] via @Sejournal, @Lorenbaker
A free SEJ webinar hosted by Thryv trainers will teach small‑business owners how to ensure their Google Business Profile and other local listings appear across AI assistants, voice searches, Maps, Yelp, and emerging ChatGPT‑style results. The session covers the most...
It’s Time To Stop Letting Platforms Grade Their Own Ad Fraud Homework
Ad fraud has become a multi‑billion‑dollar problem, with scammers exploiting automated bots to flood platforms with fake engagement. Meta disclosed that roughly 10% of its 2024 revenue stems from scams and banned goods, and its internal data suggest 15 billion scam...
Beyond Websites: People Inc Grows Digital Revenue Despite Google Traffic Collapse
People Inc reported a 63% drop in Google‑referenced traffic over the past two years, yet its digital revenue grew 8% year‑over‑year to $253 million in Q1 2026, the tenth consecutive quarter of growth. Non‑website income—social‑media ads, events, AI‑driven ad targeting and...
Mars Rewrites Confectionery Marketing Playbook with NYX Partnership
Mars, Inc. has partnered with NYX Professional Makeup to launch a limited‑edition line of M&M’s Smushy Surprize Matte Lip Balms. The collection is designed for TikTok‑driven unboxing and collector culture, targeting Gen Z and millennial consumers who favor social‑first experiences. By...
Total Market Measurement with NielsenIQ's Kim Cox & Richard Pereira
In this episode, NielsenIQ’s Kim Cox and Richard Pereira discuss how retail measurement is evolving beyond traditional point‑of‑sale data to capture the full omnichannel consumer journey. They explain how AI and machine learning are automating data integration and insight generation,...
VIOOH Partners with Abode Media to Expand Programmatic DOOH Footprint
VIOOH, a leading global digital out‑of‑home supply‑side platform, announced a programmatic partnership with Abode Media, the UK’s premium residential DOOH network. The collaboration adds more than 250 screens across 230 high‑value residential buildings in London, Manchester and Birmingham, delivering over...
Why Platypus’ New Loyalty Scheme Promotes Free Gigs over Discounts
Platypus Shoes has overhauled its loyalty program, launching Kicks Club, which swaps points for free, brand‑partnered music gigs. The new scheme offers simple spend‑based vouchers, birthday rewards, and early access, while the core value proposition is cultural access through a...
SaaStr 853: The Agents #004: Tragedy Apps, Too Many AI SDRs, and Why Your Next Hire Should Report to an...
In episode four of The Agents, the hosts recap their experience running 20 AI agents alongside three human team members, highlighting successes, pitfalls, and lessons for others building AI‑driven workflows. They discuss the rise and fall of AI‑powered SDRs, noting...
Turn Failing Sites Into 100K Monthly Visits
I truly believe I could take ANY failing online business and get them to 100K visits/month using SEO in 180-360 days. Here's exactly how I'd do it: 1. Build (or rebuild) a topical authority map first 2. Write, rewrite and rewire all...
How I AI: Tech Recipes CEO Brian Chap Built a ‘True Decision Engine’
Brian Chap, CEO of strategic consultancy Tech Recipes, has built a "true decision engine" called RootIQ that unifies fragmented advertising data into a single source of truth. The platform links disparate systems, standardizes taxonomy, and automates workflow steps that previously...
Why Startups in India Are Burning Their Marketing Budgets on the Wrong Customers
Indian founders are pouring millions into performance marketing while neglecting a clear Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). Without an ICP, platforms like Meta optimize for short‑term clicks, not for high‑value, repeat customers, inflating churn and customer‑acquisition costs. Research shows targeting the...
Move Beyond the Click: Scaling Lead Gen with LinkedIn and Zapier
LinkedIn’s Conversions API (CAPI) paired with Zapier lets B2B marketers send downstream funnel events—such as demos booked or deals created—directly to LinkedIn without relying on browser pixels. MarketerHire reported a 30% drop in cost per qualified lead and a 35%...
The Hidden Tax of Broken Ad Attribution on LinkedIn
LinkedIn marketers often discover that reported clicks and cost‑per‑lead don’t match actual CRM conversions, leaving many leads tagged as "unknown" or "direct." The discrepancy forces teams to spend hours each week reconciling data, slowing strategy and eroding confidence in dashboards....
Jameson Teams Up With J Balvin and KidSuper for Soccer’s Big Year
Jameson Irish Whiskey, in its second year as the official MLS spirit, launched the "It’s What You Bring" campaign to blend soccer, music and fashion. The initiative features a new film starring reggaeton star J Balvin, a limited‑edition KidSuper streetwear capsule,...
How Beauty Tapped in at the Miami Grand Prix
Beauty brands are increasingly using Formula 1 events to reach new audiences, as demonstrated at the Miami Grand Prix. Dermalogica activated a free Fan Fest booth, offering skin‑mapping analyses, product samples and a discount card for Ulta, serving 3,800 guests over five...
Marketers at Possible Adjust to the Realities of AI While Trying to Stay Human
The fourth Possible conference in Miami highlighted how generative AI is reshaping marketing strategy while firms strive to keep a human touch. Interviews with leaders from Geico, Marketcast, CROING, Maybelline and others revealed AI’s role in talent acquisition, rapid data...
Glossy+ Research: Marketing Workflows Benefit From AI, but Trust Is Still a Barrier to Adoption
Glossy+ Research surveyed 142 brand and agency professionals and interviewed marketing technology executives to gauge AI’s role in 2026 marketing workflows. The study finds AI tools that were cutting‑edge a year ago are now embedded across most campaign, content, and...
Modern Retail+ Research: Marketing Workflows Benefit From AI, but Trust Is Still a Barrier to Adoption
Modern Retail’s 2026 research, based on 142 brand and agency professionals, finds AI now embedded in roughly 80 % of marketing workflows, from generative copy to automated media buying. While these tools boost speed and personalization, the rapid rollout has surfaced...
Nike Alumni, Now at Superfeet, Want Their Insoles in ‘Every Shoe in the World’
Superfeet, the longtime running‑focused insole maker, is pivoting to serve athletes across soccer, basketball, volleyball and football. The shift is driven by new leadership – CMO Mike Donnelly, a 23‑year Nike veteran, and CEO Trip Randall, also ex‑Nike – who...
Design Brand Colors for Feeling, Not Decoration
Most people pick brand colors based on what they like. That’s why a lot of branding feels random. Color should create the feeling before the copy even shows up. Blue makes a brand feel stable. Red creates urgency. Green signals growth. Yellow pulls attention. Black makes things...
Samsung Scores with Thierry Henry in 20-Year TV Crown Play
Samsung marks two decades as the world’s number‑one TV brand, according to Omdia, with a new global campaign built around football legend Thierry Henry. The campaign leans on the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, using humor‑filled sketches to showcase premium picture...
Nexa’s Decade of Drift
Maruti Suzuki’s premium sub‑brand Nexa marks a decade with mixed results, as its contribution to total sales slipped to 27.6% in FY26 and unit volumes fell to 503,881 units. The brand’s portfolio is heavily skewed, with Baleno, Fronx and Grand Vitara...
How Brands Are Advertising AI
The advertising sector is grappling with how to market AI amid a flood of hype, misinformation, and growing consumer fatigue. Agencies are shifting focus from sheer visibility to building credibility, emphasizing proof over promises. Industry leaders warn that AI discussions...
.png)
What I Learned in My Three Glorious Months as a Product Marketer
Jimmy Daly reflects on a three‑month product‑marketing role, distilling practical lessons that span workflow organization, cross‑team alignment, and audience ownership. He highlights using Todoist to run a transparent content calendar and cites Stewart Hillhouse’s owned‑audience framework as a strategic north...
Adobe Completes $4.5 B Acquisition of Semrush to Boost AI Brand Visibility
Adobe announced the completion of its acquisition of Semrush Holdings, integrating the SEO platform into its AI‑driven Experience Cloud. The deal, valued at roughly $4.5 billion, positions Adobe to offer end‑to‑end brand visibility tools and intensifies competition among martech giants.
Consistency Beats Occasional Virality for Lasting Growth
Harsh truth: You don’t have a content problem. You have a consistency problem. One viral post won’t fix months of silence.
Fintech Player Webull Taps Ooh Media for National Campaign
Webull Australia has launched a nationwide out‑of‑home (OOH) advertising campaign in partnership with oOh!media’s creative hub Poly. The rollout features more than 100 unique creative variations across six outdoor formats, using sport‑training language to position trading as a daily discipline...
Finder Adds Referral Program – Earn Up To $25
Finder, the financial‑services comparison portal, launched a referral program on May 5, 2026 that pays users up to $25 for each friend who signs up. The payout depends on the specific product the referred friend chooses, covering services such as SoFi Wealth...
In Conversation: How Airwallex Channels Sports Energy Into B2B Impact
Airwallex’s VP of global marketing Jon Stona argues that B2B fintech firms must abandon dry, lead‑centric playbooks and adopt a human‑first, storytelling approach. He stresses unifying product, brand and growth efforts while borrowing tactics from B2C, such as video and...
Kayo Sports Enters The Video Game Arena Through Roblox
Australian sports broadcaster Kayo Sports, through a joint venture with Foxtel Media and gaming‑marketing firm Livewire, has debuted Kayo SPORTS Stadium on Roblox. The immersive experience features three official sports codes—AFL, Cricket Australia and Supercars—allowing users to play realistic mini‑games...
Cash Converters Leans Into Side Quest Culture With National Campaign Via Carat Perth & Nova Entertainment
Cash Converters has teamed with Carat Perth and Nova Entertainment to launch the national "Side Quest City" campaign, tapping into Australia’s $42 bn AUD (≈$27 bn USD) passion economy. The integrated effort uses TV‑radio personality Joel Creasey, Nova’s podcast network and a...
Rubii Sees Swell in Interest From Indie Agencies as AI Shifts From Hype to Operational Backbone
Australian‑built Rubii, an AI‑powered media operating system, is signing independent agencies such as JOY, Thinkerbell, Cool Media and others, marking a surge in adoption. The platform consolidates fragmented campaign delivery, reporting and finance workflows into a single AI‑driven solution, promising...
AI Giants Spend $166 Million on Linear TV in Early 2026 to Shape Public Opinion
Google, Meta, Anthropic and other leading AI firms have collectively poured $166 million into linear TV advertising through April 20, 2026. The surge reflects a strategic push to win consumer trust as AI adoption grows but sentiment remains divided.
Ulta Beauty’s AI‑Driven Rewards Program Generates 95% of Sales
Ulta Beauty’s chief marketing officer Kelly Mahoney says the company’s AI‑enhanced rewards program now fuels 95% of its sales, drawing on data from 46.7 million members. The move highlights how AI‑driven personalization can turn loyalty programs into the core revenue engine...
Define Your Audience's Belief Before Building Anything
Before you build anything, get clear on who you are trying to reach and what they need to believe about you to say yes. Everything else, the resume, the outreach, the LinkedIn, flows from that answer.
Test, Iterate, Analyze: The Real Content Strategy
Don’t build a content strategy if you’ve never won organically on these platforms. Tf u doing. Build out a testing strategy. Become obsessed with the analytics. And move fast as hell.
Vita Coco Q1 Sales Surge 37% on Distribution Push and Brand‑Centric Marketing
Vita Coco posted $180 million in net sales for Q1 2026, up 37% year‑over‑year, as broader U.S. and international distribution and a CMO‑led marketing push lifted coconut‑water volumes. The company also saw a modest insider sale that analysts say reflects a...
Marketing Lessons From 20 Years at Google - Dan Taylor
In this episode, Dan Taylor, a veteran of nearly 20 years at Google, shares how search and Google Ads have evolved from a niche channel to a massive, AI‑driven marketing platform. He highlights key breakthroughs such as the shift to...
When Every Product Is Functional, What Actually Drives Choice?
Functional claims such as protein, gut health and indulgence have become baseline expectations on shelves, eroding their power to drive trial. Brands are shifting from single‑attribute promises to blended protein sources, credible gut‑health stacks and indulgent formats that also deliver...
Betty’s Burgers Picks free.studio for Next-Stage Brand Project
Betty’s Burgers, the Australian quick‑service restaurant owned by Retail Zoo, has selected agency free.studio to lead the next stage of its brand work. The engagement, awarded after a competitive pitch, will encompass brand strategy, creative development and a fully integrated...
EP258: How Ashley Kalus Hit 397% Year-Over-Year Growth on a Medical-Grade Scar Brand
In episode 258 of the High Voltage Business Builders Podcast, Ashley Kalus disclosed a 397% year‑over‑year revenue surge for her medical‑grade scar care brand, reaching $743,800 in verified sales with a 20% net margin. The growth stemmed from a disciplined...
Claude Content OS: Your Full AI Content Team
Claude Content OS launches as an all‑in‑one AI content team that promises to multiply output while preserving brand voice. The product includes a two‑hour hands‑on workshop, a pre‑configured folder of prompts and slash commands, and 21 plug‑and‑play skills covering writing,...
Brand New Day Beats No Way Home Except Interest
#SpiderMan #BrandNewDay is outpacing No Way Home in every metric except Interest ~100 days out, per Greenlight Analytics. Stronger awareness→intent conversion, but lower Interest points to a more engaged yet narrower audience vs NWH’s broader, generational multiverse appeal. https://t.co/cGIiAMkmky
Newbies Chase Citations, Neglect Organic Traffic Trends
They’re repeating the same SEO mistakes because they just entered the chat and have no experience doing SEO. They’re also often only monitoring “citations” and ignoring what’s happening to their organic traffic in the meantime. I plan to write about this soon.