Know What's Happening in Marketing
Know What's Happening in Marketing
PopSockets turned phone backs into a $169M revenue engine
PopSockets transformed the unused back of smartphones into a monetizable surface, evolving from a garage prototype in 2011 to a global brand that posted $169 million in revenue by 2017. The simple grip design generated constant repeat interactions and word‑of‑mouth growth, driving its rapid expansion.
Campaign’s Brand Buzz roundup highlights how major brands used social media last month to drive conversation and sales. McDonald’s launched a limited‑time menu item on TikTok, sparking viral user videos. Aldi promoted its new eco‑friendly packaging through Instagram Stories, while Guinness revived heritage branding with a user‑generated content push. Across the board, brands reported a 15% lift in engagement compared with the previous month.
Lumen Research has teamed up with Netflix to launch an attention‑measurement solution that tracks how viewers engage with ads across Netflix’s ad‑supported CTV, desktop, and mobile platforms. The offering is initially available to advertisers in the UK, Germany, France, Italy,...
Zink Talent, founded in 2018 by former fashion PR executive Samantha Zink, now manages about 70 creators across beauty, skincare, fashion and lifestyle. The agency has shifted its roster criteria from raw follower counts to engagement, consistency and business discipline,...
Do Google's AI search competitors have a (growing) spam problem? By the metrics I have available, they're increasingly citing low-quality domains. Using Ahrefs Brand Radar, I analyzed the top 1,000 sites mentioned on each platform over the past three months. ChatGPT, Copilot, and...
Comscore and Yahoo DSP have launched Proximic Political Audiences, a first‑to‑market solution that merges linear TV exposure data with Connected TV (CTV) targeting for political advertising. The partnership leverages Comscore’s local market measurement, Proximic’s activation platform, and Yahoo’s programmatic inventory...
EXTE announced a strategic integration with HUMAN Security, embedding the MediaGuard Ad Fraud Defence solution into its programmatic platform. The joint offering combines pre‑bid mitigation and post‑bid reporting to verify impressions, block bots, and curb invalid traffic in real time....
Gary Vaynerchuk stresses that the era of blindly paying for ads on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok is over; creators should first test content organically and only boost pieces that outperform their norm. He highlights the shift from "social media" to...
The article outlines a ten‑step framework for building a data‑driven content strategy that aligns with business objectives and audience needs. It emphasizes defining SMART goals, deep audience research, competitor audits, and selecting the right content formats. Distribution, repurposing, and a...
AppHarbr, GeoEdge’s in‑app ad quality platform, released the first In‑App Network Ad Quality & Safety Performance Index, benchmarking 45 ad networks across 25 billion ads. The study found half of the networks fell short of basic safety standards, with iOS apps...
Wait, nobody is actually buying things in ChatGPT? SHOCKING :) Big advantage Google -> OpenAI is scaling back shopping directly inside ChatGPT via Instant Checkout by having checkouts instead take place in the specific apps that plug into ChatGPT "OpenAI staff...
Rare Beauty’s new fragrance launch turned its accessible bottle design into the centerpiece of a marketing campaign, generating organic buzz and consumer goodwill. The brand’s inclusive approach illustrates how accessibility can be a growth engine rather than a compliance checkbox....
Guide Dogs, the UK’s leading charity that trains guide dogs for the visually impaired, has appointed Fold7 as its lead creative agency. The decision came after a three‑way pitch that also featured Atomic London and VCCP. Fold7 will refresh the...
TK Maxx’s latest television spot, produced by Wieden & Kennedy London, features a whimsical cat wearing a Gucci shoe on its head, delivering a tongue‑in‑cheek take on fashion excess. The ad blends high‑end luxury cues with the retailer’s value‑focused positioning,...
Ford is re‑entering Formula 1 after more than two decades, partnering with Oracle Red Bull Racing and extending its global "Ready Set Ford" campaign. The automaker is abandoning traditional TV spots in favor of Apple TV’s sequential ad format, creating a micro‑docuseries that links F1...
TikTok revealed its Discover List 2026, highlighting 50 creators to watch across categories like Educators, Foodies, Icons, Innovators, and Originators. The list acts as both a cultural barometer and a pre-vetted talent pipeline for brands looking to partner with emerging...
Great post from @dawnieando. And the visuals are killer :) -> Debunking and Demystifying Generative Information Retrieval: Misinformation in The SEO Space Covers 'chunking', information gain, llms.txt, and more. Dawn provides a great breakdown of the misinformation going on today while...
Tinder has appointed VCCP Social Club as its UK social and influencer agency of record, following a competitive pitch run by Ingenuity+. The newly launched division, comprising more than 80 specialists, will handle social strategy, creator content, influencer selection and...
Finally seeing this live today and I really like it. Much better for recipe publishers... But good luck trying to track that in GSC. Standard rules apply for impressions in AI Mode... I'll see if I can find some data...
Your products are no longer differentiators. Digital is expected. Rates are aligned. AI compares features instantly. Competing on what you offer is a losing game. We discuss a different path with Allison Netzer, founder and CEO of BrandThnk. Watch the...
Orange 142, a Direct Digital Holdings division, unveiled Ignition+, an AI‑powered programmatic platform designed for Fortune 1,000 brands and large agencies. The solution consolidates activation, supply access, optimization and measurement into a single stack, promising greater transparency and a flat‑fee pricing...
Google testings new AI Mode recipe widget/card that sucks searchers into AI-Frankenstein recipes https://t.co/6X6gqAk77S via @inspiredtaste https://t.co/manqzqxFIa
Global advertising group WPP unveiled its Elevate28 plan, a strategic overhaul aimed at accelerating digital growth and cutting costs. The roadmap promises up to 15% revenue uplift by 2028, £500 million in annual savings, and a shift toward data‑driven creative services....
Vivobarefoot launched VivoRewards, a sustainability‑focused loyalty scheme powered by Antavo’s AI Loyalty Cloud. Members earn 50‑200 points for actions ranging from profile completion and product reviews to shoe purchases, repairs, recycling, foot scans, and health courses. The program aims to...
ITV announced it expects a 2% decline in advertising revenue for the first quarter of 2026, following a 5% year‑on‑year drop in 2025. The broadcaster attributes the slowdown to weaker consumer spending and increased competition from digital platforms. Management signaled...
Birds Eye, the frozen‑food brand owned by Nomad Foods, has launched a new out‑of‑home (OOH) campaign that puts peas at the centre of its messaging. The “Give peas a chance” creative, devised by Havas London, decorates London Underground escalator ribbons...
Stuart Weitzman has launched its Spring 2026 "Concrete Paradise" campaign, starring supermodel Ashley Graham. The black‑and‑white visuals, shot by Ned Rogers, place Graham in the historic Westsider Rare & Used Books shop on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The campaign highlights the Vinnie Sculptural heel collection and...
Charli Wright argues that Middle East brands suffer from a disconnect between marketing creativity and commercial objectives, not a lack of ideas. Fragmented thinking leads to short‑term, visually impressive campaigns that miss regional buying triggers and fail to deliver sustainable...
Seabourn has launched the “Yours to Explore Event,” a promotion running through May 5 2026 that grants a complimentary two‑category Veranda Suite upgrade and shipboard credit for bookings on 2026 and later voyages. Credits are tiered at $300 for itineraries of 13...
Fnp.ae turned the crowded UAE Valentine’s market into a cultural moment with its “Create Your Own Rom‑Com Moment” campaign. The brand deployed a fully integrated media mix—DOOH billboards, premium digital screens, front‑page print, cultural publishers and live radio—to saturate commuter...
Boutique hotels are losing direct bookings to predatory online travel agencies that purchase paid‑search ads for exact hotel names and pose as official reservation desks. The ads funnel high‑intent guests into opaque checkout flows with hidden fees and non‑refundable terms,...
The Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement (CIMM) and the 4As released a study revealing a "Paradox of Plenty" for U.S. advertisers: abundant data and sophisticated tools have not translated into higher confidence in media measurement. Surveying 197 senior marketers, the...
Meta confirmed it will drop credit‑card payments for ads next month, moving advertisers to invoice‑only billing to curb fraud and the “cashback loophole.” At the same time, student‑loan giant Sallie introduced Backpack Media, a retail‑media network that sells ad inventory...
The marketing industry’s long‑standing belief that more data equals better personalization is being upended by AI and privacy regulation. In the Middle East, the Personal Data Protection Law forces companies to redesign systems around contextual, real‑time signals rather than persistent...
Thailand’s Tourism Authority is targeting the Balkans with a 2026 roadshow to capture long‑haul group travel demand. The initiative, visiting Belgrade, Cluj‑Napoca, Bucharest and Sofia, linked fifteen Thai tourism entrepreneurs with eighteen regional buyers. Rising middle‑class income, improved air connectivity...
In this special edition of the eMarketer podcast, Principal Analyst Max Willins reveals that U.S. creator earnings are projected to hit $21 billion in 2026, nearly doubling since 2022 and outpacing traditional web‑publisher revenues. He explains how creators have moved from...
Sling & Stone has named Nichole Provatas, formerly of We Communications, as the inaugural Managing Director of its Australian operation. Provatas will steer the agency’s expansion across AI‑driven visibility, strategic insight, social, creative and content services. Her portfolio includes high‑profile...
In this episode, Marco Noble, founder and CEO of Fuse, discusses his evolution from creating the global student community platform Socials to building Fuse, a vertically integrated flex‑living brand for young people across Central and Eastern Europe. He explains how...
Ogilvy Health Australia has unveiled OTC Influence, a new service that shifts over‑the‑counter (OTC) brand marketing from pure efficacy messaging to culturally‑driven storytelling. The offering uses social‑media‑first tactics, health influencers, earned media and owned content to embed brands in current...
Sportscafe, the New Zealand‑originated YouTube‑first sports show, has launched an Australian version, extending its podcast and video footprint across Sydney and the broader market. Founder Ric Salizzo stresses that brand partnerships must improve the viewer experience rather than interrupt it, a philosophy...
Foxtel Group has appointed former NBL executive Ted Helliar as Director of Engagement, Community and Fandom for its Kayo Sports and Fox Sports brands. In the role, Helliar will oversee all social and creator teams, aiming to deepen fan connections...
British streaming platforms are abandoning the traditional subscriber‑growth model in favor of targeting high‑net‑worth viewers. Executives now prioritize Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) by offering premium tiers that promise seamless, personalized experiences. Data‑driven curation, early‑release access, and 8K streaming are...
In this episode, host Christian Klett talks with award‑winning copywriter Jamie Thompson about why authority now outweighs visibility for B2B marketers, especially as AI tools flood the market with generic content. Thompson argues that true authority comes from consistent, genuinely...
In this episode of the Hamasley Brothers e‑commerce podcast, Mark and Ian dissect why weak follow‑up sequences are sabotaging ROAS. They define follow‑up as the communication between a prospect’s ad click and the final purchase, emphasizing email capture and remarketing...
Gille Klabin, after a traditional distributor release of his debut, chose self‑distribution for his $296,000 horror‑comedy “Weekend at the End of the World.” He partnered with aggregator Bitmax for technical delivery, kept full rights, and used data‑driven micro‑ads, tiered pricing,...
The unboxing moment begins with a delivery notification and culminates when the customer lifts the box, shaping brand perception before the product is seen. Research shows first impressions form in just 0.2 seconds, with 94% of judgments based on packaging...
In this training episode, Ezra Firestone explains how e‑commerce brands can turn email and SMS into 30‑40% of total revenue by implementing a strategic merchandising calendar. He differentiates major campaigns from micro‑offers, shows how to layer content, product launches, and...
In this episode, host discusses Amazon listing optimization with Daniela Boltzmann, founder of Mindful Goods, highlighting the costly mistake of repurposing Shopify creatives for Amazon. Daniela shares her journey from a full‑service agency to a project‑based model focused on high‑converting...
Organic search traffic to the United States' leading tech publications has plunged 58% since 2024, according to Growtika’s Ahrefs‑based analysis. Combined visits fell from a 2024 peak of 112 million to just 47 million in January 2026. The Verge suffered the steepest...
Tony Bandanza has been appointed head of Uber’s US&C Restaurant Advertising business, overseeing strategy and execution for one of the company’s fastest‑growing revenue streams. He rejoined Uber in 2022 to lead the global Yum! Brands partnership, expanding Pizza Hut’s presence across...
If you can’t explain how to deliberately move a KPI, you don’t understand your growth. High acquisition doesn’t mean high value. The real question: Are you attracting customers you actually want? Curiosity about your data > more dashboards. #KPI #CLV #BusinessStrategy #MarketingStrategy #Leadership
