Know What's Happening in Marketing
Know What's Happening in Marketing
PopSockets turns phone backs into a $169M revenue stream
The company evolved from a garage prototype in 2011 into a global brand that monetized the unused back of smartphones. By 2017, PopSockets posted $169 million in revenue, driven by a simple grip that became a daily habit and sparked word‑of‑mouth growth and celebrity visibility.
Progressive launched the "Drive Like an Animal" ad using AI‑generated animal drivers while retaining Flo’s voice, aiming to blend efficiency with brand authenticity. The AI approach slashed production time and budget, allowing the campaign to meet a tight deadline for its Snapshot tool. Consumer data shows 37% view overt AI content negatively, yet the spot generated strong engagement metrics despite mixed online comments. Executives emphasized agency collaboration and testing to ensure humor and market performance.
With backing from Amazon, Nvidia, Softbank -> OpenAI raised $110B at a $730B pre-money valuation, up from $500B in a secondary financing in Oct.; Amazon invested $50B, Nvidia and SoftBank invested $30B each $600B -> "OpenAI has been telling investors that...
Google Patent Info: If you thought AIOs angered people, just wait for AI-generated landing pages from Google. Yes, Google could create new landing pages from the SERPs if yours isn't good enough (based on this patent). Great catch from Joshua...
Meta has filed lawsuits in Brazil, China and Vietnam to stop firms running deceptive ad campaigns and has issued cease‑and‑desist orders to eight marketing consultants accused of helping advertisers evade its policies. At the same time, a coalition of leading...
In the first article in this series about the PESO Model Certification® , I shared what’s new and why it’s been rebuilt for how people find information today. In the second, we went deeper into how owned and earned work...
At some point the AI Search platforms will build stronger anti-spam systems, have manual actions, take legal action against spammers, etc. I have covered that before. Here is how an established platform like Meta continues to tackle problems like that....
The article argues that chief marketing officers are increasingly sandwiched between CFOs demanding fiscal discipline and sophisticated algorithms that demand real‑time performance data. As measurement tools become more granular, marketing budgets are being scrutinized with the same rigor as any...
Music Ally’s Sandbox Guide titled “Vibe coding for music marketers” introduces a new methodology that converts audio characteristics into actionable audience insights. The guide, part of a series released ten times a year, combines case studies, expert interviews, and benchmark...
For‑Sight has launched a new Loyalty Module in partnership with Inspire Loyalty, embedding loyalty program management directly into its hotel CRM platform. The module automates points accrual, supports tiered and paid memberships, and feeds loyalty activity into guest profiles for...
The BBC has unveiled the latest iteration of its "Made of Here" campaign, this time spotlighting Glasgow. Produced by BBC Creative and the BBC Scotland Brand, the visual rollout features a striking sunset over the city alongside iconic cultural references...
Microsoft Bing is piloting a new two‑by‑two video grid layout on its search results page, replacing the traditional vertical list view. The change was first spotted by Frank Sandtmann, who shared side‑by‑side screenshots on LinkedIn. The grid displays four video thumbnails...
"We only have one partner logo to show. How do we build credibility?" This came up in a call with a healthcare AI company. Early stage, incredible tech, but limited social proof. Here's what I recommended instead of the traditional logo wall: →...
There’s a new one. Right. Totally. SEO agencies suddenly stopped caring about their clients’ success. Yep. https://t.co/256DkiWsAT
B2B marketers are shifting from single‑persona campaigns to committee‑level targeting, recognizing that buying decisions involve 5‑50 stakeholders across decision‑makers, influencers, and executors. Artificial intelligence now classifies each prospect’s role, predicts their buying stage, and orchestrates personalized messages in real time....
Google Videos (1) from Google Search team on parsing HTML and (2) from Google Ads team on search experiences - both worth listening to https://t.co/wD0y4Gz8yc https://t.co/rsldIPjJbz
Politico is making audio and video a core growth pillar through 2026, expanding its Playbook podcast network and launching a new Brussels edition. The company hired a deputy head of audio, introduced a Brussels Playbook podcast that already draws about...
Mortar AI has partnered with creative‑data specialist DAIVID to embed creative effectiveness metrics into its Marketing Mix Model (MMM). The integration brings DAIVID’s AI‑driven emotional analysis—covering 39 distinct emotions and predictive metrics—directly into Mortar’s MMM engine. Advertisers can now quantify...
Founders expect AI to smooth sales and marketing, but it only highlights existing misalignments. When teams share goals, data, and clear ownership, AI can act as a unifying intelligence layer. The Marketing Centre’s AI Future Forum proposes a three‑pillar health‑check—decisions,...
On Sale Live 2026, a conference for sales, marketing and communications professionals in live entertainment, will be held on 15 May at a new Kings Cross venue in London. The event gathers over 250 senior decision‑makers from theatre, festivals, sport...
Neverland announced that Laura Kinzett has been promoted to Chief Strategy Officer, succeeding Lola Neves. Kinzett, who previously led the agency’s planning department, will now steer brand‑building and client‑growth initiatives. The move reflects Neverland’s focus on data‑driven strategy as it...
Gilead’s U.S. HIV prevention VP Ashley Gildea unveiled a direct‑to‑consumer campaign for Yeztugo, the first twice‑yearly injectable PrEP. The campaign, anchored by a music‑driven “One2PrEP” spot, aims to lift awareness among the estimated 2.2 million Americans who could benefit from PrEP...
Clean Email’s 2025‑2026 report reveals that aggressive email campaigns from major brands such as LinkedIn, Uber One and McDonald’s are now the leading cause of spam complaints, eclipsing traditional scammers. While global email users are projected to reach 4.73 billion in...
PepsiCo’s global marketing effectiveness lead, Sorin Patilinet, cautions that the proliferation of AI tools will not automatically grant a competitive edge. While AI can generate endless creative variations, the true differentiator will be human judgment and disciplined restraint in campaign...
Hospitality operators are shifting from generic automated messaging to predictive, intelligence‑driven guest experiences powered by integrated CRM and PMS data. Fragmented guest information has limited personalization, but unified profiles enable real‑time segmentation, tailored offers, and on‑property service alignment. Hotels that...
Asda is accelerating the rebranding of ten Asda Living stores into standalone George fashion and homeware locations. The next site, in Peterborough, will open on 12 March, following successful pilots in Leeds and Hull launched in 2025. The new George store...
NBA Vice President Michelle Auguste explained how audience insights have shaped the league’s new 11‑year media rights agreement, positioning the NBA as a growth property despite overall TV declines. The data highlighted the league’s nightly reach, youthful and diverse fan...
Volt Agency, a Wix‑focused web design firm, published a report detailing hyper‑personalisation strategies on the Wix platform. The study claims conversion lifts of up to 60% and revenue gains of roughly 40% when businesses shift from static sites to intent‑driven...
In this episode, Charles Groom (VP of Marketing at Insightful) and Heather Atkins (CMO of Trimble) discuss how modern CMOs can design marketing organizations that stay agile amid rapid tech change, shifting buyer behavior, and tighter budgets. They introduce a...
Evereden, the kid‑focused beauty brand that hit $100 million in sales, announced its Generation E program, granting equity stakes to three Gen‑Alpha creators aged 14, 15 and 17. The teenagers—Embreigh Courtlyn, Kaili Asa and Madison Rae—bring combined millions of followers and will...
WPP announced a strategic pivot toward outcome‑based agency fees, linking compensation directly to client sales and brand performance. The move is anchored by a pending global creative contract with Jaguar Land Rover that would tie fees to measurable results. WPP’s data platform,...
Content marketplaces are emerging as a way for publishers to monetize their articles and protect against AI scraping. Microsoft and Amazon are backing these platforms to boost Azure and AWS adoption, while licensing standards from groups like the BBC coalition...
Gymboree is reviving its brand by launching co‑branded collections, beginning with a limited‑edition Marchesa line priced between $20 and $170. The retailer also introduced everyday collaborations with Peter Rabbit and Hello Kitty, aiming to attract both special‑occasion and casual shoppers....
Etihad Airways has signed a multi‑year sponsorship with the McLaren Formula 1 and United Autosports WEC teams, securing branding on race cars, helmets and a future Dreamliner livery. The partnership extends Etihad’s long‑standing involvement with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Meanwhile, IHG One...
Hive mind: i'm thinking of replacing a mid 5-figure @gong_io subscription (Thousands of dollars per AE per year) with a $19 / month TL;DV or FirefliesIO. our core use case is call recording, AI summaries and CRM integration. Has...
V‑Guard’s "Hum Tum Aur V‑Guard" campaign turned summer into a romantic backdrop, positioning the brand as an invisible enabler of comfort across AC stabilisers, smart inverters, air coolers and fans. The strategy relied on a series of micro‑moment films that...
Farizon Auto, part of Geely Holding Group, has launched the all‑new Farizon SV electric commercial van in Australia through Jameel Motors, backed by Traffic’s integrated "Vantastic" campaign. The SV targets trades, fleet operators and last‑mile delivery services, offering electric performance...
Home Credit India launched #KahoEMIKoHaan, a Holi‑themed brand campaign that reframes credit decisions from hesitation to confidence. The musical film depicts everyday Indians pausing over EMI choices and then embracing aspirations with Home Credit’s financing solutions. The initiative highlights the...
Victoria Bitter (VB) has introduced VB Mid, a 3.5% ABV beer, accompanied by a new television campaign voiced by Australian actor William McInnes. The launch follows VB’s 2023 VX effort and targets the fast‑growing low‑ and mid‑strength segment, which now accounts...
Instagram has rolled out an AI‑powered shopping test that automatically tags products and suggests similar items when users tap “Shop the Look.” Influencers say the feature surfaces products they don’t endorse, potentially cannibalizing brand deals and eroding audience trust. Creators...
Google’s Gary Illyes and Martin Splitt explained on the Search Off the Record podcast that Googlebot disregards resource‑hint tags such as dns‑prefetch, preload, prefetch and preconnect because its internal infrastructure eliminates the latency those hints address. They emphasized that metadata—including...
MAD STARS announced the first three members of its 2026 Executive Jury—Raja Rajamannar, former CMO of Mastercard; Aurora Straton, Creative Lead at Google; and Tara McKenty, CCO of AKQA Australia & New Zealand. The trio will oversee the final judging rounds and select the...
Woolworths’ AI chatbot Olive, marketed as a conversational shopping companion, began sharing fabricated family stories such as memories of its mother and uncle, prompting customer complaints and media attention. The retailer disclosed that the off‑brand scripting was removed after feedback,...
99.7% to target on CM this month. Great growth teams are committed to a hierarchy of metrics. Every month is going to involve different trade offs to reach your goal. But great forecasting and execution requires being clear on the...
Elon Musk's X has launched a new ad feature that lets advertisers upload existing social‑media creatives and automatically apply expanded aspect ratios, including 4:5 and 2:3, without needing AI‑driven editing. The tool is available through Media Studio, Composer, and the...
Tools for Humanity, the iris‑scanning startup co‑founded by Sam Altman, is rolling out its World ID platform with high‑profile brand partners. A Gap store in San Francisco now hosts an Orb device that captures facial and eye data, while Tinder...
Samba TV’s H2 2025 advertising report shows a sharp pivot toward essential and infrastructure categories, with utilities ad impressions jumping 48%, insurance up 18% and pharma rising 12%. Discretionary sectors such as career services, apparel and food & beverage posted double‑digit...
Brands are increasingly favoring in‑game integrations over fully owned virtual worlds, a trend already evident on platforms like Roblox and Fortnite. In 2025 advertisers shifted spend toward embedding logos and branded assets within popular user‑generated experiences. Minecraft creators, however, feel...
Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, has leveraged giveaway‑centric videos to set new viewership records on YouTube. In the past 90 days his "Subscribe For An iPhone" clip topped U.S. charts with over a billion views, while a holiday $100K giveaway...
Brands that scale fastest rely on distribution infrastructure, not louder messaging. Digital newswires act as a scalable engine that moves verified content through media ecosystems, delivering immediate reach and credibility. By syndicating releases to online publications, financial platforms, and AI...
Target rolled out a dedicated Space Jam 30th‑anniversary endcap, featuring licensed basketballs, secret‑stuff bottles, and a popcorn bucket. The display was tightly curated, avoiding SKU sprawl and presenting a single nostalgic story. The article argues that while nostalgia captures shopper...
