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.
Women’s Health Brand Valerie Abandons ‘Perimenopause’ Label to Expand Audience
Valerie, a female hormone health brand for women over 35, is dropping the ‘perimenopause’ label to broaden its reach. Co‑founder Wizz Selvey says the change removes a psychological barrier and aligns with feedback that many women feel the term is premature. The re‑positioning follows a study showing 64% of women aged 36‑40 already experience moderate menopause symptoms but delay care. Valerie continues to market its liposomal‑based Daily Essential and Evening Essential supplements while planning broader women’s‑health offerings.
Wayfair Launches Way Day Sale with up to 80% Off, Early Member Access Starts April 23
Wayfair has opened its Way Day sale, giving members early access on April 23 and the public on April 25. Discounts of up to 80% on sofas, mattresses, rugs and more are prompting a traffic spike and highlighting the retailer’s...
Seven Tips for Using a Podcast to Grow Your Restaurant Community
Restaurant operators can turn a simple podcast into a community‑building engine by centering content on authentic brand stories and local voices. A lean setup—just a smartphone and a quality microphone—delivers professional sound without heavy investment. Consistency, clear audience definition, and...
The New Creative Economy: How AI Is Reshaping Branding and Marketing
Artificial intelligence is redefining branding and marketing by shifting creative work from execution to strategic direction. The article maps this transition to the desktop‑publishing revolution, noting that AI accelerates scale, pace, and skill requirements while rendering many repetitive tasks obsolete....
3 Fixes for a Splintered Brand
Continental Battery Systems, after expanding to more than 160 U.S. locations, faced a fragmented brand as teams used inconsistent materials and messaging. Partnering with The Point Group, the company first secured internal alignment through site visits and employee interviews, then...
The Best Measurement Strategies Never Stand Still: Do’s and Don’ts to Keep Yours Agile
DV Rockerbox warns marketers that static measurement strategies quickly become obsolete as goals and channel mixes evolve. It outlines five common mistakes—treating all channels alike, tackling every analytics tool at once, measuring without decision context, relying on a fixed roadmap, and...
LIV Golf Engages Fans with Agentic AI
LIV Golf has introduced two agentic AI tools—Fan Caddie (nicknamed “Chip”) for fans and Agent Caddie for broadcasters—to deliver real‑time stats, personalized content, and on‑site logistics. The AI agents are built on Salesforce’s Agentforce 360 platform after extensive data‑cleaning work....
MiQ: Fragmentation Challenges Traditional Marketing Funnel
MiQ’s new "From Funnel to Flexibility" study, based on 53 million households, 700 trillion data signals and surveys of over 4,000 consumers and 600 marketers across the US, UK, Canada and Australia, reveals that consumer journeys are no longer linear. 87 percent of shoppers...
Your Brand Is Invisible to the AI That’s Choosing Your Competitor
Research from 6sense shows most B2B buyers now rely on large‑language models like ChatGPT as a primary research tool. These models blend training data with live web searches, favoring content from established, attributed sources over corporate blogs or gated PDFs....
Increasing Conversions: Quick Wins That Work in 2026
In this episode, host Michael Stelzner talks with demand‑generation expert Jay Swendelson about practical, "quick win" tactics for boosting conversions in 2026. They highlight how the flood of AI‑generated content has made authentic, lo‑fi, human‑focused media the most effective converter,...
Fox Just Gave Its Ad Portfolio a Massive AI Upgrade
Fox announced the launch of Fox AdStudio, an AI‑driven platform that provides advertisers with real‑time audience insights across the company’s entire media portfolio, including linear TV and streaming services like Tubi. The tool leverages machine‑learning to analyze content and viewer...
Peddlers Gin Partners with Starbucks Bars in China
Peddlers Gin, a Shanghai‑based craft gin, has partnered with Starbucks Reserve Bar Mixato to launch a limited‑time cocktail program across China. The menu, featuring the brand’s Rare Eastern, Salted Plum and Barrel‑aged gins plus a Year of the Horse bottling,...
Linktree Turns Creator Identity Into Strategy With New AI-Powered Creator Index
Linktree has introduced the Creator Index, an interactive AI‑powered quiz that assigns creators to archetypes such as Documentarian or Educator. The quiz results integrate with the new Insights Chat, which draws real‑time performance data from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Linktree...
5 Guest Segments Every Hotel Should Use in Email Campaigns
Hotel marketers often send one‑size‑fits‑all emails, resulting in low open rates (≈12%) and minimal bookings. The article argues that the root cause is lack of segmentation, not poor copy, and outlines five practical guest segments that can be built from...
Farewell, Funky Cat: Ora 03 Exits UK as GWM Plots Big Revamp
Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) is withdrawing its Ora 03 electric hatchback, formerly the Funky Cat, from UK showrooms after four years of weak sales. UK deliveries fell to just 542 units in 2023 and only 26 registrations in...
Birds Eye Appoints Agency for Influencer Marketing Brief
Birds Eye has appointed The Romans agency to run its influencer, consumer and corporate marketing brief, covering the core Birds Eye brand as well as Goodfella’s and Aunt Bessie’s under Nomad Foods. The agency will focus on driving purchase intent,...
Hotel Positioning: Steps to Follow to Be Truly Recognizable
After two decades advising Italian hoteliers, Lybra Tech emphasizes that hotel positioning is dynamic, not set at opening. Effective positioning requires understanding the market’s perception relative to competitors, not just internal branding. The article urges hoteliers to conduct deep competitor...
How Hotels Can Drive More Direct Bookings with TikTok Ads
TikTok has transformed from a short‑form entertainment app into a primary travel discovery engine, blending inspiration, search and booking functions. Hotels can capitalize by creating discovery‑driven organic videos that spark desire and then repurposing the highest‑performing clips as Spark Ads....
Can Affiliate Drive Both Visibility and Conversion? Bonprix Shows How
The fashion retailer bonprix partnered with Tradedoubler to activate browser partners—high‑traffic start‑page placements on Samsung, Xiaomi and MSN—as an affiliate channel that blends premium visibility with measurable performance. By integrating fixed‑fee and performance‑based pricing, the campaign delivered over 100% year‑over‑year...
Tech-Style Launch Campaign to Push Power of Door Drops
Royal Mail’s Marketreach division launched a six‑week “Make it a Reality” campaign that mimics a Silicon‑Valley product launch to re‑brand unaddressed door drops as a high‑impact marketing device. The campaign runs across Amazon Prime, YouTube, social, OOH and programmatic channels,...
Master the 5 Key Stats Behind Every A/B Test
These 5 concepts come up constantly in real analysis — A/B tests, business experiments, reporting to stakeholders who ask exactly that question. Confidence intervals — the range your true value likely falls in Hypothesis testing — the framework for testing whether a...
AI + SEO Bootcamp: Build Tools to Rank & Automate
I'm hosting an AI + SEO bootcamp in May The idea? To build AI tools to help you: - rank in google / chatgpt - run SEO/AI llms services for clients - automate sales methods Who wants it?
From Footfall to Familiarity: UAE Resident Relationships – Powered by Actionable Data
UAE venues are turning their already‑digitised infrastructure into a strategic asset by deploying actionable, consent‑led first‑party data. Platforms such as SYNQ‑X unify signals from Wi‑Fi, ticketing, apps and sensors into real‑time profiles that trigger personalized experiences before, during and after...
Beyond Followers: How Creators Are Building Real Revenue with VdoCipher
India’s creator economy hosts 2‑2.5 million active digital creators, yet only 8‑10% monetize effectively, a gap highlighted at WAVES 2025. While platforms like Instagram and YouTube spark initial fame, long‑form educators hit revenue ceilings due to algorithm volatility and limited audience ownership....
Timberlink’s Full Range of Products Are ‘Australian Grown, Australian Made’
Timberlink Australia & New Zealand has become an official licencee of the Australian Made Campaign, allowing the green‑and‑gold kangaroo logo on its plantation pine, Everdeck decking and NeXTimber cross‑laminated timber and glulam products. CEO Paul O’Keefe says the badge gives customers...
Advertisers Can Now Buy In-Store Audio and Fuel Pump Ads at Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club has launched a new retail‑media offering that sells in‑store audio spots and video ads displayed on fuel‑pump screens. The formats are part of the Sam’s Club Member Access Platform, the Walmart‑owned chain’s data‑driven advertising network. The rollout expands...
Marc Jacobs’ Rachel Sennott Collab Kicks Off Pivot to Social Entertainment
Marc Jacobs is launching a social‑first storytelling platform called Question Marc, debuting with a three‑minute micro‑drama titled “The Scene.” Actress‑writer Rachel Sennott wrote and stars in the film, which follows a chaotic Manhattan quest centered on the new Scene Bag. The...
This Startup Wants to Fix the Slog of Adtech Vendor Selection With a AI-Supported Matchmaking
CartographAI is an AI‑driven platform that lets marketers compare over 1,000 martech and adtech vendors using neutral, data‑rich scores. It blends machine learning with human‑led research to evaluate vendors across dozens of criteria. Early adopters such as Reckitt, LinkedIn and...
Amazon Faces An Easy Boycott But An Existential Question
Amazon’s ad platform faced a brief but high‑profile boycott when the Million Dollar Sellers coalition halted spend for 24 hours to protest new fulfillment fees, delayed payouts, and a planned credit‑card ban. The protest forced Amazon to postpone the credit‑card...
A Brand Reframing 50 Years of Heritage
Brompton’s chief marketing officer, Chris Willingham, has launched a global brand platform called “Life’s Unfolded” across 47 markets, shifting the narrative from the bike’s folding feature to the emotional experience of unfolding. He argues that marketers must translate brand equity...
Not All Creators Convert. Here’s How to Find Those That Do.
Business of Fashion curated a list of recent pieces that map the evolving influencer landscape, from the waning effectiveness of traditional sponsored content to the rise of AI‑driven shopping agents reshaping ad spend. The roundup spotlights case studies such as...
Why Brands Like The League Are Making the First Move to Take Advantage of LinkedIn’s Creator Appeal
The League, a premium dating app, launched its first creator‑driven campaign on LinkedIn, partnering with ten verified founders and entrepreneurs. The initiative, titled “Network here. Find me on The League,” aims to reach high‑intent professionals through niche, brand‑safe content rather...
NHL Looks to TikTok to Capitalize on Heated Rivalry and Olympics as It Grows Beyond U.S. and Canada
The NHL posted its best viewership in 14 years, averaging 546,000 viewers per game – a 23% increase – boosted by Netflix’s "Heated Rivalry" series and the recent Winter Olympics. To convert this surge into lasting fans, the league is...
Nike’s Marathon Billboard Backlash Inspires New Asics and Ecco Campaigns
Nike faced backlash for a Boston Marathon billboard that read “Runners welcome, walkers tolerated.” The company removed the sign and issued an apology, acknowledging the exclusionary tone. Competitors Asics and Ecco quickly responded, with Asics promoting “Runners. Walkers. All Welcome”...
Marine Layer Fights Digital Saturation with Print Catalogs and Whimsical Pop-Ups
Marine Layer, the California‑based casual apparel brand, is countering digital fatigue by reintroducing print catalogs and rolling out whimsical pop‑up experiences in major markets. The 48‑page catalog, printed on 100% recycled paper, showcases new collections and embeds QR codes that...
Refining Your Go-to-Market Plan with an AI GTM Agent
Enterprises are turning to agentic AI agents to embed go‑to‑market (GTM) functions—such as approval routing, content cleanup, and learning checks—directly into daily workflows. By unifying sales, marketing, enablement and RevOps around a single AI‑driven operating rhythm, companies can keep launches,...
Macy's Launches Gemini-Powered AI Concierge for 2.5M SKUs
The big picture behind Ask @Macy’s, a Gemini powered AI agent https://t.co/AfpKXxSpCM Macy's has rolled out a @GoogleCloud powered AI agent called "Ask Macy's," a concierge that leverage multimodal capabilities to move sales along and sort through the retailer's 2.5...
New Campaign From Casper Aims to Help You Relax
Casper has rolled out its first major advertising push in four years with a three‑film series called “Daymares.” The spots, created by agency Orchard and directed by Jeff Low, depict everyday stressors that melt away when users lie on a...
Melbourne Confidential: Isabel Thomson-Officer
Isabel Thomson‑Officer, co‑founder and managing director of Manifest, explains how the agency treats art as a strategic asset rather than an afterthought. Signature projects like the Breastralia breastfeeding mural and a Degraves Street clothes‑line showcase the blend of culture, craft,...
Vuori Launches Spring 2026 Campaign Starring Kaia Gerber
Vuori unveiled its Spring 2026 "For Kaia" campaign, starring model Kaia Gerber, as a follow‑up to the Fall 2025 "Vuori by Kaia" collection. The new line showcases performance‑driven pieces such as the AllTheForm Micro Bra, Sedona Classic Full Zip, and Sunday Track Jacket,...
KFC India Names Suhayl Limbada as New Chief Marketing Officer
KFC India has appointed Suhayl Limbada as chief marketing officer, tasking him with steering brand strategy and customer‑acquisition initiatives. Limbada brings experience from leading KFC’s Thailand and Africa markets and prior stints at Mondelēz and Kraft, positioning the chain for...
Disney Teams with Toddler Techno Star Lenny Pearce for Kids Music Revamp
Disney Music Group has inked a music and content development deal with viral creator Lenny Pearce, known for his Toddler Techno brand. The partnership will debut the album “Disney Jr. Music: Lenny Pearce Toddler Techno” on May 15, featuring remixed Disney...
LendingClub Rebrands as Happen Bank, Targeting Mobile-First Consumers
LendingClub Corp announced it will rename LendingClub Bank as Happen Bank, a fully digital bank aimed at mobile‑first customers. The rebrand, set to roll out in summer 2026, signals a shift from a pure lending marketplace to a broader suite...
Apple Korea Leans Into Fan Culture with MacBook Neo ‘NCT Edition’
Apple Korea tapped the fervent NCT fan base by releasing a special “NCT edition” of its MacBook Neo video, embedding the fan‑coined phrase “Neo Got My Mac.” The citrus‑colored laptop mirrors NCT’s Neon Green fandom hue, sparking a wave of meme‑driven...
Set for Life Offers Escape From Miserable Side Hustles in Special Group Campaign
The Lottery Corporation’s Set for Life launched a new “Monthly Cash, No Catch” campaign created by Special, featuring three humorous ads that dramatise the lengths people go to earn extra money before a phone notification reveals they’ve won $20,000 AUD a...
Demandbase Launches Premier+ Partner Tier to Power AI‑Driven GTM for Enterprises
Demandbase announced the Premier+ Service Delivery Partner tier, expanding its agency program to let select partners like Marketbridge provide end‑to‑end AI GTM services. The move aims to turn fragmented data insights into coordinated revenue actions for large enterprises.
Lululemon Opens Mexican Online Store and Plans Eight New Stores This Year
Lululemon launched its Mexican e‑commerce site, lululemon.mx, and pledged to open eight brick‑and‑mortar stores in Mexico in 2026. The move is part of a broader international push that follows a 17% jump in Q4 international revenue and a 4% dip...
Brand Isn’t New, but How Businesses Operationalise It Is – Chello Research Finds
Chello’s new benchmark report, based on 1,200 minutes of interviews with brand and marketing leaders across 25 firms, confirms that while 86% of executives view brand as a critical growth driver, most organisations still house it within marketing. The study...
Zocdoc Hires Lyft Veteran Brian Irving as Its Inaugural CMO to Boost Brand Reach
Zocdoc has appointed Brian Irving, former chief marketing officer of Lyft, as its first CMO. Reporting to founder‑CEO Oliver Kharraz, Irving will steer a combined brand and performance strategy for a platform that serves more than 250,000 providers. The hire...
WooCommerce Merchants Can Now Sell Products Directly Through YouTube Videos and Shorts via the Google for WooCommerce Extension
Google and WooCommerce have upgraded the Google for WooCommerce extension to let merchants tag products from their catalog directly in YouTube videos and Shorts. The tags appear as shoppable cards during playback and in a dedicated shopping tab on the...