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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.

AI Tools Need Clear ICPs to Work Effectively
SocialApr 18, 2026

AI Tools Need Clear ICPs to Work Effectively

If my company doesn’t have clear Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) documented, can I still use these AI tools effectively? https://t.co/i4w7DLSadO via @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Strategy #Sales #Marketing #MarketingStrategy #MarketingSuccess

By Tim Hughes
#514 - How I Manage 300+ Amazon PPC Campaigns in 30 Minutes a Week!
PodcastApr 18, 202659 min

#514 - How I Manage 300+ Amazon PPC Campaigns in 30 Minutes a Week!

In this episode of the AMPM podcast, hosts Bradley Sud and Keri Miller dive into the mechanics of managing over 300 Amazon PPC campaigns in just 30 minutes a week. They walk through a step‑by‑step keyword research process using Helium 10...

By AM/PM Podcast
Publication Success: 80% Optimization, 20% Content
SocialApr 18, 2026

Publication Success: 80% Optimization, 20% Content

Have come to the realization that the success of a publication is 80% website/email optimization, 20% the actual content. If you check out Compounding Quality’s Substack, you can tell he gets it. That’s just the reality. https://t.co/4tfh0TgOqb

By Michael Fritzell
Hong Kong Tourism Board Invited 1,730 Influencers with 1.6 Billion Followers in 2 Years
NewsApr 18, 2026

Hong Kong Tourism Board Invited 1,730 Influencers with 1.6 Billion Followers in 2 Years

The Hong Kong Tourism Board invited 1,730 global influencers between 2023 and 2025, collectively boasting over 1.6 billion followers. High‑profile creators such as TikTok star Khaby Lame, K‑pop idols Mingyu and Vernon, and the Stokes Twins were given tailored itineraries covering culture,...

By South China Morning Post — Economy
Canva Rolls Out AI 2.0 Suite, Re‑architects Platform to Power 265 M Users
NewsApr 18, 2026

Canva Rolls Out AI 2.0 Suite, Re‑architects Platform to Power 265 M Users

Canva unveiled its AI 2.0 suite, a set of agentic tools that let users create, edit and schedule content via natural language. COO Cliff Obrecht said the rollout forced a complete re‑architecture of Canva’s infrastructure to support 265 million monthly users...

By Pulse
CMOs Turn to Pods and AI to Boost Marketing Agility
NewsApr 18, 2026

CMOs Turn to Pods and AI to Boost Marketing Agility

CMOs are redesigning marketing organizations around small, cross‑functional pods and AI‑driven tools to accelerate decision‑making and improve efficiency by up to 30%. The shift responds to heightened competitive pressure, data‑privacy demands and the need for measurable impact.

By Pulse
Meta Unveils 'Suite of Truth' Framework Claiming 31% Under‑valuation of Its Ads
NewsApr 18, 2026

Meta Unveils 'Suite of Truth' Framework Claiming 31% Under‑valuation of Its Ads

Meta released a white paper introducing its 'Suite of Truth' framework, arguing that last‑click attribution undervalues Meta‑driven conversions by 31% and recommending a hybrid ladder of incrementality. The study, based on 307 experiments across 54 advertisers, calls for a 1.45×...

By Pulse
Cutting Ad Budgets Gives Short‑Term Spike, Long‑Term Drop
SocialApr 17, 2026

Cutting Ad Budgets Gives Short‑Term Spike, Long‑Term Drop

This happens because you had a full funnel that you paid for and then when you reduced the budget Meta went after the lowest hanging fruit. Therefore performance was great and maybe for 2-3 days will be solid. Then your sales...

By Kody Nordquist
AI Business OS Must Deliver Real Results in 48 Hours
SocialApr 17, 2026

AI Business OS Must Deliver Real Results in 48 Hours

The way I think about an “AI business OS” for solo founders: Day 1 has to ship a real result. My current Vora IQ activation target: • Ask 5 sharp questions • Build a focused roadmap around 1 offer • Auto-generate a week of content...

By Man of Skillz
You Don’t Need Another Tactic to Find Your First 100 Customers
BlogApr 17, 2026

You Don’t Need Another Tactic to Find Your First 100 Customers

The post argues that founders chasing dozens of growth tactics dilute their efforts and miss the data needed to acquire their first 100 customers. By committing to a single primary channel—such as Substack—and defining a clear "North Star" outcome for...

By AI & No-Code Exits
Bitchwork: Perplexity's New Computer Launched My SaaS While I Slept
BlogApr 17, 2026

Bitchwork: Perplexity's New Computer Launched My SaaS While I Slept

Perplexity released a new Personal Computer that runs Claude Sonnet 4.6 subagents directly on a user’s desktop. The AI‑driven system can generate content, create accounts, and launch a SaaS product without human intervention. The author woke up to a fully live social...

By Liz on the Web: Digital Strategy from Start to Scale
The Human Side of Automation: What HR Teams Can Borrow From E-Commerce
NewsApr 17, 2026

The Human Side of Automation: What HR Teams Can Borrow From E-Commerce

The article shows HR leaders how to adopt e‑commerce automation playbooks to streamline repetitive, rule‑based tasks. It stresses that clean financial data is a prerequisite for reliable workflows, then outlines core pillars—marketing, fulfillment, support, finance—and the tools that power them....

By Onrec
Not Sure What to Write on Notes? This One Template Gets Me New Subscribers Every Time I Use It.
BlogApr 17, 2026

Not Sure What to Write on Notes? This One Template Gets Me New Subscribers Every Time I Use It.

A Substack writer discovered that the most effective Notes are not polished tips but honest admissions of past mistakes. By analyzing 900+ Notes, he found that stories where he admitted errors consistently drove new subscribers, while advice‑heavy posts garnered only...

By Escape the Cubicle
Candidate Communication Matters: Email Hygiene as a Recruitment Advantage
NewsApr 17, 2026

Candidate Communication Matters: Email Hygiene as a Recruitment Advantage

Maintaining email list hygiene has become a strategic priority as inbox providers tighten bounce‑rate and spam‑complaint thresholds. Lists naturally decay by 22‑25% each year, so marketers risk losing sender reputation if invalid addresses reach campaigns. The article outlines six verification solutions—DeBounce, ZeroBounce,...

By Onrec
Feature: The Drop Economy
BlogApr 17, 2026

Feature: The Drop Economy

Palantir’s Shopify‑powered merch storefront has become a cultural brand case study, using limited‑edition drops and tightly‑controlled narrative to sell a worldview rather than profit. The operation runs at break‑even, serving as an investor‑relations channel that fuels community engagement and influences...

By 2PM Newsletter
Six New Production-Ready AI Marketing Tools Open‑Source
SocialApr 17, 2026

Six New Production-Ready AI Marketing Tools Open‑Source

We just open-sourced 6 more production AI marketing skills to our big AI business skills repo (1.9k stars) Total count: 17 skill categories, 32K lines of code, all MIT licensed. New additions: → Video Clip Pipeline: 60-min episode to 5 clips in 15...

By Eric Siu
257K Views Per Clip
SocialApr 17, 2026

257K Views Per Clip

TBPN's 257K views per clip turned their ad business from $5M to $30M in a single year. I dive into what I call "The Clip Economy" in my latest newsletter: bit.ly/ClipEconomy

By Andrew Elson (Ed Elson)
How AI Room Staging Is Becoming the Highest-ROI Conversion Tool for Shopify Home Goods Merchants
BlogApr 17, 2026

How AI Room Staging Is Becoming the Highest-ROI Conversion Tool for Shopify Home Goods Merchants

Shopify home‑goods merchants are turning to AI‑powered room staging to replace costly traditional photography, generating photorealistic lifestyle images from basic product shots. Data shows that adding three or more staged images can boost conversion rates by 30‑40% and cut return...

By eCommerce Fastlane
Anthropic Mocks up Claude Design to Draft Fancy New Pink Slips for Marketing Teams
NewsApr 17, 2026

Anthropic Mocks up Claude Design to Draft Fancy New Pink Slips for Marketing Teams

Anthropic unveiled Claude Design, a research‑preview AI service that generates visual assets from text prompts, extending its Claude Opus 4.7 model to Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise users. The announcement sent Figma’s stock down about 7%, signaling competitive pressure on existing design...

By The Register – AI/ML (data-related)
US Visibility Shifts Reveal March 2026 Core Update Trends
SocialApr 17, 2026

US Visibility Shifts Reveal March 2026 Core Update Trends

Google March 2026 Core Update Visibility Shifts & Patterns In the US - International SEO Consultant, Author & Speaker | Aleyda Solis https://buff.ly/zC9McSD

By Trish Carey
Art Buyers Need Time, Research, and Consistent Presence
SocialApr 17, 2026

Art Buyers Need Time, Research, and Consistent Presence

People don't just discover and instantly buy your art. They often start slow, search you online, maybe follow you (whether you know it or not), and otherwise get a better sense of your work. They take time to decide. Could...

By Alan Bamberger
Boards of Canada Teased for Return After 13‑Year Hiatus with Mysterious Posters
NewsApr 17, 2026

Boards of Canada Teased for Return After 13‑Year Hiatus with Mysterious Posters

Warp Records posted a series of cryptic posters that reference Boards of Canada’s iconic imagery, sparking speculation that the Scottish duo may end their 13‑year silence. The campaign, unveiled on the label’s social channels, includes Easter eggs tied to the...

By Pulse
Cricut Launches AI Project Designer to Boost Subscriptions Amid Revenue Dip
NewsApr 17, 2026

Cricut Launches AI Project Designer to Boost Subscriptions Amid Revenue Dip

Cricut rolled out an AI‑driven Project Designer on April 14, letting users create 2‑D designs via chat. The move comes as the maker’s 2025 revenue slipped to $708.8 million, prompting a shift toward higher‑margin subscriptions.

By Pulse
T‑Mobile Rolls Out Hilton Discounts and Hertz Status to Curb Post‑paid Churn
NewsApr 17, 2026

T‑Mobile Rolls Out Hilton Discounts and Hertz Status to Curb Post‑paid Churn

T‑Mobile introduced a suite of new loyalty perks—including 15% off Hilton hotels and complimentary Hertz Five Star status through 2027—to retain post‑paid subscribers as its churn climbed to 0.93% in Q4 2025. The benefits accompany a broader sweepstakes and fee...

By Pulse
Why Allbirds Failed as a Shoe Company—And Why Crocs and On Are Winning
NewsApr 17, 2026

Why Allbirds Failed as a Shoe Company—And Why Crocs and On Are Winning

Allbirds stumbled by prioritizing eco‑friendly materials over performance, leaving it vulnerable in a market that rewards speed and durability. In contrast, On’s engineering‑focused cushioning, born from a garden‑hose prototype, has captured elite endurance athletes, while Crocs capitalized on comfort, broad...

By Inc. — Leadership
Infiniti Officials Pondering Move Away From Alpha Numeric Vehicle Names
BlogApr 17, 2026

Infiniti Officials Pondering Move Away From Alpha Numeric Vehicle Names

Infiniti is weighing a shift away from its two‑decade‑long alphanumeric naming scheme as Nissan executives voice frustration with the confusing model tags. The change is being discussed alongside the launch of the new QX65 SUV at the Tennessee plant. Nissan...

By The Truth About Cars
Analytics Reveal Audience Gaps, Guide Dual-Format Strategy
SocialApr 17, 2026

Analytics Reveal Audience Gaps, Guide Dual-Format Strategy

Here's how keeping an eye on your analytics, can help you shape your strategy 👇 I was reviewing one of my client's social media performance from their recent launch and we noticed... → Their carousel posts are primarily (we're talking like...

By Mallory Musante
Meta Redesigns Threads Website, Tests DMs & Shortcuts
NewsApr 17, 2026

Meta Redesigns Threads Website, Tests DMs & Shortcuts

Meta is overhauling the Threads website with a more detailed navigation pane, labeled icons and new shortcuts that mirror Instagram, while rolling out direct‑message functionality to web users in the coming weeks. The redesign signals a strategic push to deepen...

By MediaPost
The Business Economics Behind Digital Incentive Systems
BlogApr 17, 2026

The Business Economics Behind Digital Incentive Systems

Digital incentive systems are becoming core growth engines, using bonuses, tiered rewards and real‑time offers to cut customer acquisition costs (CAC) and lift customer lifetime value (LTV). By embedding behavioral‑economic triggers such as loss aversion and habit formation, platforms turn...

By HedgeThink
Consistency Converts; Virality Only Attracts Strangers
SocialApr 17, 2026

Consistency Converts; Virality Only Attracts Strangers

Nobody buys from the person they just discovered. They buy from the person they've been quietly watching. Going viral gets you strangers. Showing up consistently gets you buyers. Tracked where every client came from over 12 months. Not one came from a post that went...

By Vinay Katiyar
AI Avatars Turn Static Landing Pages Into Real Conversations
SocialApr 17, 2026

AI Avatars Turn Static Landing Pages Into Real Conversations

Most brands spend weeks perfecting their email copy, only to send every click to a page that does all the talking and none of the listening. I see it constantly in the accounts we manage at Structured. Good pages, strong...

By Chase Dimond
Why YouTube Is the Most Important Platform for Travel Brands
NewsApr 17, 2026

Why YouTube Is the Most Important Platform for Travel Brands

YouTube commands 2.7 billion active monthly users, dwarfing Netflix and other streaming services, and serves as the world’s second‑largest search engine. Travel brands that ignore the platform miss out on high‑intent audiences actively researching destinations. Long‑form videos of eight to fifteen...

By Inc. — Leadership
AI‑spun Scraped Content Will Soon Hit Google Penalties
SocialApr 17, 2026

AI‑spun Scraped Content Will Soon Hit Google Penalties

This digital marketing agency has been scraping original content and publishing their own versions, using AI to scale up the amount of information in the articles (while saying nothing new 😅) I was wondering how long it would take Google to...

By Lily Ray
At Coachella, Gap’s Hoodie House Drove over 1 Million Views, a 5,000% Search Spike and Packed Lines During Weekend 1
NewsApr 17, 2026

At Coachella, Gap’s Hoodie House Drove over 1 Million Views, a 5,000% Search Spike and Packed Lines During Weekend 1

Gap’s "Hoodie House" pop‑up at Coachella attracted steady crowds during Weekend 1, letting attendees buy and customize $100 hoodies on site. The activation generated more than 1 million video views, beating its 772,000 target by 35% and achieving a 51.5% average view...

By Glossy
ChatGPT Ad Costs Halve, Minimum Spend Slashed to $50K
SocialApr 17, 2026

ChatGPT Ad Costs Halve, Minimum Spend Slashed to $50K

ChatGPT ads are getting cheaper -> Ad buyers say ad rates for ChatGPT are falling from $60 CPM to as low as $25 and the minimum spend to advertise is down to $50K from $250K at launch "One ad exec said...

By Glenn Gabe
BetMGM’s Heavy Spend Inflates Sports Betting Acquisition Costs
SocialApr 17, 2026

BetMGM’s Heavy Spend Inflates Sports Betting Acquisition Costs

"...driving up customer acquisition costs by “buying sports betting keywords as well as throwing money at any sports media property that will take it.”" BetMGM’s Adam Greenblatt: Prediction markets ‘throwing money at’ sports media properties https://t.co/vjfmR3CoKa

By Alfonso Straffon
Beyond the Feed: Why Your Strategy Needs a Cross-Channel Reality Check
NewsApr 17, 2026

Beyond the Feed: Why Your Strategy Needs a Cross-Channel Reality Check

Criteo argues that modern shoppers move across dozens of touchpoints, making channel‑centric ad buying obsolete. Its Commerce Growth platform uses AI trained on over $1 trillion of transaction data and a 4.5 billion‑SKU catalog to predict who to engage, where, how much...

By Criteo
Earn Cash Back on Unused Mobile Data
SocialApr 17, 2026

Earn Cash Back on Unused Mobile Data

Your attention is valuable. Take back control of yours by switching to @joinnoblemobile to get cash back for unused data. Visit https://t.co/KtjzD3iqsq to learn more. https://t.co/vxbl2dAZy6

By Arthur C. Brooks
Rebuild Your Campaigns for Immediate Performance Boost
SocialApr 17, 2026

Rebuild Your Campaigns for Immediate Performance Boost

So spend yesterday rebuilding a lot of our campaigns and oddly today is popping. Some of the best numbers since last week. If you're still seeing bad performance today as you have all week I suggest trying this in your campaigns.

By David Herrmann
Nike Removes Controversial Sign in Boston That Read, ‘Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated’
NewsApr 17, 2026

Nike Removes Controversial Sign in Boston That Read, ‘Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated’

Nike removed a controversial Boston Marathon sign that read “Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated” after it sparked online backlash. The company issued a statement apologizing, saying the message missed the mark and pledging more inclusive communication for all runners. The sign...

By Runners World
AI Agents Prioritize Data-Driven Vendor Criteria over Brand Legacy
SocialApr 17, 2026

AI Agents Prioritize Data-Driven Vendor Criteria over Brand Legacy

If an AI Agent doesn't care about legacy brands or emotional storytelling, what specific parameters does it evaluate when shortlisting vendors https://t.co/YV3RT3pqcl @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence #Marketing #MarketingSuccess #MarketingStrategy #Branding

By Tim Hughes
Ask if They're the Right Contact, Not Assume Priority
SocialApr 17, 2026

Ask if They're the Right Contact, Not Assume Priority

"Since I haven't heard from you, I'll assume this isn't a priority..." Stop sending breakup emails. You can't break up with someone you never dated. Instead try: "I actually forgot to ask. Are you even the right person to talk to about this?" Gets 2x...

By Chris Orlob
The Frustration of Diminishing Returns: How AI-Powered Fractional CMOs Unlock B2B SaaS Growth
BlogApr 17, 2026

The Frustration of Diminishing Returns: How AI-Powered Fractional CMOs Unlock B2B SaaS Growth

AI adoption in B2B SaaS is widespread, yet only a sliver of firms translate it into revenue growth, exposing a costly implementation gap. Studies show 88% of companies use AI but just 5.5% reap meaningful financial returns, as most deployments...

By GROW Powered (Substack)
Decade Reset: New Social Selling Rules for 2026
SocialApr 17, 2026

Decade Reset: New Social Selling Rules for 2026

The Decade Reset: Why we Rewrote the Social Selling Rules for 2026 by @Timothy_Hughes https://t.co/aRvIFwO3qi @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesTips #SalesLeader #Salesforce #Marketing #Leadership #MarketingStrategy #MarketingSuccess https://t.co/gGMyaSde0i

By Tim Hughes
Inbound Leads Up 5x, Cold Pitching Obsolete
SocialApr 17, 2026

Inbound Leads Up 5x, Cold Pitching Obsolete

RIP cold pitching. I’ve received 5x more inbound this year. It will 5x again by EOY. May build solution for this.

By Ryan Hoover
Nike Removes ‘Walkers Tolerated’ Boston Marathon Ad After Criticism for Alienation
NewsApr 17, 2026

Nike Removes ‘Walkers Tolerated’ Boston Marathon Ad After Criticism for Alienation

Nike’s Boston store displayed a red window vinyl reading “Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated,” which quickly drew criticism for its exclusionary tone. Social media backlash prompted Nike to remove the sign within hours and issue an apology emphasizing inclusivity. The controversy...

By Footwear News
Six Steps to Metrics‑Driven Marketing Success
SocialApr 17, 2026

Six Steps to Metrics‑Driven Marketing Success

RT @VisionEdgeMktg 🗺️ 6 steps to a metrics-driven marketing performance journey. Start here: https://t.co/eqAX6XQUNz #MarketingPerformance #Metrics #Journey

By Tom Pick
T‑Mobile Unifies Metro Prepaid with Main Brand
SocialApr 17, 2026

T‑Mobile Unifies Metro Prepaid with Main Brand

T-Mobile revamps prepaid brand to spruce up image: "This makes Metro and T-Mobile more of a continuum rather than two distinct brands." @Sheila_Dang https://t.co/Pq7lr8tUwW

By Roger Entner
Advertisers Are Testing ChatGPT Ads — but Uncertainty Remains High
NewsApr 17, 2026

Advertisers Are Testing ChatGPT Ads — but Uncertainty Remains High

OpenAI launched a paid advertising channel inside ChatGPT two months ago, prompting brands to run early‑stage campaigns. Advertisers report high CPMs and six‑figure minimum spends, but measurement is limited to impressions with no clear performance benchmarks. Sentiment is mixed: optimism...

By Search Engine Land