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.
Pufferfish Targets Retail Growth with Immersive In-Store Experiences at Retail Technology Show 2026
Pufferfish, a global creative‑technology firm, is pivoting toward retail with its new PufferSphere immersive display. The spherical 4K touch‑responsive screen, showcased at Retail Technology Show 2026, promises multi‑user interaction and configurable content without the need for code. Available in three sizes for purchase or rental, the solution bundles hardware, software and creative services into a single offering. The company argues the format will increase footfall, dwell time and social brand exposure in stores.
Brands Shift to Advocacy-Driven Creator Partnerships
I chatted with @gilliannivy for @adage on why we’re seeing a lot of brands launch more advocacy based creator programs.
Start with Nosebleed Fans to Wow Everyone
Most companies optimize for the people who pay the most… @thesavbananas founder Jesse Cole (@yellowtuxjesse) does the opposite. He starts with the people in the worst seats—the nosebleeds. Because if you can make the experience unforgettable for them, you can make it...
Google Deepens AI Integration Across Ads and Search with Gemini Enforcement and AI Mode Expansion
Google’s 2025 Ads Safety Report shows Gemini‑powered AI blocked 8.3 billion ads, a jump from 5.1 billion the year before, and halted over 99% of policy‑violating ads before they reached users. The enforcement model now focuses on individual ads rather than whole...
Meta Ad Performance Spirals Into Unpredictable ROAS Volatility
I have to go back years to remember the last time Meta was this volatile & felt like someone pushed a ROAS button randomly every few days. been digging through a couple of accounts and some of the best adsets...
Comments, Not Feed Posts, Drive Brand Impact
Harsh but true: Your brand feed posts don't matter. The comments do. “It’s not just about posting cadence and chasing follower growth. The best social media teams are optimizing their resources and time to live in the comments” Lessons from Social Media...
Townsquare and KSE Announces Digital Marketing Deal
Townsquare Media and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) announced a digital marketing partnership that will integrate Townsquare Ignite’s data‑driven platform into KSE’s radio assets. The collaboration allows KSE to scale its digital advertising offerings while leveraging Townsquare’s proven performance‑based solutions....
Peloton's Sexy Ad Exposes Tension in Wellness Pivot
This week on Optimizer, I finally manage to talk about Heated Rivalry… in the context of a horny Peloton ad and the company’s attempt to pivot as a wellness brand. https://www.theverge.com/column/913766/optimizer-peloton-fitness-business-column
A Public Service Announcement: Legal Tech Companies, Here Are Your Celebrity Endorsers
Legal‑tech firms are turning to celebrity ambassadors whose names echo courtroom language. Harvey AI signed Gabriel Macht, the actor behind Harvey Specter, while competitor Legora landed Jude Law and a multi‑year Yankees deal featuring Aaron Judge in a single week. The article lists dozens...
5 Influencer Marketing Programs Brands Use to Scale Creator Campaigns
Influencer marketing is moving from isolated campaigns to structured, always‑on programs as 72% of marketers plan to boost budgets by 50% and 85% see the channel meeting their goals. These programs centralize creator recruitment, content production, payments, and performance tracking,...
☕🤖 Tutorial: Turn ChatGPT Into Your Brand Strategist (Build a Real Brand Plan in 45 Minutes)
The post walks founders through building an AI‑powered brand strategist using ChatGPT, delivering a full brand audit, positioning, pain‑point map, messaging framework, voice guidelines, and a 90‑day activation plan in about 45 minutes. It replaces a typical $15,000 agency engagement...
BBH and Charities Partner to Launch the School Food Project
British advertising agency BBH has created the brand identity for the School Food Project, a new coalition of charities focused on improving nutrition in U.S. schools. The visual system will anchor a national awareness campaign slated to launch in September...
New Research: Why Hotel Loyalty Is No Longer Just a Marketing Tool
New research from Global Hotel Alliance, based on 9,000+ travelers, shows hotel loyalty programs have shifted from simple points schemes to core commercial engines that drive booking choices, direct‑channel demand and ancillary spend. Loyalty is now a baseline expectation, with...
Scaling a Small Business: Overlooked Tactics That Build Brand Credibility
Small businesses often chase digital ads while neglecting the credibility foundations that drive sustainable growth. The article argues that brand trust—backed by print marketing, consistent visual identity, social proof, and local community involvement—acts as a growth engine, noting that 81%...
Why Indian Hotels and Airlines Are Taking a Slice of Food Delivery Apps
Indian hotels and airlines are expanding loyalty programs by partnering with food‑delivery and e‑commerce platforms such as Swiggy and Flipkart. Marriott Bonvoy’s recent tie‑up with Swiggy gives the brand access to the platform’s 17.7 million average monthly transacting users. The collaborations...
Small Firms Must Invest Like Giants to Survive
A few years ago I would have told you that a small scrappy company had a big advantage. I've since changed my mind and I understand the big advantages that larger companies have. Once you get a machine rolling down...
Distribution Is Just Sales in a Different Voice
Distribution and sales are not different departments. They're the same conversation at different distances. Every piece of content is either moving someone toward a decision or away from one. There's no neutral. The cold emails that get replies don't sound like cold emails. The content...
In-Cosmetics Global 2026: BASF Champions Authenticity and Emotional Well-Being
BASF will debut its “Beyond Beauty: Authentic+” concept at in‑cosmetics Global 2026, emphasizing authenticity and emotional well‑being in personal care. The company is launching Plantigenix Bisabolol, a biotechnologically produced, 100% renewable bisabolol with superior purity, and Uvinul T 150 X EcoBalanced, a biomass‑balanced UVB...
Netflix's TikTok‑style Feed to Boost Engagement and Ads
All the $NFLX bears are not pricing in a addictive TikTok-style video feed coming out at the end of April. This means doomscrolling clips from shows, movies & video podcasts. How it benefits Netflix: • ad revenue (big one )...
Verizon Fios Lures New Customers with Free Meta Ray‑Ban Glasses on 1‑2 Gbps Plans
Verizon Fios is bundling a pair of Meta Ray‑Ban smart glasses with its new 1 Gbps and 2 Gbps home internet plans, priced at $75 and $95 per month. The promotion includes a whole‑home Wi‑Fi system, a five‑year price lock, and free...
PepsiCo’s Snack Price Cuts Spark Volume Gains and Higher Return Rates
PepsiCo announced that its decision to lower snack prices lifted both revenue and profit in the latest quarter, with volume growth indicating shoppers are returning after a period of price‑sensitivity. The move, part of a broader affordability strategy, aims to...
Instagram Enforces Global Teen Account Restrictions to Shield Users Under 18
Meta has begun automatically converting all new Instagram users under 18 into “Teen Accounts,” applying a default private setting, follower‑only messaging and a strict “13+” content filter worldwide. The change aims to standardize child‑safety protections across markets and could reshape...
The Next ANA CEO Will Have to Face Down The Threat of AI
Bob Liodice, who grew the Association of National Advertisers from a $28,000 cash‑strapped trade group to an organization overseeing roughly $400 billion in brand spend, announced he will step down as CEO at the end of 2026. His successor will inherit...
Microsoft Names Asha Sharma Xbox Chief, Targets Game Pass Revamp
Microsoft has appointed Asha Sharma, formerly of the CoreAI division, as head of Xbox. Sharma immediately signaled a shift in Game Pass pricing and a brand reset, aiming to restore subscriber growth and refocus the console experience.
IronChess Rolls Out Integrated SEO Suite for Oklahoma City Pest‑Control Firms
IronChess Oklahoma City SEO announced a new integrated search‑marketing service built exclusively for pest‑control companies in Oklahoma City. The agency blends local SEO, technical site health and industry‑specific content to lift rankings and generate higher‑quality leads for home‑service firms.
Netflix Q1 Ad Buys +16%, Expected To Double This Year
Netflix reported a 16% jump in first‑quarter ad spending, aiming to reach $3 billion in ad revenue by the end of 2026—double its 2025 total. The platform now works with 4,000 advertisers, a 70% year‑over‑year increase, and the ad‑supported tier was...
Week in Review: Netflix Talks Up Programmatic, Viant Acquires TVision, and Digital Video Sees Rapid Growth
Netflix reported Q1 revenue of $12.3 billion, staying on track for $3 billion in ad sales this year, with programmatic expected to represent half of its non‑live ad inventory. Co‑CEO Greg Peters said scaling programmatic will broaden the advertiser base beyond large...
Influence Is Everywhere, Yet Brands Can Still Connect
Brands are competing for influence. At Marketecture Live, Joanna O'Connell, Chief Intelligence Officer, @OmnicomMediaGrp , broke down how consumer decision-making has fundamentally changed: - Influence now comes from everywhere: friends, creators, AI, communities - Trust is shifting away from institutions toward people and...
From Speaking to Advisory: Prioritizing High‑Value, Low‑Volume Business
I rarely do this, but I thought I’d try a short business update and share what’s working, etc. For the last 3 years, I’ve rebuilt my business from a road-heavy speaking business (which was the largest thing I’d ever built...
Reclaiming the Power of the Story — Fueled by Data and AI
MarTech’s May 6 conference will host a panel titled “Marketing’s moment: Reclaiming the power of the story — fueled by data & AI.” Moderated by Content Monsta CMO A. Lee Judge, the discussion features Dale Bertrand, Melanie Deziel, Lexie Haggerty, and AI strategist Jordache Johnson....
Meta Editor Auto‑adds Related Media, Risk Unintended Publishing
Meta media buyers, LOOK OUT 👀 If you go to EDIT an ad, even just to look at an ad's setting without changing anything, the system automatically adds Related Media. It won't publish automatically, buuuut, it will queue to publish the next...
Stagwell Expands 'Owned Media' Management Team
Stagwell announced the creation of two senior roles—Chief Growth Officer and Chief Revenue Officer—filled by publishing veterans David Olesnevich and Drew Schutte. The hires follow Ben Berentson's appointment as CEO of Stagwell Owned Media and recent investments, including a 25%...
Google Bans Back Button Hijacking, Agentic Search Grows – SEO Pulse via @Sejournal, @MattGSouthern
Google added back‑button hijacking to its spam policy, making it a manual violation effective June 15, and gave publishers two months to audit all scripts, including third‑party libraries. The company also updated its spam‑report guidelines, stating that user submissions can now...
Wilkinson Sword Enlists Boxer Anthony Joshua to Promote Its Upgraded Quattro Razor
Wilkinson Sword has tapped heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua to front its newly upgraded Quattro razor campaign. The advertising work, produced by digital agency Buddy Media, showcases the razor’s enhanced blade technology and ergonomic design. The partnership aims to revitalize the...
Honor Runs AI Image Competition in GCC Region to Promote Honor 600 Range
Honor has launched a six‑week “Dream Big with Honor 600” campaign across the Gulf Cooperation Council to promote its new 600 series smartphones. The initiative invites users to create AI‑generated images that illustrate their personal stories and aspirations, with entries shared on social platforms....
Growth Intelligence Brief #17
Semrush’s 17‑month clickstream study reveals that between 65% and 85% of ChatGPT prompts have no equivalent keyword in traditional search databases, making most AI‑driven queries invisible to conventional SEO tools. At the same time, ChatGPT’s outbound referral traffic surged 206%...
Building Community Over Numbers: Impact Beats Revenue
4 years working on Exit Five (the worst feature on LinkedIn is how anyone can spam DM me congrats on your work anniversary so I’ll see you next year) We will reach 12M marketers through our content this year. Two...
Agent‑First Era Makes Websites, Brands, Silos Obsolete
The Agent-First Reality: Why Your Website, Brand, and Silos Are Obsolete https://t.co/YV3RT3pqcl @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Leadership #ArtificialIntelligence #Tech #TechNews #AgenticAI #AIAgents #AI #FutureOfWork #Strategy #Sales #Marketing #MarketingSuccess #MarketingStrategy #Branding
ENCO Upgrades SPECai With Multi-Voice and Video Capability
ENCO, Benztown, and Compass Media Networks announced a major upgrade to the AI‑driven spec‑ad platform SPECai at the NAB Show. The new features add multi‑voice generation with emotion control, integrated sound‑effects editing, and a plug‑in that transforms radio spots into...
Free Showerheads Fueled Explosive $40M Revenue Surge
I researched Jolie's entire growth strategy after hearing their founder say "paid marketing just isn't working". They gave away 5000 free showerheads. Then they did: • $4M year one • $28M year two • $40M+ year three Check the full breakdown below:...
Google's Dan Taylor on AI Mode & Evolving Marketing Measurement
In this week’s episode of the Mobile Dev Memo podcast, I speak with Google’s Dan Taylor about AI Overviews, AI Mode, the evolution of marketing measurement as platforms like PMax have gained a greater share of spend, Google’s UCP protocol,...
Why Brand Affinity Is More Powerful than Admissions Marketing
The article argues that higher‑education institutions must prioritize brand affinity over traditional admissions marketing. While colleges excel at presenting facts once prospects enter the funnel, they often neglect the emotional storytelling that shapes perception beforehand. Examples like Purdue’s kinetic "What...
Immersive Map View Videos Revolutionize Google Ads
If you focus on the ad side of Google, you should be following Anthony. Here's just another great find, which is super interesting. "Immersive map view videos in ads".
Ella Langley Hosts TikTok In-App Album Experience
Ella Langley celebrates her sophomore album "Dandelion" with a TikTok in‑app album experience, turning the platform into a direct release channel. She made history as the first female artist to simultaneously lead the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Country...
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Back Button Hijacking Penalty, Spam Reporting Change, Google Ads AI Max Replacing DSAs &...
Google announced a new spam penalty targeting back‑button hijacking, expanding its enforcement toolkit. The company also said spam‑report submissions may be used for manual actions, tightening the feedback loop for abusive sites. In the ads arena, Dynamic Search Ads are...
Bergner Turns Cookware Into a Lifestyle Statement with Excalibur by Vikas Khanna
Bergner has unveiled Excalibur, a premium enameled cast‑iron cookware line created with celebrity chef Vikas Khanna. The collection features dual‑tone pink and teal pieces that are marketed as fashion‑forward statement items, not just kitchen tools. Its toxin‑free enamel coating eliminates...
World Cup Changes Lift Fox, Telemundo Cash Projections
Stella Artois’ World Cup ad starring David Beckham underscores a shift toward bar‑based viewing, prompting Fox Sports and Telemundo to lean heavily into out‑of‑home (OOH) audiences. Nielsen data shows OOH accounted for more than 30% of Gold Cup impressions and is expected to...
The Most Overlooked Asset in Your Influencer Program Is the Content Itself
A retail client swapped brand‑produced creative for influencer‑generated assets across paid ads, email, and its website, delivering a 57% lift in ROAS, a three‑fold increase in email click‑through rates, and a 3.5× boost in on‑site conversions with a zero‑bounce rate....
AI-Ready CMO Live with Jarrod Frankel
Jarrod Frankel, chief marketing officer of Myosin—the world’s largest decentralized marketing collective—explains how AI is reshaping the marketer’s role. He argues the AI‑marketing frontier lies outside Silicon Valley, thriving within crypto‑focused communities that embraced automation years earlier. Myosin’s platform now...
Nicole Van Zanten of ICUC on Mattress Firm, Chili’s and Macy’s
Nicole van Zanten, co‑president and chief growth officer of ICUC, highlighted the agency’s recent brand‑centric projects, including an April Fool’s “Margarita Mattress” stunt for Mattress Firm and Chili’s and a TikTok‑inspired plus‑size dress solution for Macy’s. She praised Oatly’s community‑focused campaigns and...