ByteDance Explores AI Monetization for Doubao with Paid Subscription Tiers
ByteDance’s AI assistant Doubao is set to launch a paid subscription model alongside its free tier. The company announced three plans—Standard at $10 per month, Enhanced at $29.3 per month, and Professional at $73.3 per month—with annual discounts. While the features are still in testing, the paid tiers will focus on high‑value tasks such as slide‑deck creation, data analysis, and video production. Doubao’s rollout signals ByteDance’s move to monetize its generative‑AI capabilities.
Emerging Channels, Cleaner Pipes: Assembly’s Tom Cogan on Where MENA Programmatic Is Heading
Tom Cogan, programmatic associate director at Assembly Global, says MENA advertisers must broaden beyond Google and Meta by embracing emerging channels such as connected TV, digital audio, programmatic DOOH and AI‑driven search. He points out that less than 10% of...
When Creators and Affiliates Stop Being Different Budget Lines
Todd Ulise, chief revenue officer of Nomix Group, says the creator‑affiliate split is a people problem, not a technology issue. He urges brands to align on a single definition of value and adopt unified measurement that treats creators as performance‑based...
Sainsbury’s Tech and Data Chief to Steer Future of ISBA
Mark Given, Sainsbury’s chief technology, marketing and data officer, has been appointed president of the Institute of Search & Business Advertising (ISBA), succeeding Pete Markey. He will chair the ISBA Council, guiding the trade body as AI and generative AI reshape...
How I Started in Fashion: Ross Worswick, Co-Founder & Creative Director of The Couture Club
Ross Worswick co‑founded The Couture Club in 2015 to fill a style gap he spotted in Manchester’s nightlife. Over a decade the label has shifted from a niche streetwear label to an established fashion brand sold through Selfridges, Flannels and...
Adidas Brings ‘Backyard Legends’ to Life with Chalamet, Bellingham, Yamal and Rodman
adidas unveiled "Backyard Legends," a short film starring Timothée Chalamet alongside football icons Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal and Trinity Rodman. The spot celebrates the freedom of backyard play while linking it to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, using 90s‑era visuals, CGI and a...
Digest: ChatGPT Ads Manager Opens to All US Advertisers; Amazon Targets Supply Chain; Publishers Sue Meta Over AI Copyright
OpenAI has opened its ChatGPT Ads Manager to all U.S. advertisers, eliminating the previous $50,000 (≈ $49,000) minimum‑spend threshold to attract small and midsize brands. The beta now includes cost‑per‑action bidding and plans for third‑party measurement, signaling a push toward a...
Magnum Owns Ben & Jerry’s. Now It’s Destroying What Made the Brand Worth Buying
The newly public Magnum Ice Cream Company, which acquired Ben & Jerry's, is facing intense backlash after dismantling the brand's social‑mission structure. Co‑founder Jerry Greenfield resigned, the independent board and foundation sued Magnum for breach of contract, and activist Ben...
ICICI Lombard Marks 25 Years with Immersive Cinema Activation
ICICI Lombard marked its 25th anniversary with an immersive cinema activation at PVR Inox in Mumbai’s R City Mall. The brand film featuring the insurer’s origami‑bird symbol was projected not only on the screen but also onto the auditorium ceiling during screenings...
Farfetch Looks to Enrich Customer Experience With Speedier Deliveries
Farfetch is rolling out a new premium delivery service called Farfetch First, which guarantees free next‑day shipping on thousands of luxury items. The program launches this week across major European markets—UK, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland—before expanding globally. The initiative...
Thailand Targets 6 Million Chinese Visitors via ‘Authentic’ Content on RedNote, WeChat
Thailand is targeting more than 6 million Chinese visitors in 2024, up from 4.5 million in 2025, by leveraging the RedNote travel app and WeChat. After a 30 percent drop in Chinese arrivals last year due to safety scares and economic concerns, the...
From Sneaky Kisses To First Jobs: Scentre Group Says Westfield Gives Punters The Feels & Drives Better Performance For Brands
Scentre Group used its BrandSpace Upfront event to rebrand Westfield as an emotional, experience‑driven ecosystem, unveiling the "World of Wonder" positioning for its media arm. The company reported 540 million customer visits in 2025, 99.8% occupancy and record partner sales, underscoring...
The Practical Guide for Using AI in Marketing – What Actually Matters
The piece argues that AI is not a magic fix but a speed and scale layer on top of solid marketing fundamentals. Teams that already understand their customers can leverage AI for smarter acquisition, frictionless conversion, and proactive retention. It...
Sustainable Fashion’s New Marketing Angle Is All About Wellness
The fashion industry is pivoting from pure sustainability messaging to a wellness‑focused narrative, with natural‑fiber activewear like cotton and wool seeing rising demand across the political spectrum. Brands are opening “third‑space” concepts that blend health and shopping, while a U.S....
Coty Is Pivoting CoverGirl to Gen X Market Amid 1% Decline in Net Revenue
Coty reported a 1% dip in Q3 FY2026 net revenue to $1.28 billion, with Consumer Beauty sales falling 4% to $450.7 million. Executive chairman Markus Strobel announced a strategic shift to reposition CoverGirl as a Gen X‑focused brand, leveraging core lines like Simply Ageless and...
Suzuki Swift Hybrid Positioned as Perfect Gift for Mum in Mother’s Day Campaign via ATime&Place
Suzuki Automotive, together with creative agency ATime&Place, launched a Mother’s Day campaign in Australia promoting the Suzuki Swift Hybrid. The promotion offers a $500 fuel voucher (≈ $330 USD) via Mother’s Day Card Coupons for customers who purchase a new Swift Hybrid...
All-Natural Breasts Take Centre Stage Born’s First Work For Paddock-To-Plate Meat Brand Our Cow
Australian paddock‑to‑plate brand Our Cow has launched its debut campaign, “No Bull,” created by independent agency Born. The provocative work rolls out across social channels and out‑of‑home billboards, using cheeky visuals like chicken breasts and a suspicious fish to call out...
Westpac NZ Brings People-Powered Rescue Chopper to Life in First Campaign via Goldilocks
Westpac New Zealand has partnered with Goldilocks, its Omnicom‑run agency model, to launch the first “Chopper Appeal” campaign. The centerpiece is a 60‑inch hero TV commercial that shows a rescue helicopter assembled entirely from people, symbolising community “people power” rather than...
Travel Marketing Summit Returns with Brand Gold Coast CEO Among First Speakers
Mumbrella’s Travel Marketing Summit returns to Sydney on August 27, featuring Brand Gold Coast CEO Todd Babiak as a headline speaker. Babiak’s session, “The Story Behind Your Brand,” will explore how storytelling, culture and economic development can differentiate travel brands in...
The Weather Company’s New Ad Play Aims to Sell Experiences and Hotel Bookings
The Weather Company and travel‑content platform Steller are piloting a new ad product on Weather.com that surfaces creator‑led destination videos and direct booking links whenever users search for out‑of‑town weather. Leveraging the site’s more than 400 million monthly users, the feature...
Cathay Celebrates 80 Years of Shared Journeys with ‘The Journey Home’ via Leo Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific marked its 80th anniversary by unveiling “The Journey Home,” a short film created with Leo Hong Kong and directed by veteran filmmaker David Tsui. The narrative follows a mother‑daughter separation and reunion, weaving in nostalgic Easter eggs that reference...
Bread Agency Is Appointed as MoleMap Social Media Partner
Bread Agency has been selected as the social media partner for MoleMap across Australia and New Zealand after a competitive review. The agency will handle MoleMap’s strategy, creative campaigns, influencer marketing, content production, and community engagement. MoleMap, which runs more...
Snap Send Solve Introduces MC Bin Chicken in New Campaign
Snap Send Solve has rolled out a quirky new campaign featuring MC Bin Chicken, a trash‑loving mascot created by Thinkerbell to mock the app’s mission of cleaning streets. The character stars in a diss track that urges Australians not to report litter,...
Why Kaatil Sees a Rs 20,000 Crore Opportunity in India’s Fiery Palate
Indian condiment startup Kaatil, founded in 2022, is building a $2.4 bn (Rs 20,000 crore) heat‑focused condiment category using globally familiar formats like hot sauces, chilli oils and hot honey. The brand differentiates with region‑specific chilies and a numeric heat‑scale (e.g., No. 4, No. 7,...
#ThisWeek on MarkLives MEDIA: Murder, Mystery & Marketing • #NextWeek: TFG Media on Magazine Growth
South African audiences are gravitating toward true‑crime content across streaming, audio and television, creating a new, highly engaged viewer segment. Brands are racing to tap this niche, recognizing that true‑crime fans exhibit strong loyalty and a willingness to interact with...
#MasterclassNotes: Understanding Influence Marketing
Johanna McDowell hosted an online masterclass in April 2026 for South African marketers, drawing over 100 blue‑chip attendees. Three agencies—Clockwork, Publicis/MSL, and CoolR—each delivered 20‑minute showcases on influencer marketing tactics, pitfalls, and case studies. Scopen Africa data revealed influence marketing now...
Brandmovers India and Titan Smart Explore How Mothers Really Experience Time
Titan Smart launched the “Mom’s Standard Time” campaign on Mother’s Day, created by Brandmovers India, to illustrate how mothers experience time differently than the clock shows. The film pairs mothers with their children in candid interviews, then reveals smartwatch‑derived data...
BoAt's Mother's Day Ad Holds up a Mirror to the Impatient Indian Son
boAt released a Mother’s Day commercial that shows a mother struggling to get her son to change her WhatsApp profile picture. Frustrated, she turns to an AI assistant she calls “AI beta,” which dutifully fulfills her requests and even orders...
Estate Agency Leads to Be Contacted by AI Voice System
Estate‑Agents.ai has launched an AI‑driven prospecting platform that uses synthetic voice calls to reach homeowners in an agency’s existing database. The system engages former enquiries and dormant contacts in natural‑language conversations to gauge intent to sell within six months. Responses...
Rightmove Launches New Marketing Campaign
Rightmove is rolling out a new brand campaign on 8 May to boost engagement among prospective home‑movers and improve the quality of enquiries agents receive. The multi‑channel push will run on TV, video‑on‑demand, YouTube, social and outdoor media, aiming to reach...
Why Are People Mad at Allies of Skin?
Allies of Skin sparked a consumer uproar after posting an Instagram photo that highlighted its products in Lauren Sánchez Bezos’s Met Gala makeup prep. Followers accused the brand of aligning with a politically charged figure and many vowed to stop purchasing,...
How to Create a Social Media Viral Video
The guide explains that viral videos are the result of a disciplined content strategy, not luck. It outlines the psychological triggers—emotion, identity, and relationship building—that drive rapid sharing across platforms. Platform‑specific recommendations cover TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and X,...
Google Shares How Brands Should Use AI Creative To Stand Out via @Sejournal, @Brookeosmundson
Google highlighted its AI‑creative suite on the Ads Decoded podcast, emphasizing tools that expand creative variation while keeping advertisers in the loop. New controls—text guidelines, AI briefs, and Asset Studio—let brands steer AI‑generated assets, supporting up to 40 custom rules...
Pepsi CMO Takes ‘Omni-First’ Mindset for Prebiotic Cola Launch
PepsiCo’s chief marketing officer Mark Kirkham unveiled an “omni‑first” approach by launching its new Prebiotic Cola exclusively online through Walmart Connect on Black Friday 2025. The limited‑run sold out within 24 hours and generated 80% positive sentiment, giving the brand...
Can an AI Agent Help Financial Advisors Reel in Referrals?
WealthReach unveiled Multiply, an AI‑driven referral coaching tool priced at $150 per month per advisor, extending its Attract and Convert suite. The platform translates Dan Allison’s feedback‑marketing methodology into actionable prompts that guide advisors on how to solicit client referrals...
Meta Adds More Insight Tools to Edits to Enhance Video Projects
Meta’s Edits video‑editing app rolled out a suite of new insight tools that surface engagement rates, peak viewing times, and follower‑versus‑non‑follower metrics for Instagram Reels. The update also adds comparative performance data, letting creators see how each Reel stacks up...
Reddit Shares Key Trends for In-App Financial Services Research
Reddit’s inaugural FinServ Summit revealed that 70% of finance shoppers use the platform to research products and trust community insights for major purchase decisions. A ComScore‑backed study shows more than half of Americans visit Reddit weekly for answers, highlighting its...
Bosch Gets Its Kicks With Route 66 Activation
Bosch’s automotive‑aftermarket division is using the Route 66 100th anniversary to launch its first windshield wiper blade products. Agency Bailey Lauerman created the “Bosch Impressive Innovation Centennial Road Trip,” a nine‑day road trip from Chicago to Santa Monica featuring YouTube influencer Jason Fenske, Gears and Gasoline...
LinkedIn Certification Program Aims To Link Marketers With Experienced Agencies
LinkedIn has introduced an “Agency Certification” program that flags agencies with proven expertise in LinkedIn Ads. The certification requires a Business Manager account and completion of LinkedIn Marketing Academy courses, after which agencies earn a badge and promotional toolkit. Harmelin...
What’s It Like Being an Independent Sports Creator in 2026?
Independent sports creator Kofie Yeboah illustrates how niche video essays can thrive alongside legacy outlets. He breaks down the fragmented revenue mix of YouTube AdSense, Patreon subscriptions, and brand partnerships that fund his deep‑dive content. The piece also questions whether...
Lords Of The Fallen 2 Studio Paid A Gaming YouTuber To Promote Its Boring Bikini Armor
CI Games, the studio behind Lords of the Fallen 2, paid YouTuber TheBackgroundNPC to produce a sponsored video promoting a new bikini‑style armor set for female characters. The 20‑minute video framed the gear as a fan‑requested feature, but it sparked immediate...
.png)
Does The Right Buyer Even Know You Exist? Our LinkedIn Restructure That Took High Quality Lead Rate From 32% to...
The piece introduces a three‑stage LinkedIn framework—Be Seen, Be Believed, Be Chosen—to move B2B advertising from pure conversion to a full‑funnel approach. A healthcare client’s restructure cut quarterly spend from $64,000 to $33,000, lifted click‑through rates over 100×, and raised...
SHEIN’s Lisa Zlotnick on How ‘Festival House’ Cracked the Gen Z Code
At the 2026 Meltwater Summit, SHEIN’s U.S. Brand PR head Lisa Zlotnick explained how a survey of 18,000 app users uncovered that nearly 70% of Gen Z shoppers plan festival outfits three to four weeks in advance and expect tops under...
Liquid I.V.’s McLaren Racing Partnership Cements Its Foothold in Formula 1
Liquid I.V. has signed a multi‑year official partnership with McLaren Racing that runs through 2027, deepening its presence in Formula 1 after earlier activations at Miami and Las Vegas. The deal places the brand’s logo on pit‑crew helmets and Academy driver gear,...
The Search Engine Is Becoming a Decision Engine. Here’s How to Survive the AI ‘Zero-Click’ Era.
Search engines are morphing into decision engines, delivering AI‑generated Overviews that answer queries directly on the results page. These Overviews have slashed organic click‑through rates by up to 61%, turning traffic into influence rather than clicks. To stay visible, brands...
Microsoft: AI Answers Need a Smarter Search Index
Microsoft Bing’s latest technical blog explains that AI‑driven answers require a fundamentally different search index than traditional web ranking. The new “grounding” system must verify facts, track source attribution, ensure freshness, and detect contradictions before synthesizing responses. Unlike classic search,...
Navigate The Next Era Of Search At Forrester’s CX Forums
Zero‑click search has become mainstream, with 26% of U.S. online adults using ChatGPT in the past month to research products. This shift pushes answer engines like Google AI Mode and ChatGPT to the top of the discovery funnel, delivering high‑quality,...
GrowthRise Mastermind Recap May 5, 2026
GrowthRise’s May 5 mastermind highlighted how biotech compliance vendors can overcome trust barriers by shifting from cold‑email demos to sustained visibility through LinkedIn thought‑leadership, community engagement, and retargeting ads. The session also covered AI‑driven go‑to‑market automation, stressing guardrails, human oversight, and...
Toast Debuts Toast IQ Grow
Toast launched Toast IQ Grow, an AI‑powered marketing platform that adds more than 20 new features across marketing, payroll, inventory and operations. The solution pairs a Marketing Agent that automatically builds audiences and runs campaigns with a dedicated human marketer...
The New Math of Experiential: How Xbox and Sparks Achieved an 11x Return at Gamescom 2025
Xbox teamed with experiential agency Sparks for a multi‑zone Gamescom 2025 booth that drew over 100,000 visitors and generated more than 500 million digital impressions. Sparks introduced two proprietary metrics—Earned Engagement Value (EEV) and Earned Event Impression Value (EEIV)—to quantify on‑site...