500M AI Searches Later: How To Actually Improve AI Search Visibility & Citations via @Sejournal, @Hethr_campbell
Heather Campbell’s Search Engine Journal webinar reveals how to close AI citation gaps after analyzing over 500 million AI conversations. The session outlines which content types, sources, and placements earn citations in platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini. It also demonstrates how AI agents and open‑source SEO tools can automate outreach, content refreshes, and third‑party placements. Finally, the webinar previews a shift toward AI‑driven ecommerce transactions, signaling new strategic priorities for marketers.
Google Ads API V20 Sunset Set for June 10
Google announced that the Google Ads API version 20 will sunset on June 10, 2026, ending all support for that version. After the deadline, any request to v20 will return an error, forcing developers to migrate to a newer API...
Analysts: ‘Hollywood’s Vertical Video Strategy Is Dead Wrong’
Analysts at LightShed Partners criticize Hollywood’s rush to vertical video, saying most platforms are merely repurposing existing content rather than creating original portrait‑native programming. Netflix, Disney+, ESPN, Peacock, Paramount+ and CNN have added vertical feeds to their mobile apps, citing...
How AI Agents Are Transforming Modern Marketing Strategy
Stefano Puntoni, a Wharton marketing professor, explains that generative‑AI search and autonomous agents are reshaping how brands reach consumers. These tools move beyond keyword matching to infer intent, delivering hyper‑personalized recommendations and even completing purchases without human clicks. The shift...
J. Jill Names Coach Vet as Chief Marketing Officer
J. Jill appointed former Coach North America marketing VP Kimberly Wallengren as chief marketing officer, effective April 27. The retailer posted a fourth‑quarter net sales decline of 3.1% to $138.4 million, with comparable sales down 4.8% but direct‑to‑consumer revenue rising 2.6% to 53.5%...
AI Is Bringing Retail Media Closer to the Sale
Retail media is becoming more complex as brands juggle multiple channels and an explosion of shopper signals. At an ADWEEK House Possible panel, CVS Media Exchange (CMX) and Kenvue highlighted how artificial intelligence is being used to personalize offers, streamline...
What It Takes to Grow a CPG Challenger Brand
Emerging CPG challenger brands are scaling by anchoring on two consumer priorities—value and health—identified in Ibotta’s State of the Spend report. Companies like Chomps and Sweet Loren’s maintain their original mission while expanding product lines, such as Chomps’ new chicken...
For Creator-Led Campaigns, Authenticity Starts Before the Shoot
Intuit QuickBooks, together with agency Collectively, has expanded its creator‑led "Outdo It" campaign from a $200,000 pilot to a budget exceeding $40 million. The program insists on casting real small‑business owners who actually use QuickBooks, boosting authenticity. The latest spot features...
AI Answer Engines Pose Challenges and Opportunities for Brands
AI answer engines such as ChatGPT are reshaping a fragmented customer journey, with overall search activity rising 26% year‑on‑year. Marketers must view AI as a new stakeholder that consumes reviews, social chatter and platform content to generate citations. Platforms like...
How Generative AI Will Impact Marketers and Consumers
InMobi exec Singhal predicts that by 2026 generative AI will power interactive ad formats that act like personal shopping agents, letting consumers outsource research while retaining final purchase decisions. He highlighted Glance, InMobi’s agentic commerce platform, which creates AI‑generated visual...
OpenAI Starts Laying Foundations for ChatGPT Ads in EU
OpenAI is preparing to launch advertising on ChatGPT in the European Union by updating its conversion‑tracking pixel with a consent‑management system and a country field. The change aligns the product with GDPR’s opt‑in requirements, a step not needed for U.S....
Virgin Voyages Marks Month of Access and Events for Advisors
Virgin Voyages is dedicating the entire month of May to its First Mate (travel advisor) community in North America through its annual First Mate Appreciation Month. The program, dubbed “VV Fest,” runs May 4‑29 and features a 16‑session virtual training series...
Amtrak, Mekanism 'Build' NextGen Acela As Premier Train Travel
Amtrak, with agency Mekanism, launched “The Build,” a multi‑platform ad campaign promoting its NextGen Acela high‑speed service between Washington, D.C., and Boston. The spot highlights speed, luxury amenities, and positions rail as a faster alternative to congested I‑95 traffic, running...
Budweiser Celebrates 150 Years of Being America’s Beer
Budweiser marks its 150th anniversary with a national TV commercial, limited‑edition cans and a cross‑country tour of its Clydesdale horses at parades, fairs and sporting events. The campaign leans heavily on patriotic language, positioning the lager as "America's beer" during...
Go Figure: 3 Big Marketing Numbers From April
CEO confidence in the CMO role slipped to 43% for 2026, signaling growing skepticism among senior leaders. At the same time, Modelo is committing a seven‑figure investment to sponsor every pre‑match broadcast of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Telemundo,...
Chipotle Plans Back-to-Back Giveaways
Chipotle is intensifying its 2026 marketing calendar with two back‑to‑back giveaways. Starting May 5, digital orders using code CINCO26 will receive free chips paired with Queso Blanco or guacamole for Cinco de Mayo. From May 4‑12, the chain will distribute up to $2 million in free...
Leftovers: Tostitos Enters the Refrigerated Aisle | Modelo Launches First High ABV Beer
PepsiCo is debuting Tostitos Chunky Guacamole, a refrigerated dip that arrives this fall and features Hass avocados with no artificial colors or preservatives. The launch coincides with record avocado imports of 2.5 billion pounds, underscoring strong consumer demand for fresh, health‑focused...
OpenAI To 'Promote' Own Products Via Your Browser Cookies
OpenAI announced that it will use browser cookies to promote its products and services on other sites, marking a shift from pure organic growth to a commercial advertising model. The updated privacy policy explains that cookies will personalize ads for...
A’ja Wilson and Jalen Brunson Are Starring in Lowe’s Debut Basketball Campaign
Lowe’s has launched its first basketball marketing campaign, partnering with WNBA star A’ja Wilson and NBA guard Jalen Brunson. The initiative aims to tap the cultural influence of basketball to reach Gen Z and millennial shoppers, mirroring tactics that succeeded...
How Do You Turn Creator Commerce Into a Performance Channel?
The PI LIVE Europe Influencer & Commerce Summit will examine how creator‑driven affiliate marketing can evolve into a performance‑focused channel. Influencer spend reached $32 bn last year, a 35% jump, while research shows a 46% lift in affiliate sales when creators...
Snapchat Partners With Credit Data Company Experian to Deliver Financial Education to Younger Consumers
Snapchat and credit‑reporting giant Experian have teamed up to embed an AI‑powered financial‑education experience within Snapchat’s Sponsored Snaps and chat interface. The partnership lets Gen Z and Millennial users ask money‑related questions and receive instant guidance, extending Experian’s recent ChatGPT‑driven...
What If You Could Target Mindset, Not Just Location?
Seedtag unveiled NeuroX, an AI‑driven Neuro‑Contextual Exchange that layers mindset signals onto traditional zip‑code targeting. The platform claims up to a 35% lift in click‑through rates and conversions by identifying buying intent in real time. NeuroX addresses the loss of...
Google AI Mode In Chrome Isn’t Killing SEO; It’s Exposing Weak SEO via @Sejournal, @Gregjarboe
Google announced AI Mode in Chrome, letting users stay in an AI‑driven interface while viewing publisher pages side‑by‑side. The change turns search from a simple list of links into a guided experience, meaning clicks are no longer the start of...
Pinterest Ad Shows Girls Going From Doom-Scrolling to Dancing
Pinterest unveiled its latest Spot ad, the second installment of the "How did they do it?" campaign, featuring teenage girls shifting from doom‑scrolling on their phones to dancing. The creative visual underscores Pinterest’s push to position the platform as a...
How Maekaeda Gibbons Built a $20 Million Fragrance Brand Without Outside Investment
Maekaeda Gibbons turned a hobby of crafting oil‑based fragrances into Brown Sugar Babe, a cult‑favorite brand that reached $20 million in sales in 2025 without any outside capital. The company, launched in 2018 while Gibbons worked as a Bank of America...
5 Ways to Implement Social Intelligence at Your Organization
The article outlines a five‑step framework for turning raw social data into a strategic asset, urging firms to move from reactive listening to proactive social intelligence. It highlights the "practitioner paradox" where insights stay siloed, and cites that 64% of...
The Morning After: Instagram Will Try to Penalize 'Unoriginal' Posts
Meta is expanding its 2024 algorithm tweaks to penalize unoriginal photo and carousel posts on Instagram, joining the earlier restrictions on recycled Reels. The change will throttle reach for accounts that simply reshare content without material edits. Meanwhile, Samsung is...
Adolfo Domínguez: From Rejuvenating Its Customer Base to "Confidence to Face the Future" Following a Solid Financial Year
Adolfo Domínguez reported a solid fiscal year driven by aggressive internationalisation and a successful push to attract younger shoppers. Customers aged 18‑24 now account for 36% of purchases, a four‑fold increase, while the 25‑34 segment doubled. The brand’s new Ilia Topuria‑led campaign...
Latinos Are Shaping US Culture and Fashion Brands Can’t Afford to Look Away
U.S. Latinos now number 65 million, or 19 % of the population, and wield over $4 trillion in purchasing power that is expanding 2.4 times faster than the broader economy. Their cultural clout was highlighted by Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, which attracted...
A Blueprint for Semantic Programmatic SEO
Programmatic SEO is shifting from mass‑produced, template‑driven pages to a semantic, AI‑powered model that tailors content to specific search intents. The new blueprint emphasizes starting with data—using Google Search Console authority maps—to identify topics where a domain already has ranking...
Skittles Reclaims Its Weird With New Gummies Work
Skittles has rolled out a surreal advertising campaign for its Skittles Gummies, featuring odd visuals like a kangaroo‑costumed man and jellyfish massages to emphasize the product’s softness. The ads target Gen Z and run across TV, CTV, online video and social...
Burger King to Launch Limited-Time Menu Inspired by Upcoming Star Wars Movie
Burger King is rolling out a limited‑time Star Wars menu on May 4 to coincide with the theatrical debut of *Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu* on May 22. The lineup includes a BBQ Bounty Whopper, Grogu’s Blue Cookie Shake, garlic chicken fries...
Influencer Marketing in Saudi Arabia: A Complete 2026 Guide for Brands
Influencer marketing in Saudi Arabia has become a high‑engagement, culturally specific channel as social‑media penetration hits 94%—about 35 million active users—and platforms like TikTok and Snapchat dominate usage. Arabic‑first content consistently outperforms translated English by 35‑50%, while the General Authority for...
Pinterest’s Latest Campaign Wants You to Live Your Life, Not Just Scroll It
Pinterest has launched its most ambitious paid‑media campaign to date, urging users to swap endless scrolling for real‑world experiences. The centerpiece is a one‑minute anthem film built from employee home movies, illustrating life before social media. Out‑of‑home placements in U.S....
April & May 2026 Google Webmaster Report
Google wrapped up its March 2026 spam update and the March core update, which finished rolling out in April, amid heightened ranking volatility. The company introduced a new spam penalty targeting back‑button hijacking and began issuing warning notices to affected...
How to Scale Your Business Without Hiring More Employees
The article outlines how businesses can grow without adding headcount by building robust systems, automating repetitive tasks, and sharpening priorities. It presents ten actionable steps—from documenting workflows to productizing services and smart outsourcing—to boost revenue while keeping payroll flat. Targeted...
Lululemon Fires Back After Founder Launches Scathing Attack on Leadership
Lululemon Athletica responded to a public rebuke from founder and former CEO Chip Wilson, who accused the company’s current board of making “brand‑eroding” decisions. Wilson singled out a recent collaboration with The Walt Disney Company, calling it misaligned with Lululemon’s...
How Mario Carbone Turned a Restaurant Into a Global Phenomenon
Mario Carbone, co‑founder of Major Food Group, has transformed his flagship restaurant Carbone into a global brand by leveraging immersive, pop‑up experiences. The latest iteration, Carbone Beach, is a three‑night, sand‑side production staged during the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, blending multi‑course...
How to Repurpose Existing Content for Multiple Channels
Azad Yakatally, social media lead at Spring Health, urged marketers to stop chasing brand‑new ideas and instead recycle existing assets across channels. At a Ragan conference he demonstrated how a single webinar, white paper or testimonial can be split into...
DMWF Spotlight: From Framework to Reality: Scaling Hyper-Personalisation with Greene King
The Digital Marketing World Forum highlighted how Bond’s Personalisation Maturity Framework helps companies move from fragmented, campaign‑centric tactics to true hyper‑personalisation. The framework evaluates four pillars—data, decisioning, content and orchestration—to pinpoint gaps and prescribe actionable steps. Greene King’s four‑year transformation, built...
The ‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ Trainer Built a Global Brand With Zero Marketing. Here’s How
Monique Eastwood, a former ballerina turned celebrity trainer, leveraged a viral Instagram post by Stanley Tucci during the COVID lockdown to transform her local UK fitness practice into a global brand. With 35 years of ballet‑based methodology, she already had...
Netflix Pushes Deeper Into Mobile with ‘Clips’ Feature
Netflix has rolled out a redesigned mobile app centered on a new “Clips” feature, a vertical, swipe‑able feed of short excerpts from its library. The feed lets users share clips, add titles to their watchlist, and jump straight into full...
The Hindu Turns the Star Rating on Its Readers This Labour Day
On International Labour Day, The Hindu Group released a print advertisement that asks readers to self‑assess before rating service providers. The ad uses a familiar five‑star checklist, posing questions about interactions with delivery riders, domestic help and security guards, and...
Sunil Grover and Kiku Sharda Bring ‘Dealpanti’ to Goibibo’s Latest Campaign
Goibibo has rolled out a new digital campaign titled “Dealpanti,” featuring Indian comedy veterans Sunil Grover and Kiku Sharda alongside cricketer‑turned‑brand ambassador Rishabh Pant. The two short films, created by Restless@MagicCircle and produced by Petromax India Films, use exaggerated, pop‑culture...
Social Media Trends for 2026
Social media remains a dominant media form in 2026, with more than two‑thirds of the global population online each month and users spending an average of seven hours weekly. Charities face a rapidly evolving landscape, where AI‑generated misinformation and platform...
The Stack: Advertising Gets More Autonomous
This week saw AI‑driven advertising move toward full autonomy, with Omnicom reporting live media buys executed by AI agents that purchase inventory directly from publishers. Anthropic demonstrated a closed‑loop AI‑agent marketplace where bots act as buyers and sellers, while OpenAI...
BT Mobile Could Be Coming Back
BT is set to announce the revival of its BT Mobile brand at a Wembley event next week, targeting the mass‑market segment. The relaunch aligns with CEO Allison Kirkby’s push to reposition BT as a national telco and to boost...
From Creative Optimization to Creative Intelligence: How Mobile Teams Scale Ad Performance in 2026
Mobile growth teams now see creative as the single biggest performance lever in 2026, not the sheer number of ads. The focus is shifting from volume‑driven testing to "creative intelligence"—systems that generate hypotheses, run structured experiments, learn patterns, and scale...
Customer Acquisition Vs. Retention: Where Should Early-Stage Startups Invest?
Early-stage startups must balance customer acquisition and retention. Acquisition drives market entry and validates product‑market fit, while retention boosts lifetime value, referrals, and profitability. Data shows retaining customers is far cheaper and yields higher conversion rates. The optimal approach is...
Specsavers Evolves ‘Should’ve Gone to Specsavers’ for First Time in 22 Years
Specsavers has launched a new global brand platform, reworking its long‑standing “Should’ve gone to Specsavers” slogan into “Should’ve gone to problem Savers”. The refreshed campaign shifts focus from routine eye tests and hearing checks to a wider suite of clinical...