Podcast Data Firm Bumper Unveils Audience Verification Metric to Boost Advertiser Confidence
Bumper, a podcast data and growth firm, launched the Bumper Score, a new audience verification metric that rates podcasts on a 0‑200 scale with 100 as the industry average. The score aggregates first‑party hosting data, verified listener information from major apps, and episode‑level retention figures. In beta, advertisers have already spent more than $500,000 on campaigns guided by the metric, and the tool will be offered free to podcasters starting May 2026. The initiative aims to close the gap between listenership and ad spend in the podcast market.
Fashion Retailer Quince Tops Podcast Ad Spending, Sports and Comedy Dominate Genre Placements in March
Fashion retailer Quince led March 2026 podcast advertising with an estimated $6.57 million spend, primarily on comedy programs. BetterHelp, Amazon, Meta, and T‑Mobile rounded out the top five, each allocating roughly $5‑6 million, with a strong preference for sports podcasts. Magellan AI’s...
Meta Launches First Instagram Campaign in Thailand to Drive Reels Adoption
Meta has launched its first dedicated Instagram brand campaign in Thailand, a 10‑week digital effort built by BBH Singapore. The initiative features two hero films, six 20‑second Reels and 15 creator‑led pieces starring local influencers to spur Reels creation among...
Lacoste ‘Returns to Its Roots’ with New Visual Identity
Lacoste unveiled a refreshed visual identity that reintroduces a serif‑based logo and highlights the original Robert George crocodile illustration. The redesign sharpens the brand’s proportions, restores its historic green hue and adds clay and farine tones, while the iconic crocodile and...
Burger King Returns to ‘Star Wars’ Galaxy as Turnaround Push Endures
Burger King has teamed with Disney’s "The Mandalorian and Grogu" to launch a limited‑time menu and multichannel campaign tied to the May 22 theatrical release. The promotion features items such as a BBQ Bounty Whopper in a helmet‑shaped carton, Grogu’s Blue...
Why Marketers Are Switching Mobile Measurement Partners (And What To Look for Instead)
Marketers are abandoning legacy mobile measurement partners as consumer journeys now span TikTok, QR codes, email, web and apps. Nearly 50% of B2C marketers plan to replace their MMPs within the next 18 months. Branch positions itself as a next‑gen...
New Guide: The Identity Gap Holding Back Travel Marketing Performance
Travel marketers have poured money into orchestration tools, yet 70%‑95% of website visitors remain anonymous, limiting personalization and direct bookings. Wunderkind’s new guide argues that identity resolution is the missing layer that can turn invisible traffic into measurable revenue. By...
Jenni Kayne Is Going Global
Jenni Kayne, the California‑born lifestyle label known for cashmere sweaters and minimalist home goods, announced the launch of international shipping on its e‑commerce site. The rollout initially covers 18 markets across Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with additional regions slated...
General Motors Names Commercial and Fleet Division GM Fleet—Again
General Motors has reverted its commercial‑vehicle unit’s name from GM Envolve back to GM Fleet, citing customer‑driven demand for clearer branding. The change does not signal a strategic overhaul; the division will continue offering a single‑point‑of‑contact model that bundles vehicles,...
What’s The Biggest Technical SEO Blind Spot From Over-Relying On Tools? – Ask An SEO via @Sejournal, @HelenPollitt1
The article warns that the biggest technical SEO blind spot is the false sense of completeness created when SEOs rely solely on tool dashboards instead of raw data. Tools deliver snapshot reports, prioritized issue lists, and simulated metrics, but they...
B2B Influencer Marketing in 2026: The Rise of LinkedIn Influencers in B2B Tech
B2B influencer marketing has migrated from occasional expert webinars to a creator‑led model anchored on LinkedIn, where founders, CMOs and product leaders publish consistently. These "LinkedInfluencers" build trust through repeated, expertise‑rich posts that shape buyer opinions long before a sales...
GREW Solar Launches ‘The Next Starts Here’ Campaign with GT Players
GREW Solar has unveiled a new advertising campaign, “The Next Starts Here,” in partnership with the Gujarat Titans cricket franchise. The film stars Indian cricket stars Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar, using on‑field performance as a metaphor for...
Particular Audience Launches PA DiscoveryOS App on Shopify – Signalling a New Era of Accessible Enterprise AI for Merchants
Particular Audience has launched the PA DiscoveryOS app on the Shopify App Store, delivering enterprise‑grade AI search, personalization, and retail‑media tools through a zero‑code, app‑based integration. The solution lets Shopify Plus merchants activate sophisticated AI infrastructure overnight, eliminating the need...
When the CEO Becomes the Brand
Elon Musk’s political activism has turned Tesla into a polarizing brand, causing its first‑choice share to fall to 27 % versus 44 % for Toyota. A November 2025 conjoint study shows left‑leaning shoppers shun the brand while right‑leaning consumers become more favorable. Simulated...
Going Global? Contextual AI Needs To Be Your Strategy
US and UK brands expanding globally often rely on accidental attention, but contextual AI is essential. Eskimi’s research shows AI‑driven contextual targeting lifts attention per mille by 74% and reaches a 95% brand‑safety score, far above standard display and keyword...
How to Measure Demand Gen Creative Impact with Asset Uplift Tests
Google introduced asset uplift experiments for Demand Gen campaigns, letting advertisers run A/B tests that isolate the incremental impact of specific creative assets. The framework requires a minimum of 50 conversions, continuous budget, and a 50/50 split to achieve statistical...
Snickers Extends ‘Hungry’ Platform Around Peanut Butter Products
Mars’s Snickers brand rolled out a new "Stuck" campaign spotlighting its Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Ice Cream lines, emphasizing the products' creamy‑crunchy texture. Developed by BBDO New York, the ads run across TV and major social platforms. Simultaneously, Snickers...
OnStar Partners with Skywards Everyday to Turn Everyday Drives Into Everyday Rewards
OnStar, General Motors' connected‑car platform, has partnered with Emirates Skywards Everyday in the UAE, allowing subscribers to earn airline miles for using the service. The program awards one Skywards Mile for every AED 3 (approximately $0.81) spent on an OnStar Core...
Every Brand Needs An Enemy
The article argues that brands should pick a single, strategically chosen competitor as an “enemy” to sharpen focus and drive actionable plans. By zeroing in on a rival that is larger yet attainable, companies can translate competitive insights into concrete...
Teamwork Communications Group Wins PR Mandate for Sarvodaya Healthcare
Teamwork Communications Group has been awarded the public‑relations mandate for Sarvodaya Healthcare, a multi‑specialty hospital network operating across North India. The agency will oversee media relations, thought‑leadership initiatives and integrated communication campaigns to raise the group’s brand visibility. The partnership...
Google: When It Comes To SEO, Nobody Knows Everything
Google’s search quality lead John Mueller reminded the community that SEO is not static and no one can claim complete mastery. He warned that self‑proclaimed “SEO gurus” often lack depth and can mislead practitioners. Mueller emphasized humility, acknowledging past mistakes,...
Accounts in Transit: USAA Educational Foundation Extends Crosby
Crosby Marketing Communications has signed a two‑year extension to provide integrated marketing services for the USAA Educational Foundation, a nonprofit that offers free financial‑education resources to service members, veterans and their families. Ripley PR was appointed agency of record for...
Burger King UK Positions Whopper as Ultimate Post-Race Meal
Burger King UK has rolled out a new advertising push called "Whopper of a finish," positioning the Whopper as the ideal post‑race meal for British horse‑racing fans. The campaign follows the 2024 "Bundles of joy" launch and combines TV spots,...
Google: You Can Do A Lot Of SEO That Don't Work & Still Do Ok
Google’s John Mueller reminded the SEO community that the discipline is inherently complex and resilient. He noted that practitioners can implement many tactics that ultimately have little impact and still maintain decent rankings. This underscores the difficulty of pinpointing which...
The Power of Creator and Brand Collaboration Put to the Test
At SMW 2026, Inmar Media’s Heather Riccobono demonstrated that creator‑led branded content can double sales lift, challenging the brand‑vs‑creator dichotomy. In a live 25‑minute UGC experiment, creator Hannah Lorsch shot and edited a dog‑tug‑toy photo with input from the audience...
‘Fastvertising’ Puts Real-Time Cultural Moments in Every Marketer’s Hands
Fastvertising leverages AI to let brands produce ads in minutes, matching the pace of viral cultural moments. The concept was highlighted by Fraser Woollard of MNTN, who cited a Nutella‑in‑zero‑gravity spot during the Artemis II mission as a real‑time win. AI...
Bringing Brands and Creators Together in the Participation Economy
The creator economy is evolving from passive followers to a participation economy where brands co‑create with creators and communities. At Social Media Week, Publicis Creative’s Charlotte Tansill and Sam’s Club’s MacKenzie McCarver highlighted the need for brands to listen, align...
Behind the Celebrity Spirits: People, Stories & Strategy
At ProWein 2026, a panel of celebrity‑spirit founders discussed the shifting trade perception of celebrity‑backed alcohol brands. Participants from Brother’s Bond Bourbon, Wolfie’s Gin and James Gin noted that buyers now view such products more skeptically, seeing them as gimmicks...
How to Conquer the Efficiency Tax in Higher Ed Marketing
Higher education marketers are chasing tighter targeting to prove ad spend efficiency, but this creates an "efficiency tax"—higher media costs with diminishing incremental impact. As audiences shrink, institutions recycle the same prospects across channels, inflating frequency without expanding reach. The...
BHIVE Names Milind Soman as Brand Ambassador
BHIVE Workspace has appointed Indian endurance athlete Milind Soman as its brand ambassador, linking the star’s fitness pedigree to the company’s campus‑format coworking concept. The model fuses traditional office space with sports courts, fitness clubs and community‑led activities, positioning BHIVE...
TenTrade Names Ballon D’Or Winner Luis Figo as Global Ambassador
TenTrade, a multi‑asset CFD brokerage, has named former Ballon d’Or winner Luis Figo its global ambassador. The partnership will be driven by the "Inspiring the Next Number 10" campaign, tying Figo’s reputation for excellence to TenTrade’s performance‑focused trading platform. TenTrade...
OpenAI Is Working With Consultants to Sell Codex
OpenAI has launched a Codex consulting program with Accenture, Capgemini and PwC to accelerate enterprise sales of its AI‑coding tool. Weekly active users hit four million, up from three million just two weeks earlier, while the firm appointed Colleen Kapase...
Mother Dairy Rides IPL Viewership with Targeted JioHotstar CTV Push
Mother Dairy has launched a high‑impact Connected TV (CTV) partnership with JioHotstar for IPL 2026, orchestrated by WPP Media. The campaign embeds the brand in live match feeds, pre‑show segments, and milestone moments such as half‑centuries and centuries. By leveraging...
"Protect and Elevate the Xbox Brand": Microsoft Hires for Major New Comms Role, Pointing to a Potential Shift in PR...
Microsoft announced a new Senior Manager, Xbox Brand & Reputation role, the first senior communications hire since Asha Sharma became CEO. The position will oversee global strategic comms, PR counsel, influencer relations, and agency management for Xbox. Its responsibilities span...
JioHotstar Brings Purchase Intent-Led Ads to Streaming Platform
JioHotstar has rolled out a purchase‑intent advertising capability that ties streaming content to immediate product discovery. The solution uses aggregated, privacy‑safe data to form audience cohorts based on behavioural signals, moving beyond traditional demographic targeting. Instamart is the inaugural partner,...
Content Marketing Jobs Are Splitting in Two: Semrush
Semrush’s analysis of 8,000 U.S. content marketing job listings reveals a clear bifurcation of the role spectrum. Execution‑focused creator positions now account for about one‑third of openings, while senior leadership titles such as Head of Content have surged by more...
Groas Introduces a Fully Autonomous Approach to Google Ads Management by Groas
Groas unveiled a fully autonomous AI‑driven platform that handles every step of Google Ads management, from campaign creation to dynamic landing‑page testing, without human intervention. The system relies on a distributed network of specialized agents that process over 100,000 data...
Heinz Kicks Off NFL Deal by Inducting 57th Draft Pick Into New Club
Heinz has become the NFL’s inaugural global condiment partner, launching a city‑wide out‑of‑home campaign in Pittsburgh for the 2026 Draft. The effort features more than 150 billboards, a “Taste of Pittsburgh” pop‑up, and a partnership with Hall of Famer Devin Hester,...
Clipper Teas Selects Who Wot Why to Develop Global Brand Platform
Clipper Teas, the UK‑based organic tea brand, has appointed the creative agency Who Wot Why to build its new global brand platform. The decision came after a competitive pitch process that saw several agencies vie for the work. The new...
Smoothie King to Add Flatbreads, High-Protein Food Items
Smoothie King announced a brand‑evolution plan that adds flatbreads and high‑protein food items to its menu, with rollout slated for the summer. The company will install ovens across its system at no cost to existing franchisees to support the new...
American Golf Launches New Campaign as UK Golf Interest Surges
American Golf has rolled out the "We’re Obsessed Too" brand campaign to ride a wave of rising golf interest across the UK. Glimpse data shows beginner‑course searches jumped 551% year‑on‑year and "beginner golf" queries rose 36% in the last month,...
5 Ways Apple’s Marketing Evolved in the Tim Cook Era
When Tim Cook succeeded Steve Jobs as Apple’s CEO in 2011, many doubted his ability to sustain the brand’s iconic advertising legacy. While Jobs relied heavily on Lee Clow and TBWA Media Arts Lab for bold, product‑centric ads, Cook’s tenure has steered...
Email ROI Claims Meet a More Complicated Reality
Email marketing is still praised for high returns, but Mailgun’s survey of 1,200 senders shows only 13% of campaigns achieve the famed $40‑for‑$1 ROI. While 60‑62% of respondents who measure claim ten‑fold returns, less than half can actually calculate ROI,...
Birla Opus Paints Brings ‘Main Bhi’ to IPL 2026, Combining Star Power and Product Performance
Birla Opus Paints has launched a high‑impact "Main Bhi" campaign for IPL 2026, featuring ten prominent cricketers across four language‑specific films. The ads weave product narratives—such as a 16‑year exterior paint warranty, scratch‑resistant wood paint, and 99+ stain protection—into relatable...
Pumpkin Appoints Chief to Drive Transformation Strategy
Pumpkin, a B2B media relations agency, has hired former Interbrand executive Joe Stubbs as its first chief strategy and transformation officer. Reporting to founder‑CEO Sarah Owen, Stubbs will steer Pumpkin’s evolution into an integrated content, communications and reputation consultancy. The...
AI Is The New Ad Space
Debra Aho Williamson, founder of Sonata Insights, argues that AI tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google AI Overviews, and retail assistants constitute a new media environment rather than just efficiency enhancers. She calls this “AI media,” where users can...
AI Is The New Ad Space
Debra Aho Williamson, founder of Sonata Insights, will keynote AdExchanger’s Programmatic AI conference in Las Vegas (May 18‑20). She argues that AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and retail assistants constitute a new media environment—“AI media”—that can guide consumers from query to...
Beats and Jennie Are Back Together With an Unreleased Song and New Headphones
Beats and K‑pop icon Jennie are releasing a new onyx‑black special‑edition headphone on April 24, paired with an exclusive, unreleased track. The design features attachable black bows, music‑inspired ear‑pad symbols, and a matching carrying case. A Seoul pop‑up will let fans...
Google Adds New Tasked-Based Search Features via @Sejournal, @Martinibuster
Google rolled out three travel‑focused tools that push Search toward a task‑based model. Users can now toggle hotel price tracking to receive email alerts when rates fall, while AI Mode can launch an agent that calls nearby stores for real‑time...
XTB Signs Multi-Year Sponsorship of SSC Napoli
Polish retail broker XTB has signed a multi‑year deal to become the Global Trading Partner of Italian football powerhouse SSC Napoli for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons. The partnership places XTB on Napoli’s digital platforms, matchday experiences and fan activations,...