New Google Business Profile Playbooks With Local Optimization Tips
Google has emailed site owners new Google Business Profile (GBP) Playbooks that outline local‑listing optimization tactics. The playbooks are available as PDFs for specific verticals—restaurants, hotels, tour operators, service‑area businesses—and a General Business Playbook covering universal best practices. A Google employee confirmed the resources on the GBP forums, signaling official guidance. Marketers focused on local search are urged to review the vertical guides for actionable tips directly from Google.
Lenovo Launches ‘Pixel Deficiency’ Campaign Spotlighting Monitor Range
Lenovo has rolled out a digital‑first campaign called “Pixel Deficiency” to spotlight its monitor portfolio in India. The initiative features a four‑part, 45‑second film series that dramatizes how poor display quality can hinder work, gaming, design and study tasks. By...
Synscribe Launches SEO AI Agent That Autonomously Executes SEO & GEO – Claims to Replace Traditional Agencies
Singapore‑based Synscribe unveiled a multi‑tenant AI agent built on the open‑source OpenClaw framework that autonomously handles end‑to‑end SEO and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) tasks. The agent performs keyword research, creates landing pages, builds links and even drafts blog posts, reducing...
MMM Platform Mutinex Brings On TransUnion’s Mike Finnerty To Head Its US Business
Mutinex, an Australian‑origin marketing mix modeling platform, announced that former TransUnion SVP Mike Finnerty will become its US president to accelerate the company’s expansion stateside. Finnerty, who oversaw marketing solutions after TransUnion’s $3.1 billion Neustar acquisition, will lead Mutinex’s push to...
Peacock to Give Bravo Fans Personalized Experience With AI Andy Cohen
At a Peacock product preview, NBCUniversal unveiled "Your Bravoverse," an AI‑driven vertical‑video experience that uses Andy Cohen’s voice and likeness to guide users through personalized Bravo playlists drawn from over 5,000 hours of content. The feature, slated for a summer launch, lets...
Industry Snapshot: Meaningful Media Planning
5th Element’s CEO Muneef Khan says media planning in 2026 has moved from buying audiences to buying moments, using a behavioral cascade model that aligns each touchpoint with a decision trigger. He warns that algorithms are conservative and must be...
Google Says They Deploy Hundreds Of Undocumented Crawlers via @Sejournal, @Martinibuster
Google’s podcast revealed that the historic "Googlebot" label now covers hundreds of distinct crawlers operating across its product suite. Internally, these crawlers use a SaaS‑style fetching service, nicknamed "Jack," which exposes API endpoints for web requests. Most of these specialized...
Luma AI’s Jason Day on How Agentic AI Is Remaking the Creative Process of Marketing
Luma AI’s head of EMEA, Jason Day, says agentic AI is fundamentally reshaping marketing by turning the creative workflow into an end‑to‑end, real‑time system that can generate infinite, hyper‑personalized assets. The technology promises unprecedented speed, scale and cost efficiency, turning...
Brands Don’t Have a Messaging Problem. They Have a Signalling Problem.
Indian brands are spending more on advertising yet seeing weaker recall, prompting a reassessment of strategy. Author Avinash Joshi argues that the core issue is not messaging but signalling—what brands repeatedly do. Sustained, observable actions transform into symbols that generate...
Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls: Why We Need a Better Metaphor for Demand
The article argues that the Marketing Qualified Lead (MQL) and its waterfall funnel metaphor have become entrenched in B2B despite growing criticism. It contends that the model reduces buyers to numbers and overlooks their agency, leading to misguided marketing tactics....
Podcast: Coca-Cola’s Ben Sadek on Brand Experiences that Move People and Partnering with the FIFA World Cup 2026
Coca‑Cola’s Middle East lead Ben Sadek explains how the company is shifting from pure brand‑awareness ads to immersive, experience‑driven marketing. The strategy leans on live events, creator collaborations, and high‑profile sports ties such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy...
Are CAPIs The Next Phase Of Performance TV?
Streaming giants are adding conversion APIs (CAPIs) to bring performance‑driven measurement to connected TV. Netflix unveiled its CAPI alongside new targeting options, while Roku and Comcast have introduced self‑serve APIs aimed at SMB advertisers. CAPIs promise to bridge the attribution...
Are CAPIs The Next Phase Of Performance TV?
Streaming giants are bringing conversion APIs (CAPIs) to connected TV as advertisers demand measurable performance. Netflix unveiled its CAPI alongside new targeting options, while Roku, Comcast and LinkedIn already provide similar APIs for CTV measurement. CAPIs promise to close the...
Carlsberg’s Jeff Chong on Sonic Identity and the Year of the Horse Campaign
Carlsberg Asia’s 2026 Lunar New Year campaign, celebrating the Year of the Horse, combined a unified sonic anchor with AI‑enhanced zodiac packaging to deliver a region‑wide yet locally adaptable platform. Partnering with Chinese artist SKAI ISYOURGOD, the remix of “Blueprint...
Sephora Announces Partnership with F1 Academy
Sephora, the LVMH‑owned beauty retailer, announced a multi‑year partnership with the women’s racing series F1 Academy, becoming its official beauty retail partner. The deal features a Sephora‑branded car driven by Natàlia Granada and on‑site beauty bars at every race, starting...
DBS Looks to Launch Creative Pitch
DBS is preparing an APAC‑wide creative pitch after appointing Audrey Kuah as group marketing and communications head. Kuah, a 25‑year agency veteran, is tasked with reinforcing the "One bank, one brand" vision through data‑driven storytelling. The bank’s existing "Trust Your...
Golden Goose Taps Gabriel Diallo, Dayana Yastremska as Brand Ambassadors
Golden Goose announced Canadian ATP rising star Gabriel Diallo and Ukrainian WTA talent Dayana Yastremska as its newest brand ambassadors. The duo will front the "Off Duty Dreamers – Life is the Real Game" campaign, which showcases athletes in moments...
Honda Lawn & Garden Demonstrates Durability in Series of Extreme Experiments via Howatson+Co
Honda’s Lawn & Garden division launched an extreme durability campaign with Howatson+Co, featuring high‑altitude drops, four‑winch pulls and concrete submersion to prove its mowers can’t be broken. The visual stunt is crafted for fast‑moving digital platforms, turning reliability into shareable...
Dreaming Faster Than We Can Build: Fixing the Strategy-Execution Gap
Marketing teams are fast at defining strategy but stumble during execution, with 64% rating strategic planning as quick versus only 42% feeling the same about cross‑functional rollout. The gap creates strategic debt as ideas lose relevance while waiting for manual...
From Invisible to In-Demand: Kylie Chown on Owning Your Online Brand
LinkedIn strategist Kylie Chown will headline the WIICTA Mentorship program on April 28, teaching early‑career professionals how to transform a low‑visibility online profile into a high‑demand digital brand. She stresses that recruiters and hiring managers now evaluate candidates online before...
Digital Minds Group To Raise The Shades On Tuiss Blinds Online
Tuiss Blinds Online has hired Digital Minds Group to steer its media strategy as it accelerates expansion across Australia. The partnership focuses on a performance‑led, measurement‑first approach to scale the direct‑to‑consumer brand. Digital Minds will manage search, social and emerging...
Equip Super Launches ‘Super Equipped’ Campaign via Cummins&partners, an Octopus and a Chicken
Equip Super has launched the “Super equipped” campaign with cummins&partners, introducing octopus and chicken mascots to break the visual monotony of the superannuation sector. The characters embody two consumer archetypes – the disengaged “chicken” and the proactive “octopus” – to...
Spicy Chicken Wing Appears Ahead of Wingstop Flagship Opening in New Stunt via Hello
Wingstop generated buzz in Parramatta Square with a giant, spicy chicken wing stunt orchestrated by creative agency Hello, prompting widespread social media chatter. The stunt heralded the opening of Wingstop’s Australian flagship store on March 13, positioned in a youthful,...
Kenstar Launches New Air Cooler Campaign Featuring Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha
Kenstar has rolled out a new air‑cooler video campaign starring Bollywood actors Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha. The promotion showcases the brand’s India‑first air‑cooler range, which carries a 5‑Star BEE energy rating and a five‑year warranty. Advanced features such as BLDC...
TikTok Radio Set To Premiere Live At SXSW
TikTok is launching TikTok Radio live from SXSW on March 13, leveraging its partnership with iHeartMedia. The service will stream on the iHeartRadio app and 28 iHeart broadcast stations, delivering TikTok‑driven music hits, creator storytelling, and weekly countdowns. Simultaneously, TikTok...
The Errand Kids Now Run Quick Commerce in Flipkart’s Gudi Padwa Ad
Flipkart launched a Gudi Padwa commercial that reimagines the traditional role of the youngest family member as the go‑to errand runner. Set across 1975, 2000 and 2026, the ad shows a child simply tapping a phone to order a missing...
Product Manager
Magellan AI, an all‑in‑one platform for audio advertising intelligence across podcasts, streaming audio, and broadcast radio, is hiring a remote Product Manager in the United States. The role will own the feature roadmap, prioritize product improvements, and work closely with...
LinkedIn Shares Tips on Optimizing Post Content for AI Chatbots
LinkedIn released a guide showing how members can shape their posts to appear in AI chatbot answers. The research finds that long‑form articles, newsletters and posts account for 60% of AI citations, with optimal length between 800 and 1,200 words....
CMO Spotlight: Netflix ANZ’s Tony Broderick on Creative Risks
Netflix ANZ’s director of marketing Tony Broderick champions "uncomfortably exciting" creative risks, exemplified by the large‑scale Wednesday Island event that turned Cockatoo Island into a fan festival. He emphasizes a title‑led strategy where bold cultural moments drive broader business metrics,...
Scape Student Living Turns Bondi Rooftop Into Live Brand Moment with Noisy
Scape Student Living teamed with the creative agency noisy to stage a surprise rooftop activation at the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club. The pop‑up sunset party, featuring live music by Ben Gerrans, sold tickets at three times the venue’s...
PR Roundup: Target Targets Families, White House Reframes Deportation, AI and CEO Trust
Target announced spring price cuts on about 3,000 items, focusing on busy families and expanding its baby‑care offerings. The White House, via Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, asked Republicans to shift immigration messaging from “mass deportations” to targeting violent...
We Analyzed 8,566 Keywords Across 14 SaaS Domains to Measure Reddit’s Impact on B2B Search… Here’s What We Found
A recent analysis of 8,566 keywords across 14 SaaS domains shows Reddit now frequently outranks B2B vendors in organic search. Reddit appears in the top three positions for 40‑45% of keywords and beats every competitor on more than half of...
ONYX Professional Unveils “Beauty From the Ground Up” Brand Relaunch
ONYX Professional announced a brand relaunch under the “Beauty from the Ground Up” theme, focusing on foundational self‑care for hands, feet, and body. The overhaul leverages existing best‑selling products, such as its top‑ranked nail polish remover and Hard as Hoof...
Zevia Doubles Down on AI Satire in Ads Starring Creepy Robot Coworker
Zevia launched the “Real Soda for Real Humans” national campaign, featuring a creepy robot coworker that mocks AI and artificial ingredients. The ads run on connected TV, Meta, YouTube and include a CAPTCHA‑style activation at SXSW, highlighting new flavors like...
Google Leaves Door Open to Ads in Gemini
Google senior executive Nick Fox told WIRED the company is "not ruling out" ads in its Gemini AI app, marking a reversal from earlier denials. The firm is using its AI‑powered Search experience, AI Mode, as a testing ground for...
Meta Is Testing Clickable Links in Instagram Captions for Verified Subscribers
Meta is piloting clickable links within Instagram post captions for users subscribed to Meta Verified. The test allows up to ten links per month and currently appears only on the mobile app, not the desktop site. Creators have long requested...
&Pizza Serves up Romance with Pi Day Weddings
&pizza is hosting four free wedding ceremonies and receptions on March 14 at its Brookland shop, continuing a decade‑long Pi Day tradition. Chief marketing officer Sergio Pérez will officiate the events, which are followed by a celebration at the Hive Rooftop. The chain...
March Madness Is Making DOOH a More Responsive Channel
March Madness concentrates fan attention across screens, venues and streets, creating a prime moment for advertisers. Digital out‑of‑home (DOOH) is shifting from pre‑planned, static placements to real‑time, programmatic delivery powered by AI and contextual triggers. Brands can now sync creative...
Quince Copied Its Way to a $10 Billion Empire. Now It’s Looking for a New Story
Quince has built a $10.1 billion empire by reproducing high‑end designs at a fraction of the price, selling a $298 Reformation dress for $69.90. The fast‑growing retailer now generates over $1 billion in annual revenue and employs about 1,000 people across apparel,...
From Resolutions to Outcomes: Evolving How Fin Delivers Value
Intercom’s Fin AI agent is shifting its pricing model from pure resolution‑based fees to an outcome‑based structure. The change reflects Fin’s growing ability to handle complex, multi‑step support tasks that often involve human hand‑offs. Fin now serves over 7,000 teams...
Spreetail Introduces the Brand Experience Portal (BEx)
Spreetail has unveiled the Brand Experience Portal (BEx), a real‑time dashboard that consolidates sales, advertising, and fulfillment data for its brand partners. The platform integrates existing tools such as Price Pulse, Promise Pro, True Ads, and Smart Shelf, delivering AI‑driven...
Starbucks Brews Magic with Harry Potter Partnership
Starbucks has teamed with Warner Bros. Discovery to roll out a Harry Potter‑themed collection across 12 Asia‑Pacific markets starting 23 March 2024. The launch features three Honeydukes Bursting Bonbon beverages infused with vanilla, honey‑bergamot and citrus‑bright bubbles, alongside more than 20...
Edison: Moving Ad Spend From TV to Podcast Improves Reach
Edison Research reports that moving just 5 percent of a TV‑heavy media budget into podcasts can dramatically boost audience reach. In a case study, a pharmaceutical brand shifted a small portion of its broadcast‑and‑cable spend to podcast ads, raising reach among...
Vue Creator Management: An Agency Treating Affiliate Strategy as a Full-Time Job
Vue Creator Management, a Toledo‑based agency founded in 2025 by Cailyn Medley, offers a hybrid service that combines affiliate strategy consulting with full‑time execution. The firm helps creators optimize revenue on platforms such as ShopMy, LTK and Amazon, handling link...
Singapore Podcast Ads Draw Higher Engagement, Lower Saturation Than Other Digital Media, Report Finds
Acast’s Podcast Pulse Singapore Edition, based on a survey of 250 consumers, shows podcast ads enjoy the lightest ad load and highest engagement compared with video, social and TV formats. Only 20% of listeners need more than five exposures before...
How Archer Roose Is Flipping the Wine Industry on Its Head with CMO Conley Downing
Archer Roose Wines, led by CMO Conley Downing, is reshaping the wine category with canned formats and a humor‑first brand voice aimed at Gen Z. The company posted 41% year‑over‑year revenue growth by expanding occasions such as concerts, flights, and cruises,...
Building a Martech Stack: Eliminating the Complexity Tax for Decision Velocity
Marketers are drowning in data yet lack actionable insights, prompting a call for smarter martech architectures. The piece argues that an AI‑enabled stack built around social intelligence can eliminate the “complexity tax” that slows decision making. It references research showing...
Narcity Media Launches Self-Serve Instagram Story Distribution Tool for Brands
Narcity Media introduced Boost, a self‑serve tool on its Locals.tv platform that lets brands pay local creators to share Instagram Stories. The service taps a network of over 2,000 creators across Canadian cities, allowing campaigns to be launched in minutes...
TreSemmé Links with ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ for Affordable Luxury Push
TreSemmé unveiled the "Get Your Hair on the A‑List" campaign, linking its A‑List Collection to the upcoming *The Devil Wears Prada 2* sequel. The 30‑second spot starring podcaster Paige DeSorbo and designer Christian Siriano will run on social, digital, TV and during the...
Mead Lumber Completes Brand Unification With Final Renaming of Former Knecht Home Center
Mead Lumber will finalize its brand unification on March 13, 2026, by renaming its former Knecht Home Center in Cañon City, Colorado to Mead Lumber. This marks the completion of a rollout that began in October 2025 and now brings...
