Future of Marketing Briefing: The End of the Public Ad Tech Era
Investors are moving beyond traditional ad tech elements like ad networks and platforms, marking the end of the public ad tech era. This shift points to new approaches in digital advertising innovation and strategy.
YouTube Updates View Counting to Align with Instagram and TikTok
YouTube will change its view counting method on August 24th to count a view as soon as a video starts playing, aligning with Instagram and TikTok. This update will likely boost view counts for creators by making them increase faster. YouTube will keep its original system as an 'engaged views' metric.
Are You Overlooked by AI? How to Evaluate Your Brand's Visibility
In the AI era, traditional search engines are less dominant, causing over a quarter of brands to become invisible in AI recommendations. Lucie Content's 2026 AI Visibility Index reveals that 45% of consumers now rely on AI for business advice, making AI visibility crucial. Their study shows many businesses either consistently appear or are completely absent from AI results, often disconnected from traditional search rankings. Lucie offers tools and tips to help brands improve visibility, emphasizing clear, factual information and strong visuals as key to gaining AI recognition. The problem is fixable, as proven by Lucie's own improved AI presence.
The Rise of Handmade Branding Amid AI Anxiety
The trend of using handmade aesthetics in branding, driven by fears around AI, is becoming overused and forced. While hand-crafted design has genuine value, many brands apply it superficially to appear more human, reflecting designers' unease with technology. To stand out authentically, brands should embed meaning into design, redefine humanity in branding, collaborate thoughtfully with AI, and embrace complexity rather than uniformity.
How Leading Brands Are Embracing Fan-First Social Media Strategies
Large brands are adopting fan-focused social media tactics first popularized by startups, acknowledging their effectiveness. The key challenge is scaling these strategies effectively.
Instagram Unveils Updated Wordmark for a Modern Look
Instagram has updated its wordmark to a sharper, more modern design after a decade, reflecting the platform's evolution and commitment to staying visually current.
Opinion: Strategies to Counteract the Business of Health Misinformation
Paul Martin Jensen and Avi Tuschman emphasize the need to empower individuals to identify manipulation, proposing that this approach could effectively disrupt the spread of medical misinformation.
How AI Is Elevating Marketing Leadership Standards
AI is fundamentally transforming organizational processes, raising the standards and expectations for leadership within the marketing sector. This shift is changing how marketing leaders approach strategy, decision-making, and innovation, ensuring they stay ahead in a competitive landscape.
How Brands Should Adapt Amid Paramount and WBD Merger Uncertainties
Kaitlyn McInnis of Crossmedia emphasizes that the advertising sector's main focus should be on adapting to continuous consolidation rather than concentrating on individual mergers such as that between Paramount and WBD. She highlights the importance of strategic preparation for this evolving landscape.
Panera Bread Appoints Andrew Rebhun as New CMO Amid Ongoing Transformation
Panera Bread has hired Andrew Rebhun, an experienced marketer with leadership roles at El Pollo Loco and Cava, to serve as its new chief marketing officer. Rebhun will direct all marketing activities as the company advances its transformation strategy.
From Product Marketer to CMO: Six Years Growing with Vanta
Starting as Vanta's first product marketer and witnessing its growth to a $4.15B company over six years, I evolved professionally to become CMO by embracing constant reinvention alongside the company’s journey.
France Implements Strict Ban on Unsolicited Telemarketing Calls with Heavy Penalties
France has enforced a new law banning unsolicited telemarketing calls to shield consumers from unwanted sales pitches and fraud. The law mandates prior consent for calls, with hefty fines for violators, reflecting growing frustration over persistent telemarketing. This move differs from typical opt-out systems and has raised concerns abroad, especially in Morocco, over the impact on call center jobs. Similar regulations exist in other European countries, while North America employs opt-out registries.
Stanley 1913 Revamps Marketing Strategy for the AI-Driven Search Landscape
Stanley 1913 has updated its marketing approach to better align with AI-driven search platforms. While their previous strategies worked for human audiences, adapting to AI algorithms ensures continued visibility and engagement in the evolving digital landscape.
How Cava Stays Ahead in Fast Casual Despite a Lean Marketing Budget
Cava maintains strong performance in the fast casual industry even with a limited marketing budget. The company is in the process of appointing a new CMO after Andrew Rebhun left to join Panera.
Marketing's Evolution: From Cost Center to Business Growth Driver
Marketing has transformed from a traditional cost center into a critical driver of business growth. Today's marketing leaders focus on proving ROI and aligning closely with sales metrics. Despite advances, almost half are uncertain which actions drive purchases, underscoring the need for better data and account-level insights. With marketing leadership influencing top executive roles, those who master data-driven strategies and understand buying groups will shape future business success.
WPP Optimizes Strategy Amid Revenue Challenges and Embraces AI Potential
WPP is refining its strategy to secure new business even as its revenue decline slows. While embracing AI-driven opportunities, CEO Cindy Rose cautions that AI may cause downward pressure on pricing within the agency sector, potentially leading to deflationary effects.
Fossil's AI-Driven Ads Generate 58.8M Impressions by Targeting Traveler Profiles
Fossil leveraged AI-powered advertising targeting three traveler profiles with in-flight Wi-Fi pre-rolls, generating 58.8 million impressions and increasing traffic to a virtual holiday pop-up shop, showcasing effective use of data-driven marketing in the travel sector.
How We Leveraged Data and Automation to Boost Revenue by $60 Million
Discover how a strategic use of data, automation, and precise timing in marketing efforts led to a $60 million revenue increase since 2020 by enabling effective personalization at scale.
Shopify Highlights Growth in AI-Driven Traffic and Sales, Emphasizes Complementary Role to Google
Shopify reveals that its AI-powered search is significantly increasing traffic and sales without replacing Google search. In Q2, AI-driven visits and orders to Shopify stores tripled compared to the previous year, showcasing AI's complementary role in e-commerce growth rather than diminishing traditional search traffic.
Navigating New Challenges for AI Influencers Amid EU Regulations
AI influencers are facing uncertainty due to the EU AI Act, with some concerned about disruptions to their businesses while others are adopting transparency with AI to adapt creatively and maintain trust.