Marketing

Every April, something fascinating happens in the desert. Brands spend millions activating around Coachella. Then they spend the next three months trying to figure out if any of it actually worked. This isn’t just a festival problem; it’s a reflection of our industry’s broken approach to measuring media effectiveness. And while it’s true, it isn’t

Busy Little Bees Amazon has quietly acquired AI-based wearable device maker Bee. “Quietly,” by the way, because the deal was only announced by Bee Co-Founder and CEO Maria de Lourdes Zollo in a LinkedIn post. Bee makes a $50 wristband infused with AI software that hooks up to an Apple app. It can be prompted

This week’s Media Briefing looks at newly-created, AI-focused executive roles at publications like The Washington Post and Forbes, moves that reflect how news organizations are making the new technology a core part of their business infrastructures. The Washington Post and Forbes are the latest news outlets to elevate executives to AI-focused roles, centralizing oversight of

Sir Martin Sorrell has never lacked for sharp opinions. That’s expected from the architect of the holdco company era. But lately, his commentary has gone from reflective to biting. In recent months, he dismissed WPP’s consolidation efforts as a “disgrace”, lobbed shade at Omnicom for what he implied would be an overpriced acquisition of IPG

In creator marketing, disclosure has long been treated as optional by some influencers. Now, that loose approach may be catching up with them.  A wave of lawsuits and watchdog scrutiny is digging into undisclosed or poorly labelled posts — and agencies are taking note.  FTC guidelines for sponsored posts have been in place for years,

Last month’s Google core update was no cake walk for some publishers. Several publishers told Digiday that unlike the March Google core update — which had minimal effects on publisher search traffic — the latest one was the more typical, Google nail-biting rollercoaster regarding search referrals and rankings/visibility. Every core update can change how publishers’

With the influencer sector now reaching maturity, marketers across the board are prioritizing accountability and control in their approach to creator marketing. One symptom of that shift is advertisers launching or expanding affiliate creator programs. In the two years since Walmart launched its creator affiliate program in October 2023, the program has grown “exponentially,” according

The web is hurting. Google is doing splendidly. The second quarter was a “standout,” Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai told investors on Tuesday, with “robust growth across the company.” Pichai’s use of the word “the company” is notable, though. Google’s total revenue grew by 14% to $96.4 billion in the quarter, and its net profit was