A behind-the-scenes look at how one of the world's most successful ad campaigns almost didn't happen. Our Sponsors: * Check out Miro: miro.com Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacyBy Tod Maffin

The untold story of what many believe is the best television ad of all time. Rate and Review Us • Contact Us 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or contact us GO PREMIUM! Get these exclusive benefits when you upgrade: ✅ Listen ad-free ✅ Back catalog of 20+ marketing…

The untold story of one of the original acoustical earworms. Rate and Review Us • Contact Us 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or contact us GO PREMIUM! Get these exclusive benefits when you upgrade: ✅ Listen ad-free ✅ Back catalog of 20+ marketing science intervi…

The hack nobody wanted: How a leading two-factor authentication app used by marketers worldwide is now exposed. Plus TikTok slows down, a deep-dive into Google's changes to its ads platform, and the clever technique consumers are using to see if you are gouging. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Re…

A big design tool pulls its AI features... the slow recovery from a Google algorithm update... Meta makes a big change to a small tag... and YouTube's new service will be powered by the magic of human eyeballs. We think. Contact Us 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social medi…

For many Meta ad buyers, June was a month full of bugs and volatile performance. Is this the new normal? We check in with our Meta ads correspondent Andrew Foxwell for a gut check. Contact Us 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or contact us GO PREMIUM! Get these ex…

Your Facebook ads might soon cost more — but there is a way out. Google's search ranking apparently considers how busy your business is. Wordpress admins get a new and peculiar tag insert. And the end game of civilization has arrived — Meta's influencer bots. Did anyone ask for this?! Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsl…

Typos are coming to your ad reports — here's why you'll like that. TikTok tries to pre-empt Amazon's big sale. An verification tool used by major platforms left its users' government IDs practically unlocked. And Meta expands the content tool that keeps your fans quiet. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Adverti…

Amazon's response to the discount Chinese ecommerce sites? To become them. Also: Why social media platforms would rather you forget all about that whole "social media" thing. GA4 will import other platforms' data. And a nice update for people who track ROAS. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach …

We've known it was coming for years, so why do marketers feel even LESS ready for the cookiepocalypse than they did before? Also: Pinterest wants your board content on TikTok. Ad agencies are swimming in AI. And Threads gets even more connected to the fediverse. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Re…

There are many decisions to make when you're posting an ad on social media for your brand — the placement, the timing, the audience, the hook, the creative. But one factor that doesn't get talked a lot about is the comments. After all, social media ads are mostly just posts with a budget behind them — posts that can include comments. That's great i…

Did you use AI to make that product image? No? Then why is Meta telling everyone you did? Also: Local Service Ads expand to Maps, whether you want them to or not... unboxing goes big... YouTube editing goes long... and a dispute over programmatic ads heats up with advertisers caught in the middle. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our fre…

A crazy new bug on Meta's ad platform is selling products at big discounts — and the merchants have no idea it's happening. Also: Sorry, why can't I exclude past buyers from my Facebook ad campaigns any more? Amazon's huge sales database is being put to work. And Instagram expands its livestreaming by letting you restrict it. Contact Us • Links to …

Government regulators sound the warning on AI spokespeople, as the marketing industry and social media platforms scramble to ramp up their avatar game. Also: LinkedIn goes B2C, consumers prefer year-round Pride support, and more on Google's decision to force many companies off using credit cards to buy ads — today, an insider's view. Contact Us • L…

Google won't let some companies pay for ads by credit cards any more, in a move that could cost businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars overnight. Also: A dispute between two big ad players could shake up video inventory. Threads releases its API and makes it free. And YouTube's plans to let regular people add corrections to your brand's videos…

Has the final gauntlet been thrown? A technical change to how YouTube ads are delivered may break ad blockers for good. Meta backs down on AI training. LinkedIn's new promotional tools will cost you. And Spotify's latest announcement — is it bad news for digital agencies? Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Adver…

Dumb it down — new research says the simpler you make your headlines, the more people will click on them. Also: Instagram's latest ad format is just as irritating as it sounds. A huge player exits the ad business entirely. And podcast listeners might just be the nicest people ever! Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newslett…

Brand safety tools claim platforms they measure are '99% safe.' But can marketers trust those numbers? Probably not. Also: YouTube adds the single biggest item from marketers' wish lists. TikTok's new search feature could sell more of your products. And garbage in, garbage out — the sad and dangerous state of AI search summaries. Contact Us • Links…

The app that wanted the world to be more authentic has been acquired. Google says the next search update might restore some penalized sites. Why marketers are starting to be wary of ad verification platforms. And is it the return of the hashtag? Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of …

It's happened again. This time, Adobe scrambles to reassure marketers it's not going to steal their work in the service of AI training. But can its track record be trusted? That, plus updates to Meta's Conversions API, LinkedIn pulls one of its most effective ad targeting tools, and much more. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free da…

Deepfakes are the next challenge for brand safety. Reddit's Ads API is out, barely. LinkedIn has a new video ad product. Instagram updates carousels. And the toggle switch inside Microsoft's ads platform you might want to turn off. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Deci…

Why is Google dumping up to three-quarters of your ad results into an unmarked bucket? HubSpot is about to get more expensive. Finally, a framework for data deletion requests. And Microsoft's change to shopping campaigns is coming whether you want it or not. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach …

A nasty cyberattack is targeting big TikTok accounts — and all you need to do for your account to be compromised is read a DM. Also: Why Google may stop indexing your brand's web site next month. Which products sell more when you use an animated banner ad. And podcast audiences may have been massively undercounted. Contact Us • Links to today’s sto…

Enshittification comes to the Instagram feed — how will users react to the new ad format which stops them from scrolling through content? Also: Google slows way down on its AI search results... SEO pros figure out how to get their brand into those results... and Shopify's acquisition could mean a huge bill for you. Contact Us • Links to today’s sto…

The new Instagram test that ignores your current fan base. Why your favourite marketing tool might stop working next week. Link previews are now pay-for-size. And bad news for marketing departments as their share of corporate budget continues to fall. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousan…

What's next for the relationship between Google and the marketing industry after a huge leak exposes Google's SEO secrets. The news is not good for brands that rely on Facebook for traffic. Instagram is adding its strongest mute button yet. And another Google tool heads to the graveyard — this one, a messaging tool used for business. Contact Us • L…

It seems ridiculous — asking people to buy something from you as you're refunding them from a previous purchase. But researchers say — it works. Also: PayPal is planning a big splash in the ad pool. And Instagram has a new "just add meme" button. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of…

It's the biggest leak in Google's history — and the documents in it detail thousands of previously secret factors that decide how high you rank in their search engine. What are those factors, and have we been being lied to all this time? We have extensive coverage today in this special episode. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free d…

Is Hubspot about to sell to Google? Pinterest has summer trends for your content marketing. Amazon's AI-based ads seem to be performing well. And Snapchat gives us exactly what we marketers want: crazy clown faces. Contact Us • Links to today’s stories 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Fol…

Two big players in the design space have a new offering for large brands and agencies. Snapchat has a new CAPI partnership. Yes, Bing was offline today. And Google's deal with the devil: What happens when you use the world's largest shitposting forum as a main AI training source? Exactly what you think. Links to all of today’s stories here 📰 Get ou…

The marketing announcements are plenty — so why can't any of us actually use these cool new things? TikTok to lay off a big chunk of their support team. Meta adds video to catalog ads. And the science behind offering a dollar discount or a volume discount — which performs better depends on what you sell. Links to all of today’s stories here 📰 Get o…

Google’s annual event for advertisers was full of AI buzzwords, but lacking in anything beyond the expected obsession over AI and some incremental updates to existing marketing products. GO PREMIUM! 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or contact us Links to all of t…

JOIN US for the Unofficial Google Marketing Live Tailgate event. Tuesday May 21 at 11am ET: YouTube or LinkedIn 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or contact us Links to all of today’s stories here Our Sponsors: Check out Dynadot: https://dynadot.com/marketing Chec…

Thousands of TV shows, paired with thousands of academic marketing papers — and what do you get? One TV network says an insanely good audience targeting AI. Also: a new report says podcast listeners might be a dark horse. Print magazines are back. And Samsung may have just pulled off the best ad campaign all year. JOIN US for the Unofficial Google …

TikTok's biggest move for YouTube's viewers yet — will this new test change the vertical ad game? Threads is getting a Tweetdeck. Snapchat makes CAPI onboarding easier. And Netflix is getting its own ad tech. 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or contact us Links t…

Search in the AI age — how Google's plans might change the SEO industry forever. Why you may be overthinking brand safety. The surprising advice Instagram has for your Reels. And Reddit gets sued by one of its advertisers. 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or cont…

Battle of the AI — Both Google and OpenAI come out swinging with their latest technology. What does it mean for marketers? We have full coverage in today's special episode. 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or contact us GO PREMIUM! Get these exclusive benefits wh…

Today, a special deep-dive issue into the impact of repetitive ads on brand perception and brand attachment. Tod interviews Dr. Nelson Amaral who conducted a study on the topic. The study found that repetitive ads can be less annoying for individuals who have a strong attachment to the brand being advertised. These individuals generate more positiv…

Things are about to get real — OpenAI is poised to take on the fight of its life. And the battle could shape the future of search advertising forever. Also, the surprising price of virtual influencers. Google is planning to reveal your sales data to the public. And how much brand damage have I done to this podcast with the high ad frequency on the …

Everything they've ever bought — imagine using that to target people in your ads. Well, that time has come. Also: Threads plans to reveal your view counts. Pinterest adds a new certification. And the Apple ad that everyone seems to be mad about. 🚨 THIS WEEK ONLY: Get 50% off the Premium Podcast 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach T…

Meta's new subscription plans are out and I sure hope you like being disappointed. Shopify's stock plunges after a quarterly loss. Amazon extends an olive branch to sellers. And a soul-destroying look at the Google ad platform's bizarre discrepancies. 🚨 THIS WEEK ONLY: Get 50% off the Premium Podcast 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: R…

How curvy is the font you're using in your product ads? It could make a difference. Also, TikTok isn't going down without a fight. How Amazon wants to close the funnel gap. And Google removes one of its oldest features. 🚨 THIS WEEK ONLY: Get 50% off the Premium Podcast 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Deci…

Why Meta no longer lets you pick which product to advertise. YouTube's new AI might be costing your brand viewers. Instagram's new Sticker could flood your inbox. And the new feature on Threads that might be a brand safety tool in disguise. 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on so…

Is it possible that the perceived gender of the AI voice you choose for your TikTok ads could be one of the most important factors in whether you’ll get a sale? Or, if you market a charity, whether you should use one of those "trembling" voices to evoke empathy? In this special deep-dive episode, Tod speaks with Fotis Efthymiou, co-author of two pa…

Physical stores are closing and it's all your fault. The music is back on TikTok. People are watching less ad-supported content. And the prices of podcast ads continue to drop. 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or contact us Links to all of today’s stories here GO…

The court case that could dramatically change the Facebook feed as we know it. Why Google is automatically pausing your keywords. Pinterest's user numbers jump, but at what cost? And the game heard around the world — and at LinkedIn. 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social me…

The sales boost you could get by telling your customers how to write their reviews. Instagram tweaks its algorithm to favour smaller accounts. Why does Apple hate advertisers so much? And collateral damage: The video app that might go down with the TikTok ship. 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Mak…

You mocked them at first, but now the results on pause ads are in — and they're kind of amazing. Also: Threads makes a big move. Does the ad business need its own 'nutrition label'? And Google's video ads push beyond YouTube. 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or c…

Ban or no ban, were TikTok's days as the marketers' darling numbered anyway? The world's largest ad agency may be considering breaking up. And getting your AI to explain its recommendations to consumers might boost your sales. 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow us on social media or …

Revenues up but stock price down — what caused the crash of Meta's stock? Just two letters. Also: You're not imagining it: Your Google clicks are costing more. And young TikTok creators say please, for the love of god, don't make us use Instagram! 📰 Get our free daily newsletter 📈 Advertising: Reach Thousands of Marketing Decision-Makers 🌍 Follow u…