The End of Cookies Is the End of Understanding

Shopping, browsing, learning and playing online doesn’t have to feel like you’re being taken advantage of by cookies. Instead, every experience should feel like it knows you and understands how best to serve you.

Is AI the Future of Gaming?

Whether in the fast-paced world of casinos or in the wide landscapes of open-world video games, AI influences how players interact with the games and the systems that run them

Can We Save AI? A Philosophical Answer

If we are willing to accept that AI, even in its most advanced applications, remains bound to some knowledge, without intentionality or understanding of causality, it is mandatory to ask: what are the limits of AI’s epistemic capabilities?

Why a Strong Brand Is Key to B2B Commercial Success

By building a memorable brand, B2B businesses can wean themselves off a relentless focus on ROI, and instead build successful relationships with customers and prospects in new, exciting and efficient ways, building long-term value.

How Culture Brands Work

Whereas cult brands are smaller by nature and often aligned to an existing niche, culture brands can be scaled, effectively defining and creating their own niche as they grow.

50+ Consumers: A Must-Win Audience for Pet Marketers

Adults 50+ want to live life to the fullest, and having a pet is an important part of the 50+ lifestyle. Pet owners over 50 spend significant time and money to ensure their pets are happy and well cared for, so that their pets can live their best life, too.

Reaching Sports Fans as Easy as Looking At the Second Option

As advertisers gear up for the start of a new season of the NBA, NHL, they should explore all of their options to find the right fit for their audiences and their products. The types of fans are expanding as are the ways to reach them. Mapping out a smart targeting strategy is the best way to maximize spend.

Zalika Sterling, Co-founder of The Culture Candy

As a mother, artist, and advocate for diversity, Zalika has dedicated her career to creating inclusive spaces where minority, women, LGBTQ+, and other underrepresented groups can showcase their work, connect with their communities, and access opportunities for growth.

The Robots are Coming! The Robots are Coming!

The robots are coming but whether they will be more like Rosie from the Jetsons or Arnold as the Terminator depends, in large part, on us humans coalescing and putting our considerable buying power and weight behind protecting and supporting our very human IP whether it be written articles, video, artistic content or brand assets.

Identity: The Current Challenge for CTV Advertising

CTV isn’t going away. It’s ability to deliver high-quality campaigns with engaged audiences is unmatched. But it is in the data available on the platform where the real potential lies to differentiate itself from its Linear counterpart.

Why Data Collaboration Will Spell Marketing Success This Festive Shopping Season

For those looking to maximise opportunities during this retail Golden Quarter, it’s important to strategically enhance the business’s ability to engage in data collaboration. This will allow them to fully access customer insights available within privacy-focused clean rooms and across the full variety of channels and data environments. Securing long-term and effective outreach to high-value audiences in the run-up to Christmas and beyond.

Scaling Up vs. Selling Out

Instead of conceding that meaningful interactions in the marketplace are only the territory of smaller, niche brands, culture brands demonstrate that powerful brand stories can be leveraged at any size.

The Value of Intent in Intelligent Experiences

Using technology and creativity to design human-directed experiences that respond to intent in delightful ways. This is the roadmap for Intelligent Experiences in retail —and the realization of the hidden value of intent.

A Presidential Campaign is Taking More Risks Than Your Brand

Savvy campaigns and brands understand that not every trend or social reference is for them. Effectively engaging with social culture isn’t about chasing the latest viral sensation; it’s about identifying conversations where your brand can contribute meaningfully and authentically.

Adapting to Life Without Oracle

As Oracle exits the advertising business, the industry is confronting a significant shift. Oracle’s suite of tools—built through a series of key acquisitions such as Crosswise, BlueKai, Datalogix, and Grapeshot—has been foundational for many marketers, data providers, and platforms. With Oracle’s departure, these stakeholders are now facing the challenge of finding reliable alternatives to maintain their data-driven strategies.

Making Memories: How Events Can Be Redefined

If your event ends with the audience focussed on a big screen, ditch the generic PowerPoint. Invest in on-brand, purpose-driven content that’s visually striking and make sure your speakers and production is well-prepared.

Cultural Moments, Lasting Memories: The Power of Pop Culture in Brand Engagement

Pop culture offers brands more than relevance; it provides an opportunity to create lasting, emotional connections with audiences. At a PMC-hosted Advertising Week New York 2024 panel, leaders from Maybelline, Dick Clark Productions and Billboard shared how iconic collaborations, immersive experiences, and cultural moments are shaping the future of brand engagement.

Through a Brand’s Lens: Navigating the Ever-Changing Advertising Landscape

Brands recognise that traditional media planning, buying, and measurement models are no longer effective. They are now looking for technology platforms that have adapted to offer solutions that simplify their media supply chain, maximise their media investment, and seamlessly integrate the next emerging channel — whatever or wherever that may be.

The History of Kool-Aid Man

Whether bursting through walls or simply bringing a smile to people’s faces, the Kool-Aid Man continues to be a beloved character, reminding us all to embrace the fun and refreshing moments in life.

Decoding the Jargon: Separating CTV from DOOH for Better Campaigns

Now is the time to eliminate the confusion and provide a clear blueprint for why venue-based streaming is an integral part of future media mixes. Everyone with a vested interest in the space should clearly communicate the benefits of this medium and insist that everyone in the industry should move forward with transparency and a clear communication of why this is different, but as potent, as CTV.

Power in the Community

In communities, brands have entire audiences ready and waiting to become customers – or, even better, lifelong fans. But they must first find these communities, and spend time understanding their audiences so they can build 3C frameworks to tap into the power of like minded groups collected in one place.

ReachTV and The Weather Company Roll Out Localized Weather Forecasts at U.S. Airports, Elevating Travel Experience

ReachTV, the nation’s largest streaming television network for travelers, boasting over 50 million monthly viewers, has teamed up with The Weather Company, globally recognized as the most accurate weather forecaster, in a new venture set to revolutionize how travelers stay informed about weather conditions at airports across the United States.

Having a Social Presence vs. Being Present on Social

If your brand chooses dialogue over monologue, engages authentically with its communities, remains ready to respond to its audience, and stays consistent with its own core truth, then you will have more than just a perfunctory social media presence. Instead, your brand will be part of the community and truly present.

AW Throwback: Johnny Horizon

Another mascot was active during the same timeline as Smokey and Woodsy and his name was Johnny Horizon. In looking back on the short-lived legacy of Johnny Horizon, PopIcon discovered that one Idaho county is still determined to uphold the outdoorsman’s legacy today.

Playing the Political Game Doesn’t Need to Be a Trap for Brands

By leveraging their position and visibility, brands can be prominent in helping drive healthy conversations, share useful information, and promote trustworthy news sources. They can help arm young voters with the insight they need to make the most of this cultural moment, proving their relevance to this audience, and forging connections that last through the election and beyond.

Why AI Is Becoming More Human

Brands need to maintain a level of human oversight to manage complex or sensitive interactions that the AI may not be equipped to handle. AI, like humans, makes mistakes. It’s a fast learner, though. With the right oversight, AI can build both emotional and intellectual trust that generates brand loyalty.

The Agency of the Present

The message to the industry is clear: the evolving consumer landscape is calling for a new type of agency, one that represents the diverse mainstream, and balances inclusivity with specificity. 

IRL in the Age of AI: The Renaissance of Real Experiences

To succeed, today’s brands must blend the best of both worlds, fostering in-person connection while considering the role our online lives play in that picture. The goal isn’t to get noticed; it’s to be remembered. And nothing is more memorable than a shared, real-world experience.

Embracing the Power of Mobile Gaming Communities

To truly make an impact, brands must avoid superficial engagement. Gamers are highly discerning and demand authenticity. Demonstrating a genuine passion for gaming culture and understanding gamers’ needs is crucial for building trust and credibility.

Marketing AI in Business: What to Showcase and What to Avoid

Consumers do not want to feel like everything being fed to them is created by AI. Authenticity and transparency are incredibly important when using AI. AI should never replace the human element in marketing entirely but can be used to assist and optimize as needed. 

The AI Shadow War in Advertising

Advertisers need to be aware of the wave of AI-fuelled content flooding the internet, while also embracing the right AI-powered solutions that will help them automate their brand safety and media performance strategy.

Streaming TV: Bundle or Bust?

In theory, bundling makes sense for both consumers and content providers. They can help viewers save money while helping content providers keep consumers in the ecosystems and unlocking more advertising opportunities.

Group Black Partners with Advertising Week to Create Exclusive NIL Content, Programming and Create a First-of-its-Kind ‘Match-Making’ Event

Group Black, Greenwood Ave, and Lockstep Ventures have partnered with Advertising Week to create NIL+, an exclusive program dedicated to marketing and content opportunities within the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) space. This unique initiative will take place on October 8 during Advertising Week New York 2024.

Harnessing the Growth of Pinterest Users to Boost Brand Performance

While there will never be a one-size-fits-all solution to fulfilling media plans and driving target audience action, marketers that are equipping themselves with the right data and insights is essential for maintaining cost-efficiency and high conversion rates. This strategy minimizes cash burn and keeps your brand ahead of the competition.

Using AI to Shorten the Sales Cycle

Implementing AI solutions thoughtfully and strategically can empower sales teams to navigate the complexities of the modern sales environment. As these technologies continue to evolve, the potential for AI to enhance sales processes will only grow, making it an indispensable asset for any forward-thinking organization.

Three Ways Marketers and Insights Professionals Can Maximize ROI

Brand integrations represent a promising way of connecting with consumers. Faced with rising costs and an increasingly fragmented media landscape, many marketers are turning to the strategy of weaving a brand into the existing story lines of film, TV, streaming or influencer programming.

Transforming Shopping Moments into Real Outcomes

Change and disruption is the new normal, but by focusing on creating opportunities on the Open Internet retail marketers can not only keep up, but stay ahead of the curve by creating unique personalised content to already engaged audiences and transform shopping moments into real outcomes.

How to Build a B2B Social Engine That Hums

Capturing attention requires cross-organization collaboration and teams that think bigger, make better content, and ensure it’s delivered through the right channels to engage audiences.  After all, engaging audiences is the ultimate goal—and what matters to a company’s bottom line.

Meet Tina and Milo, Official Mascots For The 2026 Winter Olympics

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games may be over, but in two short years it will be time for the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics, or Milano Cortina 2026. Hosted by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy, registration is now open on the ticketing platform for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

If You’re Scrolling, You’re Olympics’ing

The Olympics in marketing is a little like the Super Bowl, but it only comes around every four years. A lot of brands are counting on a lot of eyeballs to make marketing budgets count. In the past you could almost hear the marketing shots being made by big advertising execs, and see them fall flat on big billboards and small scrollable screens.

Happy 80th Birthday, Smokey Bear!

Doesn’t it feel as though it was just yesterday when we were wishing Smokey Bear a happy 75th birthday? Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday officially falls on August 9, 2024, marking eight decades of the mascot having the longest running public service initiative in United States history.

9 Risky Financial Decisions You Might Consider Making as Soon as Possible

There’s a reason why most people aren’t taking these risks. Risks are scary. You’re more likely than not to lose money by following this list. However, as long as you’re careful, approach it strategically, and invest only the money that you can live without, there’s a potential for a huge profit. Some people are fine with these odds.

The New Brand Advantage: B2B with a B2H Mindset

It’s time to define your brand’s approach to doing B2B with a B2H mindset. If you focus, prioritize, and then test new approaches, you can create experiences that drive new impact and deliver more of the value needed to grow.   

How Nike’s Iconic Brand Can Get Back on Track

As a longtime runner and Nike devotee, I recently found myself with an unexpected dilemma. While shopping for new running shoes prior to a business trip, I was drawn to a pair made by On Running instead of my usual Nikes.

Who Boomers Are Today – and How You Can Reach Them

Boomers remain the agents of social change and consumer superstars that they’ve always been. Celebrate them, help them pursue their dreams, facilitate their desire to give back, and take advantage of their tech-savvy ways to reach them in environments they trust and prefer.

How to Adapt Your Digital Marketing to Market Trends

Adapting your digital marketing strategy to market trends and consumer behaviors is crucial for staying competitive. Thankfully there are many tools at your disposal to not only keep up with trends, but also leverage them to your competitive advantage.

How Data Collaboration Will Advance Co-Branding

Companies that successfully capitalize on this opportunity will deliver more personalized customer experiences, enhance their reach and scale, understand the effectiveness of their campaigns, and forge new and innovative partnerships.

How Music Will Shape the 2024 Olympics

Whether you watch just the opening ceremony, fanatically follow synchronized swimming, or keep the Olympic Games on a screen at all times, this year, keep your ears tuned in a little more carefully. You might feel a deeper connection to the athletes, the host city and the larger phenomenon of the Olympic Games.

Why Brands Are Reaching New Creative Heights in Digital Advertising

The reality is that while genuine scaled alternatives can deliver equal or often better campaign performance, we still have to fight harder to convince brands to diversify their investment – this is another reason why creativity is thriving, as we look to go the extra mile to deliver value and impact for our customers.

Embracing the AI Wave in Advertising to Empower SMBs

The future of advertising is bright, driven by the collaborative potential of AI and human creativity. As the industry evolves, those who embrace AI will lead the way, setting new standards and having the best shot at achieving remarkable success.

Women-owned wellness brand, Juna, unlocks significant growth with Sponsored Products

Jewel Zimmer and Taylor Lamb, the co-founders of Juna, are on a mission to improve daily health challenges that many women face: poor digestion, detoxification, mood, and sleep. The small, California-based wellness brand, which launched in September 2019, formulates supplements using plant-based ingredients to help one’s body reset, rebalance and become more resilient to its unique stressors.

Four Factors for Success During Prime Day 2024 and Beyond

Standing out in the e-commerce sector is always tough, but it’s even harder amid mega deal pushes. Rising above the noise means ensuring campaigns keep up with variable shopper needs by deploying slicker data-driven strategies and maximising tailored creative flexibility.

How to Escape the Sea of Seriousness

Suddenly, more of the world wants to laugh. Or so it may seem. After many fallow years, when humour in advertising felt scarce, misplaced, or just absent – it’s slowly, tentatively making a comeback.

Why Brands Should Embrace the Two Star Review

Ultimately, ensure you’re providing a sense of thrill and urgency by tapping into the universal desire to feel seen and heard. Start with in-depth social listening to mine for opportunities. It’s not just what consumers are saying but how they’re emoting and expressing, context matters.

Flanker or Bust: Building a Sub-Brand to Win

The flanker brand has been a go-to in the incumbent brand competitive playbook for years. When it works, it adds a powerful competitor that can scaffold off the main brand to build new markets and grow revenue.

Seize Control of Your First-Party Data Destiny

Generative AI plays a distinct role in leveraging first-party data compared to regular AI by not only analyzing and predicting based on data but also creating new, unique content and experiences tailored to individual users.

AI Will Give Us Back Creativity

What will the future look like? Ask AI, but ask the right questions, and check the answers, if you have a vision of what the world could know, share and dream.

Who Are The NERDS?

In February 2024, NERDS made headlines when they debuted their first commercial during Super Bowl LVIII.

Sports Summer: The Live Opportunity

With ever-greater audiences watching live sports and even more ways for advertisers to engage with them, the foundations are in place for advertisers and publishers to create truly world-class experiences that consumers will find every bit as compelling as the sporting action itself.

Escaping the Sandbox: How Brands Can Independently Achieve Real Ad Results

Yes, it may be scary to try something new, especially with large uncertainties in the world of digital advertising.  Will that ever stop, likely not, so advertisers better buckle up, and try to be a first or second mover as it does not cost a lot to prove that you can still reach your goals in the future, a future without cookies and – who knows – with or without the Sandbox.

The Man Behind the Lacoste Crocodile

How does a crocodile, stylish as he may be, become the ubiquitous icon of a luxury brand? The answer is a bit different than what we’re used to seeing in the advertising industry.

Why Strategic Churn Is Good for Your Bottom Line

Let’s look at why strategic churn is emerging as a powerful tactic for subscription companies to optimize customer lifetime value (CLTV), drive net revenue retention (NRR), and achieve positive cash flow, all while fostering deeper relationships with their most valuable customers.

Why Publishers Need to Grasp Contextual Data as Cookies Grow Stale

Google’s cookie deprecation might continue to edge further into the future, but publishers and advertisers should take advantage of the delay to test and optimise the fast-evolving power of contextual data, readying themselves to hit the ground running as cookies fast approach their use-by date.

Choose OOH This Political Season

With today’s voter spending more than 70% of their time away from home and increasingly blocking ads online, political marketers simply cannot afford to skip out on DOOH this election season.

Not the Same Story – AGAIN!

By asking yourself probing questions when you write, you can deliver true thought leadership, rise to the top of a social feed or cluttered inbox, and capture the attention of your recipients in a meaningful and impactful way.

How to Elevate the Role of CMO

By demonstrating how brand strategy contributes to business success, CMOs can align their goals with those of the CEO, becoming indispensable allies in driving market relevance and resilience.

The 10 Commandments of Retail

In their latest book, uber-famous Prof. Philip Kotler, the father of modern marketing, and Dr. Giuseppe Stigliano, Global CEO at Spring Studios, give us their view on the future of retail.

The Future of the CMO in a Digital-First World

Taking the helm of the marketing department has never been for the faint of heart, but the opportunity to drive change and deliver growth is a unique position to be in. Not everyone in the C-suite can say as much. 

Abridged Identity

Until these systems start leveraging other bidstream signals for targeting, frequency capping and attributing performance, ongoing abuse of that first-class identifier will likely persist.

After Vizio, is Telly next?

Like everyone, the founders and owners of Telly have a price. Will the potential acquirer be willing to offer a price that everyone will accept?

Sonic Logo, or Sonic Trash?

Getting sonic branding right really matters, especially on Hollywood’s biggest night. In the world of compressed attention there’s never been more at stake.

9 Counter-intuitive Trends in AI

The world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is full of unexpected developments that often defy our initial intuition. The interesting part of what may transpire over the coming years are the trends that are counterintuitive.

How AI is Used in KYC Processes

As digital platforms continue to innovate, the shift towards alternative verification methods reflects a broader trend of balancing security with user convenience.

2024 Should Be the Year of AI-Powered DPO

As the landscape continues to shift, DPO will give publishers the insights needed to take greater control of their advertising operations, optimise revenue and deliver better advertising experiences.

How AI is Revolutionizing Online Security in 2024

One thing the introduction of AI takes out of the equation is the one-size-fits-all all approach. Considering that everyone uses the internet differently, it was only a matter of time before customized and customizable solutions joined the fray, and it is increasingly possible to manage with AI. 

Tangible Tactics and the Future of Marketing

Promotional products remain a potent tool in the marketing mix, thanks to their unmatched reach and cost-effectiveness. However, as consumer expectations evolve, so too must the strategies surrounding these products.

Hamburger Helper Relaunches Iconic Mascot, Lefty

One of the last times we heard about Lefty was when Eagle Foods acquired Helper from General Mills in 2022. Lefty has been laying low since then, but it sounds like 2024 will be a big year for the icon’s triumphant comeback.

Five 2024 OOH Trends Shaping Up 2024

2023 was the year of Artificial Intelligence (AI). From redefining consumer engagement to enhancing campaign precision, AI’s impact on Out-of-Home (OOH) cannot be overstated.

Solving the Advertising Reach Crisis

The reach crisis facing advertisers is evident, but it doesn’t need to be a problem, providing advertisers and publishers explore technologies that will enable them to work closer together.

Design Evolution: Michelin Man

Let’s step back in time to 1898, the year the Michelin Man — AKA Bibendum — made his debut and look at some of his greatest design evolution hits.

CTV Advertising Factors for 2024 Campaigns

For political advertisers, the path to connecting with voters is clear – connected TV is key as voters have migrated and are engaged. The share of political spend on CTV/OTT is significant and is expected to grow. 

Navigating the Marketing Landscape: Key Trends Shaping Success in 2024

2024 marks a crucial turning point for businesses, presenting both opportunities and challenges that will redefine traditional marketing approaches. Previous marketing tactics must evolve to remain effective and impactful, particularly in a time of heightened customer expectations and economic uncertainty.

How to Write a PR Crisis Management Plan

No business wants to face a crisis, but something will inevitably go wrong. In these situations, it is better to be prepared than caught off-guard, hence the importance of establishing a crisis response plan.

New Year, New You: The Gym Mentality for Business

Right now, every fitness provider and personal trainer is claiming they can get you the New Year results you want. While going it alone can be daunting, it can be equally hard to find someone who truly understands your needs.

2024: A Year for New Year Revolutions

In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to focus on the things outside of our control. Instead, we’d be better off focusing on the things we can control, such as enacting real change within our organisations by making culture a focus for the year ahead.

Reasons to Be Cheerful in 2024

Unless you spent 2023 hibernating under a rock you’ll know that it was a big year for AI – entering the mainstream and hitting the headlines. And 2024 is set to be even bigger.