_Editorial

Dominating TV with Live Sports, Partnerships, and Scale

What is always number one when it comes to television? Live sports! Join ReachTV’s Lynnwood Bibbens in conversation with Dave Coletti (iSpot), Rodney Williams (Diageo), and Jackie Chang (NFL) as they dig into how live sports is dominating TV and how to engage sports fans, measure viewership, and determine ROI to build value for brands together.

The Future of Content, Commerce & Community

Join Michael D. Ratner, CEO & Founder of OBB Media, for a discussion of how brands and talent can collaborate and create tailored digital content strategies to reach audiences where they are today and where they’re going tomorrow.

Why Multiculturalism is a Win-Win-Win

In this session, you’ll learn how Argentine Advertising leverages the power of diverse voices and world-class creativity to deliver high-impact, culturally relevant campaigns at a fraction of the cost.

Diversity, Data & Dicks

Dive into the research behind e.l.f.’s “So Many Dicks” campaign and learn how diversity in business can drive real results.

How Advertisers Can Thrive in the Next Era of Online Privacy

Join Advertising Week’s Katie Ingram, in conversation with Lisa Martinez Gilpin, Google’s Director of Global Privacy Partnerships & Go-To-Market, as they discuss the Privacy Sandbox Initiative and how Advertisers must prepare now in order to thrive in the next era of online privacy.

Great Minds 20th Anniversary All Stars

Advertising Week Chairman and Great Minds podcast host Matt Scheckner sits down with a hand-picked group of leading luminaries for a supersize series of conversations with some of our favorites going back to 2004.

The Future of Programmatic

Programmatic’s Future Across Channels – As programmatic expands beyond display ads to include CTV, audio, and more, cross-channel strategies and unified measurement will be key to its future success.

Using Engaging Content to Fight Hate

Redstone and Segal will also discuss content they have collaborated on for audiences of all ages, including Paramount/Nickelodeon’s Well Versed, an animated musical short-form series that makes democracy and civics fun for kids, and their long-form TV specials on Holocaust education and Jewish heritage, as well as the impact of their work.

Terry Crews: All About Super Serious

Known for standout roles like Terry Jeffords in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, President Camacho in Idiocracy and Hale Caesar in The Expendables, Terry Crews will take to the stage to dive into details surrounding one of his newest ventures — Super Serious, an innovative creative agency — as well as discussing his distinctive fusion of entertainment and advertising across media platforms. Don’t miss it!

Curiosity, Creativity, and Optimism with Yara Shahidi

Join producer and actress Yara Shahidi, host of SiriusXM’s “The Optimist Project,” and co-founder of 7th Sun Productions, for an insightful conversation on the power of authentic voices and building trust and personal connections with diverse audiences.

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.

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.

What Broadcasters Want

With the TV commissioning landscape changing, broadcasters are increasingly turning to advertisers to fund original, editorially led content. What content are they looking for in 2024?

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.

Spotify Advertising: Easy, Elevated, Effective

Spotify is always in tune with what their users love now, and what they’re going to love next. It’s that understanding and engagement that makes Spotify essential to fans, and brands too. Spotify Advertising is now evolving to offer more automated opportunities that make it easier and more efficient for advertisers to reach highly engaged audiences and measure impact. Spotify will unwrap this strategy, and discuss the trends bringing together artists, fans, and brands today.

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.