Advertising & Marketing

Despite the rise of ecommerce, nearly 85% of US retail sales still occur in-store, according to our forecast. To attract customers to physical stores, brands must continually innovate to offer memorable experiences.

Google’s Gmail updates will affect marketers: Enforcing stringent sender requirements for bulk emailers could counter rising threats from AI-generated spam.

It’s separating its IoT and connected car business from its cybersecurity unit so it can attract investors. But dividing its interests could open it up for acquisition.

Retailers cut nearly 71,000 jobs this year: That’s the second-most of any industry and a clear sign retailers such as Amazon are focusing more on their bottom lines.

AI job postings surge on LinkedIn: The technology is a focal point for employers and job applicants across industries on the platform. It could have long-term systemic effects.

As the DOJ’s antitrust trial over Google Search continues, the ad giant could be at real risk of having to alter its search business. “The DOJ has a really strong case here,” said our analyst Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf on our “Behind the Numbers” podcast. “It's not looking great for Google.”

On today's podcast episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss what makes people need to go into a store, what makes them want to go into a store, and the leading in-store pain points. Then for "Pop-Up Rankings," we rank the top four must-visit store experiences. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Sky Canaves and Zak Stambor.

Advertisers say it’s time for a federal data privacy law: The Association of National Advertisers announced plans to push for federal rules, citing patchwork state-level laws.

Google's Pixel 8 and Watch intertwine AI prowess and cloud computing to entice adoption. Rising market share goes hand in hand with a price increase.

Anthropic attracts billions from Amazon and Google for AI. Potential conflict arises with attached conditions. AI investment boom may lead to Big Tech power play.

Amazon’s Project Nessie in the limelight: An alleged price manipulation algorithm adds to the FTC’s antitrust battle. It could also have implications for how companies use AI.

Meta lays off staff from metaverse division: The cuts point to the social media giant’s faltering chip development goals. More cuts mean more morale problems.

Microsoft is picking up ad spend by improving search, social, and video features, as well as improving ad targeting and measurement. The company is also inserting itself into the rapidly growing retail media market. In the last few weeks, Microsoft has announced a slew of updates that will help it expand its business.

As brands seek to diversify the number of places they sell their goods, retailers should consider building out a marketplace model that can help brands reach more customers while also cutting down on retailer costs and creating new revenue streams. You don’t need to be Amazon to launch a third-party marketplace—Macy’s, Michaels, and H&M have all gotten marketplaces off the ground in the last year or so.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the significance of the Amazon-Anthropic deal and what's possible now that ChatGPT can talk to you and see things. "In Other News," we talk about whether Bard AI integrations can help Google catch up to the competition and why one company is producing 10,000 humanoid robots. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Jacob Bourne and Gadjo Sevilla.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how banks are adjusting their ad spending in a world with high rates, economic turmoil, and a shift to digital advertising. • In our “Headlines” segment, we dig deep on a recently published Insider Intelligence report covering our forecasts for ad spending by US banks and credit unions. • In “Story by Numbers,” we discuss how fewer mortgages are affecting banks' net interest income and what that means for their marketing budgets. We also examine Ally Bank’s increased ad spending. • In “For Argument’s Sake,” we talk about how large banks are doubling down on digital ad spending while smaller institutions are cutting their spending, which could lead to the eventual demise of smaller traditional banks. Tune in to the discussion with host Rob Rubin and our director of forecasting Oscar Orozco.

The ad fraud problem is getting worse: $84 billion will be wasted on digital ad fraud this year, a new report alleges.

The DOJ uses testimonies from Microsoft and DuckDuckGo to challenge Google’s search dominance. A loss could force Google to restructure high-value default search deals.

Visa will invest $100M in smaller AI players. The move aligns with rising investments to combat fraud and optimize payments and could help fund AI startups.