Advertising & Marketing

Instead of trying to compete with Amazon, Barnes & Noble is changing to appeal to consumers looking for the experience of an independent bookstore with the resources of a large chain. Leaning on local inspiration and a store layout that optimizes discovery, Barnes & Noble is revamping its 596 locations, as well as its membership program.

From tweets to trades: Musk wants to transform the X platform into the “biggest financial institution in the world.” Government officials may not be on board.

AI is approaching ‘gale of creative destruction’: Generative AI means near-term job security for those who can build it and likely fast-paced disruption for millions of other knowledge workers globally.

eBay recently posted ad revenues of $367 million in Q2 2023—a growth of 35% YoY—in its latest earnings. But much of that can be tied to innovation in its ad types, improved measurement capabilities, and expanded third-party ads. eBay’s market also gives it a retail media opportunity outside of consumer packaged goods (CPG). Let’s break down what eBay is doing right.

A lack of standardization across platforms was cited as US marketers’ No. 1 challenge with retail media networks (RMNs) as of last summer, according to the Association of National Advertisers.

Direct mail and email have more in common than you may think. Like its digital counterpart, direct mail can drive growth and be a cost-effective part of a multichannel marketing mix thanks to data-powered modernization, including audience curation, automation, and measurement.

Apple uses safety and security to win over consumers. Birkenstock focuses on education, showcased through a three-part docuseries. And Taco Bell, with the help of Pete Davidson, apologized for “over-innovating” its breakfast menu.

On today's episode, we discuss how Spotify added a record number of users, the impact of its price increase, and the latest on its podcast business. "In Other News," we talk about how good people are at recalling audio ads and some adjustments to Netflix's ad tier. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Daniel Konstantinovic.

Meta is moving mountains to develop AR glasses: Instead of giving up on the metaverse, it’s taking patient, painstaking steps to beat Apple in the headset race.

The Hollywood strike is a chance to explore cheaper ad formats: With new content spending plummeting, streamers are sweetening the deal to keep advertisers on board.

Google’s Bard rises while ChatGPT dips again: Soaring costs and usage drops could send OpenAI into bankruptcy. Cheaper chips to train GPT-5 and more Microsoft funding could save it.

Study reveals Midjourney’s AI can be manipulated to produce racist and conspiratorial images. As 2024 elections approach, AI misuse raises serious concerns.

On today's episode, we discuss how to do ads in stores the right way, whether Google will eat the internet, whether the rebrand from HBO Max to Max worked, if the US ad market is starting to see green shoots, how successful the "Barbie" movie has been, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Ross Benes, Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf, and Max Willens.

US Supreme Court denies Epic Games’ appeal against Apple’s App Store payment practices, maintaining the current commission system amid ongoing antitrust concerns.

Lyft diversifies revenue with in-app ads: User data to optimize targeting while mitigating privacy concerns.

Disney+ and Hulu bundle up, but at a much higher cost: Disney is cranking up streaming pricing and starting a password-sharing crackdown to increase revenues.

ISpot bridges the buy-side measurement gap: The company has partnered with ad agency Camelot to help buyers navigate the fractured measurement space.

Physical retail must adapt to intensifying competition from ecommerce. Every physical retail incumbent feeling heat from Amazon recognizes the need to better compete with digital’s informational and convenience advantages. But they must do so without losing the experiential edge offered by brick-and-mortar.

For Wix, consolidating its marketing stack not only improves internal alignment but also results in an improved customer experience. The website-building company operates with teams worldwide, and is currently scaling down from about seven different marketing automation platforms.

VC and private equity can’t invest in Chinese tech with military inclinations. China is considering countermeasures, which could disrupt tech supply chains.