Reddit's ad upgrade: Community-powered formats blend peer proof with targeting, making Reddit a key conversion checkpoint.
Local teams and focused store growth aim to avoid rivals’ missteps.
Credit, delivery, digital tools, and acquisitions help Home Depot chase high-value contractor spending.
Preferred Hotels & Resorts strengthens its perks but compounds redemption complexity.
Browser dominance could help autofill features chip away at Apple Wallet’s market share.
More in-person seminars tie fraud protection to loyalty, trust, and growth.
More young adults struggle with financial strain, creating an opening for banking products.
CVS MinuteClinic’s new $49 virtual GLP-1 program matches Walgreens on price, but differentiation will still be difficult in a crowded telehealth weight loss market.
Doctors remain in charge of steering condition and treatment decisions, but have the added responsibility of interpreting chatbot guidance.
Amazon Fire TV courts creator fans: A new Creator Hub boosts discovery, keeps viewing in Amazon’s ecosystem, and expands CTV ad opportunities.
Audio ads turn host trust into real buying intent: Familiar voices outperform polished spots by converting loyalty into action.
TikTok puts AI in charge: Symphony Agent turns trend spotting, creator sourcing, and ad creation into a faster, AI-led workflow.
Instagram for TV gets a makeover: Reels casting, Stories on TV, and longer videos could turn social viewing into a living-room habit.
Advertising platforms are becoming easier to use, yet performance gains remain elusive for many marketers. As AI evolves, attention is shifting from automation to the systems driving decision-making.
As advertising executives prepare to descend on the French Riviera for Cannes Lions 2026, several sessions highlight the industry's most pressing challenges, from AI-powered creativity to the tension between brand values and customer demands. "We are right in the middle of a pretty weird era of mismatch between the creative needs that brands have and what they are able to produce either on their own or via their agency partners," EMARKETER analyst Max Willens said on a recent episode of "Behind the Numbers." The festival runs June 22-25 in Cannes, France. These four sessions reveal where the industry is headed.
57% of US digital audio listeners spend the most time with music playlists, far ahead of podcasts (35%) and every other format, according to a March 2026 survey from Harris Poll and EMARKETER.
Heritage luxury jewelry brand Tacori faces a unique marketing challenge: Its core bridal customer base constantly cycles in and out of relevance. Engagement ring shoppers typically research for just one to four months before purchasing, and once they buy, they're no longer in-market.
Financial media networks’ transaction data across tens of millions of merchants and retailers gives advertisers a fresh angle when planning and measuring campaigns. This is a crucial value proposition made by PayPal Ads to advertisers looking to convert customers and compare allocations between various retail media networks.
Partnerships with TikTok and DirecTV aim to expand reach while challenging Amazon’s and Walmart’s hold on retail media dollars.
Tepid sales growth reflects deepening consumer caution and weaker demand.