Breaking down the marketing winners and losers from Q1 2018

From Cambridge Analytica to Crystal Ball Frappuccinos, scandals and successes from the first leg of the year carry important lessons for marketers. 

By Kayla Matthews • April 9, 2018

Report: Netflix aims to acquire Los Angeles billboard company for $300M

Regency Outdoor Advertising would help the streaming service heighten visibility in heavy traffic areas and a hub for the entertainment industry. 

By Erica Sweeney • April 9, 2018

Adidas will create 30K videos at the Boston Marathon — 1 for each runner

The personalized videos will be created using radio-frequency identification chips attached to bibs and be available just hours following the race. 

By Erica Sweeney • April 9, 2018

Study: 38% of consumers think online ads should be shorter than TV

Amid a surge in experimentation around ad length, new research provides some insight into what consumers want. 

By Erica Sweeney • April 6, 2018

Fruit or vegetable? Heinz brings age-old debate around tomatoes to digital

Consumers can vote online and on social media, and the brand will release limited-edition ketchup packaging based on the winner. 

By Erica Sweeney • April 6, 2018

Werther's Original builds life-sized Candy Land with Hasbro

Those who missed the Santa Monica activation can play the game digitally and interact with a 360-degree video exploring the pop-up experience. 

By Erica Sweeney • April 6, 2018

Dove teams with Cartoon Network to support young peoples' self-esteem

A two-year effort with "Steven Universe" includes animated shorts, a music video and an e-book, all supported by scientific evidence around body image.

By Erica Sweeney • April 5, 2018

'Friends,' 'Full House' intros re-imagined as 8-bit animations for 'Ready Player One' promo

Warner Bros. is riding the '80s and '90s nostalgia craze with clips posted on YouTube, Facebook and Snapchat. 

By Erica Sweeney • April 4, 2018

ANA: Nearly half of advertisers plan to increase influencer spending

A survey revealed that, among those that are not already using the tactic, 27% plan to start in the next 12 months.  

By Erica Sweeney • April 4, 2018

The North Face pledges equal representation for women in ads

The Move Mountains initiative celebrates female explorers through short films and includes a multi-year outdoor adventure partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA. 

By Erica Sweeney • April 4, 2018

Samsung, Pepsi see success with YouTube's new TrueView for reach campaigns

The format, which combines the platform's in-stream ads with cost per thousand impressions buying, makes some bumper assets skippable. 

By Erica Sweeney • April 3, 2018

Jeep lets viewers ride the waves with World Surf League 360-degree experience

Users can explore Oahu, Hawaii with two of the brand's vehicles, and select different paths on their journey using "gaze-based interactions." 

By Erica Sweeney • April 3, 2018

Mercedes-Benz recruits rocker Henry Rollins to challenge ideas of toughness

A new branded content series includes podcasts and a one-hour TV documentary where the music icon addresses stereotypes around van owners. 

By Erica Sweeney • April 2, 2018

LinkedIn accelerates video push with native ads, content for company pages

More than 46% of B2B advertisers said finding a quality environment to reach decision-makers with video is a top challenge, the platform found. 

By Erica Sweeney • March 29, 2018

White Castle bursts onto fitness scene with whey protein powder

The burger chain is promoting the product — suspiciously launching on April Fools' Day — with an infomercial where a muscle-clad man asks viewers if they want to get "swole."

By Erica Sweeney • March 29, 2018

Porsche delivers car customization through new haptic ad format

Users demoing the technology can scan a QR code to create a dedicated microsite with rich media content focused on their personalized vehicle. 

By Erica Sweeney • March 29, 2018

Heineken pulls 'lighter is better' ad after Chance the Rapper, others call it racist

In the spot, a bartender slides a bottle of Heineken Light past several black people before it lands with a paler-skinned woman.

By Erica Sweeney • March 28, 2018

YouTube TV signs on as first-ever presenting sponsor for NBA Finals

Sports viewing is in the midst of a significant upheaval and it could be some time before it becomes clear who the new leaders are. 

By Erica Sweeney • March 27, 2018

Study: Mid-tier creators prove more engaging, trustworthy than both celebs and microinfluencers

There's a sweet spot for brands with digital trailblazers and emerging voices that have more than 250,000 followers but not necessarily blockbuster audience sizes.

By Erica Sweeney • March 27, 2018

Tumi takes new luggage line around the world in short film starring Alexander Skarsgard

The James Bond-esque video features scenic views of destinations ranging from Italy to Mongolia, where each stop highlights one of the Tumi Latitude suitcase's qualities

By Erica Sweeney • March 27, 2018

NBA lets some fans stream a live game's final quarter for 99 cents

Offering access to parts of games through micro-transactions could turn into a moneymaker for the league as it emulates Amazon's Twitch.

By Erica Sweeney • March 26, 2018

Sherwin-Williams, Hanes, Powerade lead March Madness social media engagement

Among official NCAA sponsors, Capital One experienced a 2,573% lift between March 11-19 compared to March 2-10.

By Erica Sweeney • March 23, 2018

Campaign Trail: Starbucks's fortune-telling Frappuccino; AR T-shirt explores the human body

Dual-purpose products make a splash with a drink that also predicts the future and apparel that's part educational toy. 

By Peter Adams , Chantal Tode • March 23, 2018

Target lands starring role on NBC's 'Superstore'

Scenes for an episode of the show were filmed inside a real brick-and-mortar location, and featured the brand's bull terrier mascot Bullseye. 

By Erica Sweeney • March 23, 2018

Digital ad spend will reach 50% of total ad sales in 2018, forecast says

The U.S. ad market is projected to grow 5.5% this year — a higher rate than previously expected — to reach an all-time high.

By Erica Sweeney • March 22, 2018