IHOP opens International Bank of Pancakes with sunny influencer push

The brand's first loyalty program — which doles out crypto-inspired PanCoins — is supported by creators known for their sense of joy.

By Peter Adams • April 11, 2022

Skullcandy keys into music, self-expression in yearlong social push

"Find Your Frequency" will feature one theme each month, spotlighting ambassador tie-ins that illustrate how music can inspire living authentically.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • April 7, 2022

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Retail Marketing

Top stories that underscore the leading influences on retail marketing, including Gen Z, pop culture and generative AI.

By Marketing Dive staff

How Express drove revenue gains, 20% traffic bump with digital experiences

After adding more modern shopping features and functionalities in its app, the retail brand saw average order value rise 27% from a year earlier.

By Robert Williams • March 31, 2022

Pizza Hut rides 'struggle bus' with experiential push

After a stop at the Final Four, the bus will support college students during exams and host a special episode of Betches dating podcast "U UP?"

By Chris Kelly • March 30, 2022

Adidas creates paid affiliate program for more than 50K student-athletes

The effort allows any eligible student athlete at an Adidas-partnered NCAA Division I university to become a paid affiliate brand ambassador.

By Cara Salpini • March 23, 2022

Pepsi enlists silent TikTok star Khaby Lame to pour new nitro cola

Lame, who's accrued more than 135 million followers, wordlessly showcases the proper way to serve Nitro Pepsi in print ads, billboards and social videos.

By Peter Adams • March 22, 2022

Arby's CMO dishes on Pusha T diss track

To launch a spicy fish sandwich, the QSR tapped the rapper to take shots at McDonald's and the Filet-O-Fish.

By Chris Kelly • March 22, 2022

Honda tunes up Twitch strategy beyond gaming with DreamLab

The lifestyle-focused page hosts weekly content like DJ competitions and pop culture discussions in the race to win over younger drivers.

By Peter Adams • March 18, 2022

Heineken parodies metaverse with virtual brew

Developed with Publicis Italy and Le Pub, the activation leans into metaverse hype and boasts "no calories, no hidden ingredients, and no beer."

By Sara Karlovitch • March 18, 2022

How podcasts are helping brands meet DEI commitments

Multicultural podcast agency Pod Digital Media recently inked an eight-figure deal with McDonald's as the brand invests in diverse media.

By Chris Kelly • March 14, 2022

Dollar Shave Club signs 'chin-fluencer' to NIL deal for March Madness

The effort is part of the Unilever brand's "Noticeably Smooth" campaign, which also features a quirky mafia-themed spot that will air during the tournament.

By Chris Kelly • March 10, 2022

66% of brands spent more on creator marketing in past year

Social commerce, TikTok and full-funnel measurement top the list of fresh developments marketers will explore in the year ahead, CreatorIQ predicts.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • March 3, 2022

Denny's refreshes 24/7 heritage with help of diverse TikTok stars

A new brand platform targets younger diners through influencer menu collaborations positioned as different from common "hacks" in the category.

By Peter Adams • Feb. 28, 2022

Kraft Singles squares up with Kelis on culture play

The first cheese-inspired "Singles Single" follows buzzy Kraft Heinz campaigns like the Oscar Mayer bologna face mask.

By Chris Kelly • Feb. 25, 2022

Twitch unveils guaranteed ad income for select creators

The streaming service is encouraging select creators to run advertisements on their channels for a flat rate.

By Sara Karlovitch • Feb. 24, 2022

How the producer economy is changing influencer marketing

Brands that become content producers have more flexibility, including how they negotiate relationships with influencers.

By Robert Williams • Feb. 10, 2022

Universal, Snap host virtual concert to promote J-Lo's 'Marry Me'

Snapchat users were able to see their Bitmoji in the crowd as film stars Jennifer Lopez and Maluma performed as avatars.

By Chris Kelly • Feb. 3, 2022

Shake Shack hooks up with DoorDash for chicken sandwich-themed dating site

The brands are linking to help spicy food lovers "eat cute" in time for Valentine's Day with an effort that could generate valuable first-party data.

By Chris Kelly • Feb. 3, 2022

Groupon invites fans to Gronk's house for Super Bowl party

Promoted with an ad on YouTube, Groupon's experiential activation highlights the type of experiences offered on its marketplace.

By Nina Lentini and Chris Kelly • Jan. 25, 2022

Marriott seeks TikTok creators to drive content around loyalty program

Marriott Bonvoy TikTok Correspondents will creatively document everything they encounter on social media, reinforcing how essential travel can be.

By Nina Lentini • Jan. 18, 2022

Progressive inks esports naming rights deal in latest sign of category's maturation

Regular sponsored Twitch streams and a shared space with Immortals in Minecraft demonstrate how media tactics differ from traditional sports tie-ups.

By Peter Adams • Jan. 14, 2022

Looking ahead: 9 trends that will steer marketing in 2022

Marketers face a steep road this year juggling emergent tech and changes to online tracking while trying to meet the shifting moods of pandemic-weary consumers.

By Peter Adams , Chris Kelly , Natalie Black (Koltun) • Jan. 11, 2022

User-created content — especially video — gains on traditional media consumption

The creator economy's role in the media landscape is growing as teens report spending 56% of their viewing time streaming user-generated videos and other content.

By Nina Lentini • Jan. 6, 2022

TikTok dethrones Google as most-visited website

The social video app hit the 1 billion user mark in September and is forecast to reach 1.5 billion monthly active users toward the end of 2022.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • Dec. 23, 2021

Triller merges with SeaChange to extend reach into OTT media

Set to close in Q1, the deal takes the social media platform public and positions it to build a TikTok competitor.

By Nina Lentini • Dec. 23, 2021