7-Eleven cashes in on Alipay, WeChat Pay at Canadian stores

The Chinese payment services are now available at 35 locations in Vancouver and Toronto before a planned expansion.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 26, 2018

The winners and losers of Black Friday 2018

Some retailers delighted their customers with promotions and free shipping while others crashed and burned. 

By Kaarin Moore • Nov. 26, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Influencer Marketing

Amid a surge in confidence and new platform approaches, brands continue to turn to influencers for fresh content that can reach online consumers.

By Marketing Dive staff

Programmatic advertising expands more slowly than expected, study says

Stricter data laws in Europe and investments in infrastructure by advertisers are two reasons why Zenith has pulled back its forecasts.

By Erica Sweeney • Nov. 26, 2018

Cheddar: Snap reboots Spectacles with AR effects

Despite disappointing sales of the headset, the company appears undeterred in its long-term goal of expanding AR imagery beyond the confines of a small screen.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 26, 2018

Mobile checkout time drops 12 seconds in Q2

A new report links mobile conversions to speed, variety of payment options, free shipping and checkout consistency.

By Dan Alaimo • Nov. 21, 2018

Gucci designs emoji fashions for chat startup Genies

The Italian fashion giant is the exclusive provider of virtual luxury clothing and accessories for the celebrity-backed chat app.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 21, 2018

KLM's travel VR series showcases faraway destinations

Celebrity chef Kiran Jethwa provides a guided tour of Thailand and Hawaii in immersive video episodes.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 21, 2018

Amazon brings Alexa to more Bluetooth gadgets

Brands can create voice-enabled apps that work on a broader range of wireless devices with the Alexa Mobile Accessory Kit.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 21, 2018

YouTube to stream 'The Lego Movie' within trailer ad for upcoming sequel

In a new ad opportunity on the platform, anyone viewing the trailer for the new Lego movie on Nov. 23 can screen the full-length original film.

By Erica Sweeney • Nov. 21, 2018

DSW cashes in on AR 'smile meter' for Black Friday

A full-screen ad asks mobile users to smile at their smartphone camera to measure their happy expressions and deliver a discount.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 21, 2018

Chili's taps into online pop-up trend with limited Cyber Monday merch

The brand's team of designers shared sneak peeks of the gear on social media, including a T-shirt inspired by a popular episode of "The Office."

By Erica Sweeney • Nov. 21, 2018

ShopRunner launches 'District' mobile marketplace

The e-commerce network unveiled an app heavy on personalization and Amazon product comparisons.

By Dan O'Shea • Nov. 20, 2018

Snap opens certification program for AR creators

Lens development was once limited to its in-house agency, but the company has gradually opened the platform to brands and agencies.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 20, 2018

Instagram clamps down on fake followers, 'inauthentic activity'

Parent company Facebook is working to clean up its social platforms from nefarious schemes.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 20, 2018

Travel + Leisure magazine debuts local-focused show on IGTV

This is the first of 10 that magazine publisher Meredith will develop for the platform.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 20, 2018

Papa Murphy's bakes 'thumb-stopping' cues into 100 pieces of social creative

The "Bake It Up a Notch" campaign racked up 1.2 million organic impressions and surpassed benchmarks on Twitter by 29 times.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 20, 2018

Covergirl plans Black Friday opening for experiential-focused flagship store

Interactive elements, including an AI-powered greeter, AR glam stations and selfie backdrops could draw crowds during the Thanksgiving weekend.

By Erica Sweeney • Nov. 20, 2018

Digitalization of audio advertising leaps forward in new deals from iHeartMedia, Pandora's AdsWizz

The audio ad market is in flux as consumers spend more time listening to podcasts and streaming music on mobile devices and as the adoption of smart speakers grows.

By Erica Sweeney • Nov. 20, 2018

Comic Dive: Half-Baked Thanksgiving Turkeys

This holiday season, poultry producers are stuffing their campaigns with QR codes, emoji and voice activations — but no fresh ideas.

By John Hazard and Lisa Burdige • Nov. 20, 2018

Will brands make Gen Z's naughty or nice list?

Gen Z defies easy categorization, but that's unlikely to deter marketers from trying to engage these influential consumers during the crucial shopping season.

By Jacqueline Renfrow • Nov. 19, 2018

YouCam Makeup blends AI, AR for Beauty 3.0

Perfect Corp. released the next generation of the app with a promise to provide more personalized and accurate virtual try-ons.

By Dan Alaimo • Nov. 19, 2018

84% of Gen Z travelers are influenced by social media, Expedia study finds

Travel-related advertisers like hotels, airlines and resorts have the power to sway the cohort's decisions through mobile platforms and influencers, Expedia found.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 19, 2018

'The Grinch' hacks Honda's Twitter account

The Dr. Seuss character's signature grumpy style is on full display across social media in GIFs and other shareable content.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 19, 2018

Amazon sees 22% jump in 'Thursday Night Football' viewership, MediaPost reports

The tech giant differentiates the Fox TV broadcasts it simulcasts on Prime and Twitch with alternate audio and interactive features.

By Erica Sweeney • Nov. 19, 2018

Snapchat enlists Kylie Cosmetics to launch in-app social commerce

"Shop and Cop" will offer deals from about 20 brands beginning on Black Friday and ending Cyber Monday.

By Robert Williams • Nov. 19, 2018