Smoothie King pens paperback romance novel with aid of ChatGPT

The 250-page “A Summer Fling to the X-Treme” is laced with secret codes readers can crack for the chance to win a free smoothie via the brand’s app.

By Peter Adams • May 25, 2023

Chipotle gears up for a fight with Street Fighter 6 activation

The chain is rewarding consumers who place orders on the web or via app with in-game currency and will trade free food for viewing time on Twitch.

By Sara Karlovitch • May 25, 2023

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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

Meta makes it easier to apply deals in-feed for Facebook

The new promotional ads format enables users to click an ad to automatically claim an offer and be notified before the deal ends.

By Jessica Deyo • May 22, 2023

Ads represent more than two-thirds of $500B mobile app economy, report finds

Mobile ad spending grew 14% year-over-year in 2022, a sign the channel has been resilient in the face of economic and regulatory pressures.

By Aaron Baar • May 18, 2023

L.L. Bean ditched social media for May — here’s how it’s going so far

For Mental Health Awareness Month, the retailer vowed to avoid posting on social and instead focus on nature, challenging consumers to do the same.

By Jessica Deyo • May 18, 2023

At Brandcast, YouTube weds power of NFL to creators like MrBeast

Convergence was a major theme at the 2023 presentation as the platform takes over NFL Sunday Ticket and contends with advertising headwinds.

By Peter Adams • May 18, 2023

Pepsi presses play on summer with Bad Bunny, Apple Music

The brand revealed a 90-second spot featuring the pop star as a lifeguard who can control pool-goers’ choreography with a bottle of cola.

By Chris Kelly • Updated June 1, 2023

H&M brings ‘Stranger Things’ to Roblox for summer clothing experience

The retailer is continuing its experiments in the metaverse around a collection inspired by the Netflix hit.

By Chris Kelly • May 17, 2023

NYX celebrates LGBTQIA+ gaming communities in new Pride campaign

The makeup company partnered with five different creators for “Game Out Loud” which spans several digital platforms, including Roblox and Twitch.

By Sara Karlovitch • May 16, 2023

IAB: Podcasting ad revenue growth outpaces total digital market

Despite some recent category pressures, the trade group projected podcasting revenue to more than double by 2025 to reach $4 billion.

By Aaron Baar • May 15, 2023

Meta broadens access to generative AI tools, seeking to save marketers time

Early testers of the features, which include automated background generation, expect the technology will save them at least five hours per week.

By Peter Adams • Updated Oct. 5, 2023

Candy Crush ‘candifies’ the Jonas Brothers for gaming tie-up

Players will have access to two unreleased songs by the pop trio in addition to an in-game exclusive remix of new single “Waffle House.”

By Aaron Baar • May 11, 2023

Google boosts AI chatbot Bard with visual search, third-party plug-ins

The chatbot will soon have third-party partners including Adobe, OpenTable and Instacart and is now accessible in over 180 countries.

By Jessica Deyo • May 11, 2023

Roblox grows revenue, users despite flagging metaverse buzz

The platform popular with young consumers saw revenue grow 22% year-over-year, while average daily active users reached an all-time high of 66.1 million.

By Sara Karlovitch • May 11, 2023

Amazon pursues in-game shopping with Amazon Anywhere

Launching inside AR pet game Peridot, the tool allows shoppers to view and buy products without leaving the game environment.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 10, 2023

Dunkin’s CMO on bringing the brand’s vision into focus — and those buzzy Ben Affleck ads

Jill McVicar Nelson detailed a “fewer, bigger, better” ethos that is helping to balance brand and performance marketing at a transitional point for QSRs.

By Peter Adams • May 10, 2023

TikTok expands overture to publishers with contextual ad program

Pulse Premiere partners include embattled organizations like Buzzfeed and Vox, which will receive a cut of ad revenue. 

By Peter Adams • May 5, 2023

Snap tests My AI sponsored links amid expansion of ad formats

The company also said Warner Bros. is an early partner for the new First Story takeover format that reserves the first video ad between Friend Stories.

By Aaron Baar • May 4, 2023

Inside Chipotle’s record-breaking Twitter promotion

A National Burrito Day giveaway earned the brand its second highest digital sales day of all time and its highest one-day volume on social media.

By Jessica Deyo • May 4, 2023

Chick-fil-A’s geofencing pilot reduced wait times

The chain found that 100 restaurants trimmed average wait times by one to two minutes using this technology. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 3, 2023

YouTube embellishes Shorts ads as monetization struggles endure

New tools will allow advertisers to optimize reach through artificial intelligence and position ads to appear first in users’ Shorts feeds.

By Jessica Deyo • May 2, 2023

Snap credits first quarterly revenue drop to shifting ad biz

Slowing ad demand stemming from platform changes was partially to blame for a 7% year-over-year drop, with a gloomy outlook extending to Q2.

By Jessica Deyo • May 1, 2023

Pacsun turns to TikTok for livestream shopping

A digital and social push timed to summer continues the retailer's use of emerging channels like the metaverse to engage with young consumers.

By Chris Kelly • April 27, 2023

Meta says AI is improving ad efficiency as revenue growth returns

AI helped better monetize Reels in Q1, though the company may not be out of the woods yet with continued challenges from TikTok, Apple and Amazon.

By Peter Adams • April 27, 2023

Klarna overhauls mobile app with AI-powered shopping feed

Other new features include tools for creators, a personal shopping assistant, new resell capabilities and a self-service advertising platform.

By Aaron Baar • April 27, 2023