ChatGPT lets shoppers buy products within the platform

Launching first in partnership with Etsy and Shopify, the Instant Checkout functionality has the potential to rival Amazon and Google, one expert said.

By Dani James • Sept. 30, 2025

Doritos dials up ‘80s-style telethon for ‘Stranger Things’ final season

David Hasselhoff, Paula Abdul and ALF are featured on a hotline and in digital spots as the Frito-Lay brand taps into fandom and nostalgia.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 29, 2025

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

Motto by Hilton gives travelers ‘main character energy’ in social series

Inspired by choose-your-own-adventure video games, “Guest Quests” features influencers Hannah Berner, Connor Wood and Kordell Beckham.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 26, 2025

Pinterest mobilizes Gen Z searchers, retail media with new ad offerings

Top of Search ads, currently in beta testing, will appear within the top 10 slots and Related Pins section of search results.

By Aaron Baar • Sept. 25, 2025

Global ad spend to rise faster than expected amid digital boom: WARC

A “pre-tariff windfall” of activity and burst of spending on social platforms led to a surprise upward revision of the researcher’s 2025 forecasts.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 25, 2025

How Essentia pushes past category cliches with its New York takeover

Created by Droga5, the Nestlé brand’s new campaign includes videos, out-of-home ads, experiential activations and influencer collaborations.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 25, 2025

Oreo transforms crosswalks into cookies to spur impulse purchases

The Mondelez brand and agency VML decorated crosswalks outside of select Kroger locations to include QR codes accessing special offers.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 24, 2025

Digital ad spending outlook dims as tariff impact intensifies: report

Retail and auto are leading a pullback, with digital now expected to grow 9.5% in 2025, two percentage points lower than prior forecasts.

By Peter Adams • Sept. 23, 2025

Sephora cozies up to beauty creators with new affiliate program

My Sephora Storefront allows U.S. influencers to build shoppable digital storefronts and arrives as sales from affiliate marketing continue to grow.

By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 23, 2025

YouTube simplifies brand, creator partnerships with new solutions

A new artificial intelligence feature is designed to help advertisers and agencies find and connect with relevant creators more easily.

By Aaron Baar • Sept. 18, 2025

How Aldi revamped its social media strategy — and why it’s working

The fast-growing company has turned away from posts that just highlight its low prices and toward more playful, culturally relevant content, its marketing director said in an interview.

By Peyton Bigora • Sept. 18, 2025

Carvana gives keys to Shaq for AI-powered brand takeover campaign

Shaquille O’Neal voices an artificial intelligence-powered “Shaqbot” assistant as part of an effort that rebrands the company as “Shaqvana.”

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 17, 2025

How Yum’s AI factory supercharges marketing at Taco Bell and beyond

Executives at the fast-food giant detail an approach to artificial intelligence that is already powering transformation throughout its digitally focused businesses.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 16, 2025

Meta deepens AI focus for latest suite of brand advertiser solutions

The tech giant is expanding access to its Reels trending ads solution, which has already been utilized by brands including JCPenney and SharkNinja.

By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 11, 2025

Ralph Lauren debuts Ask Ralph AI shopping assistant on mobile app

Powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI, Ask Ralph provides style inspiration by serving consumers shoppable versions of complete outfits.

By Aaron Baar • Sept. 11, 2025

Mary Kay combats brand myths with social media series targeting Gen Z

“Miss Conceptions” includes content meant to debunk misunderstandings about the cosmetics brand, like “Isn’t Mary Kay just for grandmas?”

By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 11, 2025

T-Mobile taps into NFL hype as top sponsor of George Kittle series

“Kittle Things,” an original show from sports entertainment platform DAZN, has also drawn sponsorships from Little Caesars, Lysol and PrizePicks. 

By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 9, 2025

How Shake Shack removes friction between web traffic and app downloads

As it begins to invest in paid media at scale, the fast casual chain teamed with Google to drive more app conversions and return on ad spend.

By Chris Kelly • Sept. 8, 2025

Unlocking brand potential with next-generation domain names

Innovative, forward-thinking brands are discovering the power of creative domain extensions like .studio. They offer personalization, authenticity, and relevance, while instantly conveying a brand’s purpose, closing the divide between its domain name and identity. 

Sept. 8, 2025

Snap’s new app ad formats aim to lower CPAs, drive reach

Among the new offerings are Playable App Ads that allow Snapchat users to try a mini version of an advertiser’s game without leaving the app. 

By Aaron Baar • Sept. 4, 2025

Inside Peach & Lily’s unconventional influencer marketing strategy

The skin care brand sent unbranded versions of its product to creators for a campaign that generated engagement five-times higher than previous efforts.

By Jessica Hammers • Sept. 4, 2025

Jägermeister defends ice-cold shots with arcade-inspired video game

Alongside the brand’s Stag mascot, players of the web-based game must defeat “anti-fun bad guys” looking to impede on a night of drinking. 

By Aaron Baar • Aug. 28, 2025

TikTok spotlights its influence on music culture for global campaign

“See Where Music Takes You” includes a spot set to “Love Me Not,” the hit song by Ravyn Lenae, whose success on TikTok helped launch her career.

By Jessica Hammers • Aug. 28, 2025

Little Caesars dials up NFL marketing with deals, co-branded campaign

The pizza chain is also flexing partnerships with football stars like Saquon Barkley for its fourth year as the Official Pizza Sponsor of the league.

By Jessica Hammers • Aug. 26, 2025

Downy tells ‘Almost Scandalously Soft Stories’ for Spotify campaign

The P&G brand is tapping into the growing popularity around audiobook romances with four stories that position freshness as a sensorial escape.

By Aaron Baar • Aug. 21, 2025