Wendy’s marketing embraces the macabre with ‘Wednesday’ collaboration

The chain’s pigtail-sporting mascot is swapped for scowling Wednesday Addams for a limited-time meal collaboration and in-app mobile game.

By Peter Adams • July 23, 2025

Why American Eagle tapped Sydney Sweeney for its priciest campaign yet

The effort spotlights the retailer’s jeans through activations spanning social media, including an artificial intelligence-powered Snapchat try-on experience.

By Jessica Hammers • July 23, 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

JCPenney builds on promising brand push with ‘Back-to-It’ campaign

The campaign, with creative by Mischief and paid media by DentsuX, includes buys on podcasts like “Good Hang” and a TikTok Branded Mission.

By Chris Kelly • July 21, 2025

Volkswagen accelerates tech transformation with new digital AOR

CI&T was praised for its capabilities in generative AI and a product-first approach, which has aided in recent vehicle launches like the ID. Buzz.

By Peter Adams • July 21, 2025

Chips Ahoy links with ‘Stranger Things’ for AR game, themed cookie

The brand is inviting fans of the Netflix series to enter the Upside Down via on-pack QR codes to find cookies that translate into real-life prizes.

By Jessica Hammers • July 21, 2025

How Sun Bum’s loyalty program leaves ‘punch card land’ and builds community

The marketer of sun care products built a platform that turns consumer actions and user-generated content into opportunities for brand engagement.

By Chris Kelly • July 17, 2025

Discord strengthens pitch to advertisers with new Orbs virtual reward

Users who complete branded experiences called Quests can earn Orbs that can be redeemed for exclusive items in the Discord Shop. 

By Aaron Baar • July 17, 2025

Pacsun spotlights mall culture for denim campaign targeting Gen Z

“Denim Days” nods to the younger cohort’s interest in shopping malls and will include a presence around TikTok Shop’s Super Brand Day event.

By Jessica Hammers • July 16, 2025

Why JanSport revived its cringeworthy back-to-school ads to reach Gen Z

The backpack maker’s TikTok-focused effort returns for a second year after an initial run led to the brand’s highest grossing sales day in history.

By Jessica Hammers • July 15, 2025

Samsung Ads bows ad solution to turn CTV viewers into mobile gamers

While currently dedicated to gaming brands, the Mobile Conversion product will soon expand to verticals including travel, QSR and retail.

By Aaron Baar • July 10, 2025

Sprite leans into Gen Z’s love for spicy flavors with global campaign

Along with out-of-home and social media activations, the Coca-Cola brand teamed with TikTok for an interactive filter for the “Hurts Real Good” push.

By Chris Kelly • July 10, 2025

American Eagle drives in-store back-to-school shopping with Snap Map

The retailer is promoting 800 of its locations in the app and will also launch an augmented reality AE Jeans Try-on Haul Lens.

By Jessica Hammers • July 10, 2025

DoubleVerify, IAS develop attention measurement solutions for Snap

DV Authentic Attention for Social and Snap Attention Measurement, respectively, combine ad exposure data with Lumen eye-tracking technology.

By Aaron Baar • July 2, 2025

Sephora doles out Lyft credits to transport shoppers to its stores

“Delivered to Beauty” will be active in five major U.S. cities from July 7-10, overlapping with Amazon’s Prime Day shopping bonanza. 

By Jessica Hammers • July 2, 2025

Powerade powers up user-generated content challenge on TikTok

The Coca-Cola brand is using the platform’s Branded Mission offering to drive social media buzz around new Xtra Sour flavors.

By Sara Karlovitch • July 2, 2025

Will AI ‘completely rewire’ loyalty programs?

Companies have been able to segment customer data for years, but AI takes it a step further, enabling brands to target offers to specific individuals through their rewards programs.

By Michael Brady • July 2, 2025

Coke brings personalized touch to Disney ‘Star Wars’ collaboration

“Refresh Your Galaxy” was made by WPP’s bespoke Open X agency for Coke in collaboration with Disney and features an AR experience.

By Peter Adams • July 1, 2025

Sociable: Pinterest shares tips for aligning Pin listings with visual search

The social media platform reveals key considerations to help brands align with its evolving visual search tools and changing user habits.

By Andrew Hutchinson • June 26, 2025

LG continues positivity push with AI-powered ‘Radio Optimism’

An interactive platform seeks to combat social media disconnect and allows consumers to create and send personalized songs to their loved ones. 

By Aaron Baar • June 26, 2025

Subway enters Happy Gilmore’s headspace with digital experience

The chain worked with Netflix on a Subway’s Happy Place online hub that emulates the Zen zone Adam Sandler’s character enters when golfing. 

By Peter Adams • Updated June 27, 2025

Uber Advertising brings Ride Offers to international markets

Molson Coors was among the first to see success from the solution, which allows brands to reward Uber passengers with offers on their next trip.

By Aaron Baar • June 20, 2025

TikTok brings expanded suite of generative AI ad tools to WPP, Adobe

TikTok Symphony features, including dynamic digital avatars, are coming to WPP Open to provide more “firepower” for agency creatives.

By Peter Adams • June 17, 2025

E.l.f. brings AI-powered color-matching for makeup to Pinterest

In other artificial intelligence-focused news from Pinterest, it is working with Macy’s to test auto-collages. 

By Jessica Hammers • June 17, 2025

How DoorDash is evolving its retail media arm as ad revenue grows

The ads division just acquired ad-tech startup Symbiosys for $175 million and is introducing new artificial intelligence tools for restaurant brands. 

By Peter Adams • June 16, 2025

Jack in the Box links with T-Pain for Fortnite map, Twitch livestream

The partnership promotes a limited-edition, late-night Munchie Meal and builds on a “So Munch More” platform launched earlier this year.

By Aaron Baar • June 12, 2025