Lowe's, Chick-Fil-A, Papa John's top ranking of app performance

The best-performing brands have apps that load on mobile devices quickly to keep customers engaged in a branded experience.

By Robert Williams • May 20, 2020

Spotify nabs exclusive streaming rights to Joe Rogan's podcast in reported $100M deal

Licensing "The Joe Rogan Experience" is the platform's latest move to dominate the growing podcast space.

By Robert Williams • May 20, 2020

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

YouTube advertisers get access to streaming TV under new YouTube Select offering

Ahead of the NewFronts, YouTube is unifying and expanding its premium video ad offering with an emphasis on areas that are booming during the pandemic.

By Peter Adams • May 19, 2020

Schick mobile game, Twitch stream raise money for cancer research

The Edgewell brand enlisted livestreamers to play "Shave The Day," after which they will shave their heads when donation goals are met.

By Robert Williams • May 19, 2020

Report: Papa John's Giphy sticker pack highlights Shaq, new menu item

A gamified AR lens on Snapchat rounds out the pizza chain's effort to engage homebound consumers with entertaining content.

By Robert Williams • May 19, 2020

TikTok names Disney streaming executive new CEO

Kevin Mayer will lead the social video app that has surged in popularity among mobile users worldwide and serve as COO of parent company ByteDance.

By Robert Williams • May 19, 2020

McCormick spices up taco night with Drew Barrymore livestream

The #TacosTogether event on Instagram Live will raise awareness for No Kid Hungry during the pandemic.

By Robert Williams • May 19, 2020

Apple buys virtual reality content startup NextVR

NextVR works with sports leagues and media outlets to offer programming that people view while wearing a VR headset.

By Robert Williams • May 18, 2020

Airbnb matches with Bumble on virtual date experiences

Shareable online activities include wine tastings, cooking lessons, virtual tours, escape rooms and music appreciation classes to help new couples bond during quarantine.

By Robert Williams • May 18, 2020

Report: Reddit gets new ad sales boss as its looks to broaden appeal

Harold Klaje, previously global head of growth at Pinterest, arrives as the platform looks to better court brand and direct response marketers.​

By Robert Williams • May 18, 2020

Where does TikTok go from here?

Amid soaring downloads, and brands and influencers flocking to capitalize on the growth, TikTok's evolution is being shaped by changing media habits during the pandemic.

By Natalie Black (Koltun) • May 18, 2020

Google Chrome update blocking resource-depleting ads goes live, sowing confusion

Digiday reported some publishers were surprised by the feature, with insiders claiming they hadn't received an update since its announcement in May.

By Dianna Christie • Updated Aug. 26, 2020

Facebook acquires Giphy image-sharing platform for reported $400M

The popular service for sharing GIFs will join the Instagram team and further integrate with the app, which was already a significant driver of traffic.

By Peter Adams • May 15, 2020

Black Forest gummy bear builds virtual forest on Instagram

Part of the candy brand's effort to raise awareness for National Love a Tree Day on May 16, the effort comes amid growing expectations around sustainability.

By Robert Williams • May 15, 2020

TikTok to present at IAB NewFronts for 1st time

Appearing at the NewFronts is a significant step in the social video app's efforts to make media buyers more aware of its power to engage audiences, especially younger ones.

By Robert Williams • May 15, 2020

AppLovin buys Machine Zone to expand mobile gaming ambitions

Machine Zone's games, including "Game of War: Fire Age" and "Mobile Strike," have generated $5 billion from more than 310 million lifetime downloads.

By Robert Williams • May 15, 2020

Budweiser kicks off nostalgic concert series on YouTube

Tapping the Black Eyed Peas for the first episode, the brand is urging fans to select songs they want to hear and ask questions of performers on social.

By Robert Williams • May 15, 2020

Almond Board urges Twitch gamers to 'pwn your everyday'

Banners, digital billboards and digital videos feature jargon from the gamer subculture in the trade group's campaign on Twitch.

By Robert Williams • May 14, 2020

LA Rams reveal new uniforms with Snapchat AR lens

The integration could be a welcome source of content for sports-starved fans, but the team's new logo has become the focus of derision on social media.

By Robert Williams • May 14, 2020

Busch Light paints fan faces on NASCAR car

While fans will not be in the stands, the Twitter contest gives them a chance to be represented at the event.

By Robert Williams • May 14, 2020

Pandemic could drive higher AR/VR adoption, study predicts

Applications for the tech include deeper product visualization, more immersive virtual try-ons, access to item details and exploring virtual malls.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • May 13, 2020

EMarketer: Instagram, Snapchat outpace Facebook in engagement growth

The coronavirus pandemic will lead people to ramp up their social media usage for the first time since 2017.

By Robert Williams • May 13, 2020

Shake Shack debuts social cooking series to build brand community during quarantine

Hosted by Culinary Director Mark Rosati and Executive Chef John Karangis, "Shake Shack at Your Shack" provides tips on how to make the chain's menu items at home.

By Robert Williams • May 13, 2020

Twitter acquires mobile DSP to boost performance ads

CrossInstall focuses on user acquisition campaigns for mobile apps with ad formats that include playables.

By Robert Williams • May 13, 2020

Smartly.io adds Snapchat to automated social ad platform

Brands can now use Smartly.io's tools and services to run hyper-localized campaigns on Snapchat and monitor their performance.

By Robert Williams • May 13, 2020