蘑菇AV

Generous returns policies have encouraged shoppers to buy online, but an unsustainable wave of returned goods is forcing retailers to rethink their strategies.

70.5% of US traditional search ad spend will go to Google in 2026, according to our March 2024 forecast.

鈥淚n the digital era, each step along the path to purchase has become significantly more complex,鈥� our analyst Blake Droesch said on a recent 蘑菇AV webinar. 鈥淭he store remains a vital centerpiece, but the number of digital channels that consumers are using to discover and evaluate brands continues to grow at a rapid pace.鈥� Brands and retailers need to stay on top of evolving purchasing behavior to meet their customers where they are. Here are three trends and opportunities that can help.

The old form of social networking may be dying. But our forecast shows people spend more time on social platforms, so marketers need to be aware of what the new era of social media looks like. Gen Z and TikTok certainly dominate social media headlines, but Meta maintains a stronghold, even as it struggles to make new endeavors like Threads take off.

Retail media has transitioned from its 1.0 era, defined by on-site search and sponsored product ads, into the era of retail media 2.0, which consists of a mosaic of ads on-site, in-store, and across other media channels. 鈥淭he opportunity gets much bigger, but realizing the opportunity also gets a lot more complex,鈥� our analyst Andrew Lipsman said on 鈥淏ehind the Numbers: Reimagining Retail.鈥�

The 鈥淢ad Men鈥� approach of finding the perfect slogan and polished copy isn鈥檛 gospel. For some, we鈥檙e now in the era of unpolished content, disruptive formatting, and what TotalRetail is calling 鈥渨eirdvertising.鈥� These ads take the basic idea of memeification found on social media and extend it to other forms of display advertising, including out-of-home (OOH) and print.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss the most important parts of the EU's new AI Act, what's missing, and how these rules could shape US regulation. "In Other News," we talk about what nefarious GPTs can get up to and a card-linked buy now, pay later (BNPL) offering. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Carina Perkins and Yory Wurmser.

Time spent on media and consumer spending are plateauing, making one company's gain another's loss. Diving into these market dynamics, we explore innovative strategies for advertisers and retailers to win consumers in the new digital era.

Problematic creator funds are a thing of the past: TikTok is sunsetting its creator fund one year after YouTube changed the game with a revenue-sharing model.

Advertising Week New York kicks off next week. Last year, speakers discussed everything from Web3 to connected TV (CTV) to social media. This year, we鈥檒l be watching for updates related to retail media, AI, and social media鈥檚 era of transformation.

Amazon reshapes NFL viewership on streaming platforms: Nielsen's ratings versus internal data presents challenges in the era of digital broadcasting.

On today's episode, we discuss how a new era of social media is rising, whether folks want to pay for things with their hand, when the best time to email your co-worker is, how Walmart+ is getting on, what AI in the home might look like, the most popular cars in the US, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Ross Benes and Blake Droesch and forecasting director Oscar Orozco.

Advertising and PR reach highest employment levels since 2001: Job surge counters the trend of cutbacks in tech and media companies.

On today's episode, in our "Retail Me This, Retail Me That" segment, we discuss the current retail media era, the partnerships that make the most sense, and how social media plays a role in this space. Then for "Red-Hot Retail," our analysts give us four spicy predictions about the future of retail media. Join our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts vice president and analyst Andrew Lipsman and analyst Max Willens.

Search is pivoting toward AI chat. Google has its Search Generative Experience (SGE) and Bard. Microsoft has its new Bing and a partnership with OpenAI. These fundamental changes to search will change user behavior and monetization. Here鈥檚 how the new era of search will affect advertising for brands, retailers, and publishers.

Retail media is moving from its initial state (search and on-site display ads) up the funnel toward social, open web, and connected TV. As retail media networks move into their next era, they should leverage partnerships to explore new channels, said Evan Hovorka, vice president of product and innovation at Albertsons Media Collective.

Many of the pandemic-era rewards used to entice credit card spending could prove costly for issuers this year.

Instagram鈥檚 new Quiet mode offers an olive branch to parents and regulators as the Biden administration vows to go after Big Tech for 鈥減ut[ting] our children at risk.鈥� All social platforms can sense a new era of accountability, and they鈥檙e making active moves to stay on regulators鈥� good side.

US ad market grows 14% YoY in July: While spending continues, the industry remains cautious amid economic uncertainties and election-year volatility.

Trust remains crucial for banks as authorities tussle to stop panic and restore stability after the collapse of three banks.

Senators鈥� questioning highlighted the dangers of a lack of accountability on Wall Street. That could pave the way for new regulations.

Banks and payment providers shouldn鈥檛 ignore consumers increasingly using cash to combat cost-of-living pressures.

Inflation is inevitable and its impact is extensive, affecting everything from the cost of goods to consumer behavior and business expenses. To navigate these challenges, ecommerce businesses must be proactive in finding solutions to combat inflation鈥檚 effects to emerge stronger and more resilient.