Latest Marketing & Advertising News
Google Improves Accuracy of Advertiser Account Suspensions
Google announced significant enhancements to advertiser moderation, reducing wrongful suspensions for legitimate advertisers due to incorrect flags or unintentional violations. VP Keerat Sharma detailed these changes to boost fairness in ads privacy and safety. This update addresses ongoing concerns in ad enforcement.
AI-Generated Ads Face Major Backlash in 2025
High-profile brands encountered consumer backlash against AI-generated ads perceived as inauthentic and tone-deaf, with 39% of US viewers viewing them negatively. Many brands are scaling back AI reliance in creative processes to prioritize authenticity. This underscores the need for creative guardrails.
Creator Economy Startups Secure Nearly $2B Funding
Thirteen creator economy startups raised about $2bn in 2025, driven by AI and social commerce innovations, with eight firms securing at least $50m each. Platforms like Whatnot reached valuations over $11bn, signaling strong investor interest in creator tools. This fuels influencer monetization growth.
Unilever Plans 20x Increase in Influencer Partnerships
Unilever aims to expand influencer collaborations 20-fold and allocate half its ad budget to social media, up from 30%, sparking a gold rush in the creator economy. This has raised fees for top influencers and influenced peers like General Mills and Gap. Industry experts call it a market-moving catalyst.
5 Key Influencer Marketing Trends for 2025
Trends include the rise of micro-influencers for authentic engagement, AI-powered discovery, emphasis on transparency, long-term partnerships, and Gen Z-driven social commerce on TikTok and Instagram. Brands are advised to leverage AI tools and focus on sustained relationships. These shifts maximize campaign impact.
Google Rolls Out December 2025 Core Search Update
Google's third major core algorithm update of 2025 rewards relevant, satisfying content, potentially shifting SEO strategies for 2026. It impacts search visibility amid ongoing AI and GEO developments. Marketers must adapt organic plans accordingly.
Nielsen Partners with XR for Automated Ad Measurement Tagging
On December 18, 2025, Nielsen collaborated with Extreme Reach to automate measurement tracking for brands and agencies, addressing workflow complexities. This aligns with 2025's AI agent trends like Amazon Ads Agent. It simplifies campaign measurement amid rising automation.
Helium AI Launches Tools for Presentations and Campaigns
Helium AI released Mantis and Prism to streamline enterprise presentations and marketing campaigns, reducing workflow fragmentation while ensuring brand compliance. These tools aid marketers doing more with less. They enhance ideation and delivery efficiency.
Email Marketing Retains Edge in AI-Disrupted Landscape
Amid AI search summaries and zero-click trends, email offers enduring advantages through owned channels, trust, and direct relationships over volatile platforms. Marketers are shifting budgets to build durable customer ties. This counters declining social media trust.
GEO Emerges as Mainstream SEO Evolution in 2025
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) gained traction for AI search, though definitions remain unclear, alongside declining clicks from Google's AI Overviews. SEOs balance GEO with traditional practices. Businesses report traffic drops despite Google's claims.
AI Reshapes Global Media and Advertising Industry
AI drives core transformations in media and advertising, from content creation to personalization and predictive analytics for 2026 trends. It enables hyper-personalized campaigns and automates processes at scale. Brands must integrate it strategically.
Marketers Rank Top Generative AI Image and Video Tools
Digiday's 2025 report card evaluates generative AI tools for images and videos, identifying winners and losers in the agency landscape. This guides tool selection amid rapid AI evolution. Insights shape creative workflows.