**Due to a change in content strategy at DMS Insights, bylines are no longer used and most of the older content has been removed. Sarah’s stories have been recreated below, exactly as they were published.**
First it was high-waisted jeans and scrunchies, and then it was… everything. More and more fashion brands are tapping into those nineties vibes to tweak the nostalgic feels of Millennials and Gen X, but mainly to capture the attention of younger consumers — the ones who wear the scrunchies. (Generation Z, 1997-2012, represents more than [...]
The internet has thousands, possibly millions, of listicles about cats. In fact, a quick search reveals “17 Cats Who Look Like Madonna” as an option, but listicles can be more than just feline/popstar mash-ups and instead offer valuable opportunities for marketers to reach consumers who are in a shopping mindset. The rise of listicles, which [...]
In a partnership that leverages the strengths of both organizations, Disney has partnered with Sport England’s “This Girl Can” program, which inspires women and girls to get active. The Disney/“This Girl Can” activation uses famous Disney tunes to encourage moms and daughters to try out fun dance routines together.“Working with ‘This Girl Can’ to create [...]
Starbucks has introduced a new concept store capitalizing on the success of their mobile ordering. The pickup store, now open in New York City, will have limited staff and cater primarily to mobile orders.No Menus, No Food, No Problem — Starbucks Embraces Frictionless Solutions The new Starbucks pickup store is the answer to one of [...]
Subscriptions are where it’s at — in retail, direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales, media, business and nearly every sector where consumers are spending money. The growth of subscriptions is a defining characteristic of the shifts in consumer preferences and expectations, particularly with the rise of digital, which makes opting in and paying for subscriptions as simple as [...]
The push-pull between privacy and personalization can be difficult for brands, but when it comes to data, brands can earn loyalty, engagement and repeat business by being trustworthy and transparent. According to Accenture Interactive’s 2019 Consumer Pulse survey, “73% of consumers are willing to share more personal information if brands are transparent about how it [...]
On October 31st, Pepsi launched House of PepsiCo, an ecommerce site dedicated to selling branded apparel and accessories through partnerships with well-known fashion labels.House of PepsiCo serves to give Pepsi greater visibility and generate excitement with fans. Matthieu Aquino, VP of Global Beverage Design and Brand Experience at PepsiCo, explained, “We are integrating licensing to [...]
When it comes to industry disruption, Millennials are often the disruptors. From Uber to Airbnb, Millennials have leveraged technology and efficiency to change previously entrenched industries, and insurance may be the next market undergoing a shift in business as usual.Over and over again younger consumers assert their interest in relationships that feel personalized and authentic. [...]
For luxury car buyers, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year — to gift a beautiful car. Many car dealers find that December is a banner month for gifting cars, especially high-end models. However, as auto manufacturers start to embrace digital advertising more readily, holiday marketing campaigns could be an opportunity to reach [...]
Healthcare is a hot button issue right now — in politics and technology. Americans are living longer and healthcare is evolving to keep up, embracing digital innovations across delivery, treatment, retail and customer service.Pharmacies Evolve To Embrace More Digital, Holistic Healthcare SolutionsIn 2018, CVS acquired Aetna, a move industry insiders called “a shift toward major [...]
Recruiting students requires a robust multichannel marketing approach. Mailers, college fairs and phone calls used to comprise a complete education marketing plan, but now reaching prospective students must include a fully digital strategy, inclusive of robust engagement and retention strategies, particularly since the targeted audience is the most tech and advertising savvy in history.Attracting Students [...]
People love a dog in a sweater. A bow on the cat. A tiny hat for the gerbil. So, not surprisingly, Americans are expected to spend a lot on their pets in 2019, to the tune of $75 billion. More than two thirds of those billions will be spent on food and vet care, but [...]
The holidays are hugely important for brands and retailers. Shoppers are out and about, either literally or virtually, and capturing that consumer attention is critical for brands who want to end the year on a positive note. The massive growth of “shopping holidays” Black Friday and Cyber Monday has brands everywhere in overdrive to get [...]
Facebook recently introduced an Ad Volume API (Application Programming Interface), that, according to a recent Facebook blog post, “will help advertisers understand how many ads they’re running and prepare for the upcoming ads limitations that will be introduced next year.” Facebook has released very few specifics about the new ad volume limits.Who Will Be Affected [...]
Mortgage brokers and originators are currently enjoying a refinance boom and a strong home sales market. However, changing expectations of consumers and limited prospective borrower knowledge about the housing market and the mortgage process mean mortgage marketers must effectively nurture prospective borrowers consistently from initial interest through the final closing steps. A robust engagement campaign [...]
It used to be a relatively simple process to buy a car, and one most people undertook at multiple points in the course of their adult lives. Leasing and car rentals became options in the late 1940s and 1950s, but other than that, car buying experienced very little disruption. Until recently, when car subscriptions and [...]
More and more brands are focusing on the stories they tell their consumers, creating a bond that encourages brand loyalty. Often a brand’s story includes a mission asserting the brand’s internal values and larger cultural worldview, which ideally matches that of their customers. Brands may go about mission-based marketing in a variety of ways, including [...]
The closer America gets to the 2020 general election, the more pervasive political advertising across social media platforms becomes. However, the inundation of political ads may be about to change — sort of. Facebook, Twitter and Google have all announced changes, or potential changes, to their political advertising policies. When, where and how these policy [...]
Google continues to update and evolve their advertising, most recently revising their financial products and services policy. The new policy will ban certain types of debt and credit repair services from advertising on Google.What Is The Google Update To Their Financial Products And Services Policy?According to the Google Blog, beginning in November, Google restricted “advertisement [...]
‘Tis the season to sell a lot — and tap into the nostalgia that many shoppers feel over the holidays. Over the years, there have been many touching commercials that capture hearts and remind shoppers not just what to buy, but to be grateful for their friends, family and warm homes. Classic commercials often manage [...]
“Creating video that supports our core products can deepen our relationship [with consumers],” said Nate Checketts, Co-Founder and CEO of Rhone, at the 2019 IAB Direct Brand Summit. Rhone is a men’s athletic wear company that began with a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model, and Checketts, at the IAB summit, was discussing the benefits of video when [...]
Earlier this year, a settlement between Google and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) included a requirement that YouTube develop and implement a system that helps advertisers and channel owners comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).What Is COPPA?The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), effective beginning in 2000, is a federal law that [...]
Returns are a part of any retailer’s business. But how to handle returns, from company-wide policies through finalized returns, is what can differentiate a retail brand for consumers. And, perhaps more importantly, continuing engagement with consumers after a return, to maintain a positive relationship and encourage future sales, should be an integral part of product [...]
Gen Z is on the loose. Now nearing their mid-twenties, Gen Z is surfing, swiping, buying and starting to make a big impression. Born in 1995, Gen Z is more than 66 million strong in the U.S., the most diverse generation in history and will represent more than 40% of all consumers by 2020. Gen [...]
Bustling department stores are a sure sign of the holidays. Despite online shopping growing faster than brick-and-mortar shopping, department stores and big box stores remain important shopping options for many consumers, with 90% of holiday shoppers predicted to make in-store purchases this year. For major retailers, differentiating themselves with commercials can be a captivating way [...]
Keto, Whole30, fasting, running, not-running — diet and exercise are constantly evolving. Even for people who aren’t interested in losing weight, determining what is “ok to eat” or the best kind of cardio is a constantly shifting challenge. The powerful Millennial demographic and near-constant use of technology across generations has a significant influence on nutrition [...]
In order to capitalize on high-intent inquiries from prospective insurance buyers, insurance marketers should be tracking lead performance from click to conversion (and beyond) and deploying optimized multichannel campaigns. Robust data, shared throughout the lead acquisition and conversion process, can reduce the spend wasted on costly, low-intent leads, instead scaling for quality leads which deliver [...]
In their latest advertising feature update, Facebook is rolling out machine learning capabilities that deliver more tailored ads based on user preferences. These new targeted dynamic ads take the burden off of busy advertisers who want customization but don’t have the resources to properly execute and scale the most targeted campaigns. The Facebook ad feature [...]
Wouldn’t it be nice to reach into the TV and buy the outfits of your favorite TV stars? You may not ever be able to shop Jennifer Aniston’s closet, but products and merchandise may soon be a click away for TV watchers thanks to shoppable videos. Shoppable videos are gaining popularity and could offer opportunities [...]
Subscriptions are here to stay. The explosion of recurring products and services has been facilitated by the rise of the digital and mobile age and the sheer number of Millennials, who are comfortable with the subscription model and exchange of information online. The Subscription Economy Index (SEI) report from Zuora found subscription businesses grew five [...]
Fitness apps are a growing component of the already booming health and wellness market. Anticipated to reach more than $14 billion by 2026, fitness apps appeal to modern consumers comfortable using mobile apps for everything and confident managing their own well-being thanks to the influx of Goop-like websites that encourage self-care. The price point of [...]
The market for final expense insurance is more varied than it may initially seem, including more than just senior citizens. Final expense insurance, a whole life policy that primarily covers funerals, end-of-life expenses and unexpected bills, can be a sensitive subject for marketers. It’s important to understand the mindset of the final expense market before [...]
In 2018, 38 postseason college bowl games reached 90 million unique fans, averaging 5,008,000 viewer per game. College football fans, which includes students, alumni and other die-hards, are incredibly devoted to their teams. This vocal group of highly-engaged fans drives the continued popularity of the NCAA alternative to the NFL, and marketers are capitalizing.NCAA college [...]
In 2019, brands embraced a number of innovations in marketing. Some of these evolutions were necessitated by changes in consumer expectations, and other trends were fun cultural moments, like engaging rap stars to promote products. Across all the changes, one thing was certainly true in 2019, consumers started calling the shots on how and what [...]
The television landscape is almost entirely different than it was five years ago. Streaming is overshadowing cable, and audiences want a TV-watching experience as devoid of overt, intrusive advertising as possible. This desire has created an opportunity for streaming networks to try out new kinds of advertising that meet the wishes of audiences and the [...]
Despite a lot of “I never post on there anymore” anecdotes, social media use continues to grow. According to Hootsuite, there are 3.7 billion people on social media worldwide, up 9.6% year over year (YOY), and more than 3.6 billion of those users are accessing social on their mobile devices. The average social media user [...]
A brand can be a disruptor the moment it enters the market. The disruption may happen because the brand immediately shakes up an established industry, motivates competitors or changes how consumers perceive a certain system or product. A brand can also become a disruptor as it matures and the brand impact across markets becomes more [...]
Memes, defined in the mid-seventies as “any shareable cultural artifact that spreads through a culture like wildfire,” and more recently likely to feature Kermit drinking tea, are a cultural phenomenon and an ubiquitous presence in the lives of younger online audiences. Ask a teenager what they talk about with their friends, and they're likely to [...]
Nearly 100 million viewers tuned in to the Super Bowl in 2019. Every year, it is the most watched broadcast, and many people enjoy the commercials as much as the NFL’s big game, with hosting networks making more than $480 million in revenue from the coveted ad spots.Super Bowl advertising can be a perfect opportunity [...]
Recently, Spotify announced it will not be accepting political advertisements in 2020 across its ad-supported tier and original podcasts. Although Spotify has 141 million users on its free tier, political ads don’t constitute much revenue for the streaming service.Why Has Spotify Stopped Accepting Political Ads?“At this point in time, we do not yet have the [...]
Ghostery, a browser extension that uses its own proprietary technology to detect and blocks ads and trackers, has recently launched Ghostery Midnight. Midnight brings that same ad blocking technology to desktop apps, providing ad-blockers, tracker-blockers and a virtual private network (VPN), allowing for additional privacy and mitigating third-party data collection.Why Did Ghostery Introduce Midnight?In an [...]
The recent release of the AdAge Marketing Fact Pack 2020 revealed “the internet in 2020 will account for more than half of both U.S. and worldwide ad spending.”Digital Advertising Will Account For 53% Of Total Ad SpendA growth of 6.5% in overall U.S. ad spend is anticipated in 2020 with a 12.4% jump in digital [...]
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), once an event for cool gadgets and television technology, has become one of the biggest auto events of the year. The increasing convergence of the tech and automotive industries, with a growing need for monetization, make cars and CES a natural fit. CES has dedicated more than 290K square feet [...]
Seamless, frictionless, one-click — whatever it’s called, consumers want it. The less time spent fiddling around trying to pay for something, the better. The average ecommerce cart abandonment rate is more than 69.5%, and among the reasons consumers ditch their carts are “long and confusing checkouts.” Choosing the right payment solution or “gateways” can alleviate [...]
The Doctor is back, and this time she isn’t the only one with fancy technology. In conjunction with the premiere of the new season of Doctor Who, BBC America deployed an augmented reality (AR) activation that let fans interact with a computer-generated TARDIS, the Doctor’s time machine.The Doctor Who campaign from BBC America is the [...]
Although the rise of the internet has ushered in massive changes in shopping behaviors for everyone from teenagers to grandparents, methods of payments have actually changed very little. According to the Observer, despite predictions that ecommerce will be a trillion-dollar business in the near future, “one out of every three dollars spent online is charged [...]
In a shopping world dominated by digital commerce, is there a place for brick-and-mortar stores? Conversely, can a modest brick-and-mortar business go online without the burden of expensive technology and onboarding? All signs point to yes for both — and retail-as-a-service (RaaS) providers may be the answer.How Can RaaS Help Retailers Find Consumers?Younger consumers like [...]
Tax season has arrived, and accountants everywhere are sharpening their pencils. Or, more likely, consumers everywhere are weighing whether to hire a personal accountant, buy tax preparation software or trust their taxes to a big-box accounting firm. Complex tax laws and a preference for online filing often drive consumers to choose tax preparation software to [...]