On TikTok, USA Today Finds Traction Without News

For USA Today parent company Gannett, social media success has little to do with the news. Two of its editorial franchises, Humankind and Problem Solved, have seen growth in their social reach across TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, where the brands have prioritized vertical video formats. There, the media company has used the viewership to generate…

Pricing for the Creator Economy Is All Over the Map

In the rapidly growing creator economy space, even the creators themselves struggle to price their wares. U.S. advertisers are anticipated to spend more than $6 billion on influencer marketing this year, per Insider Intelligence. But creators still aren’t sure how big a piece to claim from this pie, a new report from social media management…

Dove’s Latest Campaign Turns Its Back on TikTok’s Bold Glamour Filter

TikTok’s new Bold Glamour filter has been downloaded more than 16 million times since it launched last month. Dove is taking a stand against it and the unrealistic beauty standards it perpetuates in an influencer-led campaign from Ogilvy and David. Part of the long-running Dove Self-Esteem Project, the #TurnYourBack effort kicked off March 9 with…

How KFC Canada Quickly Reclaimed the Chicken Narrative During McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac Debut

After months of teasing the launch, it’s official: Starting Tuesday and for a limited time only, Canadian McDonald’s fans can enjoy the Big Mac with chicken patties instead of beef. Yet, judging from the follow-up social media exchanges with fellow fast food brand KFC, that doesn’t mean that there is no beef to be had….

Redefining ‘Link in Bio’ With Linktree

From content creators to musicians, social media plays a major role in sharing announcements, current projects and upcoming gigs. In the early days of social platforms, users could only share one link in their bio, having to constantly swap them whenever something new happened like announcing a tour or new merchandise. In 2016, Linktree changed…

Marketers Should Care About De-influencing, the TikTok Trend that Won’t Quit

Influencer marketing is maturing. Creators are leaving #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt back in 2022, declaring 2023 the era of #De-influencing instead. As “eat the rich” storylines permeate culture (see: The White Lotus, The Glass Onion, The Menu and your Twitter timeline), Gen Z is mounting its own push against capitalism on TikTok. In the simplest of terms, “De-influencing”…

Adweek Podcast: Building a Brand With Jess Zafarris

On this week’s very emotional episode of Yeah, That’s Probably an Ad, Adweek managing editor of creativity, creator economy and DEI Shannon Miller is joined by managing editor for marketing and agencies, Jameson Fleming, and special guest Jess Zafarris on her last day as Adweek’s director of audience engagement. Over the last three years, Jess…

RPA Journeys Through Santa Monica’s Black History With Unapologetic Walking Tour

Santa Monica, Calif. is a predominantly white city, but it was once home to the thriving Black community of Belmar, which was established during the Great Migration but destroyed in the 1950s to build the Santa Monica Freeway and Santa Monica Civic Center. Indie agency RPA, which has been based in Santa Monica for more…

How Ukraine’s Ad Sector Built a Social Content Company to Alter Perceptions of the War-Torn Nation

On the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a state-affiliated, yet independently run media organization is stepping up its mission to make a difference and tell human stories amid the inhumanity of war. While the war is fiercest on the frontlines, Ukraine’s advertising and creative sectors continue their fight in the information war. Once heavily…

Heinz Wants to Give Rescued Man a New Boat, But Has to Find Him First

A man who was lost at sea for 24 days–surviving on only ketchup, spices and rainwater–has proven to be elusive now that he’s back on dry land. And Kraft-Heinz is asking for help in locating Elvis Francois, who made international news last month when he was rescued 120 nautical miles off Colombia. The legacy brand,…

Overtime Launches Boxing Vertical, Its Third Franchise, Citing Youth Demand

Sports media publisher Overtime launched its third franchise Tuesday morning. Overtime Boxing (OTX) centers on a series of four summertime match cards hosted in its exclusive venue, OTE Arena, featuring male and female boxers. The new vertical marks the latest offering from Overtime, whose unique business model entails creating standalone sports leagues featuring young athletes,…

This Campaign Reimagines a Romantic Landmark to Reflect Modern Love

Couples have flocked to the Park of Love in Lima, Peru since it opened on Valentine’s Day in 1993. The theme is represented by mosaics with quotes about love and a central elevated sculpture called The Kiss, depicting a man and a woman embracing and kissing. For the park’s 30th anniversary, digital wallet Yape and…

Ownership Will Define the New Era of Black Influence

Signal. Telegram. Mastodon. Discord. Geneva. We’ve recently seen a sudden surge in the social media sector, possibly due to the tenets of Web3, as people ditch larger platforms and flock to ones that provide better security, tighter data privacy and less algorithmic manipulation. The niche subcultures these newer platforms cultivate, focused around specific topics and…

TikTok Loves an Underdog Story. Where Does That Leave Big Brands?

For a struggling taco shop in Glenview, Ill., the difference between a disheartening lack of foot traffic and a sold-out menu was a 10-second TikTok post. A decor company based in Grand Rapids, Mich., was saved when the owner’s daughter brandished his collection of horror-themed Christmas ornaments on the platform. And Keith Lee, a former…

A Fresh Look at B-to-B Marketing Through Social-Colored Glasses

For decades, b-to-b brands have formed their visual identity and logos based on “professional” tones and styles. We’ve all seen them: blue or red text splashed on a plain white background with minimal additional color, often devoid of any personality or flair. Appropriate for a corporate audience? Sure. Effective in attracting today’s social-first audience? Not…

3 Super Bowl Advertisers Winning the Digital Content Game

Early this football season, the National Football League began shifting tactics to engage younger fans on social media as people reallocate their attention from TV to digital content that is fun, snackable and highly visual. With Super Bowl 57 quickly approaching, Big Game advertisers–who spent up to a record-breaking $7 million for 30-second spots this…

Plastic Surgeons Are Pausing BBLs to Promote Breakfast Cereals—for Free

As creators who don’t rely on commission checks, TikTok plastic surgeons are more concerned with performing celebrity facelifts than promoting facial cleaners. Viral surgeons like Richard Brown–whose account @therealtiktokdoc is approaching 8 million followers–favor educational content over sponsored posts. But Ian Wishingrad, co-founder and CMO of Three Wishes cereal, has persuaded this group of brand-hesitant…

Users Engaged, and So Did Advertisers, Giving Meta a Year-End Boost

Facebook’s parent company Meta closed the year with its first-ever year-over-year decline in ad revenue due to a weak economic climate and Apple’s privacy rules. However, the company reported strong demand for advertising as it saw an uptick in Facebook users. Meta reported nearly $32.2 billion in revenue for the quarter, down 4% from the…

Twitter: How to Turn on Password Reset Protection on Mobile

Twitter allows users to turn on password reset protection to add an extra layer of security to their account. Our guide will show you how to turn on password reset protection from within the Twitter mobile application. Note: These screenshots were captured in the Twitter mobile app on iOS. Step 1: Tap your profile picture…

TikTok Celebrates Chinese New Year With Heartfelt ‘Red Envelope’ Messages

For the Chinese New Year, TikTok is not only offering heartfelt messages, but reminding its users of the importance of Chinese traditions. The social platform collaborated with creative agency Fred & Farid Shanghai to create and launch its Chinese New Year campaign featuring Chinese star Andy Lau. The campaign, which references the traditional Hongbao custom…