News and Analysis
Shein, Temu Pull Back on U.S. Ads
There aren’t many surprises in Tinuiti’s Q1 Digital Ad Report, but retailers will be interested to know what Temu and Shein are up to. Both seem to be playing possum when it comes to digital ads in the U.S., according to Tinuiti. The performance marketing agency recently released insights around Temu’s sudden pullback from Google Shopping […]
The MULO Dozen: April in Review
In April, Karla Jo Helms of JOTO PR Disruptors called our media outlet a “must-read for MULO (multi-location) brands navigating the fast-changing terrain of local, digital, and retail.” To that end, we bring you 12 top stories of each month from the retail, restaurant, service, franchise, hospitality, and convenience store ecosystem. What these brands are […]
“Consumer Discovery is Now a Free-for-All” Declares SOCI in New Study
The SOCI 2025 Consumer Behavior Index (CBI) reveals that marketers need to shift gears when it comes to search, declaring the industry’s state “the marketing crisis you didn’t see coming.” The study has enormous implications, as traditional search is evolving rapidly. According to their late-breaking announcement based on the index, the strategies that MULO (multi-location) […]
Commentary
Building Blocks of a Multi-location Marketing Campaign
In today’s increasingly competitive digital marketplace, multi-location brands face unique challenges formulating their geographically driven marketing strategies. From maintaining brand consistency to tailoring efforts for local markets, businesses with multiple locations must walk a fine line between brand consistency and local relevance. With the right approach, brands can address these challenges effectively and build campaigns […]
Streets Ahead: Google’s AI Driven Search, Apple Business Connect
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, we discuss Google’s new AI-driven search features and updates to Apple Business Connect that expand business presence to the Apple ecosystem. Google Introduces New Search Features The News Google is introducing AI-driven enhancements to its search features, focusing on providing diverse and intuitive ways for users to interact with […]
Streets Ahead: Facebook Local Tab, DOJ Weighs Google Breakup
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi looks at Facebook’s new local tab as well as the DOJ recent recommendations that may lead to the breakup of Google. Facebook Unveils Local Tab in Youth-Focused App Redesign The News Facebook has introduced a major app redesign, described by Social Media Today as a “youth-focused refresh.” This update […]
Latest Posts
Spend Wisely in 2025! Perspectives from Four MULO Leaders
MULO (multi-location) brands have more marketing investment options than ever. Conventional versus digital, national versus local, influencers versus professional content creators, OOH versus everything else—the list goes on and on. The old-school media buyer has been replaced by AI-powered analytics, which enable marketers to shift spending at the blink of an eye or the click […]
Social Media: The Missing Puzzle Piece for Performance Media Success
Brand loyalty has evolved into a cornerstone of sustained success, rooted in emotional connections, trust and shared values rather than just prices or products. Loyal customers do more than return—they advocate, creating ripple effects that amplify a brand’s reach and resonance. In the commerce media, social media has become a pivotal tool for addressing gaps […]
Streets Ahead: Tiktok Ban Looming, Trial Reels
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses the looming TikTok ban and the Instagram roll out of Trial Reels. TikTok Ban Looming The News The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled on Friday in favor of the government, affirming that TikTok must divest from its parent company, ByteDance, by January […]
LoopMe Acquires Chartboost from Zynga, Driving AI-Powered Brand Advertising
LoopMe, a leader in AI-driven brand advertising, announced the acquisition of Chartboost, a prominent mobile advertising and monetization platform, from Zynga Inc., a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ: TTWO). This strategic move cements the company’s position in leveraging artificial intelligence to deliver measurable outcomes for brands while expanding its influence in mobile app and […]
Grubhub Uses Donuts To Entice Local Sign-ups
When Grubhub wanted to let people know how its partnership with Amazon will work, it chose to activate in a pop-up event in Pioneer Park section of Chicago last month. Using a 12-foot inflatable donut to attract attention, the event was in support of Grubhub’s Delivery’s Other Half campaign in which Amazon Prime members do […]
The Humans Behind the Data at Placer Discover
Year-end can be a challenging time to bring a group of business professionals together for one final conference. Seasonal obligations, meeting fatigue, and EOY pressures are convenient excuses to skip that trip to New York. Unless, of course, the event organizer is Placer.ai. Location analytics hardly seems like a merry topic, but the organizing team behind Placer […]
Why MULO Brands Should Consider a Neighborhood-Level Marketing Strategy
Enhanced digital marketing tools are making it easier to connect with local audiences at scale. One of the most effective ways to leverage these tools is through a neighborhood-level marketing strategy, a highly focused approach to targeting specific neighborhoods instead of broader, more generalized areas. Particularly for multi-location businesses, embracing local methods can help engage […]
What’s Shwell in Attracting Hourly Workers?
No, that’s not a typo. MULO (multi-location) convenience store (C-store) brand Sheetz is opening a massive “Shwellness Center” across the street from one of its major locations in Pennsylvania. This center will offer some of the lifestyle benefits of its current Shwellness center (see below), as well as routine medical appointments, physical therapy, and behavior […]
Know Your Client’s Target Audience
Maximizing the impact of your communications — whether in marketing, public relations, or any other approach used to share a brand story — requires paying close attention to context. Without considering context, brands risk coming across as irrelevant or untrustworthy, even when they have a solid solution to a consumer problem. When context is properly […]
The Freezer Beyond the Grocery & C-Store
Cryotherapy is one of the latest categories to scale in the health, wellness, and longevity space. In this column, we’ve detailed how brick-and-mortar businesses have expanded far beyond the typical gym as the population ages and become more concerned about staying healthy longer. Highly specialized brands and franchises are offering body-related services like IVs. I […]
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