News and Analysis
Spectrio and Screenverse Partner to Monetize Brand-Owned Screens
Spectrio announced a strategic partnership with Screenverse, one of the fastest-growing players in the programmatic digital out-of-home (DOOH) space. The collaboration, announced October 15, 2025, expands Spectrio’s capabilities by introducing programmatic ad monetization directly into its enterprise signage ecosystem, turning brand-owned screens into scalable media opportunities. For Spectrio, a long-time leader in digital signage and […]
Has the SWAS (Store-Within-A-Store) Model Hit the Brand Wall?
Retail brand partnerships are nothing new. Big-box retailers seeking new ways to drive traffic were drawn to the SWAS (store-within-a-store) model. In other words, retail brands that had their brick-and-mortar stores set up “outposts” in other well-known stores to bring new consumers through the doors and boost sales of the co-located brand, without the full […]
Translation Needs the Right Turn of Phrase
Phrase is a language technology platform that combines advanced AI translation tools, workflow automation, and creative collaboration within a single environment built to answer the need for any and all global content needs across a business. Phrase has released a new wave of product innovations across global markets. Capabilities like Auto Adapt, Phrase Studio, the […]
Commentary
Streets Ahead: Cheeg Sues Google, Terakeet & AI Overviews
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses the first major lawsuit against Google’s AI Overviews as well as the Terakeet study highlighting the positive impact of AI Overviews on website traffic. Chegg Sues Google Over AI Overviews, Claims Major Revenue Loss The News Chegg, a well-known education technology company specializing in study resources and […]
Streets Ahead: TikTok Returns, Google AI-Powered Q&A
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses the return of TikTok and a new AI-powered Google feature for local answers. TikTok Returns to App Stores Amid Uncertainty The News After weeks of being unavailable for new downloads, TikTok is back in Apple and Google app stores. From January 19 until last week, new users […]
Latest Posts
Vistar Media and Western Union Partner Up for DOOH Ecosystem
Vistar Media, the leading global provider of technology solutions for out-of-home (OOH) media, just announced an agreement with Western Union to manage and monetize its growing network of more than 2,200 digital out-of-home (DOOH) screens across the United States, Canada, and Brazil. The global out-of-home (OOH) advertising market is projected to reach $42B billion in […]
Streets Ahead: Instagram AI-Powered Search, TikTok Creator Search Insights
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi covers Instagram’s new AI-driven search feature and TikTok Creator Search Insights Instagram’s AI-Powered Search The News Instagram is testing an AI-powered search feature within the comments section, according to AdWeek. This new tool automatically generates AI-driven search summaries, offering users relevant context as they engage with posts. 🔹 […]
Study Reveals Why You Got those Ads
We’ve all been served ads that made us wonder, “How’d that sucker get in my feed?” The answer is inefficiency. Adlook, a global media tech company specializing in digital advertising solutions, conducted a study that showed how outdated data results in reaching the wrong audiences with ads. The chief offender is demographic targeting. In a poll […]
Not Your Momma’s Market: The Grocery Store Embraces Technology
Like all other MULO (multi-location) industries, grocers or more correctly the grocery store sector is amplifying its use of technology to aid the shopping experience, increase consumer preference, and streamline buying and inventory management. Swiftly, a leading integrated retail technology platform trusted by grocers like Target, IGA, and Save Mart, recently announced a major expansion […]
Going Local with Paige Sawin of Sparkcatcher Media
Paige Sawin, President of Sparkcatcher Media, won our virtual scavenger hunt at Street Fight LIVE 2024. She knows the local search space intimately and works with brands to ensure that when people search “near me,” her client brands, products, and services can be quickly and effectively found. We sat down with her to discuss the […]
Why Q5 Signals a Shift for Ecommerce in 2025
The start of a new year always marks the end of the holiday season, and as the frenzy of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day subsides, many retailers shift their focus away from advertising, assuming that consumer interest and spending have peaked. But in reality, a lucrative Ecommerce opportunity remains hidden in plain sight: […]
Yext Scout: AI-Powered Search & Competitive Intelligence Agent
Yext officially launched Yext Scout, its new AI-driven search and competitive intelligence agent, designed to help multi-location brands navigate an increasingly complex and fragmented search landscape. With consumers turning to a mix of traditional search engines (Google, Bing) and AI-powered platforms (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok) to discover businesses, brands must understand where they appear, how […]
Keeping the Shelves Well Stocked: A Conversation With Joe Spisak
Joe Spisak is the CEO and Founder of Fulfill.com. Supply chain issues are certainly not as sexy and creative as that new ad campaign, AI-powered marketing system, or redesign of a MULO (multi-location) brand footprint. But they are critically important to brands and customers alike. After spending a small fortune on SEO and media campaigns, […]
Streets Ahead: Google Traffic Surges and AI Mode Launches
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses the 2024 surge in Google search traffic and the Google launch of AI Mode as a search alternative. Google Search Traffic Surges 22% in 2024 The News A new study from Rand Fishkin at Sparktoro reveals an eye-opening trend: Google search traffic surged by 21.64% in 2024 […]



















































The Strongest Brands Don’t Copy Their Competitors