News and Analysis
Wix Brings Vibe Coding Out of Experimentation and Into the Enterprise
Website creation is entering a new phase — one where ideas are translated into functioning digital experiences through conversation rather than code. Known as vibe coding, this prompt-driven approach has captured attention for its speed and accessibility, but until now it has largely remained experimental. With the launch of Wix Harmony, Wix is betting that […]
Stic Turns Everyday Driving Into a New, Measurable OOH Channel
Out-of-home advertising is getting more mobile and more measurable. Stic, a platform that turns everyday driving into a brand exposure network, has raised $10 million in bridge funding as agencies and advertisers search for alternatives to crowded digital channels. By paying drivers per mile to carry brand messaging through real neighborhoods, Stic offers brands a […]
Retail Media’s Maturity Moment: Why 2026 Changes Everything for Brands
Retail media is entering its maturity phase — and in 2026, there will be no hiding behind experimentation. As brands shift real budget into retail media networks, the pressure is on retailers to prove incremental impact, operational rigor, and measurable outcomes at scale. With U.S. retail media ad spend projected to surpass $69 billion, the […]
Commentary
2026 Predictions: Where Multi-Location Brands Win Next
As we head into 2026, multi-location (MULO) and franchise brands are walking into one of the biggest opportunities we’ve seen in years. Not because there’s a shiny new channel that suddenly solves everything, but because Paid, Earned, and Owned Media are finally starting to work together in a way that rewards brands who think locally […]
Streets Ahead: Google Core Update, IG Search, Review Delays
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses the Google December 20025 Core Update, Instagram search traffic and Google Review appeals delay. Google Rolls Out December 2025 Core Update The News Google has launched its December 2025 Core Update, marking the third broad algorithm change this year following major releases in March and June. The […]
Intentional Marketing in the Age of AI: Smarter Strategy Choices for 2026
If 2025 has taught me one thing about AI, it’s that success won’t be about who uses the most. It will be about who uses it most intentionally. That’s why I want to take a step back from the marketing buzzwords. Before you jump into implementing any new AI solution in 2026, it’s vital to […]
Latest Posts
Google AdX Agency Deals Shift Programmatic Dynamics – But Not Enough
Do Google’s recent concessions to agencies signal a new era of transparency in the programmatic ecosystem? After years of operating as a near-impenetrable fortress, Google’s AdX has begun offering direct discount deals with media agencies, signaling a willingness to change its traditionally rigid programmatic marketplace. Agencies have long sought to improve their relationships with supply-side platforms […]
OOH Advertising Hits $2.13B in Q3 Revenue
The advertisers that helped push record-high revenues in the OOH channel in Q3 include digital-first brands such as Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Uber, HBO, FX, and Paramount+. At $2.13B in Q3 revenues, OOH advertising delivered its strongest third quarter on record, according to new data from the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA). Year-to-date […]
Guideline Unveils Customizable AI Dashboards, Elevating Advertising Data Analysis
Guideline has introduced a major enhancement to its AI-driven analytics platform, unveiling Customizable AI Agent Dashboards that convert conversational insights into structured, persistent workspaces. The launch marks a meaningful evolution in AI-powered media analytics, enabling teams to move from natural-language queries to continuous analysis supported by Guideline’s more than $170 billion in verified annual ad-investment […]
Cadent Buys VuePlanner, Expands Total Video Capabilities Across YouTube and CTV
Cadent, the predictive advertising platform known for its leadership in cross-screen advertising, announced a significant expansion today with the acquisition of VuePlanner, a company recognized for innovation in YouTube advertising, campaign optimization, and independent measurement. The acquisition strengthens Cadent’s positioning as a converged media platform capable of delivering a single, unified workflow for advertisers across […]
The Top Challenges in Localization and How Brands Solve Them
For mission-driven brands, trust is everything. Yet a single poorly worded message or misplaced visual can unintentionally damage that trust—especially as awareness campaigns expand into new communities. Growth requires reach, but reach without localization and cultural relevance risks appearing inauthentic or disconnected from the people you want to serve. With 76% of people preferring information […]
Streets Ahead: OpenAI ‘Code Red’, Google Maps & Gemini, Review Extortion
In this week’s Streets Ahead update, SOCi discusses Google and OpenAI escalating the AI platform race as Gemini outperforms GPT-5, Google Maps gaining new Gemini features, and Google responding to rising review extortion. Gemini’s Lead Triggers OpenAI ‘Code Red’ The News OpenAI has been shipping new ChatGPT features at a steady clip, but on core […]
Adform Integrates with Spotify Ad Exchange to Advance Programmatic Audio Buying
As digital audio spending accelerates toward a projected $43 billion global market in 2024, Adform and Spotify are expanding their partnership to bring agencies and brand marketers new levels of efficiency, transparency, and omnichannel precision. The companies announced that Adform is now directly integrated into the Spotify Ad Exchange, giving buyers streamlined access to Spotify’s […]
Plymouth Rock Launches Campaign for Northeast Region
Plymouth Rock Assurance, which provides homeowners and car insurance to customers in the Northeast, has a new ad campaign in which it advises customers to “keep calm and rock on,” a fairly reasonable directive, considering the vertical. North Carolina ad agency McKinney, created the campaign that is meant to support the idea that living in the Northeast […]
The App-or-Web Dilemma: Where Brands Should Steer Holiday Shoppers
A shopper clicked on your Black Friday email. They landed on your mobile site, ready to buy. A full-page interstitial pops up: “Download our app for a better experience!” They closed it. Lost sale: $150. Multiply that by thousands of clicks during peak shopping days, and you’re leaving serious money on the table. Most retailers […]
Balancing Local SEO and Paid Ads Using Hyperlocal Visibility Intelligence
For agencies working with multi-location (MULO) brands, one of the hardest ongoing decisions is how to split resources between local SEO and paid media. The reality is this: local SEO and paid ads are not competing disciplines. They’re complementary, and the most effective agencies aren’t choosing between them — they’re deciding where each produces the […]
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