News and Analysis

The New Creator (and the Brand Creator Behind Them) Street Fight

The New Creator (and the Brand Creator Behind Them)

Joseph Perello, founder and CEO of Props, created his company to provide content for MULO (multi-location) and other brands that need credible ways to reach consumers. Many brands have invested in mass influencer or creator marketing, which may drive eyeballs and social media traffic but doesn’t always lead to sales. The words “performance-driven” on Props’ […]

MULO Brands With Soul December Pick: Hummingbirds Emily Steele Street Fight

MULO Brands With Soul December Pick: Hummingbirds

Our previous Brands With Soul have all been retail, restaurant, service, and CPG brands with multiple locations (MULO) and millions of dollars to spend on rewarding their teams and giving to charities. But soul isn’t just for those brands. In fact, starting a business that serves MULO brands can be in the hands of an […]

'Tis the Season of Predictions: The Rise of First-Party Data Networks, According to Perion Street Fight

‘Tis the Season of Predictions: The Rise of Data Networks, According to Perion

We’re at that time of year again. We’re not just talking about holiday spending. It’s the season where industry experts have future thinking dancing in their heads like sugarplums. Daniel Aks, President of Undertone by Perion, predicts the rise of first-party data networks across financial and transportation sectors. He anticipates major ad tech mergers and […]

Commentary

Marketing on Twitter amid Platform Uncertainty

Users keep discussing whether to abandon the platform for a new one, but what should businesses do? Many companies use Twitter to create brand awareness and reach customers, so should they leave Twitter or wait to see what happens? 

A Bird’s Eye View of Digital Ad Trends in 2023

What’s in store for 2023? The key word is adaptation: across devices, tools, and channels. Brands and their partners will rely more on first party data, artificial intelligence, and tools to meet the ever-present demand to measure marketing effectiveness. 

Marketing in a Recession: How 2008 Can Inform 2023 Strategy

By being creative with your marketing budget, listening to your customers, and taking advantage of data, you can do more than just survive an economic recession; you might even grow. 

Latest Posts

Wild Wing Cafe Declares Bankruptcy

BUST: Wild Wing Cafe Declares Bankruptcy

Looking at the website of this MULO (multi-location) brand, one would think it has all the makings of the queen of the coop. Wild Wing Cafe boasts locally-sourced ingredients, a loyalty program, live entertainment, and even free wings with a $5 purchase. It states they have “40 locations and growing.” But the franchise just joined a […]

New Partnership Promises Boost to Retail Media Networks

New Partnership Promises Boost to Retail Media Networks

Just when we thought it was safe for the ad-tech industry to rest on its analytics and measuring prowess two decades into the 21st century, it turns out new levels of sophistication are being reached by retail media networks. Take the measurement of foot traffic into physical spaces such as retail, hospitality, and real estate. […]

Emodo Study - More Publishers Explore Incremental Revenue Streams

Emodo Study – More Publishers Explore Incremental Revenue Streams

With third-party cookies on their way out, has audience attention surpassed identity as the top concern for publishers? According to a new report by Emodo, Ericsson’s mobile ad tech business, the answer is a resounding yes. Polling top decision-makers in publishing from across the U.S. and the U.K., Emodo’s research arm, Emodo Institute, found that […]

Holiday Cheer: 7 Predictions for MULO Retailers

Holiday Cheer: 7 Predictions for MULO Retailers

Although we’re still sporting flip-flops and lounging on the beach, the winter holidays will soon be upon us. Multi-location (MULO) retailers have already bought their merchandise for their physical and digital shelves, and agencies have pitched and sold ad campaigns. So, we’re skipping back-to-school shopping, Halloween trends, and Thanksgiving meal specials and heading into the […]

fifty-five was founded in 2010 by former Google executives who understood and anticipated the potential of data in brands’ marketing strategies.

In the Age of AI, 3 Must-Have Skills for Digital Marketers 

Everything changed in November 2022. That’s when OpenAI’s ChatGPT launched to the public, and having a clear understanding of how to harness generative AI instantly became a requirement for digital marketers around the globe. In the eight months since generative AI went mainstream, the field of digital marketing has undergone a metamorphosis. Marketers today find […]

BOOM: Hear This! An Interview with Dean Pappous, President of HearingLife

We are probably all familiar with MULO (multi-location) eyewear businesses like LensCrafters (900+ locations), Sunglass Hut (1,500 U.S. stores), and Warby Parker (200 locations and a booming online business). But people like Dean Pappous, believe our ears are every bit as critical as our eyes, especially as we age. Hearing loss doesn’t just impact older […]

Innovid Launches Cookieless Solution to Increase Conversion Rate Accuracy

Innovid Launches Cookieless Solution to Increase Conversion Rate Accuracy

As marketers prepare for the loss of third-party cookies, digital advertising vendors are rolling out alternative solutions at a faster clip. The latest product release comes from Innovid, the independent advertising and analytics platform, which just announced a new cookieless cross-device product that can match multiple devices to user interactions, with the goal of increasing […]

From Google to Social to Generative AI: The Evolution of Search Journeys

Remember when search ads were just a bunch of blue links? Believe it or not, that wasn’t that long ago – when a mention of search conjured a near-identical image in everyone’s minds. If you asked 100 people to describe their search journeys today, you might get 100 different answers. Those answers would almost certainly […]

Cost of Ad Buys Rises Ahead of ‘24 Presidential Race

Cost of Ad Buys Rises Ahead of ‘24 Presidential Race

Advertising wars are already heating up in the 2024 presidential race, but increasing costs for ad buys on television and social media are leading some marketing strategists to reevaluate their approach. According to a new analysis by Keen Decision Systems, a marketing insights firm, that approach — to change course, and pull back from channels […]

Fan Frenzy: The Rise of Merch in MULO Restaurants

Merchandise (merch) has long been part of the music scene. You love the band…you see the live show…you buy the music, tee shirt, and hat on the way out of the venue.  But now, multi-location (MULO) brands are picking up on the beat and incorporating creative and varied branded merchandise into their offerings. Whether consumers […]