Dotdash Meredith Debuts Cookieless Ad Targeting Tool (mediapost.com)

At unBoxed 2024, Amazon Ads introduced AI creative studio and Audio generator, two new generative AI tools designed to lower creative barriers and expand opportunities for advertisers to scale their reach. By building a suite of self-service, AI-powered tools, Amazon Ads is enabling brands of all sizes to create engaging content across media types and eliminating boundaries across ad formats. With Audio generator, Amazon Ads expands its suite of AI-powered creative tools – including Image generator and Video generator – empowering brands to connect with customers across the shopping journey. These tools make it simple to build and activate new campaign creatives, helping brands experiment more freely and optimize based on performance – with little more than the information on their Amazon product page. According to Amazon Ads findings, on average, brands who used Image generator between October 2023 and June 2024 saw almost 5% more sales per advertiser.

Two Midwest summer mainstays joined forces on a new product bringing together two flavors long associated with each other. Wisconsin brand beer Leninenkugel’s and sausage company Johnsonville partnered on the Summer Shandy Beer Brat, a grilling sausage infused with the flavor of Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy (a shandy is a style of beer mixed with lemonade). The beer brats will be available for sale through late July at participating retailers across 19 states in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and Southeast. Johnsonville is also making it available for sale to consumers outside these regions through its website, while supplies last. It’s a partnership with an air of inevitability, bringing together two brands often served alongside each other.

Black Friday is one of the most competitive times of the year for retailers, with every brand vying for a share of the consumer’s attention and wallet. For CMOs, the pressure to make this Black Friday the best one yet is always top-of-mind. While it’s easy to get swept up in the frenzy of discounts and promotions, the key to a successful Black Friday lies in strategic differentiation and understanding what truly matters to your customers. Here are some expert insights on how to navigate the season effectively and set your brand apart. 1. Focus on Your Value Proposition, Not Just Discounts - In the lead-up to Black Friday, many brands fall into the trap of thinking that bigger discounts automatically lead to better results. But in reality, it’s the value proposition that sets your brand apart, not just the lowest price tag. 2. Timing Is Everything: Be Strategic About Your Promotions - One often overlooked aspect of Black Friday planning is the timing of your promotions. This year, timing could be even more critical with events like elections or other significant happenings that can distract consumers from shopping.