PLUS: Ran a standout campaign in 2025?
Highlights from today’s newsletter:
📈 2025 media inflation: What advertisers need to know now
🎯 The triple-P framework for brand search: Presence, Perception & Performance
✈️ Why Airbnb booked a social-first campaign for its experiences relaunch
Big news before we dive into this week’s marketing insights…
🎉We’re launching our first-ever awards – and we want to spotlight your best work.
Introducing The ClickZ 25 of 25: a celebration of the 25 most impactful digital marketing campaigns of 2025 across DTC eCommerce.
Whether you smashed your KPIs through social, search, email, influencer or eCommerce – if your campaign made waves, now’s the time to get recognized.
🗓️ Deadline: June 10, 2025
🏆 Winners announced during Cannes Lions Week
✔ Global spotlight at Cannes
✔ Featured in ClickZ’s Digital Excellence Report
✔ A winner’s badge you’ll actually want to use
Let your work speak for itself.
EDITOR’S PICK
#EVENT TAKEAWAYS
At eTail Connect 2025, retailers made one thing clear: the real competitive edge is data discipline, not tech hype. From cleaning fractured customer identities to deploying AI that lifts revenue while cutting CAC, speakers from top brands broke down how they’re rebuilding from the inside out.
Amazon’s data gravity loomed large, marketing measurement is being redefined beyond ROAS, and LTV is stealing the spotlight from one-off conversions. Amid rising tariffs and softer spending, the message was pragmatic: stitch systems slowly, obsess over first-party data, and never forget—culture determines whether transformation sticks.
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Media inflation in 2025 is forecasted to ease to 2.5%, with digital channels—especially social, CTV, and search—facing the highest cost pressures due to intensified demand and limited inventory. Marketers must anticipate rising ad costs in “safe” verticals, reevaluate channel strategies, and adapt messaging to maintain visibility amid fluctuating media environments. Smart allocation toward cost-efficient video and search channels, ongoing performance assessment, and vigilant monitoring of platforms like TikTok are essential for sustaining campaign effectiveness. |
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Airbnb’s updated app and services expand offerings to include experiences and amenities that mirror traditional hotels, responding to shifting consumer travel preferences and competitive pressures. The company’s social-first campaign leverages influencer reach and social media-driven discovery, underscoring the growing importance of digital channels. Regulatory scrutiny about platform practices remains relevant as Airbnb pushes beyond lodging, potentially inviting further compliance challenges. |
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AI-driven search is transforming how brands are presented, evaluated, and recommended, necessitating adaptation in presence, perception, and performance management. Marketers must monitor AI-generated brand sentiment, optimize for authoritative content, and implement real-time citation tracking as traditional SEO metrics become insufficient. Failure to address these developments risks diminished brand visibility and reduced qualified traffic. |
💭INSIGHTS FROM JESSIE HEALY
💭INSIGHTS FROM SARAH LEVINGER
🎙 THE ART OF FRANCHISE MARKETING
Amy Cantwell, VP of Marketing at Re-Bath Corporation, emphasizes the necessity of integrating AI and data to create effective, measurable marketing programs for franchise brands, drawing on her extensive experience with nationally recognized companies.
She addresses both the potential and the challenges of data security and regulatory compliance in AI-driven marketing environments. Cantwell also outlines practical guidance for marketers, including the significance of outcome-focused campaigns, team communication, and establishing a data-driven marketing culture.
🎟️ Your Invite to The Lead Summit 2025 — On Us
The Lead Summit is where iconic brands, high-growth disruptors, and cutting-edge tech come together to shape the future of commerce, marketing, and innovation.
As an official partner, ClickZ is excited to extend a special offer to our readers 🎉
📍 Want to share your journey — or just chat about what’s next in retail?
