It’s spooky season, but the only thing scary about these horror movie campaigns is how much buzz they could build on a shoestring budget. We’re entering 5 horror movie marketing campaigns into the hall of fame for the way they implemented world-building, generated buzz on forums, and ultimately, got us into our seats at the theater. 00:00: Intro 02:45: Blair Witch Project 10:10: Longlegs 16:00: Backrooms 21:00: Smile 25:00: Obsession This episode is presented by Roku Ads Manager. For more

Is it too late to apologize? Well, that’s just one question brands need to ask themselves before posting a graphic of their heavily PR-ed apology after a campaign gone wrong. In this week’s episode, we walk you through the steps to take to decide if and when your brand needs to say “We’re sorry” (and yes, you need to use those exact words), or if you should just sit this one out in an attempt to not make it worse. 00:00: Intro 02:30: Does your brand need to apologize? 07:15: When to skip an a

Do you need Chili’s cowboy boots? What about another tumbler, even if it’s limited edition? We’re discussing some of the most memorable brand merch and deciding if we Love It or if it’s total Landfill. Marketers take note: we don’t need a tote! 00:00: Intro 02:05: What makes good brand merch 09:00: Love It or Landfill: Walmart Rotisserie Chicken purse 14:00: Patagonia zip ups 16:30: Whole Foods x FishWife tote bag 18:30: Cosmopolitan yogurt 20:00: Chili’s x Tecova’s Booth Boots 22:40: Pi

The role of CMO isn’t quite dead…yet. But it’s definitely going through a rebrand. Senior Reporter Kristina Monllos joins us this week to discuss our latest State of the Industry report to discuss our findings on where CMOs stand in a world of AI and GTM and Chief Entertainment Officer roles, and how the title could be changing in the future. 00:00: Intro 02:28: Do companies need a full time CMO 12:30: Can CMOs withstand pressure from AI 22:10: CMO title is getting a rebrand This episode is

Is Tony the Tiger actually a grrrreat mascot? We threw him, plus 12 of his mascot friends, into a new segment we’re calling Marketiering, to find out where some of the most recognizable and iconic mascots actually fall. From Duolingo to McDonald’s, we assess whether the famous fuzzy, creepy, and just plain WTF faces were actually good or bad for their brands. 00:00: Intro 02:28: A brief history of mascots 06:15: Quaker Oats 08:05: Duolingo 10:35: State Farm 12:40: Liberty Mutual 14:35: Au

It’s football season and if your brand is looking to go beyond the logo slap, we’re drafting our favorite nontraditional marketing moves on and off the field. From coach partnerships to flag football, there are so many opportunities for your brand to get in the game that can prove to be a total touchdown, without the billion dollar budget. 00:00: Intro 02:10: Fashion and merch collabs 06:00: Original longform content 11:20: Fan activations 15:00: Athlete partnerships and NIL 16:50: Flag fo

Pack your bags, this week we’re discussing the evolution of the brand trip. Namely, we’re looking at Tarte cosmetics, who have become infamous with inviting some of the most famous creators to luxurious destinations, Cocokind who took the approach of appealing to the average customer, and OpenAI, which ran right into the backlash they created from their very first brand trip to the great outdoors. 00:00: Intro 01:30: The evolution of brand trips 05:20: The infamous Tarte trip 13:45: Cocokind

Does your brand want to comment on social videos? Well, we’ve got a helpful guide you should hear first. From choosing the right content to comment on, to interacting with other brands, we’re breaking down the best ways to leave an impactful comment on TikTok and Instagram posts – and how you can avoid regretting a comment that just doesn’t land. 00:00: Intro 02:00: Did the Wendy’s Twitter account start this trend 04:30: Brands being summoned vs. randomly jumping in 06:00: PF Chang’s cake ad

This week, we’re talking about the brands implementing a strategy on Substack. While it’s not for everyone, some have cracked the code of sharing behind-the-scenes content, thoughts from founders, and the thoughtful tips newsletter readers have come to expect. But how does this differ from email marketing, and what should brands thinking about joining the platform do before jumping in? 00:00: Intro 01:15: Brands venturing into Substack 02:43: How this differs from email marketing 07:20: Maki

This week, we’re talking all things pop-ups: is the goal for brands to get attention, generate online buzz, test out products, gain new customers, or something else entirely? We break down a pop-up vs. a stunt, explain how a line outside can do all the heavy lifting for your marketing, and share our thoughts on some of the most effective recent pop-ups that have given us FOMO. 00:00: Intro 01:30: Difference between a pop-up and a stunt 04:30: What is the point of a pop-up 08:30: Using social

This week, we’re taking a look at the brands that have done a logo refresh – the right and wrong ways. From Spotify’s limited edition disco ball drama to Levi’s World Cup win, we run through the hits and misses of rolling out a new icon for your brand. 00:00: Intro 02:00: Why do brands change their logos 04:40: Risks of changing logos 08:40: Levi’s World Cup logo change 12:50: Spotify’s disco ball 16:40: Mountain Dew 20:15: Gap’s 2009 rebrand fail 22:30: Hopping on the Taylor Swift brand