Wells Fargo is focusing on banking for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs)—with a strong emphasis on customer experience and satisfaction, per Banking Dive. The problem with small business banking is that it’s about banking. Banks have a worsening record of making these banking relationships commerce-driven, in which they also offer merchant services and therefore struggle to deepen day-to-day propositions.
LinkedIn debuted several new features for ad automation targeting small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) as it looks to expand its advertiser base beyond large brands. The update reduces barriers to professional-grade ad campaigns by offering automation and AI-driven support that previously demanded larger budgets or in-house expertise.
Microsoft is extending AI further into its productivity tools with Agent Mode in Excel and Word, plus a new Office Agent in Copilot chat, per The Verge. The tools automate Microsoft 365 spreadsheets, documents, and PowerPoint through prompts, mirroring a trend already visible in Google’s Gemini rollout across Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. For marketers, the payoff for adopting AI in 365 and Drive could be higher productivity and stronger performance, possibly at a fraction of the cost of separate AI subscriptions. The downside is lock-in and the risk of over-reliance on single platforms.
AI use outside of content creation still ranks low among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) despite interest, showing a gap between curiosity and capability. While two-thirds of SMBs use AI for marketing and content creation, only 35% are applying it to customer service, per Revenued’s AI Usage Among Small Businesses report. If SMBs want AI to move beyond content creation, they’ll need to invest not just in tools but in training, governance, and measurable pilots. To close the gap between interest and implementation, brands should use upskilling as a differentiator, start with low-risk pilots, and build trust in outputs.
Access to connected TV (CTV) is inching toward democratization, transforming a high barrier to entry into an accessible landscape for brands with smaller budgets to connect with consumers. AdGood and Magnite illustrate how CTV is evolving from a premium resource to a more inclusive and dynamic marketplace as the format matures.
Amazon sellers using sponsored product ads now have access to Amazon’s Marketing Cloud clean room. Amazon’s expanded access to its clean room solution will enable SMBs to measure and optimize campaigns with the same sophistication as enterprise advertisers while allowing the ad giant to accelerate its push against larger rivals.
Google’s AI-powered video creation platform, Vids, has surpassed 1 million monthly active users, fueled by a new free tier and updates that simplify production. Features include motion effects for product photos, AI transcript editing, Google Meet integrations, and expanded social formats. Paid users retain advanced options like multi-style AI avatars. The adoption highlights rising demand for scalable video workflows—46% of professionals already use AI for images or videos, per EMARKETER. With ideation and personalization ranking as top genAI use cases, Vids is positioning itself as a daily creative tool, potentially joining Docs and Slides in Google’s productivity suite.
The news: Z.ai’s new open-source GLM-4.5 model is undercutting DeepSeek and US rivals in cost and efficiency and intensifying global AI competition. Our take: For marketers, open-source tools like Z.ai offer affordable alternatives to costly AI platforms, levelling the playing field for smaller agencies looking to compete. But Z.ai (formerly Zhipu) is on the US Entity List due to its Beijing ties after OpenAI flagged its rapid progress. With this in mind, companies piloting open-source options should do so cautiously and consult with compliance teams before integrating.
The news: AI is growing in importance for small and medium-sized businesses, saving SMB marketers time and money, often with benefits outweighing risks like public backlash. AI helps US SMB marketers save about 13 hours per person per week and cut operating costs by about $4,700 per month on each team, per ActiveCampaign. Separately, Thryv found that 90% of US small businesses save 11 or more hours per week with AI. Our take: As AI saves companies time and money, it's crucial to have plans in place for how to use them. Marketers should use that time to test new creative strategies, reach out to new customers, and act on campaign analytics gathered by AI. AI-driven cost savings can be reinvested in higher-quality marketing content and expansion of product catalogs.
The news: Small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners are preparing for a recession—and marketing is first on the chopping block, per a report from Clarify Capital. 28% of SMB owners say cutting marketing or ad spending is the first action they’ll take in the event of a recession—higher than any other category. Our take: Preparing for a recession is a necessity for SMBs that will be hit the hardest, but for those that deem reduced marketing budgets as a core strategy, it’s critical to take an approach that will save costs without sacrificing reach.
The news: A major security flaw in Microsoft SharePoint is actively being exploited by hackers around the world. The full impact is still unfolding, but 100 large companies, thousands of SMBs, and at least two US federal agencies have been breached, per The Washington Post. Our take: Microsoft’s restructuring toward AI and cloud has left cracks in its legacy infrastructure, now exploited at scale. For agencies and marketers, the risk is real: Compromised systems mean vulnerable campaigns and lost client IP, data, and brand reputation. For Microsoft, continued breaches could push customers to abandon SharePoint altogether.
Generative AI is playing a growing role in video advertising, with 22% of all video ad creative enhanced by genAI in 2024—a figure set to reach 39% by 2026, per IAB. Smaller advertisers are leading the way, using genAI to scale affordable, personalized content. Major platforms like Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and Amazon are fueling adoption with built-in tools that boost ROAS and compress production timelines. While creative speed and flexibility are increasing, many marketers still face hurdles around measurement and platform-level data transparency. As capabilities improve, genAI is transforming video from a production bottleneck into a performance engine.
Nextdoor is undergoing a major reinvention, focusing on hyperlocal value with three core features: real-time safety alerts, AI-generated neighborhood recommendations, and curated news from over 3,500 local publishers. The redesigned platform aims to capitalize on shifting work-from-home behavior, verified neighbor identities, and underused local advertising budgets. With 100 million registered users across 11 countries, Nextdoor is uniquely positioned to offer geotargeted content and build ad inventory through increased daily engagement. CEO Nirav Tolia’s bet? Depth over scale. If executed well, the new Nextdoor could become an essential tool for local businesses, publishers, and residents alike—while opening fresh monetization streams.
The news: Small- and medium-size businesses (SMBs) are increasingly relying on social media as a key marketing tool—but over half are struggling to keep up with the rapidly evolving landscape. Over three-quarters of small business leaders state that using social media has made a positive impact on their business—but 56% find it difficult to prioritize social media use, and 54% struggle to produce enough content to support multiple social media channels. Our take: Keeping up with social media’s future requires SMBs to integrate it as a core business function rather than viewing social media as an afterthought.
The news: Adobe and Amazon are redefining how marketers produce video ads by launching new generative AI tools aimed at small and mid-sized businesses. Adobe Express for Ads, unveiled today, supports direct publishing to platforms like Google, Meta, and TikTok, while Amazon’s AI video tool can transform product pages into multiple ad variants. These tools cater to resource-limited advertisers seeking scale and performance. Our take: The video ad market is maturing fast—and AI is making it more accessible. As more marketers pilot GenAI tools, early adopters will gain an edge in personalization and efficiency, turning creative experimentation into reliable results.
MNTN debuts as a public company with a $1.6 billion valuation: Its performance-focused CTV adtech aims to bring small businesses into streaming.
Despite small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) accounting for 44% of US GDP according to the US Small Business Administration, many marketers aren't allocating sufficient resources to reach this powerful segment.
Reddit’s blowout Q1 shows ad momentum: With strong midmarket traction and AI tools scaling, its business model is leveling up.
Canva is courting enterprise users with intuitive AI tools and team-friendly pricing, pressuring Adobe’s expensive, credit-based model and grip on creative pros.
HubSpot’s 2025 Spotlight proves that the pressure for AI adoption is on: The event highlighted over 200 features to show how HubSpot’s AI is setting the pace.