On today's podcast episode, we discuss whether search, social, connected TV, or retail media has been driving growth the most this year, how much non-cyclical ad growth has been fueling this year's numbers, and what to expect from ad spend in 2025. Tune in to the discussion with host Marcus Johnson and our analyst Ross Benes.

Social media usage is increasing for all generations, but most quickly for Gen Z. This year, US Gen Z social media usage will grow 7.7% versus 1.8% for the general population’s, according to our May 2024 forecast.

On today's podcast episode, we discuss what people get wrong about Gen Z’s path-to-purchase, their relationship with stores, and how they differ from millennials. Listen to the conversation with our analyst Sara Lebow as she hosts analysts Blake Droesch and Paola Flores-Marquez.

Ad spend continues to grow faster than the GDP, fueled in no small part by connected TV (CTV), retail media, social media, and search.

Reddit was the fifth highest-visibility domain in Google’s organic search results in July 2024, up from No. 68 in July 2023, according to Sistrix. And since going public in March 2024, the company has introduced new ad products and search improvements.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the interesting ways folks watch the Olympics, the best (and not so best) ads from the Games, the impact of X suing advertisers, how much in-store chatbots can move the needle, how to view Disney’s streaming profitability milestone, which national park most of America could drive to in a day, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our vice president of content Suzy Davidkhanian and analysts Sara Marzano and Carina Perkins.

Video marketing is essential for B2B success. From short-form social media videos to AI-driven content, this report explores strategies, platforms, and innovations shaping B2B video marketing in 2024.

Digital will make up 63.7% of the 12 hours and 37 minutes (12:37) per day US adults spend with total media in 2024, per our forecast.

This year’s Olympics were a major opportunity for marketers, both on TV and connected TV (CTV) and on social media. The Games only come around every two years, but the marketing lessons are applicable long after Paris’s crowds have cleared. From a push for generative AI (genAI) to athletes becoming creators in their own rights, here are five takeaways from the Summer Olympics.

Successful creator campaigns on TikTok rely on partnering with creators who align well with the brand and consistently show love for its products. In 2024, US influencer marketing spend on TikTok is projected to reach $1.403 billion, per EMARKETER’s forecast. Brands that take a genuine approach to collaborating with creators ensure credibility, are more likely to connect with followers, and inspire purchases.

This year, we’re in a Brat girl summer. The lime green trend used by Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign joins a handful of other trends going viral this summer. Marketers may be too late to capitalize with their own content, but there are still important takeaways from these TikTok trends that advertisers can apply long after the trends become outdated.

Social media is crucial for B2B marketing success. However, B2B marketers’ ages may be affecting their campaigns’ effectiveness. Younger B2B marketers are leading the way in leveraging social media and data-driven strategies.

Social media is crucial for B2B marketing success. In 2024, B2B marketers are embracing influencer marketing and video, integrating AI, and focusing on the importance of authenticity. B2B marketers can gain insights for enhancing brand awareness, optimizing campaigns, and building meaningful connections with target audiences.

This year, 78.3% of people in the US will be digital video viewers, per our February 2024 forecast. With US adults splitting time between streaming platforms and social video, marketers need to understand how to reach viewers in both places. This can be difficult as ad spend and content creation trends shift. Here are five charts to turn the volume up on your digital video marketing strategy.

AI is revolutionizing B2B SEO, but the fundamentals still apply. By strategically using AI and focusing on SEO content, B2B marketers can leverage AI tools to stay ahead of algorithm changes and AI-powered models.

LinkedIn’s not just for B2B marketers. B2C brands in sectors like automotive, hospitality, music, sports, and travel are investing in the platform. “LinkedIn is definitely heading into a direction where more direct B2C marketing is going to become prevalent,” said Jordan Schultz, vice president and head of social and digital creative at marketing agency Known.

Retail media is moving beyond performance to become a tool that marketers can use to drive both sales and brand awareness. In this next evolution, off-site, in-store, and upper-funnel formats like connected TV (CTV) and social will play a larger role in marketers’ retail media strategies as they seek more scale and control over their campaigns.

For August, a digitally native direct-to-consumer brand of period care products, TikTok gives more than it takes down. For example, in January 2020, its launch video was immediately removed by the platform. “I still get videos taken down for what the app believes is graphic content,” said August co-founder Nadya Okamoto. Still, Okamoto credits TikTok for helping her cultivate a community of nearly 4.5 million followers across her personal and brand TikTok accounts, as well as allowing her to open a dialogue for authentic marketing.

Social media users in select countries (US, UK, Australia, France, and Saudi Arabia) trust brands over influencers when it comes to finance, apparel, and skincare, per an October study from Snap Inc. and IPG Magna. Finance is where this trend is most pronounced.

“Out-of-home (OOH) is cost-effective. It's measurable. It's targetable. You can be hyperlocal with it,” said founder and CEO at Quan Media Brian Rappaport. It’s also growing. US OOH ad spend will increase by 6.5% this year, reaching $9.51 billion dollars, according to our October 2023 forecast. But an added benefit is OOH’s potential to create organic impressions on social media.