2024: The year of brand collaborations 👀

Hello. Despite recent brand withdrawals on X due to Elon Musk's controversies, the platform now offers a new ad option targeting X Premium subscribers, comprising less than 1% of users. This move aims to tap into a potentially high expendable income audience, highlighting X's efforts to encourage Premium subscriptions and reduce reliance on ad revenue for a more user-driven content moderation system.

^{PRESENTED BY SMART RECOGNITION}

New AI LeadGen Tool Identifies Email Address of Your Visitors

Did you know that you can Identify the email addresses of your anonymous website traffic?

Rather than getting only 5% of your traffic via an opt-in form, a new AI Tool, Smart Recognition, lets you target and email most of your website traffic,growing your email list and revenue faster!

How can this help? 👇

• Capture email addresses of up to 40% of your anonymous traffic. 

• Email irresistible offers to prospects browsing your site.

• Send abandoned cart emails to people who don't complete checkout.

See how much anonymous traffic you can identify.

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GPT Store: Reshaping advertising with AI innovation

OpenAI's upcoming GPT store launch this week is poised to revolutionize advertising, presenting businesses and agencies with unprecedented AI-driven marketing opportunities, according to The Information.

Tailored AI solutions: The GPT store signifies a departure from the norm, introducing AI models meticulously crafted to cater to the unique needs of businesses and agencies. This pioneering move allows for the development of bespoke AI solutions, injecting a fresh wave of innovation and effectiveness into advertising strategies.

Privileged insights' leadership: Industry luminary Phyllis Hong, armed with over 25 years of marketing experience and a history of notable achievements, shares her perspective on the GPT store launch. She describes it as a "game-changer" and a "paradigm shift" in advertising, underlining its transformative impact on the industry.

Early adoption of the GPT store emerges as a strategic advantage, positioning businesses and agencies as trailblazers in the realm of AI-integrated advertising. With a significant user base on ChatGPT, early adopters are poised to lead this transformative journey, setting new benchmarks in advertising and reshaping brand interactions with the infusion of AI in the dynamic landscape of the digital age. Get ready for a revolution in how we communicate and captivate audiences.

After a successful holiday trial, Alo Yoga plans to double down on SMS marketing

Alo Yoga is doubling down on SMS marketing after a successful holiday trial, moving away from email reliance to boost sales and attract new customers.

Holiday success: Alo Yoga's targeted SMS approach led to a rapid $360,000 in sales during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, contributing to a 35% YoY holiday business increase. SMS accounted for 4% of Alo's holiday revenue.

Strategic shift: Encouraged by these results, Alo Yoga plans to invest more in SMS marketing in the new year. The brand aims to personalize links, drive in-store traffic, and enhance customer service through SMS.

Alo Yoga's swift adoption of SMS marketing reflects a broader trend among brands exploring this nimble and impactful communication channel, signaling a shift away from traditional methods toward more dynamic strategies.

2024 ecomm trends & predictions

AI & personalization dominance:

• AI-driven product recommendations redefine personalization, enhancing conversions and customer satisfaction.

• Hyper-targeted marketing adapts to individual online behavior, delivering personalized campaigns.

• Advanced chatbots usher in a new era of efficient and responsive customer support.

Social commerce revolution:

• Shoppable social media posts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok streamline the buying process.

• Livestream shopping combines live demonstrations with interactive experiences, reshaping online shopping.

• Micro-influencers with niche followings outshine traditional celebrities, creating authentic, sales-driving content.

Sustainability takes center stage:

• Brands embrace eco-friendly packaging with recycled materials and compostable options.

• Carbon-neutral shipping initiatives, including tree planting and renewable energy investments, become industry standards.

• Growing demand for secondhand and vintage goods reflects a shift towards sustainable consumerism.

Omnichannel integration:

• Blurring the lines between physical and online stores, providing customers with a consistent and convenient experience.

• Click-and-collect becomes commonplace, catering to the desire for both online convenience and in-store immediacy.

• Personalized in-store experiences leverage technology, offering AI-powered recommendations and exclusive deals based on online behavior.

👧🏽👧🏻 Gen Alpha's unsettling impact on beauty trends

Gen Alpha's affinity for adult skincare brands, such as Drunk Elephant, and the rise of "baby beauty" influencers are causing a stir. Videos on social media depict 10-year-olds on shopping sprees, leaving salespeople and brands grappling with backlash. Concerns about child influencer exploitation add to the unease, while documenting this trend becomes a double-edged sword—viewership soars, but the consequences are palpable. Approach Gen Alpha cautiously as their influence permeates various realms.

🏋️‍♂️ Fitness brand collaborations signal a growing trend

As January heralds the peak season for fitness resolutions, a surge in social promotions is hardly surprising. What sets this year apart are the intriguing collaborations that continue to emerge, showcasing a trend that gained momentum in 2023 and shows no signs of waning. Whether it's partnerships with influencers or corporate collaborations, the synergy of two feeds proves to be a winning formula:

• Strava joined forces with Chipotle, enticing fans to achieve wellness goals with incentives like free Lifestyle Bowls and extra guac (social post).

• Planet Fitness initiated a collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, affectionately known as Mother Fitness, to amplify Big Fitness Energy™ (social post).

• Peloton and TikTok united for a new fitness hub, #TikTokFitness Powered by Peloton, featuring tailor-made social content.

These collaborations not only reflect the collective drive for fitness but also highlight the industry's innovative approach to inspiring healthier lifestyles. 🌟

Headlines…

• Amazon Prime Video will start showing ads on January 29th.

• Womenswear and lingerie brand, Pour Moi, partners with Wunderkind to grow its DTC offer.

• Supply chain turmoil looms as Houthi attacks disrupt Red Sea routes; Panama Canal drought compounds delays, pushing retailers to costlier shipping methods and risking Spring product shortages from Chinese factories ahead of Lunar New Year closures.

• Radio giant Audacy files for bankruptcy as advertising plummets.

• U.K.’s Channel 4 eyeing up to 200 layoffs amid ad malaise.

Reading list…

• Rocket Cos. hires former Airbnb CMO Jonathan Mildenhall as its CMO (WSJ)

• Advertising is dead. Long live advertising (WSJ)

• How will contextual advertising fare when the FTC revises its COPPA rule? (Ad Exchange)

• Why some DTC brands are still holding off on wholesale (Modern Retail)

• Temu is using its lawsuit against Shein as a PR engine (Modern Retail)