Latest Marketing & Advertising News
Global Ad Market Reaches $1.19 Trillion in 2025
Global advertising spend grew 8.9% to $1.19 trillion in 2025, up from prior forecasts due to strong Big Tech performance and minimal tariff impacts. Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta captured 56.1% of spend excluding China, totaling $556.6 billion, with retail media nearing 15% share.
U.S. leads with 35.3% of global spend at $421.1 billion.
Big Tech's Ad Share Expands to 58.8% by 2027
Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta's combined ad market share rises to 58.8% by 2027, driven by AI optimization and closed ecosystems. This consolidation impacts open web display ads, with platforms investing heavily in R&D.
Growth fueled by digital natives and commerce shifts.
Pinterest Acquires CTV Ad Firm tvScientific
Pinterest acquired tvScientific to enter connected TV (CTV) advertising, enabling targeted multi-screen campaigns. This move expands Pinterest beyond social discovery, offering brands precise targeting and measurement.
Marketers must adapt creatives and timing for CTV effectiveness.
Google Expands Ads in AI Overviews and Demand Gen
Google's 2025 Year in Review highlights ads expansion in AI Overviews and new AI Mode inventory. Demand Gen tools added AI image/video enhancements, asset A/B tests, and YouTube controls, boosting conversions by 20%.
These updates support holiday campaigns and Performance Max growth.
TikTok Shop Drives Holiday Sales Surge
TikTok Shop matured as a commerce engine with major retailers like Marks & Spencer achieving high engagement via live selling. It powers real retail outcomes beyond awareness, emphasizing shoppable short-form video.
Brands should leverage for Gen Z and holiday strategies.
Social Media Marketing Trends for 2026
Social SEO tops funnels as 24% prefer social searches over Google; multi-platform and customer care are essential. Reddit communities influence buying; brands need strong reputations.
Study by SocialMediaToday and Meltwater highlights these shifts.
SEO Trends: Third-Party Signals and Visibility KPIs
2026 SEO prioritizes third-party signals beyond links for AI answers, niche content, and persona-driven strategies. Traffic KPIs shift to visibility metrics like AI share of voice and SERP features.
Measure total influence including impressions and brand mentions.
Meta Offers Personalized Ad Choices in EU
Meta introduced user choices for personalized ads on Facebook and Instagram in Europe amid regulatory pressures. This reflects trends where user control shapes digital advertising.
Early adapters gain advantage in the changing market.
DOOH Ad Revenue Grows 4.5% in Q3
Out-of-home (OOH) advertising revenue rose 4.5% to $2.13 billion in Q3 2025. Veridooh expanded with global hires in sales, operations, and marketing.
Indicates steady growth in digital out-of-home verification.
AI Knowledge Gap Challenges Marketers
Adobe study reveals marketers are overworked, undertrained in AI, often self-funding upskilling amid tool inefficiencies. Expanding responsibilities highlight the cost of AI adoption gaps.
Businesses plan AI but face execution hurdles.
Influencer Marketing Spend Hits $33B Globally
Global influencer marketing reaches $33 billion, with U.S. creator ad spend at $37 billion and influencer at $10 billion in 2025. Sectors like clothing allocate 80% incremental budgets to social and retail media.
Drives Big Tech growth capture.
South Korea Mandates AI Ad Disclosures
New regulations require AI-ad labeling, signaling global push for transparency in AI marketing. Marketers must prepare ethical content practices.
Emphasizes human-AI collaboration over novelty.