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Forbes creates wine vertical, commerce shop and membership business as AI squeezes traffic
By Sara Guaglione Forbes is creating a wine-focused content vertical, commerce site and membership program to grow direct consumer revenue beyond its traffic-dependent businesses, as it looks to offset zero-click traffic declines and content discovery challenges.
There’s a sense of urgency to the strategy. In Q1 2026, Forbes’ site traffic was down 37 percent year over year, according to Emily Jackson, svp of revenue and consumer growth at Forbes.
Forbes — and a wide range of publishers in the same boat — have to determine how to bring value to their existing, smaller audiences, and how to more effectively make money from them.Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV. …read more
Source:: Digiday
Instant Press Co. Has Placed 2,000 Articles Across 1,000 Publications in Four Years
By Adam A Phoenix-based media placement agency has put 2,000 articles into 1,000+ publications for 80 clients in four years. No journalist pitching. No waiting.
Instant Press Co., founded by 24-year-old Joey Sendz, runs a model that sidesteps traditional PR. Clients select their publications, approve the content, and go live within days. No cold emails to editors. No six-week timelines ending in silence.
A Different Model for Media Placement
Traditional PR firms charge monthly retainers starting at $5,000 with no guaranteed coverage. A client might spend six figures over a year and walk away with a handful of placements. Instant Press flipped that arrangement. The agency maintains direct publishing relationships with outlets spanning every price point, from $150 niche blogs to six-figure features in Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.
“We built the infrastructure that lets clients control where they show up,” Sendz said. “Nobody should have to wait around hoping a journalist finds their story interesting enough to cover.”
The agency’s catalog includes outlets across news, business, technology, lifestyle, entertainment, and crypto verticals, with coverage reaching the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and over 100 other countries.
Productized Branding Through GoogleMe
In 2024, Sendz launched GoogleMe, a three-month program that transforms what appears when someone searches a client’s name on Google. The program bundles 40 to 50 strategic article placements with Google Knowledge Panel creation, wiki page development, and negative content suppression.
Seventy percent of people have Googled themselves. Most don’t like what comes up. GoogleMe packages start at $5,000 for individuals and $7,500 for companies. An executive tier at $25,000 includes guaranteed placements in Forbes, USA Today, and International Business Times.
Owen Piehl, a TikTok creator with over 121,000 followers, used the program to build out his Google presence before a brand partnership negotiation. Josh Amundson, founder of Status Hype, credited the service with establishing his company’s credibility during a fundraising round.
Expanding Into AI Search Visibility
Sendz recognized a gap forming in 2025: brands that dominated Google search results were invisible inside AI assistants. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Grok were answering user questions without referencing companies that had spent years building their web presence.
Sendz built LLM Surge (now Uppr AI) to fix it. The software tracks how AI systems reference a brand, identifies gaps, and feeds the content strategy that Instant Press already executes.
“Search changed,” Sendz said. “People ask ChatGPT for recommendations now. If you’re not in that answer, you’re losing business you’ll never know about.”
The Publication Network Advantage
Instant Press operates one of the largest privately held publication networks in the media placement industry. The agency’s 1,000+ outlet inventory carries a mean Domain Authority of 62.3, with 174 publications scoring above 80. Ninety-six percent of placements are Google-indexed, meaning they appear in search results and feed into AI training datasets.
For clients focused on long-term visibility, that indexation rate matters. Research shows 65% of AI citations reference content published within the previous year, and articles updated within 13 weeks receive roughly 50% more AI citations than older material.
The agency offers retainer packages at $3,000, $6,000, and $8,000 per month, guaranteeing …read more
Source:: Social Media Explorer
Inside The Trade Desk’s programmatic power struggle
By Kimeko McCoy
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts • Spotify
No one said running the largest independent demand-side platform in the world would be easy. If recent headlines indicate anything, The Trade Desk now knows that better than anyone.
Major agencies, including Dentsu and WPP, are pulling back ad spend from TTD’s OpenPath platform, citing concerns of hidden fees and lack of transparency. Most notably, Publicis Groupe is no longer recommending TTD to clients in light of a third-party audit, citing similar concerns. Meanwhile, TTD is shifting its payment model for identity providers, like LiveRamp and Experian.Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV. …read more
Source:: Digiday
Small Business, Big Impact: Blair Stone Masonry’s Local Growth Story
By Editorialist Team In today’s competitive home improvement industry, success is often associated with large companies and extensive crews. However, smaller businesses are proving that size is not the only factor that determines impact. Blair Stone Masonry is a strong example of how a small, owner-operated company can create significant influence through craftsmanship, consistency, and a commitment to quality.
Across South Dakota, homeowners are increasingly turning to contractors who offer a more personal and reliable experience. This shift has opened the door for businesses that prioritize attention to detail and direct communication. Blair Stone Masonry has embraced this approach, building a growing presence in the local market.
Blair Stone Masonry and a Different Approach to Growth
Blair Stone Masonry has achieved steady growth by focusing on quality rather than volume. Instead of taking on as many projects as possible, the company concentrates on delivering exceptional results for each client.
This strategy allows for greater control over every aspect of the work. From planning to execution, each project is handled directly by the owner. This ensures that standards remain consistent and that the final result aligns with the homeowner’s expectations.
By maintaining this hands-on approach, Blair Stone Masonry has been able to build a strong reputation that continues to attract new clients.
Craftsmanship as the Foundation of Success
One of the key factors behind the company’s growth is its emphasis on craftsmanship. Stonework requires precision and expertise, and even small details can have a significant impact on the outcome.
Blair Stone Masonry approaches each project with a focus on accuracy and attention to detail. Whether it is a custom fireplace or an accent wall, every installation is designed to be both durable and visually appealing.
This commitment to quality sets the company apart from competitors who may prioritize speed over precision. Homeowners are increasingly recognizing the value of work that is done carefully and correctly.
Building Trust Within the Community
Trust is essential for any local business, and Blair Stone Masonry has built strong relationships within the communities it serves. By working directly with clients, the company ensures clear communication and a better understanding of each project’s requirements.
This direct interaction helps reduce uncertainty and creates a more positive experience for homeowners. Clients know who is responsible for their project, which strengthens confidence and satisfaction.
Word-of-mouth referrals have played a significant role in the company’s growth. Satisfied clients often recommend Blair Stone Masonry to others, contributing to its expanding presence.
Delivering Long-Term Value Through Stonework
Stone features are known for their durability and timeless appeal, making them a valuable addition to any home. Blair Stone Masonry leverages these qualities to create installations that offer lasting benefits.
Custom fireplaces and accent walls not only enhance the appearance of a space but also contribute to its overall value. These features are designed to remain functional and attractive for years, reducing the need for frequent updates.
By focusing on long-term results, the company provides homeowners with investments that continue to deliver value over time.
Meeting the Expectations of Modern Homeowners
Today’s homeowners expect more than just a finished product. They want …read more
Source:: Social Media Explorer
‘Fear of believing you’re irrelevant’: Economic headwinds, global tensions won’t keep marketers from Cannes Lions
By Kimeko McCoy Come hell or high water, marketers plan to be at this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Despite ongoing global political tensions, execs justify the trip to the South of France as the cost of doing business.
Cannes (this year from June 22 to 26) has long been the industry’s can’t miss event. Yes, there’s the lavish award ceremonies, schmoozing on yachts and star-studded concerts. But marketers’ justification for going is more than in-person serendipitous moments. It’s about business growth, relationship building, showing face and perhaps most importantly, proving value.
However, there’s a stark difference in the reality outside the French Riviera: inflation, mass layoffs and geopolitical conflict.Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV. …read more
Source:: Digiday
Young Entrepreneurs Using AI to Transform Local Businesses at DigiMarCon
Most marketing conferences follow a familiar script. A speaker walks on stage, clicks through a polished deck of PowerPoint slides, shares some theory, and walks off. The audience claps, takes a few notes, and forgets most of it by the time they get back to their hotel room.
DigiMarCon has never been that conference. And the reason it keeps drawing standing-room-only crowds year after year has everything to do with what happens on stage — and more specifically, who gets invited onto it.
Teaching from the Trenches, Not from a Textbook
Dennis Yu, co-founder of LocalServiceSpotlight.com and a veteran of over 30 years in digital marketing, has spoken at more DigiMarCon events than any other presenter. According to DigiMarCon show runner Jedediah Jank, Dennis is also the conference’s top-rated speaker — not because he puts on a flashy show, but because he does the opposite of what most keynote speakers do.
He logs in. Live. On stage. In front of hundreds of people.
He pulls up real Google Business Profiles, real analytics dashboards, real ad accounts, and real websites belonging to real local business owners — many of whom are sitting right there in the audience.
He runs live digital audits, showing exactly where a business is leaking opportunities and precisely what they need to fix. No slides. No scripted stories. Just the raw, transparent reality of what digital marketing actually looks like when you open the hood.
And here is where it gets truly interesting: Dennis does not do this alone. He brings friends onto the stage with him — young adult entrepreneurs who are building real businesses and serving real clients in the home services space. Plumbers, pool builders, roofers, HVAC technicians, pest control operators. These are the people whose stories are reshaping what it means to teach digital marketing at a world-class conference.
Dan Leibrandt: From Young Marketer to Local Business Authority
Dan Leibrandt is one of the young entrepreneurs Dennis has featured on the DigiMarCon stage multiple times. Dan has built his reputation guiding local service businesses to success — particularly in pest control SEO, where he now ranks number one nationally for that keyword. He runs the Local Marketing Secrets podcast and has traveled alongside Dennis from Tokyo to Egypt, recording conversations about what actually works for contractors, tradespeople, and service businesses.
What makes Dan’s story compelling is not just his age. It is that he genuinely cares about the business owners he works with. He is not selling a packaged product from a distance.
He is in the trenches — building standard operating procedures, documenting what works, and sharing his entire playbook openly. When he appears on the DigiMarCon stage, he is not reading from notes about some hypothetical strategy. He is pulling up campaigns and walking the audience through the exact steps they can replicate, like a recipe anyone can follow.
Nilson Silva: A $3,000 Start to a $17 Million Pool Company
Nilson Silva is the founder of Master Touch Outdoor Living, a pool installation and service company based in South Florida. His story is one of the most powerful case studies in the home services world. Nilson started with just $3,000. Today, Master Touch is a multi-million-dollar operation — a $17 million pool-building company — and Nilson has shown how authentic digital marketing, grounded in real expertise, can scale a local trade business into something extraordinary.
Dennis has brought Nilson onto the DigiMarCon stage to share his journey — not as a motivational speech, but as a hands-on demonstration.
When Nilson talks about his business, he talks about the actual Google presence, the actual reviews, the actual content that drives leads. He teaches from direct experience because his experience is the lesson. His success with Master Touch is not the result of clever marketing tricks. It is the result of genuinely caring about pool owners in his community and letting that care show up in every piece of content he publishes.
Roger Wakefield: The Biggest Brand in Plumbing
If you Google “plumber YouTube” or anything related to plumbing education, you will almost certainly find Roger Wakefield. With over 716,000 YouTube subscribers, Roger is a Texas Master Plumber and LEED AP with more than 40 years in the trade. He is widely recognized as the biggest personal brand in the plumbing industry — and he has been featured on the DigiMarCon stage alongside Dennis as living proof that an authentic practitioner can outperform any agency-built marketing machine.
Roger and Dennis have done extensive work together, including marathon livestreams that run two and a half hours or more, pulling apart real SEO data for plumbing businesses.
Roger’s story is a masterclass in the principle that digital marketing works best when it is rooted in real expertise. He does not create content about plumbing from a marketing angle. He creates content as a plumber who genuinely wants to educate homeowners and fellow tradespeople. The marketing results follow naturally from that authenticity.
At DigiMarCon Houston, Roger’s sessions have been featured as on-demand content, with the conference describing the experience of learning from him as a “game changer” — someone who went from being a completely unknown plumber to becoming the biggest brand in the trades.
Keigan Carthy, Sam DeMaio, Sal Sciorta, and the Growing Movement
The names above are just the beginning. Dennis has built a growing network of young adults and local business owners who take the DigiMarCon stage to teach from their own direct example.
Keigan Carthy chose roofing as his niche and has built a strong reputation alongside Dan Leibrandt. Sam DeMaio, based in the Philadelphia area, has appeared on stage to share his journey in home services marketing. Sal Sciorta, a plumber, represents the exact type of hands-on practitioner that Dennis champions — someone who understands both the trade and the digital tools that amplify it.
Each of these individuals shares a common thread. They are not marketing theorists. They are practitioners who happen to be exceptionally good at using digital tools — and now AI-powered tools — to multiply the impact of their real-world expertise.
Why Young Adults Are Winning with AI (And It Is Not What You Think)
There is a common assumption that young adults succeed with technology simply because they grew up with it. They are “digital natives,” the thinking goes, so of course they are better at using AI tools, social media platforms, and marketing automation.
That explanation is too shallow. The real reason these young entrepreneurs are winning is deeper than familiarity with technology.
They care more.
That sounds simple, but it is the most important insight from everything Dennis Yu teaches — and from everything these young adults demonstrate live on the DigiMarCon stage.
AI is a multiplier. It takes whatever you put into it and amplifies the output. If you feed it generic, impersonal, copied-from-a-template content, you get generic results. But if you feed it genuine expertise, real customer stories, authentic passion for helping people, and detailed standard operating procedures built from hands-on experience — AI turns that into something extraordinary.
Nilson Silva does not just use AI to generate pool content. He uses it to scale the same care and expertise that built Master Touch from $3,000 to $17 million.
Roger Wakefield does not use AI to replace his plumbing knowledge. He uses it to reach more homeowners who need help. Dan Leibrandt does not use AI to shortcut the work of understanding local search. He uses it to deliver better, faster results for the contractors who trust him with their businesses.
The common denominator is not youth or tech-savviness. It is authenticity multiplied by powerful tools.
The DigiMarCon Difference: Recipes, Not Lectures
What Dennis Yu and his network of young entrepreneurs have brought to DigiMarCon is a fundamentally different model of conference education. Instead of lectures, they deliver recipes. Instead of theory, they give SOPs — standard operating procedures that attendees can take home and implement immediately.
This is why Dennis’s approach to conferences mirrors his approach to marketing itself. In the social media world, everyone talks about being authentic — make videos, go live, show behind the scenes.
But what does “be authentic” actually mean in practice? It means demonstrate your real experience. Show your work. Let people see the real numbers, the real dashboards, the real client results.
That is exactly what happens on the DigiMarCon stage when Dennis and his young adult co-presenters log in live, run audits in real time, and hand out the actual processes they use every day. Everything is repeatable. Everything is documented. The audience does not just watch — they receive a complete recipe they can follow step by step.
A Call to Local Business Owners
If you run a plumbing company, a pool service, a roofing business, an HVAC operation, a landscaping company, or any type of local service business, DigiMarCon is the conference where people like you take the stage and teach from their own direct example.
This is not a conference where you sit in the back of a ballroom while someone from a big agency talks about Fortune 500 case studies that have nothing to do with your world. This is a conference where a plumber with 716,000 YouTube subscribers shows you exactly how he did it. Where a pool builder who started with $3,000 walks you through his path to $17 million in revenue. Where young digital marketers who specialize in your exact industry log in to real accounts and show you what is working right now.
The next generation of digital marketing is not about more theory. It is about more care, more transparency, more real experience shared openly — and the AI tools that multiply all of it.
DigiMarCon is where that next generation shows up, logs in, and teaches from example.
Ready to see it live? Register for the next DigiMarCon event and experience hands-on digital marketing education that you can apply to your business the same week. What would you want Dennis to audit live on stage for your business?
How LocalSurge Combines CRM, SEO, and AI Into One Platform
By Editorialist Team Local businesses today face a complex challenge. They must manage customer relationships, improve online visibility, and maintain fast communication all at the same time. Traditionally, these functions required separate tools and systems. LocalSurge is changing that by combining CRM, SEO, and AI into a single integrated platform designed to simplify local business marketing.
The Fragmentation Problem in Local Marketing
Many businesses rely on multiple platforms to handle different aspects of their operations. A customer relationship management system is used for tracking leads, while SEO tools are needed to improve search visibility. At the same time, communication tools are required to engage with customers.
This fragmented approach often leads to inefficiencies. Business owners must switch between systems, manage different subscriptions, and ensure that data remains consistent across platforms. LocalSurge identifies this as a major barrier to growth and aims to solve it through integration.
By bringing these functions together, LocalSurge reduces complexity and improves overall performance.
LocalSurge Integration of CRM Capabilities
Customer relationship management is a key component of LocalSurge platform. Businesses need to track interactions, manage leads, and follow up with potential customers to drive conversions.
LocalSurge integrates CRM functionality that allows businesses to capture and organize customer information in one place. This includes tracking inquiries, managing communication history, and monitoring customer engagement.
With a centralized CRM system, businesses can maintain better relationships and ensure that no opportunity is overlooked.
Enhancing Visibility With SEO
Search engine optimization remains one of the most important tools for attracting new customers. If a business does not appear in search results, it cannot compete effectively.
LocalSurge incorporates SEO strategies into its platform to improve online visibility. This includes optimizing websites, managing local listings, and ensuring that business information is accurate and consistent.
By integrating SEO with other functions, LocalSurge ensures that increased visibility leads to meaningful engagement rather than isolated traffic.
Leveraging AI for Communication and Automation
Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in LocalSurge platform. AI-powered tools are used to automate communication, respond to inquiries, and follow up with leads.
These systems operate continuously, allowing businesses to remain responsive even outside of normal working hours. This level of availability is essential in a competitive market where customers expect immediate answers.
LocalSurge uses AI to reduce manual workload while improving efficiency and customer experience.
Creating a Unified Customer Journey
One of the main advantages of combining CRM, SEO, and AI is the ability to create a seamless customer journey. LocalSurge connects each stage of the process, from discovery to conversion.
SEO brings customers to the business, CRM tracks their interactions, and AI ensures consistent communication. This integration allows businesses to guide customers through the decision-making process more effectively.
By aligning these elements, LocalSurge helps businesses maximize the value of each interaction.
Why Businesses Are Moving Toward Integrated Platforms
The demand for integrated solutions is growing as businesses look for ways to simplify their operations. Managing multiple tools can be time-consuming and costly. LocalSurge offers a practical alternative by consolidating key functions into one platform.
This approach is particularly appealing to small and medium-sized businesses that may not have the resources to …read more
Source:: Social Media Explorer
Future of Marketing Briefing: The ad industry has an AI label problem
By Seb Joseph People no longer trust what they see, and the ad industry hasn’t agreed on what honesty looks like in response.
Does an AI-generated background warrant a label? What about a synthesized soundtrack? Or does the threshold only kick in when it’s a human face, a product claim or a body that never existed? These feel like mundane distinctions until you factor in what labelling actually costs. Research from NYU Stern and Emory University suggest that AI disclosure can reduce ad effectiveness by up to 31.5%. This is a member-exclusive article from Digiday. Continue reading it on digiday.com and subscribe to continue reading content like this. …read more
Source:: Digiday
Possible expands not only its area but also its marketer presence, aka ‘gold dust’
By Michael Bürgi As the Possible conference heads into year four when it opens for business on April 27, it will not only practically double its footprint but it’s expecting close to 20% more attendees than in 2025 — bumping up from 5,400 to 6,500 expected this year, according to its co-founder and leading man, Christian Muche.
According to Muche, the expansion will stretch from just the Fontainebleau Hotel to the neighboring Eden Roc Miami Beach. It means a much larger outdoors presence, which the marketing, media, creative and tech conference used to a much lesser extent in 2025 — particularly the beachfront and boardwalk connecting the two hotels.
Possible in 2025 — its first year under ownership by Hyve Group, a major events organizer that puts on shows like ShopTalk and FinTech Meetup — tried out a meetups addition to the show, which essentially pair brand marketers with vendors and “solution providers.” Both sides agree to the meetups (not dissimilar from Digiday’s 10-minute meetings, which are a hallmark of our events), and this year, Possible will host 3,000 of them, taking place on a pavilion that’s being built on the beach that the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc share. Continue reading this article on digiday.com. Sign up for Digiday newsletters to get the latest on media, marketing and the future of TV. …read more
Source:: Digiday
Future of TV Briefing: A TV advertising staple is missing from YouTube show sponsorships
By Tim Peterson This week’s Future of TV Briefing looks at the rare practice of YouTube channels offering TV-style make-goods to sponsors as TV-style shows become more commonplace.
Making good
Netflix’s video AI tool, OpenAI’s TBPN acquisition and more
Making good
Recently I was talking with Donut Media’s head of brand partnerships Amanda Klein. The Recurrent-owned media company’s YouTube videos are receiving about 45% of their viewership on TV screens. Coinciding with that increased TV viewership, Donut Media is making a big push this year to sell sponsorships for TV-style episodic series, she said. This is a member-exclusive article from Digiday. Continue reading it on digiday.com and subscribe to continue reading content like this. …read more
Source:: Digiday
