By Digiday Editors The 7,500 attendees of year four of Possible have wrapped their meetings, and the booths are being dismantled as you read this. But day two of Possible gave Digiday the chance to catch up with a handful of executives in attendance to get their thoughts on marketing spend consistency in the face of economic turbulence, the continued value of multicultural marketing and the difference between AI’s effect on consumers versus marketers.

Three execs – The Home Depot’s Molly Battin, Sundial Media Group’s Kirk McDonald and Omnicom Media’s Joanna O’Connell – shared their thoughts with Digiday’s Jim Cooper and Michael Bürgi at the Digiday studio at Possible.

Battin talked about the test-and-learn approach her company is taking with AI, notably agentic shopping to “take the friction out of shopping” for customers.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

By Adam If you have been researching personal branding for real estate agents, you have probably noticed that every article says the same thing. This is a practical guide with specific steps, not motivational platitudes about being authentic.
What Personal Branding Actually Means for Professionals
Personal branding is the deliberate process of shaping how you are perceived by your target audience. It is not about becoming famous. It is about ensuring that when your ideal client, employer, investor, or partner researches you, they find a consistent, credible, and compelling story.
In 2026, your personal brand is what shows up when someone Googles your name, asks ChatGPT about you, or looks you up on LinkedIn. If the answer is nothing useful, you have a visibility problem that costs you opportunities you never know about.
The professionals who command premium rates, attract inbound opportunities, and get invited to speak at conferences have one thing in common: their digital presence tells a clear, specific story about their expertise. This did not happen by accident. They built it intentionally.
The Personal Brand Stack: Three Layers That Matter
Layer 1: Search Results
Google your name in an incognito browser. What appears? Ideally: your website, LinkedIn, published articles, media mentions, and a Google Knowledge Panel. If the first page is LinkedIn and nothing else, you have work to do. If someone else with your name dominates the results, you have even more work to do.
The goal is to own the first page of Google for your name. Every result should be a property you control or a mention that reflects well on your expertise. This is your digital first impression, and for many professional relationships, it is the only impression that matters.
Layer 2: AI Presence
Ask ChatGPT: ‘Who is [your name]?’ If it has no answer, you are invisible to the growing number of people who use AI for research before making business decisions. Building AI visibility requires getting mentioned on authoritative websites that AI models use as source material.
This is a new frontier that most professionals have not addressed. The ones who build their AI presence now will have a significant advantage over the next 2 to 3 years as AI adoption continues to accelerate.
Layer 3: Content Portfolio
Published articles, podcast appearances, speaking engagements, and social media posts that demonstrate your expertise. Ten high-quality pieces on the right platforms outperform 500 social media posts that nobody reads. Focus on creating a concentrated portfolio of your best thinking, not a high volume of mediocre content.
“I have placed hundreds of brands in major publications. The single biggest factor in building a personal brand that drives business results is whether your online presence backs up the story you are pitching,” says Joey Sendz, founder of instantpress.co.
Building Your Personal Brand: The 90-Day Plan
Month 1: Foundation
Launch or update your personal website. Implement Person schema markup. Optimize your LinkedIn profile with keyword-rich headlines and a story-driven About section. Write your first two long-form articles on topics where your expertise is deepest. Get professional headshots that work across platforms.
The website does not need …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

By Seb Joseph Omnicom has started using AI agents to buy media. On its Q1 earnings call on Tuesday, the holding company said it has already executed live buys for several clients through an agent-to-agent framework. In practice, that means software is autonomously purchasing ad inventory directly from publishers, bypassing the ad tech middlemen that Omnicom says cream off a slice of every client’s media budget.

The move is one of the more concrete signs yet that the holdcos are serious about dismantling the programmatic supply chain they’ve long complained about but remained dependent on.

CEO John Wren, who on the call described ad tech intermediaries as extracting a “toll” paid ultimately by clients, said shortening the path between Omnicom and publishers is a strategic priority the company is actively investing in. He added: “There aren’t too many major groups that are looking to have more direct relationships with the publishers. That is an objective, and it’s something we’re investing in as we sit here today.”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

By Kimeko McCoy
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts • Spotify

Netflix’s ad business is starting to look less like an experiment and more like a serious contender for ad budgets. The streaming giant is striking deals via new upfront structures, expanding its ad tech and rolling out unique content opportunities. 

All said, Netflix is aiming to build a bigger, more differentiated ad product — one that will disrupt the streaming ad market. 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

By Headlines Team A detailed breakdown of national pedestrian fatality data has identified the specific vehicle types, days of the week, and traffic conditions most closely associated with pedestrian deaths on American roads. The findings, released by Premier Law Group, reveal that the overwhelming majority of pedestrian fatalities involve the most common vehicles on U.S. roads, that risk spikes sharply at the end of the working week, and that the combination of increased traffic volume, reduced visibility, and elevated alcohol consumption during Friday and weekend evenings creates conditions that are consistently and measurably more dangerous for people on foot.

In 2023, 7,314 pedestrians were killed in motor vehicle crashes, representing 17.9% of all U.S. traffic fatalities. The vehicle type and temporal data behind those deaths point clearly toward where prevention efforts, enforcement resources, and infrastructure investment would have the greatest potential impact.

Light Trucks Were Involved in Nearly Half of All Pedestrian Fatalities

Among the vehicle types involved in pedestrian deaths, light trucks, including SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans, collectively accounted for the largest share. Light trucks were involved in 3,437 pedestrian fatalities, representing 47% of all pedestrian deaths recorded in 2023. SUVs alone were involved in 1,922 fatalities (26.3% of the total), while light truck pickups contributed a further 1,233 deaths (16.9%) and light truck vans added 282 (3.9%).

Passenger cars remained the single most common vehicle type involved in pedestrian fatalities in absolute terms, accounting for 2,368 deaths, or 32.4% of the total. Together, passenger cars and light trucks were involved in just over 75% of all pedestrian fatalities, a proportion that reflects both the dominance of these vehicle types in the U.S. fleet and the frequency with which they travel through the urban, suburban, and residential environments where pedestrians are most present.

The growing prevalence of light trucks in the U.S. vehicle fleet carries specific safety implications for pedestrians. Light trucks typically feature higher front-end profiles and greater mass than passenger cars, meaning that when a crash occurs, pedestrians are more likely to be struck in the torso or upper body rather than the lower body, a dynamic that increases the likelihood of severe or fatal injury. Larger vehicles also tend to have more significant front blind spots, making it harder for drivers to detect pedestrians, particularly in low-speed environments such as parking lots, residential streets, and urban intersections where pedestrian presence is highest.

Large trucks, including commercial freight vehicles, were involved in 466 pedestrian deaths (6.4%), while buses and motorcycles accounted for comparatively small shares at 0.7% and 0.5%, respectively. Other or unknown vehicle types accounted for a further 958 fatalities (13.1%).

Friday Is the Most Dangerous Day of the Week for Pedestrians

The temporal distribution of pedestrian fatalities reveals a sharp and consistent end-of-week risk spike. Friday was the deadliest day of the week for pedestrians in 2023, with 1,155 deaths representing 15.8% of the annual total. Saturday followed closely at 1,150 deaths (15.7%) and Sunday at 1,116 (15.3%), meaning that the Friday to Sunday window collectively accounted for 3,421 pedestrian deaths, or 46.8% of all …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

By Michael Bürgi Creators, whether they meant to or not, have found themselves at the forefront of media channels and marketing execution — all of it in remarkably little time. They’ve also helped to make social media a far more valuable channel than it had been, certainly since the pandemic made all of us pay far more attention to it than before.

Because of these factors, some marketers — with the help of their agencies — are tapping into creators as a sort of test lab for trying out new campaigns. Horizon Media’s one example, through its Blue Hour Studios, which is working with advertisers like SharkNinja to pressure-test and adapt campaigns on the fly, using creators in the beginning stages — even letting them have a say sometimes in product development as well as campaign development.

Instead of relying solely on traditional research, social listening, or post-campaign measurement, Horizon and clients like SharkNinja are starting to treat creators as an always-on signal layer: interpreting audience behavior, pressure-testing ideas, and informing creative direction before anything goes to market. In this model, creators aren’t just executing briefs – they’re helping write 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

By Headlines Team Chicago storms can be unpredictable and fast-moving. A line of thunderstorms can roll through in under an hour and leave behind wind damage, hail impacts, downed branches, and flooded gutters before you’ve even had a chance to react. Knowing what to do in the hours and days after a major storm is one of the most practical things a homeowner can have in their back pocket.

This checklist is designed to walk you through exactly that, from the immediate safety steps right after a storm passes to the longer-term follow-up that keeps small issues from turning into expensive repairs.

Step 1: Wait Until It’s Safe

This one sounds obvious, but it’s worth saying. Don’t go outside to inspect your property while a storm is still active. Lightning, high winds, and falling debris are all serious hazards, and no inspection is worth putting yourself at risk. Wait until the storm has fully passed, winds have died down, and you’ve confirmed there are no downed power lines near your home before stepping outside.

If a tree or large branch has come down on your roof during the storm, stay inside and call a professional. Do not attempt to remove it yourself. Debris on a roof can mask structural damage underneath, and moving it without knowing what’s supporting it can make things worse or cause injury.

Step 2: Do a Ground-Level Visual Inspection

Once it’s safe to go outside, start your inspection from the ground. You don’t need to get on the roof at this stage, and in most cases you shouldn’t. A pair of binoculars can help you get a better look at areas that are hard to see from street level.

Walk the perimeter of your home and look for the following:

Missing or visibly lifted shingles are one of the most common signs of wind damage. If you can see bare patches on your roof or shingles that are curling up at the edges, that’s something that needs attention before the next rain event. Shingles on the ground around your home are another obvious indicator.

Granule accumulation is subtler but worth noting. If you see a significant amount of small, sand-like material washed into your driveway or collecting at the base of your downspouts, your shingles may have taken hail damage even if they look intact from a distance.

Gutter damage is often visible from the ground. Look for sections that are sagging, pulling away from the fascia, or visibly bent. Check whether downspouts are still attached to their wall brackets and whether any sections have separated at the joints.

Debris in gutters and on the roof is common after a storm. Leaves, twigs, and small branches can accumulate quickly and block drainage if they’re not cleared out. Even a partial blockage can cause water to back up during the next rainfall.

Flashing displacement is harder to spot but look for any shiny metal sections around your chimney, skylights, or roof vents that appear to have lifted or shifted. Flashing is what seals the transitions between your roof surface and these penetrations, …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

By Michael Bürgi As the sports marketplace continues to build momentum, more agencies are stacking up their expertise to harness the myriad ways to reach one of the most powerful marketing targets out there: the fan. 

Some agencies, like Canvas, have gone out to hire executive talent from the big leagues, while other agencies have crystallized sport-related efforts into full-fledged business opportunities, such as Stagwell’s Sport Beach. And some, like Horizon Sports & Experiences, are crunching the data and insights around the potential of AI layered on sports data — along with the danger that holds. 

HS&E conducted research around sports and AI, which Digiday had the chance to review prior to its publication. In short, the study stresses the idea that brands and sports properties need to apply AI with great caution, lest they alienate fans through erosion of trust.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

By Kimeko McCoy Heart eyes aren’t just for Instagram DMs and TikTok comments. The League, a dating app, is making a play for LinkedIn professionals with its first-ever creator campaign on the platform.

Last month, The League launched its first LinkedIn campaign, “Network here. Find me on The League.” It worked with 10 LinkedIn creators — founders and entrepreneurs — who were also verified League members. It’s part of the dating app’s larger efforts to retool its media mix, exploring more niche channels outside of the usual suspects, like Meta and TikTok. The League declined to share specific media spend or marketing budget figures.

More intentional mindset

Increasingly, LinkedIn is catching consumer brand marketers’ attentions, said Noah Mallin, founder of Mallination, a marketing consultancy.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

By Mary Smith Pursuing a PGDM Course in Ahmedabad is a strategic step toward building a successful career in management. Among the top institutes in the city, Narayana Business School (NBS Ahmedabad) stands out for its industry-focused curriculum, strong placement support, and emphasis on practical learning. If you’re considering or currently pursuing your PGDM from NBS Ahmedabad, understanding the career opportunities ahead can help you plan your future with clarity and confidence.

Why Choose a PGDM Course in Ahmedabad at NBS Ahmedabad?

Ahmedabad has emerged as a prominent education hub in India, offering a vibrant business ecosystem and growing corporate presence. Choosing a PGDM Course in Ahmedabad at NBS Ahmedabad ensures that students gain exposure to real-world business scenarios, industry interactions, and skill-based learning.

NBS Ahmedabad is known for its specialized programs, experienced faculty, and placement-driven approach. The institute focuses on developing managerial skills, leadership qualities, and analytical thinking—key attributes that employers actively seek.

Top Career Opportunities After PGDM at NBS Ahmedabad

After completing your PGDM from NBS Ahmedabad, a wide range of career paths open across industries such as finance, marketing, HR, consulting, and operations. Here are some of the most promising roles:

1. Marketing Manager

Marketing is one of the most popular career options after a PGDM Course in Ahmedabad. As a marketing manager, you’ll be responsible for creating strategies, managing campaigns, and driving brand growth. NBS Ahmedabad equips students with digital marketing, consumer behavior, and branding skills, making them industry-ready.

2. Financial Analyst

For students specializing in finance, becoming a financial analyst is a rewarding option. This role involves analyzing financial data, forecasting trends, and advising businesses on investment decisions. NBS Ahmedabad provides strong training in financial modeling, risk management, and market analysis.

3. Human Resource Manager

HR professionals play a crucial role in managing talent and organizational culture. After completing your PGDM from NBS Ahmedabad, you can explore roles like HR manager, talent acquisition specialist, or training and development manager.

4. Business Development Executive

Business development roles are ideal for individuals who enjoy networking and driving growth. These professionals identify new business opportunities, build client relationships, and contribute to revenue generation. The industry exposure at NBS Ahmedabad helps students excel in such roles.

5. Operations Manager

Operations management focuses on improving efficiency and productivity within an organization. Graduates from a PGDM Course in Ahmedabad at NBS Ahmedabad gain knowledge in supply chain management, logistics, and process optimization, making them suitable for operations roles.

6. Data Analyst / Business Analyst

With the growing importance of data-driven decision-making, roles like data analyst and business analyst are in high demand. NBS Ahmedabad emphasizes analytical tools and techniques, preparing students to interpret data and provide actionable insights.

Industry Sectors Hiring NBS Ahmedabad Graduates

One of the biggest advantages of pursuing a PGDM Course in Ahmedabad from NBS Ahmedabad is the diverse range of industries that hire graduates. These include:

Banking and Financial Services (BFSI)

FMCG and Retail

IT and Technology

Consulting Firms

E-commerce and Startups

Manufacturing and Logistics

The strong placement network of NBS Ahmedabad ensures that students get opportunities across these sectors.

Salary Expectations After PGDM at NBS Ahmedabad

Salary …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

By Headlines Team The relationship between real estate investment management and construction project management is closer than most software vendors acknowledge. For development-focused investment organisations — those that create value through ground-up development or significant value-add construction rather than simply acquiring stabilised assets — the investment management and construction management functions are not parallel activities that happen to occur at the same organisation. They are interdependent disciplines whose outcomes depend on how well they share information and coordinate decisions.

The software environment in which this coordination happens either enables or constrains that interdependence. And most real estate technology stacks constrain it.

The Investment Management Requirements

Real estate investment management involves tracking capital commitments and distributions across a portfolio of assets and investor relationships, maintaining the financial models that support investment decisions, producing the reports that limited partners and lenders require throughout the asset lifecycle, and managing the entity structures through which assets are owned and operated.

For development-focused investment managers, the investment management function needs to be connected to the construction and development data that is the primary driver of value creation. The construction cost performance of an active development project determines the equity remaining in the deal and the returns available to investors. Cost overruns in construction translate directly to diluted investor returns and potentially to a stress on the capital structure that requires a response from the investment management team.

When investment management operates from a separate system from construction management, this connection is mediated by manual reporting and periodic updates rather than by real-time data sharing. The investment team’s view of a development project is always lagging the actual state of the construction programme, and decisions are made on information that may already be stale by the time it reaches the people who need it.

Elevate investment management capability within Elevate Solutions brings investment tracking into the same data environment as construction and development management, so that the investment team’s view of a project reflects the current state of the construction programme rather than whatever was last manually reported.

The Construction Management Requirements

Construction project management for real estate development involves budget management, subcontractor administration, change order tracking, draw schedule management, and the documentation management that protects the owner’s position in the event of disputes with contractors or subs.

The financial dimension of construction management is particularly important. Every change order has a financial implication that needs to be captured in the project budget and communicated to the lender and investors. Every draw request needs to reconcile against the construction budget and the lender’s funding formula. Every cost-to-complete estimate affects the investment’s financial model and potentially its viability.

According to NCREIF, real estate investment performance is significantly affected by construction and development cost management, with projects that exceed their budgets consistently delivering lower risk-adjusted returns than those that manage costs effectively. The technology infrastructure that supports construction cost management is therefore directly connected to investment performance.

For organisations seeking construction project management software that integrates directly with investment management and development accounting, Elevate Solutions delivers the unified platform that …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

By Kimeko McCoy
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts • Spotify

OpenAI’s ad playbook may leave some marketers with whiplash given its pacing. In the last month, the platform has struck deals with ad tech partners like Criteo and Smartly, hired former Meta exec Dave Dugan to oversee its ad business, launched a self-serve manager in testing, rolled out pixels to track ad conversion — and now, its ads are getting cheaper.

That’s a lot for a company that only launched an ads business two months ago. The breakneck clip at which OpenAI is moving begs the question: Is OpenAI moving too fast with their ads? 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

By Headlines Team Yes, you can buy fireworks online and have them shipped directly to your home in most U.S. states. The process is legal where consumer fireworks are permitted, but it comes with specific rules tied to federal transportation regulations. Fireworks fall under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s hazardous materials classification, which means standard postal services and air freight are not options. Ground shipping through licensed carriers is required. Understanding how this system works helps you order correctly and receive your fireworks without delays or complications.

How Consumer Fireworks Are Classified for Shipping

The U.S. DOT classifies consumer fireworks as Division 1.4G explosives under 49 CFR Part 172. This classification allows ground shipping via licensed carriers but prohibits shipment by air or through the U.S. Postal Service.

Most hazmat-rated items ship via FedEx Ground or UPS Ground. Larger orders, including 500g aerial cakes and multi-case assortments, must move on LTL (less-than-truckload) common carrier freight. The carrier used depends on the product type and order volume, not the buyer’s preference.

Which States Allow Fireworks to Be Shipped to Your Home

Consumer fireworks can be shipped to 33 states where they are legal for private purchase. Retailers are prohibited from shipping to:

Alaska and Hawaii

California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts

Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Vermont

Oregon, Ohio, Nevada, the District of Columbia

Buyers in permitted states receive delivery to a home address. Some retailers require a $100 minimum order for compliant hazmat packaging. FireworkStore.com ships to all states where consumer fireworks are legal, with a $100 order minimum to meet DOT packaging requirements.

What Happens After You Place Your Order

Orders placed with a legitimate fireworks online store typically ship within 24 to 48 hours of order confirmation. Delivery takes 3 to 7 business days via ground freight, depending on distance from the warehouse.

Before shipping, the carrier performs address verification. If an issue arises, the order is held and the customer is contacted. The trucking company calls 24 to 48 hours before delivery to schedule a drop-off window. Packages are placed on the truck tailgate, not carried inside. An optional liftgate service is available for buyers who cannot unload heavy shipments themselves.

Free Shipping Items vs. Hazmat Shipments

Not all fireworks require hazmat freight. Non-pyrotechnic items, including sparklers, sky lanterns, bottle sparklers, gender reveal confetti cannons, and smoke bombs, are classified as safe or limited-quantity items. These ship via UPS or FedEx Ground with no hazmat surcharge.

When you order fireworks online, the cart automatically separates qualifying free-shipping items from hazmat products. Orders over $500 at FireworkStore.com qualify for free freight shipping on hazmat fireworks. Items like 14″ Morning Glory Sparklers and 36″ Gold Wedding Sparklers fall under the free-shipping category regardless of order size.

What to Know About July 4th Delivery Deadlines

Orders destined for July 4th celebrations must be placed by June 20th to guarantee on-time delivery. This cutoff accounts for freight transit time and any address verification holds.

Orders placed after June 20th may still arrive in time, but confirmation with the retailer is advised. FireworkStore.com, which has operated as a brick-and-mortar fireworks …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

By Michael Bürgi I know I’ve harped on the uncertain economic conditions so far in 2026 quite a bit. (It could have to do with the fact that I looked at my 401K and saw it’s performing at -1.36% year to date, after years of upward growth.)

But the reason it merits being covered is because somehow, for some reason, the ad marketplace isn’t being greatly affected by the uncertainty and volatility, the likes of which the U.S. hasn’t seen since the beginning of the pandemic. Agency holding companies and independents alike are reporting that their clients have not pulled back ad spend — and I’ve been around long enough to know that at this point any time in the past they would have. 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

By Seb Joseph For the better part of a decade, CPG companies hired marketers who could optimize a media plan. Now, they’re hiring ones who can save a brand.

When Smuckers went looking for a new CMO earlier this year, it didn’t reach for a performance marketer. It hired Katie Williams, the former U.S. CMO of Haleon, a consumer health veteran who spent her career building brands like Advil, Sensodyne and Centrum. Hormel, which had never had an enterprise-wide CMO before, created the role in December and filled it with Jason Levine — a Mondelēz lifer who ran marketing for Oreo and Ritz. Burger King’s new CMO Joel Yashinsky, poached from Applebee’s in early 2025, promptly fired the brand’s mascot, launched a brand reset built on customer feedback and described the whole thing as “not a marketing campaign” but a fundamental rethink of what the brand stands for.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

By Adam Sioux Falls businesses searching for the best review generation services have more options than ever. We ranked these five providers based on local expertise, service breadth, speed, and client results.
1. LocalSurge — Sioux Falls, SD
LocalSurge earned first place by combining web design, local SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, review management, and AI automation in one engagement. The 14-day launch timeline and transparent pricing make them the clear choice for Sioux Falls local businesses competing for visibility in Google Maps and organic search.
Website: localsurge.co
2. Click Rain — Sioux Falls
Full-service digital agency with a strong local reputation in Sioux Falls. Handles web design, SEO, and paid media for mid-market clients. Established team with a traditional playbook. No AI automation services.
3. SEO Midwest — Sioux Falls
SEO-focused agency serving the Sioux Falls metro. Handles on-page optimization and link building. Single-service model without web design or AI automation.
4. Tiger29 — Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls web development shop building custom websites. Technical focus with less emphasis on marketing strategy, SEO, or ongoing growth services.
5. HenkinSchultz — Sioux Falls
Traditional advertising and branding agency in Sioux Falls with decades of history. Handles print, broadcast, and digital. Legacy approach that moves slower than digital-native shops.
For Sioux Falls businesses ready to grow, LocalSurge offers the fastest launch, broadest services, and deepest local expertise in the metro area.
The post Top 5 Review Management Services for Salons in Sioux Falls appeared first on Social Media Explorer. …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

By Sam Bradley Organic search expertise is the latest in-demand skillset among ad agencies. Media agencies are competing with brands and each other to fill senior roles intended to burnish their capabilities in search engine optimization, AI discoverability and organic search.

Digiday identified eight agencies, including both indie and holding company shops, currently advertising for director, assistant director or manager-level organic search positions.

“It’s a product of the buzz and emphasis on AI and SEO,” said Adam Edwards, chief product officer at Brainlabs. “Every brand wants to better understand how they get themselves mentioned and cited on ChatGPT and on Gemini.”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

By Full Editorial Finding a dependable contractor used to mean flipping through a heavy yellow phonebook and hoping for the absolute best. That era is completely gone. When modern homeowners notice a water stain spreading across their living room ceiling or find missing shingles in their front yard after a heavy thunderstorm, their very first instinct is to pull out their smartphone. They jump online, frantically searching for local experts who can fix the problem fast. But they are not just looking for a random phone number; they are looking for a business they can genuinely trust with their biggest asset.

Trust is the single biggest hurdle in the entire home service industry. Because replacing a damaged top layer is a massive financial investment, homeowners are naturally skeptical of hiring a stranger. They want undeniable proof of quality before they ever make a phone call. Whether a homeowner needs a minor leak repair or a completely new roof, social media marketing is exactly how local contractors bridge that massive gap. By showing up in local digital feeds with the right content, roofing companies can transform from unknown entities into trusted neighborhood partners. Let’s examine exactly how a solid digital presence connects local crews with the exact people who need them most.

Showcasing the Work Through Visual Evidence

Roofing is an inherently visual business. You can write long paragraphs about your high-quality materials and your expert installation techniques, but a single photo is infinitely more effective. Platforms heavily focused on images and videos give local companies the perfect stage to showcase their actual capabilities in real time.

When a contractor posts consistent, high-resolution photos of a completed project, it serves as undeniable proof of competence. A side-by-side post showing a sagging, weather-beaten exterior next to a crisp, beautifully installed upgrade immediately grabs a scrolling homeowner’s attention. These stark transformations resonate perfectly because they highlight a stressful problem the homeowner might currently have and instantly provide an efficient solution.

Furthermore, posting short video clips of the crew actively working on a job site humanizes the business in a way that text cannot. Showing a clean, highly organized work environment, technicians wearing proper safety gear, and the meticulous cleanup process reassures potential clients. They see exactly what they can expect if they hire that specific crew for their own property, completely removing the heavy fear of the unknown.

Winning the Neighborhood on Community Platforms

Most homeowners vastly prefer to hire local businesses. They want to know the money they spend is staying in their own community and that the contractor is nearby if a warranty issue ever arises a few years down the road. Social media makes localized marketing incredibly precise and highly effective for savvy contractors.

Neighborhood-specific digital groups and community discussion boards are virtual goldmines for local service providers. When a severe spring hail storm rolls through town, these groups immediately light up with residents asking their neighbors for contractor recommendations. A roofing company that is already active and helpful in these spaces has a massive advantage over the competition. …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

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

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