Deep Dive: Page 5

Industry insights from our journalists


  • Woman preparing for pathogen virus pandemic spread quarantine.Choosing nonperishable food essentials.Budget buying at a supply store.Pandemic quarantine preparation.Emergency to buy list - stock photo
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    eldinhoid via Getty Images
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    CPG marketers roll the dice on new experiments amid data upheaval

    In a quest to get closer to customers through data, brands are asserting their independence from walled gardens by recentering on owned experiences.

    Peter Adams • Nov. 23, 2020
  • The lack of marketing/PR firms working with DTC brands
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    Photo illustration by Danielle Ternes/Marketing Dive; photograph by fizkes, Nicola Katie and Urfinguss via Getty Images
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    Is the DTC brand aesthetic bad for business?

    Sans serif font and bright colored backgrounds are hallmarks of digitally native brands, but it may not matter if they all look the same.

    Cara Salpini • Nov. 16, 2020
  • Photo illustration of Joe Biden
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    Kendall Davis/Industry Dive/Marketing Dive, data from Marc Nozell
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    How a Joe Biden presidency could impact brand marketing

    Historically risk-averse marketers embraced causes from immigration to environmentalism under President Donald Trump. Lingering division means the industry shift will be less radical this go-around.

    Peter Adams • Nov. 9, 2020
  • Tecate beer cans show brand's new look
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    Courtesy of Tecate
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    2020's bevy of brand refreshes reflect new marketing mandates

    The pandemic, Black Lives Matter movement and other factors have marketers rethinking logos, packaging and visual ways their identity is presented.

    Shane Schick • Oct. 26, 2020
  • Can retailers reinvent holiday cheer in a pandemic?

    Mall Santas, tree lighting, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade — retailers have to rethink every cornerstone of the holiday season, without losing the joy.

    Cara Salpini • Oct. 26, 2020
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    Permission granted by Quibi
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    Quibi calls it quits: Key takeaways from a lesson in how not to build a streaming brand

    While the app became a punching bag well before announcing plans to shutter, the news is still likely to disappoint marketers hungry for an ad-supported premium mobile video platform.

    Peter Adams • Oct. 22, 2020
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    Courtesy of TikTok
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    TikTok's marketing spreads a feel-good message. Could it make a difference for the app's future?

    Amid the Trump administration's continued aggression, the platform is making a case for saving its business without directly addressing its political woes.

    Peter Adams • Oct. 16, 2020
  • Ferrero
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    Permission granted by Ferrero
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    Pandemic forces Halloween candy makers to get creative to protect $5B in sales

    Mars Wrigley, Hershey and Ferrero, which prepare years in advance for the holiday, have quickly altered their strategies on packaging, selling and marketing their sweets.

    Christopher Doering • Oct. 12, 2020
  • Introducing TikTok fashion month
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    Courtesy of TikTok
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    How TikTok's uncertain future and COVID-19 are transforming influencer marketing

    As the TikTok shakeup continues, competitors are wooing influencers and becoming more accessible with new video tools while content evolves to be more frank. 

    Natalie Koltun • Sept. 21, 2020
  • TikTok Tutorials
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    Retrieved from TikTok on August 14, 2020
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    How Oracle's TikTok deal could shake up social media

    The enterprise technology firm does not have an established stake in the space, which might help the video-sharing app retain outsider status while opening new capabilities in areas like search.

    Peter Adams • Sept. 15, 2020
  • Sports marketing is no longer the safe bet, but bolder brands could win out

    NFL season kickoff might serve as a litmus test for how the space realigns as it grapples with the dual forces of a pandemic and widespread civil unrest.

    Peter Adams • Sept. 10, 2020
  • Big CPGs struggle to gain market share during COVID-19 despite sales boost

    IRI data shows while large manufacturers grabbed shelf space at the height of the pandemic, upstarts are taking advantage of out-of-stocks and demand for variety to win it back. 

    Christopher Doering • Aug. 31, 2020
  • Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO
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    Microsoft
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    Microsoft's bid to buy TikTok: A 'head-scratcher' or surprisingly sensible?

    Some analysts think an acquisition would make a poor match. But areas of Microsoft's business, like LinkedIn, key into potentially overlooked synergies.

    Peter Adams • Aug. 11, 2020
  • Cheetah grocery app
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    Permission granted by Cheetah
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    Grocery apps get smart during the pandemic

    Adoption has skyrocketed in recent months, and now retailers are considering how to update mobile platforms that have become a critical part of the store experience.

    Jessica Dumont • Aug. 3, 2020
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    Retrieved from JanSport on July 09, 2020
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    Back-to-school marketing is more somber under COVID-19, but carries silver linings

    Ads addressing activism, mental health and remote learning arrive in place of typically sunny seasonal fare, but they might resonate more with grounded Gen Z teens. 

    Peter Adams • July 27, 2020
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    Doritos
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    9 campaigns that show how mobile marketers pivoted in the pandemic during H1

    The year's best campaigns so far came in the wake of the pandemic's changes to the landscape, as marketers rushed to meet consumers in digital channels.

    Chris Kelly, Chantal Tode and Peter Adams • July 13, 2020
  • YouTube screenshot of Procter & Gamble's "The Choice" ad retrieved by Marketing Dive on June 11, 2020
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    Retrieved from Procter & Gamble on June 11, 2020
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    9 pivotal campaigns that show how marketing transformed in H1

    Rocked by disruption, marketers were pressed to address both a pandemic and racial injustice amid slashed budgets. Some efforts stood out with fresh creative, a hopeful tone or tangible action.

    Peter Adams, Chris Kelly and Chantal Tode • July 13, 2020
  • Marketers' Facebook boycotts are just the 1st step toward change

    Ambitious pledges from companies like Unilever have the opportunity to spur real changes at Facebook and elsewhere. Stopping paid advertising is only one part of the solution, analysts said.

    Peter Adams • June 30, 2020
  • Aunt Jemima pancake mix
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    "Aunt Jemima" by Mike Mozart is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Some CPG brands face no easy way forward amid historic reckoning with race

    Remaking Aunt Jemima or Uncle Ben, where the characters are baked into brand identity, will require heavy investments. A pandemic-related windfall could help.

    Peter Adams • June 24, 2020
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    Mossholder, Tim. (2019). "The Image". Retrieved from Unsplash.
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    3 months in, how COVID-19 has permanently changed marketing

    CMOs are already applying some hard lessons learned in the pandemic's early days to other crises, such as the current protest movement — but some of their confidence might be misplaced.

    Peter Adams • June 15, 2020
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    John Hazard and Lisa Burdige
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    Is Facebook using the pandemic to shore up its influence?

    The social giant stirred controversy in acquiring the popular image-sharing platform Giphy last month, but marketers shouldn't be surprised by further consolidation in the broader tech landscape.

    Peter Adams • June 3, 2020
  • Mask litter caught on a branch outside Michigan hospital
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    "Pandemic" by Dan Gaken is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Coronavirus brings thorny issue of worker treatment to the marketing fore

    Consumers are putting more value on brands that treat their employees well during the pandemic, but the crisis has sharply amplified labor tensions.

    Peter Adams • May 20, 2020
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    John Hazard and Lisa Burdige
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    Why QSRs must move past competitive sparring in the COVID-19 era

    After years of hijacking each other's campaigns and snarky social media posts, marketers in the category will need to find new tones and tactics as coronavirus upends their business model.

    Chris Kelly • May 18, 2020
  • Where does TikTok go from here?

    Amid soaring downloads, and brands and influencers flocking to capitalize on the growth, TikTok's evolution is being shaped by changing media habits during the pandemic.

    Natalie Koltun • May 18, 2020
  • Restaurant in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic
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    The image by Anthony Quintano is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Why sustainability could be more crucial — and difficult — for brands in the COVID-19 era

    Calls for public good are on the rise amid the pandemic, which has dispelled myths around cost and created higher expectations for ethical practices.

    Peter Adams • May 12, 2020