Spotify introduces direct messages Spotify has rolled out direct messages, giving users the ability to share audio content and chat within the app. Beyond consumer engagement, it signals another way for Spotify to own more of the conversation layer, which could unlock new inventory for marketers as audio and social continue to converge. Marketers should watch how this expands shareability and sponsored integrations. LinkedIn doubles down on video ads LinkedIn is leaning harder into video

Print Media Is Back and It’s Strategic Print is staging a comeback as brands like The Spectator, Financial Times, and Us Weekly expand editions while Microsoft and Costco reinvest. Print’s tactile experience builds trust, particularly for premium audiences, making it a sharp play when digital feels saturated. Marketers who integrate print with digital bridges like QR codes or AR can create standout campaigns. Rebranding Can Backfire—Heritage Matters Cracker Barrel learned the hard way that heritage

CM Marketing Minute: Instagram Map, Surging AI Traffic, & Reddit Growth Instagram’s new Map feature Instagram quietly rolled out a live location-sharing feature called Instagram Map, letting users broadcast their whereabouts in real time to friends or even all mutual followers. Adoption has been slow, with confusion over privacy and pushback from users who don’t see Instagram as the right place for such intimate sharing. For marketers, the long-term play is clear: location-sharing fuels hyper-local

CM Marketing Minute: LinkedIn B2B Rankings, Google Defends AI, & Meta E-Commerce Efficiency LinkedIn tops B2B influence rankings LinkedIn has been named the number one platform for influencing B2B decision-makers, according to new research from CMB on behalf of LinkedIn. With 98% of Fortune 500 CEOs using LinkedIn as their primary or only social media platform, the takeaway for marketers is clear — if your brand is aiming to reach senior leadership or high-value business

Why CMOs Must Rewire SEO Thinking for the AI Search Era The marketing landscape is being rewritten—literally—by artificial intelligence. For CMOs, Heads of Growth, and SEO leads, the old rules of search no longer apply in isolation. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google’s SGE (Search Generative Experience) are now determining what content gets cited, surfaced, or directly answered. This article introduces three critical frameworks AIO, GEO, and AEO designed to optimize your content