Luxury Presence, the AI marketing platform serving more than 65,000 residential real estate professionals, has launched its fully autonomous AI Marketing Specialist Team—a first-of-its-kind innovation designed to manage digital marketing end-to-end without requiring human intervention or prompts.

Powered by the company’s proprietary PresenceAI technology, the autonomous team consists of four always-on AI agents:

• AI Lead Nurture Specialist – Responds instantly to website leads, nurturing prospects until they’re ready to speak with an agent.

• AI SEO Specialist – Optimizes listings and blog content to improve local and national search visibility.

• AI Ads Specialist – Manages digital ad campaigns, adapting in real-time to performance metrics.

• AI Blog Specialist – Generates hyper-local, branded blog content to boost authority and SEO.

Built over four years by a team of 100+ engineers, PresenceAI draws from a rich dataset of over 60 million annual site visitors and usage data from 30% of The Wall Street Journal’s top 100 agents. The platform integrates real-time MLS data, first-party behavior insights, and generative AI guardrails to deliver expert-level digital marketing at scale—without human bandwidth.

“The best agents don’t have time to be full-time marketers,” said Malte Kramer, Founder and CEO of Luxury Presence. “We created this AI team to give them expert marketing support—without the overhead.”

Each AI specialist operates autonomously but under human quality control. Agents can review all changes via a real-time dashboard. According to the company, the system has achieved a 99.51% approval rate from beta testers, indicating near-universal agent trust.

Agents like Sherry Lawrence, a top producer in Chattanooga, are already seeing results. “It’s powerful to have the AI Lead Nurture Specialist handling client communication while I focus on deals,” she said.

Set to officially launch on August 4, the AI SEO and Blog Specialists will be included with Luxury Presence’s Brand plan, while the Ads and Lead Nurture Specialists are part of the Leads Pro plan. A Social Media Specialist is also in development, designed to automate branded social content tailored to each agent’s voice.

Luxury Presence, founded in 2016, supports over 15,000 real estate businesses and operates more than 50,000 websites. With $75M in ARR and $52M in funding from investors like Bessemer Venture Partners and Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff, the company is scaling rapidly—now growing at 34% annually, with expectations to hit 40% by year-end.

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LEO Satellite Communications Services to Become Mainstream as New Business and Consumer Uses Emerge

 SYDNEY, Australia, July 30, 2025 – End-user spending on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications services is expected to reach $14.8 billion globally in 2026, an increase of 24.5% from 2025, according to Gartner, Inc.

“LEO satellites have primarily delivered broadband connectivity to remote locations where traditional networks don’t reach,” said Khurram Shahzad, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner. “However, new consumer and business use cases are emerging, driving communications service providers (CSPs) to expand the market. This is enabling LEO satellites to become a mainstream enterprise broadband technology.”

LEO satellites orbit closer to the Earth than traditional satellite technology, providing faster connections and lower latency. This allows them to deliver high-speed broadband and complement traditional terrestrial networks. The market is entering a rapid expansion phase, with over 20 active LEO satellite service providers and more than 40,000 satellites expected in the next few years.

“As use cases continue to grow, companies and consumers can expect consistent internet access and Internet of things (IoT) sensing anywhere, without being limited by location,” Shahzad said. “Even airplanes, ships and sea platforms will benefit from new means of network resiliency and a ubiquitous internet.”

The largest growth in LEO satellite communications services in 2026 will come from businesses and consumers in remote areas with no other connectivity options, with spending expected to increase 40.2% and 36.4% respectively. This is followed by LEO services for IoT connectivity (32%), maritime and aviation (13.8%) and network resilience improvement (7.7%) (see Table 1).

Table 1. LEO Satellite Communications Services End-User Spending Worldwide, 2025-2026 (Millions of U.S. Dollars)

Note: Other includes emergency response, connectivity for temporary locations and poor wired broadband quality.

Source: Gartner (July 2025)

Emerging use cases for LEO satellite communications services can be categorized into four distinct areas:

1. Fixed and Mobile Broadband Service

The main early use of LEO satellite services is for fixed and mobile broadband connectivity, especially for remote sites and to augment existing broadband connections. These services support use cases such as connectivity in areas with no broadband service, temporary locations like construction sites, or on ships and airplanes. They are also used for communication during emergency responses, or to improve resilience as fallback or backup connectivity to traditional broadband.

For example, LEO-connected drones are used in Australia to deliver 4G/5G mobile connectivity during natural disasters, while some U.S. airlines are starting to offer free high-speed Wi-Fi to passengers using LEO satellite communications services.

2. Global IoT Connectivity

LEO IoT satellites complement or even replace traditional IoT networks for applications needing global coverage, with limited bandwidth and latency requirements. They can be used for global asset tracking, agriculture, oil and gas, natural resources, transportation and logistics, military sensing and security monitoring.

For example, global IoT connectivity is being deployed for land, sea and air using LEO satellites. In China, an automaker launched 20 LEO satellites to improve navigation for autonomous vehicles and plans to have a constellation of 240 satellites.

3. Supplementing Mobile Broadband Services

LEO satellite communications services can supplement mobile broadband by providing seamless coverage and enhancing the user experience through direct-to-device (D2D) connections and integration with 5G non-terrestrial networks.

For example, a New Zealand CSP launched a D2D LEO satellite service that lets customers send and receive texts in the 40% of the country not covered by mobile towers. Residents in the Cook Islands have been able to use text messaging services via satellite for almost two years.

4. Infrastructure Backhaul

Both CSPs and enterprises with geographically dispersed operations can leverage LEO satellites for reliable and high-bandwidth connectivity, supporting critical applications, data transfer and communication needs independent of traditional terrestrial limitations.

For example, LEO satellites can provide the necessary backhaul for the operations of government agencies and defense organizations, which often require secure and reliable communication links in remote or hostile environments.

“Despite these expanding use cases, the industry remains nascent with various limitations, including regulatory barriers in some countries and capacity constraints in certain areas,” said Shahzad. “LEO services can also encounter roaming restrictions, lack interoperability and aren’t certified for all mission-critical maritime needs. It’s important for CSPs to assess strategies on a use case basis.”

Gartner clients can read more in the reports Forecast: LEO Satellite Communications Services, Worldwide, 2024-2029, 2025 and Market Trend: Emerging Use Cases for LEO Satellite Communication Services. 

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Criteo, the commerce media firm known for connecting retailers and brands through programmatic advertising, has just made a bold move to streamline its leadership structure. The company announced the appointment of two long-serving executives—Todd Parsons and Sherry Smith—to newly expanded roles that consolidate its product, R&D, and commercial strategy.

The aim? Faster innovation, tighter execution, and laser-sharp focus on growth in two core areas: Performance Media and Retail Media.

Todd Parsons: AI First, Full-Funnel Focus

Todd Parsons, Criteo’s Chief Product Officer since 2020, now also carries the title of President, Performance Media. That’s a significant consolidation of power, putting one of Criteo’s most experienced AI evangelists at the helm of its cross-channel, full-funnel advertising solutions.

If you’ve been watching Criteo's shift from retargeting roots to outcome-driven, multi-product advertising, you’ve likely seen Parsons' fingerprints. He’s helped lead the charge on AI-driven personalization and self-service activation, key pillars for modern marketers grappling with signal loss and fragmented journeys.

Before Criteo, Parsons held top product roles at OpenX and SocialCode and led data strategy at Acxiom. He also has startup cred—he founded Aditive (acquired by Acxiom) and BuzzLogic—making him uniquely equipped to bridge big-tech muscle with entrepreneurial urgency.

Sherry Smith: Retail Media Powerhouse

Meanwhile, Sherry Smith is stepping into the role of President, Retail Media, following her tenure as Executive Managing Director for the Americas. Smith has been instrumental in Criteo’s rise as a Retail Media leader—a space projected to hit $140 billion globally by 2026.

Smith has championed the expansion of Criteo’s retail network, brokering partnerships that fuel its monetization engine. Her prior stint as CEO of Triad Retail Media (part of GroupM) gave her front-row experience in building retailer-led ad businesses, long before “Retail Media” was a buzzword.

With retailers becoming full-fledged media platforms, Smith’s appointment underscores Criteo’s push to lead the pack—not just keep pace.

What This Means for Criteo—and the Industry

The reorganization reflects a growing industry trend: collapsing silos between product, data, and go-to-market teams to increase speed-to-value. For Criteo, it’s also a bid to defend its turf against platform giants like Amazon and Walmart, while appealing to advertisers who want measurable ROI in an era of budget scrutiny.

CEO Michael Komasinski puts it plainly: this new structure promises "greater agility, sharper accountability, and a foundation for sustained performance."

And there’s more to come. Criteo is now on the hunt for a Chief Customer Officer, a role designed to squeeze more lifetime value from existing relationships—a smart move as customer acquisition costs climb and retention becomes a competitive differentiator.

The Bottom Line

Criteo’s executive realignment isn’t just internal housekeeping. It signals the company’s doubling down on AI, self-service, and commerce media scale—areas where speed, cohesion, and leadership make or break performance.

The commerce media arms race is heating up. With Parsons and Smith steering key divisions, Criteo is putting its best players on the field to keep its edge—and perhaps stretch the gap from rivals.

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KORE’s OmniSIM US Plans Now Available Through TD SYNNEX Marketplace, Bringing Simplicity to IoT Deployments

In a move poised to accelerate IoT adoption across industries, KORE Group Holdings, the self-described “IoT hyperscaler,” has inked a strategic partnership with TD SYNNEX, one of the world's largest IT distributors. The collaboration makes KORE’s OmniSIM® US connectivity plans accessible through TD SYNNEX’s vast distribution network—unlocking new levels of accessibility and simplicity for resellers and end users looking to deploy IoT solutions at scale.

Cutting Through the Complexity of IoT

Let’s be honest—deploying IoT connectivity can be a logistical headache. Between navigating carriers, configuring devices, and managing variable pricing, businesses often find themselves tangled in a mess of technical red tape before they even get to implementation.

KORE wants to change that. The company's partnership with TD SYNNEX is engineered to streamline access to flat-rate, carrier-grade connectivity that’s easier to quote, purchase, and deploy. For VARs, MSPs, and solution providers, it means fewer hurdles and faster rollouts.

“By aligning with TD SYNNEX, we’re making it easier than ever for customers to access best-in-class IoT connectivity with straightforward pricing models,” said Ryan Yahrmatter, SVP of Strategic Partnerships at KORE.

Why It Matters

This isn’t just about distribution—it’s about acceleration. Through TD SYNNEX, KORE’s solutions can now reach a broader swath of channel partners who often serve as the linchpin between emerging technologies and enterprise IT environments. And KORE’s capability to source hardware and components outside TD SYNNEX’s usual catalog adds value for partners building integrated, end-to-end IoT solutions.

The integration brings much-needed clarity to a segment where procurement is often fragmented. It also signals a growing recognition that IoT, once viewed as a niche or experimental domain, is becoming core infrastructure for modern businesses, from logistics to healthcare to smart cities.

A Smarter Route to Market

TD SYNNEX, for its part, sees the partnership as a way to bolster its portfolio with high-growth, cloud-connected offerings. "This collaboration ensures our customers can harness the full potential of technology to achieve remarkable results," said Marcie Stout, VP of Cloud Marketplace and ISV at TD SYNNEX.

From a go-to-market perspective, this is a notable pivot. KORE’s Chief Revenue Officer Jared Deith called it “a pivotal moment,” emphasizing how the new model simplifies procurement, shortens time to revenue, and equips channel partners with tools to deliver meaningful outcomes for clients.

What’s Next?

While the IoT market continues to grow—projected to surpass $1.3 trillion by 2026, according to IDC—frictionless deployment remains a barrier for many enterprises. By lowering the complexity bar, KORE and TD SYNNEX may be giving resellers and system integrators the extra push they need to accelerate mainstream IoT adoption.

And with KORE positioning itself as a single-source provider for connectivity, hardware, and analytics, this deal could serve as a blueprint for how B2B tech players approach future channel distribution strategies.

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Veteran Strategist Josh Emington Joins Martec Group’s Partner Team After 10+ Years of Growth-Driven Leadership

The Martec Group, a leading provider of deep-dive market research and business intelligence, has promoted Josh Emington to Partner, effective July 17, 2025. The move recognizes a decade-plus of leadership and innovation by Emington, who most recently served as Vice President and led the firm’s value creation initiatives.

From Research Strategist to Strategic Partner

Emington joined Martec in 2014 and quickly carved out a reputation for delivering actionable insights across M&A advisory, franchise development, and corporate strategy. He was named Vice President in 2023, taking on broader responsibility for client engagement, internal growth strategy, and cross-sector consulting.

In his new role, Emington will help steer the firm’s long-term vision, working alongside the senior partnership team to expand service offerings, deepen relationships with mid-market and enterprise clients, and evolve how the company delivers value in a rapidly changing market landscape.

A Decade of Results—and Influence

“Josh has been a driving force behind the company’s forward momentum for more than a decade,” said Rick Claar, President of The Martec Group. “We’re thrilled to have him join our senior leadership as we chart the next decade of growth.”

Emington has long played a critical role in bridging Martec’s research capabilities with its clients’ real-world strategic needs. His focus on expanding client access to the firm’s full service suite has helped solidify Martec’s reputation as a trusted partner to private equity firms, corporate development teams, and Fortune 1000 executives.

Deep Roots in the Research Ecosystem

Beyond his role at Martec, Emington is active in industry organizations, including the Insights Association, Alliance of M&A Advisors, Association for Corporate Growth, International Franchise Association, and American Marketing Association. He also sits on the board of Michigan State University’s Master of Science in Marketing Research program, further cementing his place as a thought leader in the insights space.

For Emington, the promotion is both a milestone and a mission.

“Joining this incredible leadership team and building this amazing company has been a personal goal and a dream come true,” Emington said. “It is an absolute honor to carry on the rich 40-year history of serving private equity investors, mid-market companies, and Fortune 1000 leaders.”

A Signal of Martec’s Future Focus

As the business intelligence space becomes more crowded—and clients demand ever more tailored, data-rich decision support—Martec’s elevation of a relationship-first, insights-driven leader like Emington signals a clear strategic focus: bridging deep analytics with high-touch consulting.

In a sector often overloaded with dashboards and under-delivered in relevance, the promotion may mark Martec doubling down on what matters most: clarity, context, and trusted human insight.

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Ragan Communications has officially announced its Top Women in Marketing, Class of 2025—a standout group of marketing leaders driving transformation, creativity, and results across the industry.

Representing a broad cross-section of sectors including corporate, agency, nonprofit, and government, this year’s honorees are not just navigating marketing’s evolving challenges—they’re setting the pace.

Visionaries Driving Tomorrow’s Marketing Landscape

From brand storytelling and audience engagement to digital transformation and data-informed strategy, the 2025 class includes women who are leading with impact and redefining what’s possible in modern marketing. They’re the architects of campaigns that resonate, leaders building cultures of innovation, and mentors guiding the next generation.

These are the strategists launching purpose-driven initiatives, the creators behind award-winning content, and the executives shaping enterprise-wide marketing transformations.

Celebration Set for October in New York

The honorees will be celebrated at the Top Women in Marketing Awards Luncheon, set for October 22, 2025, at City Winery in New York City. The event will bring together peers and industry professionals to recognize the bold vision and lasting influence of this year's recipients.

For many, this isn’t just an individual accolade—it’s a signal of the evolving face of leadership in marketing, where diversity of voice, thought, and approach is being recognized as essential to progress.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025—your work is setting the benchmark for what comes next.

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In today’s digital-first economy, marketing isn’t just a support function—it’s a revenue engine. Whether you’re a startup looking for traction, a mid-sized firm scaling fast, or an enterprise optimizing conversions, your digital marketing strategy determines whether you lead or lag.

And in 2025, with evolving consumer behaviors, platform changes, and AI-driven tools reshaping the landscape, a structured approach to digital marketing is no longer optional—it’s mission-critical.

Here’s a breakdown of the 10 essential components that define a high-performing digital marketing strategy this year—and how to align with the right services to scale them.

1. Start with Business Goals & Customer Clarity

Strategy without direction is just noise. Before you invest in any digital tools or agencies, define your core objectives:

• Brand awareness?

• Website traffic growth?

• B2B lead generation?

• eCommerce conversion?

• Customer loyalty?

Equally vital is audience clarity. Who are your ideal customers? Where do they spend time online? What triggers their decisions? Understanding buyer personas, pain points, and preferred channels will shape your entire digital roadmap.

2. Conduct a Digital Audit

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. A thorough digital audit helps benchmark where you stand—and what’s underdelivering.

Evaluate:

• Website performance & UX

• SEO rankings & keyword coverage

• Paid ad metrics

• Social media traction

• Email engagement

• Analytics implementation (GA4, Hotjar, etc.)

Partnering with a full-service digital marketing agency or a specialized SEO company can reveal performance gaps and streamline your channel mix.

3. Leverage SEO for Sustainable Growth

SEO remains the long game in digital marketing—and the returns compound over time. If you're not showing up in search, you're not showing up at all.

Key pillars include:

• Keyword strategy (especially commercial-intent for B2B)

• On-page optimization (meta tags, internal linking, schema)

• Technical SEO (page speed, mobile-friendliness, crawlability)

• Backlink building

• Local SEO (for multi-location businesses)

Avoid “keyword stuffing.” The best SEO agencies prioritize relevance, user intent, and content depth over vanity metrics.

4. Build a Multi-Channel Content Strategy

Content fuels every stage of your funnel. A well-structured content strategy doesn’t just inform—it nurtures, persuades, and converts.

Smart formats include:

• Blog articles (optimized for SEO)

• Explainer & testimonial videos

• Infographics and data visualizations

• Email sequences and newsletters

• Social content tailored by platform

• Case studies and whitepapers

Your goal isn’t to flood the internet. It’s to provide value, answer questions, and build credibility with every asset you publish.

5. Invest in Paid Media with Performance Focus

If SEO is the marathon, paid media is the sprint. But sprints still need strategy. A strong performance marketing agency will help you:

• Set up targeted Google Ads and retargeting

• Use Facebook/Instagram for D2C or B2C plays

• Leverage LinkedIn Ads for B2B demand gen

• Test YouTube and programmatic channels

• Optimize creatives and landing pages through A/B testing

A data-driven approach ensures your ad budget drives measurable return—not just impressions.

6. Embrace Marketing Automation

Automation is your behind-the-scenes growth engine. It improves efficiency, reduces manual work, and enhances customer experience.

Leading platforms like HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, or GoHighLevel can help automate:

• Lead nurturing journeys

• Abandoned cart sequences

• Onboarding workflows

• Social media scheduling

• CRM-driven personalization

Work with digital partners who know how to customize—not just configure—these platforms.

7. Prioritize Mobile and UX Optimization

Your website is still your most valuable digital asset. But if it’s slow or hard to navigate on mobile, you’re leaking conversions.

Focus on:

• Responsive mobile design

• Fast load times (<2.5 seconds)

• Clear CTAs

• Easy navigation & intuitive layouts

• Accessibility and clean UI

Most top-tier digital marketing firms now bundle UX audits with their service stack—for good reason.

8. Let Analytics Lead the Way

Analytics isn’t optional. It's your GPS.

Track:

• Website sessions and traffic sources

• Conversion rates and customer journeys

• Email open/click-through rates

• ROAS (return on ad spend) and CPA

• Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV)

Integrate tools like Google Analytics 4, Meta Pixel, Hotjar, and Looker Studio to translate numbers into actionable insights.

9. Build a Funnel-Based Approach

Not all visitors are created equal. Some are window shopping. Others are comparing vendors. A few are ready to buy.

Segment your content and campaigns by funnel stage:

• Top of Funnel (TOFU): Educational blog posts, reels, infographics

• Middle of Funnel (MOFU): Lead magnets, webinars, email nurture

• Bottom of Funnel (BOFU): Product demos, comparison pages, testimonials

The best inbound marketing agencies build tailored journeys that move users from curiosity to commitment.

10. Stay Agile and Trend-Aware

The digital landscape is never static. What worked in 2023 may flop in 2025.

Stay adaptive by tracking:

• Google algorithm updates

• TikTok, Threads, and emerging platforms

• AI-based personalization and content tools

• Voice and visual search

• Shoppable posts and influencer integrations

A smart agency will not only keep up with trends—they’ll help you capitalize on them before your competitors do.

The Bottom Line

Digital marketing success in 2025 isn’t about being everywhere—it’s about being strategically present where it matters, with the right message and tools. Whether you’re working with an SEO agency, a performance marketing team, or a full-stack digital partner, ensure your strategy is goal-aligned, customer-centric, and data-led.

Don’t just go digital. Go deliberately digital.

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Queen One Secures $5.5M to Turn Static Commerce into Living Brand Experiences

Commerce is getting a much-needed creative overhaul. Queen One, a rising brand technology platform aiming to humanize and energize digital product experiences, has raised more than $5.5 million in Friends & Family funding, with backing from Charge VC, Inspired Capital, Red Swan Ventures, Prospeq, and an inner circle of founders and early collaborators.

Unlike many startups chasing AI buzzwords or incremental UX tweaks, Queen One is betting big on brand storytelling—not just as a marketing tool, but as a core business differentiator. The company wants to shift how consumers experience products online—less SKU, more soul.

From SKUs to Stories

Queen One's premise is refreshingly simple: every product has a story worth telling, and commerce platforms have done a lousy job of telling it. Where most online experiences reduce products to specs and data points, Queen One wants to infuse websites with life, movement, and emotional resonance.

“What Figma unlocked for designers, Queen One is now unlocking for brands,” said Brett Martin, Managing Partner at Charge VC. “They're turning static pages into living, breathing experiences.”

That kind of ambition is attracting serious attention. Inspired Capital’s Kamran Ali cited Queen One’s founding team as a rare blend of vision, execution, and cultural intelligence. “Reimagining how people experience commerce is a bold and timely mission,” he said, “and Queen One is the team to lead it.”

Already Moving Fast

Queen One isn’t just raising capital—it’s already building. The company has:

• Released its first product: Connect (powered by Dragon Tiles), a modular technology stack for brand storytelling.

• Secured $6 million in state economic development support to scale operations in New York.

• Grown to a 33-person team.

• Broken ground on the Rise & Fly Vision Centre, a sprawling 30,000 sq. ft. Brooklyn HQ designed to accelerate product, brand, and cultural innovation.

It's a bold move to anchor the company in Brooklyn, but one that fits CEO Ryan Urban’s ethos: “The time is now. New York is rising. I can’t think of a better place to build a worldscale company.”

Building Culture at Scale

Queen One is also shaping its internal culture with the same energy it brings to its products. Co-founder and COO Maricor Resente made it clear: this is a builder's company. “We know what it takes to work hard and ship big. Together with our investors, we’re ready to deliver immense value to every brand globally.”

Sandy Cass of Red Swan Ventures echoed that confidence: “Queen One isn’t iterating on the past — they’re architecting the future of commerce.”

In a digital landscape dominated by template-driven storefronts and one-size-fits-all engagement, Queen One is positioning itself as the connective tissue between performance and presence—between brands that sell, and brands that resonate.

And with over $5.5 million in new funding and momentum, it looks like Queen One isn’t just talking about a brand revolution—it’s building one.

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