Toku, a leading provider of enterprise cloud communications and customer experience solutions in Asia-Pacific, has raised a $5 million Series A Extension round. Led by Betatron Venture Group, the funding boosts Toku's total funding to $18 million since its inception in 2018. This significant milestone will help accelerate Toku’s international expansion and further develop its AI-powered solutions for enhancing customer engagement.

1. Toku's Series A Extension Funding

• Funding Round Overview: Toku completed a $5 million Series A Extension round, increasing total funds raised to $18 million.
• Key Investors: Betatron Venture Group led the funding, with participation from the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Venture Fund (ITVF).
• Goal of the Investment: The funding will support Toku’s global expansion and the growth of its proprietary AI-powered customer engagement solutions.

2. Leadership Expansion with Lim Hwee Hua

• Strategic Appointment: Lim Hwee Hua, former Singapore Minister, has been appointed as the Chair of Toku's Advisory Board.
• Expertise and Vision: With her extensive experience in governance, finance, and strategy, Lim will provide invaluable leadership as Toku scales its operations.
• Previous Roles: Lim held leadership roles at Temasek Holdings and various corporate boards, making her a powerful addition to Toku's leadership team.
• Leadership Quote: Thomas Laboulle, Toku’s CEO, expressed honor in welcoming Lim, emphasizing her strategic vision and leadership capabilities.

3. Advancing AI Solutions for Customer Engagement

• Focus on AI Technology: The new funding will drive the development of Toku’s AI Chat and AI Voice Agent technologies.
• Market Focus: These AI solutions cater to diverse markets, particularly in regions with rich linguistic and cultural diversity such as Asia-Pacific, South America, and Europe.
• Strategic Goal: Toku aims to create AI solutions that handle complex voice and language interactions, setting them apart from mainstream providers.

4. Revenue Growth and Global Expansion Plans

• Revenue Targets: Toku aims to achieve over $30 million in revenue by 2024 and reach net profitability by 2025.
• Market Focus: Toku is expanding its footprint in APAC, especially Hong Kong, and targeting new markets like South America and Europe.
• Investor Strategy: Betatron Venture Group sees Toku as a leader in customer experience technology, positioning them for global expansion.

With the Series A Extension funding and strategic leadership from Lim Hwee Hua, Toku is well-positioned to solidify its place as a leader in AI-driven customer experience solutions. Their focus on innovation, expansion into new markets, and development of cutting-edge technologies promises to shape the future of customer engagement across the globe.

The Ad Spend, a free tool designed for digital advertising and paid media managers, has launched its beta program. This innovative platform simplifies the process of tracking key ad metrics by delivering real-time data directly into Slack, allowing teams to monitor campaign performance across multiple platforms without the need to log into each platform individually. With easy setup and intuitive features, The Ad Spend aims to make ad performance insights accessible to all team members, regardless of their role.

1. Features of The Ad Spend

• Simple Setup:
  The Ad Spend integrates seamlessly with Slack using Single Sign-On (SSO), ensuring no need for usernames, passwords, or credit card information. Setup takes less than 60 seconds and grants every member in a Slack organization access to essential ad data.

• Key Metrics at a Glance:
  Users can quickly access a summary of key metrics—including total ad spend, clicks, and leads—via a single Slack command, /theadspend. This data is pulled from LinkedIn Ads, Meta Ads, and Google Ads as of November 2024.

• Conversational Insights:
  Beyond viewing metrics, users can ask follow-up questions directly in Slack threads. The Ad Spend's conversational interface makes it easy for teams to explore campaign performance, such as budget allocation, keyword bids, and audience segmentation recommendations.

• Security and Privacy:
  The Ad Spend employs industry-leading security standards with encrypted connections and data encryption at rest. Strict privacy protocols ensure that organizational data remains secure, with no data-sharing or selling practices.

2. How It Works

• One Command for Instant Access:
  After integration, users can type a simple command in Slack to receive detailed campaign insights. This eliminates the need to log into multiple platforms or navigate complex user interfaces.

• Seamless Collaboration:
  The conversational nature of The Ad Spend allows teams to interact with data in a natural, collaborative way. By replying to threads, team members can discuss performance, refine strategies, and make informed decisions without interrupting their workflow.

3. Team and Leadership

• CEO, Ani Bisaria:
  Ani Bisaria, founder of The Matchbox and Spyll Records, co-founded The Ad Spend to democratize access to marketing insights. With a focus on continuous improvement and curiosity, Ani’s leadership drives the vision of transforming how marketing teams engage with data.

• COO, Jerome Illgner:
  Jerome Illgner, an expert in AI and operational efficiency, brings his experience in building scalable AI tools to streamline marketing workflows at The Ad Spend. He aims to reduce time spent on tedious tasks, allowing teams to focus on data-driven decision-making.

• CTO, Alexander Lyon:
  With a background in open-source development and AI-augmented systems, Alexander Lyon focuses on creating fast, reliable tools for ad operations. His work on optimizing ad tech aligns with The Ad Spend's mission to simplify and streamline data discovery and decision-making.

4. Benefits for Marketing Teams

• Simplified Campaign Monitoring:
  Teams can access campaign insights from LinkedIn Ads, Meta Ads, and Google Ads in real-time, improving overall efficiency without the need for multiple logins.

• Collaborative Insights:
  The natural language interface fosters collaboration among team members by enabling conversations around ad performance, budgeting, and creative strategies.

• Data-Driven Decisions:
  The Ad Spend empowers teams to make better, more informed decisions by offering insights into creative performance, audience segmentation, and messaging effectiveness.

The Ad Spend’s beta program promises to revolutionize the way marketing teams track and optimize their campaigns. With its integration into Slack, AI-powered insights, and commitment to data security, The Ad Spend is set to become an invaluable tool for marketing teams across industries. As the tool evolves, it aims to simplify ad reporting and enable more effective decision-making in the fast-paced world of digital advertising.

In today’s competitive business landscape, capturing and nurturing online leads is critical for sustained growth. SSC.AI’s newly launched lead generation and nurturing platform revolutionizes this process by integrating conversational AI. This advanced solution engages website visitors, answers questions in real time, and converts interactions into qualified leads using a unique, proprietary algorithm. With features like managed live chat, appointment scheduling, AI voice assistants, automated workflows, and multi-channel nurturing via SMS, email, and voice, SSC.AI sets a new standard for customer engagement.

Gaurav Basra, CTO of SSC.AI, emphasizes the platform’s ability to unify lead generation efforts: “Most lead generation systems today are fragmented and require constant oversight. With our platform, businesses gain a truly unified tool that can connect, qualify, and nurture leads autonomously, with a highly personal touch.” This innovative approach is already reshaping how companies connect with their customers.

1. Key Features of SSC.AI's Platform

• Unified Lead Generation Tool:
  SSC.AI offers businesses an all-in-one platform that connects, qualifies, and nurtures leads through a combination of AI-powered chat, voice assistants, and automated workflows. This holistic approach eliminates the need for multiple systems and offers a seamless experience for both businesses and customers.

• Managed Live Chat:
  The platform features managed live chat where customer inquiries are met with instant, high-quality responses from qualified, US college-educated employees. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also maximizes conversion potential, ensuring that every interaction is an opportunity.

• Appointment Scheduling & AI Voice Assistant:
  Through AI-driven voice and text channels, businesses can engage prospects in real-time, automatically qualify leads, and even schedule appointments. This feature streamlines the customer journey, making it efficient and effortless for users.

• Multi-Channel Nurturing:
  SSC.AI goes beyond initial contact by nurturing leads across multiple channels, including SMS, email, and voice calls. Automated workflows ensure that businesses can stay connected with prospects through timely follow-up, reducing the time spent on repetitive tasks.

• Data-Driven Insights:
  The platform’s built-in analytics gather key data on customer interactions, lead preferences, and engagement patterns. This helps businesses refine their messaging, tailor their strategies, and make more informed decisions based on real customer insights.

2. Business Benefits of SSC.AI’s Platform

• Increased Conversion Rates:
  By reducing manual tasks like lead qualification and appointment scheduling, businesses can focus on high-priority activities that directly contribute to growth. The platform’s instant response capabilities and nurturing features help improve conversion rates.

• Enhanced Customer Experience:
  The combination of AI and human interaction ensures that customers receive personalized, empathetic responses in real time, making the engagement process feel more authentic and satisfying.

• Scalable Customer Engagement:
  Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, SSC.AI’s platform is designed to scale. Automated workflows and multi-channel nurturing can support businesses in managing large volumes of leads while maintaining a personal touch.

• ROI and Cost Efficiency:
  By automating many aspects of the lead generation and nurturing process, businesses can reduce the need for manual intervention, thus saving time and money. The increased efficiency and conversion rates lead to a significant return on investment.

3. Real-World Use Cases

• Real Estate:
  In the real estate sector, SSC.AI’s platform provides instant responses to potential buyers, shares property details, schedules viewings, and follows up with additional messages to convert interest into sales opportunities.

• Healthcare:
  SSC.AI’s platform acts as a virtual assistant, guiding new patients through the inquiry process, providing details on services, checking provider availability, and even scheduling appointments. For follow-up care, multi-channel nurturing ensures patients receive reminders via SMS or email, reducing missed appointments and maintaining continuity of care.

• Legal & Financial Services:
  For legal and financial firms, the platform directs new client inquiries to the right expert, sends tailored follow-up communications, and ensures no lead is left behind. Automated reminders and personalized messaging help firms maintain consistent engagement with clients.

4. Building Long-Term Customer Relationships

SSC.AI’s platform is not just about lead generation—it’s about fostering long-term relationships with customers. By making engagement seamless and personalized, the platform empowers businesses to convert every interaction into an opportunity for lasting success. With its unified approach to conversation, automation, and nurturing, SSC.AI enables businesses to grow their digital presence while improving customer relationships.

SSC.AI’s advanced lead generation platform represents a significant leap forward in how businesses capture and nurture leads. By combining AI-driven conversational tools with live chat, appointment scheduling, and multi-channel nurturing, businesses can enhance their customer engagement efforts and drive growth. With real-time insights, automated workflows, and a personal touch, SSC.AI is setting a new standard for lead generation that will benefit businesses across industries.

FreeCast is excited to announce the highly anticipated launch of its app on Roku, bringing an expansive lineup of over 500 free streaming channels and a paid Value Channels package to one of the largest and most popular streaming platforms. This release marks a significant milestone for the company as it continues to expand its omni-channel media industry solutions. The FreeCast app offers users a robust streaming experience, and an upcoming update will further enhance the platform with a vast video-on-demand (VOD) library and AI-powered advanced search capabilities.

In addition to these exciting features, FreeCast’s partnership with Roku enables the company to leverage advanced advertising tools through Roku’s Ads Manager, offering hyper-targeted ads that are tailored to consumer behavior across multiple platforms.

1. FreeCast’s Core Features on Roku

• 500+ Streaming Channels:
  The FreeCast app on Roku brings users access to over 500 free streaming channels. These include a diverse selection of content across genres, making it a comprehensive entertainment solution for any viewer. Additionally, FreeCast’s paid Value Channels package offers even more premium content for subscribers.

• VOD Library & AI-Powered Search:
  A major upcoming update will introduce FreeCast’s vast VOD library, consisting of over 500,000 movies and TV episodes. Alongside the library, AI-powered search capabilities will help users find content more easily and quickly, making it an intuitive and personalized viewing experience.

• Advanced Advertising Capabilities:
  One of the standout features at launch is FreeCast’s advanced advertising functionality, integrated with Roku’s Ads Manager. FreeCast employs its unique “experiential data” derived from consumer behavior across different apps, services, and devices. This data enables FreeCast to serve hyper-targeted, effective ads that provide value to both advertisers and viewers.

2. The Significance of Roku in FreeCast’s Strategy

Roku has long been a pioneer in the streaming industry, creating one of the first platforms to support the streaming shift and provide consumers with easy access to their favorite content. According to William Mobley, FreeCast’s founder and CEO, Roku’s foresight in the streaming space aligns with FreeCast’s vision: “Roku is unique; they were one of the first to foresee the shift to streaming, and build technology to support that, rather than just throw Android on a set-top box. In that way, they’re a lot like FreeCast."

FreeCast’s arrival on Roku is a critical step in its strategy to provide a holistic media experience and media solutions that go beyond just offering VOD content. FreeCast is focused on building a complete media ecosystem that spans multiple platforms, with Roku being the first piece in that vision.

3. Expanding the Media Industry Solution

The launch of the FreeCast app on Roku coincides with the company’s larger rollout of its omni-channel media industry solution. FreeCast aims to create a comprehensive media experience not only for consumers but also for the media industry. The integration of advanced advertising, targeted content, and analytics offers an innovative solution for advertisers and content creators, making FreeCast a valuable tool for both the audience and the industry at large.

4. The Future of FreeCast on Roku

FreeCast’s presence on Roku is just the beginning. The company has ambitious plans to expand its offering on the platform, with a roadmap that includes additional features and capabilities in the near future. FreeCast’s focus on building a complete, accessible media experience on Roku ensures that the company is not only bringing content to the platform but also contributing to the future of streaming media.

FreeCast’s debut on Roku marks a major step forward in the company’s strategy to reshape the streaming landscape. With over 500 free channels, a vast VOD library, advanced ad capabilities, and AI-powered search, FreeCast is set to offer an enhanced, personalized viewing experience. This launch, alongside the broader omni-channel media industry solution, positions FreeCast as a key player in the evolving media industry, providing value for both consumers and advertisers alike.

Microbusiness owners are redefining resilience. According to GoDaddy’s 2024 Annual Venture Forward report, many entrepreneurs who close a business are not giving up—they are pivoting to new ventures. Despite challenges, these business owners continue to innovate, launching new businesses that not only support their households but also make a significant impact on local communities. The report highlights key trends in the microbusiness sector, showcasing an entrepreneurial landscape powered by resilience, optimism, and diverse ownership.

1. The Resilience of Microbusiness Owners

• Persisting After Setbacks:
  The GoDaddy report finds that 75% of microbusiness owners who close a business don’t give up; instead, they move on to launching new ventures. Among these, 39% of owners report that their new business becomes the primary income source for their households. This resilience underscores the tenacity of entrepreneurs, even when their previous business efforts did not yield profits.

• Confidence in Business Despite Economic Concerns:
  While only 39% of microbusiness owners are confident in the national economy, 74% remain optimistic about their business prospects in the coming months. Even among those who are pessimistic about the broader economy, one in four plans to hire within the next year. This demonstrates that microbusiness owners are focused on growth and making decisions based on their business needs, not the larger economic landscape.

2. The Growing Impact of Microbusinesses

• Job Creation and Economic Contributions:
  Microbusinesses continue to be vital to the U.S. economy. GoDaddy’s research shows that each entrepreneur creates an average of seven jobs at the county level—up from just two in 2020. These businesses also play a critical role in their local communities, with 58% of microbusiness owners reporting that their work contributes to the well-being of their neighborhoods.

• Online Presence Driving Growth:
  Over 70% of microbusinesses leverage an online presence to fuel their growth. With 34% of microbusinesses starting as side hustles, the ability to tap into digital tools has empowered entrepreneurs to scale quickly and effectively, reaching a larger customer base without needing significant capital.

3. Progress in Equity and Representation

• Diverse Ownership Trends:
  The face of microbusiness ownership is evolving. As of 2024, women own 51% of microbusinesses, up from 41% in 2019. Additionally, nearly a third of women business owners now serve as the primary breadwinners for their households, illustrating a growing empowerment in the sector.

• Rise of Black-Owned Microbusinesses:
  Black-owned businesses are seeing significant growth, with women driving much of this progress. The diversity within the microbusiness sector is expanding to include entrepreneurs from varied racial, gender, and age groups. In particular, older entrepreneurs are joining the trend, with 19% of owners now aged 55 and older, further contributing to the rich diversity of the microbusiness landscape.

4. The Mighty Impact of Microbusinesses

• Microbusinesses as the Heartbeat of Local Communities:
  According to Alexandra Rosen, Global Head of GoDaddy Venture Forward, "Setbacks often lead to fresh starts and new opportunities." This statement captures the essence of microbusiness owners: resilient, determined, and able to turn challenges into growth. Microbusinesses are not just vital to their owners, but they also play an integral role in supporting local economies and communities.

• Tools and Support for Success:
  GoDaddy remains committed to supporting these entrepreneurs by providing the tools and resources they need to succeed. Whether through website building, online marketing, or e-commerce solutions, GoDaddy helps microbusiness owners turn their ideas into thriving businesses, empowering them to scale and succeed.

Microbusiness owners are proving that setbacks are not the end—they are the beginning of new opportunities. The resilience shown by these entrepreneurs is reflected in their ability to persist, adapt, and thrive. With a growing number of diverse owners, microbusinesses are having a more profound impact on local economies and communities than ever before. As GoDaddy’s 2024 report highlights, these businesses may be small, but their impact is undeniably mighty.

Quark Software, a leader in content automation and design software, has unveiled QuarkXPress 2025, an enhanced version of the world’s most powerful page layout and digital publishing software. This latest release is packed with innovative features designed to make the design process smarter, faster, and more efficient, freeing up more time for creativity. By eliminating menial tasks and introducing new ways to control and streamline design workflows, QuarkXPress 2025 aims to revolutionize how designers approach their craft.

1. Empowering Creativity with Efficiency

• Streamlined Workflow with the Quick Access Bar:
  One of the standout features in QuarkXPress 2025 is the Quick Access Bar, which allows designers to quickly access their most-used tools. This floating bar can be customized to show favorite tools, helping designers work more efficiently by reducing the time spent searching for options. Whether you're working on a single project or juggling multiple designs, this feature ensures a smooth and personalized creative experience.

• Real-Time Style Group Application:
  Another new addition is the Style Groups feature, which enables designers to save typography styles into collections. With just one click, designers can apply these saved style groups to their designs, saving time and keeping projects organized. This feature provides the flexibility to adjust styles in real time, ensuring the design stays true to the intended creative vision.

2. Advanced Tools to Simplify Design

• The New Colors Tab:
  The Colors Tab in QuarkXPress 2025 provides designers with a more efficient way to experiment and apply colors. Designers can easily choose from new color models, local colors, and predefined options. Unlike previous versions, there’s no need to create a swatch beforehand, allowing for instantaneous color application and quicker decision-making in the design process. This feature enhances creativity by enabling faster ideation and testing of color combinations.

• Live Spell Check for Improved Accuracy:
  Live Spell Check is another game-changing feature in QuarkXPress 2025. Designers no longer have to wait for the design process to finish before catching errors. The real-time spell-checking feature automatically identifies and corrects typos throughout the design, allowing for smoother work and reducing the likelihood of missed mistakes. This added level of accuracy ensures that the final product is polished and professional.

3. Quotes and Insights from Industry Experts

Arun Bharti, Director of R&D at Quark, explains the release’s significance:
“We know the power of design and the role it plays in making a lasting impression. We also know that designers crave software capabilities that enhance their productivity and augment their creative exploration process. The release of QuarkXPress 2025 empowers designers to channel their creativity and customize design tools and workflows that suit their specific project needs in real time, and with complete control.”

This emphasis on empowering designers with more control over their tools and workflows is evident in QuarkXPress 2025’s user-friendly features that prioritize both efficiency and creativity.

4. Why QuarkXPress 2025 Matters for Designers

• Fueling Productivity and Innovation:
  With a focus on simplifying workflows, QuarkXPress 2025 gives designers the freedom to be more creative while also improving productivity. By eliminating repetitive tasks and allowing for more intuitive control over design elements, the software opens up new possibilities for designers to experiment and innovate.

• A Complete Design Solution:
  Whether working on a complex print layout or a dynamic digital publishing project, QuarkXPress 2025 offers the tools needed to tackle a wide variety of design challenges. From typography to color management and real-time spell-checking, the software provides a comprehensive solution for designers seeking to create with precision and efficiency.

QuarkXPress 2025 brings exciting new features that elevate the design experience. By streamlining workflows, enhancing creative flexibility, and increasing productivity, the software offers designers an intuitive platform to bring their visions to life. Whether for individual projects or large-scale designs, QuarkXPress 2025 is a powerful tool that puts creativity and control back in the hands of designers, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: creating.

Bitly Inc., the global leader in the Connections Platform space, is expanding its app marketplace with new integrations that enable seamless text-to-pay and text-to-buy capabilities through messaging channels. These integrations, powered by Authvia, AudienceTap, and OneText, are designed to transform the way businesses engage with customers, allowing them to make purchases and payments directly within chat conversations. By incorporating Bitly's custom short links and QR codes, businesses can enhance SMS messaging, improve engagement, and gain deeper insights into customer behavior.

1. What is Conversational Commerce?

• A Growing Trend in Business-to-Consumer Interactions:
  Conversational Commerce, or the ability for customers to browse, inquire, and make purchases within messaging platforms, is one of the fastest-growing trends in digital communication. By enabling two-way engagement through text, businesses can offer customers an efficient, personalized, and immediate shopping experience. With Bitly’s new integrations, businesses can use SMS to initiate transactions and drive customer interaction within an all-in-one communication platform.

• Seamless Payment Integration:
  The new integrations allow customers to make payments and complete transactions directly within the chat interface, eliminating friction in the purchasing process. This seamless experience is particularly useful for mobile-first consumers, providing a smoother path to conversion and increasing the likelihood of sales.

2. How Bitly’s Integrations Enhance Conversational Commerce

• Custom Short Links and QR Codes:
  Bitly’s custom short links and QR codes allow businesses to track interactions with precision and optimize their SMS messaging strategies. By linking back to a Bitly account, businesses can customize their links to ensure they are branded and aligned with the company’s messaging tone. Additionally, the ability to measure engagement and conversions in real-time provides invaluable insights into customer preferences and behavior.

• Personalized Customer Experience:
  Chris Brunner, CEO of Authvia, emphasized that the collaboration with Bitly would enable businesses to build stronger relationships with customers by offering more personalized text-to-pay experiences. With conversational commerce, businesses can foster trust, enhance the customer experience, and make interactions more meaningful and effective.

3. Strategic Expansion of Bitly’s Connections Platform

• Long-standing Commitment to Integrations:
  Bitly has built its reputation as a leader in connection management through years of strategic integrations across a variety of categories like Productivity, Social Media Management, and Automation. The expansion into Conversational Commerce adds another layer to its robust offerings, providing users with a comprehensive set of tools to enhance business-to-consumer interactions.

• Enhanced Business Efficiency:
  Bitly’s focus on efficiency and innovation is evident in this latest partnership. By simplifying workflows and offering businesses more options for engagement, Bitly enables companies to build stronger customer relationships through messaging while driving operational efficiency.

4. Insights from Bitly Leadership

Kelsey Stevenson, Bitly’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, commented on the importance of these new integrations:
"We’re excited to partner with Authvia, AudienceTap, and OneText to bring even greater value to our users. Bitly's move into Conversational Commerce reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with tools that drive efficiency, innovation, and stronger relationships with their customers. Together we’re enabling our users to create more memorable and actionable connections by simplifying their workflows and making it easy to initiate conversations and complete transactions."

5. What This Means for Bitly Customers

• Access to New Tools in the Bitly App Marketplace:
  Bitly customers can now connect and authenticate their Bitly accounts with text-to-pay and text-to-buy partners, making it easy to integrate messaging capabilities into their existing workflows. With these integrations, businesses can quickly scale their use of SMS marketing and transactional messaging, using Bitly’s advanced tracking and analytics tools to improve results.

• A Future of Streamlined Transactions:
  By consolidating text-based communication, payment processing, and customer engagement into a single platform, Bitly is paving the way for a future where businesses can easily manage every aspect of their customer relationships, from initial conversation to completed transaction.

Bitly’s expansion into Conversational Commerce marks an exciting development in the company's ongoing efforts to empower businesses with more innovative ways to connect with customers. By partnering with Authvia, AudienceTap, and OneText, Bitly is offering its users new tools for enhancing SMS marketing and driving transactions directly within chat conversations. These integrations will not only simplify workflows for businesses but will also enable them to offer a more personalized, efficient, and effective service to their customers.

LG Ad Solutions, a leader in Connected TV (CTV) and cross-screen advertising, has unveiled new research findings with its “Beauty & The Screen” study. The research underscores the growing influence of CTV advertising on the beauty and grooming industries, with particular attention to how TV ads are guiding shoppers through the purchase funnel. In the study, a significant 53% of female beauty shoppers indicated that TV ads influence their purchasing decisions, demonstrating CTV's power in shaping beauty-related buying behaviors.

1. CTV’s Growing Role in Beauty Advertising

• Impact on Decision-Making:
  The study revealed that CTV ads are proving to be highly effective in reaching beauty shoppers. Notably, 68% of female beauty shoppers reported paying attention to TV ads for beauty products, with 64% able to recall seeing beauty ads in the past month. More than half (59%) of these shoppers had even tried a new beauty brand after seeing a CTV ad.

• Shifting Shopper Habits:
  For leading beauty brands like L'Oréal, CTV has become a key part of their advertising strategies. By leveraging CTV, these brands can raise awareness and engage customers, guiding them through the purchase funnel with data-driven insights that make their ads more effective and targeted.

2. CTV Enables Personalization and Performance

• Data-Driven Strategies:
  According to Nobles Crawford, Consumer Activation Lead at L'Oréal, CTV offers brands a unique blend of premium awareness and data-led strategies, where they can both retarget audiences and personalize ads to enhance engagement. Interactive capabilities on CTV ads during limited-time offers have proven to be particularly useful in accelerating the purchase process.

• Benefits of Real-Time Optimization:
  The ability of CTV to optimize in real-time offers substantial advantages over traditional TV advertising, which is typically more static. Real-time data allows brands to make adjustments to their advertising and retarget viewers based on their interaction with the ad, increasing the likelihood of conversion.

3. Shoppers Desire Easier Purchases Through CTV Ads

• Interest in Direct Purchases via TV Ads:
  Over half (53%) of female beauty shoppers expressed a desire for TV ads to facilitate direct product purchases. An overwhelming 78% stated they would likely purchase an item after scanning a QR code on a beauty TV ad. This demonstrates a clear shift toward CTV as a transactional platform, where consumers expect convenience and immediate access to products.

• Additional Incentives for Engagement:
  The study also found that discounts and free samples are highly motivating for consumers to scan QR-enabled CTV ads. Other compelling features include providing more information (32%), a save-for-later option (29%), and an add-to-cart feature (21%).

4. Beauty Consumers’ Purchasing Habits and Preferences

• Frequent Purchasers:
  The study revealed that most beauty shoppers buy products at least monthly, with 68% purchasing skincare, 70% buying haircare products, 61% buying makeup, and 54% purchasing fragrance products regularly.

• High-Spending Beauty Shoppers Prefer Personalization:
  High-spending beauty shoppers (those spending $250+ per month) are 152% more likely to have product subscriptions, and they tend to favor a personalized online shopping experience. These shoppers are also more likely to buy endorsed products and are 36% more likely to shop online for beauty products.

• Shopping Preferences:
  The study found that 52% of female beauty shoppers prefer to shop in-store, whereas 54% of male shoppers prefer shopping online. Once a shopping method is chosen, consumers tend to stick to it, either purchasing in-store or online, depending on their initial choice.

5. Top Factors Influencing Beauty Purchases

• Price and Product Quality:
  Price remains the top factor influencing beauty purchases, with 66% of female shoppers citing it as a primary driver. Other important factors include ingredients (50%), brand reputation (49%), and reviews and ratings (47%). This highlights the growing importance of transparent, informative ads that address these factors directly to boost consumer confidence and conversion.

6. The Future of CTV Advertising in Beauty

• Immersive Advertising:
  Katie Barrett, Head of Strategic Sales at LG Ad Solutions, emphasized that TV advertising remains a potent tool for beauty brands, offering an immersive experience through sight, sound, and motion. With the rise of CTV, beauty brands are finding new ways to leverage its capabilities to tell compelling stories that resonate with consumers and drive conversions across both upper and lower marketing funnels.

The “Beauty & The Screen” study by LG Ad Solutions confirms the significant impact of CTV advertising on the beauty and grooming industry. With more beauty shoppers engaging with TV ads, the medium is proving to be an effective tool for raising brand awareness, influencing purchasing decisions, and driving conversions. For beauty brands looking to optimize their advertising strategies, CTV’s interactive capabilities and real-time data optimization offer a powerful way to build deeper connections with consumers while driving measurable results.