Nearly 75% of journalists say most PR pitches they receive are irrelevant. How can communicators break through the noise and build lasting media relationships? Join an exclusive webinar with award-winning PR strategist Barbara Nonas to learn actionable strategies that enhance media outreach and increase coverage success.

Webinar Details

Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM ET
Registration: Link

What You’ll Learn

Attendees will gain practical insights into:
Avoiding common pitching mistakes that lead to ignored emails.
Building credibility and trust with journalists.
Improving response rates by crafting value-driven pitches.

Meet the Speaker: Barbara Nonas

• Award-winning PR strategist with 20+ years of industry experience.
• Former corporate communications lead at Digitas, securing 1,000+ media placements.
• Expert in media relations, thought leadership, and strategic storytelling.

Why This Matters

Most PR pitches fail not due to lack of interest, but because they lack relevance or value. This webinar equips communicators with proven strategies to elevate their pitching approach, foster media trust, and drive long-term success.

Register today and take your media outreach to the next level!

YOYI TECH, a leading MarTech provider in China, has partnered with South Korea’s Punch Digital Marketing to enhance cross-border programmatic advertising. This collaboration aims to simplify and optimize digital marketing for global brands expanding in both markets through AI-driven, omnichannel strategies.

Partnership Highlights

Seamless Cross-Border Advertising – A unified programmatic ecosystem connecting Korean brands with Chinese consumers.
Access to Over 80% of Chinese Media Inventory – Reach 1.09 billion consumers in mainland China, overseas Chinese markets, and outbound tourism.
Advanced MarTech Solutions – Integrating DSP, DMP, CDP, and AI-powered marketing automation.
Localized Campaigns – Culturally relevant, high-performance campaigns designed for both markets.
Regulatory Compliance – Ensuring transparent and compliant advertising strategies.

Why This Matters

South Korean brands can now tap into China’s massive consumer base through YOYI TECH’s data intelligence and omnichannel marketing platforms.
Chinese brands looking to expand into South Korea benefit from Punch Digital’s expertise in digital storytelling, PPC, SEO, and social media marketing.
AI-driven personalization and predictive analytics empower brands to engage audiences more effectively and drive higher conversion rates.

Executive Insights

“Our partnership with Punch Digital Marketing ensures that Korean advertisers can leverage an integrated advertising infrastructure with AI-driven solutions and strategic insights,” – Andy Ng, Managing Director, APAC, YOYI TECH.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with YOYI TECH to revolutionize cross-border marketing, creating culturally relevant, data-driven campaigns that deliver real results,” – JK Song, CEO, Punch Digital Marketing.

“Together, we’re bridging the gap between Korean brands and Chinese consumers, building a dynamic marketing ecosystem that inspires and engages audiences across the region,” – Roy Zhou, CEO, YOYI TECH.

This strategic alliance marks a milestone in cross-border digital marketing, leveraging AI-powered programmatic advertising and omnichannel strategies. By combining data-driven insights, targeted ad placements, and strategic storytelling, YOYI TECH and Punch Digital Marketing are set to reshape how global brands connect with audiences in China and South Korea.

Cordial, a leader in enterprise retail messaging, has launched two new AI-powered tools within its Cordial Edge™ platform:

Message Insights – AI-driven analysis of message attributes to uncover what truly resonates with audiences.

Message Assistant – Real-time, prescriptive recommendations for data-driven, high-performing content creation.

Additionally, Cordial has expanded international SMS support to 23+ countries, enabling global brands to connect with audiences more effectively.

Innovations

Beyond Generative AI: Data-Driven Marketing Optimization

Traditional marketing relies on guesswork and surface-level metrics (opens & clicks). Cordial Edge changes this by providing deep AI-driven insights into what drives actual conversions.

Message Insights – Analyzes subject lines, imagery, tone, CTAs, and structure to pinpoint elements that increase revenue.

Message Assistant – Uses real-time AI analysis to guide marketers in crafting optimized, engaging campaigns—reducing content creation time from hours to minutes.

“Retail marketers are ready to move beyond trial-and-error campaigns. Cordial Edge provides real intelligence, helping brands understand and optimize customer engagement in real time.” – Matt Howland, President & Chief Product & Engineering Officer, Cordial.

Expanding Global Reach with International SMS

Cordial SMS now supports compliant, scalable, and personalized messaging in over 23 markets, including Mexico, Canada, UK/EU, and APAC.

Benefits:
Localized SMS campaigns with country-specific configurations.
Full regulatory compliance for secure global engagement.
Seamless cross-channel integration within Cordial’s platform.

“International growth isn’t just about reach—it’s about results. With our expanded SMS capabilities, brands can engage global audiences through the world’s most personal messaging channel.” – Matt Howland, Cordial.

Cordial’s latest AI-driven tools and global SMS expansion empower retail brands to optimize messaging strategies, drive conversions, and scale personalized engagement worldwide.

AdLift, a performance-driven digital marketing agency, has been acquired by Liqvd Asia, a leader in integrated marketing and creative storytelling. This strategic acquisition merges AdLift’s SEO and performance marketing expertise with Liqvd Asia’s omnichannel capabilities, creating an end-to-end digital marketing powerhouse.

Benefits for Brands

Expanded Capabilities – Access to next-gen creative solutions, AI-driven marketing strategies, and digital transformation services.
Performance + Creativity – A unique blend of data intelligence and creative storytelling for high-impact campaigns.
Global Reach – Enhanced scalability, international market expansion, and AI-powered automation.

Leadership Insights

“AdLift has always been at the forefront of SEO and performance marketing. Partnering with Liqvd Asia allows us to deliver a 360-degree, AI-powered marketing approach that is both data-driven and creatively compelling.”
– Prashant Puri, Co-Founder & CEO, AdLift

“With AdLift’s world-class SEO expertise complementing our creative and omnichannel strengths, we are building a future-ready marketing agency that will drive transformational results globally.”
– Arnab Mitra, Founder & Managing Director, Liqvd Asia

Future Vision: AI, Automation & Innovation

AI-Powered Marketing & Automation – Smarter, data-driven campaigns with real-time optimization.
Advanced Data Analytics – Insights that enhance customer engagement and ROI.
Global Expansion – Accelerating cross-market collaborations for brands.

With a shared commitment to performance, creativity, and innovation, AdLift and Liqvd Asia are set to redefine digital marketing—helping brands scale, engage, and grow with cutting-edge, high-impact solutions.

Instacart, North America’s leading grocery technology company, has announced a new suite of AI-powered automation tools aimed at optimizing ad campaign performance. These innovations simplify ad management, maximize efficiency, and help brands achieve their business goals effortlessly.

Features of the AI-Powered Suite

Universal Campaigns – A single campaign automatically optimizes ad formats in real-time.
AI-Powered Landing Pages – Instantly create shoppable brand destinations with AI-generated product showcases and copy.
Ads Manager Recommendations – Actionable, data-driven insights for one-click campaign optimization.
Enhanced Product Library – Effortless product management at scale.

How Universal Campaigns Are Driving Results

“Instacart Universal Campaigns have been a game-changer for our brand,” said Mike Zirngibl, Marketing Director at 1st Phorm.
Higher ROAS & increased sales lift
Seamless targeting of high-intent consumers
Effortless campaign management with AI-driven automation

Similarly, Rescue Dog Wines saw an increase in new-to-brand sales, while Celsius reported a 20% boost in campaign-attributed sales using AI-Powered Landing Pages.

Leadership Insights

"We’re investing in AI-powered automation to simplify advertising for brands, helping them cut through complexity and maximize performance effortlessly,” said Ali Miller, VP of Ads Product, Instacart.

The Future of AI in Retail Media

Instacart’s AI-driven innovations are designed to transform retail media, making ad management more efficient while enhancing customer discovery experiences. With a reach across 100,000+ retail stores, Instacart continues to empower brands with cutting-edge automation tools.

AI-powered landing pages are now available for all CPG advertisers. Additional features are in pilot, with broader availability coming soon!

Stay ahead with AI-powered advertising – Explore Instacart Ads today!

Direct Digital Holdings has released "Practical Generative AI Use Cases & Tools for DMOs," an educational guide designed to help Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) integrate AI into their marketing strategies. The guide provides real-world AI applications to improve efficiency, enhance creative output, and optimize visitor engagement.

“AI is no longer a futuristic tool—it’s a necessity for DMOs looking to maximize impact with limited resources.” – Anu Pillai, CTO, Direct Digital Holdings

AI Use Cases for DMOs

AI-Driven Research & Meetings – Automate stakeholder research for better engagement.
Custom Destination Guides – Generate personalized itineraries for travelers and planners.
AI-Powered Content Creation – Automate marketing & social media content while preserving brand voice.
Trade Show Visuals – Create high-quality AI-generated assets for events.
Data-Driven Insights – Analyze visitor behavior & campaign performance efficiently.
Website & SEO Optimization – Improve user experience with AI-driven content recommendations.

The Future of AI in Destination Marketing

"DMOs are under pressure to do more with fewer resources. This guide offers practical AI solutions to enhance engagement, efficiency, and economic impact.” – Christy Nolan, VP of Delivery Solutions, Direct Digital Holdings

The guide also features a curated list of AI tools and expert insights on how AI is reshaping tourism marketing and operational efficiency.

Download the guide today and unlock AI-driven marketing for your destination!

Placements.io, a leader in advertising operations, has appointed Mark Donohue as General Manager of Retail Media. A 20-year advertising veteran, Donohue brings experience from Western Union, GAP, eBay, and Sony. His leadership will accelerate AdSalesOS platform innovations and expansion in the fast-growing retail media sector.

Meet Donohue at ShopTalk 2025 in Las Vegas (Mar. 25-27).

Donohue’s Industry Expertise

Former Head of Media Network at Western Union, where he expanded digital commerce initiatives.
Senior leadership roles at GAP, eBay, and Sony, driving e-commerce and digital media strategy.
Expertise in multimedia revenue operations, data partnerships, and customer engagement.
Active member of IAB Retail Media Committee, CMO Council, Ascendant Network.

Why This Matters for Retail Media

Retail media ad spend is projected to exceed $100B by 2026 (eMarketer).
Placements.io's AdSalesOS helps retailers optimize ad sales and unlock new revenue streams.
Donohue will focus on scaling omnichannel advertising across e-commerce, in-store, and digital media networks.

"Retail media is transforming how brands connect with consumers. I'm excited to lead the next phase of growth at Placements.io." – Mark Donohue

Looking Ahead to 2025

Expect new innovations in retail media monetization, ad sales automation, and AI-powered campaign optimization.

Learn more about Placements.io's retail media solutions and meet Mark Donohue at ShopTalk 2025!

Discord is expanding its successful Video Quests advertising format to mobile devices, marking its first mobile ad offering. The move significantly broadens advertiser reach while maintaining Discord’s commitment to reward-based, user-first advertising.

Pilot launch: June 2025

"Expanding to mobile is a natural evolution. This will provide brands access to Discord's highly engaged, cross-platform audience." – Peter Sellis, SVP, Product, Discord

The Evolution of Quests on Discord

Quests launched in 2024 to drive game discovery through rewarded ads.
Video Quests expanded advertising beyond gaming to Media & Entertainment.
The mobile expansion will further boost brand awareness campaigns with full-screen, opt-in video ads.

How Video Quests & Play Quests Work

Video Quests -Designed for brand awareness, ideal for trailers, DLC drops, and major announcements.
Play Quests – Encourages gameplay & streaming, rewarding players for engagement.

Brands like Diablo, Street Fighter, and Dune: Prophecy have already leveraged Quests for high engagement and premium ad experiences.

Successful Quest Campaigns

Genshin Impact (miHoYo): Play Quest drove 80% playtime increase during an update launch.
Dune: Prophecy (Max): First-ever Video Quest trailer achieved an 85% completion rate.
The First Descendant (Nexon Games): Video Quest generated 1M+ completions, with 10% organic shares.

Looking Ahead

Expect more advertiser opportunities in mobile gaming, entertainment, and interactive brand campaigns.

Stay tuned for the June 2025 launch and discover how Discord’s Video Quests can amplify your brand.