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.

Stellar Tech, a leader in influencer marketing technology, has acquired IROIN®, Germany’s leading influencer marketing platform. This marks Stellar’s second acquisition in less than a year—following its June 2024 purchase of Influo (now Creatorz)—as it expands its DACH and European footprint.

"This acquisition is a crucial step toward making Stellar Tech the undisputed European leader in influencer marketing." – Cathy Pill, CEO, Stellar Tech

Why This Acquisition Matters

Expands Stellar Tech’s reach across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Enhances AI-powered influencer marketing solutions for brands & agencies.
Brings high-profile clients like Spotify, Porsche, and Service Plan into Stellar’s network.

The Power of Combined Expertise

IROIN®’s Strengths – Robust analytics, intuitive platform, and deep DACH market knowledge.
Stellar Tech’s Reach – Operates in 30+ countries, serving clients like Disney, Nintendo, Dyson, and Air France.

Together, they form a pan-European powerhouse, delivering scalable and data-driven influencer marketing solutions.

Leadership Transition & Future Vision

New Leadership Appointments:
Mathis Betz (former IROIN® CEO) → Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Stellar Tech
André Kilz (former IROIN® CTO) → Chief Product Officer (CPO), Stellar Tech

"By joining forces with Stellar Tech, we are creating a leading European influencer marketing powerhouse that will drive innovation and value for our customers." – Mathis Betz, new CCO, Stellar Tech

Looking Ahead: AI & Innovation in Influencer Marketing

AI-Powered Future – Both companies are aligned in using AI to optimize influencer campaigns.
Pan-European Growth – Strengthening market presence across Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, and the UK.

Stay tuned for how this acquisition will redefine influencer marketing across Europe!

IAB Tech Lab has launched Trusted Server, an open-source, server-side ad management framework designed to give publishers full control over ad monetization. As browsers tighten restrictions on third-party cookies and tracking, Trusted Server shifts ad processes from browsers to publisher-controlled infrastructure, ensuring:

First-party data control
Stronger privacy compliance
Reduced ad revenue loss
Faster web performance 

"The industry has been playing defense for too long. Trusted Server puts control back in publishers' hands." – Anthony Katsur, CEO, IAB Tech Lab

Why Trusted Server Matters

Browsers like Chrome, Safari, and W3C proposals are stripping away ad signals, threatening publisher revenue and visibility. Trusted Server addresses these challenges by:

Shifting ad auctions and requests server-side, reducing reliance on browser tracking.
Eliminating third-party JavaScript clutter, improving site speed and user experience.
Enhancing privacy compliance while keeping monetization intact.

"Publishers risk losing their ability to optimize ad revenue. The industry can’t stand by and let it happen." – Anthony Katsur

How Trusted Server Works

Trusted Server enables publishers to execute ad auctions, deliver creative assets, and manage data signals independently. Key features include:

Server-Side Ad Requests – Reduces ad-blocking risks.
Prebid Server Integration – Runs auctions with SSP partners in a controlled environment.
Edge Cloud Processing – Faster, secure data processing with minimal latency.
Server-Side Ad Stitching – Monetizes content without intrusive client-side tracking.
Faster Web Performance – Less page bloat, fewer network calls, and improved ad viewability.

"We partnered with IAB Tech Lab on Trusted Server because it gives publishers more control while prioritizing privacy." – Curt Larson, CPO, Equativ

What’s Next?

March 20, 2025 – Prototype demo at Signal Shift: Privacy & Addressability in New York
Q2 2025 – Launch of Trusted Server Task Force, inviting publishers to contribute and test the framework.
Webinars & Technical Support – IAB Tech Lab will host hands-on sessions to assist publishers in integrating Trusted Server.

The future of digital advertising starts now. Will publishers take back control?

Join the Trusted Server initiative and shape the next era of programmatic advertising.

accessiBe, a leader in web accessibility solutions, has launched Manual Testing & Custom Remediation (MTCR)—a new offering that blends AI-driven automation with human expertise to identify and fix accessibility barriers.

On-demand manual testing 
Tailored remediation for unique website features 
Optimized accessWidget performance 
Enhanced ADA & WCAG compliance 

"As technology advances, websites become more complex. Our MTCR solution empowers businesses to achieve both inclusivity and compliance in a tailored way." – Dekel Skoop, CEO, accessiBe

Bridging the Accessibility Gap

Modern websites feature interactive elements, e-commerce integrations, and dynamic content—often widening accessibility barriers. accessiBe’s MTCR ensures seamless accessibility by:

Conducting manual, real-world testing to replicate user experiences 
Assessing critical website interactions (navigation, forms, pop-ups, etc.) 
Customizing accessWidget to fit unique website structures 
Maximizing compliance with ADA, WCAG, and other regulations 

How MTCR Works

Expert-Led Manual Testing – Accessibility specialists identify barriers missed by automation.
Custom Remediation – Tailors accessWidget to unique website features.
AI + Human Synergy – Blends automation with expert oversight for cost-effective accessibility.
Seamless Integration – Works alongside accessFlow, accessWidget, and accessServices.

A Future-Ready Solution for Digital Accessibility

As web technologies evolve, ensuring inclusivity at scale is more critical than ever. With MTCR, accessiBe delivers a customized, compliance-driven approach to web accessibility—helping businesses create a seamless experience for all users.