NEWS

ASA starts using AI to identify influencers who fail to disclose ads in posts
The watchdog releases its annual report and discloses how it is using tech to tackle misleading influencer advertising.

Apple's PR war on data sharing: cheeky auction ad hammers rivals
iPhone takes a swipe at data harvesters and champions the recent 'ATT' customer privacy clampdown, which has upended performance marketing budgets around the world.

Alibaba programmatic ad pulled for portraying young girl in sexual manner
Programmatic ad served up via open marketplace to NewsNow and MailOnline banned from appearing again.

The App-ocalypse: most app marketers have lost revenue (and sleep) as new ad regulations bite
Continuing changes to privacy and ad regulations forces marketers to rethink user acquisition strategies, with 63% actively looking for new ways to target paying users.

Are you losing your marketing mojo? 42% of CMOs claim too much data hurts their creativity
The rolling avalanche of data points available to marketers is having mixed results on their creativity, leaving some overwhelmed and dampening their creative spark. Is a shift from reporting to analysis the solution?

What would attract you to a new performance marketing role – or convince you to stay put?
Spare five minutes to tell us what’s important to your performance marketing career and working life, and be in with the chance of winning a £200 Amazon voucher.

Love Island partners with Reddit, providing fans with the ultimate fire pit gossip
Do you want to go for a chat? Love Island’s official fan partnership with Reddit gives fans behind the scenes access and exclusive content on the islanders.

PMW 30 Under 30 Awards: the winners’ interviews
From search sorcery to lost millennial trust, today’s rising stars in performance marketing have plenty to teach the industry as it heads into a privacy-first era. Learn more in PMW’s exclusive new interview series.

Musk puts Twitter deal 'on hold' until fake user estimates resolved
Elon Musk has put his deal to buy Twitter on hold until he gets more information about fake accounts on the platform.

Netflix not chill: 36% of UK consumers say they would cancel if the platform goes ad-funded
A proposed new funding model is set to herald some major changes at the OTT media streaming giant, according to a new report.

Marketers differ on the metrics that matter to measure live events
Survey reveals a disconnect between the metrics marketers see as the most important to assess the success of a live event - and the data capture they want to prove value.

TikTok ‘Pulse’ puts ads next to top 4% of content
New tracking pixels and contextual tools show TikTok is gunning for Meta, offering advertisers placement next to top-performing, safe content, while measuring buyer intent in new ways.

Twitter metrics error: Musk plans major shake up as advertisers hit by ‘double counted users’
Turmoil at the social media giant leaves performance marketers with misleading data, as the new billionaire owner mulls paid subs for businesses and less ads space.

The retail goldrush: Publicis buys Profitero to ramp up e-commerce analytics
The trend of ad holding companies investing in e-commerce continues, as a major new deal lets Publicis measure how brands’ products move through different digital shelves.

“B2B buyers surf 10 channels before making a purchase”: McKinsey bolsters customer growth tools with S4G purchase
Consultancy giant brings in strategy, design, and analytical horsepower together with rapid Salesforce CRM implementation capabilities to cater for the growing but fragmented B2B market.
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The ‘intrepreneur’ generation: PMW 30 Under 30 winners announced
Builders, change-makers, innovators… and revenue generators. The rising stars of performance marketing are transforming companies and cultures from the inside out. Meet all the winners of PMW’s first young professionals awards.
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60% of businesses to increase digital marketing spend in 2022
A refresh of digital marketing strategies planned for this year as 79% of survey respondents view B2B marketing as “very important” for business growth.

“Like pouring ink into a lake”: leaked docs indicate Facebook unsure of own privacy issues
The social media giant does not know where all of its user data goes or what it does with it, according to a team memo.

Digital adspend enjoys biggest annual growth in 15 years
Emerging channels including podcast and in-game advertising point to healthy growth for the UK, but storm clouds are gathering in the shape of a cost of living crisis.
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May Day! 60% of workers have either left or considered leaving their job this year
As many countries worldwide celebrated workers’ rights to mark the beginning of May, workers and businesses are in less of a celebratory mood as the ‘Great Resignation’ continues to bite.
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Ekimetrics partners with TikTok to measure advertising media mix spend
New program sees French data science firm power clients' privacy-first measurement models to help understand the true value of TikTok.
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'Reject all cookies': new Google button makes privacy easier after €150m fine
Updated consent choices mean no more “deceptive designs” for users, as advertisers face further lost customer visibility on a major platform.

Google updates ‘Performance Max’ to boost ad conversions across channels
The internet giant woos performance marketers with more time-saving tools and insights to increase customer conversions across Search, Display, Shopping, Discover, Maps, Gmail, and YouTube ads.

Elon Musk to buy Twitter for $44bn
The world’s town square now has a new owner in the form of the world’s wealthiest person. How will this affect ads on the platform… and its audience?

Kantar boosts marketing ROI tools for clients with Blackwood Seven purchase
The data-driven brand consulting company will gain more granular analytics and sophisticated modelling to accelerate plans for a Unified Marketing Measurement solution.

Performance marketing people: Google DeepMind pioneer joins Kin + Carta, new US boss at Incubeta
Yahoo shakes up its senior team in APAC, iProspect brings in a digital data veteran from Performics and a former Twitch director leads Reddit in Germany. We round up the movers and shakers in the performance marketing Industry this week.

Earth Day angst: almost half of Brits can’t afford to be more sustainable
With more affordable options a click away, consumers are struggling to justify making eco-friendly product purchases amid a growing cost of living crisis.

Stagwell powers up e-commerce tools for advertisers with BNG acquisition
Global Affiliate Brand New Galaxy joins Stagwell to accelerate connected commerce and digital transformation for global brands.

Unilever ditches data on children under new global marketing initiative
FMCG giant ‘raises the bar’ by not collecting or storing data of under 16s, not using ‘kidfluencers’ and limiting influencers that appeal to children.
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Winners revealed: PMW APAC Awards 2022
The winners of PMW’s first APAC Awards have been announced, celebrating the talent and data innovation across the diverse and fast-growing region.

Netflix ads: coming to a screen near you?
The incredible shrinking audience means Netflix is finally considering a cheaper ad-funded tier to battle competition and the cost of living crisis, as subscriptions plunge 200,000.

Top performers: PMW US Awards winners announced
PMW’s inaugural US Awards reveal the star performers that captured our judges’ imagination – and attention – with their standout results.

Ubisoft backs in-game performance adtech venture Gadsme
$8m seed round led by Galaxy Interactive, joined by major game publishers, as brands get serious about gaming ads.

TikTok sponsors PMW’s UK Paid Social Media Seminar in London
The Performance Marketing World team is delighted to announce that TikTok is the sponsor of its live UK Paid Social Media Seminar on Tuesday 26 April.
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Mana partners with Reality Gaming Group to offer Web3 services for brands in APAC
The partnership expands Reality Gaming’s APAC presence and is a sign to brands of the potential of NFTs with an environmentally friendly solution.

Meta lets Horizon Worlds creators sell virtual items (for a 25% cut)
The media giant hopes people can eventually “earn a living” in the metaverse where they can purchase digital goods, services, and experiences. A whole new world for performance marketing awaits…

China clamps down on big tech with ‘algorithm inspectors’
Tencent, Alibaba, JD.com, Mietuan, and ByteDance are among the internet giants that could face scrutiny over the way social media platforms serve ads and content to entice users.

The power of context: how streaming is turning CTV viewers into buyers
With two-thirds of viewers purchasing products they see on connected TV, media buyers need to deliver a call to action that takes the brand from their TV sets and into the browser search bar.

Ogury levels up with creative studio from Motionly acquisition
The deal aims to provide clients with more personalised and engaging mobile content, giving end-users back the control with privacy-safe and noninvasive ads.
WARC March 2022: marketing spend growth slows across the globe
Growth rates ease after a strong bounceback last year, but Europe sees marked slowdown in marketing budgets and staffing levels settle globally.

ASA connects with TikTok, Meta and Google for pilot to expand online enforcement role
IAB members agree to help expand the ASA’s role in a year-long pilot to bring greater transparency and accountability of online advertising rules.

Incubeta buys Mexican data specialists Extendo
Building its presence in Latin America, the acquisition will also help cultivate Incubeta's relationship with Google.

War of words: Meta hires marketing firm for targeted anti-TikTok campaign
Valid criticism or fanning the flames? Meta’s new anti-competitor campaign has stirred controversy and sparked a robust defence from the team behind it.

Responsible drinking: UK consumers want to know where their vodka is from
One of the less obvious (and, to be honest, less important) side-effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been to prompt consumers to get online and check the provenance of their vodka…
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EU reins in tech giants with new anti-monopoly powers
The Digital Markets Act would likely bar Amazon from using data from its third-party sellers to inform its own product development, and require Android to offer users alternatives to Google search and email.

Getting metaverse ready: NBCUniversal and HTC join Anzu’s in-game advertising mission
Major brands join Anzu’s growing list of strategic investors as in-game ads attract more money from performance marketer’s budgets.

Future expands YouTube and social expertise with two social tech acquisitions
Media platform buys two businesses to support social drive and inform editorial strategies with machine learning, continuing their acquisition spree.

Superdrug reveals online marketplace in major e-commerce push
First-of-its-kind UK platform aims to remove listing barriers for innovators in the market and promote diversity within the industry, with brands being actively recruited to lead the upcoming launch.

Proof mobile retargeting works? Data shows 100x increase in sales with same-day follow up
Automated retargeting via mobile drives campaign efficiencies while guarding against spam.

PMW launches new ‘Undercover’ series: first stop; the metaverse
Performance Marketing World has launched a new in-depth series called Undercover, which delves into the key sectors, disciplines and trends within the industry.
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DoubleVerify exposes global fraud scheme ViperBot for attempting to defraud advertisers of over $8 million a month
CTV and mobile have been affected by “one of the most sophisticated fraud schemes that DV has ever identified”. Fraudsters are stripping measurement provider tags and redirecting them to avoid detection.
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Bye bye behavioural ads: consumers reject ‘creepy’ ads based on browsing history
A new survey reveals over three quarters of UK consumers are more comfortable seeing online ads that align with a digital environment over ads based on browsing history.

Ukrainian creatives can work with global brands on Talenthouse’s AI platform
e!Creative is an AI-based platform allowing brands, startups, and businesses worldwide to engage Ukraine’s creative talent, by Talenthouse’s ElloWorks.

YouTube takes on TV: free ad-supported shows streamed for the first time
Hell’s Kitchen, Heartland and Unsolved Mysteries go free to US viewers via web, mobile devices, and connected TV apps. Are broadcast television’s days numbered?

Meta retakes app crown as 25 percent of budgets shift from Apple to Android
Apple ATT privacy crackdown has wreaked havoc on a yearly rankings index, which charts the performance of the world’s biggest apps.

Performance marketing people: News UK shakes up sales and tech teams
A new UK MD at HDY Agency, Wavemaker welcomes a Head of Innovation and Verasity beefs up its esports marketing team. We round-up the ones to watch in performance marketing this week…

Alibaba targets Amazon with European marketing drive
The Chinese e-commerce behemoth is expanding its customer base across the continent via a new 'cost-efficient' digital marketing initiative. Should Amazon be worried?
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WPP becomes latest Reddit partner in social commerce push
The link up harnesses commerce and tech expertise across media agencies including GroupM, to drive commerce through the social network’s 100,000 communities.

Google Universal Analytics RIP: GA4 becomes standard for cookie-free future
After a decade, Google Analytics is closing down its popular Universal Analytics tool as it shifts to a new cookie-less standard. But will marketers follow or now consider other options?

“We couldn’t just abandon them”: Publicis keeps staff safe amid Russia exit
Holding company joins other ad giants WPP and IPG in leaving the country over its war on Ukraine, while securing a future for its staff in the region.

Havas expands performance marketing in Australia with Frontier tie-up
The move will see Frontier Australia integrated into Havas Group’s Edge Performance Network

The rise of the ‘consumer capitalist’: what consumers really think about data privacy across the globe
Trust is the most important factor when it comes to willingness to share personal information with a company and consumers want more control over the data they share - but more consumers globally see data as their asset that they can trade for benefit

Google and Meta antitrust probe: did a backroom deal limit ad competition?
The parallel investigations are looking at whether the “Jedi Blue” agreement between Meta and Google for online display advertising services may have broken EU competition rules.

Salesforce boosts social tools with Sprout partnership
Global partnership lets the CRM giant’s customers manage their presence across platforms through a suite that turns social data into meaningful insights.

Yahoo partners with Near across APAC, bridging the gap for omnichannel campaigns
The partnership enables marketers to connect the dots in omnichannel audience activation and campaigns with a privacy-first solution.
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Job hunt: 7 in 10 marketers to look for new roles this year
In the wave of the Great Resignation, more money, better work/life balance and opportunities to grow and learn top the agenda for job hunting marketers this year

Publishers unite: The Trade Desk partners The Ozone Project to boost open web ad reach
The deal links advertisers with 99% of online adults, providing a 'brand-safe' environment made up of 12 of the biggest publishers in the UK.

War in Ukraine: don’t let adtech dollars fund fake news, warns WFA
Blunt use of programmatic ad exchanges could result in unwittingly supporting misinformation, as Russia’s invasion sparks an unprecedented brand boycott of the region.
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PayGapApp goes viral: how a Twitter bot exposed brand hypocrisy on International Women’s Day
Warm words? Meet cold hard data. As marketers flocked to social media yesterday to #BreakTheBias, a plucky little bot was quietly tweeting out the actual pay divide at each company… and people shared the stats in droves.

Ad fraud: digital advertisers to be $68bn out of pocket this year
New findings from Juniper Research reveals that digital advertisers are set to lose $68bn of their spend to fraud across the globe in 2022

Kin + Carta boosts e-commerce for clients with global acquisitions
The publicly listed B Corp is driving global expansion with raft of acquisitions in Europe and US

Jumping ship: nearly half of e-commerce customers are abandoning their carts near the checkout
Brands are becoming a stepping stone, with consumers ditching the checkout near the finish line to check and buy items on Amazon (43 percent) or competitors (44 percent), according to a new report from Ve Global.

Performance Marketing Worldwide unites global brands for cross-border collaboration
Starting in Singapore and signing off in Seattle, PMW’s first international event featured brand titans such as Mastercard, Ford, Gojek and General Motors. Here’s our highlights from the 11-hour spectacular that crossed several time zones.

‘The next frontier’: Web3 panel discusses the future of the Black community in the metaverse
Ray J debuts metaverse shopping experience at Black History Month Panel, powered by former basketball player Charles Barkley’s Redmont Vodka.

ITV goes hybrid: will Brits ditch ads for a Netflix-style model?
A digital-first approach pits the iconic commercial broadcaster up against the tech giants of Amazon and Netflix. But will viewers pay to be ad-free as inflation bites?

UK government hires Snapchat for augmented reality career fair
The Department for Education (DfE) has launched the UK’s first ever AR career fair with Snapchat, as it seeks out young job starters in their native environment.

Disney gets serious about data: Horizon Media deal boosts ad measurement
The ‘House of Mouse’ is extending its data clean room, letting brands track their ads on the media giant’s platforms in a privacy-centric way.

Performance Marketing people: latest moves at VaynerMedia, Ekimetrics and Incubeta
A new UK CEO leads Hearts and Science, a media specialist returns to Kantar and Mediaworks expands in the North West. We round-up the ones to watch in performance marketing this week…
Ad industry giants unite on addressable media standards
The biggest organisations in advertising have just reached a major milestone in global ad tracking standards. Here’s what performance marketers need to know about Addressable Media Identifiers (AMIs).

NBCUniversal strikes in-game ad partnership with Anzu.io
Gaming is the next frontier for ads, with some of the biggest brands and publishers in the world joining the fray, across mobile, desktop and consoles.
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“This will hurt Facebook hardest”: 12 performance marketers’ views on the Android tracking phase out
Power-grab or practical privacy? Google’s clampdown on cross-app tracking has divided adland. PMW spoke to key marketing leaders on how to prepare for the next big mobile data challenge…

Living in a phygital world... and 476 stories performing for you now
Welcome to the all-new PMW site, rebuilt from the ground up to answer the needs of modern marketers around the world.

Norway’s national lottery ramps up performance marketing with impact partnership
Norsk Tipping will leverage Impact’s platform to build automation and to support partnerships, turbocharging growth and performance for the lottery.

Nielsen partners with The Trade Desk for open web project
As adland seeks out alternatives to tracking cookies, a new open web initiative will help power privacy-first measurement across global regions.

Google Privacy Sandbox coming to Android: a ‘less blunt’ approach than Apple?
Android’s two year transition away from cross-app tracking is in stark contrast to Apple’s forced walled-garden approach. Can advertisers breathe a sigh of relief?

How Coinbase won the Super Bowl with a bouncing QR code
Among the big-budget, star-studded commercials at last night’s big game, a simple, performance driven campaign stole the show… and crashed a website.

Celebs don’t always equal sales: why two-thirds of this year’s Super Bowl ads could flop
As brands scrimmage in one of the biggest global ad events of the year, AI predicts that most commercials from the big game will miss the mark if not integrated into a deeper brand story.

UK news giant 1XL links with Outbrain for native ads
Sponsored content will diversify revenue streams for 43 local news media publishers, including Newsquest, Johnston Press, Archant, Iliffe Media, and Tindle.

Kantar buys MindIT to boost AI-powered analytics
The deal aims to bridge the gap between insights and sales execution for FMGC brands, with machine-learning tech born in Bologna University.

Britvic goes in-house with ‘Infused’ digital strategy studio
A new ‘digital engine’ for Tango, The London Essence Company and Aqua Libra aims to drive data-driven long-term success for the drinks giant.

Ford, Mastercard and GSK to speak at first-ever PMW Worldwide event
Performance Marketing World is launching its first-ever global event on 2 March 2022, with major brands including General Motors, Vodafone and Colgate Palmolive taking part.

Why Amazon now has a bigger ad business than YouTube
Often described as a ‘sleeping giant’ in adland, Amazon has disclosed revenue for its booming ad business for the first time. Should Google and Facebook be worried?

Performance Marketing people: latest moves at Croud, Kepler and Hawk
A Facebook veteran joins Permission.io, while big changes are afoot at the newly-formed What’s Possible Group. We round-up the ones to watch in performance marketing this week…

Influencer crackdown: fail to declare ads and we’ll name and shame, says ASA
Advertising Standards Authority to take out ads unmasking those who fail to flag ad posts.

Google ditches FLoC for ‘Topics’: a more advertiser friendly privacy solution?
The newest toy in the Privacy Sandbox aims to simplify cookie-free targeting for brands. Are the two sides finally talking the same language?

EU clamps down on sensitive information being used for targeted advertising
The European Parliament has approved new legislation which could hit big tech where it hurts: banning some targeted ads.

This week on PMW: Walmart resurrects RFID tags; Microsoft’s gaming gamble
Why is Walmart bringing back in-store tracking tags? What’s smart about Sky’s new sponsorship tool? And which new tech is most talked about? We round up the biggest news and moves in performance marketing this week…

Battle in the Metaverse: Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard takeover puts pressure on rivals
The deal will open a realm of data-led marketing possibilities for brands in the emergent metaverse, providing new communities, commerce and advertising potential to the tech giant.

M&S versus ASOS: why pure plays haven't beaten the high street just yet
As the pandemic subsides, pure play retailers can’t rest on their laurels. With M&S enjoying a better Christmas than ASOS, the online fashion retailer can learn a few fashion tips from the high street stalwart.

This week on PMW: T-Mobile’s in-taxi videos; blockchain ads come to China
What did Brits spend Boxing Day searching for? Why is T-Mobile buying an in-taxi video firm? How are user surveys being integrated into programmatic ads? We look at the big news and moves in performance marketing this week…