Posts in Marketing Industry/Trends
A Strategic Guide to Building Modern Media Plans That Perform

Media is about delivering results that are meaningful. Your strategy should be about more than impressions. But with siloed data and rising expectations, it's hard to prioritize meaning under pressure to perform. 

That’s why we’ve brought together three powerful blogs filled with insights from industry experts at the top of their media game to help you rethink your media planning, simplify execution, and activate smarter strategies that drive growth.

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How Smart Marketers Build a Budget That Actually Works

Creating a marketing budget isn’t just a financial exercise; it’s a strategic act. It’s your roadmap for growth, your guardrail against wasted effort, and, when done well, your strongest case for internal alignment and external results.

But while most marketers know how much they wish they could spend, far fewer know how much they should. So, where do you begin?

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The Top 5 Questions Marketers are Asking in 2025 + How to Find the Answers

At Setup, we don’t just listen, we track patterns, analyze them, and come up with solutions to assist marketers with their challenges. Every year, our Marketing Relationship Survey gathers insights from brand and agency marketers to identify the core challenges, shifts, and opportunities in the client–agency relationship. These aren’t hypotheticals; they’re real-time questions marketing leaders are actively asking. And your answers help drive the industry's evolution.

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The Rise of AI in 2025: Leveraging your Tech Stack While Preserving Human Connection

Is AI stripping consumers of excitement? Is there unconscious bias in AI? How can marketers stand out while using the same tech stack? 

In conversations with marketing leaders in the high-tech and innovation sector, adopting AI is not the challenge. The future belongs to teams who adapt to AI while investing in human elements like curiosity, connection, and inspiration. 

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Why Chemistry Matters When Choosing a Marketing Agency

When it comes to picking an agency, chemistry between brands and agencies is often overlooked in the selection process, but it’s one of the biggest indicators of long-term success. Yes, you need a business partner with the right capabilities and experience, but when it comes down to the final candidates, chemistry is what truly sets long-term partners apart.

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Top 5 Growth Strategies for Agencies in 2025

The path to growth for marketing Agencies in 2025 is no longer about simply acquiring new Clients; it’s about scaling effectively. With evolving Client demands, technological advancements, and increasing competition, Agencies must focus on strategies that enable sustainable and efficient expansion. 

Based on insights from Setup’s research, expert advice, and industry trends over the last 10 years, here are five key strategies to help Agencies scale effectively in 2025.

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Super Bowl LIX: 2025 Marketing Ad Champions + Fumbles

Super Bowl LIX wasn’t just about football—it was a masterclass in marketing. Each year, brands gamble big (to the tune of $8 million per 30-second ad) for a chance to capture the nation’s attention. With such high stakes, the challenge isn’t just making a good ad—it’s making an ad that resonates long after the final whistle blows.

This year, amid a landscape of economic uncertainty and shifting consumer sentiment, many brands leaned away from risk-taking and played it safe. "Nowstalgia"—pairing rising stars with established icons—dominated, while humor, celebrity cameos, and absurdist comedy took center stage. And while some brands nailed it, others flopped despite their star-studded casts.

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Overcome Challenges + Master Agency Growth in 2025

As competition intensifies and Clients get more selective about what they want, Agencies must navigate hurdles that directly affect their ability to meet Client expectations and learn to adjust. Let’s dive into the core obstacles Agencies are tackling this year, why they’re critical to address, and practical strategies to stay ahead in an ever-changing industry. 

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