The Setup Pulse: Trends CMOs Need to Know Right Now
Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! Every other week, we’ll provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on.
Read about what’s being talked about this week!
Trending Topics
Trade Shows Are BACK!
Trade shows are making a triumphant return! The recent National Restaurant Association show was the busiest it has been since pre-COVID. We can confidently say that it’s clear that in-person networking and hands-on experiences are back in full swing. Get your booth game ready and capitalize on this resurgence.
Sustainability in Advertising
Have you considered the carbon footprint of your digital advertising? Forbes highlights a study showing that the U.K. digital advertising industry emits over 84,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. Sustainable practices in digital advertising are essential for environmentally conscious businesses aiming to stay ahead.
Is Everyone’s Opinion Important? Creativity Hold-ups
Creativity is inherently subjective, complicating Agency-Client relationships. Imagine getting regular input on a video project, then suddenly facing a complete halt due to differing opinions from higher-ups. Navigating creative freedom with feedback is crucial for delivering work that meets diverse expectations. Listening to differing perspectives is important for growth, but at the same time, maybe trust the hired experts on some decisions.
New + Noteworthy
Apple + OpenAI: Whispers of Romance in the AIr
Rumors suggest Apple and OpenAI are set to announce a major partnership to integrate ChatGPT into the iPhone’s operating system. This could significantly impact the AI landscape, potentially enhancing Siri or leading to new AI features. Stay tuned for this potentially game-changing development!
Ad Of The Week
Not to make everything about Apple, but recently they released an ad called “Crush!” to introduce their new iPad Pro. Creatives responded in an outrage due to the ad’s lack of respect for other art forms. Apple quickly apologized in return. Whether you like or dislike an ad, you can always learn something from them. Did you think they missed the mark?
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Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! We provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on. This week we talk about Client team layoffs + increased budgets for Agencies, sprint models, football season + more...
Gen Z is expected to have $2.7 trillion in global spending power, and its influence will only grow, projected to reach $12 trillion by 2030. They currently make up about 25% of the worldwide population. While Millennials have more established careers and spend more, Gen Z has the power to shape trends and is increasing its purchasing power as it continues to take over the workforce.
Gen Z is a big deal, and marketers need to pay attention.
Although Generation Alpha is not yet old enough to be purchasing leaders, this tech-savvy generation was the first born into a digitally established world, and their influence may cause marketers to change priorities and adapt to new tactics.
Are you overlooking your own growth? Many Agencies often focus heavily on B2C tactics to attract Clients. However, this approach may cause them to miss out on untapped growth potential. While you’re busy boosting your Clients’ success with B2B strategies, are you neglecting to apply those same powerful techniques to your own Agency?
Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! We provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on. This week we talk about being ~demure~, Heinz's standout ads, the DNC branding + more...
Marketing Agencies are the go-to experts for helping businesses grow. They craft smart strategies, spark fresh ideas, and navigate the tricky waters of market challenges with ease. Yet, there is a glaring irony in the industry: many marketing Agencies, despite their mastery in growing other businesses, often struggle to apply those same winning strategies to their own growth.
People overall are not feeling heard or understood. When that happens, team members don’t feel valued, and they usually leave a place of employment or end a partnership. We provide suggestions to improve culture, collaboration, and communication for marketing leaders, including our Team Building service.
Setup’s Manager of Strategic Partnerships listed his favorite Cannes Lions campaigns from Coca-Cola to Pop-Tarts and more, and the takeaways for marketers.
Being purpose-driven leads to stronger relationships with consumers rooted in trust, a positive perception of the Brand, excited employees and stakeholders who feel like their work has meaning, and more. By leaning into cause-driven marketing, Brands make a stronger impact, and gain more traction. Past studies show that consumers want Brands to care, especially when it comes to values that align with their own.
Through our research and discussions, we were inspired to point out a few ad campaigns that use their influence for good.
Here are five of our favorite marketing campaigns that amplify what it means to be purpose-driven:
Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! Every other week, we’ll provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on. This week we talk about TikTok influencer marketing, AI + humans team up, the strength of paid media, and more…
Navigating the marketing industry often leads professionals to stick to either the Agency or Brand side, potentially limiting their growth opportunities. In our series, we delve into the experiences of marketers who have made the jump from one side to the other. Building on our previous exploration of transitioning from Client to Agency-side marketing, this time we interviewed Allison Turner, who has transitioned from Agency roles to becoming the Marketing Copy Manager at Floor & Decor on the Client side.
This journey highlights how working on both sides can enhance a marketer's skills and adaptability, making them more equipped to handle diverse tasks and challenges.
Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! Every other week, we’ll provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on. This week we talk about trade shows, sustainability, creativity, OpenAI partnerships, and more…
Traditional Agency searches, frequently conducted with the help of search consultants, can involve lengthy and expensive processes. These consultants typically charge significant fees for a three- to five-month process to narrow down a large pool of eligible Agencies to a handful of qualified candidates for the Client to choose from. In contrast, Setup can achieve the same goal of narrowing down to a small group of highly qualified Agencies in as little as a week and at no cost to the Client.
Transitioning from Brand-side to Agency-side marketing can be both rewarding and challenging for marketing leaders. This shift offers unique opportunities to enhance strategic thinking, creativity, and versatility while navigating the fast-paced dynamics of managing multiple Clients. Drawing on insights from marketing experts like Cami Albrecht and Elaine Fowler of Sagepath Reply, this blog provides essential advice for successfully making the switch and leveraging the benefits of both career paths.
Each year, we conduct the Marketing Relationship Survey with both Client-side and Agency-side marketers to uncover the latest insights on marketing challenges, innovative solutions, and industry preferences. This allows us to identify key marketing gaps and provide strategic solutions that simplify and enhance marketers' efforts. Reach about last year’s Marketing Relationship Survey.
What challenges are Clients currently facing alongside their agency partners in 2024?
Agency leaders and marketers in general are dealing with worldwide challenges like adapting to and adopting advanced technology and social platforms, budget constraints and showcasing marketing’s ROI, and navigating data privacy changes.
The 2023 Marketing Relationship Survey revealed that Delivery and Business Development remained a key challenge for Agency-side marketing leaders in the last year.
Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! Every other week, we’ll provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on. This week we talk about the the guts it takes to start a marketing agency, Gen Z spending, AI beer, data privacy, and more…
According to the 2023 Setup Marketing Relationship Survey, Word-of-mouth and Referrals consistently remain the most frequent methods Clients use to find new Agency Partners.
This has been the case for the last five years of the Marketing Relationship Survey.
What does this mean for Clients + Agencies? How can they optimize their efforts with this knowledge?
Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! Every other week, we’ll provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on. This week we talk about the new Chief AI Officer role, latest news on the TikTok ban, X’s streaming services, dogs flying, super heroes coming to life, and more…
In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, it might feel impossible to keep up. Staying ahead of the curb is as important as having your morning coffee – miss it, and you might find yourself dozing off at the wheel.
You can’t go anywhere without hearing people talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI), but it isn't just a fancy buzzword; it's critical to making sure you aren’t missing key opportunities. Elaine Fowler, Director of Market Strategy, Experience & Marketing at Sagepath Reply, shares how marketers can best optimize AI to improve their marketing strategy.
According to the Setup Marketing Relationship Survey, Clients leaned more heavily into content creation and video in 2023 than previous years by 15%. Since video content is more accessible to all types of people and is easier to consume and understand in short bursts, it makes sense that Clients would take advantage of platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. What other disciplines have been a brand priority?
Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! Every other week, we’ll provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on. This week we talk about the new CBO role, how brands reacted to the Eclipse, AI news, and more…
Marketers graduating from college often ask me whether they should pursue client- or agency-side opportunities for their initial job out of college. I tell them that in the long term, it is always best to get experience with both, but initially, a stint on the agency-side provides more opportunities to learn about different marketing roles, industries, and experiences than the client-side.
Joe Koufman, Founder and CEO of Setup, the matchmakers bridging the gap between agencies and brands, and Andrea Striebel, the VP of Marketing for Floor & Decor, share their thoughts on agency- vs client-side careers.
Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! Every other week, we’ll provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on. This week we talk about Meta’s political ban, toilet paper ads we’re stuck on, Starbuck’s CMO no more, and more…
In the last 10 years, Setup has conducted five Marketing Relationship Surveys, connected over 800 Brands and Agencies, conversed with well over 1000 Brand-sides marketers, and enacted 50+ Agency Assessments for Agency partners. Here’s the secret: Clients just want to have good chemistry! But how do you develop it?
To celebrate women in the marketing profession and to continue highlighting them throughout Women’s History Month, we asked women marketing leaders to contribute to our Women in Marketing Series detailing their personal triumphs, tribulations, and advice about working in the marketing industry. Part 13 features leaders from Nationwide, NAPA, Neogen Corporation, and Pratt Industries, Inc.
Welcome to the Setup Pulse for Brands and Agency marketers alike! Every other week, we’ll provide three trending topics in the Marketing industry, as well as a new story that you will want to get your eyes on. This week we talk about brand purpose, B2B Marketing efforts, Michael CeraVe, and more…
It may be hard to believe today, but the Nike basketball sneaker department was hanging on by a shoe lace, struggling to make any headway against Converse and Adidas in 1984.
What steps did the Nike team take to put them back on the map? And how did Michael Jordan impact that success?
Our ongoing Women in Marketing series highlights marketing leaders from different backgrounds and industries who continue to innovate and push the boundaries of their role.
This segment features the advice and journeys of leaders from CVS Health, Prudential, and more.
With economic uncertainty, shifting consumer expectations, and evolving digital trends (AI, anyone?), it has become more of a challenge to sort budgets. Last year’s numbers may not be a great indicator of future success. One thing is certain, however: demonstrating the ROI from marketing efforts is crucial for brands to stay competitive.
Check out key budgeting challenges that marketers often face and practical solutions to help marketing leaders craft a stronger, more agile budget.