Author: Geek Planet

The beverage sector’s in a tough spot right now. In the U.K., customers are drinking less and spending less, a combination that’s dragging on the performance of firms like Diageo, which just lost its CEO. Finding new customers is an imperative.Heineken U.K. has found one way around that problem — it’s been using a blend of contextual targeting and attention metrics to diversify its media plans, incorporating otherwise overlooked display inventory into campaigns. According to the brewer’s marketers, the approach led to a 17% jump in brand awareness during an initial test with its premium cider brand Old Mout, staged…

Google is tightening the connection between AI Overviews and AI Mode in Google Search. Starting now, you can ask a follow-up right from an AI Overview and keep the same context as the conversation continues in AI Mode. It’s a small change with a big payoff if you’ve ever hit the limit of a one-and-done summary. When a quick answer turns into a deeper question, the handoff is supposed to feel seamless, and Google says prominent links remain part of the experience so you can still click out to the web. Follow-ups without the reset Google says the new flow…

This article is part of our Confessions series, in which we trade anonymity for candor to get an unvarnished look at the people, processes and problems inside the industry. More from the series → For the past few years, big brands and their agency partners have largely shied away from advertising on conservative channels, citing brand safety fears in ads showing up next to politically charged content. The tides, however, may be turning. In today’s highly polarized cultural stratosphere, marketers are toeing the line with a both-sides approach to media spend and marketing messaging. For one diverse, inclusivity-driven comms agency,…

Google’s slow updates to Performance Max continues, offering just enough to suggest progress without ever fully handing over the keys to marketers. The latest addition, dubbed Performance Max Channel Performance, is the company’s attempt to address one of advertisers’ longest-running frustrations: not knowing where exactly their dollars are working across Google’s sprawl.Still being rolled out in open beta globally, the tool offers channel-level breakdown across search, YouTube, display, Discover, Maps and Gmail, according to a document Google recently shared with marketers and reviewed by Digiday. It lives within the Insights and Reports section of Google Ads, and promises a campaign summary,…

Apple seems ready to kill the dreaded “No Service” label, as the purported iPhone 18 Pro models could take a major leap in satellite connectivity, not just for emergencies (as it has been the case so far), but also for everyday use cases. Previously, iPhone users had to point the device at the sky (with a clear view of the horizon) to send an SOS signal to the emergency services. However, the upcoming iPhones (only the Pro models) could solve that problem for once and for all. Goodbye “No Service”? The magic comes from Apple’s in-house C2 5G modem (via…

Google AI Plus is now available in the US, part of a rollout to 35 new countries and territories. It’s live now. In the US, the plan costs $7.99 per month, and new subscribers get 50% off for the first two months for a limited time. Google says pricing varies by country elsewhere, so you’ll see your local rate during sign-up. Google AI Plus bundles access to Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro in the Gemini app, plus AI tools in Flow and NotebookLM. You also get 200GB of storage you can share with up to five family members.…

This is part of a research index that was originally published on Digiday’s sibling publication Glossy. Influencer marketing has been a top marketing strategy since the mid-2000s, but it may be showing some cracks — at least when it comes to consumers’ willingness to actively engage with influencers’ Instagram posts. Brands in the United States will spend $10.5 billion on influencer marketing in 2025 and up to $13.7 billion in 2027, according to a recent eMarketer forecast. Instagram is the No. 1 social media channel marketers use, according to Digiday’s upcoming CMO Strategies report on social media. However, Digiday’s 2025…

In the midst of escalating culture wars, brands seem more careful than ever to avoid political pitfalls and anything that could be considered a PR crisis. But it’s a monumental task: The lines are increasingly blurring between culture and politics.Marketing messages are taking longer to craft as they wait for approval from corporate comms teams. And allowlists and blocklists — including some to avoid raising ire from the Trump administration — are getting longer and campaigns are taking a “softer” approach, according to two brand strategists Digiday spoke with for this story. “The way I see it is: The one who talks…

Apple’s Creator Studio bundle is now live for everyone to use. The new subscription was unveiled about two weeks ago, and creators can sign up for Apple Creator Studio at $12.99 per month. At this price, Apple is aiming at video editors, musicians, and digital creators who want pro tools without committing to an expensive creative subscription like Adobe’s. What you actually get with Apple Creator Studio At the heart of Creator Studio are six powerful creative apps that cover nearly every aspect of modern content production. These are not watered-down versions either. Users get access to premium and AI-powered…

Apple’s latest iOS 26 update introduces a handy new tool for anyone considering a switch from iPhone to Android. First spotted in a beta release last year, the feature lets users easily migrate data like messages, notes, photos, and contacts in just a few steps. Previously, transferring data from an iPhone to an Android device required users to install Google’s Android Switch app. The new built-in tool makes the process far more seamless. Users only need to place their devices next to each other to get started. To connect them, they can either scan a QR code displayed on the…