Marketing Trend Tracker - Series 8

March 25, 2024


In today’s rapidly changing advertising landscape, brands are leveraging cutting-edge technologies and platforms to connect with audiences in more personalized and impactful ways. From the strategic placements in high-profile events like March Madness to the innovative use of AI chatbots and social media promo codes, the advertising world is witnessing a transformation. This blog post explores the latest developments in advertising strategies and technologies that are setting new standards for consumer interaction.

March Madness: a Prime Venue for Strategic Advertising


The 2024 NCAA March Madness tournament has been a significant opportunity for advertisers, with Capital One, Coca-Cola, and AT&T leading the charge as official NCAA corporate champions. Their involvement, along with other brands in the NCAA’s official corporate partnership program like Geico and Home Depot, has contributed to almost half of the tournament's revenue. This surge in brand participation has led to the best revenue tournament ever recorded, with 50% of ad inventory sold by fall and certain brands being earmarked for last-minute spots.


Coverage of the entire 67-game lineup of the 2024 March Madness tournament was distributed among four major national networks: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. Additionally, fans could access live streaming of the games on Paramount+ and Max. Notably, advertisements displayed during the live streams are consistent with those broadcast to linear TV audiences, although the March Madness Live platform utilized distinct sets of commercial logs. This approach highlights the flexibility of advertising strategies in catering to both traditional and digital viewing formats.

The Rise of Advertising in AI Chatbots


As some organizations lean on monthly subscription models to defray the significant operational costs of AI chatbots, Microsoft is diverging onto a distinct path by rolling out its chat ads API service. This initiative marks AI chatbots as emerging advertising mediums, using advertisements to mitigate their hefty operational expenses. In the swiftly changing world of AI chatbots, where behemoths like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI have opted for a subscription approach—charging about $20/month for access to their cutting-edge chatbots—Microsoft is showcasing an alternative method to cover the extensive costs involved in the creation and maintenance of their proprietary AI technologies.


By integrating advertising directly within chatbot interactions via its Chat Ads API, Microsoft has taken a groundbreaking step, with prominent partners such as Snapchat, Baidu, and Axel Springer already on board. This move ushers in a new era of personalized advertising within AI-mediated conversations, significantly enhancing the revenue-generating capabilities of AI chatbots.

Source: AdWeek

This strategic shift not only opens up new monetization avenues for AI chatbots but also establishes a new benchmark in digital advertising, demonstrating an innovative adaptation to weave ads smoothly into user experiences. While platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini (previously known as Bard), and others have not yet introduced direct ad integrations into their interfaces, Microsoft's initiative indicates a wider industry trend towards utilizing AI chatbots not only to enrich user engagement but also as potent channels for precise advertising.


Moreover, independent companies utilizing OpenAI’s developer tools are finding novel ways to monetize AI chatbots. For instance, Adzedek has created an “AI chatbot advertising marketplace,” allowing developers to integrate advertising plug-ins beyond the standard subscription model. This pay-per-click model, with Adzedek retaining a portion of ad revenue, signifies a shift towards more dynamic and interactive advertising mediums.


Source: Social Media Today

Instagram's Innovative Promo Codes in Ads


At ShopTalk 2024, Meta announced the launch of "Ads with Promo Codes", globally allowing brands to list promotional codes directly in their ad captions on Instagram. These promotional codes are then automatically applied to a user’s cart at checkout, allowing for brands to track sales through promo codes. This feature, aimed at streamlining the customer journey from ad engagement to purchase, has shown promising results, including a notable reduction in cost per purchase and an increase in conversions for advertisers. According to Meta, “Advertisers who used this feature had a 9.1% median reduction in cost per purchase in their campaigns and a 10.1% median increase in conversions.” This strategy mirrors Facebook’s earlier initiative and represents a growing trend of integrating direct incentives into advertising content to enhance effectiveness and measurability.


From traditional broadcast ads to the cutting-edge use of AI chatbots and social media promotions, the landscape of advertising continues to evolve. These developments reflect a broader trend towards more personalized, interactive, and measurable advertising strategies, paving the way for future campaigns to connect with audiences in increasingly sophisticated ways.


At SparkShoppe, staying on top of the latest trends is our specialty. Contact us today to discover how our team of marketing experts can keep your company at the forefront of innovation!

  • Targeted Advertising


    Retail media networks enable highly targeted advertising. Retailers have access to a wealth of data about their customers' shopping habits, preferences, and demographics. This data allows advertisers to create highly targeted and personalized campaigns, increasing the likelihood of reaching the right audience.

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  • Monetization Opportunity


    Retailers can monetize their online platforms by selling advertising space to manufacturers and brands. This additional revenue stream can help grocers offset costs and improve profitability.

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  • Enhanced Shopper Experience


    Advertisements on a retail media network can be designed to enhance the overall shopper experience. Relevant and engaging ads can provide useful information, highlight promotions, and offer personalized recommendations, creating a more positive shopping experience.

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  • Data Insights and Analytics


    Manufacturers and brands can gain valuable insights from the data generated through retail media networks. Analyzing customer behavior, ad performance, and other metrics can help them optimize their marketing strategies, refine product offerings, and make data-driven decisions.

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  • Cross-Promotions and Collaborations


    Retail media networks provide an opportunity for collaboration between retailers, manufacturers, and brands. Joint promotional campaigns and cross-selling initiatives can be implemented to benefit all parties involved.

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  • Measurable ROI


    Advertisers can track the performance of their campaigns in real-time. This level of visibility allows them to measure the return on investment (ROI) of their advertising efforts and adjust as needed to optimize results.

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  • Competitive Advantage


    Retailers that effectively leverage a retail media network can gain a competitive advantage in the market. By offering a valuable platform for advertisers, retailers can attract more brands to their network and strengthen their position in the industry.

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  • Omni-Channel Marketing


    Retail media networks often span both online and offline channels, providing a seamless experience for customers across various touchpoints. This omni-channel approach can help advertisers create cohesive and integrated marketing campaigns.

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  • Adaptable and Flexible


    Retail media networks can adapt to changing market conditions and consumer preferences. Advertisers can quickly modify their campaigns to respond to trends, seasonal changes, or shifts in consumer behavior.

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  • Building Brand Loyalty


    Effective advertising on a retail media network can contribute to building brand loyalty. By engaging with customers at multiple points in their shopping journey, advertisers can foster a stronger connection with their target audience.

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SparkShoppe in collaboration with our retail and CPG partners has proven the power of a retail media network. The results are driven from the ability to provide targeted advertising, create additional revenue streams for retailers, enhance the shopper experience, offer valuable data insights, and foster collaboration between grocers and manufacturers. When utilized effectively, it can be a win-win for all stakeholders involved. Ignite your strategy today by connecting with us!

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