Brands started to heavily invest in influencers about five years ago. At that time, it was all about the mega-influencer, the creator like Huda Kattan or Aimee Song who had millions of followers and could launch - and sell out - a product on Instagram in a matter of minutes. But, as influencer marketing has evolved, brands have learned that bigger isn’t always better. In the years that have followed, micro- and nano-influencers have played a key role in generating buzz for brands.

For brands, connecting with younger consumers remains one of the most tried-and-true methods for building a loyal following. However, in today’s increasingly cluttered digital landscape, it’s getting more difficult to reach younger audiences en masse. Whether it’s through ad-blocking while surfing the internet or avoiding commercials by watching streaming services such as Netflix, younger consumers are seeing fewer and fewer traditional advertisements.

We know that experiential marketing can be an extremely effective way for brands to make one-on-one connections with consumers, build brand awareness, and increase brand loyalty. However, you can take the buzz around your activation to the next level by getting the media involved.

As humans, we’re subjected to countless marketing messages each and every day. Whether it’s while scrolling through social media, driving by a billboard, watching ads on television, or seeing a brand activation at an event, these messages are practically unavoidable.

For brand marketing efforts, focusing specifically on your most loyal of customers is simply no longer an option. According to research from Nielsen, only 9% of U.S. consumers say that they are brand loyal – and even that number rises above the global average (8%).

The concept of wellness has become a part of our vernacular in recent years, but the movement encompasses a whole lot more than just exercise, healthy eating, and buying better-for-you products. This holistic idea of health is characterized by care for the mind, body, and soul, and its impact is being felt in industries far beyond food and beverage.

We often think of challenger brands as disruptors at heart, allowing them to be risk-takers while the rest of us go about our lives in the safety of traditional routines. However, just about any business can benefit from adopting a little bit of that challenger mindset.

Recent years have brought us constant innovation in the adult beverage category, offering consumers with a litany of options to choose from outside of the tried-and-true favorites. While that’s great news for those of us looking to test out tasty, new beverages, it presents an issue for brands: how do you stand out in a sea of clutter?

As more states move to legalize medicinal and recreational marijuana, consumer attitudes continue to evolve. In fact, 56% of Americans indicate that they’re in favor of legalization, while 16% admit to being cannabis consumers themselves. Of those who consume, we’re seeing increasing diversity; men, women, young, and old are all turning to cannabis as a means to reduce stress, ease aches and pains, and even diminish use of other substances like alcohol and tobacco. Here, we take a look at today’s cannabis consumer to understand who they are and what makes them tick.

With Father’s Day around the corner, consumers across the country are doing their last-minute shopping for the dads, grandfathers, husbands, and sons in their lives. This year, U.S. spending on the holiday is projected to reach an all-time high total of $16 billion, which represents a 4.6% increase from last year’s $15.3 billion and a 70% increase from just a decade ago.