Ad Effectiveness & ROI

• Creative & Branded Content
• Article

Designing with Machines: A Co-Creative Model for Generative AI in Advertising Agencies

• ARF
• Journal of Advertising Research

A new study uncovers how advertising agencies are attempting to integrate generative AI into their creative workflows, and the repercussions of that process. Based on interviews and field data, the research presents a four-phase model—readiness, co-creativity, validation and execution. Although the study reveals certain anxieties surrounding this integration, in the end both human and AI elements together are required to boost and enliven the creative process.

• Creative & Branded Content
• Article

Binge-Watching and Advertising: When Streaming Habits Challenge Ad Effectiveness

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

Binge-watching dramatically reshapes how consumers respond to advertising on video-on-demand platforms. Drawing on psychological reactance theory, this study reveals that binge-watchers perceive ads as more intrusive and irritating, harming platform loyalty and boosting ad avoidance—unless the ad is highly likeable, which can soften negative reactions and protect platform engagement.

• Creative & Branded Content
• Article

Savoring Success: Creative Strategies That Make Food and Beverage Ads Work

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

Digital marketing’s fast pace allows for unprecedented testing of what drives ad success. This study combines human coding and machine learning across over 2,300 food, beverage and restaurant video ads, to reveal how sensory cues like “crunch sounds” and human interaction can significantly boost brand awareness, consideration and purchase intent—while some commonly used tactics, surprisingly, fall flat.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

Mega- and Micro-Influencers Manage Authenticity Differently JAR Study Finds

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

This study explores how mega- and micro-influencers manage authenticity in their sponsored content based on social network theory, which argues that individuals, groups and organizations are embedded within webs of social relations and interactions that impact their beliefs and actions. It compares their strategies and engagement rates, providing insights into the effectiveness of different influencer types.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

How to Optimize Product Placement Interface Design for Mobile Food Delivery

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

This study explores the impact of Gestalt psychology on consumer behavior in mobile food delivery marketing. By analyzing brainwave activity, the research demonstrates how organizing visual elements in a Gestalt format can influence purchase decisions. The findings reveal that products placed in a Gestalt format led to higher purchase rates and lower cognitive conflict compared to non-Gestalt formats. The study also highlights the importance of complementary cross-selling products in enhancing the visual Gestalt effect. When main and cross-selling products are placed together in a Gestalt format, consumers experience a more positive emotional response and are more likely to make a purchase. These insights can help marketers optimize product placement interfaces to boost sales and improve user experience.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

In-House vs. Influencer Livestreaming: What Drives Sales Most?

• MSI

Livestreaming is rapidly transforming e-commerce, but which strategy works best—brand-led sessions or influencer promotions? This study of 163 apparel brands reveals that in-house livestreaming delivers more consistent sales boosts than most influencer collaborations, offering key insights for marketers navigating the live commerce boom.

• Targets & Segments
• Article

Maximizing Customer Lifetime Value through Subscription Models

This research explores the downstream and upstream effects of consumer-to-consumer (C2C) gift subscriptions compared to personal subscriptions in the context of live streaming. It reveals that C2C subscriptions significantly enhance customer lifetime value by encouraging more tips and comments and highlights the importance of creator performance quality in driving subscription behaviors.

• Creative & Branded Content
• Article

Which YouTube Ad Format is Best: Skippable Ads, Non-Skippable Ads or Brand Placements?

• JOURNAL OF ADVERTISING RESEARCH

The shift from traditional media to digital platforms has made YouTube a key player in content consumption. This study evaluates the effectiveness of YouTube's popular advertising formats—skippable ads, non-skippable ads and brand placements—within infotainment videos. Findings suggest that skippable ads and brand placements are perceived as less intrusive, while non-skippable ads enhance brand recall. Combining skippable ads with brand placements yields comparable results to non-skippable ads alone. Brand placements alone foster more positive brand attitudes compared to other ad types. The study provides valuable insights for marketers on the cost-benefit tradeoffs of different YouTube advertising formats, emphasizing the importance of aligning promotional tools with campaign objectives.