Most agency-side marketing strategists say their discipline is at a crossroads and often considered expendable by clients, according to recent research. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
This infographic from LinkedIn explores how to create effective video campaigns on the professional social network. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
AI algorithms are eroding inbox visibility and email metrics. Discover why marketers are turning to SMS for reliable engagement, transparency, and audience ownership in an AI-filtered landscape. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Nike has unveiled Project Amplify, a "powered footwear system" designed to make running and walking easier for everyday athletes. The system combines a lightweight motor, drive belt and rechargeable battery that integrate with a carbon fiber-plated running shoe. According to the company, the technology augments natural ankle and lower leg movement, helping people maintain a 10- to 12-minute mile pace with less effort. Testing data from over 400 athletes suggests the system can help runners shave up to two minutes off their mile time, with some describing the sensation as making uphill terrain feel flat.The technology draws clear parallels to electric bikes, which transformed urban commuting and recreational cycling by making them more accessible for a broader audience. Nike developed Project Amplify in partnership with robotics company Dephy, conducting extensive testing at the Nike Sport Research Lab. Participants logged over 2.4 million steps across nine hardware iterations. The first-generation product isn't intended for competitive runners seeking marginal gains, but rather for people who want to extend their walking commute, add more movement to their daily routine or simply enjoy running for an extra mile or two. The shoes can be worn with or without the robotics system attached.TREND BITEAugmentation technology is moving from workplace exoskeletons into consumer products that enhance everyday activities. While Skip integrated a battery-powered knee brace into Arc'teryx hiking pants to reduce joint strain, Nike is embedding power directly into footwear to make running more accessible. This shift reflects a broader opportunity: rather than pushing people to perform at elite levels, brands can use technology to lower barriers to participation. The question for businesses isn't whether augmentation will become mainstream electric bikes already proved that model works but which everyday activities could benefit from a similar assist. As populations age and sedentary lifestyles increase, products that make movement easier and more enjoyable could reshape expectations around physical activity while creating entirely new categories of sports and recreation equipment.
Dutch bike subscription company Swapfiets launched "Bike Buddies" during this year's Amsterdam Dance Event, offering festival-goers safe accompaniment from DGTL parties to a nearby ferry between midnight and 7 AM.
McDonald's UK has launched the World Menu Heist, temporarily adding eight sought-after items from international markets to its domestic lineup. (And no, the heist timing couldn't have been better ) The temporary menu selection spans seven countries, from Japan's Garlic Black Pepper McNuggets and Indonesia's Choco Caramel Pie to Poland's Sour Cream Black Pepper McShaker Fries. Rather than simply announcing the additions, the chain orchestrated a months-long campaign framing the launch as a cheeky theft operation, complete with leaked packaging details, secret coordinates to sampling locations, and heist-themed in-restaurant experiences.The rollout builds on years of social media chatter from UK customers expressing envy over menu items available elsewhere. By packaging the initiative as a "flavor relocation" rather than standard product expansion, McDonald's is tapping into fan demand while adding theatrical flair. The campaign developed by Leo UK invited followers to join an Instagram close friends group to participate in the fictional heist, then amplified the concept through partnerships with LADbible and immersive activations before a mass launch featuring television spots and outdoor advertising.TREND BITEIn an era marked by protectionism and polarization, McDonald's World Menu Heist offers a refreshing counter-narrative: celebrating difference as delicious rather than divisive. By framing international flavors as coveted contraband that needs to be "gotten before we have to give them back," the campaign injects limited-edition urgency.At its core, this campaign taps into a powerful contemporary consumer tension: the paradoxical desire to be both local and global. People crave the comfort of the known (and what could be more familiar than the Golden Arches), but also want to feel worldly and in on something special. Younger audiences, raised on TikTok food reviews and mukbangs, see food as a way to explore. And when actual travel is too expensive or otherwise out of reach, flavor tourism becomes the next best thing.
This infographic explores how artificial intelligence is bringing about the largest organizational paradigm shift for businesses since the Industrial and Digital Revolutions. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
AI is transforming how B2B buyers discover your products and services. This article explains how AEO, experimentation, and full-funnel precision can help marketers stay visible and competitive. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Generative AI can enhance speed, personalization, and consistency in customer experience--but only when guided by human judgment, empathy, and trust. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
