Blacksolvent News — November 13, 2024

Welcome to Blacksolvent News! In a surprising turn this Wednesday, Amazon’s kicking off holiday ad season with a twist, featuring a janitor, a tuxedo jacket, and the song “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” It’s a fresh, heartwarming take that hints at connection — and maybe a bit of retail therapy.

Today’s Rundown:

Shoppable Streaming Takes Over

Cash App Invests in WNBA Star Angel Reese

Hartford Yard Goats’ Social Media Magic

Amazon Cuts $700M in Ads

2025 Marketing Predictions:

~4 minutes Ready to catch up on the latest holiday marketing moves, ad trends, and sports sponsorship news? Let’s get into it!

Streaming: Shop ’Til You Drop… During Shows Amazon is turning binge sessions into shopping sprees. Prime Video’s new interactive ads let viewers pick up items they see on-screen or even schedule business services — just from their couch. Launched at Amazon’s Unboxed conference, this new wave of shoppable content might just make your TV feel like a next-gen QVC. But Amazon’s not alone. Platforms like Netflix, Roku, and Peacock are all ramping up shoppable ad options to make holiday shopping easier than ever. It’s a whole new era of couch commerce, but not everyone’s sold on the concept just yet.

Key takeway: Shoppable Streaming Is Here: Amazon Prime’s interactive shoppable ads enable viewers to shop or book services directly while watching shows, signaling the rise of “couch commerce.

Roku’s Ready for the Holiday Rush With Black Friday around the corner, Roku Ads Manager is going all-in, making it easy for advertisers to ride the wave of TV watchers during this key shopping season. Last year, Roku users streamed a whopping 286 million hours on Black Friday. So, if you’ve got an ad to place, Roku’s rolling out a toolbox of targeting and tracking tools to make the most of this prime viewing time.

Key takeway: Roku’s Black Friday Play: Roku Ads Manager is ramping up tools to help brands capture the holiday streaming surge, making it a prime time for businesses to launch targeted campaigns as viewers binge during Black Friday weekend

Cash App Scores Big with Angel Reese In a move signaling support for women’s sports, Cash App just signed Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese, marking the brand’s first dive into WNBA partnerships. Alongside a personalized Reese-branded debit card, Cash App launched an interactive “Angel Machine” in Chicago, where fans could score Reese’s gear, from her jersey to her iconic March Madness crown. Cash App’s campaign with Reese extends into the cultural realm, making it clear they’re here to uplift the new wave of women’s basketball stars.

Key takeway: Women’s Sports Spotlight: Cash App’s new partnership with WNBA rookie Angel Reese highlights an exciting focus on women’s sports. Cash App’s Reese-branded products and interactive events, like the “Angel Machine,” are designed to engage fans and spotlight women athletes as cultural influencers

Goats, Praying Mantises, and the Hartford Yard Goats’ Wild Social Presence The Hartford Yard Goats, a minor-league baseball team, might just have the quirkiest social media game out there. Their Gen-Z-worthy Instagram captions, like “Don’t look at the caption, look at the praying mantis,” add a playful vibe to their updates. Former manager Izzy Meckfessel, who helped steer the team’s lighthearted, sometimes sassy tone, aimed to keep fans laughing on and off the field, proving that even baseball posts can be a little edgy.

Key takeway: Minor League with Major Personality: The Hartford Yard Goats are nailing social media with witty, meme-worthy captions, proving that even minor-league teams can drive engagement and build a fun brand identity by speaking the language of their Gen Z fans

Quick Hits

Nespresso’s retail stores might just be driving more online sales than we thought — check out their latest report on tracking in-store to online influence. • HubSpot’s 2024 video marketing report is here, brimming with insights to help marketers step up their game. • And for those feeling skeptical, 90% of marketers say their current Customer Data Platforms don’t cut it. Hightouch’s solution? A whole new paradigm with “composable CDPs.” That’s it for today’s Blacksolvent News! Keep it locked for more industry insights, quirky updates, and holiday ad twists.

Written BY C.