NinjaCat

AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s changing the way marketers work. But here’s the real kicker: AI models alone won’t cut it. It’s about building AI agents that combine those models with the right tools, techniques, and custom data to automate workflows and deliver better results. In his latest blog, our CEO Paul Deraval explains why this combo is key for agencies looking to stay ahead—and how Negative Nancy, one of our AI agents, optimizes PPC campaigns by identifying and eliminating wasted spend on under-performing keywords. Curious to see how AI agents can make a difference for your agency? Read the full article.👇 #MarketingAI #AIagents #MarTech

When we decided to turn marketing data drama into a MUSICAL (yes, really!), some thought we'd lost it. 🙃 One year and multiple industry awards later, our original musical "Big Data Day" proves there's something to this whole "singing about spreadsheets" thing! Why a musical about data? Well, let's face it - data analytics doesn't normally get people dancing in their seats. But stories and songs? Stories and songs get people moving. Especially when they're about the daily adventures (and occasional misadventures) of marketers wrestling with data dragons! 🐉 At NinjaCat, we're on a mission to turn "data overwhelm" into "data oh-wow!" 📊✨ One year later, "Big Data Day" isn't just a musical milestone - It’s proof that even the most data-driven stories can be brought to life with creativity, humor, and energy. Listen to the clip below for a taste!

Recently, I was reminded that data doesn’t tell the whole story—you need context. Context is an essential aspect of effective #datastorytelling. Take a look at the diagram below. Both trees look healthy at first glance, but the tree on the right has a weaker root system. This underlying weakness, though invisible on the surface, makes it vulnerable to the next storm. The data alone—the visible part—tells only a partial story. True understanding requires digging deeper to uncover more context. Last Monday, I watched the scores of my two favorite hockey teams, the Vancouver Canucks and the Utah Hockey Club. Both lost in overtime: the Canucks to the Hurricanes (4-3) and Utah to the Sharks (5-4). A quick look at the scores might suggest similar outcomes, but the context tells two different stories. The Canucks fought back from a 3-1 deficit to secure a point against a legitimate playoff team 😌, while Utah squandered a 4-1 lead over a struggling Sharks team that had already lost eight games in a row 😤. #Dataliteracy isn’t just about observing numbers; it is a mindset that demands context to understand better what the data means. How often do we overlook the ‘roots’ of our data stories? Don’t just tell part of the story—seek the context that completes it. How do you go beyond the visible data to ensure you’re telling the whole story? What strategies help you bring essential context into your data stories? 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 🔽 Craving more of my data storytelling, analytics, and data culture content? Sign up for my newsletter today: https://lnkd.in/gRNMYJQ7 Pre-register for my upcoming data storytelling online course: https://lnkd.in/gJgCJ_jH

From disjointed silos, overlapping reports, and an incomplete view of customer journeys, the old ways of measuring omnichannel campaigns are being replaced by Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM). With the ability to account for incremental sales, time delays, and cross-channel effects, MMMs enable smarter marketing investments and improved business performance in an increasingly complex retail landscape. LEARN ALL ABOUT IT --> https://hubs.la/Q02VZHhR0

Microsoft Advertising’s Next-Gen Search Ads: Preparing for a New Era in Personalization “The promise of a way better consumer experience is here. The promise of real personalization is here,” says Kya Sainsbury-Carter, VP at Microsoft Advertising. Microsoft’s latest updates to its conversational search ads offer a glimpse into the future of generative AI (genAI) in search advertising—and the time to prepare is now. KEY SUMMARY POINTS 🔹 Enhanced Relevance with Conversational Context: Ads now leverage entire conversation contexts—not just keywords—creating more relevant, engaging ads that adapt to users' tone and intent. 🔹 Streamlined Ad Visuals & Diagnostics: Improved ad displays and new diagnostics make it easier for advertisers to gauge ad performance within Microsoft’s Copilot. 🔹 Optimized Performance with Performance Max: Microsoft advertisers using Performance Max benefit from optimizations that carry over to genAI search campaigns, maximizing ad reach with one effort. 🤔 What’s Next? GenAI is shifting search from a bottom-funnel tactic to a discovery channel. Conversational ads could evolve into “immersive ads,” potentially allowing users to explore virtual brand experiences within Copilot conversations. Data Preparation for AI-Driven Advertising 🔹 Strengthen Data Infrastructure: Ensure your data is well-integrated and accessible, allowing for seamless AI optimization and ad personalization across platforms. 🔹 Embrace AI-Friendly Data Practices: Implement data cleansing and structuring processes that allow AI to maximize relevance, automate targeting, and enhance ad precision. 🔹 Iterate with Contextual Data Strategies: Regularly update data strategy to include new sources, trends, and behavioral insights to fully support the dynamic needs of genAI. As AI-powered ads transform search into a dynamic, discovery-driven space, preparing a robust data foundation will enable advertisers to leverage the next level of personalized, performance-driven marketing. READ THE ARTICLE -> https://hubs.la/Q02TrMnG0

Structured data—like ad spend and performance metrics—builds a solid foundation for reporting, but it’s the unstructured data—social media posts, reviews, emails—that uncovers the deeper insights into customer behavior. The key challenge? Integrating both types of data for better reporting. To optimize your approach, centralize and clean up structured data for efficiency, while using AI tools to analyze unstructured data for richer insights. By blending the “what” (structured) with the “why” (unstructured), agencies can deliver more powerful and comprehensive client reports. Make sure your tech stack supports both, and watch how this combo can elevate your client insights to new heights. | READ THE FULL ARTICLE --> https://hubs.la/Q02V3TZK0

Is your agency AI-Ready? Find out with our free assessment. Transforming your agency with AI isn't just about the technology; it's about being prepared on all fronts. Get our roadmap to AI readiness, including a handy checklist to ensure you're AI-ready, covering everything from data infrastructure to fostering a data-driven culture and team skills enhancement. CHECK IT OUT --> https://hubs.la/Q02V0Fy_0 #AIReadiness #TeamGrowth #AIImplementation #data #DataAnalytics

📉 Dark Traffic & Brutal Adblockers: The Untapped Revenue Hole for Publishers Ad blocking may no longer dominate ad industry discussions, but it’s far from a solved problem. Enter "dark traffic"—an unmeasured segment of up to 21% of a publisher’s audience, hidden behind a new generation of “brutal adblockers” that are virtually undetectable by current analytics. Unlike “soft adblockers” like AdBlock and Adblock Plus, brutal adblockers block everything—from analytics to ad walls to cookie consent pop-ups. This leaves a massive, unmonetized audience segment in the shadows. 🧩 The Scope of the Problem Today’s brutal adblockers operate on various levels (built-in browsers, VPNs, network filters) and have eroded the market dominance of traditional adblockers like Adblock Plus. With over 700 million global users, this evolution is reshaping how publishers must approach monetization. 📈 Path Forward Publishers are in a new era of adblocking. Building relationships with these hidden audiences doesn’t mean banning ads entirely; rather, it’s about reintroducing resilient, user-centric ads that align with the audience's preferences. By focusing on non-intrusive ad delivery, publishers can reclaim ad revenue and engage these previously hidden users without disrupting their experience. To thrive in the brutal adblocker era, publishers need to pivot their ad strategies to create a win-win for readers and revenue. READ THE FULL ARTICLE -> https://hubs.la/Q02Trw_X0

LATEST EPISODE! | An epic journey through the fabrics, lakes, and meshes of data with the fearless and frank Kudzayi Chakahwata! Data isn't a panacea, it isn't a promise, but properly interpreting and understanding it's true power and potential is necessary for agencies looking for an edge. Thankfully, Kudzayi dishes out detailed advice on the how, when, where, and what of data in advertising in this jam-packed episode on how to turn data into actionable stories, so...GET IN HEAR!! 🎧👇 https://bit.ly/48c9S1w

NEW EPISODE! | Learn how Kudzayi Chakahwata, Audiences and Technology Solutions Director at Publicis, blends mathematics and marketing to transform data into compelling, actionable stories in this insightful and informative interview. 🔍 From Neural Networks to Marketing Analytics Despite her strong math background, Kudzayi recalls the steep learning curve in transitioning to marketing analytics. "I had to learn data warehousing, SAS, Excel—all from scratch!" But that rigorous foundation in mathematics gave her an edge in data storytelling, a skill she says is invaluable in engaging stakeholders. 📊 Bridging the Gap Between Data & Storytelling A common challenge for data analysts: communicating complex insights in actionable ways. For Kudzayi, storytelling isn’t just a bonus; it’s essential. “Anyone can develop both technical and storytelling skills,” she says, “with the right coaching and environment.” Her goal? To spark those “aha” moments that drive meaningful decisions. 🤔 Debunking "Data-Driven" and Emphasizing Context Kudzayi tackles the “data-driven” myth head-on, suggesting it often becomes an empty buzzword. "Data isn’t the whole strategy," she insists. “Without the right context, data is meaningless.” Her advice: marketers and analysts must collaborate closely to harness data effectively. 📏 Responsible Data Usage Gone are the days of "data cowboys" – today’s landscape demands ethical, careful handling of data. Kudzayi’s commitment to responsible data usage is clear: “I'd rather delay a project than risk compromising data integrity.” If you’re ready to see how math, strategy, and marketing analytics intersect in today’s digital landscape, tune into this episode for a deep dive into the art and science of data! | LISTEN NOW --> https://bit.ly/3ZRYHJb