How the Creator Economy Has Transformed Advertising
Jan 24, 2025
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Leslie Berland, CMO of Verizon and former Twitter CMO, shares her insights into how the creator economy is reshaping advertising. She discusses the shift from traditional marketing to authentic storytelling and how brands can effectively connect with consumers. The conversation delves into the financial trends influencing media strategies, the impact of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and the evolving role of CMOs in adapting to new marketing landscapes. Leslie also touches on the challenges of keeping content fresh to avoid cringe-worthy moments.
The transformation of marketing requires advertisers to adapt strategies that prioritize real-time engagement over traditional methods amidst digital fragmentation.
Authenticity in collaborations with influencers is essential for brands to maintain genuine connections with audiences while capitalizing on emerging trends.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Media Marketing
Marketing has undergone significant transformation as it adapts to the changing media landscape, where advertisers face the challenges posed by digital fragmentation and consumer attention. Leslie Berland, CMO of Verizon, emphasizes the necessity for marketers to follow the money when making media decisions, as advertisers wield considerable influence over media narratives. The discussion highlights that CMOs are crucial for developing and reshaping marketing strategies that accommodate the swift changes in media consumption behavior. This has been particularly evident as brands pivot from traditional television advertising to more dynamic, digital platforms, with a strong focus on real-time engagement.
Navigating the Digital Marketing Landscape
Leslie Berland's career trajectory showcases the shift from traditional advertising to a broader, more complex digital marketing environment. As the first CMO of Twitter, Berland navigated the platform's rapid evolution, grappling with the challenges of real-time feedback loops and influencing business decisions in the fast-paced world of social media. Her experience emphasizes the need for marketers to be deeply invested in understanding consumer behavior, as the lines between media channels continue to blur. The insights gathered from platforms like TikTok highlight the necessity for marketers to remain agile and responsive to emerging trends to capitalize on shifting consumer preferences.
Authenticity in Advertising
The importance of authenticity has emerged as a key theme in modern marketing, particularly regarding collaborations with social media influencers. Berland's strategy involves engaging creators in ways that allow them to maintain their genuine voice while promoting Verizon's products, avoiding the pitfalls of appearing as unoriginal or inauthentic. This approach has been reflected in rapid response campaigns, where timely execution is vital in leveraging viral trends. The collaboration with character-driven influencers illustrates the successful integration of brand messaging into organic content, resonating authentically with audiences.
The Future of Marketing in a Fragmented World
Looking ahead, Berland anticipates a marketing landscape characterized by increasing fragmentation and the rise of micro-communities driven by specific interests. The challenge for brands will be honing in on niche audiences while managing the complexities of diverse platforms and consumer preferences. Berland emphasizes the necessity for marketers to leverage technology and data responsibly to personalize messaging effectively while maintaining brand integrity. As marketers strive to engage at a more local and nuanced level, the emphasis will shift towards understanding individual behaviors and interactions that drive brand loyalty.
This week, we look at digital fragmentation through the eyes of a transformed marketing industry – because to really see where media is headed, you have to follow the money. Ben and Max bring on CMO of Verizon and former Twitter CMO, Leslie Berland, to talk about how creators have changed marketing and what she thinks is coming next. They also talk about how Twitter and social media changed the brains of the people who worked there and how advertisers avoid cringe when chasing memes.