Prepare for an exciting week packed with important digital marketing news and events. We’ve got you covered from the latest AI advancements at Google to TikTok’s global expansion and evolving ad trends. Here’s everything you need to know to stay ahead.
Events to Watch This Week
These upcoming events could impact your strategies, so stay informed and ready to act.
| March 10-12 SiGMA Africa 2025 A major iGaming and affiliate marketing event. Nairobi, Kenya | March 10–16 First Stand 2025 International cyber games League of Legends Tournament. Seoul, South Korea | March 11-14 Cheltenham Festival One of the biggest horse racing events in the UK. Cheltenham, UK | March 11-15 ACC Men’s Basketball One of the leading college basketball tournament. Charlotte, USA |
| March 12–20 Shanghai Fashion Week A major fashion event with top designers. Shanghai, China | March 12–16 Big Ten Men’s Tournament College basketball tournament. Indianapolis, USA | March 13 Friends of Search 2025 Top SEO and paid search conference. Amsterdam, Netherlands | March 14 Pi Day (3.14 – π Day) A celebration of mathematics, pies, and geek culture. Worldwide |
| March 14–16 MotoGP Grand Prix of Argentina 2025 A key MotoGP race in the early season. Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina | March 15 World Consumer Rights Day A day promoting consumer protection and ethical practices. Worldwide | March 15 Six Nations Rugby Championship The final round of the annual rugby championship. Rome, Cardiff, Paris | March 17 Saint Patrick’s Day A cultural celebration of Irish heritage. The day of everything green. Worldwide |
Weekly News Highlights
Advertising and Tech
- YouTube launches affordable ad-free subscription in the US
- Microsoft adds “Why This Ad?” feature to Bing search
- Google loses significant ad revenue during weekend outage
- T-Mobile acquires ad tech firm Blis for $175M
- Google tests new channel reporting for Performance Max campaigns
- Microsoft Copilot introduces Showroom Ads and Dynamic Filters
- Google discontinues controversial “Page Annotations”
- Google Shopping just rolled out some new AI-driven features for fashion and beauty
- Google expanded its Vehicle ads to now cover RVs and campers
- Advertisers accidentally blocked most Oscar’s content—56%—because of overly strict keyword filters
Search Trends
- Average American searches Google 126 times per month
- Google surpasses 5 trillion annual searches
- Google Play makes finding apps easier with new widget feature
- Google advises against redirecting 404 errors to homepage
- Google Will Explore Ads in AI Mode, Taking Cues From Ads in AI Overviews
Social Media Buzz
- TikTok expands local commerce offerings to Brazil and Japan
- TikTok replaces Creator Marketplace with new TikTok One platform featuring AI
- TikTok enhances location targeting with new Organic API
- UK TikTok creators face growing challenges
- Google is experimenting with Creator Partnerships for ads in YouTube Shorts
- TikTok is planning to expand its local services into the US
- Pinterest has teamed up with Primark for a new “try-before-you-buy” campaign
- Pinterest is dropping music support in Pins
AI Insights
- Google tests an AI-only version of its search engine
- Foxconn unveils first large language model
- Copilot might soon get more Microsoft AI models, less ChatGPT presence
- ChatGPT-4.5 is here (for most users)
- Pop-up ads in cars could soon be reality
A recent glitch in Jeep vehicles hints at future plans from automakers like Ford to introduce in-vehicle advertising. Your next road trip might include unexpected commercial breaks. - Meta tests AI-powered chatbots for direct business interactions
Meta is testing new AI chatbots designed to streamline interactions between users and businesses. Expect easier access to product recommendations and promotions through simple conversations. - TikTok’s $30B ad boom faces uncertainty in the US
TikTok anticipates reaching $32.4 billion in global ad revenue this year. However, looming US regulatory threats could jeopardize nearly $12 billion of its projected earnings. - Advertisers expect ad spend slowdown amid tariff uncertainty
The Interactive Advertising Bureau warns that rising costs due to tariff uncertainties could lead to reduced advertising budgets in retail, consumer electronics, and media sectors. - The hottest AI models, what they do, and how to use them
New AI models are emerging rapidly from major tech firms and startups alike. Here’s a practical guide to the latest models from companies like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic, and tips on how best to utilize them.
