Assessment Quiz

Wrangling and making sense of all your marketing data is hard. For longer than a decade, we’ve been helping companies solve some pretty complex marketing data challenges – and we’ve compiled some of the knowledge we’ve gained over the years into a handy guide. The tl;dr? It’s complicated, but with the right tools, namely a marketing data pipeline (MDP), it doesn’t have to be hard! In this guide we break it all down to help you make sense of it, including breaking down:

• What an MDP is
• The stages of MDP maturity
• Some of the key challenges with building an MDP
• How to tell if you need an MDP
• How to get started
• And so much more!

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Check out the report to learn all about corralling your marketing data today!

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Seasons greetings, 

Happy last full work week of 2024, my Marketing Mavens!  The holiday countdown is on, but before you dive into cozy vibes and festive chaos, we’re serving up a TWiD that’s juicier than a year-end bonus.  This week is all about looking back to leap forward  to keep you ahead of the pack in 2025. Consider these insights your holiday gift from us to you - wrapped in a bow of Maddie sass and strategic brilliance.  Let’s close out 2024 by setting you up to slay 2025!

TikTok’s Supreme Court Hail Mary: Will 2025 Be a Ban or a Brand Bonanza?

TikTok’s fate is officially in the Supreme Court’s hands, and the clock is ticking louder than a trending dance challenge.  With the Jan. 19 deadline looming like a bad breakup text, TikTok is fighting to keep its 170 million American users scrolling and posting.  If the Court doesn’t block the ban, brands and influencers are looking at a serious vibe shift just as 2025 kicks off.  For marketers, this isn’t just about losing a platform - it’s about losing a cultural megaphone that makes campaigns pop and conversions drop (in a good way).  Planning for 2025? Be ready to pivot.  If TikTok goes dark, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and even Threads could be your new battlegrounds.  But if the Court saves TikTok, you better have that 2025 TikTok strategy locked, loaded, and ready to slay.  Either way, this drama is serving major plot twist energy - stay nimble, because the digital marketing landscape is about to shake harder than a viral challenge gone wrong.

Google’s New AI Reporting Tool: Because Who Has Time for Pivot Tables in 2025?

Say goodbye to endless filters and soul-crushing spreadsheets, darlings - Google Ads is testing an AI-powered reporting tool that lets you talk to your data.  Just type in a plain-English prompt like “Show me ad performance by region,” and voila!  The insights roll in faster than your coffee-induced anxiety.  For marketers, this isn’t just a time-saver; it’s a lifesaver for those “need it yesterday” moments when your boss (or client) demands answers.  And if you’re looking for even more AI magic, Marin’s very own Advisor tool is already serving up intuitive, AI-driven insights and recommendations to make your life easier (and your campaigns smarter).  As we head into 2025, expect AI like this to become the norm, making data analysis less “ugh” and more “aha!”  If this beta blooms into a full release, brands that embrace it will optimize campaigns with lightning speed and leave their manual-reporting rivals eating dust. TL;DR: The future is natural language, so start practicing your “talk to the AI” game - your ROI will thank you.

Top 10 Google Ads Mistakes to Avoid in 2025: Don’t Let These Blunders Steal Your Clicks

Listen up, PPC perfectionists - 2025 is right around the corner, and if you want to slay in Google Ads, it’s time to sidestep these classic pitfalls. Inconsistent conversion tracking?  Yikes, that’s like plotting a road trip with a busted GPS.  Ignoring exact match?  That’s just leaving conversions on the table, darling.  And don’t get me started on blindly trusting AI (spoiler: it’s smart, but you’re smarter).  Whether it’s updating those dusty negative keyword lists, keeping your campaign settings consistent, or giving broad match the side-eye it sometimes deserves, these fixes are your ticket to campaign domination in 2025.  The TL;DR? Google Ads is a powerful tool, but only if you stay in the driver’s seat.  Remember, AI may have the data, but you have the wisdom. Let’s not fumble the bag next year, mmkay?

Behavioral Targeting? Yeah, Consumers Are Totally Onto You

Turns out, consumers aren’t living in blissful ignorance when it comes to behavioral targeting - they see you, they know, and they’ve got thoughts.  According to a new EMARKETER report, a juicy 80% of US consumers clocked ads tailored to their search history, while nearly half noticed ads pegged to their location.  And while offline targeting is still flying somewhat under the radar, let’s face it, darlings: the age of subtlety in digital ads is over.  So what’s this mean for 2025?  Brands, your targeting game better be spot-on and transparent.  Lean into authenticity, give users more control over their data, and make your personalization feel like a service, not surveillance.  If you’re gonna target, do it with finesse, or risk becoming the villain in your customer’s digital story.

Gen Z’s Shopping Vibe Check: 2025 Is All About Value, Vibes, and Vexations

Gen Z is shopping like it’s their part-time job, and marketers?  You’d better keep up.  From Temu’s meteoric rise (hello, 42 million downloads) to their dupe devotion and in-store dread, 2024 made one thing clear: value is queen, and convenience is the crown.  In 2025, expect a price war as brands fight to stay Temu-competitive, while loyalty programs need to actually deliver perks (BOGO or bust, baby).  And brick-and-mortar retailers?  Gen Z loves the IRL vibe until they hit a long line or a chaotic aisle - streamline or risk losing them.  The dupe craze isn’t fading, but if you’re offering authenticity, durability, or iconic status, you’re still in the game.  Bottom line: in 2025, if your brand isn’t affordable, seamless, and on-point with Gen Z’s vibe, you’re shopping for trouble.

Media Planning in 2025: Privacy, AI, and Agencies - Oh My!

As we prep for 2025, darlings, media planning isn’t just a task - it’s a full-on obstacle course.  With ad spend set to hit a robust $424.94 billion, the money’s there, but getting it right means navigating a minefield of privacy laws, AI shifts, and agency shake-ups.  Major agencies are losing ground as brands take things in-house, so if you’re not streamlining your tech stack or leveraging AI tools (think Google Performance Max or Meta Advantage+), you’re falling behind.  Privacy’s getting thornier with eight new state laws incoming - your first-party data game better be tighter than your holiday budget.  And let’s not sleep on retail media: unless you’re Amazon or Walmart, competition for spend is fierce, so choose those smaller networks wisely.  The bottom line?  2025 media planning is about smart tech, sharp data strategies, and keeping your finger on the AI pulse.  Fail to adapt, and you’ll be left fumbling while the savvy planners waltz off with the ROI crown.

Performance Marketing in 2025: The Cheat Codes You Need

As the curtain closes on 2024, Marin’s must-read breakdown of 2025’s performance marketing trends is here to get your strategy sparkling brighter than a New Year’s ball drop.  From AI transforming everything (yes, everything) to the rise of “shoppable everything” and the comeback of contextual targeting, this guide covers the ten trends that will shape your campaigns next year.  It’s not just crystal ball predictions, either - each trend comes with clear insights to keep your brand thriving amid privacy laws, evolving ad platforms, and cross-channel chaos.  TL;DR?  The marketers who embrace AI, master first-party data, and stay nimble are the ones who’ll dominate 2025.  Ready to future-proof your strategy?  Dive in, because this is the cheat sheet you don’t want to miss.

That’s a wrap, my digital darlings!  As 2024 winds down, remember: the bold win big, the nimble pivot fast, and those who read their TWiD always stay one step ahead.  Whether you’re strategizing, pivoting, or just surviving until OOO, may your holidays be merry and your 2025 plans be fierce.  Catch you in the new year, darlings - you know you love me.