The hottest Advertising Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The Magnet 75

The Magnet • 334 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🔬 Science Advertising
  1. The U.S. has shot down 4 unidentified aerial objects recently.
  2. Baader-Meinhof phenomenon involves suddenly noticing something more often after learning about it.
  3. Pitted Windshield Panic of 1954 was caused by normal driving conditions, not cosmic threats.

Why news publishers will probably never solve their keyword blocking problem

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 449 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. News publishers struggle with keyword blocking, which prevents ads from appearing next to even safe content. This leads to a loss of potential revenue, as brands avoid placing ads near any political content.
  2. Affiliate links can be affected by browser extensions like Honey, which may replace original links with their own. This means creators might miss out on commissions they rightly earned.
  3. Sports team social media managers are often underpaid compared to other industries, despite the high demands of the job and the expectation of constant engagement.

The week that changed luxury fashion: a final call for the best and worst of marketing.

The Social Juice • 29 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Luxury labels rushed into generative AI and ended up with shallow, low-quality work that sparked backlash because many uses lacked a clear creative purpose.
  2. The most effective campaigns leaned into human craft, emotion and local storytelling—holiday ads that used real artisans, nostalgia and thoughtful activations stood out.
  3. Brands are retooling for 2026 by investing in always-on brand tracking, cutting prices or SKUs, striking new partnerships and reshuffling agencies as consumers prioritise affordability.
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The future of advertising and cinema is under threat, and what happens next feels inevitable.

The Social Juice • 36 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. The advertising industry is facing significant challenges, with major companies like Omnicom cutting thousands of jobs due to mergers. This points to a tough future for many working in media and advertising.
  2. Netflix's recent acquisition of Warner Bros for $72 billion marks a huge shift in the entertainment landscape, showing how major players are consolidating power in the media industry.
  3. Consumer preferences are changing as shown by the rising importance of festive ads. A majority of adults feel that these ads impact their shopping choices during the holiday season.

Why memes make millions

Hot Takes • 314 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Memes are a powerful tool for marketing and sharing ideas.
  2. Understanding and using memes can help businesses gain attention in a crowded market.
  3. Spending time on social media and being funny online can lead to profitable opportunities.

The Grand Stand

Computer Ads from the Past • 512 implied HN points • 21 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. The Grand Stand is a joystick floor stand designed to improve comfort and control while gaming. It helps reduce wrist and elbow fatigue.
  2. It's made of solid wood with a nice finish and was available in two models with different prices. The stand elevates the joystick for better access.
  3. Computer gaming magazines in the early 80s featured this product, noting its benefits for improved gameplay and reduced discomfort.

Embrace the content grind

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 349 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Consistency is key for creators. It's important to keep creating and improving, even when you don't see immediate results.
  2. YouTube is becoming more dominant in content creation due to its strong revenue sharing model, making it hard for other platforms to compete for talent.
  3. Tubi’s strategy of offering free content while avoiding expensive originals is smart. It focuses on generating ad revenue without needing big-budget shows.

6 Red Flags When Hiring an Ad Agency

Nail It and Scale It • 39 implied HN points • 12 Jun 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Watch out for agencies that promise unrealistic results, like a 10x return on ad spend. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
  2. Be cautious if an agency only shares selective positive data. Reliable results should be backed by a broader range of data over time.
  3. Make sure your goals are clear and that the agency takes accountability. If they shift focus away from your goals, that's a red flag.

Have you published your 100 pieces of content?

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 324 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Making 100 pieces of content is important for creators. Each piece helps them improve and grow their skills.
  2. Local news can succeed with unique content that people are willing to pay for. New models, like those used by Mill Media, are proving this strategy works.
  3. YouTube's rise in TV viewership is changing advertising dynamics. It's becoming a more attractive platform for brands, leading to more revenue for creators.

Google opens another traffic spigot for publishers

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 449 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Google Discover is now a major source of traffic for publishers, but it may lead to less meaningful connections with their audiences. Publishers often end up serving low-quality ads to visitors who leave quickly.
  2. Podcasters are looking to change the trend of having the same guests on many shows to make interviews more unique and engaging. Many hosts are tired of recycled content that doesn’t stand out.
  3. Apple is starting to sell ads in Apple News directly, which could mean more revenue for publishers. This shift may help Apple balance its user privacy principles with the need to generate advertising income.

How Hollywood streamers should work with YouTubers

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 324 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Hollywood streamers are looking to collaborate more with popular YouTubers, especially for unscripted projects. They might save money by licensing existing creators' content rather than creating new shows.
  2. Facebook groups are filling the gap left by local newspapers, providing communities with news and updates. However, these groups might lack the accuracy and depth of professional journalism.
  3. TikTok, especially BookTok, is driving more people to visit physical bookstores like Barnes & Noble. It's interesting how the platform encourages in-person shopping instead of just online sales.

This Week in Marketing: Pinterest Predicts, AI-Powered Dating, Reels Algorithm, and Disney Slop

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. AI is accelerating across platforms and industries, powering new models, agentic tools, and content features that are reshaping how content, ads, and products are made and delivered.
  2. Platforms are putting more control in users' hands and experimenting with prompt-focused algorithms, letting people steer what shows up in Reels, playlists, and shared feeds.
  3. The AI surge is raising big legal, safety, and quality problems — from copyright fights and low-quality AI 'slop' to harmful deepfakes and increasing regulator scrutiny, putting creators and platforms under pressure.

Good for nothing

Thoughts on Writing • 599 implied HN points • 18 Nov 22
💼 Business Advertising
  1. The concept of purpose in branding can lead to purpose nihilism and moral grandstanding, creating a focus on image rather than genuine altruism.
  2. Critics of purpose-driven campaigns often focus on ethical concerns over commercial effectiveness, highlighting the tension between doing good and making profits.
  3. Effective altruism movements, while aiming for rational philanthropy, can sometimes lead to noble cause corruption, blurring ethical lines for the sake of perceived long-term benefits.

This politics newsletter was almost destroyed by Facebook's algorithm changes

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 349 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Advertising
  1. Facebook's algorithm changes can seriously hurt online businesses. It happened to a politics newsletter that lost a lot of traffic and income overnight.
  2. Switching to a subscription model helped save the newsletter. This change allowed them to focus on their loyal readers instead of just chasing traffic.
  3. Building a direct relationship with subscribers is important. It helps secure income and creates a more dedicated community around the content.

Why I love marketing

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 10 Jul 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Marketing is much more than just advertising; it's everything a company does to connect with its customers. This includes building websites, social media, and promotional campaigns.
  2. Great marketing focuses on a company's values and what they mean to customers, rather than just the products. Successful ads often connect with deeper themes like community and enjoyment.
  3. Instead of viewing marketing as a hindrance, see it as a chance to communicate and engage with people. Good marketing can create lasting impressions and loyalty.

This Week in Marketing: Zero-Click Search, Anti-Slop TikTok, YouTube DMs, and Monopoly-Free Meta

The Social Juice • 31 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. TikTok is giving users more control over their feeds by allowing them to limit AI-generated content. This is a response to concerns about low-quality, repetitive content.
  2. Google's new updates are changing how we search online, and many marketers are recognizing that fewer users are clicking on links. People are trusting AI-generated summaries without visiting original websites.
  3. YouTube is bringing back direct messaging after several years, which could lead to more personal interactions on the platform. This change may help connect creators and fans in a more direct way.

This Week in Marketing: TikTok in USA, Anti-links Meta, Netflix vs. YouTube, and Hashtags

The Social Juice • 19 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. TikTok will be sold to or controlled by US owners to avoid a ban, but the deal is controversial and could create new problems.
  2. Meta is tightening what creators can post — Instagram limits hashtags to five and Facebook is testing fees for sharing links — while the company faces scams, ad-fraud accusations, and regulatory pressure.
  3. Platforms are competing over video and podcasts: Netflix is signing video-podcast deals and YouTube is expanding podcast/TV features, forcing advertisers and creators to rethink where they distribute and buy podcast ads.

Semafor proved the haters wrong

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Semafor has grown significantly in just two years, with over 80 staff members and 750,000 newsletter subscribers. They stayed focused on key topics, keeping their costs low while attracting a valuable audience.
  2. Costco's magazine is more popular than many big-name publications because it delivers useful tips and highlights its vendors. It shows how a focused approach can yield success.
  3. Political Wire's successful subscription model offers extra content and perks for loyal readers. Building a strong community can really help in retaining subscribers.

On AI Doomerism

Musings Of A Wandering Mind • 216 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Some in the ad industry fear AI but it can be a tool for creativity and efficiency.
  2. AI offers opportunities for creative directors, strategists, designers, and project managers to enhance their work.
  3. Instead of fearing AI, the industry should embrace it as a catalyst for unlocking new creativity and relevance.

Facebook's Challenges

In My Tribe • 379 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. Facebook struggles with content moderation because it has to balance user complaints. If they are too strict or too lenient, someone will be unhappy.
  2. Switching to a subscription model would likely not work well for Facebook since it would lose valuable user data that helps target ads.
  3. Facebook sees TikTok as a competitor and has changed its platform to reach users who want to connect with strangers, which has led to some issues with political content.

This Week in Marketing: Ads in ChatGPT, YouTube Algorithm, AI Music, U.S. Senators, and Nvidia vs. Google

The Social Juice • 26 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. OpenAI is planning to introduce advertisements in ChatGPT, which could change the user experience soon.
  2. YouTube is experimenting with a new recommendation algorithm that might affect how videos are suggested to users.
  3. AI is becoming more accepted in the music industry, with music labels starting to collaborate with AI technologies.

POV > AI

The Intersection • 118 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. A unique point of view can be more valuable than relying solely on AI for creative work, showcasing the importance of human creativity and perspective.
  2. The creative process, involving brainstorming, team collaboration, idea refinement, and client communication, can be greatly expedited by leveraging AI tools.
  3. Creatives with experience have a wealth of ideas and insights stored in their 'drawers' of knowledge, allowing them to quickly adapt and innovate, providing a distinct value compared to AI.

Fox Fake News

Diane Francis • 399 implied HN points • 13 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Advertising
  1. Television news in the U.S. is struggling because it's losing advertising money from live sports.
  2. As more sports move to streaming services, traditional networks won't have the revenue they used to rely on.
  3. Big defamation lawsuits are also speeding up the problems for TV news networks.

Mr. Beast is The Biggest Show on TV

Next in Media • 98 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Mr. Beast is a huge YouTube star, making millions and gaining massive views.
  2. Brands should start treating YouTube content creators like TV stars.
  3. There is a need for the advertising industry to catch up and invest in top creators for their media mix.

WILL's 2025 Year End Recap

The Carousel • 16 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. WILL capped 2025 with a bold new website and a string of creative client projects across defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, conservation, and publishing.
  2. They pushed beyond digital work into real-world events and collaborations to build relationships and cultural influence, including workshops and partnerships with groups like the Delphica Society.
  3. The agency is focused on scaling in 2026 and is actively seeking new clients, partners, and ambitious projects at any stage of development.

The blackmirror in your pocket is great for ads

42 Slash • 196 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Vertical ads are more effective than square ads, with higher CTR and lower costs.
  2. Consumers are more willing to engage with vertical content, making it a valuable marketing tool.
  3. Using vertical formats in ads can provide better results, especially in reaching audiences through mobile devices.

The Africa Smartphone Market Edition

Why is this interesting? • 361 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. Emerging markets have unique brand competition, different from the flashy campaigns seen in the U.S. It's often more about creativity and connecting directly with local consumers.
  2. Companies like Tecno are gaining popularity in Africa because they cater to local preferences, like multiple SIM slots, which appeal to users who need more connectivity options.
  3. Advertising in these markets tends to be more genuine and less polished, focusing on grassroots efforts rather than big budget promotions to grab attention.

The Unreal Thing

The Ruffian • 294 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. Coca-Cola's new Christmas ad was created using AI technology, marking a shift in how ads are made. This involves using tools that help creative teams visualize ideas much faster than before.
  2. The process of making the ad felt more like software development than traditional filmmaking. This new method allows for quick drafts, which can speed up the entire creative process.
  3. Overall, the integration of AI in the creative industries could change how we think about creating art and media, making it more efficient but also raising questions about creativity.

Brands are acting strange this Christmas. Something wicked is going on… and it’s bigger than the Las Vegas Sphere!

The Social Juice • 24 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Brands are being really creative and sometimes strange this Christmas season. They are trying out new and unexpected marketing campaigns to grab people's attention.
  2. There seems to be a trend where marketers are moving from big corporations to more exciting roles with sports teams and smaller brands. This shift might be due to wanting more fulfilling work.
  3. The influence of social media, especially with Gen Z, is really shaping how brands communicate and engage with customers. Brands are focused on understanding what makes this generation tick to better connect with them.

On Advertising.

The Common Reader • 637 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Advertising is about proclaiming and transmitting information.
  2. The main principles of advertising are speaking well of oneself and making large promises.
  3. Modern advertisements should combine boasting about the company with making promises.

Bernbach to the future

Thoughts on Writing • 339 implied HN points • 06 Jan 23
💼 Business Advertising
  1. The purpose vibe shift in the industry reflects a changing attitude towards corporate purpose and its impact on growth.
  2. Bill Bernbach's ethical stance on advertising, such as turning away cigaret accounts, highlights the importance of principles over profit.
  3. Purpose in business should be a human imperative, acting as a counterbalance to corporate excesses, rather than a marketing tool for profit.