The hottest Advertising Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

One AI-generated human race, part II

Conspirador Norteño • 16 implied HN points • 14 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. A coordinated TikTok spam network of at least 76 accounts posts highly repetitive AI-generated videos of nonexistent people, and many clips show obvious AI glitches.
  2. The network’s content has broadened from friendly messages to recurring themes like romantic couple scenes, dating prompts, and staged emergency workers, all using similar fake people and backgrounds.
  3. Many accounts later pivot to commercial spam—mainly dietary supplements in English and Spanish with Paid Partnership labels—suggesting the AI videos were used to farm engagement before trying to monetize.

Maxell's MF 2-DD Floppies

Computer Ads from the Past • 256 implied HN points • 01 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. Maxell started in 1960 as a battery company and later became well-known for making storage devices like audio cassette tapes.
  2. The MF 2-DD floppies from Maxell were a product in their lineup, showcasing the evolution of computer storage over the years.
  3. Maxell has a rich history of innovation, being the first to produce certain types of batteries and tapes in Japan.

“Give Me Sydney Sweeney’s Tits Or Give Me Death”

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 73 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Advertising
  1. Sydney Sweeney's ad campaign stirred a lot of debate about beauty standards. Some people feel that seeing attractive models like her is a bad thing, while others think it's normal and refreshing.
  2. There's a cultural shift happening where being good-looking was seen as something to apologize for in recent years. Many believe it's okay to celebrate attractiveness again and not feel guilty about it.
  3. The outrage over Sweeney's ad suggests that people are tired of being told what they can or can't appreciate. Many want to embrace beauty without shame and see it as a natural part of life.

was she born with it or was it god damn Maybelline?

Both Are True • 192 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Advertising
  1. Commercial taglines and songs from childhood can stick with us and shape our lives in unexpected ways. They often act like the 'gospels' we learn from as kids.
  2. It's okay to admit that you don't know something. Society often pushes us to have all the answers, but not knowing can be a valuable lesson too.
  3. High school often teaches us strange ideas about relationships and sex that can stick with us as we grow up. Many of these lessons come from silly or inappropriate sources.
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Try to see it my way

Thoughts on Writing • 599 implied HN points • 10 May 22
🎭️ Culture Advertising
  1. Cognitive empathy, the skill of seeing things from others' perspectives, is essential in advertising and broader societal issues like preventing wars and climate change.
  2. Diversity in advertising means more than just race and gender; it should encompass various backgrounds like class and education to reach wider audiences effectively.
  3. A culture of cognitive empathy in advertising shifts focus from internal introspection to understanding and connecting with customers, helping the industry regain cultural relevance.

Weed Ads That Work

The Broccoli Report • 99 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Some weed brands are successfully running ads on Meta platforms like Facebook despite initial concerns.
  2. It is possible for cannabis brands to advertise on Meta platforms in regulated and DTC hemp markets.
  3. Insights and advice from successful cannabis entrepreneurs on running effective ad campaigns on Meta platforms.

Notes for an Essay on Buses

The Commonplace • 513 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Advertising
  1. The process of creation can be as interesting as the final product, with notes and early drafts often more compelling than explanations by artists.
  2. Observing people in everyday settings like bus stations can lead to intriguing insights and reflections on societal trends and human behavior.
  3. Writing about familiar topics, like daily bus commutes, can unlock unexpected memories, moments, and connections that spark creativity and thoughtful contemplation.

Dipco's Easy Reader

Computer Ads from the Past • 256 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. Dipco's Easy Reader was a product that seems to have little information available about it. It was likely a simple device meant to help users with their old computers.
  2. The price of $34 (in 2024 money) feels expensive for what appears to be just a lens and a bracket. It's unclear if it was worth the cost.
  3. No significant history or reviews are known about Dipco, suggesting it may have been a small operation that didn’t gain much traction.

Measuring Marketing Performance

Making Connections by Jax • 137 implied HN points • 12 Jun 23
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Marketing attribution is becoming more challenging due to privacy regulations like Apple's App Tracking Transparency.
  2. Marketing Mix Modelling (MMM) provides a top-down approach to understanding ROI by analyzing historical data and external influences.
  3. Lift tests offer a bottom-up method to prove causation in marketing effectiveness, requiring experimentation with test and control groups.

15 Marketing frameworks that work + branding on social media

The Social Juice • 70 implied HN points • 11 Jul 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Having a solid brand strategy is important for standing out in a crowded market. This means knowing what makes your brand different and communicating that clearly to your audience.
  2. Marketing frameworks can be helpful but need to be used correctly. Focus on how they apply to your specific brand instead of blindly following someone else's guidelines.
  3. Building emotional connections with consumers, especially Gen Z, can significantly boost your brand's success. It's not just about the product; it's about showing why it matters to them.

This Week in Marketing: Pinterest vs. Snap, Meta's scam ads, AI Search, and teen safety in 2025

The Social Juice • 22 implied HN points • 09 Nov 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Pinterest's user growth was strong, but its stock took a big hit due to lower ad revenue from tariffs. It's important for companies to adapt their strategies in response to changing market conditions.
  2. Meta is making a lot of money from scam ads, which raises concerns about trust and integrity in digital advertising. Brands need to be careful about where they invest their marketing dollars.
  3. Discord is focusing on teen safety by introducing new features, showing that companies are becoming more aware of their responsibilities to protect young users online.

The hot blood leaps over the cold decree

Asimov’s Addendum • 2 HN points • 04 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. AI safety discussions should focus not only on stopping outside threats but also on the risks from the owners of AI systems. These owners can create harm while just trying to achieve their business goals.
  2. There is a need to recognize and learn from past technology failures as these patterns might repeat with AI. We should not overlook potential issues that arise from how AI is managed and used.
  3. It's important for AI developers to share what they are measuring and managing in terms of safety. This information can help shape regulations and improve safety practices as AI becomes more integrated into business models.

It wasn’t Vice’s business model that sank it

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 449 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. High overhead costs and failure to control expenses can lead to the downfall of media companies, not just their business models.
  2. Diversifying revenue streams beyond advertising can be beneficial for media companies to sustain themselves.
  3. Establishing reasonable burn rates and controlling expenses are crucial for the long-term success of media companies.

State Farm & Jake From State Farm on TikTok

Good TikTok Creative • 58 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. State Farm has been successful in leveraging TikTok for marketing their brand and Jake from State Farm as a character.
  2. State Farm created a campaign around a fake film called "Agent State Farm" for the Super Bowl, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jake from State Farm.
  3. By utilizing TikTok, State Farm has managed to create engaging content and build brand consideration among consumers in a competitive insurance market.

One of the biggest mistakes newsletter writers make

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 798 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Newsletter writers should reintroduce themselves at the beginning of each newsletter to provide context for new subscribers.
  2. Content monetization is easier than ever, but building an audience is becoming more challenging for creators.
  3. To increase sponsorship revenue, consider strategies like recruiting sponsors from your own audience, joining ad exchanges, and hiring sales staff.

Season 11 starts next week

Mehdeeka • 3 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Season 11 of the email series starts next week and will run for 12 weeks before taking another break.
  2. Three resources were shared: a curation of moon-landing-era ads, a Threads trend showing narrative-driven product placement that sparks curiosity, and a new TikTok aimed at junior product marketers.
  3. A two-afternoon online pricing workshop is being offered for $600 AUD (Mehketeers get 10% off with code MEHKETEERFOREVER) for anyone needing to update pricing pages, sales decks, new product pricing, or to learn pricing fundamentals.

Biden White House and Big Disinformation Have Policies to Ban “True Content” on COVID Vaccines

The DisInformation Chronicle • 760 implied HN points • 21 May 23
📰 News Advertising
  1. Social media companies censor 'true content' on vaccines in line with government and pharma interests
  2. Big Pharma spends millions on social media ads while platforms regulate vaccine 'misinformation'
  3. There's a conflict in regulating pharma 'misinformation' on social media while Pharma is a major advertising client

Kong + Solace, Odynn $9.5M, Knorex Ads API

The API Changelog • 1 implied HN point • 23 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. Companies are merging traditional request-response APIs with real-time event streaming to create a single, observable data fabric. This elevates event streams to first-class API products and enables unified governance for agentic AI.
  2. APIs are being built specifically for autonomous AI agents so they can manage complex tasks like cross-channel advertising and real-time market analysis. Standards and agent-ready interfaces let AI systems interact in natural language and operate autonomously at scale.
  3. APIs are opening new markets and modernizing industries such as finance, loyalty, and travel by standardizing access and enabling embedded, real-time services. This reduces fragmentation and lets businesses offer seamless, personalized experiences.

Substantive Sustainability Gets More Clicks

computers suck • 117 implied HN points • 12 Apr 23
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Substantive sustainability work leads to higher click-through rates in online ads compared to greenwashing
  2. Using science-based language in ads, such as carbon emissions reduction stats, is more effective than vague greenwashing claims
  3. Consumers aged 25-54 show significantly higher engagement with ads featuring substantive sustainability messaging

📈 Chartpack - Monetization models (part 2)

Department of Product • 117 implied HN points • 02 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. Google heavily relies on advertising, with search and YouTube being significant sources of revenue.
  2. Generative AI could pose a threat to Google's search business model by providing all answers directly, potentially decreasing the need for users to click on search results.
  3. Microsoft's strategic partnership with Bing and OpenAI is seen as a move to challenge Google's search business, focusing on software subscriptions.

Where's the Apple Ad Takeoff?

Next in Media • 58 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
💼 Business Advertising
  1. The post discusses the Apple Ad Takeoff and how it connects to Messenger.
  2. The author shares their contact for help with messaging and content strategy.
  3. Readers can access the author's podcast and other content with a 7-day free trial.

How CMO Sophie Bambuck of The North Face, Nike, Converse, and Everlane Builds Brands for Everyone

the case for brand 💼 • 145 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Sophie Bambuck believes in starting brand strategies by understanding your audience first. It's all about connecting with what they care about before thinking about how you'll reach them.
  2. Campaigns should have a clear goal in mind and allow for flexibility to adapt to trends or audience responses. You need both a fixed plan and room to react to what's happening in culture.
  3. A strong brand relies on consistent storytelling and values. If a brand forgets why it exists or tries to be everything to everyone, it risks losing its identity and becoming just another product.

Suture Software's Bludgeons 'n' Braggarts

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Advertising
  1. The post shares a parody ad from the past, highlighting the humor in mistaking it for a real ad at first glance.
  2. It mentions the addition of a direct messaging feature on Substack, encouraging readers to engage by suggesting products for coverage.
  3. The content focuses on 'Suture Software's Bludgeons 'n' Braggarts,' offering a playful look at computer ads from the past.

Palantir Word Processing

Computer Ads from the Past • 128 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. Palantir Word Processing was originally named 'Phoenix' but changed due to confusion with other products. The name 'Palantir' comes from a magical seeing stone in 'The Lord of the Rings.'
  2. The software was designed to be user-friendly, with features for beginners and advanced users. It aimed to make word processing easier and less intimidating for non-technical people.
  3. Despite some initial technical issues, once corrected, Palantir was praised for its ease of use and included features like mail-merge and excellent documentation.

Brand Purpose Isn’t Dead, But We’ve Lost the Plot

The Social Juice • 48 implied HN points • 25 Jul 25
💼 Business Advertising
  1. Boredom can be good for creativity in marketing. Instead of rushing for attention, brands should embrace moments of boredom to innovate and connect with audiences.
  2. Attention spans aren't decreasing; people just have more choices to focus on. Marketers should adjust their strategies to better fit the media and engage their audience instead of blaming them for being distracted.
  3. Having a brand purpose is still important. It helps connect with consumers on a deeper level, and abandoning it can lead to a lack of trust and relevance in a competitive market.

Expedited Vote for the January 2025 + Post Topic

Computer Ads from the Past • 128 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. The poll for January 2025 is only open for three days, so make sure to participate quickly. It's important for your voice to be heard in the decision-making.
  2. The author is facing some personal challenges that have delayed their updates. It's a reminder that everyone can go through tough times and it’s okay to share that.
  3. If you're interested in reading more about computer ads from the past, consider signing up for a paid subscription. It's a way to support the content and explore more history.

Creator News Roundup: 01/08/2024

Cosmos • 59 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Advertising
  1. Atmosfy launched a $500,000 creator fund to support travel influencers, merging TikTok with Foursquare idea
  2. Creators are developing AI chatbots clones to interact with their audience, like Kaitlyn Siragusa's AI version that earned $34,000 in 24 hours
  3. Advertisers are finding it easy to shift ad budgets to creator content, with a significant percentage planning to increase investment in creator content