
MarTech+: How culture and code are shaping marketing
Marketers today aren't just competing for attention, they're competing with changing habits, shifting tech, and AI that's rewriting the rules overnight. This week, we explore how brands and marketers can stay ahead of the curve while the ground keeps moving beneath us.
Let's dive in.
ChatGPT as confidante: Are we outsourcing intimacy?
More Gen Z and Millennials are leaning on AI for emotional support, sharing secrets and fears they might not tell another human. Is this convenience, comfort, or a slow erosion of our human connections? And where does Maslow's hierarchy fit when your 'best friend' is code?
Read the full piece here
Why you should care: Because AI isn't just a marketing tool — it's reshaping consumer behaviour, and that will ripple into how brands build trust and community.
Fevicol's cultural remix: When glue meets the Teeka.
Can a low-engagement product like adhesive become part of cultural conversation? Fevicol's TeekaID campaign shows how a legacy brand can fuse a deeply familiar cultural symbol (the teeka) with tech to stay relevant. The takeaway: even 'boring' categories can spark attention when they tap into rituals people care about.
Read more here.
Why you should care: Because relevance today isn't just about awareness, it's about creating meaning — and tech can be the bridge.
Google's AI overviews: Post-click is the new reality.
Google's latest shift could change how consumers find (and trust) information. With AI overviews surfacing answers before a click,
content marketing
is less about rankings and more about authority and trust.
Read more here
Why you should care: Because your playbook can't just be 'rank and repeat' anymore. Strategy, credibility, and brand voice now matter as much as traffic.
Stories you might have missed
Microsoft launches AI-based Co-pilot Mode in Edge browser
Alibaba takes on Meta, Xiaomi with QuarkAI smartglasses
Creating realistic deepfakes getting easier than ever, fighting back may take even more AI
Amazon set to acquire AI wearable startup bee
From conversations to execution: The rise of AI agents
Over to you
Are you rethinking your content and community strategy for a post-click, AI-driven world? And where do you draw the line between tech as an enabler versus a stand-in for human connection?
Share your take on LinkedIn and tag @ETBrandEquity
Stay tuned for the next edition of MarTech+ newsletter rolling out every week on Wednesday.
– Team ETBrandEquity

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Economic Times
18 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Is Google's AI revolution a threat to website traffic for digital publishers? Here are strategies to stay ahead
Is Google's AI Overviews Causing a Drop in Website Traffic? News Outlets and Media Feel the Pressure From Google Search Changes Live Events Traffic Shifts: Who's Gaining and Who's Losing Valuable Clicks: Why AI Responses Still Drive Engagement AI Mode Launch: Changing How We Search FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Google is pushing back against recent reports that its AI-powered search features are hurting website traffic, as per a report. The tech giant published a blog post on Wednesday, which was written by VP and Head of Google Search, that said click volume across the platform has remained 'relatively stable' compared with the same time last year, though some types of websites are seeing gains while others are seeing comments come just weeks after asuggested that users are 'less likely' to click on links when presented with, known as, which appear at the top of search results, as reported by The Verge. Google disputes those findings, arguing that many third-party studies rely on 'flawed methodologies,' according to the READ: Candace Owens bets $300,000 Brigitte Macron is male — even lawsuit can't stop her claim The findings matter because changes to Google Search have already sent ripples through the, as per the Verge report. A Wall Street Journal report detailed how outlets like Business Insider, The Washington Post, and HuffPost have seenfollowing the rise of AI features such aswhich has forced some media organisations to reduce staff, as per the report. Independent websites have also struggled to maintain visibility in search results due to Google's algorithms, according to The Verge READ: New driving rule could cost you big — what every American motorist must know before September 1 According to Reid, AI is changing how users search, but not necessarily reducing engagement, reported The Verge. She pointed out that there are 'decreased traffic to some sites and increased traffic to others,' while "websites with forums, videos, podcasts, and authentic voices benefitting the most," as per the per The Verge report, users are also more likely to visit websites that contain in-depth reviews, original posts, or thoughtful READ: As the July jobs report paints a grim picture, 114 companies plan layoffs in August - is yours on the list? Reid highlighted that, 'We continue to send billions of clicks to websites every day and believe that Search's value exchange with the web remains strong,' as quoted in The Verge also noted that while some users might not click on citations in AI Overviews, those who do tend to spend more time on the site exploring a topic in depth, according to the report. She explained that, 'An AI response might provide the lay of the land, but people click to dive deeper and learn more, and when they do, these clicks are more valuable,' as quoted by The tech giant's comments come as Google rolled out AI Mode to all users in the United States, a feature that functions like a chatbot within search, according to the report. Despite concerns from digital publishers, Google is pressing ahead, testing new AI-curated search results pages that aim to reshape how people discover information online, as per The Verge Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of search results to provide quick media organizations like Business Insider, The Washington Post, and HuffPost have seen declines in traffic, partly due to AI-driven changes in search, as per The Verge report.


Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Is Google's AI revolution a threat to website traffic for digital publishers? Here are strategies to stay ahead
Google AI search impact on website traffic : Google is pushing back against recent reports that its AI-powered search features are hurting website traffic, as per a report. The tech giant published a blog post on Wednesday, which was written by VP and Head of Google Search Liz Reid , that said click volume across the platform has remained 'relatively stable' compared with the same time last year, though some types of websites are seeing gains while others are seeing declines. Is Google's AI Overviews Causing a Drop in Website Traffic? Reid's comments come just weeks after a Pew Research report suggested that users are 'less likely' to click on links when presented with Google's AI-generated summaries , known as AI Overviews , which appear at the top of search results, as reported by The Verge. Google disputes those findings, arguing that many third-party studies rely on 'flawed methodologies,' according to the report. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program ALSO READ: Candace Owens bets $300,000 Brigitte Macron is male — even lawsuit can't stop her claim by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In IC Markets Learn More Undo News Outlets and Media Feel the Pressure From Google Search Changes The findings matter because changes to Google Search have already sent ripples through the digital media industry , as per the Verge report. A Wall Street Journal report detailed how outlets like Business Insider, The Washington Post, and HuffPost have seen traffic declines following the rise of AI features such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot, which has forced some media organisations to reduce staff, as per the report. Independent websites have also struggled to maintain visibility in search results due to Google's algorithms, according to The Verge report. ALSO READ: New driving rule could cost you big — what every American motorist must know before September 1 Live Events Traffic Shifts: Who's Gaining and Who's Losing According to Reid, AI is changing how users search, but not necessarily reducing engagement, reported The Verge. She pointed out that there are 'decreased traffic to some sites and increased traffic to others,' while "websites with forums, videos, podcasts, and authentic voices benefitting the most," as per the report. As per The Verge report, users are also more likely to visit websites that contain in-depth reviews, original posts, or thoughtful analyses. ALSO READ: As the July jobs report paints a grim picture, 114 companies plan layoffs in August - is yours on the list? Valuable Clicks: Why AI Responses Still Drive Engagement Reid highlighted that, 'We continue to send billions of clicks to websites every day and believe that Search's value exchange with the web remains strong,' as quoted in The Verge report. Reid also noted that while some users might not click on citations in AI Overviews, those who do tend to spend more time on the site exploring a topic in depth, according to the report. She explained that, 'An AI response might provide the lay of the land, but people click to dive deeper and learn more, and when they do, these clicks are more valuable,' as quoted by The Verge. AI Mode Launch: Changing How We Search The tech giant's comments come as Google rolled out AI Mode to all users in the United States, a feature that functions like a chatbot within search, according to the report. Despite concerns from digital publishers, Google is pressing ahead, testing new AI-curated search results pages that aim to reshape how people discover information online, as per The Verge report. FAQs What are AI Overviews in Google? AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of search results to provide quick insights. How has AI affected news outlets? Some media organizations like Business Insider, The Washington Post, and HuffPost have seen declines in traffic, partly due to AI-driven changes in search, as per The Verge report.
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Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Gen Z in India less attentive to digital ads than millennials: Report
India's Gen Z population, estimated at 377 million and projected to have $2 trillion in spending power by 2035, shows lower interest and attention for advertising on traditional digital platforms compared to millennials, according to a report titled Attention Advantage. Gen Z — typically referring to those born between 1996 and 2010 — pays about 34 per cent less attention to advertisements on social media platforms compared to millennials. Similarly, Gen Z pays about 10 per cent less attention to digital video advertisements, the joint report by Snapchat, WPP Media, and audience attention-measurement firm Lumen Research found. The study surveyed 3,000 Indian respondents. 'People generally are very good at paying a limited amount of attention to advertising,' said Amit Chaubey, head of marketing science, Asia-Pacific, Snap Inc., in an interview with Business Standard. 'This becomes even starker with Gen Z. Today, Gen Z are better at avoiding advertising than any other generation.' In 2024, users in India spent an average of five hours a day on mobile screens, with nearly 70 per cent of that time devoted to social media, gaming, and video consumption, according to the FICCI–EY report released earlier this year. With India's digital reach growing rapidly, brands and advertisers face mounting pressure to capture and retain user attention in a fragmented digital space. With Gen Z making up 70 per cent of Snapchat's audience, Chaubey said the report indicated that immersive full-screen mobile video and augmented reality (AR) formats significantly increased attention from this cohort. The report also found that a 5 per cent increase in audience attention can lead to up to twice the gains in brand perception. Mike Follett, chief executive officer, Lumen Research, said immersive experiences tend to resonate more with Gen Z as they feel more relatable and authentic. 'Our research identifies the winning formulas on platforms like Snapchat, where the immersive nature of the experience drives attention levels that are twice as high as on traditional platforms. The pinnacle of this is AR, where formats like Lenses create such a compelling, voluntary experience that they are over twice as effective at capturing meaningful attention,' Follett said. Amin Lakhani, president, client solutions, WPP Media South Asia, noted that clients increasingly demand accountability and clear returns on their digital advertising investments amid multiple content formats vying for consumer attention. 'But there is an increasing gap we are seeing. As consumers are exposed to huge volumes of content, it causes significant clutter. Through this report, we are trying to leverage technology, research, and planning sciences to find that sweet spot, enabling us to engage with consumers far more effectively,' he said.