The feed
Martech news and analysis. Every story says what changed, why it matters and what marketers should do next.
Kochava's "CTV Growth Guide 2026", promoted October 20, says CTV comes first in 96% of app install journeys that include both CTV and search. PPC Land found missing baselines and inconsistencies in the 26-page guide.
Why it matters
Order-of-touch figures influence budget between CTV and search, so how they were measured matters.
On October 20, 2026 Reddit announced three Ads Manager tools: a campaign planner, a 0-100% optimization score and campaign budget optimization. Reddit says campaigns scoring 80% or higher had 19.6% lower blended CPA.
Why it matters
A campaign score is only useful if it predicts results, and Reddit's figures are correlations from its own data.
A Meta for Business case study dated October 19 says ads made with Nest Commerce's AI tool converted 20% better than non-AI creative for a UK cohort whose revenue grew 70%. Period, baseline and controls were not stated.
Why it matters
Advertisers weighing AI-generated creative are given numbers that may reflect where Meta's delivery system placed the ads.
From October 30, 2026 OpenAI turns on creative enhancements by default for new and existing self-serve ChatGPT ad campaigns, letting the system rewrite headlines and descriptions, resize images and change landing pages. Advertisers can opt out.
Why it matters
Default-on automation changes what appears under an advertiser's brand, so control over wording and landing pages shifts to the platform.
On October 21, 2026 OpenAI said ChatGPT ads are sold in 89 countries, up from 63 in September, and that more than 100,000 advertisers have run campaigns since the February US launch. Pricing and formats for new markets were not given.
Why it matters
A larger footprint turns ChatGPT from a US test into a channel global brands must decide on.
MarTech's October 14, 2026 event promotion, updated October 16, previews a free online panel on November 4 on preference management. It argues an opt-in "tells you a customer agreed to legal terms" but not their interests, frequency or channels. No data is cited.
Why it matters
Preferences give marketing automation richer inputs than a checkbox, and support compliance.
MarTech's October 16, 2026 recap by Tyler Samani-Sprunk of Simple Strat says Unbound was "less about brand-new HubSpot features and more about adding power and polish". It lists Agent Hub, HubSpot Work, Campaign and Nurture agents and credit costs.
Why it matters
Credit costs per action decide whether agents are affordable at scale, as HubSpot's own new spending controls suggest.
A sponsored MarTech piece by SAP, published October 13, 2026, cites its sixth Global Customer Loyalty Index: 31% feel more loyal after AI assistant interactions, 30% switched brands over a company's AI use (45% of Gen Z), and 60% want shared control.
Why it matters
Automation decisions about customer messaging depend on how much autonomy customers accept.
A MarTech column by email and lifecycle leader Ryan Phelan, published October 16, 2026, argues email's code of conduct, which took about two decades, offers lessons for AI governance. It rests on experience and cites no original data.
Why it matters
Marketing automation increasingly includes AI writing and decisioning, and teams need working rules now.
MarTech's October 20, 2026 analysis says Salesforce's $47.50 per share offer is about 58% above Braze's prior close of $30.04. Salesforce shares fell and Braze shares rose; integration benefits are "the company's plan, not yet a demonstrated customer outcome".
Why it matters
Platform consolidation can simplify a stack or hide its complexity, and customers may face pricing and product changes.
