Brand Strategy
Why brands are embracing analog photography
Ithaca Hummus, Grillo’s Pickles, and Pinterest are looking to provide different ways for consumers to make memories and create content without the use of smartphones.
Katie Hicks is a senior reporter for Marketing Brew covering culture, social media, and influencer marketing. She is a co-host of the Webby Award–winning podcast Marketing Brew Weekly. Previously, Katie worked at Vox and Axios in Washington, DC. She is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Social & Influencers
Inside Chipotle’s ‘chronically online’ social strategy
The fast-casual chain has built a following of more than 6 million, driven largely by social listening, Kirby Ann Connell, senior director of social and influencer at Chipotle, told us.
Social & Influencers
How social listening informed one of Walmart’s biggest merch drops to date
Jokes about using a rotisserie-chicken bag as a purse led to a real product that sold out in less than two hours, the retailer’s head of brand experiences and partnerships told us.
Brand Strategy
A guide to creating successful brand merch
Experts from Chain, Fishwife, and Chili’s share their insights based on their biggest merch launches to date.
Social & Influencers
The secret brine behind Grillo’s online success
The pickle brand is leaning into organic interactions and an irreverent tone, racking up millions of views and likes in the process.
Social & Influencers
How 818 Tequila brought the influencer experience to fans’ weddings
The brand sponsored five weddings and bachelorette parties as part of its giveaway-heavy “Best Summer Ever” campaign.
Brand Strategy
How to build a brand newsletter in 2026
Executives from Substack, The RealReal, Shopify, and more share their insights.
Social & Influencers
Meta settles landmark child safety suit for more than $17 billion
The company agreed to implement additional safety measures—while calling on its rivals to do the same.
Social & Influencers
How Poppi’s founder is using her platform to launch her next venture
Allison Ellsworth, who founded the probiotic-soda brand, is working on a new brand and encouraging her followers to apply.
Brand Strategy
Inside Polaroid’s provocative, pro-analog marketing strategy
“We’re tapped into something that is rather culturally relevant now,” Patricia Varella, creative director at Polaroid, told us—which is why the brand brought the message back for a second year.