The Thrive Performance Marketing Blog

Learn about all things performance marketing and paid digital with the Thrive blog.
October 30, 2024
Search is dying

Search is dying — or at least, that was our hypothesis going into episode 12 of our video series, The Hypothesis. In this episode, we discuss the evolving landscape of search and address the misconception that search is dying. Learn about search advertising strategies, the importance of local search optimization, search data for insights, keyword structures, comparing SKAGs vs keyword themes, and the role of automation in search campaigns. Watch the full video below or listen to the episode here to hear the full conversation. More of a skimmer? Keep reading for our top takeaways.

3 minute read
Santana Blanchette
October 16, 2024
Your Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales could be better

In this episode, we dive into what marketers may get wrong when running digital ads for major sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BF/CM). From poor planning to neglecting post-event strategies, we cover the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them. Watch now to hear our thoughts on planning, executing, and measuring success during these critical retail moments. More of a skimmer? Keep reading for our top takeaways.

3 minute read
Santana Blanchette
October 2, 2024
What’s wrong with the marketing funnel?

When we talk about the marketing funnel and different strategies we employ for the top, middle, and bottom of funnel, what do we actually mean? Are we speaking the same language? Often, we are not. Awareness, intent, interest, consideration, research, engagement, desire, decision, action, retention, demand generation, capture, reengage, loyalty: a plethora of terms used to dissect the customer journey and describe our day-to-day marketing strategies.

5 minute read
Madeline Silver
September 11, 2024
Performance creative should be journey-based

Performance creative should speak to where the buyer is at in their journey— or that was our hypothesis going into episode 10 of our video series, The Hypothesis. In this episode, we discuss why creative messaging should go beyond buy now, how to create an emotional bond with your consumers, where you need to place these ads, and tailoring for each channel. Watch the full video below or listen to the episode here to hear the full conversation. More of a skimmer? Keep reading for our top takeaways.

3 minute read
Santana Blanchette
August 28, 2024
We can do better at marketing budget cuts

Marketing teams make budget cuts worse than they already are— or at least, that was our hypothesis going into episode nine of our video series, The Hypothesis. In this episode, we talk about why marketing teams should always be looking for places to cut budget, how bottom of funnel is not the solution for every problem, methodologies behind effective spend reductions, and why you should be working with other departments. Watch the full video below or listen to the episode here to get this conversation in its entirety. More of a skimmer? Keep reading for our top takeaways.

3 minute read
Santana Blanchette
August 14, 2024
You’re wasting your marketing budget

Marketing teams are wasting part of their marketing budget— or at least, that was our hypothesis going into episode eight of our video series, The Hypothesis. In this episode, we define waste vs learning, why trusting automation too heavily leads to more waste, how the wrong KPI’s and targets incentivize waste, and more. Watch the full video below or listen to the episode here to get this conversation in its entirety. More of a skimmer? Keep reading for our top takeaways.

3 minute read
Santana Blanchette
July 30, 2024
Ugly ads are better than polished ones

Ugly creative is more effective than highly produced creative— or at least, that was our hypothesis going into episode seven of our video series, The Hypothesis. In this episode, you’ll learn how we define ugly creative, what pattern interrupt is, how to harness more unconventional creative in your ad program, and why ugly creative is so useful. Watch the full video below or listen to the episode here to get this conversation in its entirety. More of a skimmer? Keep reading for our top takeaways.

3 minute read
Santana Blanchette
July 17, 2024
Automated campaigns take advantage of marketers

Automation isn’t the holy grail we’ve been promised — or at least, that was our hypothesis going into episode six of our video series, The Hypothesis. In this episode, we tell you what exactly advertising automation is, where we think it goes wrong, how it takes advantage of busy marketers, how we use it, where we test to ensure its effectiveness, and more. Watch the full video below or listen to the episode here to get this conversation in its entirety. More of a skimmer? Keep reading for our top takeaways.

2 minute read
Santana Blanchette
July 3, 2024
When to expand advertising beyond Google and Meta

Marketing teams should think about expanding beyond Google and Meta— or at least, that was our hypothesis going into episode five of our video series, The Hypothesis. In this episode, we discuss why so much ad spend goes into these two channels, how to better optimize them to get the most out of your investment, what “di-worsification” is, why and when to start considering new channels, and where to expand. Watch the full video below or listen to the episode here to get this conversation in its entirety. More of a skimmer? Keep reading for our top takeaways.

2 minute read
Santana Blanchette