Adverstising

Brands spanning food, wellness, and personal care say they are now allocating up to half of their digital ad spends to quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto, as sales velocity and return on ad spends improve sharply.

Between an antitrust investigation, new personal data rules, a mega merger leading to thousands of layoffs, and the unchallenged march of AI into advertising, 2025 was among the roughest years for the business of ad agencies. Will 2026 look any better for the legacy agency business?

By leveraging a staggered release strategy, Netflix achieved high social media engagement throughout late 2025, enabling brands like Swiggy Instamart to integrate immersive technology into their apps.

Brand marketing campaigns are expensive and hard to judge on conversion. But getting big Bollywood names to star in a splashy big-budget movie dedicated to your brand can deliver something intangible.

While customers react faster when any brand breaks their trust, the blowback can be worse after a negative experience with a healthcare brand, such as a hospital. That is why it's important to stay focused on customer experience and act with empathy at all times, says Misra.

The Amul girl's witty, topical commentary has navigated socio-political shifts, sparking debates and delight.

The Rado ad caused an uproar as it was obvious that Katrina Kaif & Hrithik Roshan had shot separately, and it was stitched together with AI. Experts say actors will have to shoot together for commercials that bank on-screen chemistry but for campaigns that need endorsements, AI avatars will suffice.

Big-ticket festive shows, reality programming, and digital innovations are driving advertiser spends, despite macroeconomic and rural demand challenges.