Mystic Mike’s predictions: What does 2026 hold for paid media?
By Mike Sharp, Operations Director at Launch That time of year is here. The time when I confidently predict the…
Marketing leaders are fielding pressure to deliver immediate results while building a brand that lasts. The Launch team are here to help you navigate the challenge with up-to-the-minute insights into what’s working in performance marketing. And we don’t just read the news – often we make it. Here’s this month’s roundup of Launch in the media, straight from our brains to yours.
There’s a detailed case study evidencing the benefits of channelling budget to full-funnel growth. News of the crucial AA/WARC report into advertising spend. And expert articles from the Launch team on how to turn reviews into revenue and create a culture which enables you to outshine the competition.
1. How Icelandair’s new full-funnel approach reduced CPA by 44%
A proof point for why the doom loop of short-termism in marketing must end. We partnered with Icelandair to redefine their paid media approach, unifying brand and performance strategy to target users across the entire funnel. Together we achieved a massive 44% decrease in CPA and 36% increase in CTR.
Read more on Performance Marketing World
2. What’s going wrong with market research?
Ad spend on market research is plummeting as brands turn to instant insights and synthetic data – but are they trading speed for accuracy, asks Robin Langford.
Read more on Performance Marketing World and find out Launch’s take
3. How brands build value and spend: UK ad industry latest AA/WARC report
The AA/WARC report confirms what we already know: advertisers are gravitating towards digital channels which offer trackable ROI and measurable impact. Launch’s Director of Client Services, Amy Budd stresses that in a cautious economic climate, the true winners are the brands maintaining a meticulous and strategic focus on precision and full-funnel measurement.
Read the full reaction (via Performance Marketing World)
4. Leading with Happiness: The new mantra for attracting and keeping brilliant minds
Launch’s Powered by Happiness™️ philosophy is the bedrock of the results we get for our clients. In this article our Operations Director Mike Sharp unpacks how and why to build a culture grounded in clarity, psychological safety, and visible career progression.
Read Mike’s article on Creativepool
5. Let the customers do the talking: Tapping into the power of the positive review
Positive customer reviews are a goldmine of genuine, acquisitional data. Our Head of Experimentation Joe Johnston explains how to tap into this source to inform your messaging. Uncover the exact language your customers use to talk about your brand’s true value and you’re on to a winning formula for highly effective ad copy.
Read Joe’s article on Creativepool
6. How much of an agency’s revenue should come from new business?
For agencies and in-house teams alike, the balance between new business and retention is a constant source of pressure. Launch’s take? Client happiness is business-critical.
Read the full feature on The Drum (with comment from Amy Budd)
7. Launch welcomes new Head of Growth Rich Kimber
Rich Kimber has joined the Launch team as Head of Growth. With over 15 years’ experience both agency and client side, Rich will be responsible for developing partnerships with other specialist agencies and delivering on the agency’s ambitious five-year growth plan.
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