Latest news with #CMOs
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
What Every CMO Needs To Know About The Zero-Click World
Kathleen Lucente is the CEO and Founder of Red Fan Communications, a strategic communications and advisory firm for dynamic B2B tech brands. From agency roles to Fortune 500 marketing leadership to founding my own public relations agency 17 years ago, I've watched countless marketing trends come and go. Some reshape tactics; others shift budgets. But what's happening with zero-click search is unlike anything I've seen. It's a change that affects every function under a chief marketing officer's leadership. When Google launched AI Overviews in the U.S. in May 2024, most marketing leaders I spoke with treated it like another algorithm update—something the SEO team would handle. That lasted 90 days. By fall, the calls I was getting sounded very different: 'Our content isn't getting traffic.' 'Our thought leadership isn't reaching buyers.' 'We're invisible in our own industry.' Nearly 60% of Google searches now end without a single click to any website, according to SparkToro's 2024 Zero-Click Search Study, and that percentage will likely increase. What most CMOs still don't understand is that this isn't just a digital marketing problem. It's a complete reimagining of how buyers discover, research and evaluate solutions, requiring tight coordination from marketing, content and communications. Why This Affects Every Marketing Function Working extensively with B2B marketing leaders, I see that companies adapting successfully are treating zero-click as a revolution, not an evolution. When buyers stop clicking through to your website, every marketing touchpoint changes. Bain & Company research shows B2B software companies experiencing up to 30% drops in click-through rates. Forrester reports that 89% of B2B buyers now use generative AI tools during their purchasing process. When assessing technical requirements, 38% trust platforms like ChatGPT, according to Inbox Insight's 2024 study. The buyer journey that marketing teams have optimized for decades simply no longer exists. I tell every CMO that if 85% of buyers purchase from their 'day one' list—vendors they knew before searching—as Bain research shows, and AI answers industry questions without mentioning your brand, your demand generation strategy needs to be rebuilt. The Three-Team Coordination Challenge I've never seen a marketing shift that demands such cross-functional coordination. Zero-click success requires that marketing, content and communications teams work together in new ways. Marketing teams must reallocate budgets from keyword optimization toward proprietary research and executive positioning programs. Traditional metrics—traffic, leads, conversions—miss the influence gained through AI citations that never send users to your website. Content teams need complete strategy rebuilds. I'm seeing the smartest companies shift from publication frequency toward expertise demonstration. Content must lead with direct, extractable answers formatted for AI consumption. B2B content agencies are retraining writing teams to adopt question-and-answer-style formatting where brand expertise appears prominently in easily extractable formats. Communications teams have become central to marketing success. Research shows that the majority of signals informing AI's brand understanding come from editorial media sources. PR and analyst relations aren't supporting marketing anymore; they're driving it. My most successful clients are breaking down traditional silos to build consistent authority signals prioritized by AI systems. New Metrics That Matter After working with marketing leaders through every major digital shift since 2007, this measurement challenge is unlike anything we've faced. Traditional marketing metrics—click-through rates, website traffic, conversion funnels—don't capture the same business impact. Successful CMOs have implemented new frameworks. They track their brand's share of voice in AI responses—how often their brand appears in AI-generated answers for industry questions. They monitor executive recognition through speaking opportunities, media quotes and thought leadership citations. They analyze entity association, ensuring AI systems correctly connect their brand with core value propositions. Most importantly, they're developing attribution models that connect AI-driven brand exposure to business outcomes through direct inquiries, referral conversations and sales meetings that originate from AI-influenced awareness. Immediate Organizational Action Is Crucial Companies treating this as a tactical digital marketing adjustment are falling behind. Those succeeding recognize that zero-click requires organizational transformation. Marketing operations must implement new tracking systems that monitor AI platform mentions. Content calendars require complete rebuilds around expertise areas rather than keyword targets. Executive calendars must include regular thought leadership commitments as core business activities, not optional PR opportunities. Buyer behavior data underscores this. Research indicates that buyers are increasingly relying on AI agents for solution research, vendor evaluation and initial negotiations. Marketing strategies must be optimized for AI intermediaries, not just human decision makers. The Strategic Reality For Marketing Leaders I've watched many marketing 'revolutions' that became evolutionary. This isn't one of them. Zero-click represents a permanent shift that creates substantial competitive advantages for companies that adapt quickly. AI systems prioritize authoritative sources, meaning market leaders can dominate the industry share of voice in AI responses. The strategic advantage is significant: If AI answers 80% of industry questions and consistently cites your executives as experts, you capture more qualified mindshare than website traffic could ever provide. The playbook that built successful B2B companies is now obsolete. CMOs who adapt their entire marketing organization to zero-click will capture dominant market positions. When answers come without clicks, the brands with the best answers win everything. Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Digital Silk Outlines Branding Challenges Facing Tech Companies in 2025
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning branding agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, has published a new article exploring how tech companies can address branding challenges in today's innovation-driven and highly saturated markets. The article, now available on the company's blog, identifies key obstacles to effective brand positioning and shares recommendations for tech founders and CMOs building scalable brand identities. Digital Silk Outlines Branding Challenges Facing Tech Companies in 2025 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Report Highlights Growing Branding Gaps in Tech Sector According to Digital Silk's research, many tech companies face disconnects between their brand promise and user perception. Common challenges include overly product-centric messaging, inconsistent brand visuals across channels, and lack of clarity on brand purpose. These gaps can potentially impact user trust, brand differentiation, and investor interest. "As tech companies scale, their brand needs to scale with them," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "This article aims to help companies recognize where their brand architecture may be limiting growth or confusing audiences." Top Branding Obstacles Identified Digital Silk's article outlines five common brand development issues facing the tech sector: Lack of clear positioning in competitive markets Messaging that focuses on features instead of customer value Visual branding that fails to scale across platforms Disconnected internal and external brand communication Difficulty articulating a brand purpose beyond product features Why Brand Strategy Is a Growth Lever for Tech Firms Data from McKinsey shows that strong brands can outperform competitors by up to 20% in key financial metrics, including customer acquisition and lifetime value. Digital Silk's content emphasizes that tech firms investing in cohesive brand strategy may better align teams, enhance customer understanding, and support market expansion efforts. The full article, "Branding for Tech Companies: 5 Challenges and How to Solve Them," is available at: About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Miami Branding Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, we create digital experiences through strategic branding, custom web design, and digital marketing services to help improve visibility and support engagement.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Digital Silk Outlines Branding Challenges Facing Tech Companies in 2025
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning branding agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, has published a new article exploring how tech companies can address branding challenges in today's innovation-driven and highly saturated markets. The article, now available on the company's blog, identifies key obstacles to effective brand positioning and shares recommendations for tech founders and CMOs building scalable brand identities. Digital Silk Outlines Branding Challenges Facing Tech Companies in 2025To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Report Highlights Growing Branding Gaps in Tech Sector According to Digital Silk's research, many tech companies face disconnects between their brand promise and user perception. Common challenges include overly product-centric messaging, inconsistent brand visuals across channels, and lack of clarity on brand purpose. These gaps can potentially impact user trust, brand differentiation, and investor interest. "As tech companies scale, their brand needs to scale with them," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "This article aims to help companies recognize where their brand architecture may be limiting growth or confusing audiences." Top Branding Obstacles Identified Digital Silk's article outlines five common brand development issues facing the tech sector: Lack of clear positioning in competitive markets Messaging that focuses on features instead of customer value Visual branding that fails to scale across platforms Disconnected internal and external brand communication Difficulty articulating a brand purpose beyond product features Why Brand Strategy Is a Growth Lever for Tech Firms Data from McKinsey shows that strong brands can outperform competitors by up to 20% in key financial metrics, including customer acquisition and lifetime value. Digital Silk's content emphasizes that tech firms investing in cohesive brand strategy may better align teams, enhance customer understanding, and support market expansion efforts. The full article, "Branding for Tech Companies: 5 Challenges and How to Solve Them," is available at: About Digital SilkDigital Silk is an award-winning Miami Branding Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, we create digital experiences through strategic branding, custom web design, and digital marketing services to help improve visibility and support engagement. Media ContactJessica ErasmusMarketing Director & PR ManagerTel: (800) 206-9413Email: jessica@ To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Seeking Up to 15% Dividend Yield? Piper Sandler Suggests 2 Dividend Stocks to Buy
Stock investing is all about returns, and the markets have delivered just that since hitting their trough in April. The S&P 500 bottomed out at 4,983 and has since rebounded 26%, bringing its year-to-date gain to 7% and pushing it to record levels. But is there room for more gains? Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. Piper Sandler chief investment strategist Michael Kantrowitz, in a recent interview, explains why he believes that markets haven't hit their ceiling yet, but he acknowledges that all gains have their limits. 'I think it's important to recognize or acknowledge that the last three months' moves were largely pricing out of macro risk. Whether you look at PEs, which have rebounded, or credit spreads, which have compressed, it's been a very macro-led tape where kind of a rising tide has lifted all boats. Going forward, we should not expect this to sustain the same level of returns, of course,' Kantrowitz stated. But investors are still looking for profits, and when the market ceiling is facing limits, high-yield dividend stocks offer a sound choice to maximize portfolio returns. Against this backdrop, Piper Sandler analyst Crispin Love has highlighted two high-yielding dividend stocks to buy – including one with a yield approaching 15%. Let's give them a closer look. We'll start with AGNC, a real estate investment trust, or REIT, whose activities mainly revolve around agency mortgage-backed securities. These assets are guaranteed against credit losses by Federal entities – Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae – providing a level of protection for investors. AGNC is an internally managed REIT, with a long-term goal of delivering solid returns to its shareholders. That goal is reflected in the company's highly focused investment strategy. AGNC has built a portfolio where 98% of its assets are agency MBS, including pass-through certificates, collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), and 'to-be-announced' securities (TBAs) – all carrying federal guarantees that help mitigate credit risk. As of March 31, the portfolio stood at $78.9 billion in value, with over 95% allocated to 30-year fixed-rate assets, underscoring AGNC's preference for stable, long-duration instruments. AGNC's consistent dividend policy is a key reason it stands out among income investors. In fact, the company pays dividends monthly – a less common but appealing feature for those seeking regular income. This monthly cadence allows investors to better match dividend inflows with ongoing expenses. AGNC's most recent declaration came on July 9 for an August 11 payment, maintaining its 12-cent monthly rate. That equates to 36 cents per quarter and $1.44 annually, translating to a generous forward yield of 15.5%. While its dividend track record is attractive, it's worth examining AGNC's underlying financials to assess the sustainability of those payouts. In its latest quarterly report for Q1 2025, the company posted net interest income of $159 million and a non-GAAP EPS of 44 cents. Although NII fell short of expectations by $284 million, the earnings per share came in 3 cents above the consensus. In setting out the Piper Sandler view here, analyst Crispin Love explains why he believes that this REIT will continue to deliver on the dividend. 'Since AGNC's 1Q25 earnings, agency spreads have tightened slightly following significant volatility around Liberation Day. We believe near-term spread levels and mortgage rates should be somewhat range-bound, but we could see continued rate volatility in 2025 given the macro landscape and uncertainty related to economic growth, inflation, and tariffs. Going forward, we believe AGNC can maintain its current dividend level, with AGNC generating mid-to-high teens returns over the near-term,' Love opined. Love's comments back up his Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating on the stock, and his $10 price target implies a one-year upside potential of 8%. Together with the dividend yield, the total one-year return on this stock may approach 23.5%. (To watch Love's track record, click here) Rithm Capital (RITM) The second dividend stock we'll look at is Rithm Capital, a REIT that was founded in 2013 and for the past decade-plus has provided a compelling investment option in mortgage servicing rights (MSRs). Early on, Rithm focused on MSR management; today, its portfolio is more varied, holding a diverse set of real estate assets. In addition to mortgage servicing rights, these assets include residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate, single-family rentals, business purpose loans, and even consumer loans. Building on this expanded investment scope, Rithm took a major strategic step in late 2023 by acquiring the asset management firm Sculptor Capital Management. The $719.8 million deal significantly broadened Rithm's operational reach and brought Sculptor's sizable asset base under its umbrella. The impact of this acquisition is evident in the company's numbers. Rithm now boasts $7.8 billion in total equity and a book value of $12.39 per common share. Its total assets stand at $45 billion, while assets under management have grown to $35 billion – a figure reflecting the addition of Sculptor's portfolio. Diving into specific segments, the company holds over $5.5 billion in mortgage origination and servicing and nearly $850 million in residential transitional lending. These robust figures support Rithm's overarching goal: to deliver stable and attractive long-term returns to shareholders. A key part of that strategy is the dividend, which the company has paid consistently for 12 years. The current quarterly dividend stands at 25 cents per common share, declared most recently on June 18 for a July 31 payment. At the annualized rate of $1, this payout translates to a forward yield of 8.4%. That yield appears well-supported by the company's latest financials. In 1Q25, earnings available for distribution (EAD) came in at $275.3 million, or 52 cents per share – 5 cents ahead of expectations and more than enough to cover the dividend. Checking in again with Piper Sandler's Crispin Love, we find that the analyst has a lot to say about Rithm – and it's mostly positive. 'With 30-year mortgage rates keeping the origination outlook still far from a normalized environment, we are focused on names that can perform in this higher for longer backdrop. One name that stands out to us for multiple reasons is RITM. Rithm is a diversified business across mortgage and asset management and is currently trading at just 5x earnings. On the mortgage side, RITM is the #3 mortgage servicer in the US which is an annuity like business that can actually outperform in higher rate backdrops. In addition, management is contemplating a potential spin of its mortgage business (Newrez), which could serve as a catalyst to shares. And lastly, RITM continues to grow in asset management following its acquisition of Sculptor in late 2023 with the potential for more acquisitions or partnerships in the space,' Love noted. The analyst quantifies this stance with an Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating, along with a $14 price target that points toward a one-year gain of 17.25%. Add in the dividend yield, and the return for RITM over the coming year can hit as high as ~26%. All in all, there are 6 recent analyst reviews on record for Rithm Capital and they are all positive – for a unanimous Strong Buy consensus rating. (See RITM stock forecast) To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights.
Globe and Mail
01-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Digital Silk Announces Article: U.S. Brands Reassess Digital Marketing Budgets Amid Shifting Consumer Priorities
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 1, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning digital marketing agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, has published a new article highlighting how brands across the United States are reevaluating digital marketing strategies to optimize budget allocation and improve ROI during economic uncertainty. Digital Silk Announces Article: U.S. Brands Reassess Digital Marketing Budgets Amid Shifting Consumer Priorities To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: According to a 2024 Statista report, over 58% of CMOs in the U.S. are prioritizing marketing efficiency as budget scrutiny increases across industries. Digital Silk's latest insights explore how brands can potentially align investments with audience behavior shifts, adopt agile measurement tactics, and apply AI tools for predictive decision-making. The full article can be accessed here. Data-Driven Marketing Tactics Are Reshaping Budget Efficiency The article outlines key frameworks marketers can use to assess and adjust spending in real time. This includes transitioning from traditional annual budget planning to rolling forecasts, as well as segmenting performance by audience, channel, and campaign type to identify underperforming tactics. Additional focus areas include: Reducing wasted spend by refining attribution models Testing high-ROI platforms based on customer lifetime value Building adaptable, scenario-based budget planning systems Integrating automation and AI for predictive performance mapping "In today's environment, marketing spend is no longer about how much—it's about how well it performs," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "Brands that analyse performance at a granular level and adjust continuously are best positioned to sustain growth without overextending resources." U.S. Brands Face Pressure to Prove Marketing Value As businesses in the United States navigate inflation concerns and evolving buyer journeys, digital marketing teams are under increased pressure to demonstrate accountability and performance transparency. According to Deloitte, 71% of CMOs cite "delivering business outcomes" as their top responsibility in 2025. Digital Silk's article provides practical frameworks and considerations for brands that aim to: Eliminate inefficient channels Establish stronger campaign-to-revenue links Prepare for shifting platform costs and audience fragmentation By proactively rebalancing digital marketing budgets and assessing spend through both performance and purpose lenses, brands can potentially reduce waste and refocus on results that matter. About Digital Silk Digital Silk is an award-winning Miami digital marketing agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to support engagement and visibility through tailored digital marketing services.
