CES 2026 wasn’t about new formats or flashy interfaces. It was about measurement finally catching up to how people behave. From incrementality to unified outcomes, here’s what CES revealed about where performance media is headed next.

Pinterest is not chasing attention. It is refining intention.
From shoppable CTV originals to performance-minded leadership, the platform is proving that inspiration and outcomes can compound when a system is built with purpose.

Third-party platforms make growth feel easy, until they don’t. Here’s what happens when brands rely too heavily on rented systems, and why diversification is essential for resilience and long-term health.

Paid media works best when it’s built on real relationships. Here’s how first-party data makes campaigns more efficient, more relevant, and more effective without just spending more.

You don’t need a perfect CRM to get started, you just need a place to begin. Here’s what a minimum viable CRM can do, what to prioritize, and why starting small is better than waiting.

When brands say “we don’t have a CRM,” they’re usually naming a media problem, not a technical one. Here’s why CRMs are foundational to modern media and what becomes possible once you have one.

First-party data isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the most reliable, cost-effective, and future-proof asset a brand can own. Here’s what it is, how it works, and why it matters more than ever.

Every brand is competing for attention but the brands that win long term are the ones that own the relationship. Here’s what it really means to think like a media company, and why building an audience matters more than chasing reach.

January 1 isn’t a starting gun for new strategies. It’s a moment to align, confirm priorities, and execute calmly. Here’s how to enter the new year without rushing your media plan.

December 31 isn’t a deadline for decisions. It’s a moment to identify what’s worth carrying forward, and what’s better left behind, as you continue executing a long-range media strategy.

On Christmas Day, media becomes ritual. We asked the Campfire team what they return to every year — from holiday music and movie marathons to family traditions that have lasted a lifetime.

Holiday media consumption doesn’t disappear, it changes. As routines break and attention narrows, familiarity and trusted environments matter more. Here’s how brands should interpret holiday media behavior without misreading performance.

The final days before Christmas create pressure for marketers still running live campaigns. This is why holiday media behaves differently right now and why restraint often matters more than optimization.

AI belongs in modern media but not in the strategy seat. Campfire’s POV is simple: humans define strategy, AI amplifies it. Using a campaign for our client Allagash Brewing as a case study, we show how responsible, brand-led AI can improve performance, protect values, and reduce waste.

Holiday advertising peaks when attention is most fragile. This article explores the holiday media paradox, why more ads don’t always build stronger brands, and how consistency and trusted environments create lasting impact beyond Q4.

Direct-to-publisher media buying isn’t just more transparent, it’s more effective. Learn how challenger brands can support communities, reduce carbon emissions, and build stronger brand familiarity through smarter, more intentional media strategies.

Working with a media agency for the first time can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what to look for, what to expect, and how to build a strong partnership that helps your brand become known, trusted, and chosen.

The Netflix–Paramount pursuit of Warner Bros. is reshaping the media landscape in ways that affect democracy, local journalism, and how challenger brands grow. As consolidation accelerates, familiarity, not volume, becomes the most powerful engine of scale.

Setting a paid media budget shouldn’t feel like guesswork. Challenger brands don’t need to outspend category leaders, they need clarity. This post walks through how to approach media budgeting with intention and introduces our Media Budget Calculator, a tool designed to help teams model scenarios, understand trade-offs, and invest with confidence.