Analysts, marketers, and social media managers all share a common challenge: Keeping pace with fast-moving online conversations and trends, then acting on those insights before they go stale. Whether you’re designing research projects that’ll form the basis of a huge product decision, building a stronger understanding your competitor set, or trying to maximize the impact of your campaigns, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle without the right tools. Luckily, Brandwatch’s latest AI updates help teams get from data to insight to action faster, so you can move at pace with confidence. Here are…
You might think you know your audience. Understandably so. But what happens when the data shows something else? Being wrong about your own assumptions can feel like a setback. In fact, it’s a huge opportunity. This was the case for the brands below – they used consumer intelligence to uncover something they didn’t expect and used those insights to lean in. Here's what we discussed: Challenging assumptions about a “conservative” audience Turning hyperlocal complaints into a national sales strategy Reading “negative” sentiment the right way Turning from guesswork to real audience timing…
Last update: August 20, 2026 1. Instagram rewards creators for the performance of their reels and photos What better motivation to start posting more engaging content? Now, you can earn money directly from Instagram for creating engaging content. For a limited time, the platform is testing two invitation-only seasonal bonuses: one for reels, and one for posts (carousels and single-image posts). These are invitation-only for creators in South Korea and the U.S. Meta also launched the Breakthrough Bonus program, where creators who just joined Facebook or Instagram can apply. Once accepted,…
Every campaign ends the same way: campaign managers put together a deck showing reach numbers, engagement rates, and impressions for leadership. They might even include sentiment analysis or share of voice to wow the room. But there are two questions most post-mortems never actually cover, according to Taylor Dickson, Principal Consultant at Brandwatch: Did it change how people felt? Did it change what people did? And the only way to answer these questions honestly is by looking at both social conversations and traditional search behavior together. Why most campaign measurement misses the…
Hardly a week goes by without a new foundation model, AI agent, or research assistant promising to transform the way businesses work. Models from Google, OpenAI, Deepseek, Mistral, et al. have made a certain type of artificial intelligence more accessible than ever, and for many tasks they are genuinely impressive. They can summarize documents, answer questions, write reports, generate ideas, and, all in all, help people work faster. Given this context, it's a fair question for customers and prospects to ask: If LLMs I have free access to are so good, why can’t they be used for enterprise…
With fall approaching, September offers key holidays and events to plan in your social media calendar and boost your engagement. We've curated a list of the top holidays to inspire your content and connect with your audience. Let’s explore how to leverage these occasions, complete with brand examples for your strategy. September 1. World Letter Writing Day #WorldLetterWritingDay When social media took over, one form of communication almost died out: the letter. Kick off the month by celebrating the medium that has connected people far apart for thousands of years. This is a great day to evoke…
The 2026 World Cup has concluded, drawing more than 68.5 million mentions across social media, blogs, forums, online news, and TV and radio. We previously reported on cultural moments that went viral – like ranch dressing and the Viking chant – and how non-sponsor brands earned visibility without official partnerships through clever marketing. Now we’re turning our analytical attention to footwear – the pitch's most-scrutinized accessory. The big picture: The race for footwear visibility Football boots were a major topic of discussion during the World Cup, with brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma,…
This summer has delivered much more than sporting drama. It gave us a masterclass in reactive marketing, proving that brands don’t need official partnerships to dominate the conversation. Using Consumer Research, we tracked brand mentions within World Cup conversations across public social and news content between June 11 and July 8. Here are five non-sponsor brands that turned trending moments into marketing momentum and what you can learn from their innovative approaches. How Levi’s and Heinz turn branding restrictions into PR wins The tournament's strict "clean stadium" policies require…
August's diverse range of holidays offers the perfect opportunity to boost your social media presence. We've compiled a list of key events to help your brand connect with your online community. There’s no better way to heat up your social media calendar during the month of August. August 1. World Wide Web Day #WorldWideWebDay Celebrate the internet's global reach and its ability to connect people worldwide and reflect on how it’s revolutionized communication and access to information, fostering a more connected world. Content idea: Share a behind-the-scenes look of the evolution of your…
This year's tournament goes all-in on the fan experience – redesigned stadiums, brand activations and popups, limited-edition collectibles, and promos from every hospitality brand imaginable. Using Consumer Research, we tracked close to 32.6 million tournament-related mentions between June 10 and June 28 to understand how fans are experiencing the event. Here's what we found about the foods and cultural moments that captured a global audience. The taste of “America”: diners, free refills, and Texas BBQ Food and beverages are central to visitor experience, especially for those traveling from…
Unearth July 2026's game-changing unofficial holidays to recharge your social media strategy. We've curated a list of 13 social media holidays that will keep your audience engaged and entertained this month, from celebrations rooted in patriotism to delightful snacks. July 1. International Joke Day #InternationalJokeDay July 2. World UFO Day #WorldUFODay July 4. Independence Day (United States) #IndependenceDay July 7. World Chocolate Day #WorldChocolateDay July 11. Cheer Up the Lonely Day #CheerUpTheLonelyDay July 14. Bastille Day – National Day in France #BastilleDay July 15. Give Something…
If your social listening strategy is still focused exclusively on Western platforms, you are missing out. The Asia-Pacific region (APAC) is home to some of the world’s largest digital communities, with platforms that shape consumer behavior, online culture, and purchasing trends at enormous scale. From beauty and fashion to gaming and e-commerce, many online trends and consumer behaviors gain traction in APAC platforms before appearing more broadly in Western digital spaces. Yet many brands still overlook this data. And with only 25% of marketers saying they truly understand their audiences,…
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