Weekly Marketing Round-Up (12–16 August 2025)

A photo-realistic digital illustration of a futuristic marketing control room. Diverse professionals collaborate at a sleek conference table with floating holographic campaign plans. Large wall screens display AI analytics, Reddit trend charts, and automated marketing dashboards. The room glows with blue and neon light, symbolizing artificial intelligence and innovation.

This week’s marketing news centres on AI marketing updates that signal big shifts in how brands plan and deliver campaigns. From Google’s AI Mode evolving into a full-fledged advertising platform, to Reddit’s AI-powered tools and the rise of “Agentic AI”, businesses are facing a more dynamic advertising environment than ever. Here’s what you need to know — and the suggested actions to carry out so you can stay ahead.

Google AI Mode integrates advertising

Google has briefed agencies and major brands on how ads will work in AI Mode. Instead of targeting purely by keyword, ad placement will be based on the full context of a user’s AI conversation. This means ads can match intent more accurately, even if the original search query isn’t a direct keyword match.

Advertisers will need to rethink creative and landing page alignment, as these placements will be woven into conversational answers. Wider rollout is expected before Q4, and Google reports that over 100 million users are already using AI Mode regularly.

Suggested actions to carry out

  1. Review current Google Ads creative and test conversational ad copy.

  2. Audit landing pages to ensure they answer broader intent, not just exact keywords.

  3. Monitor Google Ads updates for AI Mode reporting metrics.

Read the full article on Search Engine Land →

Agentic AI: from reactive to proactive

“Agentic AI” is emerging as the next stage in automation. Unlike traditional generative AI, which responds to prompts, agentic systems interpret goals, plan steps, and execute tasks autonomously. In marketing, this could mean automated campaign optimisation, live budget reallocation, or real-time creative testing without human intervention.

This capability shifts AI from a tool you use to an “agent” you manage — with oversight becoming as important as input.

Suggested actions to carry out

  1. Identify repetitive marketing tasks that could benefit from autonomy.

  2. Trial agentic AI in a controlled environment before scaling.

  3. Build governance processes to monitor AI actions and outcomes.

Read the full article on TechRadar Pro →

Reddit’s AI-powered ad tools

Reddit has launched Community Intelligence and Conversation Summary Add-ons. These tools analyse discussion threads to surface trending topics and summarise sentiment, helping advertisers position ads within highly relevant conversations.

The platform also renewed AI content licensing agreements with Google and OpenAI, signalling that user-generated content will continue to shape training data.

Suggested actions to carry out

  1. Test Reddit’s conversation placement ads for niche targeting.

  2. Use Community Intelligence data to shape campaign messaging.

  3. Factor Reddit into diversification plans to offset search volatility.

Read the full article on Barron’s →

VC investment in the creator economy

Venture capital is pouring into creator-focused platforms like Substack, Whatnot, and ShopMy. AI is accelerating content creation, commerce integration, and monetisation tools — with the creator economy projected to hit $480 billion by 2027.

For brands, this growth means more partnership opportunities with established creators and tech providers.

Suggested actions to carry out

  1. Explore partnerships with creators who align with your audience.

  2. Monitor emerging creator tools that integrate AI for efficiency.

  3. Consider co-branded campaigns to leverage creator trust and reach.

Read the full article on Business Insider →

This week’s AI marketing updates highlight a consistent theme: marketing channels are becoming more intelligent, context-aware, and autonomous. Businesses that adapt creative, targeting, and partnerships to this environment will be best placed to compete. Whether it’s optimising for AI Mode, testing agentic automation, or tapping into the creator economy, the opportunity lies in being proactive now rather than catching up later.

Sources

  • Search Engine Land – Google AI Mode ads: Leaked internal document reveals strategy

  • TechRadar Pro – The Age of Agency: why Agentic AI will redefine the future of work

  • Barron’s – Reddit Stock Extends Gains. New Ad Tools Offer the 'Value of Human Content.'

  • Financial Times – Ad agencies are down but not yet out

  • Business Insider – Meet 16 VC firms investing in innovative creator economy startups like Substack, Whatnot, and Agentio

Author

CLK Marketing Agency is a digital marketing agency specializing in helping B2B businesses leverage digital marketing strategies, particularly focusing on Pay-Per-Click (PPC) management with a flat monthly rate and clear deliverables, including Google Ads and Meta Ads management. Focus: B2B (Business-to-Business) digital marketing.