Marketing Strategies

Last month we launched A 5-Stage Blueprint for High-Performance Affiliate Marketing using insights from publishers and advertisers in the Rakuten Advertising International Collective (RAIC).  The blueprint demonstrates the importance of affiliate marketing as a strategic digital channel, and for publishers, showcases how they can add value and increase monetization opportunities.   One such opportunity stems […]

This year’s boom of the fintech IPO market led companies across financial, insurance, and mortgage sectors to shift more focus towards digitizing their offers.   A recent World Retail Banking Report showed over 57% of consumers prefer online banking to traditional brand banking and 55% of consumers now prefer mobile apps to keep track of their finances.  While the rise of digital transformation has been […]

The busiest shopping quarter of the year is now upon us, and both publishers and advertisers are looking to ensure they do everything they can to drive optimal performance. For publishers, this means ensuring they’re providing audiences with the most compelling deals and offers, strategically reaching new consumers and driving them to a brand’s site […]

As the summer travel boom winds down, travel brands are gearing up for a busy holiday season. After almost a year of booking declines across hotels and airlines due to pandemic-driven regulations and concerns, this year’s summer months closely resembled pre-pandemic numbers.   Rakuten Advertising recently surveyed just over 1,000 U.S. travelers to learn more about their feelings around holiday travel and the trips they’re planning in […]

Following the launch of our 2021 Holiday Planning guide, members of the Rakuten Advertising International Collective (RAIC) met earlier this month to discuss how the strategic use of affiliate channels in driving success during major retail events.    It’s a well-known fact that the 2020 holiday period was an unprecedented one, and as we head […]

Buy-now pay-later solutions have risen in popularity over recent years and are now turning to the affiliate channel to enhance partnerships with brands and create loyalty with consumers. For those not familiar with the rising affiliate partner model, buy-now pay-later are post-purchase payment solutions allowing consumers to make interest free installments over a pre-determined period. […]

Rakuten Viber is one of the world’s most popular calling and messaging apps that connects people, no matter who they are or where they’re from. As mobile continues its rise as the device of choice for consumers across the globe, advertisers can leverage the Rakuten Viber inventory to reach 1.1B unique global users where they […]

 The concept of ‘Moments’ within a media planning strategy is rooted in the contextual understanding of where (and when), your audience is in the right frame of mind to absorb the messages you’re looking to get across. This approach is woven into existing strategic models based on demographics, and with it a 360-degree picture of […]

Last year, businesses faced countless uncertainties generating both positive and negative results on U.S. retail.  Learn more in our infographic: Pandemic: Year in Review. While many stores closed for statewide lockdowns, online retailers saw surges in sales and orders that accelerated growth expectancies for the year. Despite the unexpected shopping boom, unique challenges of fulfillment, […]

Cookieless tracking continues to be a topic dominating the industry and the conversation isn’t going away any time soon. As consumer concerns over privacy and how their personal data is used increases, Apple has rolled out its iOS 14.5 update, including updates to its App Tracking Transparency framework. While there are still many unknowns about […]

Despite last year’s lockdowns which brought increases in online shopping, 54 percent of shoppers were still making purchases primarily in stores.   As vaccines continue to roll out across the country and states begin to loosen restrictions, shoppers are more eager to return to public spaces and shop in their local stores.   To make the most of this new foot traffic and boost […]

As COVID-19 vaccine rollouts gain momentum across the globe, the prospect of international travel or local ‘staycations’ presents a wealth of opportunity for the travel industry.  SimilarWeb data has revealed that digital demand for travel increased 24% in March 2021. Globally, Spring Break and Easter combined with location and attractions reopening and increased vaccine distribution […]