Be in The Know
🎙️ On the latest episode of The Daily Carnage Show, we dissect interesting new research on Pride Month marketing AND neurodivergence in the workplace (19 min).
😬 Brazilian agency DM9 used AI to manipulate its (heavily awarded) submission to Cannes Lions. Its Grand Prix prize has been revoked.
📣 Meet Melted Solids, the agency behind Zohran Mamdani’s primary-winning campaign.
🍩 McDonald’s and Krispy Kreme end partnership after less than 2 years.
🤖 AI overviews changed Google Search. Now they’re coming to YouTube.
Localization SEO That Works
Localizing your content is about aligning with how real people search, think, and trust in each market. But what is localization SEO?
- Translation: Word-for-word conversion from one language to another. Accurate, but often literal.
- Transcreation: Rewriting with intent, tone, and emotion adapted to the target culture. Think: slogan rewrites or marketing angles.
- Localization: A holistic approach. It includes translation, but also adapts idioms, examples, formats, visuals, even strategy—so your content feels native.
A well-localized article builds brand authority, earns natural backlinks, and even beats Google’s own auto-translations in the SERPs.
Here are 10 hard-won localization lessons that actually move the needle:
- ✅ Localize before Google auto-translates your content. Claim the traffic before Google does.
- ✅ Prioritize high-impact markets based on billing, search volume, and local adoption.
- ✅ Always do local keyword research. Don’t assume direct translations will rank.
- ✅ Be strategic. Translate content that performs; rewrite when it makes more sense.
- ✅ Cultural relevance earns trust. Adapt examples, platforms, and tone to each market.
- ✅ Refresh localized content to regain lost rankings and show Google you’re still relevant.
- ✅ Automate wisely. Use AI for speed, but always involve humans for nuance.
- ✅ Create and follow voice and terminology guides for consistency across languages.
- ✅ Keep updates in sync. Track changes in the source and reflect them in localized versions.
- ✅ Invest in your technical setup. From hreflang tags to URL structure, the right foundation matters.
Head to Ahrefs for more.
Q for You
Rumora
Rumora is a tool that helps you reach new audiences on YouTube by placing relevant comments on videos that are gaining traction in your niche.
So, instead of paying for ads, it works by identifying videos your potential customers are already watching, then helping you write comments that naturally reference your product or brand.
As these videos go viral, your comment stays visible near the top. On average, Rumora users see higher ROI than traditional PPC campaigns, with measurable increases in brand searches and direct traffic.
“Comment marketing” is a quiet, low-cost way to build awareness and reach people when they’re most engaged.
Campaign
The Other Venice Wedding
As part of its revitalized “Yes, JCPenney” campaign, JCPenney hosted a $10,000 wedding for a real couple in Venice, California, a non-so-subtle counterpoint to Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s ultra-luxurious wedding in Venice, Italy.
Everything from the bride’s $99 gown and the groom’s tuxedo to the bridal party attire, rings, cosmetics, and reception setup was sourced entirely from JCPenney’s existing product lines.
In an era where department stores are kind of outdated, JCP is trying out a new strategy under CMO Marisa Thalberg: break from traditional retail marketing by tapping into pop culture moments with wit and warmth.
