The Pudding 🍮

News

Be in The Know

💼 Facebook’s trying out in-stream job listings once again.

🔍 Google rolls out new global “Sponsored results” ad label.

🍗 The Colonel Hacker takes over KFC’s menu.

💀 Corporate pressure killed Lululemon’s creative soul.

💍 Oura is winning young women and losing gym rats, and it’s fine with that.

🎯 How to advertise to advertisers at ad industry events.

😬 MrBeast is anxious about Sora taking his watch time.

Tactics

The Power of Social Proof

According to Nicolas Cole and Dickie Bush, 93% of people read reviews before buying, and products with as few as five reviews have a 270% higher purchase rate than those without. That’s the power of social proof.

But most brands only use their testimonials for sales pages or launch emails.  Here’s how to start using social proof daily:

• Reuse your best testimonials. Pull short, powerful quotes from reviews or emails.
• Incorporate naturally. Drop them into posts, videos, or threads like mini case studies.
• Name your customers. Real names and details make quotes more credible.
• Automate the process. Use Josh Spector’s simple AI prompt to blend testimonials seamlessly into any post:
  • Input your post and testimonial.
  • Ask AI to combine them naturally.
  • Choose your favorite version and publish.

A single well-placed quote can do more than a polished sales page. Head to Write With AI for more.

Read more

Tools

Microsoft Agent Mode

Microsoft is launching Agent Mode in Excel and Word, alongside a new Office Agent in Copilot chat.

Excel’s Agent Mode breaks down complex spreadsheets step by step, with an auditable and verifiable workflow. It uses GPT-5 to automate tasks in real time, providing a sidebar view of every action.

Word’s Agent Mode turns document creation into a conversational experience, suggesting refinements, summarizing data, and guiding users through drafting reports or other content.

And Office Agent in Copilot Chat can generate full PPT presentations or Word docs from a chat prompt, performing web research and showing live previews of slides.

Try it

Sponsor The Daily Carnage

“The Daily Carnage was the newsletter that brought us the most meaningful demo clicks and new trials.” — Danielle Blanchette, Digital Summit (2025)

Get your content in an issue of The Daily Carnage.

Book a $99 Classified ad instantly, or ask us about our custom sponsorship packages tailored to your campaign objectives.

Get started

Campaign

This Is Not a Billboard

Chupps Footwear and Into Creative have erected India’s first biodegradable billboard in Mumbai’s Bandra district.

The 20-by-10-foot display, made from bamboo, mud, clay, cow dung, hay, and sawdust, naturally disintegrates in rain, just like Chupps’ biodegradable sandals that break down within 24 months in landfills.

According to Chupps founder Yashesh Mukhi, “The future of fashion won’t be defined by how long it lasts, but by how gently it leaves.”

Check it out