As we step into 2025, let's take a moment to reflect on the highlights from ThrivePOP’s journey in 2024. It’s been a year of exciting growth, from launching the Marketing That POP’s Podcast and rebranding ThrivePOP to all of the latest marketing trends. Here’s a quick recap of our marketing content in the past year.
One of the most exciting milestones for ThrivePOP in 2024 was the launch of the Marketing That POP’s Podcast. This podcast has become a valuable resource for marketers, offering insights, tips, and strategies for making marketing campaigns pop! Whether you’re looking to enhance your digital presence or stay ahead of the competition, the podcast is the perfect companion to stay on top of the ever-evolving marketing world.
Listen to the Marketing That POP's Podcast
ThrivePOP’s rebrand from 2024 marks an exciting new chapter, reflecting our commitment to delivering modern, impactful solutions while maintaining a fun and approachable personality. The reimagined branding showcases a vibrant pink and orange palette, symbolizing the boldness, creativity, and energy that ThrivePOP’s team embodies. “ThrivePOP’s logo blends timeless sophistication with a playful, feminine touch,” said Serena, Designer at ThrivePOP. “It’s fun and cute, yet refined—reflecting our unique balance of creativity, professionalism, and a strong, woman-led vision.” The updated logo introduces a modern, funky twist with a feminine flair, perfectly balancing professionalism and creativity.
In 2024, cannabis marketing continued to be a hot topic, especially as laws and regulations vary by state. We wrote a multitude of blogs on state laws when it comes to marketing cannabis. Here are the state blogs we created to help carefully navigate the legal landscape to ensure business owners are marketing their cannabis products in compliance with local regulations.
AI has undeniably transformed the marketing landscape in 2024, revolutionizing everything from automating content creation to enhancing customer experiences. These tools have streamlined tasks, saving time and improving efficiency, but as Michele emphasized in her presentation, AI can't replace strategy and creativity. While AI is a game changer, it’s not the whole game. Marketing is ultimately about building relationships, not just completing tasks. It’s the human touch, strategic insight, and creative spark that resonate with customers on a deeper level. For marketers looking to make the most of AI, understanding how to combine it with authentic, relationship-driven strategies is key. For those ready to dive in, we’ve provided an AI Prompt Template to help guide your creative process while harnessing AI's power.
Selecting the right marketing agency is critical for achieving your business goals. If you’re looking for a strategic partner, our blog on How to Choose the Right Marketing Agency offered key tips and insights to help you make an informed decision and find the best fit for your brand.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) remains a cornerstone of digital marketing, and in 2024, we delivered valuable tips for improving your SEO strategy. Whether you’re looking to boost your cannabis business SEO or just want to rank better on Google, our 10 SEO Tips provided actionable steps for dominating the digital landscape. And for cannabis businesses, we highlighted strategies specific to their unique needs.
Read 10 SEO Tips: Where to Hide a Body? Try the Second Page of Google
This year, we attended MJBizCon, the biggest cannabis business event of the year. It was a fantastic opportunity to network, learn, and share insights on the future of cannabis marketing. We recapped the highlights and shared our Survival Guide for navigating the conference and making the most of the event.
Check out the MJBizCon Recap and Survival Guide
In 2024, brands continued to leverage authentic storytelling to build deeper connections with their audiences. From brand voice templates to creating narratives that resonate, we helped businesses tell their stories in a way that felt real and meaningful. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check it out.
We continued to dive deep into cannabis-specific marketing strategies. From understanding the best practices for digital marketing to navigating legal restrictions, our insights have helped cannabis brands find creative and effective ways to engage with their audience.
Read What Are the Best Strategies for Cannabis Marketing
Like every year, marketing was filled with its fair share of wins and fails, with some campaigns sparking controversy and backlash. One notable fail was Google’s Gemini AI advertisement for the 2024 Olympics, where the AI tool assisted a child in writing a letter to her favorite athlete. The ad was met with outrage, with critics arguing it undermined genuine human effort and creativity, particularly in children. Many felt the ad sent the wrong message about the importance of originality and personal expression in a world increasingly reliant on automation.
Another campaign that missed the mark was Bumble’s Billboard Campaign in Los Angeles, which featured the slogan, “You know full well celibacy is not the answer.” The message was quickly met with backlash, especially from TikTok users, who felt it was dismissive of personal choice. The campaign’s tone-deafness highlighted the risks of using controversial statements to grab attention—what works for one audience may alienate another.
Lastly, the 'It Ends With Us' film adaptation faced criticism over its casting choices. Fans of the book felt the actors didn’t align with the characters they had envisioned, which sparked a conversation about the importance of aligning marketing and casting decisions with audience expectations. Now that the movie is over, we are learning about the PR nightmare the main characters have started (rightfully so on Blake's side). These marketing missteps remind us how crucial it is to understand and respect your audience’s values.
On the flip side, 2024 also gave rise to some viral moments that captured public attention and elevated brands. One of the most memorable was Michael Cera’s CeraVe Campaign. The actor was seen carrying bags filled with CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream in New York, sparking a mix of curiosity and confusion. The quirky, unexpected campaign, orchestrated by WPP Onefluence and Ogilvy PR, capitalized on Cera’s unique persona, turning a simple action into a viral sensation that drew eyes to the skincare brand. It’s a perfect example of how integrating celebrity personalities in unconventional ways can create buzz.
Another standout was Calvin Klein’s collaboration with Jeremy Allen White, the actor famous for his role in The Bear. The provocative campaign garnered significant attention and praise for its seamless celebrity tie-in. Jeremy’s role and public persona amplified the campaign’s appeal, enhancing brand visibility and driving engagement. This partnership demonstrated the power of aligning with influencers who are not just popular, but also culturally relevant, making it a standout moment in 2024’s marketing scene.
2024 was an exciting year for marketing innovation, and we can't wait to continue pushing boundaries in 2025. Stay tuned for more trends, tips, and insights from ThrivePOP to keep your marketing campaigns popping all year long!