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September Marketing Rewind: A Look Back at the Month's Highlights

Written by Karly Anderson | Oct 22, 2024 3:10:27 PM

Another month has come and gone for marketers, packed with exciting events, product updates, and viral moments. Here’s a recap of the most notable highlights:

HubSpot’s Annual INBOUND Conference (September 18th-20th)

Hubspots annual conference took place September 18th-20th. Despite being forced to watch it by the overseers while they stayed in their respective offices with their doors shut, here’s what they introduced this year. 

  • Breeze AI: A flagship introduction at INBOUND, Breeze AI comprises two key features—Breeze Copilot and Breeze Agents. Breeze Copilot uses HubSpot’s CRM data to give personalized marketing recommendations, while Breeze Agents streamline operations across content creation, social media, prospecting, and customer support. These new AI-driven tools aim to simplify tasks and automate workflows, helping teams focus on more strategic initiatives.
  • Enhanced Marketing & Content Hubs: The updates to HubSpot's Marketing and Content Hubs feature improved data enrichment and AI-powered insights, giving marketers the tools they need for more informed decision-making and growth.
  • AI Assistants & Agents: Teams can now draft content, brainstorm blog ideas, generate images, and even build websites using HubSpot’s new AI Assistants. AI Agents also enhance customer service automation, making it easier to manage large volumes of support requests seamlessly.
  • ChatSpot Integration: HubSpot took its integration with ChatGPT to the next level by launching ChatSpot. This new tool allows businesses to harness generative AI for a range of tasks, all within HubSpot's CRM, from drafting emails to automating customer service queries.

PayPal’s Sleek Rebrand

September also saw PayPal unveil a significant rebrand. The company moved from its classic blue color scheme to a more modern and flexible palette, with a refined ‘PP’ monogram and a wordmark that’s now upright and black instead of blue and slanted.

 The new design gives PayPal a clean, minimalist look that better aligns with its innovative vision for global commerce. This move reflects a growing trend where many brands are adopting a more minimalistic branding approach, moving away from the once-popular maximalism. 

Minimalism, with its clean lines, simple color schemes, and uncluttered designs, seems to resonate more with today’s consumers who value clarity and efficiency. However, like most trends, this shift may not be permanent. In 10 years or less, we could see brands pivot back toward more expressive, maximalist branding to keep up with the evolving tastes of future markets.

McDonald’s x Genshin Impact Collaboration

Gaming enthusiasts had reason to celebrate with the McDonald’s x Genshin Impact collaboration. This special promotion allowed players to receive in-game rewards through meal purchases, with a Genshin-themed apple pie that even gave players exclusive in-game items. It’s a great example of how brands are tapping into gaming culture to drive engagement.

iOS 18 Updates

Apple rolled out several exciting updates with iOS 18, especially for those who enjoy personalizing their messages and apps:

  • Scheduled Messaging: You can now schedule messages to be sent later. This feature isn’t just great for birthdays and reminders—it’s a game-changer for marketers. When that brilliant idea strikes at 2 a.m., you can schedule your text and save the thought without disturbing anyone’s sleep. Scheduled messages let you capture those fleeting midnight thoughts without the late-night text.
  • Message Animations: Make conversations more dynamic with fun animations like confetti and fireworks.
  • Customizable App Icons: You can now change the app icon design to match your aesthetic, including options for black-and-white themes or vibrant colors.

Text Formatting: With bold, italics, and underline options, text in iMessages can now be as expressive as ever.

this month's Trending Videos / Audios

September was filled with catchy audio trends, from tracks used with Lisa Frank-inspired dolphin backgrounds to the popular “Letting Gen Z Write My Script” videos. Here are some memes that you could pair with almost any niche or job for fun, relatable content. Jump on these trends to connect with younger audiences and keep your content fresh.

You can put any words on this attached with the background of the Lisa Frank dolphin and audio. Don’t ask - it’s just Gen Z things. 

You can use this trend to promote your business. Just make sure to use Gen Z lingo such as: no cap, she ate, slay, on god, for real for real. Make sure to add a little “It’s giving….” 

Like stated in the video you can use this for any topic, job, or niche.

Viral Trend: Moo Deng the Hippopotamus

Moo Deng, the adorable hippo, took the internet by storm in September. With her playful antics and lovable expressions, she quickly became meme-worthy material. Moo Deng’s viral appeal provided endless opportunities for brands to engage audiences with lighthearted content. Here are just a few examples:

September Social Media Updates

Instagram
  • Adds story comments that are visible to everyone
  • Adds new fonts for both stories and reels
  • Now able to add text and sticker effects to image posts
X (Twitter) 
  • Officially moved out of San Fran HQ
  • Losing users in both the US and the UK
  • Removes account blocking option
TikTok
  • Adds ‘delete and re-edit’ option
Youtube
  • Implements restrictions on content recommended for teens
    • Content that compares physical features, idealizes specific fitness levels or body weight, or displays social aggression will no longer come up in the recommended videos
  • Developed a new process to detect AI deep fakes

See you next month!

September has come in gone with rebrands, brand collabs, and new viral trends, setting the stage for even more exciting marketing developments. From AI tools at HubSpot to memorable brand collaborations and playful online moments.

We will be here at the same time next month to give you yet another monthly recap. Need fresh ideas for your next social media campaign? We've got you covered!

Stay ahead of the game by signing up for updates and following us on social media. Exciting trends are coming your way—don’t miss out!