The unified platform enables brands to run creator campaigns end-to-end, from influencer discovery and affiliate integrations to social commerce tracking and campaign measurement. By combining influencer and affiliate marketing in a single solution, Influential Powered by Captiv8 remains the only platform delivering measurable results across both categories.

In Winter 2026, the platform earned 19 G2 badges across influencer and affiliate marketing, reflecting high customer satisfaction and industry validation. Key highlights include:

• #1 for Best Results and Highest User Adoption, demonstrating real business impact
• #1 for Ease of Use, Setup, and Implementation, streamlining complex campaign workflows
• Leader and High Performer across SMB, Mid-Market, and Enterprise segments, showing widespread trust

As Influential Powered by Captiv8, the platform is entering an exciting new chapter. With expanded capabilities, deeper creator partnerships, and a renewed focus on helping brands tell their stories through authentic content, there’s even more to come for brands looking to scale their influencer and affiliate programs.

For three years running, brands have relied on Influential Powered by Captiv8 to scale their creator-led marketing programs and drive meaningful outcomes.

Learn how your brand can leverage Influential Powered by Captiv8 to maximize influencer and affiliate marketing results.

About Influential Powered by Captiv8

Influential Powered by Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Influential Powered by Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Influential Powered by Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Influential Powered by Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for twelve consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Influential Powered by Captiv8 Named #1 Enterprise Influencer Marketing Software for 3 Years in a Row appeared first on Captiv8.

A recent Marketing Dive article provides updates on brand campaigns, agency partnerships, and emerging trends as advertisers prepare for the big night. Several brands, including Grubhub, have already announced their debut campaigns, while others like Ritz and Nerds plan to return. With Super Bowl 2025 drawing more than 127 million U.S. viewers across TV and streaming, the stakes remain high for brands looking to capture attention.

Early Trends to Watch:

• Celebrity Endorsements: Using familiar faces continues to be a mainstay, offering brands instant recognition and cultural relevance.
• Nostalgia Marketing: Many advertisers are leaning on familiar cultural references to connect with audiences in a memorable way.
• AI and Technology Integration: Generative AI and other digital tools are likely to feature in creative executions, allowing brands to experiment with innovation at scale.
• Event Tie-Ins: From halftime show sponsorships to themed activations, marketers are finding ways to extend engagement beyond the TV spot.

As brands finalize their campaigns, staying up to date on the latest announcements and strategies is critical. For a full, regularly updated list of brand plans and agency details leading up to kickoff, check out the complete Marketing Dive Super Bowl 60 ad tracker.

About Captiv8

Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for eleven consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Super Bowl 60 Advertising Preview: Key Trends and Early Announcements appeared first on Captiv8.

1. Social Commerce Is Growing: Platforms are increasingly making shopping part of the content experience. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube are leading the way, combining entertainment with seamless purchasing. Influencers help brands reach the right audiences at the right time, turning engagement into measurable action.

2. AI and Digital Creators Are Rising: AI tools and virtual influencers are gaining traction, enabling brands to streamline workflows and explore new creative possibilities. While these digital creators offer efficiency, brands must still prioritize authenticity to maintain audience trust.

3. Niche Influencers Are More Valuable: Micro- and nano-influencers are connecting with audiences in highly targeted ways. Their smaller but highly engaged communities often generate stronger relationships and higher relevance than mass-reach celebrity campaigns.

4. Offline Experiences Are Back: Influencers are hosting events, meet-and-greets, and pop-ups, bringing digital engagement into the real world. These experiences help brands create memorable interactions and deepen audience loyalty.

5. Podcasters Are Power Players: Long-form audio continues to influence audiences in unique ways. Partnerships with podcast hosts offer brands an opportunity for sustained engagement, thought-leadership positioning, and cross-channel amplification.

Influencer marketing is no longer just about reach; it’s about relevance, engagement, and building relationships that translate into action. For a deeper dive into these trends and more insights from the Forbes analysis, check out the full article here.

About Captiv8

Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for eleven consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Key Influencer Marketing Trends to Watch as 2026 Approaches appeared first on Captiv8.

Challenging Norms and Bold Creativity

Manscaped’s founding ethos revolves around challenging norms. The brand found an unmet need in the market and approached it with the right product, clever messaging, and cultural relevance, creating solutions that were both practical and attention-grabbing. “Simple innovations making a huge difference,” Henry said, emphasizing how risk-taking and creativity are core to the brand’s identity. Partnering with creators who have trusted communities has been critical in building credibility and avoiding the skepticism that often surrounds early “social media-first” brands.

This ethos shines through in Manscaped’s “Send Pics Instead” campaign. Designed to engage with a sensitive but culturally relevant topic, the campaign used humor, heart, and purpose-driven storytelling to make a positive impact. Working with two USC film students, Manscaped produced a heartwarming video that became the most viral asset the company had ever created. The impact of this campaign was reinforced by a positive callout from Maggie Korde, Chief Innovation Officer at Save the Children, demonstrating that bold creativity can coexist with meaningful purpose.

Full-Funnel Marketing, Risk, and Creator Partnerships

Manscaped’s use of creators has also evolved. What began as a bottom-of-funnel, performance-focused strategy has grown into full-funnel marketing. Henry shared that the brand trusts creators to communicate in their authentic voice, leveraging their style to connect with audiences. This approach extends beyond social channels, influencing content distribution, retail experiences, and audience engagement at every stage.

Of course, pushing creative boundaries comes with responsibility. Manscaped carefully balances risk with brand safety and compliance, ensuring campaigns resonate with their audience without crossing cultural or regulatory lines. From FTC disclosures to youth protections and content adjacency, the team consistently evaluates potential risks before launching campaigns.

Ensuring Brand Safety Through Testing and Consumer Insights

Taking creative risks is a core part of Manscaped’s approach, but so is ensuring brand safety and cultural relevance. Henry shared how the team rigorously tests campaigns and engages directly with consumers to understand what resonates and where boundaries lie. By partnering with the right creators and leveraging data-driven insights, Manscaped is able to push the envelope while remaining on the right side of cultural conversations. This careful balance allows the brand to be bold and authentic without compromising trust.

One of the most compelling moments from the interview dives into how Manscaped maintains brand safety through testing and consumer feedback while taking creative risks. Watch the clip here:

This conversation offers a deep look into how Manscaped blends creativity, creator partnerships, and innovation to remain culturally relevant, build trust, and drive measurable impact in a competitive market. The interview with Henry Arlander offers valuable insights into how Manscaped balances bold creativity, cultural relevance, and data-driven decision-making. Their approach demonstrates the power of authentic creator partnerships to drive both engagement and meaningful business impact.

Watch the full interview here.

About Manscaped

Manscaped is a leading personal care brand dedicated to providing innovative grooming solutions for men. Known for challenging industry norms and blending humor with purpose-driven campaigns, Manscaped leverages creative marketing and trusted creator partnerships to connect with audiences in authentic and impactful ways.

About Captiv8

Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for eleven consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Breaking the Mold: Manscaped’s Approach to Creativity, Risk, and Influencer Partnerships appeared first on Captiv8.

AI Meets Tradition

Coca‑Cola’s refreshed 60-second ad begins with Santa opening a bottle of Coke and follows delivery trucks lighting up towns and catching the attention of playful animals, from polar bears to puppies. Meanwhile, a 30-second spot, “A Holiday Memory,” tells a more intimate story: a woman decorating her home discovers a snow globe and recalls a lively holiday gathering.

Multi-Channel, Multi-Partner Strategy

The campaign spans TV, digital, social, out-of-home, in-store, and on-pack assets, with creative led by WPP Open X (VML) and supported by Ogilvy, EssenceMediacom, Silverside AI, and Secret Level. Fans can also catch the return of Coca‑Cola’s Christmas trucks on tour this holiday season.

What Marketers Can Learn

Coca‑Cola’s approach shows how AI can enhance creative while staying true to brand heritage. By combining algorithmic optimization with storytelling, brands can scale content, iterate faster, and create culturally resonant campaigns. It also highlights the importance of multi-channel orchestration and thoughtful partnerships to bring complex campaigns to life.

For marketers and creators, it’s a reminder that AI doesn’t replace human creativity; it amplifies it, offering new ways to connect with audiences during peak seasonal moments.

About Captiv8

Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for eleven consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Coca‑Cola Doubles Down on AI for Holiday Marketing appeared first on Captiv8.

The article emphasizes Captiv8’s end-to-end platform, which supports every stage of an influencer marketing campaign. From creator discovery to campaign activation, scaling, and performance measurement, the platform streamlines workflows and ensures that brands can execute campaigns efficiently and effectively.

A key differentiator highlighted by MarTech Outlook is Captiv8’s AI-powered discovery engine. With over 500 filters and real-time engagement data, brands can identify the right creators and predict the potential impact of each partnership. This approach enables brands to make informed decisions, optimize campaigns in real time, and maximize their return on investment.

The profile also notes how Captiv8 unifies creator, audience, and brand data. By combining these insights, campaigns move beyond simple vanity metrics and focus on results that truly matter across the customer journey. This data-driven approach ensures campaigns are not only authentic but also measurable and impactful.

Captiv8’s platform is designed with flexibility in mind. It supports both self-serve campaigns for brands that want hands-on control, as well as full-service campaigns backed by an experienced services team. This combination allows brands to scale influencer programs without sacrificing quality or creativity.

Being featured by MarTech Outlook reinforces Captiv8’s commitment to innovating the influencer marketing landscape. By providing tools that streamline processes, uncover insights, and enable authentic connections, Captiv8 continues to help brands drive meaningful engagement and measurable impact with influencer campaigns.

Read the full MarTech Outlook profile here: Captiv8 on MarTech Outlook

About MarTech Outlook

MarTech Outlook is a leading technology magazine and research platform covering the latest trends and innovations in marketing technology. They provide insights, analysis, and recognition for companies that are transforming the marketing and advertising landscape through technology, creativity, and strategic impact.

About Captiv8

Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for ten consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Captiv8 Featured by MarTech Outlook as a Leading Influencer Marketing Platform appeared first on Captiv8.

The campaign, part of Toyota’s December Sales Event (DSE) 2024, highlighted a heartwarming partnership with Best Friends Animal Society to support shelter dog rescues. Captiv8 and Toyota leveraged creator-led storytelling to bring this mission to life. Influencers actively transported adoptable dogs to foster homes, documenting the journey on social channels and showcasing Toyota vehicles as vessels of hope. The campaign’s authentic, emotionally driven approach amplified Toyota’s holiday messaging and created meaningful engagement with audiences.

The campaign delivered measurable impact across social channels:

• 8.5M total impressions
• Engagement rates double Toyota’s influencer benchmarks
• Overall 89% positive sentiment, exceeding industry standards

Featured creators, including Isabel Klee (@simonsits) and Joey Masloski & Eric Noxon (@eric.and.joey), helped connect audiences to the campaign’s mission through genuine storytelling, reinforcing Toyota’s commitment to community and social impact.

This MarCom recognition underscores Captiv8’s dedication to purpose-led influencer campaigns that drive measurable outcomes and meaningful connections between brands, creators, and audiences. Read more about the campaign and the MarCom award here: MarCom Awards Entry.

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About MarCom Awards

The MarCom Awards honor excellence in marketing and communication, recognizing the creative professionals and organizations that contribute to the success of branding, marketing, and advertising programs. Winners are selected based on creativity, strategy, execution, and overall effectiveness, with the competition highlighting campaigns that set new standards for innovation and impact.

About Captiv8

Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for ten consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Captiv8 Wins MarCom Award for “More Than a Ride” Campaign with Toyota and Saatchi & Saatchi appeared first on Captiv8.

Captiv8 is proud to announce an incredible achievement at the 2025 Global Performance Marketing Awards (GPMA) in London, taking home six awards across six categories, including Gold honors for Best Brand Awareness Campaign and Best Use of AI in Performance Marketing.

Our Captiv8 team joined global marketing leaders to celebrate creative excellence and innovation in performance-driven influencer marketing. These wins highlight Captiv8’s commitment to advancing the creator economy through authentic storytelling, data-driven insights, and responsible AI.

Gold – Best Use of AI in Performance Marketing: Captiv8’s Brand & Media Safety

Captiv8’s AI-powered Brand & Media Safety solution earned Gold for redefining how brands approach influencer marketing risk management. The proprietary system uses natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) to analyze millions of data points, from social posts to press mentions, across eleven IAB-standard risk categories. This technology empowers brands to identify safe, values-aligned creator partnerships while preserving authenticity and creative freedom.

With over 1.5M influencers profiled and 90%+ accuracy in identifying brand safety risks, Captiv8’s Media Safety solution has set a new industry standard for transparency and trust in AI-driven marketing.

Gold – Best Brand Awareness Campaign: AT&T “Rising Future Makers”

In partnership with AT&T, Captiv8 launched Rising Future Makers, a creator-led initiative honoring exceptional students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Through authentic storytelling from nine HBCU-affiliated creators, the campaign spotlighted the power of connectivity and empowerment, core to AT&T’s brand purpose. Leveraging Captiv8’s AI-powered predictive analytics, the program identified creators with the highest projected ROI and authentic audience alignment.

The results were remarkable: over 10.5M impressions, 72% positive sentiment, and measurable lifts in both brand affinity and purchase intent, showcasing how meaningful creator partnerships can drive cultural impact and business outcomes.

Silver – Best Influencer Marketing Campaign: TurboTax “Mobile App Offer”

Captiv8 and TurboTax transformed a complex topic, taxes, into relatable, creator-led storytelling through the TurboTax Mobile App Offer campaign.

By partnering with nine diverse creators across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, the campaign demonstrated how filing taxes could be simple and stress-free. Using Captiv8’s AI-enhanced audience segmentation, TurboTax reached key Gen Z and Millennial audiences while achieving 271M impressions, 15.1M engagements, and 624K app visits, a 5x traffic increase over comparable creator campaigns.

Bronze – Best Brand Performance Campaign: TurboTax “Mobile App Offer”

This award underscores the measurable business impact of the TurboTax partnership. By combining relatable influencer content with precision targeting, the campaign reduced CPM by 40% and CPC by 32% year-over-year, proving how creator marketing can deliver exceptional ROI through authenticity and data intelligence.

Bronze – Best Integrated Performance Marketing Campaign: AT&T “Rising Future Makers”

The Rising Future Makers campaign’s success extended beyond awareness; it drove measurable performance across channels. Through an integrated mix of organic and paid social, AT&T and Captiv8 demonstrated how creator content can power full-funnel marketing, amplifying both reach and results.

Bronze – Partnership of the Year: TurboTax “Mobile App Offer”

This award celebrates the long-standing collaboration between TurboTax and Captiv8, built on shared values of accessibility, innovation, and inclusivity. Together, the teams have redefined seasonal marketing by turning tax season into a space for creativity, connection, and performance-driven storytelling.

Shaping the Future of AI-Driven Creator Marketing

These six awards underscore Captiv8’s mission to lead the industry in AI-powered influencer marketing, brand safety technology, and creator performance optimization. Each win highlights Captiv8’s dedication to redefining performance marketing through creativity, technology, and partnership. Congratulations to our incredible partners at AT&T, TurboTax, UFC, and Mattel, and to the Captiv8 entire team, whose innovation and collaboration made these wins possible!

About Captiv8

Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for ten consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Captiv8 Wins Big at the 2025 Global Performance Marketing Awards appeared first on Captiv8.

A central theme of the conversation? Data is redefining influence. Drawing on insights from Samba TV, the panel highlighted that Love Thy Nader’s audience skews toward affluent, young parents, with 21% reporting household incomes over $150K. These insights demonstrate how audience composition can help brands identify high-value connections. When combined with Influential powered by Captiv8, these metrics allow marketers to bridge the gap between linear and digital, measuring true impact with precision.

Key takeaways from the discussion included:

• Audience quality beats audience size: Engagement and alignment drive ROI more than raw numbers.
• Data reveals intent: Understanding why people connect is as critical as knowing who they are.
• The future of influencer marketing: Celebrity, creator, and community storytelling will increasingly merge, all guided by measurable insights.

A special thank you to our partners at Samba TV and to the Nader sisters for sharing their journey. Together, these insights show how blending authenticity with analytics is shaping the next chapter of the creator economy, one where smarter audience understanding drives stronger, more meaningful brand partnerships.

About Captiv8

Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for eleven consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Samba Summit Recap: Exploring the New Creator Economy with the Nader Sisters appeared first on Captiv8.

From inspiring sessions on the future of AI in marketing to dynamic conversations about the power of creator storytelling, our team was proud to be part of an event that celebrates creativity and connection. Throughout the week, Captiv8 team members attended panels, networked with clients and partners, and exchanged ideas with some of the industry’s brightest minds.

Across every session and event, one theme was clear: creators are now at the center of storytelling. From shaping cultural conversations to driving measurable brand outcomes, the creator economy continues to redefine how brands connect with audiences authentically and at scale. For Captiv8, it reinforced our mission to help brands and creators work together to create real impact.

A highlight of the week included Captiv8 CEO Krishna Subramanian moderating a fireside chat at the Brand Innovators Marketing Leadership Summit, New York 2025, hosted by Paramount. Joined by Unilever’s Casey DePalma, Chief Brand Communications Officer, and Aaron Sobol, Head of NA Media Investment and Data Governance, the discussion explored how brands can lead with creativity, impact, and a deep understanding of what consumers want next.

Another highlight from the week was attending the OMMA Awards in NYC, where the Captiv8 team joined our amazing partners from Toyota, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Best Friends Animal Society at The Cutting Room Floor to celebrate this year’s finalists, including our nomination for Best Influencer Campaign for Toyota’s “More Than a Ride” Campaign.

We’re walking away from Advertising Week feeling inspired, energized, and ready for what’s next in the world of influencer marketing and brand innovation. Until next year, Advertising Week!

About Captiv8

Captiv8 is the leading influencer marketing platform that empowers brands to connect with consumers through authentic creator partnerships. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and data-driven insights, Captiv8 helps brands drive engagement, loyalty, and sales in the ever-evolving social landscape. Rated the #1 Best Influencer Marketing Company by MarTech, Captiv8 is also the enterprise marketer’s choice influencer tool. Captiv8 is ranked #1 Influencer Marketing Software for Enterprise Businesses for eleven consecutive quarters and a Leader in Affiliate Marketing by G2.

The post Captiv8 at Advertising Week New York 2025: Connecting, Creating, and Celebrating Innovation appeared first on Captiv8.