Kelly Scott Madison

From all of us at KSM, wishing you a safe and happy 4th of July! Our offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, but we'll be back to Bold Building on Monday.

KSM is closed today in honor of Juneteenth. Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, with news of freedom for those still enslaved. Today, we reflect on history and celebrate freedom for all. Learn more about Juneteeth at https://hubs.ly/Q02CfY5y0

Introducing the KSM Academy Training class of 2024! The KSMA Training Program is a crash course in media for new grads starting their careers in the advertising industry. Over four weeks, this intrepid group will take part in over 55 sessions that cover everything from foundational media concepts to deep-dives into focus topics to technical trainings. Once training is complete, our newest Bold Builders will jump right in with their teams across KSM. We're so excited to have them with us, so please join us in welcoming them to the media community!

At KSM, we want you to Bring Your Story—the powerful uniqueness that makes you, you. We know our community is made stronger when we choose to be our authentic selves.
In June and throughout the year, we celebrate and support all our LGBTQIA+ KSMers and all the ways they bring their stories to our community.
Love is love is love. Happy Pride to all.

The dust has settled on the bill to ban TikTok, but the app's future is still up in the air. If you're a marketer spending on TikTok, we've outlined the three most likely outcomes and how to respond. Spoiler alert: none of them involve panicking.

TikTok's Possible Futures - Kelly Scott Madison The countdown clock for ByteDance to sell its U.S.-based TikTok business has begun, but a ban isn't inevitable.

Baseball season in Chicago is in full swing, and there are few things better than getting to catch a game with our friends at The New York Times. While this one may have been a loss for the Cubs, developing strong partnerships, custom content, and benchmark-beating results for clients like Service Corporation International is always a win.

Play ball! We're excited to kick off the 2024 season partnership with the Minnesota Twins and Securian Financial. We loved getting to spend time with our client on opening day and seeing their fantastic outfield signage and suite near home plate in person.

We love arranging big national sponsorship activations for our clients, but don't forget about the power of hyper-local love! Last week's Whataburger activation at a Westlake High School baseball game was the perfect example: an opportunity to connect with families and kids of all ages while spreading the news about the new Whataburger Digital Kitchen and handing out freebies like glasses, koozies, key chains, and coupons. This activation was a huge success with attendees and captured lots of smiling faces at the game. As a cherry on top, the Westlake Nation won their game 7-2. Go Chaps!

We had the pleasure of hosting Illinois Wesleyan University at our KSM Chicago office last week—a dynamic group of individuals who spent their spring break delving into the Advertising industry! The journey into professional careers is an exciting one, and we commend IWU for their dedication to student success and for preparing them for that journey.

During their visit, we walked through examples of an advertising framework, shared our KSM ethos and approach to media, and engaged in enriching discussions with staff and students. We can't wait to welcome them back for more insightful exchanges and future collaborations!

We are so grateful to The Trade Desk for inviting Kay Wesolowski, our SVP of Investment & Partnerships, to speak on their International Women's Day panel at ! It was truly an empowering experience listening to inspiring women share their stories about the challenges and triumphs of excelling in the business world. Thank you for shining a spotlight on the importance of gender diversity and female leadership. Here's to celebrating women's achievements and continuing to break barriers together! 🌟💪

Happy International Women's Day from KSM! IWD is a day to celebrate progress towards gender equality, and towards a world that is more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Today and every day, we are proud to be partly woman-owned, and to have women in 61% of our leadership roles (Director level and up). To all the women who call KSM their professional home, thank you for the amazing contributions, leadership, and mentorship you deliver for our clients, partners, and one another daily.

Wondering where to get started when adopting AI as a marketer? Dabbled with ChatGPT but not sure where to explore next? Curious about data security implications? Here's what we've learned at KSM about diving into the world of AI:

AI: Implementation Considerations for Marketers - Kelly Scott Madison The question is no longer whether marketers should integrate AI into their work, but when and how. We've compiled tips and considerations for marketers ready to take the leap.

In Austin for SXSW next week? Check out this fantastic International Women's Day panel hosted by The Trade Desk, honoring women in media and featuring our very own Kay Wesolowski!

Together we’ll hear from inspiring leaders, explore the power and importance of being a woman in media, and share advice for the next generation of female leaders. RSVP here: https://hubs.la/Q02n1dJ60

Happy President's Day from all of us at KSM! Our offices are closed today as we take this time to reflect on the leaders who have shaped our nation and enjoy a well-deserved day off. 🇺🇸

January flew by, and we’re getting a clearer picture of what this year has in store. We’ve gathered the data and consulted our predictive models, so here’s what’s in and out for 2024 here at KSM:

KSM will be closed on Monday 1/15 in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

MLK Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service. This weekend, we're reflecting on how we can become more involved in our communities and promote Martin Luther King Jr’s ideas of peace and shared understanding.

From all of us at KSM, Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best for 2024.

KSM Cares is at it again! We were so happy to be able to support Connections for Abused Women and their Children and donate presents for three families in the Chicagoland area. And we weren't alone; check out this great photo of all the presents donated this year.

Want to spread some joy yourself? CAWC is also running an online donation drive that still needs support. Find their wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2UGC09XU1KGNO?ref_=abls_nvfly_swy

What can marketers learn from ethnography? Quite a lot, actually. At the 2023 EPIC People Conference, we got inspired by a variety of lenses through which we can understand people, cultures, organizations, and data—check out our must-read takeaways for marketers in our latest Intel post!

Takeaways from the 2023 EPIC People Summit What can marketers learn from ethnography? Quite a lot, actually. Check out our top 5 takeaways from the 2023 EPIC people conference to find out.

We love supporting our clients as they create memorable moments for their communities. For Dia De los Mu***os, Evergreen Washelli Funeral Homes . Cremations . Cemeteries. organized a vibrant event with live performances, activities like face painting and sugar skull decorating, and a luminary-lit cemetery procession to honor those who have passed. And thanks to the great work of our Planning and Brand Events and Promotions teams, the word got out via radio partnerships and digital and social media, drawing over 300 attendees to this inaugural celebration. What a joy to see the community come together—we can’t wait for next year!

At the latest Digiday Media Buying Summit, industry experts gathered to discuss the state of media buying, advancements in tech, channel challenges, and more. Sara Lemmermen and Isa Brindza were excited to add their voices to the mix. In case you missed it, click below for their top takeaways for brand marketers:

Takeaways from the Digiday Media Buying Summit We took a trip to the Digiday Media Buying Summit, and here's the latest industry updates marketers need to know.

We had a great time speaking alongside other agency OOH experts today at the MediaPost Digital Out-of-Home Insider Summit! If you missed the panel, click below for 5 key takeaways:

5 Key Takeaways from our Digital OOH Insider Summit Panel Associate Director of OOH Alex Meza recently spoke at the Media Post Digital OOH Insider Summit—here are 5 key takeaways from that panel discussion.

The MediaPost Digital Out-of-Home Insider Summit kicks off its first day of programming tomorrow, and we’re excited to be there alongside some fantastic brands and industry peers. Don’t miss Alex Meza on stage tomorrow morning talking about the power of pDOOH to drive ticket sales with real-time data and zooming in on the state of DOOH inventory!

Attending the conference and have questions about your DOOH strategy and how to make it work harder for you? Reach out! We’d love to chat.

We had a great time with our friends and partners at the Cicis Pizza Let’s Ride 2023 Conference this week! Thanks to the whole Cicis team for a fantastic few days. We're excited for more great things ahead!

Thanks to all who came together yesterday across Chicago, Austin, and virtually to have some fun and celebrate our amazing KSM community. Our Chicago-based employees gave it their all with some classic field games (congratulations Team Peach!) and celebrated after at Luminary, Austin employees gathered at the beautiful Parlor & Yard for bar games and ping-pong, and our remote employees participated in a hilarious and challenging Virtual Game Show Extravaganza. Our competitive spirits found their time to shine even as we cheered each other on. And a big shout-out to all the venues and hosts for making yesterday one to remember!

Bid shading remains a hot topic in programmatic media. KSM’s head of Investment, Kay Wesolowski, recently shared her perspectives on it with Antoinette Siu in a Digiday feature. Preview her quote below, and click the article link for more!

"It’s up to agencies to keep ad-tech partners honest about their algorithms’ inner workings and find smart ways to integrate more customized and dynamic first-party data approaches to deliver the best possible investments at scale," — Kay Wesolowski, SVP, Investment & Partnerships

Media Buying Briefing: Agencies’ views for and against bid shading Ever since bid shading became prevalent in programmatic, how do agencies know it’s working? There are still plenty of uncertainties and complexities around the benefits and downsides.

Our offices will be closed starting 1pm today through Monday as we celebrate the hard work of our KSM team, and the importance of work-life balance. We'll be back in action on Tuesday. In the meantime, Happy Labor Day!

We are so excited to once again support Bremer Bank as the bank of the Minnesota State Fair, and to celebrate Bremer’s 80 years of service to their community! Check out these behind-the-scenes photos of Bremer President and CEO Jeanne Crain sitting down for an interview with KARE-TV, and if you’re in Minneapolis, check out the State Fair through September 4th—we hear the Bremer Grain Bin Gazebo might have some free giveaways. Find the Gazebo just outside the Agriculture Horticulture Building on the south side along Judson Ave.