Pride Month ad spend was down sharply this year, as many brands decided to put their rainbows back into the closet. However, engagement was significantly higher, as consumers appreciated brands that continued to fly the flag. 

I looked into this, and it turns out consumers dislike brands that flip-flop on political issues much more than they dislike the ones taking stands they disagree with. Wishy-washy is not a good brand value.

Constantine von Hoffman
Managing Editor

 
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Customer data platform (CDP)

The fatal flaw killing your customer data initiatives

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Customer data alone won’t drive results. A shift to customer analytics is what turns information into action.

Customer experience

Why closing the feedback loop drives better CX outcomes

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Too many companies collect feedback and stop there. Learn why closing the loop is essential for retention, insights and customer trust.

Diversity and inclusion in marketing

Brands’ retreat from Pride costs them credibility

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Consumers across the political spectrum lose faith in brands that flip-flop on political issues.

Video

Still managing video like it’s 2015?

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Video has evolved—has your management strategy kept up? Discover why leading teams are replacing outdated tools with platforms built for scale, speed, and AI.

Marketing technology

If it tells the right story, brand fuels demand

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Why and how to build a brand that's true to your company and resonates with customers.

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Conversations with MarTech

Ripping up the rulebook: Marketing’s new frontier

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You relied on static GTM playbooks. They're failing fast in today’s AI landscape. Tune in to hear how Zach Vidibor is rethinking strategy in real time.

Marketing operations

The secret strategy behind high-performing Marketo teams

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Distributed marketing is the emerging approach helping teams scale execution—without adding headcount or losing control.

Marketing artificial intelligence (AI)

Your AI strategy is stuck in the past — here’s how to fix it

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Nearly half of all AI projects are abandoned before launch. Learn what separates failed pilots from scalable success.

What else we're reading

Good reads and conversations to help good marketers get better.
 

MarTech research

Surveys and research reports to make you a more-informed marketer
  • Get the 2025 State of Your Stack Survey report by downloading the PDF, flipping through a carousel, listening to a discussion of the results or watching the keynote session from the Spring 2025 MarTech Conference — all without registration.

MarTech Intelligence Reports are in-depth, independent and indispensable. They’re designed to help marketers navigate the martech landscape with questions to ask during the buying process, vendor profiles and more.

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What they're saying

  • “You don’t need massive, costly datasets. You need customer 101, predictive analytics and a solid testing and measurement plan. This puts marketers and analytics teams in the driver’s seat.” – Craig Schinn in The fatal flaw killing your customer initiatives
  • “Closing the loop offers a chance to retain customers and deepen their loyalty. This is known as the service recovery paradox: following up and demonstrating that you care can strengthen the relationship. In some cases, resolving the issue may not even be necessary.” – Raj Sivasubramanian in Why closing the feedback loop drives better CX outcomes
 

From Search Engine Land