10/1/2025
2025 is the year of performance at scale—but not on the usual suspects. Spotify, Reddit, and Pinterest are each building platforms where intent, trust, and positivity drive better outcomes for advertisers. Together, their events—Spotify Sessions: Deliver Great Ad Performance, Unlock the Power of Reddit’s Dynamic Product Ads, and Pinterest Presents 2025—offered a roadmap for full-funnel growth.
Below, we break down the highlights you can take straight into Q4 and beyond.
Spotify framed its advantage as fandom over passive following. People choose Spotify, and that choice translates into more attention and a more positive mindset.
– 2× attention vs. social ads.
– 21% of U.S. media time spent in streaming audio—but <5% of budgets flow there.
– +27% incremental reach on top of TV; +22% on top of digital/social.
Buying Paths:
Ads Manager: direct control, goal-based bidding.
Ad Exchange: programmatic (The Trade Desk, DV360, ~30 DSPs via Magnite).
Signals & targeting: Pixel + soon-to-launch web event audiences; ~30 new contextual categories.
Formats: Audio, video, display, and podcasts (on + off Spotify).
Creative: Free AI audio generation (live in U.S./CA/UK); split testing coming.
Integrations: Smartly.io for streamlined workflows.
Action for brands: Pair automation (goal-based bidding, Ad Exchange) with creative testing (AI voice, free audio production). Run multi-format and pixel-powered campaigns to maximize outcomes.
Click here to speak with a Spotify expert
Consumers are researching more intentionally in 2025: 79% say they’ll do more research before buying. Reddit is their destination:
– #7 most searched term on Google in Q2.
– >50% of online purchasing discussions happen on Reddit.
– 40% of posts are commercial in nature.
– 7 in 10 users say Reddit conversations helped them find meaningful gifts.
Catalog feed: Upload via CSV, Feed Sync, or Shopping API.
Signals: Pixel or Conversions API (CAPI).
Product sets: Up to 200, auto-refresh with feed updates.
Targeting:
Prospecting: matches user behavior/subreddits with catalog data.
Retargeting: resurfaces items users engaged with.
Placements: Feed + conversation pages.
Formats: Single image or carousel; details auto-pulled from feed.I.
– Rich catalog metadata (≥6 items per carousel).
– Start broad, then optimize after ~2-week learning.
– Run 6-week flights minimum.
– Headlines matter—use CTAs, promos, seasonal relevance.
– Launched with DPA + subreddit/keyword targeting.
– Found both new parents and gift-givers.
– Leveraged promo overlays to update creative without resetting learning.
– Plans to scale during Mother’s Day and Holiday with DPA + takeovers.
Action for brands: If you sell online, Reddit’s conversation commerce is too valuable to ignore. Start with Feed Sync + Pixel, run a broad set, and build for gifting/Q4 moments.
Click here to speak with a Reddit expert
Pinterest pitched itself as a decision engine built for action and safety:
– 500M+ MAUs, >50% Gen Z (most engaged).
– 39% of Gen Z start searches on Pinterest vs. search engines.
– Gen Z sees Pinterest as the place to “figure out who I want to be” vs. social telling them who to be.
– Under-16 accounts are private-only; Pinterest advocates for phone-free schools.
– Visual search = structured wandering → see → refine → pivot → buy.
– Boards upgraded: spotlight products, auto-build shoppable collages, deliver curated “timely boards.”
– Shoppers are 70% more likely to purchase on Pinterest than social; >80% more likely when promoted.
– Automation suite: faster setup, smart targeting, creative optimization.
– Outperforms in 80% of A/B tests.
– 20% CPA in catalog sales.
– ROAS bidding now available.
– Creative tools: auto-crop/resize, background generation, turn catalog into ads.
– Local Inventory Ads (pickup/delivery).
– Promotions (auto-sale highlights; Shopify import).
– Max-width ads (4× larger).
– Where-to-Buy links
– Media Network Connect: link retailer networks into Ads Manager.
– Trends tool: trends last 2× longer on Pinterest; new shopping trends reveal what’s about to spike.
– Creator Collective: 1M+ creators, 60% Gen Z, content with +20% saves.
– Creator Directory + tools to import UGC, tag products, monetize.
– IKEA: +49% ROAS, −39% CPC.
– Sephora: Holiday campaign → lower eCPM, higher ROAS with P3 + Premier Spotlight.
Action for brands: Upload your catalog, switch on Performance Plus, and layer Promotions and max-width ads for Q4. Use Trends to plan what to promote, and tap the Creator Collective for authentic amplification.
Click here to speak with a Pinterest expert
Spotify, Reddit, and Pinterest aren’t niche channels anymore. They’re intent-led platforms where consumers are researching, planning, and buying. Each has leaned into automation, shopping, and safety, giving marketers new levers for performance without trading off brand trust.
This holiday season—and into 2026—your most resilient growth will come from diversifying beyond the “big two” and leaning into platforms where intent meets action.
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