The rules of marketing have changed. AI is rewriting search. Media costs are climbing. Privacy regulations are creating data gaps, leaving marketers with fewer signals and more pressure to prove ROI. In this shifting landscape, siloed strategies are a liability.
Our latest Speaker Series event, Greater Together: How to Integrate Brand & Performance in the AI Era brings together leaders across strategy, media, and data to share insights and actionable strategies to help marketers and their brands stay visible, efficient, and effective.
If you missed it live, you can still catch the full conversation on demand.
OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS
Our panel, moderated by Red Door CEO, Reid Carr, featured dynamic RDI experts across strategy, data, and media:
- John Faris – President: Shared how brands can remain visible in AI-first search results through structured content, EEAT principles, and consistent brand-building across touchpoints.
- Ron Hadler – VP of Data & Innovation: Cut through the hype on AI, showing where it creates measurable value (like anomaly detection and automation) and how to break down data silos for cross-channel insight.
- Emily Enberg – Director of Paid Media: Unpacked modern attribution and full-funnel planning in a post-cookie world—emphasizing creative adaptation for each channel and media mix diversification.
WHAT WAS COVERED
Performance marketing can’t live in a silo anymore. Today’s best-performing brands are those that blend brand-building with tactical performance to create seamless customer journeys that:
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Maximize visibility in AI-powered search: Leverage structured data, authoritative content, and consistent brand presence to ensure you appear in high-value moments (whether in Google’s AI Overviews, emerging AI ad formats, or other AI-first discovery experiences) so you’re top of mind when it matters most.
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Reveal the full value of marketing efforts: Replace outdated attribution with advanced measurement models (like media mix modeling and incrementality testing) capture a fuller customer journey, giving clearer insight to guide smarter investment decisions.
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Earn attention across fragmented channels: Design creative tailored to each platform’s context and audience behavior, to build emotional connections that not only capture attention in the moment but drive long-term brand recall and preference.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Our panel didn’t just share observations; they challenged the status quo. The consensus was clear: marketers who win in 2025 will integrate their brand and performance strategies, embrace AI as a practical tool, and evolve how they measure success. Here’s where to focus:
1. AI isn’t the enemy—it’s a multiplier.
“Don’t put data in the corner” – Ron Hadler
Treat AI like an accelerator for smart teams, not a shortcut. The real advantage comes from connecting siloed systems, automating repetitive work, and using AI to surface insights you can act on now, not chasing every shiny feature.
2. Your KPIs need a refresh.
“Death to last-click attribution” – Emily Engberg
Last-click attribution is like steering a ship by only watching the wake; it tells you where you’ve been, not where you’re going. Emily urged marketers to measure incremental lift and map metrics to the entire funnel, so you’re not starving brand growth while overfeeding bottom-of-funnel channels.
3. Brand building is still the moat.
“Only 5-10% of your market is in purchase mode” – John Faris
In any market, only a small fraction of buyers are ready to purchase today. John reminded us that the brands dominating tomorrow’s search (AI-driven or otherwise) are the ones creating memory and emotional connection now, so they’re the first choice when buyers enter the category.
READY TO RETHINK YOUR STRATEGY?
If you’re a CMO, VP, or Marketing Director under pressure to grow pipeline, prove ROI, and keep pace with AI-driven change, this recording is your roadmap.
You’ll hear how to future-proof your media mix, measurement models, and creative strategy—and get access to tools like our AI Visibility Report and Integrated Marketing Guide.
Smarter marketing beats louder marketing every time. Watch now and position your brand to lead.