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New findings from Matter Communications indicate that most marketers are planning to up spending in 2024. Matter surveyed 270 CMOs and marketing/communications decision-makers, and 84 percent of them said that their marketing investment would go up next year. Four in ten (40 percent) said that the increase would be “substantial.” The top priority for spending: social media. Over half of the respondents (52 percent) said that social media is one of the top three items on their list when prioritizing budgets for next year—a jump of 20 percent from 2023. Content marketing (38 percent) and brand building (35 building) are the next two choices. AI is also on the radar for them in a big way. Almost eight in 10 (79 percent) plan to invest in AI in 2024, with 60 percent of those investing in AI saying that they’ll allocate more than 10 percent of their marketing budget to it. As regards the most popular AI tool, there’s little contest. ChatGPT (cited by 48 percent of respondents) far outpaced the rest of the pack, with Grammarly (19 percent), Brandwatch (13 percent) and Howler (11 percent) far behind. “Our survey results demonstrate that senior-level marketers will continue to invest in programs and services that deliver true brand building ROI like robust social and content programs,” said Matter president Mandy Mladenoff.
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TBA Worldwide, a network of data-driven advertising agencies and specialty marketing firms, acquires Joybyte, which offers services that include influencer marketing, brand partnerships and social media management. Joybyte will continue to operate as a standalone agency from its Scottsdale, AZ, office with its existing senior management team remaining in place. Its client roster includes Duluth Trading Company, Whamo, Frooze Balls, Jordan Craig and Vessel Golf. "Joybyte brings a very specific expertise with scalable social solutions and a strong growth trajectory," said TBA Worldwide CEO Scott Brandon. "It's a fantastic fit within the TBA Worldwide network of services with many opportunities to offer Joybyte's services to our existing clients."
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Engage for Good, which empowers corporate and nonprofit professionals to create mutually beneficial social impact partnerships, is acquired by Muneer Panjwani, from Cause Marketing Forum, which founded the company in 2002. Panjwani, whose experience with corporate-nonprofit partnerships includes work with The Trevor Project and Diversity, will serve as the company’s CEO. Engage for Good’s portfolio includes its flagship conference, as well as educational webinars, a podcast, a monthly newsletter, educational guides, a job board, and more. Panjwani plans to expand the company’s Halo Awards to celebrate a wider range of social impact activities and provide strategic guidance to organizations navigating the nuances of social impact partnerships. David Hessekiel, founder and outgoing president of Engage For Good, will serve as an advisor to Panjwani through the organization’s May 2024 conference in Minneapolis.
ICR releases a report that says the SPAC IPO market has been trending upward—and is likely to stay on that track... Washington Women in PR is sponsoring an April 15 event that looks at how women can change the dynamics that often keep them in lower-visibility positions through strategic self-advocacy and organizational awareness... Life Science Cares Boston, an organization supported by LaVoieHeathScience, will convene leaders, employees and partners from across the life sciences industry for its annual Impact Breakfast on April 13 at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport.
Bell Yard Communications and Kysen PR, London-based firms that focus on legal market and litigation PR, are merging. The combined firm will operate as Bell Yard Kysen Communications... FINN Partners launches Travel with Tastemakers, a global report that looks at more than 25 destinations through the eyes of the creatives who shape them... Baker Public Relations, a woman-owned agency based in Albany with offices in Pittsburgh, PA and St. Petersburg, FL, rebrands as The Baker Agency. 
ChangeMakers, an independent shop with 400 professionals across Canada and the U.S., is merging with The Creative Dept., which advises innovative and culture-shaping companies on brand strategy and creative direction... Full Court Press Communications, a Bay Area-based strategic communications firm, celebrates its 25th anniversary... R&J Strategic Communications marks its 40th anniversary by launching its Moments That Made a Difference campaign.
