Apple flaunts the pc-based Apple TV 3.0 and it's SIRI integration. Michael B. Jordan plays a young Kobe Bryant preparing for a Bryant biopic in a hilarious new Apple TV ad, and the star of Creed takes some serious shots at old man Kobe.

The branded social video has become an art form itself as marketers partner with filmmakers to develop narratives that aim to inspire beyond product. Technology such as virtual reality further places consumers within another world, allowing them to experience branded storytelling in a more immersive way.

Often enough, niche marketing isn't a worthwhile investment for institutions. In this recent sit-down with Target executives, Tristan Walker explains how his bet on beauty products for ethnic minorities has paid off. Bevel has quickly caught up to the likes of Harry's and Dollar Shave Club in mindshare. His plan for improved market share is beginning to line up as well.

Snapchat 2.0 opens the door for marketers to create a very personal connection to consumers as users in the past had to choose to view a brand’s content, something the new autoplay feature update eliminates. Since users now have a streamlined feed of all the stories from others they follow on Snapchat, brands are in danger of coming across as intrusive if they are not meticulous in sharing a smaller amount of content that is more valuable.

Ohio certainly isn't the only state that retailers choose for their fulfillment and distribution centers. Tennessee and Pennsylvania are also often high on the consideration list. But the Buckeye State is home to roughly 760 warehouse establishments, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And Ohio has gained share in the industry since 2011, by adding at least 79 new establishments.

Deray McKesson has been called divisive, loud, and many other names that I can't repeat in this letter. But one thing that you can't deny is that he's poised and principled. He's the first ever Twitter-famous social activist to ever attempt to segue his online prowess into votes. This will be a great test to better understand the obstacles that social activists will face when attempting to turn national prominence into local votes.

Harvard graduate and partner at Rough Draft Ventures, Peter Boyce is an example of how universities can bridge the entrepreneurial gap between college and the startup ecosystem. Boyce has successfully done that for Harvard entrepreneurs, and in many ways has helped the fabled Cambridge, Massachusetts institution become a de facto part of Silicon Valley.

The company has cataloged 1 million words and phrases that marketers use in their copy, and scored those words based on sentiment analysis and the structure of marketing pitches defined by a message’s format, linguistic structure, description, emotional language, and its actual call to action. The software can create a message, optimize its language, and then translate that message into any of 23 languages.

eCommerce return policies can make or break the business. Statistic from eConsultancy show 56% of shoppers want hassle-free return policy. 81% of shoppers want simple, easy and free return returns. 92% of shoppers say they would buy something again if they are happy with the return policy, while 67% of shoppers say they normally check the return page before making a purchase.

Turns out that the rideshare app may be the best dating app on your phone. This article touches on how millennials are using the app for extracurricular activities. It's also a great reminder that app builders rarely have control over the usefulness of what they build.

At Amazon Media Group (AMG), sometimes the objective isn’t to sell advertisers more ads. AMG has a lesser-known service – ecommerce marketing – where it might evaluate a partner’s broader retail health and the roles contextual elements (e.g., Amazon product detail pages), third-party placements or product availability play in the path to conversion.

About a dozen trucks from major manufacturers like Volvo and Daimler just completed a week of largely autonomous driving across Europe, the first such major exercise on the continent. The trucks set off from their bases in three European countries and completed their journeys in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. One step closer to human-free, cross country eCommerce shipping.