Digital Connect August 7, 2025

We’re looking at the latest digital platform updates and vertical trends in the latest issue of Digital Connect.

Platform Updates:

Reddit's revenue has risen by over 20% year-over-year in Q2 2025. The emerging social giant should be considered essential for almost every type of digital media campaign due to its targeting, social discussions, and increasing clickthrough rates. DCW was an early adopter of Reddit ads and has run campaigns covering healthcare, insurance, banking, and home improvement. We're prepared to help clients get started on the platform, whatever the goal.

ESPN recently announced that it will launch its new direct-to-consumer streaming app this fall. The app will run for around $35.99 per month and feature sports content not only from ESPN, but also ABC, ESPN+, ESPN 2, the ACC network, and more. This will enable advertisers to more easily and directly reach ESPN's premium sports audiences. DCW is well-positioned to buy inventory on the streaming app, as well as any other sports inventory. 

Speaking of sports, Roku TV has partnered with Dick's Sporting Goods to leverage the retailer's customer loyalty data for ad targeting. Dick's is just one of the many recent examples of emerging retail media networks, which include placements, targeting data, and ad serving. These are great opportunities for advertisers to reach users with first-person data across virtually every vertical. 

Instagram started allowing search engines Bing and Google index public business posts in their search results. This opens a large new avenue for brands and advertisers to be seen in relevant search results, thanks to their social content. The public professional content will also be accessible to searches without having to login into the Instagram platform. DCW is in the know on the multitude of ways advertisers can be seen with both paid campaigns and more imaginative organic tactics. 

Vertical Trends:

Non-profit donations are taking off on social media platforms such as TikTok and Meta. Giving via social media has dramatically increased and donation platform GoFundMe is introducing new in-video donation widgets on Instagram and Twitch that will double down on the trend. DCW is no stranger to non-profit efforts with clients such as Long Island Cares and CCBQ. Non-profits looking to reach out on Giving Tuesday (December 2) should strongly consider such digital tools.

The telehealth trend, boosted by COVID in 2020, continues to rise as an essential tool for healthcare providers. Healthcare advertisers can seize on the offer to set themselves apart from competitors, communicating their ease of use and availability to potential and reoccurring patients. DCW partners with a variety of healthcare providers to communicate such offerings and services, all while keeping privacy and regulatory concerns top of mind.