Insights at the corner of technology and culture.


Standing out in a Sea of Sameness
Thursday, August 14, 2025How Cybersecurity Brands Can Stand Out in a Sea of Sameness

If you walked the RSAC floor this year, it probably felt like a blur. Booth after booth shouting the same jargon. Hundreds of companies. One giant sea of sameness. Taglines so interchangeable you could run a roulette wheel and get the same pitch. The irony? Every single one of these companies claimed to be unique.

Source Image for AI Video Test
Wednesday, August 6, 2025Can AI Video Keep Up with Human Movement? A Futureproof Field Test

We tested top AI video tools using the same jogging prompt to see how well they handle motion. From smooth strides to sprinting into the ocean, our series reveals which generators are ready for production—and which ones still have work to do.

Tuesday, July 8, 2025What Purpose Looks Like When It Really Matters

In case you missed the news, the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. As business leaders, we can’t impact Supreme Court decisions. Our influence in Washington is limited. But we can change how businesses show up as drivers of social good—through policy and a reexamination of what Corporate Social Responsibility really means.

Cognitiv panel at Cannes: Featuring Babs Rangaiah, Jay Altschuler, & Lauren Evans
Monday, July 7, 2025Insights from Cannes: 8 Truths Reshaping the Marketing Industry

Fresh from Cannes: 8 essential truths every marketer must face about AI, creativity, and keeping humanity at the center. Adapt fast — the revolution isn’t coming. It’s here.

Futureproof Dinner in Nashville
Wednesday, June 18, 2025Futureproof: Rebuilding the Creative Engine in Nashville

Last week in Nashville, the Futureproof Project gathered an influential group of CMOs and creative leaders for a private dinner unlike any other—hosted by Traction in collaboration with the ANA and XR Extreme Reach. The evening sparked an honest, forward-looking dialogue about the future of creativity inside brands.

2025 ANA B2B Winner
Friday, June 6, 2025Traction Wins Three 2025 ANA B2 Awards!

We’re proud to announce that Traction is a 2025 ANA B2 Award Winner! Our team has been recognized in three powerhouse categories — one with our partners at GE Healthcare and two with Recorded Future.

The Acceleration Roadmap for Marketing
Thursday, April 24, 2025The Acceleration Roadmap for Marketing

In January, Traction and The Futureproof Project just dropped our groundbreaking 2025 AI Insights CMO Report. We believe it is the most comprehensive and practical resource on marketing with AI available today. The response has been so strong, we just published a Volume 2 with new case studies, new frameworks and new insights to help you win on your AI adoption journey.

Organized Marketing Team
Tuesday, April 22, 2025How to Design the Marketing Org of the Future

In an era where CMO credibility is under fire and marketing technology investments are increasingly scrutinized, marketing organization design helps companies accelerate growth and resource efficiency through the 4 Ps: People, Platforms, Partners and Process.

Futureproof dinner in New York City
Tuesday, April 8, 2025CMOs: Change Agents of the AI Revolution

Marketers are not spectators in the AI revolution. We are the drivers of change. The question on the table? How do we not just survive this AI wave — but use it to win? At the most recent meeting of the Futureproof Project in New York's Upper East Side, we facilitated a raw, honest, future-focused discussion with a dozen CMOs and marketing leaders on what it means to lead in this new era — where AI agents think for you, data predicts your customer's next move, and the old rules just don't apply anymore.

Answer Engine Optimization
Friday, March 28, 2025AI, SEO, and the Evolution of Search

AI is fundamentally changing how people search—and how brands need to show up. Traditional SEO is giving way to AI-powered platforms that deliver direct answers, not just links. This blog recaps insights from The Futureproof Project: The Future of AI Search virtual session, breaking down new strategies like Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Search Everywhere Optimization, and the rise of AI agents. If you're not adapting, you're disappearing.

The Futureproof Project
Thursday, March 6, 2025The AI-First CMO in 2025

In our latest Futureproof Project session, we broke down how AI is reshaping marketing, why IT and legal are blocking adoption, and why agencies must shift from selling hours to selling solutions. From AI-generated creativity to data privacy concerns and tool overload, we covered what’s working, what’s hype, and how to stay ahead. The future belongs to those who adapt and act.

Organization design on a fresh sheet of paper
Thursday, March 6, 2025Reimagining Marketing Organizations for the AI Era with a Blank Sheet of Paper

The blank sheet approach to marketing organization design invites leaders to set aside legacy structures and imagine their ideal marketing organization from first principles—creating space for true innovation, AI integration, and customer-centricity.

10 AI things every creative should know.
Monday, February 24, 2025An introduction to Futureproof: Create

AI isn’t replacing creativity—it’s redefining it. Futureproof: Create explores how creatives can harness AI to work smarter and stay ahead.

San Francisco Chronicle story about Traction
Thursday, February 20, 2025Purpose Marketing in Polarized Times: Finding Common Ground Beyond Politics

In times of intense political division, purpose marketing feels like navigating treacherous waters. And let's be honest, with all the brands trying to "take a stand" these days, there are a lot of marketers getting seasick.

binoculars on a solid color background
Thursday, February 6, 2025Unlock Search Visibility: Your Guide to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)

In today's digital landscape, simply ranking on the first page of search results isn't enough. Users crave instant answers, and search engines like Google are increasingly delivering them directly within the search results page – the coveted "Position Zero" or "Featured Snippet." This is where Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) comes in, and it's a game-changer for your online visibility.

Campaign US Agency of the Year 2025 Finalist
Tuesday, January 21, 2025Traction named Finalist as Talent Management Team of the Year 2025

The results are in and we’re a finalist AGAIN! Traction was named as a finalist for the Campaign US Agency of the Year in the Talent Management category for 2025.

AI Adoption Across your Brand
Tuesday, December 3, 2024Do More: Approach AI with an abundance mindset.

Unlock practical AI strategies to streamline workflows, scale your brand, and automate tasks. Futureproof your marketing today!

A vibrant city skyline reflects transformation, blending cool dawn blues with warm sunset hues, symbolizing reinvention and unity.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024Five Years. Five faces of reinvention.

5 years ago, we took a leap, pivoting to a Liquid Workforce model. The journey was tough, but reinvention led us to amazing places.

The image captures a close-up view of a person walking on a wet, reflective surface in an urban setting, with a blurred, vibrant background of city lights. The scene is taken from ground level, emphasizing the steps forward, with the warm glow of lights creating a sense of motion and ambiance.
Friday, November 1, 2024AI's Impact on SEO and Content Strategy

Here's a breakdown of the key changes and how Traction can help you adapt your strategies to succeed in this new era of search.

The Futureproof Project
Friday, October 11, 2024Unlock the Future: How Brands are Harnessing the Power of AI

AI is revolutionizing how brands grow, from efficiency to creative strategy. The key? Balance AI with human insight to unlock its true potential.

The Futureproof Project
Friday, October 4, 2024 3 Strategies for Creative AI Adoption

If you’re still on the fence about integrating AI into your creative and marketing processes, I hate to break it to you, but you’re already behind.