THIS WEEK 

👉 Welcome back to Edition 7 of the NordMedia newsletter—your weekly growth marketing reality check.

🎯  BAD SPORT: UNDER ARMOUR’S AI AD SPARKS BACKLASH

In case you missed it: Under Armour dropped an "AI-powered ad" with Anthony Joshua. It mashed up old footage with AI effects. 

Director Wes Walker called it groundbreaking. 

Not everyone agreed.

The ad looks smooth, flipping between real and AI scenes. 

Walker claimed it's the next big thing. 

But here's the catch: he reused old shots without giving proper credit at first. 

Gustav Johansson, the original footage director, pointed this out, sparking a heated debate.

Johansson's critique was straightforward: calling something "AI" doesn't erase the human work behind it. Misleading, at best. The issue blew up, pulling in more voices from the industry.

After pressure, Walker credited Johansson and his cinematographer. But for many, it was a half-hearted fix. Voices like set designer Andrea Huelse and photographer Hermeilio Miguel Aquino criticized the approach. 

Using AI and someone else's work without clear credit? Not good.

Aquino highlighted a bigger fear: seeing your work AI-transformed without your say. 

It's a disrespect to the original creators. 

This Under Armour ad might just be the tip of the iceberg.

Bottom line: Under Armour's ad mess shows a careless blend of AI and creativity. 

Whether the backlash will prompt a reevaluation of how AI is integrated into creative work remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the conversation around AI and creativity is just beginning.

💡 PAID ADVERTISING TIP OF THE WEEK

👉  This week I’m giving you 7 high-performing, tried-and-true Meta ad angles for you to swipe.

1. Us vs. Them: Position your brand as the hero against the common enemy—whether that's inconvenience, poor quality, or high prices.

2. Before and After: Show off dramatic transformations. People love visual proof.

3. Press Release Screenshot: Leverage the credibility of media coverage. If they're talking about you, it's worth a look.

4. Problem - Agitation - Solution (PAS) + UGC: Highlight a pain point, poke it, then present your product as the hero, all through the lens of user-generated content.

5. Founder Stories: Get personal. Share your journey, struggles, and triumphs. Relatability sells.

6. 3 Reasons Why: Break down exactly why your product is a must-have. Make it simple, clear, and compelling.

7. Single Image Ad That Makes Problem "Pop": Use a striking image to bring the problem into sharp focus. Make viewers feel the pinch, so your solution feels like a relief.

What else works?

Beyond these, success often comes from unexpected corners. 

Testimonials that feel raw and real, interactive polls that engage, or even leveraging memes that resonate with your audience can turn views into clicks into conversions.

📧 EMAIL MARKETING TIP OF THE WEEK

👉 Your subject line is always your first impression. 

The make-or-break moment for your email campaigns. 

That’s why A/B testing your subject lines isn’t just smart—it’s essential. 

Here are 6 subject line A/B tests you can implement today to drastically improve your OPR.

1. Emojis vs. No Emoji: 😏 vs. Plain. Does the smile make the click? Test it.

2. Few Words vs. Many: "Sale Now" vs. "Our Biggest Sale of the Year Starts Now". Concise or descriptive?

3. Intriguing vs. Straightforward: "You Won't Believe This Deal" vs. "25% Off Your Order". Mystery or clarity?

4. Statement vs. Question: "Your Next Favorite Book Inside" vs. "Looking for Your Next Favorite Book?". Command or curiosity?

5. Sentence vs. Title Case: "Meet your new best friend" vs. "Meet Your New Best Friend". Casual or formal?

6. First Person vs. Second Person: "I Found the Perfect Deal for You" vs. "Find Your Perfect Deal Today". Personal touch or direct appeal?

What Else? 
Beyond these, consider testing:

• Personalization (Name vs. No Name)

• Urgency ("Limited Time" vs. A Specific Deadline)

• Specific Numbers ("Save 20%" vs. "Save Big")

A/B testing slices through guesswork. 

It tells you exactly what resonates with YOUR audience. 

Because what works for one, doesn't always for another. 

Test, measure, optimize, and repeat. 

That's the shortcut to better engagement.

✍️ AD OF THE WEEK

This ad's smart, using the smartphone's call-to-action—a call screen—to pitch its message. 

It's not just any alert—it's an incoming call, something you instinctively want to answer.

AG1 is banking on your daily habits, your muscle memory that says, 'Slide to answer', to create a sense of urgency. 

This isn’t a passive billboard—it's an interaction you're wired to respond to.

Just like you wouldn't ignore a call, you shouldn't miss your vitamins. 

It's clever—embedding their product into the flow of your day-to-day life.

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Thank you for reading! I appreciate you.

Best Wishes,
Kody