Hilarious Holiday Commercials, Hustlin' Over the Holidays, & Looking Ahead to Digital Marketing in 2019 ...This is THE LATEST!

In the beginning, Ramona and I set out to launch THE LATEST with one goal -- to create the email equivalent of a little gift filled with valuable digital marketing goodness that arrives on your virtual doorstep three times a week.

However, what we didn't realize was that, in accomplishing our mission, we were the ones receiving the gift. The gift of helping you all. The gift of getting to know some of you over email -- and making a few friends along the way. (Oh, and the gift of making ourselves laugh, as we put together each issue.)

So, from Ramona and myself, thank you. You've made THE LATEST much more than an email newsletter, which is not something either of us expected.

As a token of our gratitude, here is a little Christmas gift from the both of us, in the form of a... well, you'll see.

Long live DISCO Christmas! 🎶

📺 12 of the Best Holiday Commercials to Make You Laugh, Cry, & Get Inspired

It's not always easy to come up with a holiday campaign that will leave people a-buzzin' and sharing with their friends. So, to help get even the Grinch-iest of marketers in the spirit (and inspire some last minute videos before New Years), IMPACT Head of Editorial Content Ramona Sukhraj has curated this sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching list of 12 of the best holiday commercials from the past few years.

🎄 The Numbers Don't Lie; Businesses Hustle More Over the Holidays

Even though many of us spend the vast majority of the month of December counting down the days until holiday vacation -- or at least one or two days off for the holidays themselves -- you may be surprised to learn that productivity reaches an all-time high this time of year. Don't believe me? IMPACT Director of Event Marketing Jen Barrell has the scoop with this festive, surprising infographic overflowing with data on holiday season productivity.

📊 2019 Digital Marketing Trends

Influencers, voice search, and featured snippets -- oh my! As us marketers look ahead to next year, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all of the new stuff we learned in 2018. But which of the 18,741 new tactics, tools, and strategies should we be implementing in 2019? Well, rest easy. IMPACT VP of Marketing Kathleen Booth has seven important digital marketing trends she personally recommends you should definitely put at the top of your list for 2019.

👀 ...When You're All Ears (& Eyes)

🌎 IMPACTers on the Move

IMPACT Client Success Specialist Myriah Anderson will be a featured speaker for Sales Hacker's Accelerating Sales with Video: Lessons Learned from Those Seeing Success live web event on January 17. Limited spots are available, so snag yours today.

Well, according to Horatio the Scottie and his bowtie...

...it's time for me to join my husband, Patrick, by the tree, so we can officially kickoff our Christmas morning festivities.

Psst! If you're like me -- a pathologically compulsive work email-checker, even over the holidays -- I would love to see your favorite photo from Christmas Day! Send it along by replying to this email.

Don't forget -- if you got this from a friend and haven't subscribed yet, join the fun here.

Ho-ho-ho!