91% of brands have moved toward an in-house model, but over a third of brand marketers report in-house marketing challenges. Priorities are constantly competing, resources are increasingly limited, and teams everywhere feel they need to do more with less. We polled over 600 professionals, and 86% agree. Now, more than ever, marketing and creative teams must focus on the work that matters most to their organizations. Yet, more often than not, teams prioritize the wrong projects. Why? It isn’t easy to manage the demand, especially when your team’s workload exceeds their bandwidth. From communic ..read more

Strong leadership is the driving force behind high performance. Across industries, experienced executives shape effective marketing strategies, inspire sales growth, and empower success in every function. Yet, hiring full-time leaders isn’t always the most sensible option. Based on Onward Search poll data, more than 1 in 4 companies are exploring a novel alternative: fractional executives. From CMOs to CSOs and beyond, these senior-level experts offer part-time and as-needed leadership services. Their approach minimizes expenses while maximizing agility, specialization and innovation. More th ..read more

We’re living in a world of ‘new.’ A new job market. New talent needs. New paths to performance. New beginnings. The future of work is always changing, and brands everywhere must adapt. Economic shifts have left businesses with tighter budgets and fewer resources to do the same amount of work. Recent job reports exceeded expectations, but the tech industry has seen over 50,000 layoffs in 2024 alone. Google. Amazon. Microsoft. Sadly, the list goes on. Marketing, creative and digital teams everywhere are rethinking priorities, reallocating funds, and restructuring with an emphasis on cost saving ..read more

How much would you pay an accessibility specialist to audit your website?  Keep in mind that corporate sites often have over 100 pages. Over 96% of these sites have digital accessibility (a11y) defects, and automated tools will not solve all of your problems. A thorough audit typically demands hours of work from a certified expert. Plus, testing isn’t the only a11y service today’s businesses require. And it isn’t easy to put a number on any need, but if you want to do right by people with disabilities and your company, you have to do more than take your best guess at a fair rate. Onward ..read more

Is your job at risk? If you’re a creative, copywriter, or designer learning about recent artificial intelligence (AI) advancements, this question must have crossed your mind. Of course, AI experts say not to worry. Yet, AI is already revolutionizing the creative industry and the world of work. We polled over 500 professionals, and 91% identified AI as today’s most talked about innovation. The emerging technology can help write everything from blog posts to song lyrics, design photo-realistic imagery, and even develop marketing strategies. However, creatives remain divided on the impact of AI ..read more

What should you pay your design talent? You may have a ballpark figure in mind, a gut feeling based on personal experience, competitor intel you overheard, or whispers about recent hires. Still, you question your own intuition… Should you play it safe with a lower range? Or do you go bold, setting a number that reflects the impact you expect from this hire? When you post your next design job and reach the dreaded “Salary Range” field – don’t pause, skip, or take your best guess. Use industry benchmarks to craft competitive pay packages and attract the right designer for the role. Onward Searc ..read more

Digital accessibility (a11y) is not what you might think. It isn’t strictly a social mission. It’s rarely a simple task. And it doesn’t happen overnight. No matter how far your organization has come, there’s often more work to be done. It is a business imperative, a complex undertaking, and an endless journey, requiring constant advocacy to keep moving forward and never back. As long-time advocates know all too well, gaining executive support isn’t just a challenge during the initial stages of a11y programs. Once you establish awareness, you’ll need to foster and steward your company’s commit ..read more

Do you have all the talent you need? We asked 100+ creative, marketing and tech hiring managers this very question. Over 40% admitted their teams are understaffed. Employees echoed the same sentiment, with over 85% reporting they’re being asked to do more with less. Market shifts continue to leave teams with tight budgets, limited resources, and the same amount of work. However, top companies aren’t letting economic uncertainty slow them down. Determined to embrace new technologies, prevent employee burnout, and hit strategic goals, 86% of companies are hiring or planning to hire in the comin ..read more

Digital accessibility is not just an option; it’s an obligation. In recent years, digital activity increased exponentially worldwide, along with the difficulties that people with disabilities face each day. Companies across the globe are responding with a newfound emphasis on a11y initiatives. Our IAAP-certified specialists have seen firsthand the rise in demand for digital accessibility talent and solutions. This increasingly hot topic is more than just a trend; it’s an ethical duty, a legal requirement, and a proven strategy for operational success. Here’s why digital accessibility should b ..read more

If you’re hiring gaming talent right now, you’re not alone. Despite recent slowdowns and headcount reductions, the global games market is expanding, and experts predict its growth will continue. The industry is expected to reach a market value of $189.3 billion in 2024 and soar beyond $212 billion by 2026. New titles, technologies, consoles, and game-inspired films are poised to accelerate the sector’s expansion. In particular, mobile and cloud gaming continue to be major growth drivers, with easy accessibility and low costs to players. At the same time, AI advancements are transforming how g ..read more