“Creativity” Versus “Improved Results”: The Paradigm Needs to Change
Ad agencies and advertisers are victims of the belief that “creativity” is the basis of their current relationships, and that “more creativity” will give them more of what they need. Ad agencies have promoted “creativity” since the days of Bill Bernbach, more than 50 years ago, when agencies were at the top of their game. Advertisers, as their clients, continue to hire agencies for their perceived creativity, provided costs are rock bottom. However, “creativity” is no longer delivering improved brand performance or increasing shareholder value. The search for more creativity is making victims of agencies and CMOs alike — neither lasts very long in a relationship. It’s time for a new paradigm. The “Creative Paradigm” is out of date. It’s not working. By Michael Farmer
The ownership experience should be a critical brand differentiator and revenue generator for both manufacturers and retailers. Yet only 17 percent of North American consumers believe brands truly care about them after the point of purchase, which might be an accurate reflection of the importance that acquisition-centric marketers place on the aftermarket service and support that drive and solidify satisfaction, loyalty and advocacy.
Make no mistake about it: The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and retail landscape is facing systemic change unlike anything in recent history. While the first quarter of the year kicked off with slowed growth, the recipe for selling hasn’t really changed: retailers need to find more customers and get them to load up bigger baskets while raising prices. Yet slowing U.S. population growth, fragmented spending across channels and deflationary pressures remain key challenges.
Everyone I know in advertising and marketing is interested in ideas. Not just good ideas. Extraordinary ideas. The kind that elevate our work and make an unmistakable impact on people, industries, and the world. By Matt Magee, VP of strategy at PJA Advertising + Marketing
In 2011, Michael Chorost published a truly visionary book called “World Wide Mind: The Coming Integration of Humanity, Machines and the Internet.” It was and remains a really smart book that lays out an evidence-rich case that the melding of humans and machines is not just the futuristic noodling of science fiction writers, but an increasingly likely eventuality. By Tom Stein, chairman and chief client officer at Stein IAS
The United States always assumed that its forward momentum would carry the next generation toward greater prosperity, just as it took for granted that its technical prowess in manufacturing would guarantee its global market share. But now those assumptions have been upended. Although unemployment is down and wages are finally ticking up again, these indicators can distract from the bigger picture. Tens of millions of workers are struggling to make it in America, and even a full-time job does not guarantee a decent standard of living.
In addition to wine preferences the subjects include attitudes about how they see themselves, preferred language for communication and content consumption, top social media channels and frequency, types of shareable content, and relationships with premium brands. The results paint a picture of a community of confident women who over index on brand loyalty, appreciate culturally relevant content, have extraordinary influence in their communities through the social mobile, and who love wine.
One of the biggest issues facing brands today is that of cultural fragmentation. by Nigel Hollis
There is no question that online media forms play an ever-more significant role in our lives. But what does that mean for traditional media platforms? According to Kantar Media’s DIMENSION report, traditional media isn’t going away.
HLC Media announces the release of insights from a survey of nearly 400 women from HipLatina’s acculturated audience of upscale Latinas. The subjects include attitudes about how they see themselves, preferred language for communication and content consumption, top social media channels and frequency, types of shareable content, and relationships with premium brands.
While I agree that marketers probably could do more, I take issue with the tone of this and other industry reactions to the one-year anniversary that not much has changed. From working directly with some of the largest advertisers in the world, I can tell you that a LOT has changed. by Maarten Albarda
Global adspend will grow 4.2% to US$559bn in 2017, according to Zenith’s new Advertising Expenditure Forecasts. That’s down from 4.8% growth in 2016. However, 2016 was a ‘quadrennial year’, and benefited from extra adspend stimulated by the US elections, Summer Olympics in Rio and the football championships in Europe, making the annual comparisons tougher for 2017.
You can be the kind of client who inspires agencies to greater creative heights. Though it may be hard to believe, with work, you can become a client so good that agency folks will compete to be assigned to your account. It isn’t easy, but it is possible. To get there, you must first master these five important skills. By Jane Maas, ANA Faculty
For some time, marketers have suspected that certain opinions matter more than others when it comes to swaying consumer’s buying habits. Influence is far from a level playing field, but it isn’t necessarily for the reasons you might expect—fame, fortune and celebrity status.
Since 1999, AHAA has honored those that have made significant contributions to the U.S. Hispanic advertising and marketing industry. Expanding on this program, AHAA has established the AHAA Hall Fame, which recognizes a select group of visionaries, leaders and luminaries who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of the Hispanic advertising and marketing field.
It’s been exactly one year since the release of the K2 Intelligence report commissioned by the ANA, “An Independent Study of Media Transparency in the U.S. Advertising Industry,” and the issue of media transparency continues to be a topic of industry discussion and debate. By Bill Duggan, Group EVP, ANA
The technology giants Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook – take the Top 5 places in the 2017 BrandZTM Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands ranking released today by WPP and Kantar Millward Brown.
Last month, the ANA released the 17th edition of its “Trends in Agency Compensation” research. The study, which has been conducted every three years for nearly 50 years, tracks changes in compensation practices. According to key research contributor Dave Beals, president and CEO of JLB + Partners, “Some marketers are choosing to simplify compensation by using a commission method instead of negotiating the different labor and tech cost elements.” By Kerry Breen, senior manager, marketing knowledge center at ANA
Over the past 35 years in the business, not once was I taught or asked to use insulting words to get my point across to marketers, ad agencies, the media or executives looking to target US Hispanic Consumers. By Gene Bryan / HispanicAd
An article this month in the Financial Times, “Advertisers Pull Back from Targeting U.S. Latinos,” quotes Linda Lane Gonzalez, President of the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA), as saying: “a growing number of companies in the US are shying away from marketing efforts aimed at Latino consumers for fear of offending “racist” supporters of President Donald Trump. By David Morse / President and CEO of New American Dimensions
