The strength of ‘weak signals’ [INSIGHT]
As information thunders through the digital economy, it’s easy to miss valuable “weak signals” often hidden amid the noise. Arising primarily from social media, they represent snippets—not streams—of information and can help companies to figure out what customers want and to spot looming industry and market disruptions before competitors do. Sometimes, companies notice them during data-analytics number-crunching exercises.

Círculo Creativo, in partnership with AHAA: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing, announces that call for entries for the Third Annual U.S.H. Idea Awards are now open through April 1st, 2014. The award, which recognizes the best creativity in U.S. Hispanic advertising, is adding new categories and embracing the broad spectrum of Hispanic marketing to include public relations; branded content and entertainment; and integrated campaigns. The Awards will take place in Miami, FL on Tuesday, April 29th, 2014, as part of the 2014 AHAA “Thinking Under the Influence” Conference.
Every once in a while, new terms and jargon come in and out of favor within the business community. Among the terms used by business executives targeting cultural segments include “multicultural,” “diversity,” and of course Hispanic, Latino, Black, African American, Asian, acculturation, etc. Lately, the terms “Total Market” and “New Mainstream” seem to have gained some level of acceptance. Terms such as these are intended to help communicate a concept that would require many more words to understand. Although non-controversial, the term “New Mainstream” may lack clarity among industry insiders and is perhaps foreign to those not in the multicultural space. On the other hand, “Total Market” seems to both lack clarity and revel in a fair amount of disagreement. By César M Melgoza, Founder & CEO – Geoscape
There’s been quite a bit of talk about the new total market strategy approach. The approach is not new; as ethnic marketers we have always told our clients that there is ONE brand, not different brands for each consumer segment. We just deliver different benefits based on insights about that brand and our segment consumer. But the essence of the brand remains as one – a total market delivery, executed differently based on target needs. By Enrique Turégano – alPunto Advertising
Since the dawn of modern advertising, marketers have been trying to figure out what works. After years of spreadsheet addiction, educated guesses and gut-based optimization, the advent of advanced analytics tools has provided marketing organizations with far better — and far more automated — decision-making and forecasting capabilities.
In marketing we have sort of considered ourselves part of the start-up world, happily playing along while killing the print industry, radio, journalism — and, a little more reluctantly, television. We are hobnobbing, slightly star-struck, with Mark Zuckerberg, Marissa Mayer or Eric Schmidt, and pushing advertisers into any and all digital media.
Much talk has surfaced lately about the whether it makes sense to have a total market strategy. Some contend that the intent of a “total market” strategy—to recognize all potential consumers’ needs, culture and behavioral characteristics within a company’s marketing strategy—is too often misunderstood or not understood at all. This assertion has resulted in approaches that homogenize how organizations communicate with consumers, and it underemphasizes and even ignores cultural nuances that work to powerfully connect consumers and brands. Terry J. Soto, Author and President & CEO, About Marketing Solutions, Inc.
Consumers are becoming increasingly detached from brands and technology is complicating things, reveals a new report from Culture Vulture, Mindshare’s cultural trends program.
As the influence of the Hispanic demographic impacts pop culture, purchasing behavior and technology adoption, the marketing industry is evolving with brands shifting their strategies to develop innovative and creative initiatives catering to a core audience of multicultural consumers. AHAA: The Voice of Hispanic Marketing is leading the charge in bringing together some of the most powerful Chief Marketing Officers for its annual conference, taking place at the Eden Roc Renaissance Hotel in Miami from April 28-30, with a theme of “Thinking Under the Influence: The Next Five Years.”
Advertising is a driving force in the U.S. economy, serving as a generator of job creation and sales, according to a new study commissioned by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and The Advertising Coalition, which represents advertisers, advertising agencies, and media companies.
Thirty-four million Americans are planning to purchase a vehicle in the next six months and a new report, “Digital Influence on Auto Intenders,” from Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and Prosper Insights finds that these consumers are almost twice as likely to be swayed by auto-focused digital marketing than the general population (21% vs. 12%). Moreover, automotive shoppers are 71 percent more likely to be influenced by digital advertising across multiple retail categories than the average consumer.
























