Agency

If wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment, then the human manifestation of this quality pales in comparison to data-driven wisdom.

On May 1, in a novel transaction only made possible by the now-concluded FCC Spectrum Auction, a fast-growing Southern California media player — The Meruelo Group — Now, Hero is backing out of the deal.  By Adam Jacobson / Radio + Television Business Report

The smart-city market is in its early stages of development.  Some of the most common applications include transportation and parking, energy management, water management, lighting, environmental monitoring, public safety and communications, waste management and smart buildings.

In Entertainment content is king.  But getting content into the hands of producers and decision-makers is no easy feat, even for a best-selling author.

Can online behaviors drive more foot traffic … specifically, can influencer content pointed at a specific retailer on behalf of a brand/product increase foot traffic?

We met at his apartment near The Museum of Modern Art in New York. He had invited me over for a meeting in which we would discuss his offer of a position with Univision. I was of course intrigued, a bit flattered and genuinely grateful for his gesture, even though I was content with my job at the head of The Bravo Group. Yet his offer was tempting enough and, as such, somewhat hard to decline in a jiffy.  By Daisy Expósito-Ulla

Everyone likes an underdog story. As consumers increasingly choose products and brands that are unique or differentiated, small brands can have a definitive advantage. Taking on the food giants that dominate the CPG landscape may once have seemed like a David and Goliath challenge, but that story doesn’t ring true today as consumers of all demographics seek out brands that signify quality, uniqueness and choice.

A new analysis of insights from Nielsen’s fourth-quarter 2016 Comparable Metrics Report found that over 92% of all viewing among U.S. adults (18+) happens on the TV screen.

Emerging in-store technologies and positive social media feedback are among the top priorities for both Generation Z and Millennial consumers.

Do you know that feeling when you read something and get a nagging feeling that something is just not right?  by Nigel Hollis

It wasn’t so very long ago that the industry’s trade press was full of articles berating the agency community for being resistant to change — the common thread being that in a world that is changing so fast the agencies were lagging behind.  This was always rubbish – but it inevitably takes time for changes to filter through and to reach the public domain.  By Brian Jacobs / The Cog Blog Archives

By Gonzalo López Martí – Creative director, etc / LMMiami.com

• Open plan offices are supposed to foster collaboration and teamwork.
• They’ve become the norm in the ad world.
• Not to mention in Silicon Valley, where “collaboration” is not just a buzzword but a belief system akin to Scientology and gluten intolerance.
• Disclaimer: I’m no architect or interior designer, I have no particular training in creating work environments and I don’t have hard data about the productivity, or lack thereof, of open plan office spaces.
• However, I personally find them intrusive, distracting and annoying.

Strong team leadership isn’t enough. New research shows the importance—for business impact and career success—of also mobilizing your boss and colleagues.  By Thomas Barta and Patrick Barwise

In the WPP Annual Report, Jeremy Bullmore suggests that while some advertising works by encouraging an immediate sale most advertising works to make a brand more saleable. It is a hugely important distinction. Making a brand more saleable improves the efficacy of all aspects of the marketing mix but to do so the advertising must make a lasting impression.  By Nigel Hollis

Compared with adjacent retail channels, U.S. convenience stores have boasted relative strength and sales growth in recent years. Built on the premise of speed, convenience stores are modeled to deliver on specific consumer needs that competing channels don’t yet address fully.

Last week, the ANA, ACA (Association of Canadian Advertisers), AD/FIN Solutions, and Ebiquity PLC released a study which provides practical solutions to help advertisers take greater control of their programmatic investments. The study provides an “Advertiser Playbook” with an eleven-step plan to enhanced programmatic accountability.

Ten of the 15 fastest-growing large cities were located across the South in 2016, with four of the top five in Texas, according to new population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The three most overused words in the advertising biz this year are “data,” “agency” and “TV.” All three are core to the current status and future direction of the entire industry.  

In a newly released global study by GfK, more than half (53%) of US consumers agree that “experiences are more important than possessions” – compared to only 2% who disagree. In addition, nearly a third (29%) say they “would rather have more time than more money” – while 12% disagree with that statement.

Should professionals’ pay be public knowledge?