Agency

At 2014’s halfway point, Americans are loosening their purse strings in several key areas, backing off of several key efficiencies and cutbacks in comparison to a year ago, indicating Americans may be a bit more confident in their financial prospects for the near future. Looking further back, American financial attitudes continue to show great improvement over a few years ago.

Digital technologies have considerable potential to transform how companies create revenue and results via innovative strategies, products, processes and experiences. But do companies recognize that potential, and are they mobilizing to capitalize on it?

When asked to imagine what the U.S. will look like in 2024, 65 percent of American respondents are not convinced the country will be on the right track in 10 years. Two-thirds of respondents do not believe that America will be considered the “land of opportunity” in 10 years, and seven in 10 Americans are not certain that working hard and playing by the rules will bring success in 2024. However, a new social consensus is emerging, with overwhelming majorities believing that same-sex marriage (73 percent) and marijuana use (66 percent) will be legal in most states.

When I hear someone say, “we want to target men for our marketing campaign” or “we want men’s publications for our PR campaign,” that raises an immediate red flag to me as a marketer and an analyst.

The so called “American Exceptionalism” is still alive and well. The United States continues to live to the beat of its own and unique drumbeat. The belief in the “American Dream” and its meritocracy continues to be strong. Millions of people around the world still desperately want to come to “the land of opportunity,” the country that continuously advocates and supports democracy, freedom and liberty around the world.  By Carlos G Giron

Lupe de los Santos has joined Walton Isaacson (WI) as Senior Director, Hispanic Market Strategist.

Sun Broadcast Group, Inc. announced that Edwin Rivera-Searles has joined the company as Sr. Vice President of Digital Initiatives. Rivera will oversee development of Sun’s digital products.

Lagrant Communications announced, Senior Counselor Paulo P. Lima, Ph.D., has been appointed to lead the firm’s Hispanic Practice as Vice President, Managing Director.

I am writing to you this week from the U.K. where, as those who have followed the goings-ons of the World Cup will understand, all the national team merchandise is on sale at half price. Get yer Rooney gear cheap!   Anyway, in this third World Cup post I wanted to look at World Cup sponsor recognition research. After 10 years at Coca-Cola and over 3 years at Anheuser Busch-InBev,  I know what it’s like to be an official sponsor. I have negotiated directly with FIFA and so am somewhat familiar with the ins and outs.

Latinum Network announced the appointment of Graciela Eleta as Senior Strategic Advisor.  

According to the research, 80% of US client-side marketers measured the effectiveness of their social content, with social media metrics such as “likes” the most common. Usage statistics—daily or monthly active users, for example—fell in the middle of the list. Meanwhile, metrics that could identify business ramifications were not used nearly as much, with financially based measurements such as return on investment and sales landing near the bottom.

Our latest trend report outlines the alternative model that’s taking shape and how brands across categories are becoming more circular, rethinking everything from product design to relationships with their customers.

We have a sign on the wall of our office in L.A. that reads: “Creative without strategy is called art. Creative with strategy is called advertising.” It’s a quotation from ad industry thinker Jef I. Richards, and while a lot of maxims about advertising are basically meaningless slogans, I think this one is really important for all of us in the business to know and understand.

Chatting and posting on social—especially on Facebook—has proven to be a common trend during this year’s FIFA World Cup, so it comes as no surprise that social platforms are helping brands extend their reach and get their ads in front of more followers.

The median age declined in seven states between 2012 and 2013, including five in the Great Plains, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. In contrast, the median age for the U.S. as a whole ticked up from 37.5 years to 37.6 years.

As group media director for digital advertising agency 360i, Jessica Sanfilippo oversees multiple areas of media planning including display, search, mobile, paid social and video. Sanfilippo recently spoke with eMarketer’s Lauren Fisher about multiple factors influencing desktop display CPMs, including programmatic advertising, a push toward more premium ad formats and the eventual switch to a viewable CPM.

The US Census Bureau collects data from a very large sample every year (about 3 million people) to better understand changes in the US population.  This used to be the long form of the regular census taken every ten years. This is one of the most comprehensive and accessible databases about US residents and it is called the American Community Survey or ACS.  By Felipe Korzenny, Ph.D.

Entravision Communications Corporation announced that its television and radio broadcasts of the 2014 FIFA World Cup have generated strong ratings to date across its platform of television, radio and digital properties.

El Rey Network is kicking off a new multi-platform promotional initiative titled Red Card Riot, designed to drive fan engagement in advance of the network’s soccer spy thriller “Matador” premiering Tuesday, July 15th at 9 pm ET/PT. 

Flipboard has retained Pinta as its Hispanic agency of record.  The selection of Pinta is part of its efforts to begin a dialogue with the Latin community.