Agency

In a new global research report released today by IDG Research Services, two-thirds of the technology marketers surveyed said they expect their budgets to rise on average 3.5% next year compared to this year. Digital programs will capture half the spend with 58% on demand generation and 42% on branding. Events is second at almost 24%.

The total spend on branded content rebounded significantly in 2011 to the highest level ever – $1,914,000 per company – according to the 2011 “Spending Study” conducted by the Custom Content Council in partnership with ContentWise. The biggest driver of growth from 2010 to 2011 was in publication budgets, which increased by 68%.

Surges in tablet, smartphone and ereader adoption have stoked demand for content consumed on these devices, including video, audio, social media, games, news, books and periodicals.

Popular announced the launch of their new music special, ¡Sonó, Sonó…Tite Curet! This year marks the 19th anniversary of the holiday music special. ¡Sonó, Sonó…Tite Curet! is dedicated to renowned Puerto Rican composer Catalino Curet Alonso, best known as “Tite.”

Recent weekly Nielsen surveys of shoppers show that, much like in 2010, the majority of consumers (80%) are avoiding in-store Black Friday shopping. While increased Black Friday promotions appeal to consumer’s desire for “hot deals,” as a shopping event, Black Friday is becoming less relevant in the retail world as online shopping grows and holiday promotions begin earlier and earlier in the year. In fact, 35 percent of those recently survey cited they’ve already started their holiday shopping.

As U.S. retailers ramp up for post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping, consumers increasingly turn online to search for the best deals and make plans for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Since one of the top reasons for using social media is to receive deals and discounts, NM Incite, a Nielsen/McKinsey company, took a look at online buzz about Black Friday and Cyber Monday over the past two years.

I recently read an article in another of the Latin American Market focused trade journals that interviewed a US Hispanic Marketing Director at the client level and two mayor New York Hispanic Agency based Media Planning Executives with most of their experience in mainstream advertising and Latin America respectively to give their opinions about the US Hispanic Market.

As of late I’m hearing in Hispanic communications circles much ado about whether or not marketers should pay Latino bloggers for posting brand-related content, product reviews, etc. While this topic has been fully addressed in mainstream circles, the issues take on greater complexities in the Latino blogosphere.

Spanish Broadcasting System Inc. (SBS) announced the appointment of Felix Lopez to Vice President of SBS Miami Radio/TV-Consolidated Sales for Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc, (SBS).

On Thanksgiving Day, many Hispanic homes will be filled with the familiar scent of turkey roasting, but the holiday preparations will also include other customary dishes that better reflect Hispanic heritage. Many Latinos may choose to follow American traditions and also opt to include Hispanic foods as part of the celebration. By Graciela Eleta – Univision Insights

The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce released a major economic study confirming the vital role that the landscape and lawn care services industry plays in providing entrepreneurial opportunity, jobs and income to U.S. Latinos. DOWNLOAD Report Here.

This docu-series explores Latino identity in America and abroad. It takes you through the historical and social consequences of colonization and the complexities of identity among Latinos. Latinos as well as any African-descended people to anyone looking to learn more about the complexities of Latino identification. Available on HispanicCMO.com

TV can do a lot of great things for brands but it can also make you impotent–and I can assure you that I did not intend to spell “important.”  And that is what one is led to conclude after reading some of the reports coming out of last week’s beer distributors’ convention in Las Vegas.