This month really has been the month of mobile. It celebrated its 40th anniversary, evolving from what we fondly recall as the brick to the sleek smartphone device we all carry round today. Facebook announced its Home phone software for android smartphones.
Charities are faced with a unique challenge compared to most businesses. They must not only encourage people to visit the website but, rather than convert these clicks to sales, charities need to engage with potential supporters, long enough for them to make a donation.
So how can consumers be persuaded to act? The first option is to explore generic insight into behaviour change. Unilever, for example, has defined five levers for sustainable living or tips to persuade consumers to act. Make it: understood; easy to act; desirable; rewarding; and habitual.
I do not know a business that would declare they do not want Word Of Mouth recommendations. That being the case, social media is impossible to ignore, because it is where Word Of Mouth is now taking place.
It's certainly not going to be easy for Nike to distance themselves from Pistorius. And they won't be helped by having Nike adverts appear next to editorial stories of brand ambassadors caught up in all sorts of trouble. But this is going on every single day in markets across the world. Due to the nature of online advertising, once an advert is sent out from the original advertiser, they basically give up their control of where the content lands.
It's a tough ask, let's be honest, and tough for any sport competing with the giant that is football. And yet there are opportunities, weaknesses in the football armour, and that is what rugby needs to focus on.
For years, certain companies have made a living doing something akin to 'gaming' the Google search results. By focusing on a single distribution channel, they have built visibility in the search engine result pages in order to acquire new customers or new leads. Recent changes in the Google search algorithm have made this practice less useful
Tiger Woods is once again the No.1 golfer in the world, ousting Rory McIlroy after winning at the Bay Hill classic on Monday. Nike decided to celebrate the achievement in their inimitable Nike style; a shot of Tiger simply framed with the quote "Winning takes care of everything". It's a touch of brilliance.
Whether you're a 20-something up-and-coming creative director or a seasoned (grey haired) marketing pro, the energy is definitely electric here. Here are my favorite moments from the third day of Advertising Week Europe.
Businesses that once believed in segmenting the value chain, are beginning to understand that consistency is key to building momentum. As such, to continue being relevant in this world, PR needs to not only be clearly integrated with all marketing disciplines but also with historically business functions such as sales.
Businesses are more than ever trying to team up with different agencies and vendors to ensure their multichannel marketing drive the best possible ROI...
Advertising Week Europe feels a lot like a university enrollment day, except everyone smells of Costa Rican coffee and lavender.
Marketers spend somewhere in the region of £20bn in the UK each year, much of it with the express objective of making consumers feel more positive about their brand.
Advertising makes brands famous. But how do you earn attention if you don't have a huge budget to amplify your message? How do you punch above your weight and get noticed by your peers and clients?
Once you have graduated it can be overwhelming to start thinking about your future and deciding what to do next. This isn't helped by the fact that everyone has their bit to say- go travelling, get an internship, join a graduate scheme, but which is the best plan of action?
Nurture your star performers. Our research shows that only 6% of people felt their businesses had successfully identified their next generation of leaders. In a time when promotion opportunities are scarce, it is critical that you identify, stimulate and reward your brightest talent - before they ask and before they seek satisfaction elsewhere.
There has never been a more tumultuous time to be working in marketing communications. We are - all of us - in a perfect storm of economic, technological and societal change, and it is all the more reason, if only occasionally, to put our competitive instincts to one side and stick together.
The population has been empowered. Our thoughts and ideas are no longer restricted to telling a few friends and colleagues. Many of us have a voice and want to use it. Moreover, there is now a whole generation entering the workforce who have grown up always having a voice.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they start is a business is that they expect customers to come flocking instantly. They believe in their product or service so much that they expect am influx of customers to come running as soon as their doors open.
One of the advantages of working in creative businesses is that, on the whole, decision-making is based on creative talent and strength of argument rather than rank or pay grade.
Sometimes, things go wrong, even for the best of us. When you get a complaint, always be professional and resolve it if you can. If you can't, refund any payment made, and part on good terms. You never know how that will benefit you over time.
If business has learned anything from social media, it will know very few people today have the time (or inclination) to plough through heaps of sales material. But show them something quirky, fun and fast and there's a good chance they will take notice.
Within this campaign Heineken have not only produced a quality piece of video marketing. The crowd source element has involved their social media channels lobbying for input in choosing "The Candidate" encouraging sharing and engagement and improving the virility of the piece.
Marketers know infographics can be advantageous. That's the good. But there is also the bad - and unfortunately - the ugly. Let's take a closer look at how this process is unfolding, what strategies to bear in mind, and what the future of infographics holds.
VW followed up their wildly successful Darth Child advert from last year with an ad showing a Volkswagon driver affecting a Jamaican accent and exuding the type of island charm and relaxed approach to life that only the tropics, or a ride in a new VW can bring you.
