October 2010

To Raise the Creative Bar, Only Work Awarded or Shortlisted at 2010 Festival Is Eligible

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- After organizers floated the idea of adding an effectiveness category to the International Advertising Festival this year, the debut of the Cannes Creative Effectiveness Lions in 2011 has been confirmed.


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A weekly compendium of interesting items from the world of media, marketing and advertising.


AdWeek, October 25, 2010
According to a recent report from Euro RSCG Social, 18 to 25 year-old US citizens believe new technology empowers and obliges them to transform the world. Furthermore, 80 per cent agreed that their generation has the duty to change the world, and many regard social media as a force for change. The report also reveals how participants feel about communicating a “great or awful” experience with a new brand, product or service. Read the AdWeek article


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BY SIMON HOUPT
THE GLOBE AND MAIL

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From More Facebook Privacy Concerns to Olympic Sponsorship

Oh, Facebook. We realize you’re only six years old, but must you act like a spoiled child who won’t take no for an answer? Early this week we learned that – despite promises to the contrary – the social networking site has been allowing advertisers to scoop up information that would identify its users.


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In this week's Adhocracy column, Which came first? The egg or... Simon Houpt ponders the recent ad campaign for the Egg Farmers of Ontario.


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A weekly compendium of interesting items from the world of media, marketing and advertising.


AdWeek, October 18, 2010
Secretariat’s poor showing at the box office signifies more than a disappointing financial performance. The movie’s lack of blockbuster status is coupled with signs that viewing trends are moving away from Christian family values. As such, studio executives need to examine how they market to a traditionalist audience. Read the AdWeek article


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Nearly every new technology introduced has the potential to deeply transform consumer behavior. Toasters changed the way we eat breakfast. Electric razors shaved minutes off men's morning routines. And the Internet…well, it isn't an exaggeration to say it's completely revolutionized the modern world.


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BY SIMON HOUPT
THE GLOBE AND MAIL

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PR goes along for the ride
Nothing good happens in this world without good PR coming along for the ride, it seems. And so we received a press release last weekend from Layne Christensen Co. only a few hours after that Kansas City-based company had (in its words) “won the race” to dig the hole through which the Chilean miners were pulled to safety four days later.


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In this week's Adhocracy column, Why Rupert Duchesne has no problem being a nerd, Simon Houpt talks with Rupert Duchesnse, CEO and president of Groupe Aeroplan, a champion of loyalty and points programs, and the valuable data companies can reap.

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Media savvy advertisers know the value of site engagement. They know a focus on monthly unique visitor totals alone can mislead, since many readers skim though sites and gloss over ads. Ideally, you want to reach consumers who spend sufficient time on websites to notice your advertising.

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NEW YORK (October 6, 2010) – Consumer and media research firm Scarborough Research released new data regarding adults who live in e-reader households, defined as a household in which one or more adults own or plan to buy an e-reader.

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A weekly compendium of interesting items from the world of media, marketing and advertising.


AdWeek, September 21, 2010
Buyer’s remorse is a common phenomenon often brought on by impulse shopping or bad budgeting. While the feeling is frustrating for consumers, the good news for advertisers is that few buyers are pointing the fingers at the marketing and advertising industry, and instead blame themselves for making purchases they regret. Read the AdWeek article

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BY SIMON HOUPT
THE GLOBE AND MAIL

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There's much less in this name now
The next time you run into someone from PricewaterhouseCoopers, you might want to ask if they’ve lost some weight. For this week, the consulting firm followed the lead of fast-food purveyors, global petroleum refiners, and public radio outfits by slimming down its unwieldy name to the more mouth-friendly acronym, PwC.


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