Second guessing what people want from advertising can be dangerous and brands need to go back to basics when considering the most effective routes to boosting loyalty and sales.
Small companies can benefit just as much as big conglomerates from gaining insight into their customers and marketplaces when rolling out new ideas. Although market research sounds expensive, there are ways to achieve valuable knowledge without a huge outlay.
Many adverts take us directly into the heart of happiness: they show us families that are happy to be together, lovers who remember how to be grateful, friends who delight in one another’s company. They can be moving precisely because what they depict is so difficult to find in real life. Their emotional power is premised on evoking what is missing, rather than what is present in our lives.
“Marketing provides good payback for shareholders,” declared PepsiCo last week. This was not a statement uttered by one of the soft drink giant’s senior marketers but its chief financial officer Hugh Johnston.
At the end of every week, we look at the key stories, offering our view on what they mean for you and the industry. From the impact of marketing budgets being cut to the value of longevity, it’s been a busy week. Here is my take.
Netflix says it will stop reporting subscription numbers, instead looking at engagement as a key indicator of customer satisfaction and the future strength of the business.
‘That’s why mums go to Iceland’ has been a long-running slogan for the retailer, but it has been tweaked to reflect “all aspects” of its consumer base, its chairman says.
In a bid to create best-in-class teams, how are marketers striking the balance between rewarding existing talent and bringing in new blood?