We’re often asked to forecast or estimate campaign response rates, especially in DRTV. Here are some guidelines for those who want them: Set 1 – DRTV Phone Response Rates (high to low range as a percentage of total impacts) DRTV Type 1 – Hard Hitters – these DRTV hard hitters, with no-nonsense creative, usually on … Read More
Author: Simon Foster
How to get the best from DRTV
Many advertisers are returning to Direct Response Television (DRTV). Whilst the goal today is to maximise web response as opposed to phone response, many of the rules of traditional DRTV remain constant. Here’s a summary of how to get the best from Direct Response TV: Remember all DRTV begins with the offer. Whilst issues around … Read More
I’ll second that B2B emotion
For some critics, B2B advertising is too rational and doesn’t contain enough emotion. If that’s the case in 2014, then something’s changed since McGraw Hill ran this, perhaps one of the most famous B2B ads in the 1960’s. This ad is 100% B2B and yet it is stuffed with emotion. It plays on fears of … Read More
Media ROI Evaluation Techniques
Techniques for tracking advertising and media ROI are often discussed by both advertisers and agencies as they seek to identify and maximise the ROI effect of media budgets. Deciding on which techniques to use can raise a number of issues depending on the data and budgets available for advertising evaluation. Before we get into the techniques themselves … Read More
What is a TVR?
This is a question that many marketers don’t want to ask, especially when they are halfway through the agency’s TV presentation. The trouble is, the agency team have been talking about TVRs for about 20 minutes, the coffee’s gone cold and you daren’t chip in to ask “exactly what is a TVR?” Put very simply … Read More
Does social media drive sales?
The question of sales generation is a growing problem for social media. Despite all the hype, it’s almost impossible to find any conclusive cross-category evidence that social media drives sales. Yes, there are some isolated examples of success; Dell’s Twitter pages announces some great deals and I’m sure ASOS can whip up a bit of extra … Read More
Would you give your agency this brief?
A few aspects of this brief make it both remarkable and very interesting reading: Mick sends Andy “2 boxes of material which you can use, and the record”. In other words some pictures and the product. Mick adds “I leave it in your capable … Read More
What is programmatic advertising?
If you are an advertiser you may have heard the expressions “programmatic buying”, “real time bidding” and “ad exchanges”. You may be wondering what all this is and what it means for advertisers, if you are then read on… “Programmatic” advertising, is effectively automated online media buying – often at large scale and at very … Read More
Advertising and Media Planning Books
Here’s a selection of must-read selection of adverting media planning and buying books for those working in advertising and communications strategy. If you click the link you can find the book on Amazon. The Communications Challenge: A practical guide to media neutral planning A practical guide to communications planning. Becoming quite collectable. Even I’m in … Read More
Facebook ‘likes’ don’t increase brand preference or sales
Here’s an iron for the fire: “Facebook ‘likes’ do not cause increased brand preference or increased sales so marketing campaigns designed to increase the number of ‘likes’ are unlikely to increase brand preference or sales.” I was moved to develop and explore this hypothesis after reading an article on the real cost of brand building … Read More
How is multivariate data analysis used in marketing?
‘Multivariate’ means ‘many variables’ and in the context of marketing it usually means analysing multiple variables from customer records to get a deeper understanding of the customer base. This increased understanding of customer behaviour permits the development of customised offers, relevant creative messaging and more accurate media targeting – particularly with techniques like email and … Read More
Social Media Metrics Made Simple: Focus on Sales and Customers
I am amazed that so many people spend so much time defining and discussing social media metrics. Why? Because the answers marketers (and shareholders) want are very, very simple. Marketers want only one thing from marketing budget investment. Marketers want sales – sales are key; almost everything else is a proxy for some point on … Read More
Is Social Media CRM’s new platform?
For many years CRM has been a “direct” channel delivering one way communications to customers. Now, with the advent and maturity of social media networks brands have the opportunity to engage in more balanced and cohesive discussion with customers and consumers. Social media with its wide accessibility and easy to use functionality offers brands a … Read More
2011 marketing predictions: The death of mass marketing has been greatly exaggerated
No doubt there will be many a New Year marketing prediction over the next few days. The most common theme is likely to be that mass marketing will decline and be replaced by new and emerging channels and techniques. This year, I’m not going to make any such prediction. This year I’m standing in defence … Read More
What is predictive modelling in marketing?
Predictive modelling is a term with many applications in statistics but in database marketing it is a technique used to identify customers or prospects who, given their demographic characteristics or past purchase behaviour, are highly likely to purchase a given product. In this context, ‘predictive’ does not simply mean predicting the future; it means identifying the quantitative factors … Read More
On a clear day: Measuring ROI in Social Media
Measuring ROI in social media is a big concern for marketers as they consider moving budget away from traditional media channels and into social media activity. But before they can invest in social media, marketers need to get an idea of what it can contribute to their brand. This has driven a debate about measurement … Read More
What can a database record tell us about customers?
Your customer database is a potential fountain of opportunities to improve campaign targeting, creative messaging and return on marketing investment. Good database analysis can have a huge positive effect on your business. Your database can tell you who your customers are, where they live, what kind of people they are, what they buy, how they … Read More
Data planning and market research – mind the gap
I once attended a research debrief to report the results of a survey into the communication effects of a direct mail campaign. The survey asked if the target group had received the direct mail piece and what they thought of it. The survey results were not good. According to the research, hardly any of the … Read More
Marketing data analysis gets you closer to customers
Smart data analysis can be a major source of campaign insight and even competitive advantage for brands and advertisers. The customer data owned by a brand advertiser can reveal Exactly who buys a given product or service Detailed information about the characteristics of those buyers Which other products and services they buy Which product and … Read More
UK advertising predictions 2009
I think 2009 is going to be a year of immense change in the UK media landscape. But it’s not going to be the same for everyone. I predict that it will be a bad year for the traditional offline players whilst newer digital players will find 2009 painful but manageable. For many traditional media … Read More