You’ve probably heard the expression ‘The devil is in the detail‘. It tells us that focusing on detail is the way to solve problems. In many ways, this expression is true, but in this post I’d like to argue that placing too much focus on the digital detail can mean marketers and their agencies miss … Read More
Digital Media
Why we must learn to build brands in digital media
In this article, written for the mSix’s website, I highlight how digital media has passed the tipping point and why marketers must evolve beyond the simplistic ‘long and short duopoly’ and use digital media to build brand fame as well as driving performance. The time is right to challenge and develop the original works of … Read More
What is Paid, Owned and Earned Media?
Paid Media is any communications media “space” that you have to buy from a media owner. Typically this would include TV, outdoor, press and magazines, cinema, radio and third party DM and email lists. It also includes all paid digital activity, whether that paid display, search or social media. It excludes things like SEO which … Read More
What is the marketing mix in 2018?
Introduction This article outlines the case for considering Permission as the 8th P in the marketing mix. It is slightly lighthearted as I wouldn’t presume myself worthy of adding the 8th P, but the recent rise in big data analytics and the resulting changes in data regulation (GDPR) mean that there may be a case … 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
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
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
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
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
Can marketing use social media networks for advertising?
So the mighty P&G has spoken about social media. When these companies speak the marketing community has to listen. These guys think long and hard about the issues to cut straight through the hype. I know because I did it for Unilever. I worked directly with Unilever digital teams to help them understand the real … Read More