Insights

Great 2013 Music (Not Advertising)

Peter · December 20, 2013 · Leave a Comment

Here are some of my favorite bands of 2013. From London to Minneapolis to Brasil.

Listen and dig deeper into their world’s.

Oh, and a major shout out (yeah, I know) for the BEST music show on TV: Jools Holland & Later. 43 episodes of totally kick ass music.

Oh, back to the music… Play these videos for your kids. Please. Um, age appropriately… Mensa that is.

London Grammer. Lovely. Song #2 is fantastic.

Vic Mensa. Some Chicago for you. OK, LA. CK out the yellow Ford Bronco. My goal? Get my second (red.)

Low. From Minneapolis. Thanks again to Seattle’s KEXP for the videos. What radio is about.

Boogarins. 1960’s acid flashback music from Brasil. Cool, right? And just in time for the World Cup.

Elephant Revival. Colorado.

XXXOOO to all of my readers & Happy Holidays… Buon Natale!

Wake Up Call: Advertising Budgets Are Moving To Mobile From The Desktop

Peter · December 16, 2013 · Leave a Comment

I’ve “suggested” that advertising agencies put more focus on the growing world of mobile advertising. I understand that this is yet another media option that needs care and attention at your already busy agency. But… you have to get with it. You will soon have no choice and it could be too late for your agency if you don’t pay attention to this media shift.

Look At The Accelerating Shift Of Advertising Budgets From Desktop To Mobile

From eMarketer:

Next year, eMarketer predicts, overall spending on desktop advertising will increase by just 0.41%, while mobile ad spending will grow a further 56.00% to $14.97 billion. By 2016, spending on mobile will rival desktop spending, and in 2017 it will blow past, posting $35.62 in ad spending compared to the desktop’s $27.21 billion.

The trends are working at warp speed. What business will your agency be in in 2017?

And where within the world of mobile advertising and marketing will marketers be spending those dollars?

I’d be getting real good at video strategy and production. Which, by the way, if you are in advertising, you are already good at.

Half of Advertising Agency Staff Hates Pitching

Peter · December 15, 2013 · Leave a Comment

An Advertising Agency Staff That Hates Pitching Isn’t A Good Thing

A 2013 study by the research firm Provoke Insights confirmed what we all know. The advertising agency new business pitching process can be debilitating.

From Provoke:

“… approximately half (47%) of advertising professionals surveyed by Provoke Insights say they are dissatisfied with the current internal approach to pitching.

47%. Ok, pitching is intense. So, what else is new? Pitching is also intense for architects, nuclear power plant designers and fighter jets salespeople. Writing, presenting and winning (or losing) pitches is intense.

It can also be exhilarating (more on that a bit later.)

Other findings on pitching:

Issues include: “unrealistic timelines” say 66% of respondents / “long work hours” say 65%

And, because Provoke is a research company who paid for the research, we get this nod towards having insightful insights:

“Forty-four percent of advertising professionals stated that if there were better availability of research and data, pitches would run smoother and (be) more successful.”

Here’s more on what resources agencies say they need to kill it:

By the way, I posted about how to use free, smart internet based tools to create insights here: 13 Free Big Data Tools For Advertising Agency New Business.

Back to exhilarating.

Pitches are a major way agencies win new business. Ya gotta be in the game. Maybe Droga5 can get away without pitching.
Pitches make sense if they make sense. Don’t pitch just any account just for the sake of pitching.
Pitches are team sports and, importantly, build team spirit.
Pitches help agency staff stand out and be stars. Especially important in larger agencies.
Pitches are fun to run if you know what you are doing and have a solid plan.
Pitches, winning pitches that is, can make the agency happy and richer. A good thing.
Pitches hone agency thinking; highlight skills and help agencies think about what the agency actually has to offer or needs to build for the future. I think that the benefit of forced introspection is underrated.

The full report can be read on AdRants.

I’ve tried to make the art and science of pitching more successful and even fun. Just read my book. Look up top to learn more and make that all important purchase that will lead to more — wins.