This idea that our media is about to become “dimensionalized” is fascinating. For many years our ads and their touchpoints have been delivered on a flat plane. Whether outdoor, TV or even digital banners, creators only really needed to worry about one “side” of the placement–the side facing the consumer. But that could be about…
When entering a building, do you inspect its foundation? While on a bridge crossing a river, do you and verify who designed and built the structure? Does your neighborhood have public transit or safe streets to get you to school or work? All of this is your infrastructure. If your infrastructure is solid, you trust…
A virtual Wild West is an apt description for programmatic advertising. Or at least it was. No one can deny that in the rush to claim premium inventory, rates and eyeballs, the industry made up rules as it went along, capitalizing on pockets of value. This is true of any new marketplace; technology and demand…
CMOs are facing doubt within their organizations that they can drive growth. Time is increasingly committed to counseling CEOs who believe they have a marketing challenge. And they’re not alone–other C-suite executives are expressing the same concerns about their CMOs, indicating an industrywide dilemma about the perception of chief marketers. The data is startling. According…
Few industries were hit as hard by the pandemic as the restaurant business. After much of the country went into lockdown, restaurants–like almost every other business–were forced to close their doors. For many, though, the closure has been permanent. But some parts of the industry–namely the quick-serve and fast-casual segments–have served as something of a…
Just over 25 years ago–a generation ago–Hispanic Heritage Month was signed into law as an official time to celebrate the culture and contributions of the U.S. Hispanic community. A lot of progress has been logged since then, but our journey to be seen, heard and valued isn’t over yet. This generation is at a turning…
This article is part of the Hispanic and Latin American Voices in Adweek series, which will cover the different nuances and challenges within this community. Rainbow washed logos. Corporate donations. Predictably, 2021 saw a wave of brands step up for Pride Month. But when Pride Month ended, the logos went back to brand colors and…
Go ahead, caress your scalp. How does your hair feel? My Black hair, thick and natural, feels lustrous. Yet the dominant standards of beauty might have you perceiving it otherwise. For a while, even I held the same perceptions. For the bulk of my youth, haircare revolved around haircuts; for me, they needed to be…
As we venture deeper into the age of corporate and social responsibility, consumers all over the world are asking corporations and organizations to demonstrate their accountability. This expectation has seeped into debates about music sourcing and compensation. In the days of Napster and digital files, music fans expressed limited awareness of their impact on artists’…
When asked about sexual harassment in the workplace, companies will often reiterate the same phrases of “zero tolerance” or “no place in our office,” but the problem often lies in that most complaints never reach human resources. A Pew Research Center survey revealed that 59% of women have experienced some form of sexual harassment, and…
For many first-generation tech companies, their brands are synonymous with the people who created, nurtured and passionately grew them to what they are today. These founders define the brain trust, values, purpose and aesthetic of their companies, setting the bar for their customer experience and relationship. Founders like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Richard Branson and…
After a year and a half of people staying home, domestic travel is picking up again, which represents an important opportunity for hospitality brands to make up for the commerce they’ve missed out on. This wide-ranging category, which includes airlines, hotels, theaters, theme parks, spas and tourist destinations, should be focused on looking ahead. Marketers…
Blue’s Clues taught us many lessons since it premiered 25 years ago, but earlier this week, Steve taught marketers everywhere a lesson in empathy. Anyone in their late 20s and early 30s probably remembers sitting on the floor of a living room mesmerized by a dog, Blue, and his best friend Steve. From a video…
Now that the U.S. is officially out of Afghanistan, many of us fear for the hundreds of thousands of U.S.-affiliated Afghans facing uncertain futures. One reason brands should consider getting involved in the rescue effort is the role of brand purpose in driving growth across industries. Investing in social impact has become standard business practice,…
As we reimagine the future of work without an office as its center of gravity, we may also want to question why we spend so much time developing and presenting decks. A case can be made that most presentation decks are: Unnecessary. Too long. A celebration of process versus product. A mechanism of management control….
Welcome to another episode of Survivor: Brand, where brands and their C-suites out-maneuver themselves after inserting their feet into their mouths. In this week’s episode, Sweetgreen CEO Jonathan Neman suggested in an Aug. 30 LinkedIn post that more than three in four Covid-19 hospitalizations are due to people being overweight or obese. As you can…
When the fans speak, brands need to listen–and that includes beloved television game shows. When Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek passed away after 37 seasons, everyone knew there wasn’t a person who could fill his shoes perfectly. He taught us trivia for multiple generations. He made being smart cool. And he did it with effortless flair…
Have you ever been impressed by the long lines at internet-famous restaurants? Believe it or not, there might be a not-so-glamorous factor behind the scenes: a professional, paid workforce known as the “atmosphere group.” Frankly, this tactic is in a grey area, as it may incur fake impressions on customers and disrupt fair competition. Let’s…
Finding ways to grow and innovate during a global health crisis is no easy task. But despite 18 months of social restrictions and limited access to pubs, bars, live music venues and nightclubs, the drinks sector has seen enormous growth in many areas. As people’s lifestyles significantly changed as a result of the pandemic, many…
The mainstreaming of the Black Lives Matter movement was one of the defining events of 2020. Having mobilized citizens all over the world, it sparked a tide of social activism not seen for decades. Now, a little over a year later, many Americans are at a point of reflection. How much has changed when it…
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