Branding in 2013

The New Year has dawned bringing with it a flurry of new resolutions and predictions, and this is not any different in the advertising and marketing world.

There has long been a shift towards digital marketing rather than traditional marketing, however 2013 may see a return back to the basics where traditional marketing will play a bigger role. Integrated marketing looks at using several marketing channels, be it digital or traditional, in co-ordination to spread a unified message. With an audience whose attention is being increasingly fragmented among multiple devices such as laptops, PC, mobiles & tablets, it is important that marketers utilise all the information they have about their customers to help target them better. 

This is where 'Big Data' steps in. Big Data aims to collect any information about customers from multiple sources, including social media, to track their behaviour, interests, friends, connections, what they search for, their buying behaviour etc to paint a complete picture of the customer. However this has to be implemented and utilised successfully by marketers to prevent it from becoming just another industry buzz word. Big Data is very useful in understanding customer behaviour and is not only restricted to digital marketing but can be used in traditional marketing as well to target them based on their social behaviour, such as where they shop, eat and socialize with their friends. In targeting customers in all areas there is an increasing chance of the message being sent across and received. 

However customers as well are becoming quite clever with the latest in marketing techniques and have a refined understanding of their own value. They know the price marketers are willing to pay and won't come cheap. Instead more browsers are offering a service to increase privacy options while online, so while marketers want to find out more customers want to reveal less, and the battle goes on.

And the new year would not be complete without the mantra of MOBILE, MOBILE, MOBILE. 

Mobile is the future, where customers want to carry all their information with them on the move, so mobile and tablets, usually synced with their laptops through could sharing services, is the future. People are constantly connected bringing increasing opportunities for targeting. It is an essential and integral feature which cannot be missed. So to re-iterate the main trends for marketing in 2013 are:

• The convergence of Digital & Traditional Marketing
• Big Data
• Customer Control
• Mobile
• Integrated Advertising

Ref: 'Branding in 2013: Convergence, Content, Gaming, Big Data and other trends' by Barry Silverstein for Brand Channel

John St/ Buyral - Digital Marketing the effective way

When there are over 72 hours of video uploaded every minute on YouTube, it is not an easy task for a video to go viral. Just as competitive is the marketing & advertising industry, especially with new agencies being set up who specialize in digital. So how does an agency display its creativity and explain its offering, all while distinguishing itself from the competition?

The John St. way!

John St. are a talented marketing agency with a digital skill set. In order to position themselves as a creative and successful agency who pride themselves on customer satisfaction, they put together a campaign which not only displays their innovation but effectively communicates their competency as a digital agency with a result oriented approach.

I call this the 'clicking' campaign. The video, which is the central feature, and in uploaded on YouTube, their website and campaign microsite, displays employees of a fictional company 'Buyral' whose sole purpose is to click on videos to increase views and guarantee the virality of the video. The simple business model being the greater the investment, the greater the clicks, and the video goes viral.

This is true for any online distribution model, where greater the investment, the higher the chances of viewership, leading to an increase in company KPI's, but while this sounds rather dry and boring, John St. are able to communicate the idea in an extremely fun and engaging way, the video in itself being an absolute delight to watch.

So this translates to me as: If you want your marketing campaign to be innovative, creative, engaging and cost effective all while meeting company goals, then go with Buyral... oops I mean John St.