Most Clicked AAAA SmartBrief Stories
1. Women in advertising
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 14, 2008
Ad legend Jerry Della Femina reviews a new history of women in advertising, "Ad Women: How They Impact What We Need, Want, and Buy," by Juliann Sivulka. Among the nuggets detailed by Sivulka about the male-dominated field was the founding in the 19th century of a woman-owned shop, the M.C. Weil Agency. Forbes (11/13)
2. Ad heavyweights linked to fate of U.S. automakers
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 17, 2008
The leading four advertising holding companies depend on Detroit-based automakers for as much as 6% of their revenue, according to this article. By any measure, the possible failure of the U.S. automotive sector would exact a heavy toll on the advertising and media industries. Advertising Age (11/17)
3. Twitter backlash sinks Motrin ad
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2008
A Motrin ad designed to commiserate with moms about the aches and pains that come with toting around baby had the opposite of its intended effect. Miffed moms mobilized via Twitter using the tag #motrinmoms to register their dismay with the ad. Eventually, traffic to Motrin's Web site caused it to crash and Motrin pulled the ad. Blogger Peter Shankman points out this episode shows how vital it is for marketers to research their target audiences and join the Twitter conversation. New York Times, The (11/17) Disruptology (11/17)
4. Pepsi names TBWA new lead U.S. shop after decades with BBDO
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2008
PepsiCo announced that U.S. creative duties for its flagship Pepsi-Cola soft drink brand will shift from BBDO Worldwide to the Playa del Rey office of TBWA/Chiat/Day. BBDO Worldwide has worked on the Pepsi account since 1960, producing campaigns for Pepsi or Diet Pepsi that were often celebrity-driven featuring stars like Ray Charles, Michael Jackson and Britney Spears. BBDO will continue to work on several other of PepsiCo's beverage brands, including Mountain Dew and Aquafina water. Both BBDO and TBWA are Omnicom Group agencies. Wall Street Journal, The (subscription required) (11/18) New York Times, The (11/17) Advertising Age (11/17)
5. Google, P&G hope worker swap will boost creativity
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 19, 2008
Over the past several weeks, about two-dozen workers from Google and Procter & Gamble have gone to each other's business-plan meetings and staff-training programs. The goal is to spur innovation and create closer ties between two giants with vastly different cultures. Wall Street Journal, The (subscription required) (11/19)
6. Leaked Anomaly memo details casting call for ESPN campaign
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 14, 2008
The blog Awful Announcing published a leaked casting-call memo from New York shop Anomaly looking for actors to play the part of college students in an ESPN promo. ESPN has since canceled the promo, with the sports network's Mike Soltys saying, "The language and approach reflected in that document were not approved by us and in no way represent ESPN or the respect we have for the college community." The memo sought actors to play to stereotypes of specific schools. A Georgetown student was characterized as "sort of the female Duke, except most people like her," while Michigan State was called, "Blue collar to the core." USA TODAY (11/13)
7. Panel: How agencies, marketers can survive the downturn
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 14, 2008
Using social networking and sticking to a positive message are two keys for agencies trying to help their clients maneuver through the economic downturn, according to a participant at the WPP Group-sponsored panel, Marketing in a Downturn Emergency Session. "Messaging focusing on family and friends is very important and that is why in this recession you are going to see huge advances in MySpace, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn," said WPP Group board member John Quelch. "All of those sites are about networking and staying close and that is what people want to do when they are uncertain about their future." Advertising Age (11/13)
8. Kenny and Klues talk social media
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2008
David Kenny and Jack Klues, managing partners at VivaKi, talk about opportunities in the growing social networking medium. While prominent site Facebook boasts 100 million members, it's also true that consumers have on their own established more than 500,000 custom social networks, based on common interests, experience, geography or some other factor. Kenny and Klues talk about the challenge of reaching people who are interacting on social networks. They write: "Advertising has historically been an exposure and intrusion practice -- get in someone's face and talk about the attributes of a brand. That approach works less and less effectively all the time, and it is absolutely fatal in the social arena." Adweek (11/17)
9. Reader poll: Do you think social networks will emerge as a leading online marketing venue?
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2008
10. Reader poll: Will Michelle Obama's personal style have a major impact on fashion marketing?
AAAA SmartBrief | Nov 17, 2008
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