« March 2008 | Main | May 2008 »
US E-TAIL SALES PREDICTED TO SOAR BY 17% IN 2008
NEW YORK: Cocking a snoot at the recession-beset US economy, internet shopping spend is predicted to rise this year by a healthy 17%, according to Forrester Research's survey for Shop.org, the online arm of the National Retail Federation,
Excluding travel purchases, retail sales online in 2008 are set to grow to $204 billion (€129.82bn; £102.74bn) from $174.5bn last year, fueled by sales of apparel, computers and autos.
Although forecast growth lags last year's 21% increase, NRF officials attribute it to the maturing of the business, not the sluggish economy. E-commerce "is clearly the bright spot in retailing," says Shop.org executive director Scott Silverman.
Data sourced from Business Week (online) /Associated Press; additional content by WARC staff, 09 April 2008
From BroadBand to "BIG Band"...the Internet revolution is still under way...
GENEVA: Scientists at CERN– the world's biggest particle physics laboratory, where Tim Berners-Lee (pictured) originally conceived the internet – claim to have produced a computer system that operates at 10,000 times the speed of a normal broadband connection, and which could "revolutionise" modern communications.
The centre's new "grid" will be switched on later this year after seven years of development, and the long-term communications benefits could include making high-definition video calls for the current price of a landline phone call, and the ability to download full-length movies in seconds.
The breakthrough is an offshoot of CERN's particle physics experiment – due to begin later this year in an attempt to replicate the Big Bang – which is capable of producing so much annual data that it would cause an online collapse.
Instead Cern has come up with "the grid" – a "parallel internet" which will capture data from the experiment using fibre optic cables, and have 200,000 servers spread across the world, including in the US, UK, Middle East and Canada, operating within the next two years.
It is not expected to be offered to domestic internet users, but telecoms companies are already adopting elements of its technology. In the future the technology will be made available to academics including astronomers and molecular biologists.
Says the project's technical director, Professor Tony Doyle: "Holographic video conferencing is not that far away. Online gaming could evolve to include many thousands of people, and social networking could become the main way we communicate".
"The history of the internet shows you cannot predict its real impacts, but we know they will be huge".
Data sourced from The Times (UK); additional content by WARC staff , 09 April 2008
Internet Is gaining impact, Traditional media work "better" in growing economies/regions
LONDON: In what is claimed to be the most extensive project yet undertaken to identify the brand-supportive power of individual consumer contact points, ZenithOptimedia on Tuesday unveiled the first public results of its Touchpoints ROI tracker.
Based on over 300,000 consumer interviews across thirty-four countries covering more than 4,000 brands, Touchpoint results offer marketers a claimed first-time opportunity to compare the power of all major communications channels across a variety of consumer groups, brand categories and regions.
It identifies and quantifies the value of every point of contact for a category and its brands, examining the role of each contact point in building brand preference and purchase intent.
All forms of consumer contact are measured from mass media to one-to-one, word of mouth, sponsorship, events and the internet.
A snapshot of the Touchpoints database predictably reveals the growing power of the internet as a key marketing vehicle. More surprising it also reveals that the influence of internet marketing grows as consumers get older.
Similarly, ZO's research underscores the power of word of mouth, showing that recommendations from friends and families have the greatest influence on brand choice of all Touchpoints - on average 22% higher than TV advertising.
On a regional basis, the influence of marketing contacts and the level of overall brand recall is much higher in Asia Pacific than in North America or Europe.
For example, TV advertising is 20% more influential in Asia Pacific than in North America and internet banners are 30% more influential in Asia Pacific than in Europe.
Zenith also claims that the survey doesn't only identify the brand-supportive power of individual Touchpoints, it also reveals how much harder some of these can work in combination - key knowledge when planning integrated communications.
Touchpoints has already been harnessed by a number of major marketers, among them HP, Lloyds TSB and Verizon.
Data sourced from ZenithOptimedia (UK); additional content by WARC staff, 09 April 2008
INTEGRATED MARKETING TOPS US ADVERTISERS' PRIORITY LIST FOR 2008
NEW YORK: The issue on which most senior US marketers are focused right now is not the global credit crunch or America's flagging economy but getting to grips with integrated marketing communications, the Association of National Advertisers reports.
In an annual survey of members designed to shape the organization's annual fall conference, integrated marketing communications topped senior marketers priority list for the second successive year.
Runners-up in the priority stakes were marketing accountability and aligning the marketing organization with innovation – in that order.
These are the ten top-ranked issues ...
Integrated marketing communications.
Marketing accountability.
Aligning marketing organization with innovation.
Brand building.
Media proliferation.
Advertising creative that achieves business results.
Consumer control over what and how they view advertising.
Attracting and retaining top talent.
Globalization of marketing efforts.
Multicultural marketing.
Says ANA president/ceo Bob Liodice: "The survey findings confirm that integrated marketing is one of the foundational pillars the ANA believes are critical to create a transformed marketing environment."
The rankings are based on responses from 157 member organizations and – by a fortunate stroke of coincidence – the theme of the ANA's next member conference on May 29 is ... Integrated Marketing.
Data sourced from Association of National Advertisers (USA); additional content by WARC staff, 09 April 2008
UK ONLINE AD REVENUES PREDICTED TO OVERTAKE TV IN 2009
Data sourced from BBC Online (UK); additional content by WARC staff, 09 April 2008
LONDON: The Internet Advertising Bureau's hype machine accelerated to warp speed on Tuesday, its latest report suggesting that UK internet advertising revenues will overtake television some time next year.
Rah-rah aside, this is not entirely improbable given the ongoing decline of TV audiences and the rise and rise of internet usage, accelerated in the UK by the near-universality of broadband, faster download speeds, and the plummeting price of laptops.
Moreover, figures recently published by the UK Advertising Association also suggest that online ad growth – if maintained – could propel the medium to the top of the pile next year.
According to data produced for the IAB by PricewaterhouseCoopers, online grew 38% overall in 2007 to £2.8 billion ($5.56bn; €3.54bn), accounting for 15.3% of the nation's adspend and making it the third largest medium after press display and TV
The sterling value of all online formats continued to grow with display ad revenues, including banners and video, rising 31% last year.
Comments IAB UK chief executive Guy Phillipson: "To grow 38% from £2bn [in 2006] to £2.8bn is a very powerful performance."
There are a number of additional factors contributing to the rise and rise of web advertising, among them the growing appeal of social networking sites and catch-up TV, such as that offered by the BBCiPlayer.
Classified web advertising saw a 54% year-on-year leap to £585.3m in 2007, recruitment firms leading the pack with 25.7% market share. Automotive ads followed with 11.9%, and technology surpassed finance for the first time to seize third place.
Readers between-the-lines will note the IAB report's comment that the market for paid-for search ads is "not slowing but maturing" – whatever that may mean. It also suggests that marketers have become more sophisticated in the way they use the medium.
"Brands are now using search more intelligently, getting a greater return on investment through 'key phrases' and more accurate targeting that reflects consumer behaviour," the report concludes.
However, IAB offers no data on RoI to support that contention.
Crmmetrix Sponsor of the eMetrics conference - San Francisco - May 4-7 2008 -
Come and meet us face to face at the eMetrics conference - San Francisco - May 4-7 2008.
We will have a booth and will be able to discuss our latest development and technology including the release of our SiteCRM 6 dimensions website effectiveness solution. Come and meet us face to face!
For more information, to register for the eMetrcis conference
technorati tags: emetrics conference san francisco SiteCRM 6 dimensions crmmetrix website ROI website satisfaction web analytics
Crmmetrix to speak at Marketing 2.0 Conference: Paris 5/6 May 2008
Come and meet us as we will be speaking at the Marketing 2.0 Conference to be held in Paris at ESCP-EAP Business School on May 5/6 2008.
The Marketing 2.0 Conference brings the intelligence, innovation, and leadership of the Marketing, Media and Internet industry together in one place at one time to learn from best practices and the successful use of the new marketing tools like Social Networks, Mobile Marketing, Internet TV and Video as well as Word-of-Mouth Marketing. The Summit is known for its interactive format, stressing interaction and participation on both sides: the speakers and the audience. Through insightful plenary sessions, cut-through-the-hype onstage conversations, and "show me" presentations as well as in-depth workshops, visionaries and executives, experts and researchers from the Marketing and Internet businesses will come together to explore and present their unique insights in how to use the whole new collection of marketing tools and how brand marketers could benefit from it.
For More Information and to Regsiter: Marketing2.0 Conference
technorati tags: marketing 2.0 conference crmmetrix escp-eap
The ARF Announces Its 2008 Great Mind Awards Winners at Annual Re:think Conference and Expo in New York
Congratulations to the winners and to John Hallward specifically from Ipsos-ASI the grand winner of the ARF 2008 Innovation Award.
Last but not least, thank you to the ARF for the great minds award initiative, and obviously thank you for the certificate award I received.
The Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) today announced recipients of the ARF 2008 Great Mind Awards at a special luncheon session during its annual Re:think conference and exhibition, being held this week at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in New York City. Sponsored by Harris Interactive, the ARF Great Mind Awards honor research innovation, rising research stars and important member contributions to the field, and recognize individuals who bring excellence to and advance the art and science of advertising research.
"I think our Great Mind Awards are extremely valuable to our industry and long overdue," stated Bob Barocci, President and CEO, The ARF). "Too many research people toil in quiet," he added," and it is time to reward their important contributions publicly."
The ARF 2008 Great Mind Awards were announced in the following categories:
This award was presented to the following individuals who have developed innovative research ideas – methodology, theory, service and solution.
Grand Winner
John Hallward – Ipsos-ASI
Gold – John Kearon – BrainJuicer
Silver – Ali Moiz – Peanut Labs
Silver – Simon Davies – M:30
Bronze – Helen Katz – Starcom MediaVest Group
Bronze – Sandy Eubank – OMD
Certificate of Recognition Winners
Laurent Flores – CRM Metrix
Esther "E.T." Franklin – SMG Multicultural
Ann Green – Millward Brown
Tim Kelsall – Millward Brown
Jim Kite – MediaVest
James Lamberti – comScore
Chris Maier – Dynamic Logic
Patrick Moriarty – OTX
Melissa Mullen – 20th Century Fox
George Pappachen – Dynamic Logic
Amy Shea – Brand Keys
Dan Stubbs – MediaVest
Radha Subramanyam – The N/Nick
Brian Wahlberg – Research International
Kirk Ward – Research International
This award was given to the following researchers who have less than 7 years experience, and whose contributions during the last year marked the individual as a researcher with potential for future greatness.
Lisa Cavanaugh - GfK
Gold – Luiz Duarte – Tivo, Inc.
Silver – Jody Ayers – Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Bronze – Todd Kirby – Spark Communications
Ashmeed Ali – OTX
Laura Bernstein – IAG Research
Heather Evans – Keller Fay Group
Katherine Laine – Research International
Kara Manatt – Dynamic Logic
Surag Patel – comScore
Jake Raroque – comScore
Pixie Seth – Horizon Media
Dan Stubbs - MediaVest
Awarded to individuals who made an outstanding contribution to the ARF in the prior year. From above-and-beyond duty to providing pro-bono services, these are members who have made significant contributions to the success of the ARF and the industry.
Lifetime Achievement Winners
Erwin Ephron – Ephron Consultancy
Tim Brooks – Lifetime TV
Artie Bulgrin – ESPN
Burtch Drake – AAAA
Dr. Tom Evans – ESPN
Steve Fredericks – TNS
Bill Harvey – TRA
Jack Loftus - Nielsen
Kathi Love – MRI
Brian McAndrews – aQuantive
Jessica Pantanini – Bromley
Marissa Sison - GfK
Jack Wakshlag – Turner
Phyllis Woolley Roy – Genentech
Paul McClean – Millward Brown
Debbie Solomon – MindShare
Advertising Research Foundation
Barry Schwartz
barry@schwartzpr.com
Marketers must 'observe and listen' to consumers...
Finally, the world and consultants start to see and diffuse what I preached over 7 years ago... Observe & Listen to Consumers...
Article Author: James Verrinder
Booz Allen/ANA study highlights importance of consumer insight
US-- A report by consultancy Booz Allen Hamilton and the Association of National Advertisers has urged marketers to expand their customer insight capabilities to adapt to the increasingly complex world of digital media.
It flags deeper insights as "critical" in helping marketers make sense of all the media fragmentation, new technologies, personalisation and consumer power they face in a more digitalised media environment.
Gabriel Chahine, vice president at Booz Allen, said: "To understand a consumer, the key is to listen and to observe. This is what drives consumer insights. Eighty per cent of marketers in this study said that consumer insights are more important now than they were five years ago, and that will become even more important in the future as media becomes increasingly digital."
More than 250 marketers, including 75 industry leaders ranging from operational marketers to CMOs and CEOs, were surveyed for the Marketing Media and Ecosystem 2008 study.