25 March 2014

Product Videos

Thanks to @creatingresults for tweeting this:

73% of Consumers More Likely to Make a Purchase After Watching a Video
imageA new survey reveals that video has an extraordinarily positive impact on consumers during the purchase life-cycle … video also plays a huge role in further research into the brand, as well as in comparison shopping and in post-purchase information…

I wouldn’t swallow this whole. The info is from two outfits marketing/producing product videos. 

Of course, the gold standard for video advertising:

You Won't Believe How Big TV Still Is
Staggering viewership numbers and dominant revenue figures

By Sam Thielman
image… There’s a Silicon Valley expectation that there will be a desilo-ization of TV imminently, and nobody who took part in these dinners and discussions, not even the most ardent online people, thinks that’s the case…

NostraChuckus, soothsayer for everything obvious, predicted the rise of long(ish) form informational advertising videos way back in 2005:

crystal ballDownload the PDF of two chapters from  Advertising to Baby Boomers, courtesy of The Advertising Educational Foundation. 

He didn’t get the delivery systems quite right, but this was before YouTube, smartphones, tablets.  Give him a break. The Crystal Ball of Common Sense was murky.

20 March 2014

Age UK Advert

Just saw this. Excellent:

Watch Age UK's new cinema ad, encouraging everyone to embrace ageing and seize the day. The advert features a poem by acclaimed poet Roger McGough and is voiced by actor Sir Christopher Lee.

For more inspiration, head for www.ageuk.org.uk/lovelaterlife

Oddly enough, Roger McGough and yours truly have something in common:

The New Millennium Tales: Baby Boomer Marketing Stories
It’s larger than this, hardcover and classy – suitable for dazzling display on a petite coffee table.


I’ve yet to appear in a movie with Christopher Lee, however.

17 March 2014

Native Advertising is having a bad week.

What You Think You Know About the Web Is Wrong
by Tony Haile
imageMyth 3: Native advertising is the savior of publishing
On a typical article two-thirds of people exhibit more than 15 seconds of engagement, on native ad content that plummets to around one-third.

Native Ads Aren’t Engaging Readers
by Greg Sterling
imageNative ads are the “it format” of digital media right now. Perceived to be less visually disruptive and able to command premium pricing, publishers are widely embracing them.

No One’s Looking at Your Native Ads, Either
by  Peter Kafka
imagePeople who look at this stuff can’t wait to stop
reading it.

This all sounds vaguely familiar…

07 December 2012
What is Digital Advertising?
image… The newest buzz-phrase has me completely baffled: Native Advertising.  One social media guru described it as advertising that is ‘baked into’ the content. I guess it’s sort of like the old Burns & Allen Show where one episode had Gracie baking a cake using Betty Crocker Cake Mix, a sponsor.

Or was that product placement?  Madison & Vine?  I’m still confused.  Whatever it was, I know it doesn’t work anymore, is old school, and nowadays native advertising is the future, and all advertisers should be all over it or their businesses will fail.

Say goodnight, Gracie.

06 March 2014

The Déjà Vu No New News News

It’s always a treat to get up, make some coffee, open the newspaper (pixels or pulp) and read nothing new:

Why Boomers Are More Likely To Succeed as Entrepreneurs
imageA study by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation reported that the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity over the last few years is not Gen-Y upstarts, but Baby Boomers in the 55-64 year age group. In fact, Boomers are actually driving a new entrepreneurship boom as they retire from their traditional corporate jobs and seek more meaningful sources of work.

How far back do you want to go?

March 25, 2005
CVRCompADVERTISING TO BABY BOOMERS Targets Clients and Entrepreneurs
A large section of the book is dedicated to helping Baby Boomer entrepreneurs get their marketing and advertising up and running. The author as well gives advice and guidance to the small businessperson on how to fashion a handmade campaign.

27 August 2005
Baby Boomers Conquer Self-Employment Market
imageThe interesting thing is this boom, which is said will resemble the dot. com boom of the late ‘90’s, will be led by baby boomers and would-be retirees and tend to be better educated, healthier, and more tech-savvy than their 20-something predecessors.

Or check out all of these posts from the past:

Entrepreneurs & Baby Boomers
All of a sudden every other news article about Baby Boomers is focused on business and entrepreneurs.

Part II of The Déjà Vu No New News News next déjà vu.