by Herman Manson (@marklives) The ABC has released circulation statistics for the period July 2013 – September 2013. Here are a couple of numbers that stood out in terms of newspaper circulations.
Category archives: Columns
Ad of the Week: How to Wrangle a Kreepy
by Oresti Patricios (@orestaki) In an online campaign, Pentair, the US company that now owns Kreepy Krauly, has embraced the South African ethos and allowed agency Ebony and Ivory to have fun with a very “local is lekker” campaign.
Hermaneutics: Two narratives on MetropolitanRepublic sanctions
by Herman Manson (@marklives) Two very interesting but diverging stories ran on Thursday, 7 November 2013, in, ironically, two media products that also shares a newsroom. Both cover the MetropolitanRepublic/Loeries awards scandal, which saw the agency stripped of its awards for entering work that did not meet entry criteria, and then blaming its juniors, the broader ad industry and the Loerie organisers when caught out (it did eventually take full responsibility for its actions).
Ad of the Week: Stop, start. Cry, sleep.
by Oresti Patricios (@orestaki) VW’s a brand with considerable experience and wisdom, which is possibly why the vehicle manufacturer manages to be both self-effacing and to create a charming commercial, “Volkswagen — Think Blue: Baby” from Adam&EveDDB, that beautifully positions its new, green innovation.
Hermaneutics: As lines blur, the Bookmarks seeks new relevance
by Herman Manson (@marklives) The Bookmarks Awards, the digital-centric advertising and publishing awards show, is reaching a tipping point, one that will either see it evolve away from its digi-only roots into something covering more integrated work, or see it link up with another award show to focus on a digital niche within more mainstream work.
Ad of the Week: The wealth of Allan Gray’s “Oh Sinner Man”
by Oresti Patricios (@orestaki) Concentration is a challenge for most people. The latest ad from Allan Gray, “Distraction is the Enemy”, is a refreshing departure in style from previous ads from the financial services company and was produced by ad agency KingJames.
Hermaneutics: Lessons from MetropolitanRepublic’s Loerie nightmare
by Herman Manson (@marklives) There are many lessons to be drawn from the current fracas surrounding MetropolitanRepublic being caught out for failing to adhere to the submission rules of The Loerie Awards.
Fair Exchange: Reap rewards through inter-agency collaboration
by Erna George. Every now and then I cast my mind back to the days when I was a brand manager, and we worked with probably two partner agencies – one handling above-the-line work and the other our below-the-line activities. It was only every now and then that we made use of a specialist, such as a promotions or public relations agency.
Essentially, we would invest a massive amount of time and money to make that impactful television campaign, and all other elements flowed from this.
Fast forward to 2013 and the world has changed. Between social media, PVRs and many other distractions and channels, making that impact has become tougher. And the buzz in the marketing corridors is the need to move (quickly) towards greater collaboration and exchange across agencies.
Today, clients are looking for agency partners that can synergise with other partners. The new exchange is cross-collaboration, and the days of one agency as the only — or the core — partner is over. As an analogy, think back to when Daewoo was selling cars, washing machines and air-conditioners; consumers found it tough to believe one brand could be great at it all. Similarly, it is difficult for clients to believe that one agency can be specialists in every area.
Ad of the Week: Keep calm and carry on socialising
by Oresti Patricios (@orestaki) Previous Cell C campaigns have focused on call charges, but the latest ad from Ogilvy Johannesburg is an upbeat, fun, funky and very watchable promotion of Cell C data services.
Ad of the Week with Oresti Patricios — Absa: “Prosper”
by Oresti Patricios (@orestaki) Branding is another aspect where banks can successfully try to set themselves apart, in this tough retail-banking sector. Absa is certainly trying to do this with a broader effort that speaks to the self and the human spirit.