Starcom’s Take: Snapchat’s new ‘Snap Partners’ programme holds huge opportunities for brands, therefore it is fantastic news that this pilot is expanding. This new format on the app is an excellent way of connecting with millennials, yet ensures that the user’s experience is not affected by the annoyance of advertising overload.

Full article: http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/snapchat-allowing-more-brands-run-ads-between-friends-stories-172906

2. Data Set To Drive OOH’s Future

Starcom’s Take: The OOH medium continues to grow for the fifth consecutive quarter. Due to the increase in the mediums audience, as a result of rising public transport figures and increased employment, we at Starcom feel that this medium holds fantastic promise for brands to effectively connect with their audience. It is certain that this medium will continue to grow with the input of data, a sure sign of exciting things to come.

Full article: http://www.adworld.ie/2016/08/10/data-set-drive-oohs-future/

3. Don’t Judge A Millennial By Their Facebook Page

Starcom’s Take: At Starcom, we understand the importance of brands and advertisers maintaining an in-depth knowledge of their target market. This includes noticing their changing environments, as it may provide crucial insight to refresh the brand. This article offers a beneficial outlook into the millennial consumer which can enhance a brand’s understanding of the audience.

Full article: http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/stop-millennial-bashing-it-s-not-our-fault-1.2751601

4. Adblock Plus Offers Workaround To Block Facebook Ads Again

Starcom’s Take: Facebook’s plan to show ads to those who are currently using ad blocking software, will result positively for brands who aim to connect with a wider audience. However, we feel that is essential to remember why users are utilising adblocking software in the first place. As opposed to forcing our way onto the user’s screen, we must consider interesting ways to embrace the user’s experience.

Full article: https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/09/facebook-will-bypass-web-adblockers-but-offer-ad-targeting-opt-outs/

5. Pinterest Launches Auction-Based Pricing To Take On Google’s Ad Business

Starcom’s Take: Pinterest are evolving their ad buying system, in order to reinact a system similar to Google’s Display Network-to set prices. We feel that this will benefit advertisers as it will give them more control of their frequency cap and optimize their media spend.

Full article: http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/pinterest-launches-auction-based-pricing-take-googles-ad-business-172937

Starcom’s Take: Instagram have been increasing video stream limits from 15 seconds, to 30 seconds and now to 60 seconds. This allows brands to be more creative on Instagram. It is still important that brands recognise that even though the new stream limit is 60 seconds, brands should still recognise that they have a 3 seconds cut through to get their message across.

Full article: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/272437/instagram-expands-stream-limits-to-1-minute.html

2. Explore Mars and the human anatomy with HoloLens which Microsoft ships today

Starcom’s Take: Augmented Reality (AR) will be emerging over the next few years and is an incredible way for brands to create more immersive and engaging content for consumers.

Full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/03/30/microsoft-ships-hololens-for-developers-as-nasa-unveils-3d-mars/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digidaydis&utm_source=uk&utm_content=160330

3. Millennials and GenXers Catch Up With VOD

Starcom’s Take: More and more millennials are using catch up service and streaming their content through VOD. They are watching less and less traditional TV and using catch up services or on demand players to watch their content.

Full article: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/272163/millennials-and-genxers-catch-up-with-vod.html

4. Netflix’s Clever YouTube Prerolls Use Your Searches to Cue Up Specific Scenes From ‘Friends’

Starcom’s Take: This is a great example of how a brand has made a television series that has been off the air for 12 years become relevant to a younger generation.

Full article: http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/netflixs-clever-youtube-prerolls-use-your-searches-cue-specific-scenes-friends-170451

5. The New Normal: Changing the dynamics between brands and shoppers

Starcom’s Take: In a world where social media and technology have been a welcome edition as new touch points for brands to connect with consumers. Advertisers and marketers need to ensure that what they are communicating is relevant, relatable and meaningful. Consumers are bombarded with many marketing communications and they will only take note of those that relate to their personal preference and tastes.

Full article: http://marketingland.com/new-normal-changing-dynamics-brands-shoppers-168593

Starcom’s Take: For any brands with an Instagram account, they should be looking at the engagement on organic posts to date. Engagement levels should sought to be improved among followers to ensure posts are seen by these users. If followers are not interested / reacting to your content they will likely not see your content due to the new user feed algorithm being introduced.

Full article: http://www.independent.ie/business/technology/instagram-to-ditch-chronological-user-feed-for-interest-based-one-34544661.html

2. Sweden’s publishers are joining forces to simultaneously block ad-block users

Starcom’s Take: This is an interesting strategy being undertaken by a large group. Once the results have been published we will know how effective it is to ask users to opt out of ad blocking In order to view content. As ad blocking becomes an increasing threat we need to implement strategies that help overcome the issue.

Full article: http://www.warc.com/LatestNews/News/EmailNews.news?ID=36394&Origin=WARCNewsEmail&CID=N36394&PUB=Warc_News&utm_source=WarcNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WarcNews20160315

3. Don’t mention older consumers’ age 

Starcom’s Take: For brands to get the best bang for their buck, targeting across advertising needs to be broad enough to reach the target but not too broad that it will not reach the target and instead be lost / diluted. As over 50’s have greater wealth than 25-44s it is necessary to ensure they are targeted where relevant.

Full article: http://www.warc.com/LatestNews/News/EmailNews.news?ID=36395&Origin=WARCNewsEmail&CID=N36395&PUB=Warc_News&utm_source=WarcNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campign=Warcews20160316

4. Mobile drives up global ad spend

Starcom’s Take: Mobile has become our first touch point in many cases. In order to be most engaging with consumers, brands will need to continue to target and build strategies that are based on a mobile-first idea.

Full article: http://www.warc.com/LatestNews/News/EmailNews.news?ID=36409&Origin=WARCNewsEmail&CID=N36409&PUB=Warc_News&utm_source=WarcNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WarcNews20160317

5. Click and Collect is top tech

Starcom’s Take: Consumers have integrated technology into their everyday lives and anything that makes doing an ordinary task easier and more time efficient will be welcomed. In saying that, traditional shopping routes are as important as ever and when retailers marry traditional platforms with added technology that benefits the consumer, these will be utilised and welcomed by them.

Full article: http://www.warc.com/Content/News/N36133_Click_and_collect_is_top_tech.content?PUB=Warc%20News&CID=N36133&ID=b46935e9-ae2c-4a1b-bc5e-3a868f26f9f5&q=retail+marketing&qr=

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