How creative storytelling can expand in a world of 1s and 0s
Google's head of creative agency development asks how we can translate the right data points into springboards for richer, more relevant creative stories.
The 'un-marketing' of the Olympics and how brands can do better next time
The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang were a marketing fail, says Organic's VP of client services.
Leapfrog past the competition with purpose
What audiences say about a brand is more important than what the brand says about itself, says AHA's executive creative director.
Want to increase love for your brand? Bare your soul.
Brands that don't look deep within to find their souls will make hollow progress, says TBWA\Chiat\Day LA's chief strategy officer.
PyeongChang 2018: The quest for Olympic gold...for brands
Just like the athletes, whether or not marketers have what it takes will play out on the global stage, says Momentum Worldwide's president and CMO.
The new rules for media giants
A host of new and well-financed players are moving in and complicating the picture for content producers, says Possible's Rebekah Smith.
Marketing predictions for 2018: the year of brand transformation
Brands will have to decide what purpose they wish to serve, says Stylus' head of media & marketing.
Breaking barriers with branded content
Chris Uettwiller, executive producer and partner of Oscar-nominated production company Dirty Robber, discusses the importance of fluidity in creating compelling content.
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5 emerging tech trends at SXSW that will shape 2018
Blockchain, bio-hacking and AR are just a few chewy topics adland is tackling this year.
The right kinds of ads will take us to the stars
Whether the ads of the future will inspire fear or wonder depends on how we use them, says Ogilvy's worldwide co-chairman and chief creative officer.
5 things brands should know before building a bot
Many brands haven't had the chance to play around with AI tech and are afraid they're falling behind, says Arnold Worldwide's director of digital strategy.
As technology eats the world, speculative visions pay off
As we mature into an industry applying innovations in a more strategic way, it becomes apparent that technology's new best friend is philosophy, says Grey's head of creative technology.
After conquering everything else, Amazon is going after advertising
When Amazon enters the field, there are a few things it will capitalize upon, says Webpals Group's CEO.
The year in digital: What tech has had the biggest impact on the ad industry?
Compelling "new" tools will make what we do an even better opportunity for powerful storytelling, says Digital 40 Over 40 alumni Winston Binch, chief digital officer at Deutsch NA.
Voice assistants are taking over. Adapt or die.
Similar to the rise of social or mobile apps, voice requires new strategies, knowledge and understanding, says Arnold Worldwide's AI strategy lead.
How page load speed can help you crush SEO
The choice is clear. Be a roadrunner. Be a cheetah, says the president of Bullseye Strategy.
The final frontier: reimagining marketing and communications in outer space
The private sector is taking the reigns of space travel and exploration from government agencies, and business is booming, says an account director at Ogilvy & Mather.
Why you shouldn't be worried about robots taking your job
Artificial intelligence could make us more creative, says a creative technologist at MediaMonks.
Don Draper is dead: how technology and data are helping startups jump into the TV advertising game
Startups are launching into TV advertising at full force and are reaping the rewards while other advertisers shy away, says Quirk Creative's founder.
Why Facebook should consider Google's company mantra
Social platforms do not actually espouse that information should be free. In reality, information is controlled by the highest bidder, says The Social Element's chief services officer.
Accessibility and universal design in the digital age
An accessibility gap has been created, and it's only getting bigger, says Digital Pulp's chief creative officer.
Choosing an agency partner in a changing digital marketing landscape
The right level of attributes, criteria and requirements can help lead the search, says iQuanti's head of client services.
5 questions brands need to ask before building a messaging experience
Having a plan will ensure the experience you deploy will work for you and your brand in the most productive and engaging way possible, says Facebook Messenger's head of business.
How PMP can help prevent fraud and programmatic lawsuits
To avoid the pitfalls of programmatic, more companies are turning to private marketplace.
Setting the right expectations for multi-touch attribution
Despite all the hype, for MTA to be useful its limitations must be clear and clearly communicated.
Why voice technology is a marketer's new best friend
Digital assistants like Amazon's Alexa and Google Home strike a balance between disruption and utility, says RAIN's director of technology innovation.
Local micro-moments are creating new opportunities for modern marketers
Location is rapidly emerging as a critical consumer expectation, says a principal analyst at Altimeter.
Koons x Snapchat debate is the ultimate AR story a brand could tell
The debate over augmented reality is a powerful example of how important it is to stay true to your brand purpose.
Why mobile may be the most creative medium of all
Digital and mobile can deliver innovative and creative experiences as meaningful as those on television, says Undertone's EMEA MD.
'Star Trek: Discovery' and CBS boldly go into a brilliantly risky streaming experiment
The industry is in a muddy television transition period, says Hill Holliday's chief digital officer.
Robot overlords or perfect partners?
AI could be the secret to happy, healthy brand relationships, says Phenomenon's strategy director.
How podcasts became the new soap opera (and what brands should do about it)
Marketers are looking for new channels to more deeply connect with consumers, says Day One Agency's CEO.
Elon Musk is worried about AI. Should you be?
Aside from preventing Armageddon, the creative and marketing industry is responsible for shaping AI in a way that supports the greater good, says Critical Mass' CSO.
App marketers, stand up to the duopoly! it is time for attribution standards.
Because no one wants to take on the industry giants, their attribution approaches go undisputed, says AppLift's Managing Director & CRO.
Getting a piece of the over-the-top action
Organizations and niche video creators are embracing OTT to deliver highly specific content on a global scale, says Accedo's SVP of business development.
Will Amazon devour brands?
Retail is being eaten alive by Amazon and brands could be next, writes the director at Furthr.
Meet Dawn: The customer of the future
How people shop, connect with and think about brands is evolving at a rapid pace. A senior associate of Lippincott's Innovation Practice gives six tips to staying ahead of tech-driven trends.
Third-party verification is just a first step toward transparency
To deliver true accountability, ad tech vendors need to do a whole lot more than providing outside confirmation, writes the president of AOL Platforms.
In the age of feeling, by the numbers is not enough
Big Data has led us into a new age of reason, but real people aren't as predictable as research suggests, writes the global CEO and CCO of gyro.
Don't worry (much), AI won't bite
Marketers are excited about the potential of machine learning, but it takes more than enthusiasm to turn the technology into a business advantage, write the CMO and content director of Ready State.
How can brands retain humanity in an increasingly robotic world?
After 50 plus years of gestation, the combination of affordable hosting, compute power and proliferation of data has brought AI into the marketing spotlight.
Putting people first in a post-privacy world
People overwhelmingly say they care about protecting their data, but they just aren't engaged enough to take control, writes the chief digital officer of RPA.
Programmatic as an arbitrage model - the myth dispelled
We don't just buy inventory at one price and sell it on for another, writes Xaxis' UK managing director.
Evidence-biased marketing: Look for bias - research is rarely innocent of it
Don't be afraid of bias when poring over your market research results.
Yes, Instagram is snatching up Snapchat users
As Facebook-owned platforms continue to copy Snapchat's features, the app could lose up to 40 percent of its users within the next year, writes Hill Holliday's chief digital officer.
How automation could make us more human
The rise of the robots should spur us to focus on our machine-beating capabilities, especially creative thinking.
From internet to splinternet: Why there's something wrong with the web
The internet is in a rotten state, says Stuart Aitken, head of brand and content at DigitasLBi, after a stint at SXSW.
How the 'Trump track' at SXSW tackled tech totalitarianism
A global debate is raging around the combined use of behavioral modeling, social media and big data analytics and programmatic, writes the innovation director at HeyHuman.
Tech's new frontier: The human brain
There may come a day when virtual personal assistants live in our brains. What will that mean for marketers?
Why SXSW Interactive needs a name change
Twenty years is enough. It's time for SXSW Immersive, writes OMD's chief digital and innovation officer.
SXSW diary: Reality and empathy
The footloose globalists are less confident of their position as vanguards of the future, and empathy has been suggested to heal societal divides, writes the director of trend forecasting at J. Walter Thompson.
SXSW diary: Rain, rain, DNA
The range of questions at SXSW reflects an uncertainty around technology, writes the director of trend forecasting at J. Walter Thompson.
How may AI help you, sir?
Ahead of SXSW, Poke's Tom Hostler discusses trends around artificial intelligence and what he'll be looking out for at the event.
Does Alexa run counter to the Amazon brand?
The personal assistant is missing the retailer's largest consumer benefit, a seamless shopping experience, writes Firstborn's SVP of business planning.
Look beyond the smartphone for the next big innovations in mobile
New paradigms like "Voice" can give mobile a run for its money at Mobile World Congress, says Mark Curtis of Accenture Interactive's design and innovation agency, Fjord.
Is a Snapchat Super Bowl ad worth $3M?
Snapchat's price for two filters tying into the Big Game may not be as crazy as you think, writes a global team lead at GlassView.
Amazon is primed for a social showdown with Apple
The online retailer is stealing Apple's share of consumer conversations, write researchers at Engagement Labs.
The power of purpose: What the hacked Clinton e-mails tell us about branding
Thousands of emails leaked from the Clinton campaign reveal little about the Democratic presidential nominee's beliefs, writes chief global analyst at Kantar Millward Brown
50 first dates: Why digital marketing is so bad
Consumers shouldn't have to remind brands who they are every time they see them, writes Conversant's senior vice president of business development
Understanding the possibilities of personalization
How to make the best use of available technology remains a perplexing mystery for most businesses, writes Mirum's business director
A few thoughts for Creatives about Data. Hey wait, come back!
Creatives have a tendency to roll their eyes when they hear the word Data, but it can often uncover truths that lead to unexpected places, writes the CCO of BBDO New York
Controlling the machine: The future of creative leadership
As creative automation becomes a reality, the CCO of SapientNitro China contemplates the role of artificial intelligence in the agency of the future
Why marketers should care about Pokémon Go
The Nintendo app demonstrates augmented reality's ability to turn the real world into a potent creative canvas for brands, writes the head of innovation at Kinetic Worldwide
Make no mistake: The vote for Brexit is a vote against digital
Digital disruption has created big winners but, for most people, it has made the world a scary place
VR charged into Cannes like a raging bull
The first review of the industry's VR work showcased a surprisingly mature medium, writes the co-founder of MediaMonks and inaugural president of Digital Craft at Cannes
Broadcast TV is on the comeback trail
Higher ad attention and recall rates signal good news for broadcast and cable
VR: Why marketers need to look beyond the headset
Shared experiences can leverage the best the technology has to offer, writes the head of creative technology at Framestore
Rage against the machine: The fight for creativity in an automated world
Advertising automation isn't going anywhere, writes the CSO of POSSIBLE. It's time for creatives to stop fighting the power and learn the nuts and bolts
Cutting the cord won't be easy for HBO
How can the network expand its HBO Now streaming service to compete with Netflix without damaging its cable platform?
The Miles Davis take on creativity and data
By "playing what's not there," creatives can harmonize with analytics, writes Wunderman's global CCO
Is data killing creativity?
The CEO of Omnicom Digital examines the right brain/left brain arguments from each side
Ad of the Week: Droga5's 'employee-made' Johnsonville spot scores big in the Midwest
A winning combo of comedy and authenticity, right down to the accents
Is 'share of ear' the next brand battleground?
Marketers have a whole new engagement challenge on their hands as sound becomes the new medium for consumer interaction, writes the worldwide director of the Innovation Group at J. Walter Thompson
Advertising through the ages: A look back at the last decade
Rating the industry's progress through a period of upheaval
Why your 'innovative' marketing campaign failed
Marketers have a chronic commitment issue with technology, writes Blippar's president of global marketing
Why the Augmented Reality market will outpace virtual reality
AR offers real-world advantages that VR has yet to figure out, writes Blippar's president of global marketing
Future gazing to 2026: VR a decade after Oculus Rift's consumer launch
The creative director of Framestore's VR Studio imagines a time when the technology has completely transformed work and home life
Making VR experiences that last 10 years, not 10 minutes
It can't just be about spectacle, says Unit9 VR & Interactive Film Director Anrick Bregman
Why 'digital strategy' should be nixed from your lexicon
It's become shorthand for anything digital, but when technology truly connects, consumers take notice, writes the director of strategy for Siegel+Gale
What the Sistine Chapel can teach us about customer experience
The 15th century chapel and its ceiling (painted a century later) demonstrate the difference between a user experience with great utility and one that also provides great content
Tales from SXSW: I stayed in a twin bed and no one noticed
Resolution Media's SVP of integration gives his keyword-enabled take on SXSW Interactive
The FCC pulled a game-changer
The co-founder and partner of Swarm explains why unbundling set-top boxes from cable will make a huge difference in your life
How humanity and creativity can overcome ad blockers
Ad blockers show that consumers don't like shit ads. Brands that treat their customers with respect and build enticing experiences will retain them, writes DigitasLBI's CCO
Mobile World Congress: Why every brand should become a tech brand
To prepare for the Internet of Things, all brands can and should be a technology brand, says Manning Gottlieb OMD's managing director.
360 video ≠ virtual reality
The executive producer of Framestore's VR Studio explains why you shouldn't use 360 video to solve VR's distribution problem
What the rise of voice search means for marketers
Despite advances in voice tech, consumers are often stuck for real answers, the head of search for eight&four
Why software-driven Google is sitting prettier than aesthetics-driven Apple
Google's smart and varied investments in innovative software, and its corporate restructure, has given it the edge over single-focus Apple, writes Blippar's president of global marketing
Don't get angry at the IAB for blocking AdblockPlus. Just get angry
Trade associations and conferences won't solve what's wrong with online advertising
Remembering Bowie the tech innovator
From Bowienet to BowieBanc (yes, he had an Internet bank) the Thin White Duke was always pushing technology forward
CES 2016 Diary: Our tech-enabled future
From hyperreal to fantastical, our environments will surround us with immersive technology, says the worldwide director of J. Walter Thompson's Innovation Group
Connected shopping at CES: What's next
Smart devices, voice activation and virtual reality will redefine point of sale, says the managing director of Mindshare's Shop+ Lead
CES 2016 Diary: Rolling with the Girl's Lounge
The worldwide director of J. Walter Thompson's Innovation Group rides along with powerful women in Las Vegas
CES 2016 Diary: From the 'future city' to the smart fridge
The worldwide director of J. Walter Thompson's Innovation Group gives her first impressions of the tech conference in Las Vegas
CES 2016: Why brands should care about connected cars and talking sneakers
Only a handful of consumer tech gadgets will matter to advertisers. The global CEO of WPP's Gain Theory makes his picks
CES 2016: Double down on data-driven marketing
The CMO of Omnicom's Annalect marketing technology network exaplains why data-driven marketing should be the headliner in Vegas this year
Better creative, fewer ads: 6 trends that will define 2016
The new year will be about quality, not quantity, predicts Xaxis North America's CEO
The uncanny valley of data and advertising
Ads have to work harder than ever to tap into human needs, but we are increasingly turning to machines to make decisions for us, writes MCD Partners senior brand strategist
The true magic of Disney isn't in the band
The MagicBand's remarkable, but the entertainment brand's customer service is even more so, writes Faris Yakob
2016: The year of the virtual renaissance
From retail to space travel, from advertising to therapy, virtual reality is set to dominate nearly every facet of our culture in 2016, says the worldwide director of JWT's Innovation Group
Why 2016 will be a year of breakups in programmatic
A wave of calm has washed over the programmatic space, but more change lies ahead, writes Vivaki's president of global clients
It's almost 2016: Do you know what your children are watching?
You thought it was tough tracking a 30-year-old's viewing habits? Try figuring out what his kids are watching
Apple has billions in the bank, but its recent ads are a flop
Reporter Shona Ghosh shares her view on the company's uninspiring new crop of ads
Mobile ad blocking: Stop complaining and start brainstorming
Magnetic's CEO spells out revenue options for publishers facing a rising tide of ad blockers
To make the most of VR, look beyond storytelling
Rather than passively consuming static media, VR enables people to active agents, offering huge opportunities for content creators, says The Mill New York's executive creative director
Advertising commandments that should be consigned to history
Framestore's worldwide president of integrated advertising loses his religion over some industry dicta
Strategy and production: No longer ships in the night
In the maker era, it's more vital than ever that strategy and production buddy up, says Deutsch LA's group strategy director
Beware the virtual reality FOMO
When someone asks what your VR strategy is, they're reaching for your wallet, says the global director of interactive strategy at Wieden+Kennedy
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