So what is brand activation?
Brand activation: An increasingly curious term actively touted by two familiar parties; clients – who more often than not use it to define the activity they’re spending their Ad-pounds on; and also by some agencies, who use it as a positioning statement when asked ‘so what does your agency do?’
But what does the term actually mean in a world that is experiencing media convergence at a rate of knots and with many brands struggling to execute truly integrated campaigns, based upon a singular, insightful, organising thought?
We’ve found ourselves in a world cluttered with meaningless content. Tactical experiential activity that lacks any strategic consideration and endless social media campaigns that are still finding their way, picking up the occasional ‘like’ or ‘re-tweet’.
Where is the commercial return and what is this contributing towards the equity of the brands they represent?
As advocates of multi-channel marketing, we must get back to the basic values of understanding data (which is critical in the ideation process), insight, timeliness, relevance and creativity to ensure any activation activity is effective and memorable.
It can be done.
It’s also essential to understand the importance of a seamless, joined-up approach to activation; rather than a series of disconnected, tactical executions. Either one agency needs to manage all elements of activation or agencies need to work collaboratively and stop protecting their ownership of the client for the benefit of the wider brand activity. The answer ultimately lies in the ambition of the brand combined with the insight, expertise and planning unearthed by agencies from a strategic, data and creative point of view. Only these components coupled with collaboration will deliver engaging activity that captures consumers’ hearts and minds.
Brand Activation rallies around activity that brings brands to life and encourages positive participation – physically or digitally. Regardless of how we deploy this activity, let’s get the basics right. This will in turn deliver tangible and mutually beneficial value to clients, brands and customers alike.
Russell Perry is a managing partner at MWorks, McCann London
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Rented Media: Completing the Paid-Owned-Earned family!!
Posted in Uncategorized
Some of the social platforms, which brands think they own, are actually calling the shot without changing the ownership of platforms. If you are related in any way to digital marketing/digital media, I am sure you would have come across this trinity of media classification: Paid, Owned & Earned. Some of us practically live by this classification every day. But the way media is evolving, I think, the classification needs a relook. Some of the social platforms, which brands think they own, are actually calling the shot without changing the ownership of platforms. As a consequence, brands authority has inconspicuously been moved from being owner to a lessee. Hence, the media also needs to reflect this change, and the apt word for this change is Rented media.
So what is Rented Media?
Media, over which brands have a partial control, would fall under Rented Media classification. What differentiates Rented Media from owned media is the degree of control which brands enjoy over the platform. If a brand has an unconditional control over the media platform, it is classified as Owned Media. A brand website/wap site etc is an example of owned media.
If brand a using a platform where they dont have to pay to be on the platform but the platform is constrained by the terms & conditions of the platform itself, it should be classified under Rented Media. Hence, Facebook would be classified under Rented Media rather than Owned Media, as being classified today. Here are few reasons why I would call it a Rented Media:
1. Organically, posts of a page reach on an average only 16% of the users according to FB. To reach out to more users, brands need to use Sponsored Page post. If the platform was completely owned by a brand, it should organically reach out to people. If people have chosen to like a page, why limit put a limit. First brands pay for people to like their page, and then you have to pay again to make them see your post. Its like using paid media to promote rented media. Sounds like you are living in a rented space than an owing one.
2. FB has issued guidelines for cover pictures of brand pages. If you own the page, use it the way you want. Why should FB define the rules of what is to be put and what is not to be put. Compare this to your website, a really owned medium. You get the difference, dont you!
These are just few points to illustrate why FB pages should be classified under Rented Media than as owned media. Classification of Paid, Owned, Rented and Earned is based on degree of control as well along with ownership. Here is a table which captures the essence of this article.
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