Branding and Insights

Connected TV and over-the-top streaming services are changing the landscape of TV as we know it! Read about the implications for users, marketers, and everyone in-between.

Over the last few months, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding some major streaming services adding lower priced subscription options with advertisements. Along with opening up the service to more consumers at a more affordable price, this now offers a major opportunity for advertisers in the space. Starting back on November 3rd, Netflix started to offer a plan for under $7 that includes commercials built into the platform for the first time. The “basic with ads” tier will include an average of four to five minutes of advertisements each hour of watch time either during or before content with 15- to 30-second advertisement slots.

Consumers are bored with bland. Competing for shelf space can be difficult due to the myriad of new brands who are changing the packaging game. Recently, packaging trends have shifted from a simple and minimalistic approach to now having vibrant colors and illustrations. This new sense of fun gives a look to aspire positivity and inspiration coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, brands are doing the most to not only become a household name, but to become decor in itself . In other words, these pops of color are meant to decorate your home and stay on your bathroom countertop.

Whether it was the football, the halftime show, or the commercials, you couldn’t turn away from the TV last night. A picturesque night in Los Angeles and a full slate of light-hearted commercials was the ideal follow up to last year’s off-putting 37% capacity game due to COVID restrictions.

Like the Bills and Chiefs normalized scoring 25 points in the span of 2 minutes, many companies are using the big game next Sunday to normalize new and emerging Web 3.0 technologies. Companies based in crypto, NFTs, and the metaverse are all getting in on the action by airing commercials themselves or collaborating with more established and recognized brands.

The rapid shift in consumer behavior and buying preferences, as a result of COVID-19, has greatly impacted trends in the automotive industry. According to Alan Haig , an automotive retail consultant and president of Haig Partners, nearly 30% of U.S new car sales last year were completed online, compared to less than 2% before the pandemic. This digital acceleration has presented auto dealers with a great challenge. In the last year, dealers have had to invest not only in website development, but in a variety of marketing initiatives to ensure the effectiveness of their digital retailing. From Facebook and Google advertising, to email and content marketing, dealers have had to consider new tools and technologies to adapt to changes in shopper preferences.

2021 was another tumultuous year. People continued adjusting to the “new normal” caused by the coronavirus pandemic, families and friends reunited as vaccines became widely available, and new variants emerged. Throughout the ups and downs of navigating the past year, people took to social media to express their thoughts, anxieties, and to be creative. Many social media platforms released year in review articles that reflect both the hardships and victories we all experienced in 2021. Here’s a roundup from the most popular platforms.

In digital marketing, third-party data provides key insights into customer behavior and habits . This data helps advertisers to achieve better ad targeting, which means customers can enjoy a more personalized shopping experience . Third-party data has recently become more difficult to obtain due to new user privacy settings in Apple’s iOS 15. Apple Mail no longer supports pixels, which means that senders are not able to collect valuable user information to hone their email marketing strategies. Apple users also have greater flexibility in choosing which apps can track their activity. Over 60 percent of iPhone users are opting out of app tracking based on App Tracking Transparency prompts according to a recent CNBC report . On top of this, legal regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and the General Data Protection Regulation allow users to scale back the amount of data that is shared with third parties. What can advertisers do to still deliver individualized experiences to customers? Check out our tips below!

With supply chain issues delaying how soon products can be delivered, brands have been rolling out holiday campaigns earlier than normal this year to encourage consumers to make their purchases sooner. Here are some of our favorite 2021 holiday ad campaigns.