Jenny Campbell

What interview questions should you ask job candidates to gain more insight into their experience and potential? See this post for 15 questions to consider posing and why they are useful. https://dy.si/wvuHm6

3

The best thing I read today: Are print magazines dead? It’s easy to think so as venerable names like Sports Illustrated and National Geographic have gone all-digital. But I’ve noticed a growing number of niche outdoor publications such as Mountain Gazette and Hi Hey Hello. The always informative John Branch explains what’s behind this minor resurgence of analog print media. #PrintMedia #magazines #OutdoorMedia https://lnkd.in/gPwFzQK2

5

Another HOT take from FEI. I was super inspired today by a wonderful discussion around stretch thinking. The premise of building a path to the future by strongly connecting a brand to culture is solid. Grabbing onto macro-forces moving the world and getting inspired by what THE brands who are creating culture are doing to guide your own efforts is smart. Where we often see these types of efforts fall apart, however, is failing to consider whether your brand has the cred it needs to be seen and accepted in this cool, new way. Brands who know who they are can catalyze their fans with offerings and points of connection that are authentic, relevant and strong. IF a brand is trying to get ahead of what’s next (or find their way to fresh), sometimes it can take too big of a leap in what’s it’s doing, saying or creating as it seeks to demonstrate cultural relevance. Confusion or eye-rolls can result as your brand acts in an unrecognizable way. So, we like to remind folks that sometimes you need to take small, initial steps to build up some equity as you make an intentional shift. It takes patience and a thoughtful eye toward every act of “brand” performed as you build consumer association with forward-thinking ideas before you go full blast and really turn up the heat. #stretchsavvy #smartstretch

19

1 Comment

***NEW ARTICLE*** After more than two decades of navigating the complexities of leadership across various industries & brands, I’ve come to realize a profound truth: the key to effective leadership comes down to one character trait: self-awareness. 👇🏻 https://lnkd.in/eCWGhUec

3

When was AUTHENTICITY ever out? Hmm. I believe AUTHENTIC PURPOSE remains front and center in the minds of today's modern, conscious consumer - that will never change. Just look at Patagonia, IMPOSSIBLE Foods, Dove, Ben+Jerry's, E.L.F. Beauty, to name a few. And to say AI is trending is like saying oxygen is trending... technology will always enable us to get messages out faster, better, cheaper. But AI is not an idea that lives in the heart of citiizens and the wallets of consumers. #Authenticity #BrandPurpose #Cannes2024

28

10 Comments

I got that feeling, because Im at Target, Sipping a latte, Shopping for nothing, but buying everything. Isn't this Yargets overall strategy? They want us to stroll, roam, browse, and enjoy being in their store. This ad is absolutely hilarious and brilliant. It highlights the thing about Target that we all love and evokes emotion. While watching this commercial I saw myself in a few of these characters (cough, cough, the latte drinker, and plant enthusiast). 🎵 Perfect song choice. When it feels like a no-brainer that this ad worked.... that means its a real gem and a marketing win. Watch the Ad 👉 https://lnkd.in/gSQ2e9nY #Target #TargetStores #targetCommercial #FunnyCommercial #Marketing #MarketingWin #MarketingSuccess #MarketingInsights

1

📚 Calling all branding and marketing professionals! 📚 I found a book that should have been a mandatory read in my college marketing courses had it been around back then. It’s called “The Power of Instinct" by Leslie Zane . This book provides practical advice and insights on how to harness the power of instinct to create compelling branding strategies. Once you read this book, you will start to see all marketing and branding around you differently. It’s like seeing the world through a completely new lense! The "The Power of Instinct" is a worthwhile read for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of branding and marketing strategies in a new and innovative way that’s actually science based. Check it out and let me know what you think! https://lnkd.in/e75fBZgs #Branding #Marketing #ThePowerOfInstinct #BookRecommendation

4

1 Comment

Solid overall performance for Omnicom in Q2 with Advertising, Media and Experiential leading the way, but Asia Pacific continues to be challenging   John Wren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Omnicom said: "Our 5.2% organic growth in the second quarter drove solid growth in adjusted EBITA & EPS, with good performance in our larger markets and disciplines. With the rapid adoption of Gen AI, creativity and talent matter more than ever to address the breadth and complexity of consumers. To serve our clients with the best, most advanced capabilities, we continue to strategically align our agencies and invest in robust data and technology, scaled content and production, e-commerce, and retail and performance media - all embedded in our industry-leading Omni platform."   Having set organic revenue growth expectations at between 4% and 5%, delivering 5.2% in Q2 (4.6% for H1) must have been satisfying for Wren to announce.   Key to this was 7.8% organic growth in the Advertising & Media discipline, which represented 53.1% of total revenue in Q2. Another discipline with very strong performance was ‘Experiential’ which saw 17.6% growth off the back of 9.5% in Q1, but this is off of a relatively smaller base of just 4.8% of total revenues.   However, these overperformers were offset by underperformance in all other disciplines: Precision Marketing, Public Relations, Healthcare and Execution & Support grew by 1.4%, 0.9%, 2.0% and 1.2% respectively – well below the 5.2% average for the quarter. But the most challenged discipline for the second quarter in a row was the curiously named Branding & Retail Commerce which saw a 3.8% organic decline (Q1 it was also down 3.8%).   It would seem that the online / retail commerce bubble off the back of Covid has worked its way through, whilst consumer appetite for experiences – physical experiences in particular – have grown. Not really new news.   The geographic split of Omnicom’s revenues shows four regions performing well: US (which is 52.8% of total revenues), UK, Euro Markets & Other Europe and Middle East & Africa grew 6.3%, 6.9%, 4.5% and 8% respectively. Latin America showed very impressive organic growth of 24.5%.   But these were pulled down primarily by a 0.1% decline in Asia Pacific. The other region that saw a decline was Other North America, which was down a rather large 8.3%. Whilst it is a small proportion of total revenue at 3% there is a story behind this to watch. Over the last week it has emerged that BBDO, TBWA and DDB are coming together under the name of Omnicom Advertising Group. I should imagine that the independent agencies in Canada are rubbing their hands in glee. In the press release Wren stares that “we continue to strategically align our agencies”. Again, not really new news – a major group streamlining its businesses and brands … but sad for someone who has been in this world for a little while as I have. Some great analysis from The Drum with a little quote in there from me...

3

With a world focused on instant gratification sometimes the importance of consistent brand presence goes unnoticed. Chief Brand Officers are the unsung heroes that keep the ship from hitting that iceberg. This is a good read if you are interested in finding out how instrumental branding is to your success.

2

Talked to a lot of CMOs and #marketing decision makers today and it’s interesting how many feel the pressure to respond to executive teams spooked by what might be but isn’t yet. New channels, predicted channel collapse or erosion, #AI, data issues, etc, are often real challenges and opportunities (like the shadow is real) but not necessarily the ones that are most significant today (or this year). My guess is that the jousting at windmill’s (shadows) is a more real threat to 2024 and 2025 marketing outcomes.

14

1 Comment

Failure is a part of the game in advertising. Whether it stems from a partner's decisions or campaign outcomes, taking risks means sometimes falling short. I love this article's insight into how to approach and leverage failure. As a leader I have always tried to make room for failure—it's essential for our growth as creatives. #creativity #agencylife #leadership #creativedirector

8

1 Comment

Behind the paywall there’s some great stuff here…. Gap has been all over my LinkedIn FYP these last few days which to me is an indication they are working there way back into the hunt. To Danny Weisman’s point - this isn’t always about “impressions” but rather impressions with purpose. I’m old enough to remember you went to GAP for quality clothing that felt great on and held up to weekly washing. Should be a great lesson in how brands & media now more than ever need to work in tandem. Something Steven M. and I with our consultancy Moy & Halter often are talking extensively to or are listening in on brand marketers with great insights like: Diana Haussling, Vinny Rinaldi, Alyson Griffin, Casey Hurbis, Dave Kersey and Sri Rajagopalan about. What’s your opinion on how creatives and media strategy teams can better align through the planning process? Leave an opinion below 👇

4

Naming is a creative project that requires rigor and (usually) consensus to be successful. With rare exceptions, that rigor and consensus come from: A) A strategy that helps us build from the brand's foundation to a set of criteria for what the name should say, and how B) A process to guide everyone through the steps that make us all feel like we've explored a wide variety of strategic names, and that we've filtered out all of the ones that could cause problems (by being risky, offensive, difficult to say, or simply not aligned with the strategy) Sometimes, people bristle at process and strategy. They sound like they could make a naming journey more expensive or inefficient. They sound anti-creative. But after you've done dozens (or hundreds...) of naming projects, you realize there is nothing more creatively supportive than everyone moving through proven steps with a shared vision of what a successful name looks like. In this week's Substack, I talk about why I love process and strategy so dang much—and what can go wrong when you decide to skip it. https://lnkd.in/ejFfWGrB

29

1 Comment

It’s true that marketing is often the driver of corporate social good. We’re currently in an over-swing of the pendulum that has made it fashionable to diminish the value of building and protecting community as a part of branding, and that has made CMOs a board room pariah. Here’s the line in this article that gives me hope that things will get better. Marketing departments “…often own consumer and sales data, making CMOs the center of knowledge on customer insights and culture.” CEOs who favor product and operations while discounting what their customers are saying, do so at their peril.

3

Great perspective on AI and brand mascots.

2

I believe one of the most incredible thinkers in #B2Bmarketing today is Jann Martin Schwarz. There are writers who are much more than the stories they tell. These stylists deliver more than anyone else. Nabokov, Kafka, Elliot. Today I believe James Parker and his new book “Odes to Being Alive” is the greatest contemporary example. Jann shares something with them – it’s not simply the content of his argument that makes engaging with Jann so valuable. This is important because he’s famous for taking “contrarian” points of view on modern marketing challenges. He's pioneering thinking during his leadership of The B2B Institute, collaborating with brilliant thinkers like Mark Ritson, Roger Martin, and Les Binet around topics like customer promise, category entry points, etc. He’s challenged widely held assumptions around hyper-targeting and other supposed truisms of our industry. While there are incredible practical insights in this work (and I’d recommend heading to Linkedin's B2B Institute without hesitation), the way Jann thinks and considers our area of the marketing ecosystem is even more important than the content of his thinking. Finding inspiration in how Jann thinks will help ALL of your work – beyond the specifics of any given topic. I was lucky enough to spend a moment with him at The Saturnalia Chateau, where he shared incredible insights about the buying committee and the complexity of how groups make decisions. A few friends who might enjoy: Dan Rosenberg, Toni Clayton-Hine, Jessica Deckinger, Amanda St L Jobbins, Christopher Burns, Dan Petrossi, Jonah Goodhart, Patrick Reynolds, Noah Brier, Natalie Ely, Jeremy Botwinick, Hannah Budreski, Anna Griffin, Tisha Hulburd, Christi Moot, and Jeff Brooks #B2B #buyingcommittee #marketingstrategy

54

11 Comments