First Media US

Imagine a world without… cameras? Well, it could be a reality soon. AI-generated video content is surpassing expectations. From advertising and marketing to the creative process and end product - AI can do it all and do it well. AI is acting as the invisible camera democratizing video production. Beyond the obvious benefits of reduced costs and efficiency, the development of this AI means… All camera styles (drone shots included) and lenses are in one place. All visual effects options are obtainable by combining the frontier of real-world artwork with digital. The possibilities are truly limitless. The only limit is our imagination. #artificialintelligence #marketing #advertising

Can Crowdstrike, strike again? The brand is in crisis management after an IT outage caused by an update glitch. The outage’s effect was widespread, specifically impacting the airline industry. Delta cancelled over 3,500 flights and plans to take legal action against Crowdstrike for the $500M loss. Not a good day in the office for Crowdstrike, but how are they recovering? Crowdstike’s response to the incident has been met with praise… ✅ They swiftly acknowledged and took responsibility for the blunder ✅ They used multi-channel communication to reach affected customers And criticism… ❌ Their initial public statement was alienating due to the overly corporate nature and use of jargon  ❌ Individuals felt a disconnect between the company's leadership and the gravity of the issue after being offered $10 Uber Eats gift cards as compensation Issues are inevitable, especially in the tech space. What is more important than minimizing errors? Handling the aftermath. Will Crowdstrike recover as a brand? Answer in the poll below 👇 #advertising #marketing #strategy

The ultimate team: Deadpool, Wolverine and… The HEINEKEN Company? Apparently so… The Deadpool & Wolverine movie has grossed over $1B worldwide. And brands are jumping onto the success. Heineken’s brand activation joined forces with the two superheroes as they celebrated their friendship over a refreshing Heineken Silver. Kraft Heinz capitalized on the visual similarity between Deadpool and Wolverine's costumes and their ketchup and mustard bottles.  Spotify released an official playlist brought to life through a podcast conversation between the two superheroes. adidas released a collection inspired by the two iconic characters. For these companies, leveraging brand activations with the box-office hit has resulted in: A boost in sales  Increased visibility  Deeper cultural relevance  Cross-promotional opportunities Creative and timely brand activations are a powerful tool. Which was your favourite? 💭 #branding #marketing #advertising Source: The Direct

B2B advertising is basic… Usually. But Palo Alto Networks has officially re-invented the game and it is paying off:  ✅ 45% increase in website engagement  ✅ 7.1M video views What’s the fuss about? Their latest campaign for Precision AI features none other than Keanu Reeves. More importantly, there is a captivating narrative even consumers want to follow, unlike general B2B campaigns. B2B advertising traditionally follows the same structure: The 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 is informative and highlights product features that resolve specific business problems.  The 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 is more technical, often involving case studies and data-driven insights.  The 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 are restrained and professional, portraying credibility and authority. Palo Alto Networks flipped the script, creating a campaign that follows a B2C structure: The 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 speaks to the experience of the product and emphasizes emotional appeal.  The 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 is narrative-driven and explores themes and characters.  The 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 are more vibrant, engaging and memorable. Does this mean all B2B businesses should switch to B2C advertising practices? Not exactly… Palo Alto Networks' success is rooted in one fundamental marketing practice that all brands should follow: 𝘌𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. Even complex subjects like cybersecurity can resonate with a broader audience through an innovative narrative. #advertising #marketing #digitalmarketing #strategy

Are marketers missing the true success of Liquid Death? The debate is on surrounding whether Liquid Death’s achievements stem from: A) Product innovation B) An exceptional marketing strategy But is it really that black and white? Liquid Death is simply water. And this Professor Mark Ritson’s point. He believes the company focuses too much on branding, and not enough on product differentiation. Owner Olly Lynch says their product innovation is a direct result of the brand’s ability to differentiate themselves through the 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Emotional resonance and appeal  Social dynamics and identity  Epic brand story Last year, Liquid Death’s approach saw them reach $263M in revenue. Liquid Death’s success underscores the importance of innovative branding and marketing in a market where product differentiation is difficult. What do you think? Is the brand proof that you can market anything? Answer in the poll below 👇 #strategy #advertising #marketing #branding Source: Marketing Week

Did you see the giant pair of adidas shoes flying over Buenos Aires? No? Well, that is because it’s fake news. Or rather, Fake Out Of Home (FOOH). FOOH uses AR or VR to create a digital simulation of traditional out-of-home. The relatively new advertising method is going viral on TikTok, and for good reason. FOOH makes the seemingly impossible, 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦: HBO Max's House of Dragon took over historical monuments  Mattel, Inc.’s Barbie was seen walking around Dubai  L'Oréal lipstick coloured the streets of Paris  Netflix brought Avatar characters to life The North Face jacket kept Big Ben warm FOOH is a big hit with brands because: ✔️ It is cost-effective  ✔️ It is flexible and customizable  ✔️ It has a low environmental impact ✔️ It can enhance engagement and targeting But it is not all positive. As FOOH is entirely technologically dependent, it: ❌ Requires skilled development and maintenance  ❌ Comes with a higher risk of technical issues ❌ Lacks the tangible, real-world presence ❌ Raises privacy concerns So, how do brands successfully implement FOOH? The ingredients are: Data is power  Know your audience  Test, test and test some more Engaging, creative content always wins  Keep privacy and security front of mind Seamless integration and accessibility are key The advancement of tech is changing advertising. And FOOH is one way to leverage this. Which FOOH ad was your favorite? 💭 #advertising #marketing #digitalmarketing 

Gamification is the new way to 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆. Games increase engagement. Increased engagement boosts loyalty by: Building trust and credibility  Creating emotional connections Enhancing customer experiences And it is successful across multiple industries. From Duolingo to Starbucks, and Headspace to LinkedIn All have leveraged gamification to 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 customers, but most importantly, 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 them. Burger King’s latest games are topping the game. Cloud Float and Balloon Buster go a step further than embedded reward programs. They are authentic to the brand and play on the warm feeling of nostalgia. This has allowed Burger King to capture target audiences of all ages. As the gamification market is set to reach $37B by 2027, brands that innovate in the space will win the game. Looking to find creative and innovative ways to leverage gamification for your brand? Drop by first.media and reach your audience at every stage! #strategy #advertising #marketing Source: Fortune Business Insights

Are games the new ad billboards for Gen Z? These brands think so… Chipotle Mexican Grill, Hyundai Motor Company (현대자동차), Samsung Electronics and Vans are flooding to launch ads and interactive campaigns within Roblox. Following in the footsteps of many others: BBC Nike Gucci Walmart Wimbledon McDonald's’s Roblox combines game creation, social interaction and a user-driven economy that boasts 𝟳𝟳𝗠 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗮𝘆. 65% of those players are Gen Z, who play for more than 𝟯 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆. An exposure goldmine for brands. But are they welcome?  43% of users say ads in games ruin the experience. Brands need to tread carefully. A successful advergame is one that: ✅ Provides value that enhances the player’s journey  ✅ Listens to player feedback and builds a loyal community  ✅ Prioritizes fun and entertainment over aggressive branding  ✅ Encourages creativity through customization and interaction With Gen Z’s estimated spending power of $360B+ in the US alone, is launching advergames more effective for their generation? Answer via the poll below 👇 Sources: The Guardian and Marketing Tech #marketing #advergames #digitalmarketing #advertising

KitKat sells 650 bars per second globally... What keeps consumers, consuming?  𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘴 “Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat” was introduced in 1958. The tagline has since become the basis of the brand’s success. But what is so special about it? It is all about the way KitKat 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 it. They defy standard advertising norms by connecting the tagline to unexpected elements: Taking a break from 𝘈𝘐 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴  Taking a break from 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 Taking a break from 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦…  This isn’t just revolutionary within their category but across the board. And that is part of the reason for its viral success. The other part? Consistency. KitKat has been able to go against the grain because its branding elements are consistent. The strong tagline is supported by even stronger branding. KitKat doesn't follow trends. They shape them through brand consistency, authenticity, and creativity. #marketing #advertising #digitalmarketing Source: Nestle 

Is this game-like shopping app the e-commerce industry's newest hot trend? Temu first made a splash with their Super Bowl ad, “Shop Like A Billionaire”. The enticing sentiment hooked Americans just in time for Black Friday where Temu was crowned 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵-𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳… Their traffic was up a whopping 84%.  Dropping $21M on the ads (and $15M worth of discounts and coupons) during the face-off between the Chiefs and the 49ers was a huge win for Temu. But will it last? Amazon’s sizable 38% market share looks like it just might grow, not be lost to Temu. And the retail giant is set to launch a new online store in competition: Unbranded, low-priced items shipped straight from China to your doorstep. Let's watch and see if it has similar gamification elements that contributed to Temu’s success. What do you think? Is a gamified experience the new way to shop? Answer in the poll below 👇 #strategy #advertising #marketing #digitalmarketing Sources: Bloomberg, SupplyChainBrain & Forbes