McDonald’s to push its CSR credentials in TV ad

Tonight (14 June) will see the first airing of McDonald’s latest TV ad which introduces a corporate social responsibility (CSR) message.

The new commercial highlights the company’s CSR credentials and activities in the areas of community, engagement, environmental initiatives, staff development and training. It’s the latest in their ‘That’s What Makes McDonald’s’ campaign and takes viewers through an ‘A to Z’ of the company’s attributes.

This is a departure from the advertising focus of the past three years which has primarily been around ingredients used by McDonald’s. Their UK vice president of marketing feels that the time is right to celebrate some of the good work in other areas of the business and said, “I believe that even out most dedicated followers will learn something new about McDonald’s from the advertisement.”

What did you learn from the ad?

Source: Marketing Week

Nicki, Business Director

Advertising is key to success of government campaigns

Marketing Week reports on research commissioned by Credos, the Advertising Association’s independent think-tank which reveals that the majority of people believe public money should be spent on advertising campaigns. Two thirds of people in the UK believe advertising is vital to the success of government campaigns on issues of public concern such as climate change and drink driving.

However, not all issues are given the advertising ‘thumbs up’. Benefit fraud and awareness of terrorism were considered more important issues for government spend on advertising than health issues such as diet and smoking. Debt management was seen as the only issue that the majority of people did not feel should be publicly funded.

The research also found that adults had high levels of trust in advertising, with TV and print media enjoying the highest levels of trust and direct mail the least.

Read the full report.

Source: Marketing Week

Nicki, Business Director

Marketing Week reveals ‘worst’ Royal Wedding memorabilia

A little something to enjoy as we enter a long weekend of festivity and celebration. Marketing Week have scoured the marketplace – real and online to reveal what they consider the very best or worst ‘Royal Wedding tat’.

Who do you think qualifies – the John Smith’s paper plate, Premier Inn’s duvet or perhaps the commemorative sliding doors or baby bib? Read full story and make up your own mind!

Nicki, Business Director, dbda

Can marketing save the planet – One Day?

The Marketing Society is calling on the collective powers of communications industry to take mass action for ‘One Day 1.1.11’, an initiative where businesses, brands and media owners are being asked to embrace one central theme for 24 hours to ‘Think about and do something sustainable today’.

The marketeers and consumers are being encouraged to participate in the day which is calling for all UK marketing and advertising to be ‘sustainable’ on 1 November 11, on TV, radio, press, online – in stores schools, offices and on the streets.

One Day is a Start initiative and is supported by the Marketing Society and Business in the Community and aims to:

• Get 1 million consumers to pledge to change their lifestyle in one small way which will make better use of natural resources
• Get 100 plus top brands engaged in One Day
• Demonstrate the persuasive power of the UK marketing industry

Read more about One Day 1.1.11 and how you can get involved.

Nicki, Business Director, dbda

Ads of the future – tapping into your mood!

‘Mood’ advertising will arrive within a few years. As an advertiser, this is pretty neat; but as a consumer, pretty scary!

An excerpt from today’s Metro:

 Now experts say the revolution in outdoor advertising is set to arrive by 2015 with the creation of ‘gladvertising’.

Cameras backed by advanced emotion recognition software will detect your mood and then target you with an advert. So if you’re trudging home in the rain looking miserable you could expect to see adverts for chocolate or holidays.

But campaigners have warned about the threat to privacy as companies will be able to access personal information. This is because digital billboards will link with next generation smartphones and offer ‘interactive experiences’. They will have access to details such as body shape, anniversaries and favourite food. The technology could also detect which shops a consumer has visited, what they bought and their location.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/857794-ads-in-street-will-tap-into-your-moods#ixzz1GIzxGyLa

Michelle, Account Manager