Government meets influencers to tighten self-regulation to curb misleading ads

Guidelines makes disclosures mandatory and they should be displayed prominently and “extremely hard to miss” with the endorsement messages. The influencers should be able to substantiate the claims made by them. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides the framework for the protection of consumers against unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements. (Representative Image: 愚木混株 cdd20 via Unsplash)

The department of consumer affairs had in January released endorsement guidelines for social media influencers to protect consumers from misleading advertisements.

How Nestle sponsored Hum Log and changed the TV advertising landscape in India

Pradeep Pant said, "During that period, sponsored programmes did not exist. Shobha Doctor, producer of Hum Log, approached Nestle. We saw the pilot episode of the show.Nestle had the courage and foresight to back up the show. The marketers were very excited about it and we got support from the seniors. We went ahead and sponsored Hum Log." (Stills from Hum Log episode 1 on YouTube)

Pradeep Pant, who was the advertising manager of Nestle India in the 1980s, opened up on the launch campaign of Nestle’s Maggi, its advertising and marketing strategies, sponsoring the acclaimed Doordarshan show Hum Log.

Paid Rs50 per tweet to several lakhs to spread negative influence: How “smear campaigns” work

These eight YouTube channels had a cumulative count of almost 23 million subscribers. (Representational image by bruno neurath-wilson via Unsplash)

Smear campaigns ought to be taken more seriously now more than ever with social media being at an all-time high, and with influencers being the new decision makers for consumers.

Ariel’s #ShareTheLoad: P&G India’s Sharat Verma and BBDO India’s Josy Paul on committing to a brand purpose

In an interview with Storyboard18, Sharat Verma, chief marketing officer, P&G India, and vice president - Fabric Care, P&G Indian subcontinent and Josy Paul, chairman and chief creative officer, BBDO India, share that #ShareTheLoad movement has been able to voice the right message and tonality because there is no template. (Image: A still from Airel's new ad film)   

Procter & Gamble India’s detergent brand Ariel’s long-term advertising movement #ShareTheLoad is back. This time Ariel spotlights the long-term impact of the unequal distribution of chores on relationships. Storyboard18 caught up with the makers of the campaign.

4P to 3S: Federal Bank’s MVS Murthy on being a culture foodie, BFSI brands’ bad practices, and 3S marketing framework

MVS Murthy, CMO of Federal Bank mentions, "The new agencies have been able to pull off extracts like storytelling, form factor adoption, adding a technology spine for delivery, measurability etc. That’s a strength. My own view is that they need to grow and build the brand muscle, the legacy agencies need to strengthen the above core." (Image source: LinkedIn)

Federal Bank CMO MVS Murthy talks about building a non-intrusive and trusted financial brand and the changing dynamics of client-agency relationships.

Bournvita controversy: Did the Mondelez-owned brand fail to handle the deinfluencing viral video?

Mondelez India sprang into action and was quick to post a detailed clarification that the brand has only permissible and safe limits (every serve of Bournvita has 7.5 gm of added sugar, which is approximately one and a half teaspoons) of sugar content. (Stills from the tweets)

Experts note that shutting down a dissenting voice is the last thing companies should do in the age of the internet. Often, these voices cause a ripple effect where more and more users could pick on the brand and cancel it.

Fastrack positions sunglasses as a necessity in new campaign

Known for its humour-led and irreverent campaigns, Fastrack advertising has been bold and direct in its approach towards issues that matter to young consumers. Be it heartbreaks, gender fluidity, or even breaking stereotypes, the brand has always taken a strong stance. (Stills from the ad)

Decoding the Titan-owned brand Fastrack’s new pitch to consumers, where it’s making a rational case for owning more eyewear.

Simply Speaking: Brands are born inside

Companies that leverage their brands to achieve phenomenal growth and market stature take their brands beyond marketing. (Representational image by Calvin Craig via Unsplash)

A brand needs support and reinforcement from its own people first and foremost and committing to creating an environment that makes their people happy and engaged is the way to do it.

Rooh Afza: The ruby coloured drink’s brand popularity, evolution and future challenges

In the 1940s and 1950s, when direct lines of communication were very difficult, Hamdard used to advertise Rooh Afza in remote locations by dropping pamphlets from helicopters. At present, television, print, radio and outdoor are their main mediums. Since digital media is fast becoming one of the most used mediums, their spends have now been diverted to that space. (Stills from an ad)

Rooh Afza has not only secured a significant position for itself in the market with its sherbet and other product offerings, but it has also established a remarkable example of sailing through the competitive waves by leveraging nostalgia and cultural connection during the holy month of Ramadan.