Puma-Anushka Sharma fake stunt: Are brands taking marketing gimmicks too far?

Puma, Monster (now Foundit) and Vim (owned by HUL) have recently used the device of fake stunts and staged drama online to get attention. The reactions are a mixed bag. (Representational image via Unsplash)

Brands are latching on to the trend of first fooling users and then revealing their actual intent. Some call it ‘shockvertising’ or simply an attempt to garner eyeballs in a highly distracted digital world.

Weekly Shorts: How brands are using hybrid models for influencer collaboration

A long-term influencer and affiliate hybrid campaign gives creators the opportunity to boost impressions, engagement and sales. Followers continue to engage with brands’ posts over a period of time and move through the customer journey with special or discounted affiliate codes. (Representative image via Unsplash)

What’s buzzing in influencer marketing and the creator ecosystem? What’s the next big thing coming down the line? Catch the big trends and hot topics in our weekly shorts.

What’s next for JioCinema once the FIFA World Cup ends and football fever cools?

"We promised to give consumers easy access to the world-class presentation of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and on the back of that, the tournament became the most-watched global sports event on digital where India has not participated" - Viacom18 Sports CEO, Anil Jayaraj (Image source via Twitter - @Sports18)

As per industry reports, JioCinema is estimated to cross 500 million downloads by the 2022 FIFA World Cup final match.

Clutter Breakers: Is outdoor advertising Netflix’s unique superpower?

Netflix has a brilliant advertising and marketing portfolio. There is no doubt about it. Be it social media, indoor or outdoor advertising, Netflix manages to hit the nail on the head every single time. Innovative, creative, attractive, clever and yet simple.

Netflix is known to create eye-catching and clutter-breaking ad campaigns for its shows and movies. Take a look at some of the streamer’s famous outdoor advertising.

Havas Group Chairman and CEO, Yannik Bollore on the future of media and entertainment

"In terms of manufacturers and demographics, we are keeping India in mind because it is going to be the country with the largest population. So, India is a place for huge opportunities among all the regions." - Yannick Bollore, Chairman and CEO, Havas Group. (Image via Twitter - @HavasGroup)

Havas Group’s Chairman and CEO, Yannick Bollore talks about the future of the Group, Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and the impact of negative macroeconomics on business and more.

Why is Max Life Insurance leveraging Rohit Sharma as a family man for its advertising?

This is particularly critical in a category where fear tends to be the go-to strategy for communication. But things are changing. Max Life Insurance majority TG are millennials who wish to make informed insurance choices. They are looking for awareness heavy content and flexibility in insurance products. Cricket players like Sharma therefore make for a reliable choice. The company is also consciously creating communication which does not alienate women in the decision making of buying insurance as more women millennials come in working fore.(Still from the ad)

The insurance firm switched from sports sponsorship to working with endorser Rohit Sharma and wife Ritika Sajdeh and leveraging their family image in its ads.

Throwback: Tourism advertising and “MP Ajab Hai”, storytelling in silhouette

A lesser known performing art form called shadowgraphy or ‘ombromanie” was used for the execution of the television commercial. Having ancient roots, this art form uses hands, finger movements, and positions to depict various forms by way of shadows on a curtain. The black and white shadowgraphy showcased tigers in the wild as the jingle rang, “Ek nahi, do nahi, sekado yahain sher hai”. (Stills from the ad)

Tourism was sluggish in Madhya Pradesh till the mid 2000s. Ashwani Lohani was brought in to MP Tourism Development Corporation to build tourism to MP. He revived the Corporation and brought in Ogilvy India to promote MP tourism.