Revolution articles from January 2009

Revolution archives from January 2009

Leader: New Year's resolution number one: always put consumers first online.
January 9, 2009... When it comes to digital marketing, making predictions is a risky business. Unless you've got a time-travelling DeLorean it's virtually impossible to say with any degree of accuracy what will be happening in six minutes, let alone six months....

The Download: Video - ITV seals first VoD deal.
January 9, 2009... ITV has signed its first ad-funded VoD (video-on-demand) deal, with Vodafone to offer clips from future series of The X Factor. ITV has also revealed plans to launch mobile sites for Friends Reunited, Friends Reunited Dating and ITV Local as...

The Download: Video - YouTube in court again.
January 9, 2009... The Premier League has ramped up pressure on YouTube by filing a second lawsuit against the Google-owned video site. The league originally filed a case against YouTube in May 2007, claiming that 5,000 videos featured Premier League footage....

The Download: Advertising - BT's Phorm trial 'a success'.
January 9, 2009... BT is expected to roll out behavioural targeting after completing a controversial trial with ad targeting firm Phorm. The two companies teamed up for a trial with 10,000 BT customers, which has now ended Rival ISP Virgin Media has also backed...

The Download: Advertising - Yahoo! cuts back discounts.
January 9, 2009... Yahoo! has implemented plans to scale down its discount scheme that rewards agencies for spending brands' paid-search budgets on Yahoo! Search Marketing. The move could see brands reduce the amount they spend with Yahoo!, according to industry...

The Download: Advertising - O2 promotes mobile store.
January 9, 2009... O2 is set to promote Litmus, a new mobile download store and community site aiming to tap into the hype around mobile applications Users can rate, buy and even design applications. -------------------- Did you find this article useful?...

The Download: Advertising - Xbox 360 finds its voice.
January 9, 2009... Microsoft has launched its first Xbox 360 singing game, Lips with a viral campaign on YouTube. An animated character called Lippy superimposed onto music videos sings along to the lyrics which are displayed beneath it. The viral campaign was...

The Download: Advertising - Fiesta rejig.
January 9, 2009... Ford has signed content deals with Blinkbox and Last.fm to expand its Fiesta portal with film and music content. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the magazine? Please call 08451 55 73 55 for...

The Download: Advertising - Lovefilm runs affiliate viral.
January 9, 2009... Lovefilm has commissioned one of the first viral games to be run through an affiliate network. The movie-rental service briefed TradeDoubler to create the game Lovefilm Academy, where players train to become superheroes. TradeDoubler then...

The Download: Advertising - Digital demons.
January 9, 2009... ITV1 has unveiled a digital campaign to promote its new drama Demons. The ads, created by Dare, feature the lead characters in storylines from the series, including a scene where the heroine is chased up an escalator in the London Underground...

The Download: Social media - First Direct creates 'hub'.(Brief article)
January 9, 2009... First Direct has launched a social network to help generate a sense of community among its customers. Little Black Book is a user-generated online hub, which enables customers to share recommendations on topics such as day-trip ideas,...

The Download: Mobile - Fanta targets via mobile.
January 9, 2009... Fanta has developed its first mobile applications to increase interaction with consumers. Two applications - Fanta Virtual Tennis and Fanta Stealth Sound System - are being rolled out across Europe this month. The Coca-Cola-owned brand is...

The Download: Tango wages war on smoothies.(Brief article)
January 9, 2009... Tango has launched a campaign aimed at inspiring consumers to fight against the 'poncy smoothies' and the 'finger-wagging, corduroy-wearing PC brigade' threatening the future of the drink. An online teaser campaign, created by Bartle Bogle...

The Download: Killer Quote.
January 9, 2009... 'Google is not a threat. No one medium has ever killed another. It is not yet time for obituaries.' - Publicis Groupe chief executive Maurice Levy, on the search giant's impact on TV. -------------------- Did you find this article...

The Download: Smart Stat.
January 9, 2009... 10m internet users in 200 countries have used Google's Chrome in the three months since launch, claims the search engine. -------------------- Did you find this article useful? Why not subscribe to the magazine? Please call 08451 55 73...

The Download: Hot or Not.
January 9, 2009... Threshers has released a Facebook widget that allows users to buy drinks for their friends to pick up in-store. Good luck with New Year resolutions. But if you want to lose your festive belly... If time with the family over Christmas has...

The Download: Hotlinks.
January 9, 2009... Stuff we found we think you might like... - RIP abbreviations AT&T's site showing off its new keyboard phone points out the crapness of modern abbreviations that replace old phrases with actual meaning OMG! www.speakinthumbs.com -...

The Download: In-depth - TV - Personalised ads herald future of TV.
January 9, 2009... Deal between broadcasters and ISPs ushers in the next generation of behavioural targeting for TV advertisers. Brands will soon be able to target viewers with personalised ads via their TV set-top boxes following a collaboration between...

The Download: Viral effect - This month's hottest virals.
January 9, 2009... Nike Mercurial Vapor Rosa This wonderful Nike ad mashes up Franck Ribery and The Pink Panther 58,998 views - Coca Cola: Hidden Formula After years under wraps, Coca-Cola finally reveals its secret formula... well, sort of. 21,850...

The Download: Start-up Ovo.
January 9, 2009... Ovo is a new digital video library that aims to provide factual, relevant and entertaining video content to people who want to learn about something in a short amount of time. Due to launch in March, Ovo hosts a library of bespoke...

The Download: World-wide web.
January 9, 2009... How is digital marketing performing on an international scale? This month, in San Francisco, Apple is defending a 'false advertising' lawsuit brought against its iPhone, while in Australia it's good news for film fans impatient to download...

The Download: Smart guide to ... Red Bull.
January 9, 2009... Red Bull has extended its digital marketing strategy by becoming the first advertiser on PlayStation Home, the new virtual world for Sony PS3 (PlayStation 3) gamers. The drinks brand is hoping to engage Home users with a tropical island...

The Download: Stats - Digital music.
January 9, 2009... - 59p is the minimum price Amazon charges for individual MP3 downloads, undercutting Apple's iTunes by 20p. All the major record labels offer music via Amazon's music store. - 46% of internet users go on to purchase downloads or CDs of...

The Download: App:Test.(Interview)(Brief article)
January 9, 2009... iDrum: Ministry of Sound Anthems Reviewed by Harry Dewhirst iDrum: Ministry of Sound Anthems is a music-making app for the Apple iPhone and iTouch. It enables consumers to mix their own dance tracks and turn them into ringtones. -...

The Download: Inside track - Unilever Chrysalis.(Unilever Group)
January 9, 2009... Unilever created Chrysalis last May to house 14 of its local European brands, including Marmite, Pot Noodle, Peperami and Bovril. The division focuses on marketing each brand in its country of origin Unilever spent around pounds 7 million...

The Download: Moves - People.(Ivan Ali-Khan to be appointed as head of Virgin Media Television)(Interview)
January 9, 2009... Ivan Ali-Khan, Virgin Media TV - Ivan Ali-Khan has been appointed to the newly created role of head of digital at Virgin Media Television, after previously holding the post of head of media planning. Beginning his career at Ulster TV,...

The Download: Moves - Accounts.
January 9, 2009... Gumtree.com has appointed Albion to handle its pounds 1.5 million online and offline advertising account. Transport for London has chosen CMW to integrate its Cabwise service into the existing TfL site and increase online awareness. Universal...

The Download: Status update.
January 9, 2009... Gavin Gordon-Rogers... executive creative director, Agency Republic, is... - Woken by a can of tennis balls on the head. My toddler knows how to get me up - 7.21am - Sitting down at the wrong desk. Remembering we moved desks last...

The Download: Google watch - Google stands firm on consumer privacy.
January 9, 2009... While Google is watching you, every month we're watching Google. If only the world contained no regulators, life at Google would be a lot more straightforward. But then, if there were no regulators, Microsoft would probably be the most...

The Download: Briefing - Ad spend - Cheap TV ads could drain digital spend.
January 9, 2009... The falling cost of TV advertising may prompt brands to divert spend away from digital display during 2009, in an effort to get the best value for money. TV ad slots are now around 29 per cent cheaper than they were at their peak back in...

The Download: Briefing - 3UK - 3UK sparks trend with strategic shift.(3G UK Ltd.)
January 9, 2009... 3UK's decision to appoint Glue as the creative lead on its pounds 28 million advertising account will prompt other brands to shift their business into digital agencies this year, claim industry experts. The mobile-phone manufacturer last...

The Download: Briefing - Audience measurement - Media giants to drive online currency.
January 9, 2009... Internet giants including AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo! are set to be invited to join the board of UKOM (UK Online Measurement), the new company set up to resurrect plans for an online trading currency. Media owners will be asked to foot the...

Opinion: User-generated comment.
January 9, 2009... Will the digital media sector be hit by closures and consolidation in 2009? The end of last year saw the closure of Lycos Europe, as well as rumours of multimillion-pound deals involving global internet companies, including Facebook,...

Opinion: Blogs I can't live without - Rob Corradi, Preloaded.
January 9, 2009... Rob Corradi, executive creative director and joint managing director, Preloaded - Cool Infographics Being a creative, I love seeing how different people go about making information look interesting. It can miss the mark a few times,...

Opinion: Forget the doom and gloom, take inspiration from web success stories.
January 9, 2009... It's been a bit gloomy recently. Hardly a day seems to have gone by without some media business or other shedding thousands of jobs. So it was a joyous moment when, in the midst of all this doom and darkness, I spotted a story about the...

Opinion: Instil confidence in your brand if you want to secure venture capital funds.
January 9, 2009... Over the past few years, the digital economy has been awash with funds available to back smart entrepreneurs. Sources of funding have included VC (venture capital) firms, high net worth individuals and strategic investors. VCs have led the...

Opinion: If you want to make a viral that really takes off, forget about the 'pixie dust'.
January 9, 2009... People in marketing love the term 'viral'. 'We're a viral marketing company.' 'We're working on a viral campaign.' 'We're making a viral video.' Sound familiar? The reason why the term has become so popular in the past few years is that...

Nike: Just do digital.
January 9, 2009... One of the world's biggest and most innovative brands, Nike no longer needs to advertise. Instead, it is focusing on using the web to put consumers in control. Gareth Jones speaks to UK marketing chief Simon Pestridge about Nike's broadening...

Innovator: The master of mobile.
January 9, 2009... Mobile marketing has had a number of false starts over the years, but Alexandre Mars is convinced it's taking off, says Adam Woods. The so-called 'year of mobile marketing' has been imminent since about 2004, but when and if it finally...

The Year Ahead: 12 things you need to know about 2009.
January 9, 2009... 1. Project Kangaroo finally gets green light for launch Kangaroo, the on-demand service from BBC Worldwide, ITV and Channel 4 was supposed to be one of 2008's flashpoints. But Ofcom's alarm sounded and the regulator spent the second half of...

Budget brands: How to stand out on less than a million quid (500,000 pounds/300,000 pounds).
January 9, 2009... You don't have to spend a fortune to create an effective digital campaign. Meg Carter takes a look at five brands aiming to get the most for their money online. The recession is forcing brand owners to question the value of every marketing...

Survival skills: How to avoid getting the chop.
January 9, 2009... The tough economic climate is causing many marketers to fear for their jobs, but with the right skills, the digital-savvy can prosper, writes Kunal Dutta. Marketers returning to their desks in January may well feel a new year's hangover...

Masterclass: In-game advertising.
January 9, 2009... Brands savvy enough to get in on the act will find in-game advertising is not only cost-effective but a great way to engage consumers, writes Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh. In-game advertising has been something of a slow burn, with marketers...

Ad networks: Special report - Battle of the brands.
January 9, 2009... Digital-savvy retailers looking to boost revenue should consider using ad networks. Kim Benjamin assesses how two of Britain's top retailers - John Lewis and Marks & Spencer - are matching up. Last October, Marks & Spencer recorded its...

Ad networks: Special report - Networked for success.
January 9, 2009... Ad networks have worked hard to put their not-so-squeaky-clean image behind them, and now marketers are cottoning on to their power to deliver real results for brands, writes Adam Woods. Powerful and important, ad networks are. Sexy, they...

Ad networks: Special report - Pile it high, sell it cheap.
January 9, 2009... Ad exchanges are becoming increasingly popular with advertisers as their transparency improves, writes Trevor Clawson. It might be an unfashionable thing to say in this new era of financial crisis and falling markets, but publishers and...

The Work: From brief to browser.
January 9, 2009... FRANK Agency: Profero BRIEF A government collective comprising the Home Office, Department of Health, Department for Children, Schools and Families, and the COI (Central Office of Information) challenged Profero to create an...

The Work: Case studies - Cosmetics.
January 9, 2009... Schwarzkopf Campaign: Hair Police Agency: Swamp Background: Schwarzkopf is one of the world's leading suppliers of hair salon products, yet the purchase frequency of its Pro.Styling range is very low compared to rival styling...

The Work: Case studies - Recruitment.
January 9, 2009... Totaljobs.com Campaign: GradU8.com Agency: Glass Background: Totaljobs.com bills itself as the UK's leading recruitment website, attracting more than two million unique jobseekers, who generate more than 950,000 online...

The Work: Case studies - Leisure.(Brief article)
January 9, 2009... Madame Tussauds Campaign: Madame Tussauds Agency: Graphico Background: Madame Tussauds claims to be 'London's most famous day out' and has been providing entertainment for visitors for more than 200 years. Owner Merlin...

The Work: Creative review - Samsung.
January 9, 2009... Reviewed by Adam Cleaver, joint creative director and founding partner, Collective Campaign: Pixon camera-phone Brand: Samsung Agency: Lean Mean Fighting Machine The Photographic Adventures of Nick Turpin (apart from having one...

Diary: Web crawler.
January 9, 2009... - Orange bigwig Justin Billingsley and i-level boss Andrew Walmsley hoped to be spending a little less time together after Orange sacked i-level from the sexy part of its digital media account last year However, the pair were unexpectedly...

Diary: Questionnaire - Chee Ho Wan.(Interview)
January 9, 2009... Chee Ho Wan heads up Gumtree's online marketing operations. Wan has spent the past eight years working in the digital marketing sector, and has previously been employed by top brands including Opodo, Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever. -...

Diary: JPEGs.
January 9, 2009... Head of digital at Media Contacts Paul Frampton tells us exactly what he thinks of Web Crawler. Then, for some unknown reason, he breaks into his very own rendition of the robot dance. Peter Crouch, eat your heart out. - Whatever he's...