Revolution articles from October 2007

Revolution archives from October 2007

Letter from Revolution.(Facebook )(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... Coming back to writing about digital after ten years is an eye-opening experience. But like everyone who was in the industry back when Revolution launched (as I was), once you dip your toe in the digital sea, the interest stays with you....

Unilever develops musical push for Comfort Concentrate brand.(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... Unilever is taking its Comfort Concentrate TV ads online, in a collaboration with OgilvyOne and Universal Music. Unilever is using Universal's distribution and marketing muscle to push out the Reggae Vision song featured in the TV campaign,...

Shell calls in agencies for two pitches.
October 22, 2007... Shell has started searching for agencies for a digital roster for its retail and lubricants (petrol and oil) business. Incumbent RMG Connect has repitched to be on the roster, which will consist of two to three agencies. Also involved...

Powergen uses web to align with E.ON.
October 22, 2007... Powergen is turning to the web as it realigns itself closer to the E.ON brand. At the centre of the shift is a new web site designed by digital agency, Redweb. It is being supported by a multi-channel advertising campaign including...

Deals: Publicis Groupe acquires Wcube agency.
October 22, 2007... Publicis Groupe has acquired French independent digital agency Wcube, which will be rebranded and integrated into the Publicis worldwide digital network Digitas. The acquisition for an undisclosed sum means Wcube will become Publicis Modem...

Deals: Yahoo! signs a deal with Bebo.
October 22, 2007... Yahoo! has signed a deal with Bebo to sell the majority of the social networking site's display advertising in the UK and Ireland. This marks Yahoo!'s first agreement with a social networking site. Yahoo! and Bebo have developed a Bebo toolbar,...

Deals: Mission Marketing Group acquires marketing agency Story.
October 22, 2007... The Mission Marketing Group has acquired Edinburgh-based marketing agency Story for around pounds 13.5m. The deal is part of an ongoing acquisition strategy for Mission Group as it aims to extend its reach and services and build a network of...

Deals: NME.com signs deal with iTunes.
October 22, 2007... NME.com, the music site, has signed a deal with iTunes to deliver NME video podcasts as free downloads via iTunes

Deals: Blinxx looking to extend its service.
October 22, 2007... Blinxx, the video search engine, is looking to extend its service to niche audiences with 28 additional 'special interest' media companies. Among the new partnerships are Cycling TV and Wedding TV, both broadband TV and web channels

Deals: IGA Worldwide signs three-year parntersrhip with Codemasters.
October 22, 2007... IGA Worldwide has signed a three-year partnership with game publisher Codemasters to deliver dynamic and static ads through future games titles. Codemasters specialises in racing games, which target 18- to 34-year-old males

Deals: AKQA acquires SearchRev.
October 22, 2007... AKQA has acquired global US-based search firm SearchRev, whose clients include Yahoo!, Shutterfly and Coca-Cola. SearchRev will remain a standalone unit with the same senior team

Deals: BBC Worldwide signs deal with O2.
October 22, 2007... BBC Worldwide has signed a mobile content deal with O2, to provide branded content through the O2 Active portal. O2 will bring branded content from BBC programmes including The Office, Little Britain and The League of Gentlemen, to users'...

Deals: WAYN signs exclusive PPC deal with MIVA.
October 22, 2007... WAYN, the travel network, has signed an exclusive PPC deal with MIVA in the UK. MIVA will deliver targeted PPC ads across WAYN.com

Deals: Yahoo! acquires BlueLithium.
October 22, 2007... Yahoo! has also acquired BlueLithium, the UK's second largest advertising network, for pounds 149.4m in cash, expanding its global reach. Yahoo! said the acquisition will mean it can offer advertisers customers powerful data analytics, advanced...

Digitaltmw named as lead on Infiniti.
October 22, 2007... Infiniti, the Nissan-owned luxury car brand, is to make digital the lead discipline in its launch strategy next year. Digitaltmw has been appointed as lead digital strategic agency to lead the digitally centred campaign, which will be supported...

Freeview monitors online conversations with Sway.(DTV Services Ltd.)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... Freeview is using an online tool to monitor and measure user generated content in order to create more effective online advertising and PR campaigns. Sway, a product created by integrated agency Tullo Marshall Warren, can identify positive...

Glue London scoops Camper account in competitive pitch.(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... Glue London has picked up the global digital account for Camper, the shoe brand. Following a competitive pitch, Camper appointed glue London to handle the digital arm of its global campaign for both its winter 2007 and spring 2008...

Good month/bad month.
October 22, 2007... Good times for social marketers in Second Life. Civic and New Media Corp has launched an in-world virtual agency, Civic New Media. This is pitched as the first integrated online PR and digital marketing agency that avatars can visit in the...

Just breaking: Top 10 breaking banners by impressions (1-31 August 2007).
October 22, 2007... 1. Trader Media Vehicle Check We'll give you another one for free 2. Renault Free picnic backpack 3. Skype The whole world can talk for free 4. The National Lottery Play online now 5. Halifax Get a...

The Car People reveals major interactive advertising campaign.
October 22, 2007... Car supermarket chain The Car People has shifted its emphasis to online, launching a major new interactive focus. Leeds-based agency Propaganda is re-engineering and redesigning the group's web service (www.thecarpeople.co.uk), and will handle...

RNLI boosts virtual gifting channel online.(Royal National Lifeboat Association)(Panlogic)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Association) is ramping up its virtual gifting service as online becomes an increasingly important revenue channel for charities. The charity has appointed digital communications consultancy, Panlogic, to...

A4uForum develops affiliate/search expo.
October 22, 2007... The UK affiliate marketing and search sector is to get its first industry-specific conference, exhibition and awards with the launch of a4uexpo this month. The two-day event, which will take place at ExCeL in London on 25-26 October, is...

Auto Trader honours car web site usability.(Website overview)
October 22, 2007... Global car maker Toyota walked away with a hat-trick of awards at the inaugural Auto Trader web site usability awards for manufacturers and dealers in September. The firm won in the 'best overall site', 'home page' and 'virtual forecourt'...

Account wins.
October 22, 2007... Sapient Interactive has been named as the lead digital agency by European online gaming service, Sportingbet. Kwik-Fit has appointed TBG London as its digital media agency, to promote Kwik-Fit Insurance via display advertising. ...

Owen on digital media: Creativity matters - any hairy primate could tell you that.
October 22, 2007... It's frustrating, as a digital agency, when the most talked about digital campaign of the year comes from an ad agency. It gets worse when you consider that it's not actually a piece of digital marketing at all. It's a TV ad. So what...

Murphy on dotcom life: How we stay in touch has changed, but friendship endures.(Column)
October 22, 2007... We're in the business of friendship. Ten years ago to make a bold statement like that would have sounded absurd. Friendship, you would have quite rightly argued, is not a prized possession or a commodity to be traded, but today it's quite...

Nectar revamps web site in major rebrand.(Website overview)
October 22, 2007... Nectar is unveiling a fully integrated campaign alongside a major rebrand as the brand turns five years old. The new web site, www.nectar.com, now live, focuses on supporting the new brand strategy. Nectar wants to position itself beyond a...

Performance index.(Argos.co.uk )(Google.co.uk )(Yahoo.co.uk )(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... PERFORMANCE INDEX - 1 August - 31 August 2007, 8am - 8pm Rank Site Performance Availability (secs) (per cent) 1 Argos.co.uk 0.05 100...

Moving on up: Appointment at Digital London.(Chris Clarke promoted to creative director )(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... Chris Clarke has been promoted from creative director to president and executive creative director at Digitas London. He takes over from Norm Johnston, who left the agency, formerly known as Modem Media, in July. Brian Dargan also joins from...

Moving on up: Appointment at Tamar.
October 22, 2007... Tamar, the search agency, has hired Leslie Oliver as client service director. She was previously client service director for Ogilvy & Mather, Shanghai, and was group advertising director, EMEA, at Coca-Cola

Moving on up: Appointment at CBS Outdoor.
October 22, 2007... CBS Outdoor has appointed Russell Boyman to the newly created role of head of digital trading. Boyman will be working within the 'Alive' digital team, with a focus on attracting advertisers that have traditionally used broadcast media

Moving on up: Appointment at Cicero.
October 22, 2007... Cicero, the North-West based agency, has poached two of McCann Erickson's senior team. Warren Gaskell joins as creative director and Ewa James becomes group account director

Moving on up: Appointment at Fjord.
October 22, 2007... Fjord, the digital design firm, has hired Christian Lindholm as a director and partner. Christian joins Fjord from Yahoo!, where he was vice-president of of global mobile products

Moving on up: Appointment at The Wall Street Journal Online.
October 22, 2007... The Wall Street Journal Online has appointed Almar Latour as managing editor. He replaces Bill Grueskin, who was recently promoted to deputy managing editor of The Wall Street Journal. The hiring marks The WSJ's efforts to integrate its print...

Moving on up: Appointment at We7.(Clive Gardiner)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... We7, the ad-funded music download service, has appointed music industry heavyweight Clive Gardiner, as its vice-president of digital content. Gardiner will head the content team responsible for growing We7's catalogue, as the Peter...

Moving on up: Appointment at EA Mobile.
October 22, 2007... EA Mobile has appointed Tim Harrison as director of marketing, Europe. Previously at Vodafone Group as head of games and operations, and OMTP as chief marketing officer, Harrison will now work with EA Mobile's worldwide operations to lead...

Moving on up: Appointment at TMW.
October 22, 2007... Integrated agency TMW has recruited Adrian Pearmund, Ed Lamb and Chris Tyas to the newly created positions of digital client partners, to support agency growth and respond to a surge in digital business from clients

Moving on up: Appointment at Sugar.
October 22, 2007... John Kimbell has left Universal McCann Interactive to become digital media director at Sugar, a digital communications agency. Kimmel was group business director at Universal McCann, where he looked after Xbox, Virgin Atlantic, More Than and...

Moving on up: Appointment at IGN.com.
October 22, 2007... IGN.com, the online gaming and entertainment portal, has appointed Chris Tilly as entertainment editor. Tilly will take responsibility for editorial as IGN.com takes on new entertainment-specific channels, including TV, DVD and film. The portal...

Moving on up: Appointment at Banner Corportion.
October 22, 2007... Banner Corporation, WPP's specialist technology marketing agency, has appointed Nick Graham as search marketing manager responsible for developing the agency's search marketing proposition alongside Hanne Tuomisto-Inch, Banner's online...

Moving on up: Appointment at Microsoft.
October 22, 2007... Paul Davies, head of brand at Direct Line, is moving to Microsoft's Online Services Group as head of marketing. Before this, Davies was brand and advertising manager with Royal Sun Alliance and launched its web-only insurance brand, More Than...

Digital direct: We're leaving money on the table with poor conversion.(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... Online lead generation is hugely efficient but, sadly, conversion of that traffic is not. Google's unstoppable growth is evidence of people throwing money at online lead generation, because they know it will work. However, research...

Crisis unveils festive video card scheme.
October 22, 2007... National homelessness charity Crisis is launching a major online and print campaign aimed at raising pounds 1m to fund its Open Christmas centres in the UK. The campaign, supported by the Financial Times, is being created by WWAV Rapp...

Direct Stats.
October 22, 2007... This month List turnover is among the email marketing challenges that have risen over the last year. Hayley Pinkerfield reports. The top email marketing challenges are list turnover, a lack of customer data and deliverability, according to...

New service offers search retargeting.
October 22, 2007... 24/7 Real Media, the global digital marketing company, has introduced a technique allowing customers to target display advertising based on search. Managing director, Ed Stevenson, claims this will keep end-users engaged with more...

Vital statistics.
October 22, 2007... This month Online advertising used in conjunction with TV can have great impact on brand engagement. Hayley Pinkerfield reports. FMCG marketers spending more on internet advertising can expect to see increased consumer trust, willingness to...

Gaffney on America: A downturn will find out our strengths and weaknesses.(Column)
October 22, 2007... Economic downturns start with whispers. But whispers are hard to hear. In a media landscape like this one, the average person is shouted at so often that even the most insightful and informed analysis is drowned in the din. That's why most...

Sony Pictures unveils Superbad campaign.
October 22, 2007... Sony Pictures is supporting the launch of its new film Superbad with an online campaign created by digital agency Spinnaker. In a first for Sony Pictures, the campaign features a widget that users can download from a banner to their...

Ladybird picks Soup after four-way pitch.(Ladybird Books)(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... Soup has won the brief to design a new site for Ladybird, the children's publisher, as it channels more budget into digital. Soup won the account following a four-way pitch, and the new site is set for launch in early 2008. It will include...

Tracker: Overseas readers boost national newspaper sites.
October 22, 2007... The Guardian remains the most popular UK newspaper web site across the world with 7.1 million unique visitors followed by the Daily Mail with 5.9 million. Whereas The Guardian is also the most popular in the UK, the Daily Mail is fifth...

Analysis - Web communities flex their muscle.
October 22, 2007... Did you have a favourite chocolate bar when you were kid? Do you miss it and wish they'd bring it back? Well, you might be in luck, because last month saw Cadbury announce that it was to resurrect its Wispa bar, defunct since 2003. And the...

Analysis: Can digital shops take the lead?
October 22, 2007... Underwired, the only pureplay digital agency focusing on eCRM, is to expand the eCRM, email marketing and online campaign areas of its business as part of an overall restructure. Industry heavyweight Tony Bond has been brought in as the...

Vox pop: What effect will Google's news agency deal have?
October 22, 2007... What does the industry make of Google hosting news agency content? This month, Google News struck deals with four major international news agencies to host their stories on its site, removing any duplicated versions of these stories that are...

Quotes of the month.(Quotation)
October 22, 2007... 'User-generated content sites are very much our consumers', so the insights that they give us about what they are interested in, what they're watching and what they're doing can be invaluable.' Katrina Burchell, head of trademarks at...

Editorial: Customer satisfaction is the key.(Editorial)
October 22, 2007... The idea may strike fear in the hearts of e-commerce brands, but in the digital world, the customer is king. Never has it been so easy for a customer to lose affection for a brand after a bad experience on a web site and, as many brands have...

Comment: Client fees are being driven up by spiralling costs.
October 22, 2007... Recruitment is the bane of every company. The digital communications industry is not alone in facing that issue. But, for this business, the basic challenge is that the sector is growing more quickly than anyone could have imagined and there...

Sector checker: Online dating's formula fails before Facebook and fun.
October 22, 2007... There's too little personality and too much commercialism in standard dating sites, says married Giles Colborne of CX Partners. Web: www.sky.com Developer: In-house by Dating Direct I'm not going to embarrass anyone by asking for a...

Shopping: Review - Schuh puts its best foot forward.
October 22, 2007... Shoes, for me, are a key part of any outfit, whether for stumbling down to the shops on a Sunday morning or taking a lady out on the town the night before. As the saying goes, you can tell a lot from what's on a person's feet. With that in...

Shopping: Shopping stats - Online retailers see off the competition.
October 22, 2007... Online-only retailers are largely meeting customer satisfaction demands. Hayley Pinkerfield reports. Online-only retailers scored higher than high-street competitors in a poll measuring UK online customer satisfaction. Pure dotcom...

The AA: The digital road less travelled.
October 22, 2007... The AA's roadside assistance department is facing a new digital era. Under its new e-business manager, Steve Jay, it is updating and upgrading its skills. Alicia Buller reports. The Automobile Association (AA) has been quietly motoring...

Top 40 digital brands: Customer service wins every time.
October 22, 2007... Revolution's survey of the top 40 digital brands reveals a few surprises this year. Revolution's fourth annual survey of the top 40 digital brands has seen more dramatic downfalls and vertiginous step-ups than all the years preceding. ...

Conference preview: Conference 27 November, The Selfridge, London.
October 22, 2007... In a world of UGC and social media, harnessing brand advocacy is fast becoming a vital element in any marketing strategy. Learn how to engage customers at the Revolution Loyal Brand Advocates conference, to be held in London next month. ...

User-generated content: When consumers bite back.
October 22, 2007... How should you tackle the dreaded blogger who decides he hates your brand and everything it stands for? Suzy Bashford reports. User-generated content. A power-to-the-people revolution. Free speech The un-bribable blogosphere. All these are...

Online publishing: New and not so improved?
October 22, 2007... Web sites sometimes need a breath of new life. But it can be a hazardous business, as Kim Benjamin reports. 'Embarrassing content', 'bought-in material from the US' and 'totally appalling' were just some of the accusations publicly...

Innovation and development: Search piles on the bells and whistles.
October 22, 2007... From a pure direct-response medium to a sophisticated brand-builder, search is evolving. Victoria Furness reports. As an online marketer, you can't ignore search-engine marketing Paid-for search (or pay-per-click (PPC)) advertising...

Budgets: A medium for every pocket.
October 22, 2007... As search marketing becomes big business, smaller advertisers are being priced out - or are they, asks Andrew McCormick. As online advertising has burst into mainstream consciousness, companies have begun to recognise the value of search...

Trailblazer: Open for business.
October 22, 2007... OpenAds gives web publishers alternative access to online ad software, as James Bilefield tells Hayley Pinkerfield. OpenAds is a British internet business with global ambition. Its chief executive, James Bilefield, recently joined from...

Creative Review: Hugh Boyle, head of digital, Ogilvy Action, BIMA member for six months.
October 22, 2007... Boyle is responsible for the digital/interactive business at Ogilvy Action. He and his team are working on projects for Motorola, Kodak, BP and HSBC. He has worked in the new-media industry for 15 years, during which time he was the...

Campaign study: NSPCC.
October 22, 2007... The NSPCC created genuine peer-to-peer online communication on social networking sites to encourage children to speak out against abuse. Background: The first phase of the NSPCC's 'Don't hide it' push launched last spring, with Avenue A...

Masterclass: The Revolution Masterclass on social media usability.
October 22, 2007... How can brands ensure their social networking sites are highly usable? Mairi Clark investigates. It may be indicative of the nature of social networking sites, but their users are a fickle lot. No sooner has someone clicked on Facebook,...

Terminator: Companies could make more of the power of blogging.
October 22, 2007... A couple of recent conversations got me thinking about the potential for business blogging. I was talking to a middle manager in a FTSE-100 company, who was unfamiliar with the term 'blog' despite being a fairly heavy internet user. Then I...

Terminator: New ed shows London strikers who's the boss.
October 22, 2007... Terminator popped along to meet Revolution's new editor the other night. The do was held in Michael Heseltine's boardroom at the heady heights of seventh floor, Revolution Towers. From this vertiginous vantage point, the Terminator was...

Terminator: Are you as 'e' as Revolution eds?
October 22, 2007... How e are you? Worry not, this is not is not a drug reference and does not involve providing any urine samples. Online recruitment consultant Enhance Media is on a mission to test UK internet users' online skills. Those confident enough to...

Terminator: Facebook lends a novel look to Friday nights.(Brief article)
October 22, 2007... While already a great Facebook fan, the Terminator now has hard proof of the ineluctable lure of the site. A source in the digital industry told the Terminator about a friend who recently decided to organise a Friday night out via his...