Guest Article: Your brand is the ‘new’ new media - Nirmalya Sen
‘People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ In today’s fragmented media space, brands have to become the media themselves and make their consumer feel special, believes Nirmalya Sen, Managing Director, TBWA\India. He shares how brands can still appeal and be relevant to consumers in the “Attention Economy”, in this special article penned for exchange4media.

“You don't run with the crowd. You go your own way…
Got your own kind of style, that sets you apart…
What's there inside you, shines through to me…
You got something so real. You touched me so deep…
What makes you different, makes you beautiful to me.”
When the Backstreet Boys sang these lines way back in 2000, I am not sure they had any idea how these words would be so relevant for brands, more so in today’s world than ever in the past. This is a world where marketers and their competitors are largely selling products with similar benefits and features. This is a world where brand owners find their trade customers are not only their access to consumers – but increasingly their biggest competitors too! This is a world where fragmentation of media and emergence of new media makes it so tough to get your message to your consumers that it has been famously referred to as the ‘attention economy’. This is a world where building a long-term competitive advantage based on a unique product feature or benefit is becoming virtually impossible.
How then does a brand create long-term value and sustainable competitive advantage? To borrow from the Backstreet boys, how does it create its own style that doesn’t just set it apart, but touches its consumers deep? How can it make itself beautiful to its consumers?
Here’s how.
Nothing brings people together like a philosophy can. It has been demonstrated again and again, most recently by Anna Hazare and his movement, that nothing can move large numbers of people like a purpose can. Nothing can create followers like a belief can.
And why should it be any different with brands?
It isn’t really. Brand belief is emerging as the most sustainable competitive advantage that a brand can create for itself. If I like ‘where you are coming from’ as a brand, if I like your purpose, if I like your point of view on my world, I will relate with you. I will ‘like’ you (and Facebook has converted what was a simple feeling into one of the most oft used actions!). I will ‘follow’ you. I will buy you. And most importantly, I will endorse you to all my likeminded friends. And a brand that exemplifies that for me more than any other is Brand Apple. A brand that has followers, sorry devotees who queue up outside Apple stores for 48 hours before a product launch, just to be amongst the first few to see it, embrace it, own it.
The day Apple decided it wouldn’t be another computer brand, however differentiated, and chose instead to be a ‘tool for creative minds’ it carved out for itself a consumer territory. And when they articulated their belief in the famous ‘Think Different’ campaign in the following words, they created believers, followers, fans -
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
An inspiring Brand belief gives the brand great power in the fight for consumer mindspace. But, as Stan Lee got Spiderman to say many years back, with great power comes great responsibility. The responsibility in this case being to live that brand belief in everything the brand does. Everything.
The science of designing ‘everything a brand does’ is Brand behavior. And it is easy to see why a belief is meaningless unless it gets reflected in behavior. For that is what consumers see, hear or experience.
When the dog food brand Pedigree said – ‘Everything we do is for the love of dogs’, they meant everything. They moved out of offices that were not dog-friendly, their hiring policy changed, their employee benefits included health benefits for their dogs, they embraced dog adoption as their worldwide CSR activity, they created dog parks and dog cafes - And in doing so, created an indelible space in every dog lover’s mind.
But, where do you start?
Lee Clow, advertising Guru and TBWA\’s Chief Creative Officer and the Worldwide head of Media Arts offers a clear point of view – “First, we have to re-think what we call media. Media used to be simply a way for brands to target consumers, but today, media is the way that people are engaging with the world around them. Really, media is just any space between a brand and the audience. And in fact, I believe the best brands will become media themselves: the places, spaces, experiences people choose to spend time with. I often tell people that the best ad we ever did was the Apple Store. We do great TV commercials, we do wonderful billboards, but you walk into an Apple store and you’re now immersed in a brand that’s going to change your life. Apple stores are a media experience, and iTunes is serving millions of songs, podcasts and playlists – all media of the brand. And others like Nike, adidas and Virgin are shaping their brands to make themselves a medium through which people experience their lives.”
It used to be very simple. Brands did advertising: they talked at people; they bought television commercials and held you captive. Now they must interact with their audience in a multifaceted but coherent way. Now, brands and everything they do are media. The design of the product, the packaging, the label on the pack, the buying experience, the promotions, the communication, the post sales experience and every other ‘behavior’ of the brand is media. As Lee puts it – “If you buy a product, even the process of opening it becomes a brand experience”. And it is my belief that there is no media more powerful than that.
Some ads we like, some we ignore, some we dislike, but most we forget. And thus, the need to hit us with yet another ad, yet another campaign ever so often. And many brands go through life armed with that formula. But there are few that recognize that “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” When poet, author and autobiographer, Maya Angelou said this, I doubt she was talking about the power of brand behavior carefully designed to bring alive an inspiring brand belief, but she might well have been.
(Nirmalya Sen is Managing Director, TBWA\India.)
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In Swaraj Tractors’ new film, MS Dhoni talks about his love for farming
Dhoni’s strong connection with the farming community and understanding of the agricultural sector makes this partnership perfect, said the company
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 4, 2023 10:00 AM | 1 min read
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (MS Dhoni) will now officially endorse Swaraj Tractors.
His association with Swaraj Tractors will reinforce the brand’s commitment to provide innovative and reliable mechanisation solutions to farmers in India, said the company.
“MS Dhoni’s strong connection with the farming community and understanding of the agricultural sector makes this partnership perfect for the brand Swaraj. The announcement was made today, during the grand launch of Swaraj's highly anticipated range of Compact lightweight tractors, the "Swaraj Target," they said.
MS Dhoni, commented, “Coming from a small town, farming is not far from our day-to-day life. I always found it fascinating. When I started spending more time at my farm during the pandemic, I realised we need farm mechanisation to save time and we need a powerful tractor to do the job. This led me to choose Swaraj and I am extremely happy with the product and now to be formally associated with it.”
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director & CEO Auto and Farm Sector at M&M Ltd., “We are delighted that someone like Dhoni who is into farming and is already using a Swaraj tractor in his farm, has decided to endorse the brand. We strongly believe that his endorsement will motivate young and progressive farmers towards adopting farm mechanisation.”
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Vedantu & dentsu creative India launch ‘The Everything Book’
The campaign aims to bridge the education gap in rural India
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 3, 2023 9:25 AM | 3 min read
Vedantu in partnership with DENTSU CREATIVE India has launched a campaign to address the absence of reliable connectivity that hampers the access for not only to online learning platforms but also to skilled teachers and valuable courses.
To address this challenge, Vedantu, in partnership with DENTSU CREATIVE India, has developed a patented network aggregator device nestled in a beautifully illustrated book titled, ‘The Everything Book’.
The device aims to bridge the connectivity gap by providing high-speed internet access to the most remote and disconnected parts of India. The goal is to provide children in these areas with a fair opportunity to access the education they rightfully deserve.
In an era where smartphones have reached even the remotest villages, the challenge of reliable connectivity still persists. This game-changing device operates as a portable network signal aggregator, capable of consolidating multiple data blocks from weak 2G mobile networks. By combining these fragments, it generates a strong ‘hyperspot’ that offers high-speed internet connectivity equivalent to 4G networks.
The concept of ‘everything’ represents the boundless nature of online learning. Additionally, the incorporation of a book element serves as a symbolic representation of the core purpose of this endeavour. Within the book, readers will find four inspirational stories, accompanied by captivating illustrations that depict the cultural heritage of the country. By employing various art styles, the aim is to create a sense of relatability and familiarity, encouraging more children to explore its contents. The book is an extraordinary amalgamation of art forms from across India. For the first time, the diverse styles of Avadhi, Rajput, Madhubani, Sikkimese Thangka, Pichwai, Chitrakathi, Kerala Mural, and Kalamkari have been united, showcasing the vibrant artistic traditions of the nation.
Pulkit Jain, Co-founder, Vedantu said, “We want to bring quality education to every child in the country, but without the internet, you cannot stream online courses. Children of rural India have so much potential which we’re losing out on because of a lack of supporting infrastructure. We worked with DENTSU CREATIVE to bring the idea ‘Everything Book’ alive to make sure quality learning reaches as many children as it could in our country.”
Aalap Desai, Chief Creative Officer, Creative Experience, West, DENTSU CREATIVE India added, “The Everything Book has the potential to democratise education in the country. It is simple to use, is portable, and can be easily held and moved around letting children who don’t even have a proper classroom to sit in, let alone proper books and resources, to study connect to the internet and stream the latest syllabus and learn from the best teachers at Vedantu.”
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MsChief unveils new brand film that empowers women to #ClaimYourPleasure
The film urges women in India to challenge the status quo
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 1, 2023 4:58 PM | 1 min read
MsChief, TTK Healthcare’s sexual pleasure brand for women, has unveiled its all-new brand film, a poignant and unique take on the sexual pleasure landscape in India, specially when it comes to female pleasure.
The new brand film traces the journey of five women from different walks of life who challenge the norm and shatter everyday stereotypes through their choices. At the beginning of the film, we see these empowered women breaking down walls when it comes to pay parity, dressing what is considered appropriate, getting married before the age of 25 and pursuing their careers after marriage. Mirroring society as it stands today, these women go beyond stereotypical gender norms. Claiming their identities and space, the women are finally faced with a wall that is often overlooked- the Pleasure Gap.
On the launch of the brand film, Vishal Vyas, AVP Marketing, TTK Healthcare comments, “MsChief rejects the idea that women should settle for diminished or muted pleasure. Today, women are forging ahead with milestones in all industries and fields, have broken barriers in terms of pay parity and education, but the pleasure gap is something which needs to be addressed equally openly. MsChief empowers women to claim their pleasure with their range of products, and the brand film reflects that.”
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Springwel ropes in Boman Irani for new campaign
The series of ad films will talk about the effects of sleeplessness in daily life
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 1, 2023 2:29 PM | 3 min read
Springwel Mattresses has launched a new ad campaign #DhangSeSoyaHotaTohYeNaHota, featuring Boman Irani by introducing multiple innovations in products like Pure Ortho balance, Tru Comfort and Tru Love.
The three films starring Irani highlight how lack of proper sleep leads to absent-mindedness, embarrassment, and errors in the smallest of tasks. ‘Dhang se soya hota, toh ye na hota’, the catchphrase remarked by Boman Irani in the films, captures the brand messaging light-heartedly. The three films talk to three unique consumer cohorts and address their specific sleeping needs.
Sharing his thoughts on the association and the brand campaign, Ankit Kapoor, CMO and Operating Partner, Ananta Capital, said, “Springwel is constantly innovating and extending the technology prowess in the mattress industry of our country. This campaign highlights the need for proper sleep, and Mr. Irani’s portrayal as the central character adds credibility to the unique features that Springwel’s new innovations. We are delighted to collaborate with him and are confident that the consumers can relate to the daily nuances we project through each of our films. With that, we aim to play our part in solving the problem of lack of proper sleep in our country.”
Expressing his concern towards the rising cases of sleep deprivation in the country, Boman Irani said, “Through this campaign, I would urge people to consider the importance of good sleep and the role of the right mattress in addressing sleeping issues. I am thrilled to be part of this initiative, thought over so well, innovated and door-delivered by Springwel. Technologies like cleantech protection and pure orthopaedic benefits will ensure better & deep sleep for every Springwel consumer.”
Commenting on the same, Ashish Kharwatkar, Executive Creative Director, Enormous said, “Enhancing the quality of your sleep is paramount for overall well-being, and Springwel has embraced cutting-edge technological advancements to achieve that. Through relatable situations depicting the consequences of sleep deprivation, we've crafted an entertaining and lighthearted message of ‘Dhang ki neend’ - The perfect sleep, expertly delivered by the affable and iconic Actor, Mr. Boman Irani."
Sharing his thoughts on the association & the brand campaign, Ankit Kapoor, CMO and Operating Partner, Ananta Capital, said, “Springwel is constantly innovating and extending the technology prowess in the mattress industry of our country. This campaign highlights the need for proper sleep, and Mr. Irani’s portrayal as the central character adds credibility to this message. We are delighted to collaborate with him and are confident that the consumers can relate to each of these situations in the three films. With that, we hope we can make the consumer conscious of the role our mattress innovations can play in getting them good sleep."
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Creativeland Studio acquires London-based Creators Inc
The deal value exceeds UK £3 million
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 1, 2023 1:19 PM | 3 min read
Today, on its 16th anniversary, CLAN announced Creativeland Studio's acquisition of London-based Creators Inc – in a total deal value exceeding UK £3 million (three million pounds) to solidify its entry into international long and short content production and the expansion of CLAN's global footprint aligned to its vision of building a global creative super ecosystem.
Further, Creativeland Asia Network (CLAN) has launched Creativeland Studios to focus on the growth of its long and short-format cinema and tv content offering – focussing on creating, producing and distributing high-end films, documentaries, television series and audio content.
With this acquisition, Creativeland Studios has consolidated ten active slates, including two titles in production and now will have over 50 titles in its pipeline.
Creators Inc. is a unique long and short format production house with a roster of directors that includes Oscar, Emmy & BAFTA-winning directors such as Guy Ritchie, Cary Joji Fukunaga, Sarah Gavron, Philip Barantini, Colin Tilley, Mark Osborne and many others.
Creators Inc., founded and led by Jani Guest, brings together award-winning industry specialists from advertising, film and television. Creators Inc. use various synergies across these industries to position themselves worldwide at the top of the production market across all formats.
On the back of this acquisition – Creativeland Asia Network has begun its successful foray into CLA’s creative, technology, marketing & media services ecosystem to the global market.
Sajan Raj Kurup's vision for Creativeland Studios is to provide a platform for filmmakers and creators to express their vision and bring their ideas and unique stories to viewers. The acquisition of Creators Inc is a significant step in achieving that vision. With this new global acquisition – the possibilities are endless, and CLAN is ready to take on the entertainment world.
Sajan Raj Kurup, Founder & Chairman of CLAN, said, “At Creativeland Asia – we are on a passionate journey to create a formidable creative infrastructure for the new world where media, technology, creativity and humanity will come together to curate a more entertained life. The core strategic insight for this acquisition is to build on our ability to bring brands, content and talent together – through a consolidated platform. Today, more than ever before, we recognise that content plays a pivotal role in keeping us connected, informed and entertained.”
Jani Guest, Founder & CEO of Creators Inc, said, “Creators Inc. places its incredible directorial talent at the heart of the company. The partnership with Raj and CLA allows us to accelerate the development and production of stories - created by our talent - to entertain, move, and impact positive change. I could not have wished for a better partner as we move forward to achieve our shared visions and goals.”
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Sociowash renews digital mandate with multiple brands under Viacom18
The agency’s Mumbai team will amplify the YME cluster's social media presence across digital channels
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 1, 2023 1:17 PM | 1 min read
Sociowash has renewed its digital mandate with Viacom18’s Youth, Music, and English Entertainment (YME) cluster.
They have been associated with the agency since January 2022 and have continued their partnership to upscale their strategies for the subsequent tenure. Sociowash will manage their social media strategy, campaign management, influencer marketing, and shoot management under this association.
YME cluster includes responsibilities for MTV Beats, Vh1, Colors Infinity, Comedy Central, KaanPhod, and Fully Faltoo. Sociowash, with its competence in digital and creative marketing, will manage its social media strategies, including 23 of its Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages. The efficiency of its workforce will also concentrate on Analytics and reporting for its campaigns.
Speaking on the association, Raghav Bagai, Co-Founder of Sociowash, said, “The continuation of our journey speaks volumes of how successful the partnership has been in making them divergent from their competitors. The Sociowash team aspires to accomplish exceptional work and get recognised by winning numerous industry awards to maintain the soaring/high standards set in the past. We look forward to strengthening our association and making it more fruitful by helping the brands achieve their goals.”
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ITC Nimyle celebrates the ‘joy of clean floors’
The campaign has been conceptualized by Ogilvy
By exchange4media Staff | Jun 3, 2023 9:25 AM | 2 min read
The floor is a child’s first playground. From crawling to taking their first steps, to creating memories as they grow, floors have been a comfort zone for all kids. While parents take steps to create a safe environment for kids, ITC Nimyle celebrates the joy and satisfaction of clean floors that can be a happy safe space for kids, with their newly launched campaign film with ‘Nimyle Farsh hai, Khushiyon Ka Farsh’.
Conceptualized by Ogilvy, the endearing film highlights the fact that children spend an ample amount of time indulging in activities on floors.
Commenting on the campaign, Sameer Satpathy, Chief Executive, Personal Care Products Business Division, ITC Limited said, “Floors are often playgrounds for many, especially for children. The expression of unbridled enthusiasm, happiness and energy is more often on floors in a protected home environment. To keep floors clean and safe is extremely important and Nimyle with the power of neem enables clean and hygienic floors for all.”
Kainaz Karmakar and Harshad Rajadhyaksha, CCOs, Ogilvy India, said, “The floor beneath our feet is such a taken-for-granted space, which usually finds mention in this category of advertising only functionally. With Nimyle, being natural at root and warm as a brand, we laddered up this functionality of the safety of our clean floors, to the emotionality of what those clean, safe floors mean, especially for childhoods to flourish on them. For such a sweet idea, we are so happy with the way our film director, Afshan, has brought out this correlation between clean, safe floors being a part of healthy, wholesome childhoods.”
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