Storyboard18 x Momo Media: Let's Talk - Mascots In Indian Advertising

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The Podcast Pulse, a comprehensive report on podcast consumption in India developed by UNPAC Research (OPC) Pvt. Ltd. with the support of Ideabrew Studios, offers unprecedented insights into the evolving landscape of podcasting in India.

Despite the gradual adoption of podcasts into daily media consumption routines, a lack of comprehensive data on consumption patterns has hindered its recognition as a powerful platform for connecting with consumers.

India has surged to become the third-largest market for podcast listeners globally, yet only 12 percent of Indians are currently engaged, leaving a vast untapped audience waiting to be explored. The Podcast Pulse addresses this gap by offering actionable insights into consumer preferences, content choices, favored hosts, and preferred platforms.

The methodology behind The Podcast Pulse involved a meticulous blend of quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Engaging 2,170 individuals across 10 cities in India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Indore, Patna, and Jaipur, the report gauged awareness and listenership statistics. Additionally, detailed interviews with 1,800 active listeners provided invaluable insights into their behavior and preferences.

Key findings from the report include:

•       82 percent of respondents were initially unaware of podcasts, highlighting a significant opportunity for awareness-building efforts.

•       78 percent of consumers discovered podcasts less than a year ago, indicating a recent surge in interest.

•       Authenticity and vulnerability in podcast conversations are highly valued by listeners, fostering a deeper connection with hosts and content.

The report also explores consumption patterns, including weekday vs. weekend trends, preferred episode lengths, and the rise of regional language content. Regional podcasts are identified as a driving force in shaping the industry's future, offering audiences a more relatable and culturally resonant listening experience.

Furthermore, The Podcast Pulse profiles the Aware listener – detailing gender, occupation, age, and level of education – and conducts a deep dive into genre dynamics and explores the nuances between audio and video podcasts.  It charts the four stages of podcast enthusiasts’ journey, from their curious Exploration and Discovery phase to Advocacy as they actively promote and champion their favorite podcasts.

Sheetal Choksi, Director, UNPAC Research says, "We believe The Podcast Pulse is a game-changer, providing insights into India’s podcast consumption and offering a roadmap for creators and platforms to navigate the evolving preferences of Indian audiences, empowering industry professionals and stakeholders to unlock its full potential. As a podcaster myself, I experienced firsthand the challenges in accessing comprehensive data about our audience. Beyond some basic data, no one was able to answer questions like who was listening to podcasts, when, why certain genres did well, etc. This realization was the genesis of The Podcast Pulse – an earnest attempt to fill the void and provide actionable insights for the entire industry."

Aditya Kuber, CEO, Ideabrew Studios says, “At Ideabrew Studios, we are passionate about fostering innovation in audio storytelling. The Podcast Pulse not only showcases the immense potential of podcasts in India but also underscores the importance of diverse and authentic narratives in shaping the future of audio entertainment. This report will be a definitive look into podcast consumption data for advertising agencies, brands and everyone looking to meaningfully engage with a large audience.”



India third-largest market for podcast listeners globally; yet only 12 percent Indians currently engaged

GOZOOP HAWK, and online reputation management and customer support agency under the GOZOOP Group, has bagged the listening and digital response management duties for Amazon miniTV, a leading free entertainment service in India.


As part of the mandate, GOZOOP HAWK’s key responsibilities will include handling digital customer support, monitoring online brand chatter, amplifying positive stories, measuring sentiments, providing timely resolutions and deriving actionable business insights for the brand by understanding and tracking valuable web conversations to delight customers. 


Amazon miniTV offers a large library of popular web series, movies, reality shows, dubbed international content, in multiple genres like comedy, romance, slice of life, thriller and more.


Commenting on the partnership Aruna Daryanani, director and business head, Amazon miniTV said, “ORM is an important component of brand building and reputation management. With the right strategy, ideation and creative thinking we can further strengthen our brand presence. We are excited to partner with GOZOOP HAWK and look forward to their expertise to continue to raise the bar on customer experience.”


Commenting on the win, Premkumar Iyer, president, GOZOOP HAWK said, “HAWK has always demonstrated capability of delivering some of the most unconventional listening and online customer support solutions. This habit to push boundaries coupled with Amazon miniTV's disruptive approach towards the dynamic OTT space makes the relationship click. We have already done some stellar work e.g. during Amazon miniTV’s recent launch of dubbed K-dramas, we turned the whole response management strategy to Korean language generating shift in outreach. We look forward to doing more such unconventional work for them in times to come.”


GOZOOP HAWK bags listening and digital customer support mandate for Amazon miniTV

The marketing team within media giant Cox Media Group (CMG) claims it has the capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers through embedded microphones in smartphones, smart TVs, and other devices to gather data and use it to target ads, according to a review of CMG marketing materials by 404 Media and details from a pitch given to an outside marketing professional. Called “Active Listening,” CMG claims the capability can identify potential customers “based on casual conversations in real time.”

The news signals that what a huge swath of the public has believed for years—that smartphones are listening to people in order to deliver ads—may finally be a reality in certain situations. Until now, there was no evidence that such a capability actually existed, but its myth permeated due to how sophisticated other ad tracking methods have become.

It is not immediately clear if the capability CMG is advertising and claims works is being used on devices in the market today, but the company notes it is “a marketing technique fit for the future. Available today.” 404 Media also found a representative of the company on LinkedIn explicitly asking interested parties to contact them about the product. One marketing professional pitched by CMG on the tech said a CMG representative explained the prices of the service to them.

“What would it mean for your business if you could target potential clients who are actively discussing their need for your services in their day-to-day conversations? No, it's not a Black Mirror episode—it's Voice Data, and CMG has the capabilities to use it to your business advantage,” CMG’s website reads.

The part of CMG advertising the capability is CMG Local Solutions. CMG itself is owned by Apollo Global Management and Cox Enterprises, which includes the ISP Cox Communications. CMG operates a wide array of local news television and radio stations.

With Active Listening, CMG claims to be able to “target your advertising to the EXACT people you are looking for.” The goal is to target potential clients or customers based on what they say in “their day to day conversations,” the website adds. Specifically, those could include:

Clients can “claim” a territory where they want to use CMG’s services, which are available in a 10 or 20 mile radius, the website says. After setup, “Active Listening begins and is analyzed via AI to detect pertinent conversations via smartphones, smart tvs and other devices,” the website adds. CMG also claims it installs a tracking pixel on its client’s website to monitor the return on investment (ROI).

With an audience created, CMG then delivers adverts to these people through streaming TV, streaming audio, display ads, YouTube, and Google and Bing search, the website says.

“The result? Unprecedented understanding of consumer behavior, so we can deliver personalized ads that make your target audience think: wow, they must be a mind reader,” another section of CMG’s website reads.

Claims about this capability raises obvious and immediate legal concerns; intercepting communications without proper consent can violate wiretapping laws. CMG’s website addresses this with a section that starts “We know what you are thinking…”

“Is this legal? YES- it is totally legal for phones and devices to listen to you. That's because consumers usually give consent when accepting terms and conditions of software updates or app downloads,” the website says.

Beyond CMG’s website, very little information is available about the capability, including how exactly the data is gathered, be that via a software development kit (SDK) bundled into apps, or via collection at another point. For its part, Apple does alert iPhone users when an app is accessing the device’s microphone with a small icon in the UI.

The marketing professional pitched by CMG told 404 Media that after a call with the company, they disabled microphone access on much of their own technology: “I immediately removed all my Amazon Echo devices and locked down microphone permissions on things like my phone as receiving confirmation they are doing things like this have confirmed my worst fears and I, for one, will not take part in it,” they said.

CMG says “the ROI is already impressive” and is actively soliciting potential customers, though. On LinkedIn, Chris Marxmiller, a senior sales consultant at CMG, invites people in his bio to “Ask me about our NEW product - ACTIVE LISTENING.” Marxmiller did not respond to a request for comment which asked for more information on the Active Listening product.

CMG lists a number of other companies as its partners and publishers. These include Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Microsoft declined to comment. Google told 404 Media in a statement that “For years, Android has prevented apps from collecting audio  when they're not being actively used, and whenever an app activates a device’s microphone, there is a prominent icon displayed in the status bar.” Google did not answer 404 Media’s question in its statement.

Amazon said in a statement that “the advertising product being described would not be possible with Echo devices. We do not share voice recordings with third parties.”

CMG said in a statement that “CMG Local Solutions markets a wide range of advertising tools. Like other advertising companies, some of those tools include third-party vendor products powered by data sets sourced from users by various social media and other applications then packaged and resold to data servicers. Advertising data based on voice and other data is collected by these platforms and devices under the terms and conditions provided by those apps and accepted by their users, and can then be sold to third-party companies and converted into anonymized information for advertisers. This anonymized data then is resold by numerous advertising companies.”

“CMG businesses do not listen to any conversations or have access to anything beyond a third-party aggregated, anonymized and fully encrypted data set that can be used for ad placement. We regret any confusion and we are committed to ensuring our marketing is clear and transparent,” the statement added.

Cox Media Group claims to have capability to listen to ambient conversations of consumers for targeted ads

On June 1, 1945, Fritz Sennheiser, a German inventor and entrepreneur, founded the audio equipment manufacturing company that bears his name and went on to become a global brand. Today, Sennheiser has three business units: Pro Audio, Business Communication and Neumann.Berlin. 


In a conversation with Storyboard18, Andreas Sennheiser, the company’s chief executive officer, said, “The first thing is you have to hit a ‘need’. To not get complacent and to not be happy with what we've achieved, we have to keep listening to the customer and at the same time have a creative dissatisfaction with the status quo. So, the achievements of the past should always be seen as just the new standard. From there, we can iterate again.”


Edited excerpts:


<strong>Tell us more about Sennheiser’s India story.</strong>


We started bringing good audio to India in 2007. At the time, it was really hard to understand where the general public was with audio consumption. We found out that listening to music via headphones wasn’t a known principle. 


So, over the last 16 years, I think we've done quite well in developing the taste of enjoying music on the consumer side. For two years, we focused on the pro business only, along with business communication, and then our Neumann products also.


Particularly, in the last one-and-a-half years after the pandemic, we've seen very strong growth. On the live part, everyone wants to enjoy music, festivals, weddings and all kinds of corporate events. But on the business communication side, government, corporate and also higher education facilities are gearing up significantly for hybrid meetings, for remote lectures and also for a digital government.


<strong>Where do you see India in Sennheiser's growth map?</strong>


In the last two years, India has had one of the highest growth levels, with more than 50 percent annual growth.


As far as the general business globally is concerned, we could supply all our customers with products even during the pandemic. So, we were never really out of products.


<strong>From a product lens, what’s the focus?</strong> 


We have several focuses. There’s a general common focus that more and more of the technology that we’re using—it is highly advanced—is hidden behind very simple user interfaces. 


So, we want to make it as simple as possible, come up with seamless integration, plug and play with our installed business like ceiling microphones… This is so that an integrator, a consultant or the end user really doesn’t need to deal a lot with technology but actually can focus on the experience.



<strong>Many global CEOs are surprised by the way Indian consumers have evolved over the last few years. From a price-conscious market, we now are a value-conscious market. So, what are your observations and what is unique about Indian consumers?</strong>


Well, you just gave the right keywords. 


It has evolved from a price sensitive market of buying at the lowest possible level to now buying the highest possible value. So, with that, we are in an excellent position because we love competition. We love the direct comparison of our products with competitive products because usually this is when we win.


That's why value-based buying decisions are very much in our favour, because we provide superior audio quality. 


<strong>Globally, what are the trends in the audio space and do you see the adoption of those trends in India anytime soon?</strong> 


One of the big trends is that high–quality audio is being more and more appreciated. This is particularly when it comes to immersive audio and spatial audio. In the studios, we have more and more Atmos installations with our Neumann speakers. Also, on the playback side, we see a lot of venues now having full arrays of speakers for an immersive experience.


So, the whole appreciation for good audio has significantly increased over the last few years. At the same time, there’s also a strong trend of simplification of workflows. So, we try to focus on making the lives of our end users as simple as possible, particularly because there's also cost pressure on production, music production, news gathering etc. We want to give them the gear that they can operate with the least possible amount of people. 


<strong>What is the brand perception of Sennheiser?</strong> 


Sennheiser has a brand reputation of being extremely reliable, creating remarkable audio experience and being a highly innovative brand. 


The topmost factor is always reliability. In a meeting room, you don’t want to spend 20 minutes getting the system to work. An artist in front of 50,000 people, the only thing he or she can hold is a microphone, and that should not fail.


<strong>In terms of marketing, what are the big plans for India and what are the investments like?</strong> 

Our main investment is in people and education. So, it's people on our end and education on the customer side.

We see that the more there are highly talented technicians, audio engineers and people who know the difference between an okay system and a great system.

During the pandemic, we produced 200 tutorial videos: how to use our microphones, how to set up gear in general, and how to build a studio. A lot of things to just help the audio community do a better job.


<strong>In India, startups have been weaving a very different story in the last few years. As a family-owned company and one of the oldest startups in the audio space, do tell us what it takes to make a successful business and your advice for startups here. </strong>

The first thing is you have to hit a ‘need’. This is not only true in a startup, but also when a company like ours gets older. Now, we’re closer to the 80th year of our existence. To not get complacent and to not be happy with what we've achieved, we have to keep listening to the customer and at the same time have a creative dissatisfaction with the status quo.

So, the achievements of the past should always be seen as just the new standard. From there, we can iterate again. 

<strong>There are a bunch of profitable startups in the audio space here in India. What impresses you about them and are there any lessons that you can pick from them? </strong>

When startups have a platform economy in mind and then scale that up, they can very quickly cover a very broad demand, be it with fintech platforms or be it any other integration.


That is an approach that I find highly attractive because it's not product and gear oriented, but really platform oriented. And this is also a strategy that we're adopting more and more. We are not just selling gear to our customers, but we actually provide the control platform with it to make it as easy as possible. 


That has been a strategy for a couple of years—to have a lot of allies in the industry in order to allow a seamless integration for the end user. So, the platform is really the main focus. And, what we're selling in terms of gear is just an endpoint to the whole platform.

<strong>Has the target audience of Sennheiser evolved over time?</strong> 

Yes and no. Our target audience grows with us.

While there was an entry target audience a decade back that has now matured in age and in income, they are now being lifted to the next level.

I had a chance to meet with music composer duo Salim-Sulaiman. We had a chat about technology particularly, and they stressed upon how they started with simple gear and then moved to higher-grade gear.

Andreas Sennheiser: We have to keep listening to the customer and have a creative dissatisfaction with the status quo

Gen Z consumers are 50 percent more likely to take their friends' recommendation over an influencer or a celebrity when making a purchase decision, revealed a study from Yuvaa – the Indian Gen Z-driven youth media, impact, and research organization.

An Economic Times report states that the findings are based on a report titled 'Not All Gen Z'. The findings are based on responses from over 900 Gen Z participants, spanning over 20 cities across tier I, II, and III cities and towns of the country. Gen Z represents people born between 1997 and 2012 who show distinctive behavior in their lifestyle and shopping habits. At over two billion, Gen Z forms roughly 25 percent of the global population. It makes up for over 35 percent of India's population, according to Yuvaa.

Their estimated spending power is in excess of €235 billion, according to BCG. 

<strong>Influencers provide brand visibility</strong>

Karthik Srinivasan, a communications strategy consultant, believes that we trust the references and recommendations of the people we trust the most within our family or friends circle. However, influencers have a different role to play.

"They have come to usurp the role of mainstream media and advertising to a large extent and have become predictable sources of visibility more than influence. In other words, influencers (along with mainstream media and advertising) are sources of introducing products or services, use-cases, and giving them visibility, but they may not necessarily persuade people to make the purchase. That's where friends and family (known peers, colleagues too) would come into play," he explains.

Srinivasan tells Storyboard18 that influencers are merely shilling a product for a fee and have long stopped pretending to be actual users of a product to offer use-based/experience-based content/information.

"Even if they claim to offer personal experience-based recommendations, if viewers/followers see the disclaimer about paid content, they'd automatically discount that factor and take that recommendation with a pinch of salt," he adds.

Yuvaa's report findings also highlight a few key aspects of a Gen Z consumer who is not only willing to support brands that support social causes but also cares about sustainability. Around 63 percent of Gen Z shoppers surveyed said they prefer brands that support social causes. 

71 percent of Gen Z prioritize brands that are environment-friendly, and 77 percent consider price when buying something, even if it's not sustainable. Gen Zs are split equally between feminist and non-feminist brands, but 60 percent of women prefer them.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/amazon-vs-myntra-who-will-win-over-more-gen-z-shoppers-in-india-8247.htm">Read more: Amazon vs Myntra: Who will win over more Gen Z shoppers in India?</a>

<strong>E-com platforms chasing Gen Z</strong>

These trends are being closely followed and implemented in product and marketing strategies by e-commerce platforms in India. Storyboard18 reported that there has been intense competition between online retailers to woo the next generation of shoppers, with e-commerce platforms Amazon and Myntra actively investing in the Gen Z cohort.

Flipkart-backed fashion portal Myntra, for instance, announced the launch of FWD, an in-platform experience offering additional brands and styles curated for Gen-Z shoppers.

The move comes days after rival Amazon Fashion introduced the ‘Next Gen Store,’ catering to the unique needs of Gen Z shoppers, who seek to experiment with fashion and have varying preferences in terms of styles, sizes, brands, and fitting.

While Nykaa Fashion has not yet launched a dedicated platform for Gen Z shoppers, it has been onboarding brands that target this cohort. Recently, it added MIXT, which offers streetwear-inspired modern apparel options such as bodysuits, corsets, jumpsuits, jackets, cardigans, and footwear. It brought in Cider, a US-based label, expanding its global offerings to Indian consumers.

Gen Z segment has a distinct aesthetic that impacts their brand choices, which have been driving fashion trends – crop tops, ribbed dresses, chunky sneakers, and baggy jeans.

Unlike previous generations, which were heavily influenced by Bollywood and sports celebrities, Gen Z shoppers are more picky about who they follow. Social media influencers have emerged as a significant force in shaping their purchase decisions.

However, there is a catch. This group only follows influencers or celebrities who ‘walk the talk’ and are more trustworthy.

<strong>Value for sustainability, inclusivity</strong>

Bindiya Bhatt, senior director of category management at Myntra told Storyboard18 that for Gen Z, inclusivity, authenticity, and unconventionalism take centre stage as well.

"By embracing these values and catering to their specific needs, businesses can create more meaningful and impactful experiences that resonate with this important and influential demographic," she said.

Technopak Advisors' Ankur Bisen had a deeper insight, saying Gen Z shoppers are community-driven and seek better products rather than stay loyal to brands.

"...they are definitely seeking better products than brands and they are also looking at the consumption of fashion through communities. For example, there are communities towards gaming, nature, and even limited edition products. The spin-off from this trend could be the 'sneaker culture' in India and the craze to buy limited edition sneakers that are being sold online. These are some micro trends that one needs to notice," he said.

Influencers’ influence waning? GenZ listen to friends over social media influencers

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Storyboard18 x Momo Media: Let's Talk - Masculinity in Advertising

“We will have another incremental billion dollars in the next three years for the home-grown billion dollar brand Thums Ups,” says Arnab Roy, vice president and head of marketing, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia to Storyboard18’s Shibani Gharat. He also talks about the brand’s new advertising campaign #HarHaathToofan.

<iframe title="Coca Cola's Arnab Roy On Thums Up New Campaign 'Har Haath Toofan' | Storyboard 18 | CNBC-TV18" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fXe4to9HL4Q" width="853" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Coca-Cola's Arnab Roy on Thums Up’s new ad campaign #HarHaathToofan

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Chat with IPG's Arun Kumar and Plum's Shankar Prasad and actor Ananya Pandey

Sleepwell, a mattress brand has launched a campaign this Mother’s Day called #SleepwellMom. Derived from the brand philosophy - there is comfort in comforting others, the campaign pays ode to moms who lose their sleep in the pursuit of raising their children.


Sideways crafted the #SleepwellMom campaign and the campaign conveyed with statistics how sleep-deprived mothers are, and culminated with a poem from the perspective of a child who has just had that realisation. The poem was narrated by writer/actor Manav Kaul, whose signature style also amplified the empathy of the message to ask mothers, “Did you sleep well?’ 
 

Speaking about the campaign, Nilesh Mazumdar, chief executive officer at Sheela Foam, said, “With #SleepwellMoms, we really urge everyone to take an empathetic look at the sleep deficit of mothers around us. With this campaign, we aim to start conversations in families around the importance of sound sleep for everyone. Sleepwell aims to go beyond being the top mattress brand in India & help promote empathy for our near & dear ones."


Sameer Sojwal and Nilay Moonje, executive creative directors at Sideways said, “Nothing brings out the brand philosophy of empathy like the care of a mother. So we thought why not say that she needs the same from us, with a poetic touch? That’s why we chose Manav Kaul, as him being a prolific writer and actor, the subtleties of the emotion came out really well.”


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/bajaj-rolls-out-a-cgi-video-for-its-air-coolers-range-31463.htm">Bajaj rolls out a CGI video for its air coolers range</a> 


Manav Kaul pays tribute to mothers through Sleepwell's new campaign

BAJAJ, a consumer appliance brand, has released a CGI video, an extension of the ongoing multi-media campaign for its air cooler range. 

Set in Delhi's Connaught Place, the brand’s CGI ad campaign sees people shielding themselves from the scorching sun on a bustling street, stated the company. While the extreme heat drains one and all, a larger-than-life BAJAJ air cooler emerges from a billboard and delivers a strong gush of refreshingly cool air. 


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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6vRdVJhtcn/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bajaj Electricals Ltd (@bajajelectricals_ltd)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>


Devika Sachdev, head of advertising and brand management at Bajaj Electricals Limited says, "At BAJAJ, we are constantly striving to innovate and provide durable products that enhance the lives of our customers. But innovation doesn’t stop just at our products. Our first CGI video was crafted to captivate our online audience and resonate with today's generation in an engaging manner. Furthermore, we are actively involving our online community through a User-Generated Content (UGC) contest. We eagerly anticipate introducing more innovative and modern content strategies to further captivate and connect with our audience.”


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/is-cgi-in-advertising-becoming-an-overkill-17098.htm">Is CGI in advertising becoming an overkill?</a> 

Bajaj rolls out a CGI video for its air coolers range

Indian political campaigning has transformed, with politicians embracing digital platforms and influencer marketing for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Social media influencers and content creators play crucial roles in engaging the young audience. Let's delve into how Indian politicians are leveraging influencer marketing and content creators.

<strong>The rise of influencer marketing in Indian politics:</strong>

Influencer marketing is now vital for political parties, particularly among youth, utilizing platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. It humanizes political figures, enhancing relatability. Partnering with resonant influencers allows politicians to create authentic content, bypassing traditional media and connecting directly with voters, shaping public opinion effectively.

<strong>The role of content creators in political discourse:</strong>

In addition to influencers, content creators play a pivotal role in shaping political discourse and driving voter engagement on digital platforms. Content creators, including comedians, satirists, news commentators, and meme-makers, use humor, satire, and creativity to dissect political issues, hold leaders accountable, and galvanize public opinion.

<strong>This Lok Sabha Election, creators are making a lot of effort to become king makers:</strong>

Before the Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with creators like BeerBiceps, Curly Tales, Abhi & Niyu, among others, at the Creator's Award 2024 in Delhi. Recently, several content creators experienced a surge in views for political content, surpassing their usual viewership. Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps) conversed with senior BJP leaders like S Jaishankar, Nitin Gadkari, and Subramanian Swamy, as well as opposition figures like Atishi Marlena, Raghav Chadha of the AAP, and Supriya Sule from the NCP(SP), flooding YouTube with political discourse. 

Similarly, lifestyle and travel creators showcased a non-political side of politicians like Rahul Gandhi, Smriti Irani, Eknath Shinde, and Piyush Goyal, engaging with fans and voters. However, many politicians or their management ensure content approval or editing before publication, and questions may be shared with creators beforehand. YouTubers known for political satire and commentary, including Kunal Kamra, Akash Banerjee (The Deshbhakt), Nitish Rajput, and Dhruv Rathee, potentially influence the election narrative with informative videos critiquing the government's policies, scams, and decisions. Their content could shape public opinion and drive voter engagement, particularly among Gen Z voters.

<strong>Monetary reward and other challenges:</strong>

Several popular YouTubers have received offers of substantial sums by many politicians, often in the millions of rupees, to conduct interviews, particularly in the months leading up to the election. However, some creators don’t receive as lucrative offers as they do get from brand collaborations. Some creators have received direct cash offers from third-party organizations assisting lesser-known political figures with podcasts. Nevertheless, for most creators, the primary motivation is gaining notoriety and access within the political system, with money being incidental.

Finance-focused creators are being compensated Rs 10-12 lakh to endorse the policies of different political parties, often through multiple videos uploaded over several days or weeks. Additionally, leading influencers in tech and travel are being paid to subtly promote specific parties' digital and cultural offerings, without disclosing that the content is sponsored.

A trend observed is that opposition leaders are interviewed less frequently than BJP leaders by some of India's biggest influencers. Pro-BJP content has been prevalent recently, while the number of accounts publishing criticism of the current government has decreased, indicating a growing hesitancy to openly criticize the government. This trend raises concerns about democracy's health, as there seems to be more confidence in posting polarizing content or content that aligns with the government's ideologies.

Influencers have a greater capacity to push boundaries compared to traditional media. For instance, Dhruv Rathee's widely viewed video titled "Is India Turning into a Dictatorship?" featured direct criticism of the government, garnering over 24 million views on YouTube. Since its release, there has been an increased usage of the term 'dictatorship' in many creators’ conversations, signalling the impact of influencer content on public discourse.
Some creators refuse political promotions to evade criticism but prioritize constant promotional posts, regardless of relevance. Those exploring critical political themes struggle to monetize. Brands, historically avoiding political or religious content, now buy online ad inventory linked to politics, assessed on the PINI scale. Few critical content creators secure sponsors, often tempered by brands.

Due to limited ad space demand, political content faces fewer and cheaper advertisements. Advertisers can opt out of displaying ads on sensitive Google content categories, excluding news and politics. Additionally, content creators critical of political parties often face demonetization issues on YouTube, limiting their income. Some creators, particularly those discussing topics like electronic voting machines, receive notifications of demonetization.

In conclusion, the fusion of influencer marketing and content creators in political campaigns is now a hallmark of Indian politics in the digital era. Leveraging the reach, credibility, and creativity of these figures, politicians engage voters innovatively, fostering dialogue, mobilizing support, and shaping electoral outcomes. As India gears up for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the influence of influencers and content creators in political communication is expected to expand further, cementing their status as crucial allies for politicians seeking the backing of the young and digitally savvy electorate.

<strong>The column is written by Yasin Hamidani, Director, Media Care Brand Solutions. Views expressed are personal.</strong>


Farmley, has announced its transition to becoming completely palm oil free. Backed by extensive research and development, Farmley, with a year long mission of phasing out palm oil with healthier alternatives like olive oil, ghee or zero-oil across its entire range of products, has further solidified its commitment to redefining healthy snacking for its consumers. Palm oil, a commonly used vegetable oil, has raised environmental and health concerns due to its high saturated fat content. In an industry where the development and sale of blended palm oil is the norm — which includes 80-90% of palm oil and only 10-20% olive oil — Farmley is one of the first brands that is 100% Palm Oil-Free.

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C63M7G1JcCG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C63M7G1JcCG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C63M7G1JcCG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Farmley (@farmleyin)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

While creating a completely palm oil-free product range, Farmley has launched  the "Palms Off Palm Oil" campaign, to raise awareness among consumers about the harmful effects of palm oil on health. It also aims to educate consumers about the negative impacts of palm oil production on the ecology, as it contributes to deforestation, destruction of wildlife habitats and climate change.

Expressing his delight in steering the transition to 100% Palm Oil-Free products, Akash Sharma, Co-Founder of Farmley, said, "At Farmley, prioritising the well-being and satisfaction of our consumers stands at the forefront of our mission. We began our journey 6 months ago to go completely palm oil free when a few of our  customers expressed resentment towards our products being made in palm oil during our regular customer feedback surveys. Customer feedback is not just a suggestion box for us; it's a guiding light that impacts our business decisions. We are happy to be among the first to transition our entire range of products to being completely palm oil free by replacing it with zero-oil, olive oil, or ghee. While this move will cater to the health of the nation, from a business perspective, it will provide us a first-mover advantage into an emerging F&B segment, which focuses on food quality and health. As we continue to innovate and improve, we remain committed to providing snacks that are not only delicious but also mindful of our planet and its inhabitants."

A study published in the National Library of Medicine reveals that palm oil is used in almost half of the most commonly consumed food and consumer items, including popular snacks. Composed of 50% saturated fatty acid, it increases LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol levels in the bloodstream, increasing the unhealthy fat content in the human body while elevating the risk of cardiovascular diseases in people.

Farmley goes 100 percent palm oil free across its product range

Manforce Condoms has unveiled its latest digital campaign, #CondomNahiManforceBolo. The campaign aims to capture the space of online search around the word ‘condom’ by replacing it with 'Manforce'. 

To kick-start the campaign, the brand has collaborated with actor and content creator Dolly Singh. The video depicts Dolly Singh in the middle of a shoot where she mentions a ‘condom.’ On hearing Dolly say condom, the director shows concern, following which the entire crew team says #CondomNahiManforceBolo as it is India’s No. 1 condom brand.

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Since the campaign is year-long, the brand has planned to stick to the quirky tonality and amplify the campaign through multiple influencers, UGC, and social media posts. The campaign focus will revolve around different media platforms to drive buzz and engagement around the campaign.

Speaking on the campaign, Joy Chatterjee, Associate Vice President, Sales and Marketing Head, Mankind Pharma, said, "Our idea behind the #CondomNahiManforceBolo campaign is to make sure everyone knows that Manforce Condoms is the No. 1 choice in India. By encouraging everyone to say 'Manforce' when they talk about condoms, the brand aspires to underscore the trust and credibility it has created in the industry over the years. For further strengthening the campaign, we have also roped in various influencers and leveraged e-comm, quick comm, and product placement for this campaign in a continuous manner.”

Elaborating on the same, Shradha Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of Grapes, said, “The campaign resonates with our objective to instate the supremacy of Manforce Condoms in the segment. Having come a long way in establishing its position in the market, in tandem with the brand, we work towards the unified goal of familiarising Manforce Condoms as a name synoynous to condoms among the audeince.” 

Manforce Condoms unveils CondomNahiManforceBolo campaign; partners with Dolly Singh

Vadilal Enterprise Limited, India’s ice cream brand announces the launch of its newest summer campaign, poised to elevate every celebration to its utmost potential. Unveiling a series of three films depicting the significance of celebrations & Vadilal, the brand showcases “Har moment ko banaye Kamaal! WAAH Vadilal!”


The campaign revolves around the central theme of 'WAAH'.


From the arrival of a newborn in the hospital to the reunion of a long-lost son in India, and the  news of a Mars landing in the newsroom, the films convey Vadilal's essence by humorously echoing the central themes, where protagonists only fully react to the news once Vadilal ice cream is served, highlighted the company. 


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Niraj R. Presswala, general manager, marketing & branding says, “With loyal consumers spanning three generations, Vadilal Ice Creams is thrilled to connect with every age group in the quirkiest way possible this year, and we will continue doing campaigns like these year on year. Our summer ad films promise not only the best laughs but also a trip down memory lane, recalling your fondest celebratory moments. Vadilal has been there for countless “WAAH” moments – from birthdays to anniversairies to new jobs and to making every small moment a WAAH moment in your life. We’re excited to keep being a part of your cherished memories in the years ahead.”


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The TVCs are crafted by Moonshot Digital creative agency feature scripts written by Tanmay Bhat, Devaiah Bopanna, Puneet Chadha and Deep Joshi, with direction films by Rahul Bharti and production by Zuleikha Gupta at Sun City Studios. 


Bopanna, co-founder of Moonshot Digital, says, "It's not every day that you get a chance to work on a legacy brand. The challenge of living up to the legacy of Vadilal, while also trying to push the envelope on the creative, is no easy task. Thankfully, we had the unflinching support from the Vadilal team to create something all of us could be proud of. Sometimes, we just need to keep it simple and let the product and the brand do all the talking. So when we hit upon a simple insight that 'Every moment can be an epic moment if we have Vadilal in it,' it immediately resonated with all of us."


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TNPpRDeYKHY?si=Lr-pPXdu6q-of48J" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>


The campaign will be amplified through a mega-media mix with maximum penetration across mediums such as TV, Digital, Print, Radio, OOH, Audio, News Channels and all brand touch points. 


<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/johnsons-baby-launches-digital-film-celebrating-diverse-journeys-to-motherhood-31336.htm">Johnson's Baby launches digital film celebrating diverse journeys to motherhood</a>


Vadilal unveils new summer campaign Where joy, flavor, and ‘WAAH’ moments unite

Today, brands can capitalize on data privacy issues and the forthcoming "cookie apocalypse," by embracing innovative programmatic advertising solutions. They need ways to reach their target audience without invading the user’s experience, which has prompted a shift towards more engaging, relevant, and less intrusive advertising strategies. For example, a clothing brand that utilizes a "try-on" filter provides users with a convenient, enjoyable, and interactive shopping experience. This method transforms the advertisement into a seamless part of the user's journey, enhancing engagement without feeling intrusive. In a similar way, programmatic advertising, supported by a variety of advanced features, helps advertisers navigate various challenges within the ad-tech landscape effectively.


<strong>Harmony of ad personalization and privacy against cookie-depreciation </strong>

As advertisers face the challenge of adapting to the loss of third-party cookies, they can shift towards using first-party data and contextual targeting methods. This has also accelerated the growth of contextual advertising, with ad spending projected to exceed $562.1 billion by 2030, more than twice as much as in 2023 (Statista). Further, by directly collecting and leveraging their data from users, advertisers can reach their target audience with the help of trusted and premium programmatic platforms. This way, they can respect privacy regulations and enhance user trust in brand offerings since amidst the prevailing evolution in the digital landscape, a balance between personalized advertising and user privacy is imperative.

<strong>Optimize Measurement Gaps in Omnichannel with Granular Insights </strong>

Another concern that arises with privacy for advertisers is the challenge of measuring omnichannel consumer insights. Advertisers by investing in brand safety solutions, and collaborating with premium measurement systems can overcome these challenges and bridge the gap between complicated integrations and traffic buying. With this, they have leverage over a robust reporting mechanism that helps optimize campaigns with granular insights for smooth omnichannel buying of traffic and measuring performance. This takes a selection of targeting metrics, including audience data, geographic, device type, models, ISP, source wise, vernacular, and psychographics. With these comprehensive targeting options, advertisers can reach potential customers and measure their effect on the brand’s awareness and ROI.

<strong>Quality media to ensure brand safety and transparency </strong>

It's essential to highlight that ensuring brand safety and transparency stands as a paramount challenge in combating ad fraud. However, advertisers can combat it with the help of sophisticated ad fraud tools that not only ensure improved ROI but also maintain campaign execution sanity. Trusted media buying is also crucial, which means buying traffic from top-performing and trusted supply partners only. This way, by adhering to global standards, adopting industry-wide practices, and working with trusted partners, advertisers can protect their brands, maintain control over their advertising, and mitigate the risks associated with ad fraud. In short, association with trusted partners and implementing the right tools can help advertisers combat ad fraud and ensure their ads are displayed in brand-safe environments next to appropriate content.
 
But foremost, programmatic advertising with AI’s assistance offers deep insights to support various buying models and creatives by leveraging third-party and first-party data points across user interests, location, and behavior, it provides better user targeting and optimizes campaign results. This leads to an effective omnichannel buying experience which makes programmatic advertising a valuable tool for advertisers and brands looking to improve their brand outcomes.

Thus, programmatic solutions emerge as a game-changer in the continuously evolving digital landscape of ad tech. Advertisers, by embracing this technology can enjoy a more efficient, personalized, and transparent advertising ecosystem that leads to brand success in the long run. Also,  the future looks bright with endless possibilities fueled by rising global programmatic ad spend that is anticipated to reach an all-time high of 779 billion US dollars by 2028 (Statista). Not to forget, a creative, data-driven, and consumer-centric approach is the key to unlocking new heights of success in this ever-evolving digital realm.

<strong>Vishal Singh is the Country Head, India- Xapads, an advertising agency. Views expressed are personal.</strong>


How is programmatic advertising the answer to ad-tech challenges?

Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the influence of mothers in society, motherhood, and maternal bonds. It's a day to appreciate and thank mothers for their love, care, and sacrifices. As Mother's Day approaches, let's take a look at some heartwarming campaigns by brands that are celebrating motherhood through their advertisements.  

Brand- Prega News 

Prega News is celebrating Mother's Day 2024 by supporting a couple's choice when it comes to having a second child. Their campaign, #LetThemDecide, highlights the importance of respecting every mother's decision and wishes them a fulfilling motherhood journey. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S3H-AeKE5mM?si=P0Ttrzt1BWMmxGs2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Brand- Mother Dairy 

 Mother Dairy's #MaaJaisi campaign beautifully captures the essence of motherhood. It recognizes that there is a little bit of mother in everyone, whether it's a father, a friend, or even a stranger. The campaign, with lyrics by Gulzar Sahab and music by Shor Police, celebrates everything that is "like a mother."

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Brand- Teleflora 

Teleflora's "MotHER: A Teleflora Love Story" celebrates mothers for who they are beyond just being mothers. It acknowledges their ambitions, adventures, and wild spirit, emphasizing that motherhood is just one part of their identity. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RwW_hza8gcE?si=dIXh-_lgXQ0gCZpZ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Brand- Tiffany & Co. 

Tiffany & Co.'s Mother's Day campaign honors mothers with meaningful gifts. From 18k gold and diamond bracelets to diamond rings, Tiffany & Co. celebrates the everlasting bond shared between mothers and their children.  

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Brand- Swiggy 

Swiggy's "Delighting Your Mom" campaign revolves around siblings competing to delight their mother with special treats delivered through Swiggy Food. The campaign highlights the joy of making mothers feel loved and special on Mother's Day. 

Brand- Zomato 

Zomato's Mother's Day campaign features the comedic talent of Johnny Lever, adding a humorous touch to celebrating mothers. Lever nostalgically recalls his famous dialogue, "Abhi maza aayega na bhidu," from the film Phir Hera Pheri, making Mother's Day unforgettable.  

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LLNpPIIO5Jc?si=_Drb7zaN2W81KhIf" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>





Mother's Day: Brands celebrating motherhood

On the occasion of Mother’s Day, Bandhan Life Insurance has launched a campaign titled ‘Maa Ki Udaan, Bandhan Se’, celebrating the powerful, unspoken bond between mothers and children. 

The digital film has been conceptualised by Havas CX India and will be distributed across various online platforms, including social media channels.

The film story follows a mother whose day is disrupted by a case of the hiccups. Despite her best efforts, nothing seems to work until her son returns home with a bruised elbow. As she kneels to care for him, her hiccups vanish – a reminder of a mother's protective nature and the unique connection she shares with her child.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WVMNgsibwQU?si=FhmxZNkRKXa-AmOE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Akhil Almeida, Head of Marketing, Bandhan Life, said, “The campaign emphasises the importance of strong relationships in navigating life's uncertainties, echoing our brand's commitment to empower individuals through security and connection. The film not only celebrates the ‘first shield of protection’ mothers provide but also encourages them to trust Bandhan Life as their second shield – life insurance. It is a testament to our commitment to emotional and financial security and our mission to empower individuals to live with confidence and peace of mind.”

Ashu Mhatre, Head of Creative, Havas CX India, said, “If I were to ask you, who’s your first insurance, it’ll take you a while to wrap your head around the question, but when you do, without hesitation, you'd say your mother. This new thinking towards life insurance is what Bandhan Life is all about - a promise of a secure, safe India, and its ambitions taking flight. In its first story, we've explored the bond a mother shares with her kids. An unsaid bond, or Bandhan in this case, that can be felt even when they're miles apart. All we had to do was bring this beautiful story to life. After this, you never know, you might be the reason your mother is hiccupping today.”


Bandhan Life Insurance launches 'Maa Ki Udaan, Bandhan Se' campaign ahead of Mother's Day

As Mother's Day approaches, audio series platform Pocket FM unveils a tribute video celebrating the cherished bond between its employees and their mothers. This video brings back the mother-kid moments and reflects the heartfelt connections every employee has with their mothers.

The video captures candid moments and heart-to-heart conversations, offering a glimpse into the impact that these remarkable women have had on their children.

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"Mothers are the ultimate storytellers, weaving narratives of love, resilience, and unwavering support. At Pocket FM, we understand the significance of family and the profound influence of mothers in shaping our lives," said Vineet Singh, Head - Branding and Communications at Pocket FM. "Through this tribute video, we aim to express our gratitude and appreciation for the unwavering love, support, and guidance that our mothers provide each day."

The video features employees from diverse backgrounds, each sharing their pictures with their mothers. From nostalgic childhood memories to words of gratitude and admiration, the video encapsulates the essence of Mother's Day, celebrating the enduring bond between mothers and their children.

This heartwarming tribute not only celebrates the spirit of Mother's Day but also underscores Pocket FM's commitment to fostering meaningful connections and celebrating the human experience through storytelling.

Storyboard18 x Momo Media: Let's Talk - Mascots In Indian Advertising

From Asian Paints' Gattu and Amul's moppet to Vodafone's Zoozoos, we explore the charm of mascots in Indian advertising in this episode of Let's Talk - a Storyboard18 and Momo Media collaboration.

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