Welcome back to another episode of The Barber’s Brief. A segment where we cover news that caught our eye, a marketing moment where we highlight a case study, and our ad of the week. We hope you enjoy the show! Our Hosts: Follow our updates here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/sleeping-barber/⁠⁠ Get in touch with our hosts: Marc Binkley: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcbinkley/ Vassilis Douros: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vassilisdouros/⁠ Time stamps: 0:00 - Introduction 2:56 - Measuring the relationships between brands and AI Models 06:11 - The rise of brand refreshes over splashy ads 09:30 - Diageo's commitment to marketing investment 11:48 - Partnerships between media agencies and research firms 19:06 - Ad of the Week - CeraVe New Campaign 25:57 - Coming up next week In The News Links: The Sandbox’s terms of service may be “onerous, discriminatory and one sided,” according to an open web advocacy group. Source: The Drum Link: https://www.thedrum.com/news/2024/07/15/google-s-privacy-sandbox-terms-may-ironically-violate-privacy-law-new-research-says Amazon Prime Day Source: VOX Link: https://www.vox.com/money/360028/amazon-prime-day-2024-target-walmart-temu Amazon’s AI shopping assistant Rufus is live for all U.S. customers Source: Search Engine Land Link: https://searchengineland.com/amazon-rufus-live-444097 Loyalty scheme will enable ‘even smarter’ pricing Source: MarketingWeek Link: https://www.marketingweek.com/mcdonalds-loyalty-scheme-smarter-pricing/ Marketing Moment: Converse Create Now, Create Next Video: https://youtu.be/FIS_JkNnCeI?si=vglmjRBUtyoXXs2O Summary of the Initiative Converse implemented a dynamic Instagram marketing strategy to boost engagement and brand visibility by leveraging user-generated content, influencer partnerships, and engaging visuals For their create now, create next campaign. What Was the Problem They Were Trying to Solve? Converse aimed to engage a younger audience on social media and stand out in a competitive market by creating a strong, relatable brand presence on Instagram. Who Was Involved in Creating This? Converse’s in-house marketing team drove the initiative. While specific agencies or external vendors were not mentioned, influencer partnerships played a significant role in the campaign. What Solution Was Engineered? User-Generated Content: Encouraged followers to share photos using hashtags like #ConverseStyle. Influencer Partnerships: Collaborated with influencers and celebrities to reach a wider audience. Engaging Visuals: Maintained a vibrant, dynamic feed with a mix of professional photos, user-generated content, and artistic graphics. Interactive Campaigns: Ran contests and interactive campaigns to boost engagement. Consistent Brand Voice: Maintained a casual, fun, and relatable tone across all posts. Results Converse achieved a higher engagement rate on Instagram than many competitors, significantly increasing its brand visibility and follower growth. Key Takeaways Leverage User-Generated Content: Encouraging followers to share their own content can create a sense of community and provide authentic marketing material. Influencer Partnerships: Collaborating with influencers can help reach a broader audience and add credibility to your campaigns. Consistent Brand Voice: Maintaining a consistent and relatable tone helps build a strong brand identity.