WARC x IPA EffWorks: Why relevance rules and the case for marketing as an investment
Oct 12, 2023
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Sue Unerman and Jake Webster discuss the changing media landscape, while Ian Whittaker makes the case for marketing as an investment. James Hurman and Amin Mrini advise on profitable scaling on digital marketplaces. Hannah Gillett highlights the importance of owned channels and an owned-first strategy.
Understanding key growth levers can help marketers tailor their communication strategies for optimal growth.
By demonstrating the positive impact of marketing on profitability and growth, marketers can make a stronger case for sustained investment in marketing activities.
Deep dives
The new communication economy
The new communication economy represents the reality of how people consume media today. Traditional linear advertising is declining, and people are spending more time with media that is not ad-funded. This shift in consumer behavior necessitates a change in communication plans and strategies. Research conducted by Essence Media Com revealed that certain levers, such as ad awareness, brand impression, word of mouth, quality, and value, drive growth in different categories. Understanding these levers can help marketers tailor their communication strategies for optimal growth.
Marketing as a long-term investment
According to research conducted by brand finance in collaboration with Ian Whittaker, marketing is not just a cost but an investment that contributes to improving profitability, top-line growth, and share price. The research involved interviews with over 200 investment analysts, indicating that nearly 90% of them believe marketing should be seen as an asset with value. By demonstrating the positive impact of marketing on key business priorities, such as profitability and growth, marketers can make a stronger case for sustained investment in marketing activities.
Scaling up profitably on digital marketplaces
A research study conducted by Wark and Perpetua analyzed Amazon sales and spend data of over 100 brands, representing more than $1 billion in sales over an eight-month period. The study introduced the concept of growth efficiency as an important metric for performance marketers. The findings highlighted that short-term sales efficiency is not a reliable indicator of sustainable growth. High-awareness brands were found to drive greater effectiveness in performance marketing, suggesting that brand familiarity plays a significant role. Marketers are advised to track their growth efficiency, allocate resources between short-term conversion and long-term brand building, and understand the impact of brand health on sales growth.
Harnessing owned touchpoints in the LEGO ecosystem
The LEGO agency, an in-house creative agency, leverages a vast ecosystem of owned touchpoints to drive creativity and campaigns targeted at different audiences. These touchpoints include digital platforms such as websites and social apps for kids, retail sites and loyalty clubs for parents and shoppers, and community networks for adult fans of LEGO. LEGO's physical experiences, including retail stores and entertainment spaces like LEGOland and the LEGO house, also provide unique opportunities. By involving the owners of these touchpoints in the campaign development process, LEGO ensures that ideas align with specific channels and maximizes the impact of their own ecosystem.
The final episode of the WARC Podcast from EffWorks 2023. Lena Roland, Head of Content for WARC Strategy, is joined by EssenceMediacomX’s Chief Transformation Officer Sue Unerman and Jake Webster, Senior Associate Strategy Director, to discuss new research on the new communications economy.
Ian Whittaker, Managing Director and owner of Liberty Sky Advisors shares research that makes the case for marketing as a long-term investment; James Hurman, founder of Previously Unavailable, and WARC’s Amin Mrini advise marketers on how to scale-up profitably on digital marketplaces.
The final guest, Hannah Gillett, Senior Communications Strategist at LEGO tells us about the importance of owned channels and an owned-first strategy.
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