The Marketing Architects

Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob explore whether price promotions deliver more than just temporary sales spikes. They examine how different product categories respond to discounts and reveal when promotions might help or harm brand loyalty.Topics covered:   [01:00] "The Long-Term Effects on Category Incidents"[02:00] How soup and yogurt categories respond to promotions[03:00] The short-term impact of discounts on sales[05:00] Premium brands and the "discount doom loop"[07:00] When promotions actually build customer retention[08:30] Using offers effectively for new TV advertisers  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.  Resources: Pauwels, K., Hanssens, D. M., & Siddarth, S. (2002). The long-term effects of price promotions on category incidence, brand choice, and purchase quantity. Journal of Marketing Research, 39(4), 421–439. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkr.39.4.421.19114  Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

A study from Les Binet and Peter Field found that for every 10-point increase in excess share of voice, brands see around a 0.5% annual market share growth on average. But does this marketing principle still hold true in today's fragmented media landscape?This week, Elena, Angela, and Rob are joined by VP of Strategy Dan Cleveland to explore excess share of voice (ESOV) and its enduring relevance. They dive into how ESOV correlates with growth, why it's still a valuable planning tool, and what happens when brands let their share of voice slip below market share. Plus, discover why TV remains crucial for building the top-of-funnel awareness that drives long-term brand performance.Topics covered: [01:00] The history of share of voice and why it matters[03:30] How excess share of voice links to market share growth[08:00] When ESOV doesn't work (and what that reveals)[12:30] Using share of search as a real-time metric[16:00] Why top-of-funnel channels drive brand awareness[21:00] The risks of underspending compared to your share of market[27:00] Practical steps to apply ESOV to your strategy  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter. Resources:  2023 IPA Article: https://ipa.co.uk/knowledge/ipa-blog/esov-an-excessive-focus-on-the-wrong-thing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob explore how creative advertisements can actually hurt the performance of regular ads shown alongside them. They discuss why brands with smaller budgets should still prioritize creativity to avoid getting lost in the mix.Topics covered:   [01:00] "The Power of Creative Advertising: Creative Ads Impair Recall and Attitudes Towards Other Ads"[03:00] How creative ads affect surrounding regular ads[04:35] The dramatic drop in recall when creative ads are repeated[05:10] Why regular ads are judged more harshly after creative ones[06:30] The "Super Bowl effect" and competitive ad environments[07:00] Creating memorable ads on smaller budgets To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.  Resources: Jin, H. S., Kerr, G., Suh, J., Kim, H. J., & Sheehan, B. (2022). The power of creative advertising: Creative ads impair recall and attitudes toward other ads. International Journal of Advertising, 41(3), 1-21.  Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

In this engaging discussion, Steve Babcock, Chief Creative Officer, delves into the evolving landscape of video advertising. He reveals that outdated creative approaches lead to forgettable ads, stressing the crucial role of strategy and pretesting. With viewers multitasking, emotional engagement has never been more vital. Babcock highlights how AI enhances creativity rather than replaces it, while innovative tools are spurring risk-taking in campaign development. The future of ‘shootless’ video production is also explored as a game-changer in the industry.

Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob explore how emotions outweigh logic in advertising effectiveness. They discuss research showing emotional responses are nearly twice as powerful as cognitive factors in driving purchase intent across nearly all product categories.Topics covered:   [01:00] "The Power of Effect: Predicting Intention"[02:00] Rational vs. emotional decision-making[03:00] The AdSAM non-verbal research tool[05:00] Where emotion dominates across product categories[06:45] The one category where logic outperforms emotion[09:30] Creating ads that evoke the right feelings  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.  Resources: Morris, J. D., Woo, C., Geason, J. A., & Kim, J. (2002). The power of affect: Predicting intention.Journal of Advertising Research, 42(3), 7-17.  Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Catherine Walstad, Chief Media Officer at Marketing Architects, joins the conversation to unravel the complexities of Connected TV (CTV) advertising. With CTV ad revenue projected to soar, she discusses major advertiser concerns about transparency and ROI. Catherine emphasizes the dual role of CTV in both brand and performance marketing, while also addressing the challenges of measurement and high CPMs. The chat also dives into emerging trends like shoppable ads, making it clear that CTV is a pivotal part of modern advertising strategies.

Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob explore how humor in advertising drives stronger brand recall and sales despite its 37% decline over the past two decades. They reveal why creating memorable, relatable comedy leads to measurable business results.Topics covered:   [01:00] "What's Working in Humorous Advertising"[02:30] The decline of humor in modern advertising[03:45] Data proving funny ads outperform competitors[05:10] How humor magnifies brand memories[06:05] Why humor drives brand fame[07:20] Balancing humor with brand connection  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.  Resources: WARC. (2025). What’s Working in Humorous Advertising. WARC Strategy. Retrieved from WARC.  Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Only 90% of marketers see an ROI boost when they add brand building to performance marketing. Yet American marketers still struggle to prioritize effectiveness over efficiency, with many optimizing for lower costs rather than long-term business growth.This week, Elena and Rob are joined by Lexi Wolf, Head of Advisory at WARC North America, to explore how marketing effectiveness is gaining momentum in the U.S. Lexi breaks down key findings from WARC's groundbreaking "Multiplier Effect" research, revealing why brand and performance marketing aren't opposing forces but rather complementary strategies that multiply each other's impact. Plus, learn how top marketers create creative platforms that drive both long-term equity and immediate sales.Topics covered: [01:00] The state of marketing effectiveness in the U.S. versus other regions[05:30] Why marketers struggle with marketing marketing itself[10:30] How effectiveness principles should be directional, not prescriptive[17:00] The "advertising doom loop" and how to escape it[20:00] Why strong brands make your entire marketing funnel more efficient[24:00] Creating creative platforms that work for both brand and performance[32:00] Resources for marketers new to effectiveness principles  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.  Resources: 2023 WARC Report: https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/opinion/in-the-us-its-time-to-talk-about-marketing-effectiveness/en-gb/6132The Multiplier Effect Report: https://page.warc.com/the-multiplier-effect-report Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use.In this episode, Elena and Rob uncover what design elements actually drive direct mail success. They explore research showing that opening and keeping mail require different strategies, with personalization playing a critical role in campaign effectiveness.Topics covered: [01:00] "The Effects of Mailing Design Characteristics on Direct Mail Campaign Performance"[02:45] The impact of extreme personalization[03:40] Why opening rates don't correlate with keeping rates[05:10] Design elements that increase open rates[06:00] Features that make people keep mail instead of tossing it[07:30] Finding the balance between brand building and direct response  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter  Resources: Feld, S., Frenzen, H., Krafft, M., Peters, K., & Verhoef, P. C. (2013). The effects of mailing design characteristics on direct mail campaign performance.International Journal of Research in Marketing, 30(2), 143-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijresmar.2012.07.003  Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

AI video tools have created lifelike Coca-Cola trucks, festive scenes, and even Angela's face in today's episode. These jaw-dropping demonstrations highlight how rapidly AI video has evolved and the debate this technology is creating.This week, Elena and Rob are joined by Seth Woodall, Director of AI Visual Arts at Misfits & Machines and creator of the viral "Pepperoni Hug Spot" commercial. Together, they explore the state of AI video creation, misconceptions about the technology, and what's next for marketers looking to incorporate these tools. Plus, discover why AI-powered creative techniques will become standard production methods and indistinguishable from traditionally created work.Topics covered: [01:00] The controversy behind Coca-Cola's AI holiday commercial[07:00] How Seth created the viral "Pepperoni Hug Spot" AI commercial[15:45] Why AI video expertise is hard to find in traditional agencies[18:00] Predictions for AI video quality improvements[21:30] AI tools like Comfy UI, Flux and LoRAs[26:00] Common misconceptions about how AI video is created[29:30] The democratization of high-quality video creation  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.  Resources: NBC News 2024 Article: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/coca-cola-causes-controversy-ai-made-ad-rcna180665Pepperoni Hug Spot Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSewd6Iaj6I Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.