The WARC Podcast

WARC’s Anna Hamill and Sam Peña-Taylor discuss three of the biggest narratives shaping earnings season: how the US election and China’s economic downturn are impacting brands, and the road ahead for Starbucks.Stay up-to-date with the latest marketing and advertising news with our free daily newsletter.

Aditya Kishore, Insight Director at WARC and author of 'Building Belief', shares insights on fostering creative effectiveness in marketing. He discusses the ABE framework, highlighting the importance of creativity even without CEO support. The conversation dives into how marketers can act as '3-plus marketers' by integrating building blocks into their strategies, showcasing the power of collaboration with agencies. Kishore emphasizes that a robust culture of creativity can drive better business outcomes and align marketing ambitions with reality.

Brian Jacobs, a veteran in advertising and co-founder of a new initiative, joins Denise Turner, CEO of Route Research, and Michael Farmer, consultant and author, to discuss transformative efforts in the advertising world. They tackle pressing issues like agency compensation, consumer trust, and advertising fraud. The guests emphasize the need for creativity and accountability, reflect on the industry's evolution, and stress the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to drive positive change and adapt to modern challenges.

Join James Boardman, Chief Strategy Officer at Wavemaker, and Felipe Thomaz, Associate Professor at Oxford, as they dive into research on 'influenceability' and marketing effectiveness. They discuss how understanding consumer behavior closes the effectiveness gap. Katie Rigg Smith from WPP Australia sheds light on the importance of scenario planning amid demographic shifts, while Sarah Bailey from VML emphasizes the need for distinctive advertising to stand out in a saturated market. It's a captivating exploration of creativity and strategy in modern marketing!

In a dynamic discussion, Tom Roach, VP at Jellyfish, dives into innovative marketing metrics powered by AI. Leo Rayman, CEO of EdenLab, and Jo McClintock, VP at Trainline, discuss how to encourage greener travel choices through positive messaging rather than guilt. ITV experts Sameer Modha and Kate Waters explore the financial impact of brand advertising on margins. Together, they emphasize the critical integration of sustainability into marketing strategies, reflecting a growing consumer demand for eco-friendly practices.

In this engaging discussion, Andrew Tindall, SVP of Creative Partnerships at System 1, reveals how creativity and consistency in advertising can enhance profitability. Sophie Scott, Director at the Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, explains the unique role of humor in communication and its power to create intimate connections between brands and consumers. Becky Owen, CMO at Billion Dollar Boy, shares insights on the evolving landscape of influencer marketing, emphasizing the need for long-term collaborations to build trust and authenticity.

In this engaging discussion, Alex Brownsell, Head of Content at WARC Media and co-author of the Global Ad Trends report, shares intriguing insights about Baby Boomers. He reveals how this generation is increasingly engaging with digital platforms, including a surprising preference for TikTok ads. The conversation covers their media habits, from streaming services to social media usage, and highlights the unique challenges advertisers face in reaching this demographic. Brownsell emphasizes the need for tailored strategies as Boomers' preferences continue to evolve.

Neil Parker, Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder of Co:Collective, shares insights on the power of purpose-led businesses. He explains how aligning corporate purpose with operations leads to sustainable growth. The discussion highlights brands like HP and The New York Times, showcasing their successful integration of purpose into business strategies. Parker emphasizes the role of leadership in fostering a culture of accountability and innovation. The conversation concludes with a call for companies to set milestones that resonate with their core missions to enhance engagement and resilience.

Cathy Taylor, a WARC representative, is joined by Jon Waite from Havas and Mike Follett from Lumen to dive into groundbreaking attention research. They discuss how aggregate attention time can enhance advertising results and why brands should measure attention value per consumer. The conversation reveals that different marketing goals require varied attention strategies—awareness campaigns thrive on frequent small hits, while sales-focused efforts benefit from deeper attention with less frequency. Get ready to rethink how attention shapes your marketing!

In this engaging discussion, Lena Roland dives into the findings of the Future of Strategy report, highlighting the struggles strategists face with recognition and value within their roles. She addresses the worrying decline in the perceived influence of strategists and the identity crisis stemming from traditional agency practices. The conversation also touches on the shift from time-based to project-based compensation models, the need for genuine customer insights, and the significance of maintaining human skills in an AI-driven landscape.