Industry News | MediaLab News

The EU-driven legislation designed to protect web-users from being tracked by cookies without their consent, comes into force in May. Companies with online services need to ensure compliance with the law as the Information Commissioner’s Office ICO has powers to penalise non-compliant companies after May. Although he believes the legislation to be over-protective, Jonathan Erwin looks at new ways of tracking consumer behaviour and urges companies to show customers the positive benefits of doing so. Moves to control the way internet browsing habits are monitored and used to direct online advertising campaigns are set to have a major impact on ...

Paul Seabrook pictured examines the latest fast.MAP survey results. Websites – whether independent, comparison or brand-owned – together continue to be people’s main financial service research routes, each used by around three out of ten consumers, according to new research. Also revealed are people’s main reasons for selecting the financial brands they use – they include the priority of an easy-to navigate website, personal recommendations and a high-street presence. The results are from the latest fast.MAP/UK DMA Financial Services Tracking Study. The good news for marketers is that slightly fewer people – 39 per cent; down from 41 per cent ...

Avinash Kaushik will be the keynote speaker at SES London, taking place February 20-24 at The Queen Elizabeth ll Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary in London. As the ‘digital evangelist’ for Google, he will share his unique perspectives during his welcome session, titled ‘Business Optimisation in a Digital Age’; exploring balancing multimedia channels, grounding your digital existence in driving economic value and how to optimise all four channels of the ‘Clear Line of Sight Model’. Winner of various awards, including the 2011 Most Influential Industry Contributor from the Web Analytics Association, Kaushik has become a key voice in the industry. He ...

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train service linking London and mainland Europe, has selected AMV BBDO to provide creative and advertising services across all markets, following a multi-stage pitch process. AMV BBDO will work alongside Eurostar as lead creative agency in the strategic development of its pan-European advertising. In partnership with CLM BBDO, which will take responsibility for activation in France and Belgium, they will deliver a suite of communications for the UK, France and Belgium, with the first campaign due in the autumn. The decision to appoint a new creative agency was a consequence of Eurostar’s strategic decision to develop ...

This year’s UK Product Of The Year Awards winners have been announced and the votes have revealed that consumers, feeling the financial squeeze, are giving up luxuries such as beauty products and takeaway coffees, in favour of multi-tasking products. More than 9,000 consumers voted to determine the results of the 2012 Product of the Year survey, advising fellow shoppers on the most innovative products in the consumer marketplace. Notable winners are multi-tasking products such as Nuromol, a new painkiller combination which contains both ibuprofen and paracetamol, and new Flash with Febreze, an all-purpose cleaning spray with built-in freshness. New takes ...

SDL – a major provider of Global Information Management GIM solutions – has today announced it has completed the acquisition of Alterian, an international leader in marketing analytics, social media monitoring and campaign management, for a net cash consideration of £69.7 million. The SDL board believes the addition of Alterian’s integrated marketing platform capability will bring strong synergies and enhancements to SDL’s GIM strategy to help global businesses engage with customers in the language, media and moment they choose. SDL – which has more than 2,000 employees in 60 offices across 35 countries – says there is an excellent strategic ...

It’s hugely informative, it’s especially for international marketers and it’s free! Make sure you sign up to be part of the International Direct Marketing Day being held on Tuesday March 13 9am-4pm GMT on a screen near you! This extra special online event will showcase the most successful direct and digital marketing campaigns from around Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Organised by educator Markedu in co-operation with the Global Marketing Alliance and Direct Marketing International, the web event will introduce you to leading marketing practitioners and members of direct marketing associations from around the world, who will share their ...

Poland’s national postal service, Polish Post, has lost a key court battle against a private sector competitor it claimed was delivering mail in violation of the country’s monopoly protections. The verdict of the district court in Krakow is open to a possible appeal, reports Post&Parcel. Although Poland has to fully open up its postal market to competition from the private sector from 2013, under EU postal legislation, the country still currently has restrictions against anyone other than Polish Post delivering mailpieces lighter than 50g. The restrictions mean that private sector companies delivering sub-50g letters would have to charge at least ...

The UK’s e-retailers are losing millions of pounds in sales by failing to respond to customers’ online requests for product and service information, new research has revealed. The findings of a survey of 217 companies trading in ten different retail sectors, conducted on behalf of the UK Direct Marketing Association’s Response Management Council, show that one-in-ten companies do not respond to consumer enquiries – despite providing contact forms on their websites. The research indicates that a large number of e-retailers are also losing out on potential sales because they lack adequate systems to deal effectively with customer enquiries. The average ...

China’s oldest and third largest brewer, Harbin Beer, has hired a British company to serve and audit its online video advertising in China. UK-based Telemetry says this is a major achievement as it is the first foreign company to be permitted to serve and audit an online video campaign for a Chinese brand within China. With one billion user impressions a day in China, online video advertising has exploded, with 200 per cent year-on-year growth, according to iResearch. It is expected to be valued at US$1.57 billion by 2013. After The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television ruled that ...

The international Mobile Marketing Association MMA is staging its first Brand and Agency Briefing of 2012 in London next week. The event will feature an interactive panel debate focused on mobile marketing strategies and tactics used over the recent Christmas period – illustrated through case studies demonstrating how brands are leveraging the mobile channel. Renowned speakers and marketing trail-blazers will give presentations, followed by panel discussion and audience questions. Confirmed to speak are: Will Lockie, head of e-commerce at Evans Cycles Edward Kershaw, VP client services at The Nielsen Company Douglas Macdonald, head of mobile marketing at Creston plc & ...

Picture the scene: you go shopping and, within a few minutes, you find just the item you have been looking for. Even better, it’s on offer – a 70 per cent discount! Furthermore, all this has been achieved while surfing your favourite websites . . . and the item is available in your preferred region. A group of Polish entrepreneurs have created a solution providing the above scenario: Sellsation – a new ad network dedicated exclusively to daily deals sites. They say the tool – offering numerous benefits to Internet users, website owners and operators of daily deal sites – ...

Delegates planning to attend the annual USA DMA conference and exhibition in October, have the chance to give it more of an international flavour this year. After the 2011 show, visitors from around the world expressed hopes for less US-focused programming this time. Organisers have responded by asking for ‘best in class’ international case studies to be put forward for their consideration. If chosen, the proposed session may be included in the show programme. The deadline for submissions is February 2 and the USA DMA is waiving its usual submissions’ fees specifically to encourage greater international input. This year, the ...

A two-day event – Unified Communications Expo – will demonstrate the value of ‘connected business anywhere’ to thousands of visitors, show organisers say. Staged at London’s Olympia on March 6-7, the event promises to inform visitors from small to large organisations and cover all key lines of business – HR, sales and marketing finance and business IT – showcasing the latest technologies in Voice, Cloud, Mobile, Social Business and Unified and Visual Communications. All major communications companies are due to attend the show. Exhibitors and sponsors include industry giants Alcatel-Lucent, AT&T, Avaya, Cisco, Dell, Huawei, IBM, Microsoft, NEC and Shoretel. ...

New UPU study provides insight into 20 years of e-services development Seventy per cent of Posts worldwide consider postal e-services strategically important for the future, according to a unique study by the Universal Postal Union UPU , measuring the development of these services. The research also establishes an important industry index against which to monitor e-services’ evolution. The study points to a rapid growth in postal e-services. Globally, 85 postal e-services were introduced in 2010 alone, compared to 33 in 2007, the study found. E-post on top The extensive list of services identified by the study were categorised in four ...

The GMA – the Global Marketing Alliance parent of DMI publications – is looking forward to meeting up with international marketers in February. First of all, we are having a party! As usual, on the eve of a major marketing industry event, the GMA will be staging the London branch of its world-famous Direct Margarita International networking meet-ups, enabling internationals to chat with like-minded business associates and potential clients. Come along to our new venue, the Atlas pub, 16 Seagrave Road, London SW6, on the Monday night February 27 before the TFM&A event. Enjoy drinks and nibbles, 6-9pm, courtesy of ...

UK-based independent postal operator, Secured Mail, has acquired the Downstream Access DSA Division of DHL Global Mail UK. The agreement is subject to contract. The deal, for an undisclosed sum includes a mail depot in Crick, Northamptonshire, with 55 staff and increases Secured Mail’s share of the market. Existing clients of DHL Global Mail UK’s DSA unit include Debenhams, Mothercare and National Australia Group. Mark Bigley, managing director of Secured Mail, said: “This is a significant acquisition for Secured Mail that clearly signals our ambitions for the future. “DHL Global Mail UK’s network and national coverage in the Downstream Access ...

The latest Bellwether survey, published today by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising IPA , reveals that marketing budgets were revised up in Q4 for a second successive quarter, as companies sought to protect market share against competitors. With 20 per cent of companies reporting an upward revision compared to 19 per cent that reported a reduction, the upward revision was marginal with a resultant net balance of 0.6 per cent – down from 3.4 per cent in Q3 net balance is calculated by subtracting the percentage reporting a downward revision from the percentage reporting an upward revision . Yet, ...

Business solutions specialist Amadeus Software Limited, has helped UK consumer rights magazine publisher Which? develop an agile, scalable Customer Relationship Management CRM system, cutting data processing time from days to hours. The customised SAS solution began delivering a return on investment immediately and will pay for itself within 12 months, the company reports. Which? used to be a monthly subscription-based magazine business with multiple customer interactions. More recently, an online offering was developed, but as the consumer landscape changed and customers began accessing Which? information and services in many different ways, the company – which now carries out research for ...

UK-based list broker/manager, Uni-Marketing, has been appointed to exclusively manage the international database of the National Geographic Society worldwide excluding USA/Canada . The National Geographic Society was founded in 1888 as a non-profit organisation and has maintained its mission to increase and distribute geographic knowledge around the globe. The society has earned a worldwide reputation as the leading source of accurate, often definitive, information. John Seely, VP, International Consumer Marketing at The National Geographic Society, said: "We are delighted to appoint Uni-Marketing as our international list management agent, effective as of January 1. We have worked with Uni-Marketing for many ...

David Excell pictured discusses what it means to really understand customer buying behaviour How well do you know your customers? Not your customer base as a homogenised whole; your individual customers? With minimal growth forecast throughout most of the industrialised world during 2012, never has it been more important for consumer-facing businesses to initiate direct marketing that delivers the best possible return on investment. As such, marketing strategies need to be cost-efficient, ensuring a high rate of success for customer engagement and increased sales. Changing the scope of your insight may be fundamental to maintaining competitiveness. The most cost-effective forms ...

Five big issues facing global companies Dominique Turpin pictured discusses the business worries which he believes are currently keeping senior global executives awake at night. Right now, of course, the health of the global economy and unpredictable exchange rates are top of the list of concerns keeping executives from sleeping soundly. But, in my conversations with business leaders around the world, I’m also hearing that more and more marketing-related issues are taking up senior management time. Brands, customer insights and social media are not just matters for marketing departments. They are vital business issues that are increasingly being discussed in ...

Even in the digital age, the traditional, physical, tangible mailbox is an effective way to steer the customer journey, says Andy Wood pictured . Tales of the death of the mailbox as an effective outlet for reaching consumers have been greatly exaggerated. Indeed, despite the fact we seem to be well into the age of digital marketing, it turns out that physical, tangible items of post remain one of the biggest drivers of commercial traffic – even when it comes to commercial web activity. Today’s customer journey is anything but linear, with multiple channels proffering a variety of communication media ...

Breathe new life into an ailing Customer Relationship Management CRM strategy, says Carolyn Bondi pictured , who has first aid tips to nurse it back on its feet. This year more than ever, sales figures need to be busily multiplying. But if you suspect your campaigns could be dead on arrival, it’s time to check your CRM strategy for the ’seven signs of life’! If you feel your strategy may be falling short, there are plenty of things you can do to administer first aid. Here’s a seven-step guide to putting the life back into your CRM campaign. Movement: Is ...

Founder/chairman of ACTON International, US-born Jon Lambert pictured died of cancer towards the end of last year. He was an acknowledged international marketing expert and penned many excellent features for DMI over the years, particularly sharing his wide knowledge of the Asian market. His daughter, Allison Lambert, told DMI: “He fought a hard, but swift, battle with pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed July 1 and passed less than five months later. He tried every avenue of treatment, but it is quite a strong disease.” His place here in our guru’s gallery spotlights one of his articles – a marketing masterpiece ...