Category: Digital Marketing

It’s IPL season and the volume of ads has gone up. It also means CRED is back with its signature disruptive ads. It’s also poll season and there is fair…

My favourite marketing moment of the recently concluded Tata Women’s Premier League (WPL) came when Ellyse Perry, playing for team RCB, hit a huge shot that broke the window glass…

Bought a Ralph Lauren linen shirt? Or one from Tommy Hilfiger? Chances are the linen would have been made in Kerala by an Irish linen company WFB Baird and Co.…

Ever felt like you’re drowning in a sea of one-time passwords while trying to make a simple online transaction? If you have, welcome to the club of those who believe…

Bhopal. Madhubani. Jai Khor. Ajmer. Sonipat. Prayagraj. Even Chamoli. The recently-held National Creators Award was like the Padma Awards of social media — most nominees were from non-major metros. Even…

In New Delhi’s Okhla business district is a swank, airy, modern building — Mankind Pharma’s corporate office. It’s a building that would look more at home in Gurgaon where the…

You can see, but you can’t touch it! It was an exclusive ‘Coachbuild’ preview of the latest Roll-Royce Motor Cars model for just a few of us from around the…

On a sunny afternoon, under the shadow of a mighty Aala Maram (Banyan tree), in the midst of Palakkad’s bustling streets, hung Srimati Saree, Madame Nightie, and Rani Salwar Kameez,…

ankind Pharma entered the OTC products space as a challenger brand in categories like condoms and antacids and yet managed to grab consumer mind space. Vice chairman and MD, Rajeev…

As we head towards International Women’s Day later this week, I would like to pray tribute to a woman who has deeply influenced my thinking about Indian consumers. Rama Bijapurkar…

I was surprised when I got a call from the manager of the local supermarket recently to tell me that they were running a discount sale over the next few…

How is the Indian consumer changing? Well, she is showing more self love, taking great pride in all things Indian, showing a growing desire to retire young and sample the…

Women’s Premier League (WPL) team UP Warriorz owned by Capri Sports, has been recognised by UN Women as a ‘Generation Equality Ally’. The team will be the sole sporting entity…

Brands typically march into March with women’s day campaigns and we have already seen a few get off to an early start on the theme of “inspiring inclusion”. Rising above…

Several members of Pulkit’s family had questioned his love for cooking, but he was convinced that it was the only thing he wanted to do. “The kitchen is not a…

Who hasn’t come across a chirpy Insta health influencer telling us what to eat, how to sleep, how to rest, how to make love, how to be mentally healthy, spiritually…

In its latest report titled ‘Winning recipe for food brands in India’, Redseer Strategy Consultants says there is a surge in eating out among diverse age groups in metro and…

Superbowl season is when adland shows its creative best — so this fortnight we trained our lens on the commercials that wowed viewers on game nights in the US. Back…

Publicis Commerce India has launched a digital growth marketing playbook in conjunction with Amazon Ads. It identifies challenges such as rising competition, technological disruptions, uncertain demand, and rising costs, and…

Ad revenue forecasts are out with GroupM India, dentsu and Madison World putting out reports. While figures vary, the trends are similar in all three. Digital is driving growth, powered…

Nearly half a century ago, when the Kinetic Group Chairman Arun Firodia decided to develop and manufacture the Luna — the two-wheeler that became an iconic symbol of its time,…

Every evening, Neil’s mother would send him off to play only after she had applied mosquito repellent on his tiny hands and legs. The hint of neem in it confirmed…

We’re all in awe of how well Netflix knows its end consumers – personalising homepages tailored to every viewer based on their viewing history, “Because you viewed YYYY, you may…

During a recent visit to Kolkata, my wife insisted that I accompany her to a small Tibetan restaurant called ‘The Blue Poppy Thakali’. She said that the place would surprise…

For the film industry, which witnessed a decline in the number of movie-goers post-Covid, decentralised non-fungible token (DNFT) has opened a new avenue for revenue. Introduced by UK-based Techbank Movies…

Adil would go to school with his Milton lunchbox hung around the sleeve of his uniform. It was like an identity card for a school-going child. His friends could spot…

The month of love is here, so be prepared for a lot of mush; though chocolate maker Cadbury cleverly balances it by taking a different line with different products. Zoya…

Sharad Gupta, former Vice President and Lead-Corporate Communications at Escorts Kubota Ltd, has unveiled his new venture, WNN – WHY NOT NOW, a brand advisory firm dedicated to transforming the…

Arnold Su, Vice President, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, Asus India, is preparing for a Triathlon in March and so these days he’s jogging, cycling and swimming intensely.…

On the campaign trail.

Ace cricketer Virat Kohli, who is a fitness enthusiast, has said that one should have quality sleep to do lead a health life. Kohli, who has been appointed as a…

At Goafest 2023, Leo Burnett India was crowned the Creative Agency of the Year at the Abby Oneshow Awards 2023. It was also named Branded Content & Entertainment Specialist Agency…

Last week, the luxury brand Hublot announced a very special range of wrist watches, called the “Hublot Big Bang Unico Nespresso Origin”. What makes these products unique is that they…

“It is our responsibility to stop thinking about technology as anything other than a medium that makes us more creative and not less,” said Nick Law, Global Creative Chairperson, Accenture…

Music vibrated at Goafest2023 — from Kanika Kapoor’s pulsating performance on day one to Papon’s effortless crooning on the final day, with McCann Worldwide Chief Prasoon Joshi’s impromptu renditions as…

On ground, it may seem as though Chennai Super Kings enjoyed the maximum support in the Indian Premier League 2023 edition, yet on social media, the team with the most…

IPL’s last fortnight saw some exciting brand collabs with franchises as the action hotted up on and off-field. Ready Madi Adi Matches featuring Chennai Super Kings always result in a…

Paints manufacturer Techno Paints has roped in South Indian film actor Mahesh Babu as its brand ambassador for a period of two years. “For the past 22 years, we have…

It’s always the women who gift the inspirations. For Raj Kapoor it was the woman in white who would flit in and out of his mind and movies; for Christian…

Sanjiv Mehta has been with Unilever for 31 years, ten as the MD and CEO of Hindustan Unilever, taking over in 2013. Mehta leaves behind a rich legacy, with turnover…

Rediffusion and the University of Lucknow have come together to launch ‘The Bharat Lab’ — a consumer insights think tank aimed at delivering cultural and consumer insights about the people…

Rohan Bopanna’s Grand Slam win at the Australian Open soon after becoming the World No 1 in the ATP World Doubles Rankings, has triggered a buzz about age being no…

Brands did a lot of moment-marketing around World Environment Day and Pride Month this time. But Zomato’s ‘kachra’ campaign featuring the character called Kachra from the movie ‘Lagaan’ backfired badly.…

Smartphones, the core component of the new digital commerce growth, are shifting the field of action to m-commerce. M-commerce, or online transactions using handheld devices, is taking over the e-commerce…

For the second consecutive year, Forbes has ranked Tata group’s brand custodian Harish Bhat as among the top ten most influential CMOs (chief marketing officers). Bhat is ranked 10th on…

Cannes is a beautiful place to visit, particularly during summer. The sea is azure blue, the air smells sweet and there are more yachts anchored in the Cannes harbour than…

“It took a lot of hard work to do this campaign. I think I aged a bit while de-aging Kapil Dev,” exclaims Dheeraj Sinha, CEO, Leo Burnett South Asia, ecstatic…

At Cannes Lions 2023, TVS Motor Company’s campaign The Responsible Manhole, made by Dentsu Creative — an innovative initiative to prevent deaths due to submerged open manholes in the city…

The fortnight that went by was dominated by Father’s Day campaigns showing how much moment marketing drives ad content these days. Recipes for the perfect dad Godrej came out with…

Elon Musk recently challenged Mark Zuckerberg to a ‘çage fight’ — a fight in a cage I guess — and the result was declared on July 5th. Zuck won hands…

Carat India, the media agency from the house of dentsu, has announced the appointment of Sanchayeeta Verma as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She will report to Anita Kotwani, CEO Media,…

India’s crowded pantheon of temple towns has got one more shrine city added to the mix. With the consecration of the Ram Mandir, being built at a cost of over…

Is WhatsApp damaging young people’s careers by stunting their intellectual growth?

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) — the year beginning event in Las Vegas that showcases not only transformative technology, but also gives pointers on the future of marketing —…

McCann Worldgroup India was named Agency of the Year at the Advertising Club’s ‘EFFIE India Awards 2023’. Mondelez India was judged the EFFIE India Client of the Year, while the…

The A-Z Series: This series of short articles explores how familiar objects from everyday life embody concepts and values dear to the urban Indian middle class. It takes a light-hearted…

Imagine a platform where you can match brushstrokes with the top exponents of Pichwai, Phad, Bhil and other folk art forms. Chartered accountant turned entrepreneur Kartik Gaggar’s online art learning…

At the bustling Biggies Burger outlet in Chennai’s Nexus Vijaya Mall, burgers spiced with distinct flavours are flying off the grill. People seem to be particularly digging the Tandoori Chicken…

Digital cinema company UFO Moviez India Ltd and Qube Cinema Technologies Pvt Ltd have announced, subject to necessary approvals, their intention to forge a strategic alliance, proposing two 50:50 joint…

Brands continued to invest in moment marketing with odes to days like World Social Media Day and Doctor’s Day that has yielded some enchanting work. Bonding over tea On the…

Several angels have announced an investment of Rs 1.35 crore in the startup companies promoted by contestants appearing in the first week of the business reality show ‘Nenu Super Woman’…

Last week Adam Gerhart, Global CEO Mindshare, which won the Media network’s agency of the year at Cannes Lions, was in India. “One of the reasons I’m here is because…

My new book, Office Secrets, was launched recently. This book offers a selection of useful workplace learnings and is also a light and fun read. As the book was being…

Pepsi’s recent announcement of its new logo has put the spotlight on brand logos, those ubiquitous symbols that often convey much more about a brand than any textual description could.The…

The most awaited event this year is the cricket world cup (CWC) that kicks off in October. On Thursday, 77 days before the first match, the International Cricket Council released…

WhatsApp has launched its standalone app for smartwatches running on Wear OS. You can start new conversations, reply to messages and take calls — all from your wrist, and no…

With the current economic instability, senior leadership teams are scrambling to protect margins. The best prepared companies are the ones that never waver on brand building. They reap the benefits…

Once considered a luxury and now an essential in every household, I am the #UpparwalaInDemand, especially in the summer. To beat the outdoor heat, I overwork from 9 to… Oh,…

If we are to continue this relationship on Instagram, then I must lay bare my rules of engagement,” wrote Zeenat Aman recently, on her Instagram account. The former actor —…

The start of August has seen a plethora of Friendship day ads — especially by young digital companies. Brand Indigo soared with some captivating work on its 17th birthday while…

Dentsu Creative India has announced the appointment of Manzoor Alam as Executive Creative Director (ECD). Manzoor will spearhead teams working on brands like Honda Cars, Max Healthcare, Catch Spices, Royal…

Rediffusion has announced the appointment of Dipty Gurjar as Vice President and Client Servicing Head of Bombay 2. Dipty comes with a rich 15-plus years of experience across India and…

Think museums and most people would imagine stuffy, academic places where the past is recreated and presented, and where the young would go only unwillingly. But museums can become thriving,…

The screens were dominated by Independence Day ads over the last fortnight as brands gave creative expression to the idea of freedom. Hearteningly, the ads showed on-ground effort by the…

“Donkey! Gadha!” said an irate Briefcase. “Talking to me?” asked the Backpack in a perplexed tone. “Yes, you…you who have converted people into beasts of burden, carrying heavy weights on…

Viacom18 has roped in 13 sponsors for the India vs Afghanistan T20 series for both TV and digital. Tata Commercial Vehicles and HDFC Bank have come onboard as co-presenting sponsors.…

The saree’s amazing comeback saga continued in 2023. In its year-end report Flip Trends 2023, online retailer FlipKart said that the most shopped lifestyle product in the year gone by…

India’s OTT market, sized at $2.5 billion (this includes YouTube), went through a major disruption in 2023, as Jio Cinema offered the most premium content—Indian Premier League—free to users. This…

Welcome to 2024! This is the time when marketers are looking for new trends and insights that can power their brands during the new year. Several consulting and research firms…

I remember the first time I got a pair of jeans. I felt so happy that there was finally an alternative to my boring school shorts. They were the best…

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to chair the jury for the Drum Marketing Awards for the Asia Pacific region. These prestigious awards attract hundreds of entries. For…

The Air India rebranding grabbed the limelight. But yet another company that rebranded in August was the young start-up Bombay Shaving Company, which started as a D2C brand seven years…

The Ministry of Tourism has launched an ambitious wedding tourism campaign, with the aim of tapping into the immense potential of the country’s wedding industry. The campaign is aligned with…

Hyderabad, August 28 IKEA, Swedish home furnishings retailer which celebrated five years of retail operations in India, is confident about carrying forward its India success story. Susanne Pulverer, CEO and…

Tiger Global-backed Mensa Brands is foraying into the UAE’s e-commerce space. The company will launch brands including Villain, Pebble and Folkulture on Amazon UAE and ecommerce platform noon. It will…

It’s a rainy day in Mumbai as one battles the thick traffic in Powai to the Colgate-Palmolive India HQ. Calm follows after the tumult outside when one enters the enormous…

Hey, let’s talk cake! I mean, seriously, is there anything better than sinking your teeth into a perfectly moist slice of cake? But you know what’s even cooler? Cake has…

I was listening to a conversation in an ad agency about ChatGPT, which sounded like Generative AI — and vice versa. The conversation suggested that both were the same and…

In the fortnight gone by, brands were in full festive mood putting out Onam and Raksha Bandhan campaigns —but it was food delivery platform Swiggy that broke the Internet with…

More than 40 years ago, I was a schoolboy in the temple town of Madurai, in Tamil Nadu. I completed my higher secondary education at the Vikaasa School, an excellent…

In the heart of the bustling Indian city, where the cacophony of life echoes through narrow lanes and crowded markets, there lies a symbol of aspiration for us, the middle…

It is Apple season and the iPhone maker commandeered the world’s attention as it unveiled its latest phone and climate initiatives ad campaign. Digital and BTL engagements by brands also…

Beverage giant Coca-Cola has uncorked a bubbly taste of the future using AI to develop a new flavour — Y3000 Zero Sugar. Artificial intelligence played a role in not only…

It has been a tumultuous seven years for D2C start up FS Life, formerly Fable Street. After a good start in 2016 focussed on Western work wear for women with…

The big fat cricket event is here and brands are padding up enthusiastically for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 that starts on October 5. As it coincides with…

So, there we were, taking a leisurely stroll through a vibrant middle-class locality in one of the smaller towns, being nosy and peeping through windows. We were on a mission…

One wonders what Queen Gertrude in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet would have said about the ongoing Humans of Bombay controversy, but I suspect her original comment, in response to a character’s…

Remember those days of social distancing when the world was just opening up post pandemic? Restaurant after restaurant downed shutters. The gloomy forecast was that dining out would be a…

Born in 1997, I slid into the world during India’s vibrant post-liberalisation era. Fast forward to my teenage years in the late 2000s, and while the rest of the world’s…

How many advertisements in the recent past have moved you to say “wow” or resonated deeply? Many marketers I speak to bemoan the mediocrity and sameness of most marketing communication…

It’s raining ads. The festive season combined with world cup cricket have got brands scrambling to put out campaigns. This year, there are some heart-warming Pujo creatives. Painting the town…

The A-Z Series: This series of short articles explores how familiar objects from everyday life embody concepts and values dear to the urban Indian middle class. It takes a light-hearted…

For a year that started with inflation and recession worries and fears that it would impact ad volumes, brand spends on campaigns remained fairly healthy in 2023 — thanks to…

What was on your plate in 2023? With millet mania sweeping the country, you must have added it to your meal plan. All major food brands as well as start-ups…

So we’ve come to the last column of the year and before anything else, thanks for your support. For the last column this year, some of you wanted me to…

Ginger, the midscale brand of the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), is getting bigger. One of the first to get into the branded budget segment, way back in 2004, Ginger…

Dissing festival ads on social media has become a national sport in the last few years, second only to cricket, and this month I’m going to explore this genre a…

Aditya Kanthy recently took charge as CEO of the newly formed Omnicom Advertising Services group in India. With this appointment, the leadership of the three creative agencies within the group…

Hello Hello! We’re the cool crew inside your trusty old fridge, and let us tell you, our world is a treasure trove of tales just waiting to be told. If…

Restructuring of agencies has been an ongoing process in the advertising world. But last week’s announcement by WPP that it is combining two of its big creative agencies, Wunderman Thompson…

Retailers witnessed lower than anticipated growth during the recently-concluded festival season. As per the latest survey released by Retailers Association of India (RAI), retail players garnered an average growth of…

Brands continued to capitalise on the World Cup fervour, with cricket and cricketers being a big theme in many campaigns last week. The chips are up What’s a match without…

It has been a roller coaster ride for Dentsu in India in the last decade. From 2014 to 2019, the Japanese agency network went on an aggressive acquisition spree, building…

A few months ago, when my wife and I travelled to Mangaluru, Konkan seafood was on the top of our minds. My wife had ascertained in advance which restaurant we…

A-Z: This series of light hearted explorations on familiar objects from everyday life dear to the urban Indian middle class looks at how they shape our wants & desires and…

“No. I am working on myself. I am going to the gym, I am doing a lot of self-reflection. Sometimes I am doing yoga, I get massages. You know! I…

Ad man Prahlad Kakar is a self-confessed mad man, so much so that it’s the title of his recently released autobiography published by Harper Collins. The back cover is typically,…

This year on Karwa Chauth, Rekha Chanan, a rushed financial services professional, put together the Sargi gift set (a meal eaten before sunrise by women who fast on the occasion)…

Brand associations with cricket hit a crescendo as the World Cup drew to an end. But several brands which had booked prime space in print to put out congratulatory ads…

Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Executive Director, PVR INOX Ltd, sees major recovery for the cinema chain in the post-pandemic environment. With the PVR-INOX merger nearing completion, in a sit down interview…

As I look back at 2023, I would like to reflect on one key theme that marked the year — surprising new brands which have entered our active mindspace in…

At the end of the year, the spotlight is back on influencers. If Jasmeen Kaur’s catchphrase — “So beautiful, so elegant, just looking like a wow” — is on the…

At a time when the world is racked by conflicts and violence, Pantone’s colour for 2024 — a gentle shade of peachy orange — is non confrontational and neutral. The…

The 2024 Instagram Trend Talk is out and it highlights how Gen Z will drive culture in 2024. The insights are derived from a survey carried out by the trend…

Aalap Desai — former Chief Creative Officer of Dentsu Creative West and Dentsu Creative Experience India — has announced the launch of TGTHR (Together), a new future-focussed, full-funnel ad agency.…

Black Friday sales are coming in for considerable attention. The uniquely American retail phenomenon that has now been adopted by marketers world over, saw some twists this year. Indian online…

Dentsu Creative’s 2024 Trends Report unveils five macro trends for 2024 and beyond, each with a number of sub trends to explore. It starts with what it calls ‘ode to…

India’s e-retail market is expected to reach over $160 billion by 2028 as more Indian households join the upper middle and upper income consumer cohorts. According to a report released…

Post Diwali, the tempo of ads has slowed down in India. But it picked up pace globally as brands scramble to put out their Christmas/Holiday season campaigns. The narratives mostly…