CMO Briefs

A one-page summary of ARF research, white papers, Knowledge at Hands, and perspectives on relevant topics.

Retail Media Networks: Growth, Opportunities and Challenges

Retail Media Networks: Growth, Opportunities and Challenges

  • Knowledge at Hand; CMO Briefs

Retail media networks (RMNs) are rapidly becoming one of the largest and fastest-growing ad verticals in the U.S., offering personalized ads across retailers’ ecosystems. These networks also provide brands with targeted ads and higher conversion rates, while retailers gain new revenue streams and enhanced shopping experiences.

Despite staggering growth, RMNs face many challenges as they continue to grow globally, including a lack of standardization across networks, measurement difficulties, rising costs and complexity. Agencies face additional issues, such as teams lacking the necessary expertise to help clients navigate RMNs.

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Having In-Depth Research on Consumers’ Values Yields Tremendous Benefits

Having In-Depth Research on Consumers’ Values Yields Tremendous Benefits

  • ARF Knowledge at Hand, CMO Brief

In decades past, demographic characteristics were considered the strongest predictors of consumers’ values, attitudes and purchasing behavior. Over time, however, they have grown to become weak predictors and correlates. In this Knowledge at Hand report, Dr. Horst Stipp, EVP at the ARF, summarizes the latest and most impactful research to date on consumer values and how researching them carefully can help shape effective business strategies and impactful ad messages.

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How Best to Advertise During a Recession

How Best to Advertise During a Recession

  • ARF Knowledge at Hand, CMO Brief

Even though the U.S. economy has some bright spots, economists warn a recession is still possible due to stubborn inflation. Advertisers want to be prepared as a result. While there is no failsafe advertising playbook to follow, as individual brands and businesses have nuanced needs and branding, there are some best practices and guidelines, which the following ARF Knowledge at Hand report gleans from some of the best research on the topic. The report covers the impact of “going dark,” the often-overlooked opportunities a recession can bring, how to maximize media spend effectiveness and how to frame appeals that are most attractive to customers during tough economic times.

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How Effective are Cause-Related Messages in Advertising Today?

How Effective are Cause-Related Messages in Advertising Today?

  • CMO Brief

During the last five years, we have seen an upswing and change in the inclusion of values in advertising, especially the increase in cause-related marketing (CRM) which includes messages about societal goals such as sustainability, ESG (environmental, social and governance) and DEI (diversity, equity/equality and inclusion). Given marketers’ interest in these issues—ranging from wanting to express support for causes to being concerned about a possible backlash—the ARF has reviewed the research on cause-related marketing as well as related issues, such as ads with more general pro-social and altruistic messages. ARF researchers conclude that ads with cause-related messages can be effective, but many are not. Future research should focus on which kinds of messages are most effective among different consumer groups.

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Attention and Ad Impact: The Evolution of Attention Metrics

Attention and Ad Impact: The Evolution of Attention Metrics

  • ARF Knowledge at Hand, CMO Brief

The proliferation of media platforms, with increases in multi-tasking, has made finding ways to get consumers to pay attention to advertising more important than ever. In response, researchers have developed new methods to assess attention and the ARF has found that they can provide more direct and more accurate measurements. However, as these metrics are constantly evolving, there are open questions regarding their validity and reliability. Further, as researchers are using the term “attention” in different ways, clarity about what is meant by attention and how it is being measured is crucial.

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The Evolution of “OTT” and “CTV”

The Evolution of “OTT” and “CTV”

  • ARF Knowledge at Hand; CMO BRIEF

Towards the end of 2018, the ARF issued a Knowledge at Hand report and a CMO Brief each called The OTT Revolution. Since then, the OTT revolution has not only continued but it has accelerated. Moreover, the pandemic acted as a catalyst, increasing the rate of this acceleration. At the same time, the meaning of the term OTT has changed.

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What Makes Product Placements Effective?

What Makes Product Placements Effective?

  • CMO Brief

Product placements have grown in recent years and the practice is predicted to increase even further. According to a new “Global Product Placement Forecast” by media economists PQ Media, global product placement spending has rebounded at double-digit rates in 2021 and is forecast to do so again this year. What makes this strategy effective? Decades of research provide us with several useful insights.

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CMO Briefs: Influencer Marketing: Best Practices, Trends & Covid’s Impact

  • Posted: October 11, 2021

Influencer marketing continues to grow ever more complex. Options are increasing and in today’s climate, striking the right tone with consumers is crucial. What consumers long to see is authentic relationships between brands and influencers. In just a few years, the paradigm has shifted away from a focus on major celebrities and toward niche, micro-influencers. So, while finding the right influencer is crucial, these complexities can make it challenging. Read more.

Influencer Marketing: Best Practices, Trends & Covid’s Impact

Influencer Marketing: Best Practices, Trends & Covid’s Impact

  • ARF Knowledge at Hand; CMO BRIEF

Influencer marketing has grown more complex over a short period of time, and Covid has accelerated its development. Options have increased significantly while setting the right tone with consumers is perhaps more crucial than ever before. What consumers want to see is authentic relationships between brands and influencers. And the focus has shifted away from celebrities and towards niche, micro-influencers. The following Knowledge at Hand and CMO Brief cover a recent Knowledge Center report looking into the current state of influencer marketing, what the trends are, how Covid has affected this phenomenon and best practices when putting together an influencer strategy.

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