e/spyer

I have always wanted to be an international reporter: traveling all the time, getting to know different cultures, to talk to a bunch of people and still gets paid for his job!

Now, during the next month, every week, I can feel like an international reporter. I’ll write in my blog and at the Brazilian planning group blog, directly from London.

I came to take the Account Planning Group course (apg) called Training Network. It is a 8 week course with the beast of England planning. Each week the course is taken place in a different advertising agency. During the course, we are divided into groups to develop a strategy for a leading brand and it is presented on the last day of school.

I’ll bring the highlights of lessons and interesting things I see around here for these 6 weeks. (I lost the first two weeks preparing the trip!)

I hope it’s interesting for everyone. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

As TED: Ideas worth spreading.

Thanks!

Manolo

Recebemos estes dias um dos briefings mais inspiradores e intrigantes que alguém pode receber.

O briefing se resumia a uma frase: Quero que os meus consumidores sejam fãs da marca.

Prece simples, mas não é. Aliás, não é nada fácil. Os atributos racionais com o produto os clientes já tinham, mas não viamos nenhum link emocional com a marca (ainda não escrevo quem foi o cliente pq o processo está on going).

Recorri a um livro que tinha lido já faz algum tempo. Lovemarks, o futuro além das marcas.

Este livro tem alguns insights maravilhosos que gostaria de compartir com todos:

Já começa com uma citação do Yoshio Ishizaka, Vice-Presidente da Toyota, que torna um pouco mais complicado o nosso briefing:

Lovemarks são determinadas pelo cliente, não por nós. Não podemos de fato determinar nada. O cliente faz isso. Essa é a essência.”

Nos já imaginávamos isto. Seria um trabalho difícil. Mas que no final foi muito produtivo e tivemos uns insights bacanas, não para torná-lo fã da marca, e sim para um primeiro passo. Engajar este cara. Fomos atrás de benchmarks nacionais e internacionais de pessoas que já estavam indo para este caminho e muitas idéias vieram. Acredito que será uma história de exito. espero contá-la aqui mais tarde.

Tempos interessantes:

• aumentou a voz do consumidor
• acrescentou peso ao que é mais difícil de medir – os aspectos impalpáveis dos relacionamentos, das marcas… o poder das pessoas.
• tornou a emoção mais central.

Alguns outros inisghts bacanas do livro:

• “Não quero 500 canais de televisão. Só quero aquele canal quem me oferece o que eu quero ver.” Economia da Atenção, Nicholas Negroponte, Laboratório de Mídia do MIT.
• As marcas foram dominadas pelas fórmulas (fórmulas de marketing, repetidas por todas as companias e seus profissionais de mkt.)

Busca por conexões emocionais:

• Eliminar a desorganização da informação
• Conectar-se de forma expressiva com os consumidores
• Criar experiências integradas
• Convencer as pessoas a se comprometerem para sempre
• Tornar o mundo um lugar melhor.

“A diferença essencial entre a emoção e a razão é que a primeira leva a ação, enquanto a segunda leva a conclusões.”

Sobre Lovemarks e a emoção do amor:

• “amar significa mais que gostar muito”
• “respeito é o amor em traje informal” – “sem respeito, não há amor”

Buscar a fidelidade além da razão.

• “As Marcas de Confiança são o passo seguinte das marcas; as Lovemarks são o passo seguinte das Marcas de Confiança.”

Intimidade; Sensualidade e Mistério – Verdadeiro Grande Amor.

• Mistério – Grandes histórias; Passado, presente e futuro; Exploração de sonhos; Mitos e ícones; Inspiração
• Sensualidade – Audição; Visão; Olfato; Tato; Paladar
• Intimidade – Compromisso; Empatia; Paixão

Via de mão dupla: As lovemarks são propriedades das pessoas que as amam. (se você quer empatia, deve admitir que tem mutíssimo a ouvir)

Posso ver claramente agora:

1. Escale uma montanha
2. Vá a floresta
3. Pense como um peixe

• As Lovemarks podem guiar a estratégia, o posicionamento, a criatividade e o monitoramento, e podem fazer isso em todos os touchpoints.

As empresas podem tornar um mundo melhor.

Os pensamentos de Kevin Roberts ajudaram muito neste trabalho. Vamos esperar os resultados!

seja uma lovemark.

Precisava escolher um tema pra o meu novo Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso da pós, o famoso e temido TCC. Tinha desistido da última idéia com mais da metade do trabalho pronto. Estava com a cabeça vaga, pensativo… quando de repente vejo na rua um Gurgel, bem style… portas transparentes, e pensei: porque não fazer um plano de relançamento da marca Gurgel?! Todos com quem conversei foram a favor. Vi que é uma marca com uma ótima imagem. Fui atrás de informação. Hoje acabo de comprar o livro:Um sonho Forjado em Fibras… vou ler este final de semana.

Li sobre a história na Internet, encontrei artigos de Jornais… É uma história emocionante, de um verdadeiro empreendedor. De um cara que lutou até o fim para colocar seu sonho em prática (ele nunca se considerou um visionário). Quando se formou pela Poli da USP e apresentou seu trabalho final de um carro nacional, quase foi reprovado. Seu professor disse: “Gurgel, carro não se faz aqui, carro se compra”.

Acredito que hoje o Gurgel seria ainda mais um sucesso. Uma pena que foi numa época em que a economia, o Brasil, os sindicatos, os governantes e muitos outros ventos sopraram contra a Gurgel.

O João era um mestre em concepção de produto, em marketing, um cara pra frente. Há mais de 30 anos, ele inventava o carro elétrico. Era contra o álcool pq utilizava terra fértil que poderia ser utilizada para alimentar a população.

Vejo hoje o lançamento da Tata motors de um carro popular baratíssimo de alta autonomia como se fosse a maior invenção do mundo. O nosso Gurgel fez isso a 20 anos atrás com tecnologia 100% brasileira. Um carro com autonomia de 25km/l, adaptado para a cidade. Compare as imagens. O nano da Tata Motors é o novo modelo do BR800 da Gurgel Veículos.

Vejo também o relançamento de clássicos como o 500 da FIAT, o Mini, o New Bettle e porque não o relançamento do Itaipú? Ou mesmo o Xavante que é tão robusto como um Hammer…

Encontrei um documentário, super bacana de um pessoal de Jornalismo da USP. São em 6 partes, mas vale assistir e prestar atenção em cada uma. Eu só não fiquei fã do título que deram ao documentário: Sonhos enferrujam. O Gurgel era feito de fibra para não enferrujar e o Sr. João Gurgel, lutou do começo ao fim por sua empresa que não foi um sonho.

Fico feliz em ver que no Brasil existe pessoas capazes e fico feliz que o Sr. João Gurgel lutou sua vida inteira por seu sonho. Fico feliz por seu sonho ter se tornado realidade. E ficaria mais feliz ainda se esse sonho voltasse as ruas de hoje.

We have changed place, we are not anymore together with the creative team, they have sent us to the account floor. Since that happened, I was thinking about the role of planning within the agency.

Nothing against the account team, I believe their role is essential and very important.

Today I heard a very funny discussion planning versus account of who should do the briefing. (debate has taken at least half an hour.)

In search of more information I found a fantastic blog: The Royal Society of Account Planning.

They have created an image that attempts to illustrate the operation of an ad agency:

I wish it were that simple.

They also created two interesting examples of how is a strategic planner:

Here is an explanation of the points:

1. Understanding the client context

Before you tell them something new you have to connect to what they already know. What you say must be relevant to the client. A deep understanding of the client’s mindset, the key issues they are facing, and their personalities and internal dynamics allows you to establish the essential starting point for all logical arguments. Before this point can evolve you must first acknowledge it. Only then can you begin to shift it with compelling rationales.

2. Passion, curiosity, diligence, resourcefulness

The key personality traits for a planner. Passion and curiosity gives us an insatiable thirst for new data, new perspectives, and new concept connections. Diligence gives us the stamina to uncover cryptic insights and to thoroughly vet our work. And, resourcefulness lets us surmount tasks that at first glance seemed impossible.

3. Deconstruction, synthesis, vision, clarity

Many times in research, respondents will use different words that ladder up to one central idea, a concept that encompasses a variety of sub-concepts. A key role for the planner is to interpret the denotative and connotative meanings of these words and use them to clearly identify that overarching idea. This allows a planner to visualize conceptual space like a map and begin to draw new boundaries of meaning, using the right words to define a brand correctly.

4. Logic, persuasion and presentation skills

The ability to speak rationally, persuasively and with the style and flair of a performer is a skill that transcends planning. It is a necessary skill for the successful communication of all ideas, and even more essential for those in the idea business.

5. Deep understanding of universal human and branding truths

A key part of the deconstruction process that allows you to interpret data within the broader context of universal human truths and insights. A planner should tap many sources including: human motivational theory, hierarchy of needs, the ingredients that define culture, archetype theory, and a variety of other theories from anthropology, psychology, neurology, etc.

6. Strategic documents (positioning, creative, brief…)

Strategic documents fine tune and structure the planning process so that it becomes actionable and can inspire the rest of the agency. Without the focus, clarity, and vision of these documents great ideas will be misunderstood and misguided. A planner must learn how to write documents that can really inspire a creative explosion.

7. Insightful consumer, brand, and competitive research

A core source of a planner’s power is the ability to fully grasp the consumer, brand, and competitive landscape; to find the gaps in that understanding; and to design research that will effectively bridge those gaps. Planners can then continually draw on this resource to structure premises for sound logical arguments.

8. Knowledge of research methodologies and branding processes

Research is only as good as the methodology that supports it. A planner must have a full grasp of the various research methodologies and their strengths and weaknesses. They should have a firm grasp of branding processes so that they can guide clients and the paths of their research.

9. Strong relationship with a creative, account team and client

A great planner can’t be great if they don’t have the support of their team. A rogue planner will continuously have their efforts undermined and subverted. It’s very important for a planner to develop strong working relationships that will partner up to make the strategic vision come to life.

Ufa, Thank God! Glad I found this site. Today my head was upside down.

I think I need to refresh my thoughts about planning role with more experiences.

Bacio

I lived in the U.S. from 17 to 14 years old. I could feel the racial segregation. At school there was a place where were the white people; the Mexicans / Latinos elsewhere; African Americans in other place. I was mixed a little with each group. I played basketball with blacks and made friends, we had a small group of Brazilians, and also had good vibes with Latinos and White people. But I felt there was a bond between them. No preconception: but something like: I belong to that group, here is where I’m staying.

It is impressive in a country like this, an African descendent with a Muslim name, going for election. Still intrigues me. Barack Obama had a great strategy that goes beyond marketing. I wanted to know more and I found a very interesting lecture on TED: Clay Shirky shows exactly how social media can make history.
He comments about how the idea has motivated individuals and the concept of spreadability. Makes a parallel with a political campaign in Nigeria, which uses SMS technology compared to the U.S. which uses a complete technology platform. He talks about the transfer of social capital and not the technological capital. Goes on the evolution of media. Twitter in China … The Great Firewall of China … a very interesting talk.

Internet is the first media in history that has native support for groups and conversation at the same time. Where the phone gave us the one to one power; television, books, magazine gaves us the one to many pattern; the internet gives us the many to many pattern.”

Here goes the complete talk:

I have also remembered Droga5 New York case that was in Cannes this year… Obama’s strategy to get the Orthodox Jewish votes in Florida. Fantastic.

The Great Schlep: Jewish Council for Education and Research

And finally I’ll link to the campaign’s music video:

and the poster that in such a short time has made history:

If you have time go see  TED, ideas worth spreading. View by category of interest. It ha always one talk better than another.

The media has changed. Yes we can!

When I was living in Miami, I was about 14 years old, I had in mind I would like to work in advertising industry, Of course I had no idea what that meant. Perhaps the main reason is because my father used to work on a TV channel and I had access to that world behind the screens.

I arrived there knowing three words in English: “How are you?” But I thought it meant: “What is your name?” It took a while to learn the first words in English and then I wondered how it was to say “publicidade”, they told me: advertising. Not easy at all! But that was just the beginning…

A guy that I was a fan in Brazil is called Washington Olivetto. A great source of inspiration to everybody: “alo, alo, W/Brasil.” And when I arrived in Miami I wanted to know who were the ad genious. So they mentioned Crispin Porter + Bogusky, also Wieden + Kennedy (its wonderful campaigns for Nike), plus DDB, BBDO, among others.

In this post, I am speaking specifically of CP+B, which surprised everyone with its recent campaigns for Burger King, Hulu, Dominos … and tis week surprised me three times in a roll.

First with this incredible Chuck Porter lecture organized by the Creativity Club of São Paulo – CCSP.

I don’t think the most valuable information about how we think about brands will be brought by an article or by a book that was published last week. I think it came well before that, around 380 B.C. and was developed by one of the first major advertising member, Plato. And what he said was: “there is no learning without emotion”

It is worth paying attention in his work philosophy:

Palestra Porter CCSP – São Paulo from Emanuel Spyer on Vimeo.

This philosophy has surprised me again when I visit the new website (http://beta.cpbgroup.com/) completely in beta and fully integrated to the business philosophy. It is an digital experiment in their corporate site. A site that shows blogs, twittes, news, creative works, tags to each client; in real time: all in one place. But what I found most amazing is that it is: SIMPLE and AMAZING.

And they were able to surprise me again. By clicking developers the following message appears:

We like sharing. If we wanted to keep things to ourselves, we wouldn’t have built a site that shows you the nasty things people say about us alongside all the nice stuff. In fact, we like sharing so much we’re even going to share this site with you by making Nude, the code behind cpbgroup.com, open source. We’ll be releasing it soon so check back often. And then do with it what you like. Build a website for yourself. Add a module to your existing site. Or, if you’re into sharing too, maybe you want to develop a new module for our site. We can’t promise we’ll use it. But if it’s amazing, we promise we’ll be amazed. Because besides sharing, we also like really smart people.

I will sure come check again to see the Open Source Code!

K.I.S.S.

This year Cannes was supposed to be a dog, and its name is Tura. It was subscribed in all campaigns as Creative Advisor by Chacho – Creative Director of Leo Lisbon. If you surf Tura’s website (http://www.turathedog.com) you’ll see everything that the dog has earned at the biggest advertising award and in many other competitions.

Was it a satire about the competition?

Where Leo won awards, there was the dog, wearing the right badge and everything. Nice idea!

I have never been very eager to advertising awards because I knew that most were ghosts. That is, almost everything we see was never approved by the client, and not even inserted in real media.

But this year, Dm9 creative – Murilo Melo did an interesting speech that was propagated by Flavio Proença, and that changed my idea about the award: “imagine that Cannes is our fashion week, and we are creating campaigns that normally do not leave to the street but are trends for future seasons. ”

I agreed with his thought. But what I think is the coolest this year were the ones that really happened, especially the campaigns for Burger King:

Freakout:

Virgins:

And also, the best job in the world campaign:

And of course the Tura’s campaigns:

Red Cross:

Efêmero Museum:

What I am most upset is that I know that the results in the vast majority of cases going to Cannes are increased or invented.

But it has one, I consider the best of all times, and that the numbers do not lie. A campaign that was pure strategy, marketing / communication / positioning: The Barack Obama political campaign.

It is worth reading a little more on the subject at AdAge. Also see this interview with Kotler:

This year, DDB has invited the Obama’s campaign strategist, David Plouffe, to speech at the Cannes Festival. And also took the award for second best global network of advertising.

DM9DDB celebrates the title of Agency of the Year! It was a job made on the basis of fashion week, which meant that the creative team had to think outside the box for a year for this award. And brought the agency back to the top of the advertising world.

Even with all this talk on Cannes, an award that is truly relevant to both agencies and to the client is the Effie Awards and I am happy to know that this award begins to be important in Brazil.

In addition, of course, the most non-sense and fun Brazilian advertising award: o desenlions.

The virus, like the swine flu, is something that appears suddenly and is now worldwide. According to Wikipedia, a virus is basically protein particle that can infect living organisms.

Today to make a viral is a trend. The client asks for a viral, the creative makes a viral. Do you think an agency is able to make a viral?

This is a talk of hours in my lunchtime: with friends of the agency and outside the agency. Whenever I see or hear someone talking about making a viral it makes me listen carefully. I think the viral is not just doing it, but rather a consequence. Nothing is born viral, but it becomes viral.

Every week I receive a new report (very inspiring!) made by Paula Rizzo (paularizzo.com) for DM9. A few weeks ago I saw a campaign of Rayban:

While I was watching this video it made me directly associate with one of the first interesting “viral” I saw on the internet:

And then to this Lego film:

These three videos were and are a hit on the internet and there many other similar.
Are we creating a formula to make a viral?

If so, this formula must end. Because when I watche Rayban’s film, I remembered the other two, and because it didn’t bring anything new or relevant to spread, I was not an active transmitter of this “virus”, in short, had no spreadability.

(if anyone remembers any more videos like those, please comment)

I see the current communication as the Black Swan Theory, or the unexpected is the key to understanding the world, explained for me at a lunch by my brothers Juca (naozero.com.br) and Pablo Spyer.

But I see many people offering viral as a normal media. Inside media strategy we see TV, Radio, Newspapers and Viral. That makes me a little concerned because they are thinking viral as a media and not as a consequence.

I went look for more information and found Henry Jenkins (http://henryjenkins.org/), one of the masters of new media, creator of the term transmídia, published on his blog a research done by the Convergence Culture Consortium called “If it doesn’t spread it is dead”, it’s worth see the video on the link. It explains the concept of convergence, not only technological convergence, but the social convergence.

“Today we live in a world where every story, image, sound, idea, brand will be present on all platforms of media.”

And Henry Jenkins goes beyond; he has written a post containing more than 80 pages, explaining the concept of spreadability. Reserve a time to read.