5 tips for successful branding

Last Thursday, I attended the 3rd edition of the Media Parade together with some 450 other marketeers and branding specialists from all horizons (check #mediaparade). 

An inspiring event with one motto: "Never Stop Asking Questions". 

Keynote speaker, Jean-Noël Kapferer, took the floor for a session about brand management to answer the first question of the day: "What do successful brands have in common?" I've summarized his observations in 5 points of advice :

1. Start slowly, take your time and be patient

2. Target communities, not segments 

3. Think in term of tribal marketing and search direct contact

4. Create 'Occasions to Savor' instead of 'Opportunities to See'

5. Disrupt the traditional models with an alternative distribution channel

A summary in tweets:

Magazines still favorite for inspiration about deco

Some 77% of Belgian women are looking for some kind of inspiration about (interior) decoration. Despite the rise of Pinterest and TV 'makeover' programs, it seems like Belgian women still rely on 'traditional' information sources with magazines on top (29%). They were asked to mention their favorite information source when they intend to buy (interior) decoration items:

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It's particularly true for trendformers (women that are seen as expert, can give advice on the topic and can convince others - a small minority). 

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If I can give one tip to advertisers active in the sector: don't put all your eggs in digital and continue to work on great 'printed' inspirational campaigns to market your products to Belgian women. It's definitely worth the investment as magazines are (still) top of mind. 

This blog post was made possible thanks to the information researched in the survey #Femininsight, part of the Belgian project I'm every WOMAN by Sanoma Media. Some 3.000 Belgian women, aged between 15 and 75 years, were surveyed about their daily life and media consumption behavior (February - May 2011).

Taking Advantage of Editorial Credibility

During the FIPP Research Forum 2012, my Dutch colleague Ingrid van der Werf (Sanoma Media Netherlands) has shared interesting facts & figures on branded content in women's magazines. Thanks to recent quantitative and qualitative research (December 2011 - January 2012). There were three main purposes behind this initiative:
   - evaluate the effects of branded content on communication objectives
   - identify the conditions for effectiveness
   - determine criteria for successful branded content


She started with a definition that everyone can find on Wikipedia:

Branded content is a relatively new form of advertising medium (? euh) that blurs conventional distinctions between what constitutes advertising and what constitutes entertainment (true). Branded content is essentially a fusion of the two into one product intended to be distributed as entertainment content, albeit with a highly branded quality. 

And it works: advertorials in women's magazines are highly valued. According to readers, branded content "tells a different story than standard advertising" (quote qualitative research among 72 women aged 25-45). Therefore, it's not surprising that advertorials obtain a higher 'entertaining' score than classic ads (50% vs 36% - agree to: This page is made to entertain me - quantitative online research with dummy among 1200 women aged 25-45). 


When it comes to brand recall, advertorials obtain lower scores but that is compensate by higher scores for message recall: 44% for advertorials vs 33% for ads. The main objective(s) for using branded content in a nutshell: 
   - creating credibility
   - give more detailed product information
   - engaging readers


Challenge achieved for advertorials! As brand consideration scores are higher for branded content (50%) than for traditional ads (45%). Of course, both kind of advertising messages are mutually reinforcing each other. I'd like to end this summary by sharing 7 criteria for successful branded content in (women's) magazines:
    1. offer inspiration & tips
    2. give something to talk about
    3. complement editorial content (decode the codes of the magazine)
    4. be relevant (!)
    5. provide a fitting link with sender/brand (see point 3)
    6. be subtle about the benefits of the brand (readers know it's an ad)
    7. find a good balance between text and image


P.S.: Although branded content is not a new phenomenon in magazine advertising, the article on Wikipedia doesn't mention print at all! While there are great examples of successful advertorials in magazines. Print is definitely undervalued. But that was not the point of this blog post. However, if you want to know more about the do's and don'ts of branded pages in magazines, look at this great presentation with a lot of inspiration - by my colleagues at the Advertising Resource Centre (redirection on slideshare). 

Belgian Beauty Secrets

What makes women beautiful? Some say make-up, most agree it’s linked to the inner beauty. Belgium is no exception: 70% of Belgian women agree that beauty comes from within. Definitions of beauty from the study #Femininsight by Sanoma Media (see previous posts): having charisma (63%), being intelligent (72%), being self-confident (68%) or feeling good (69%). So, happy? Yes, 88% is (very) happy. But only 50% is satisfied with her appearance. Nearly 60% is convinced that good looking people are more successful in their social life.

So, it's not a surprise that she - the Belgian women- thinks there's no harm in helping the inner beauty. It seems that beauty products are also essential to feel good - boosting self-confidence (48% agrees) - and part of the daily routine (54% seldom leaves the house without make-up on). Fortunately, she likes being occupied with her appearance (56%). Beauty, a pleasant necessity?

40% of Belgian women are occasional users of make-up (less than once a week). The ones who like using make-up tend to be the same women that use make-up on a daily basis (41%). It's well-known that the eyes are the ultimate weapon of seduction.What else? Long, thick, black lashes seems to be the lethal accessories as 24% of Belgian women could not live without mascara. Eyeliners and kohl pencils are other essential accessories in Belgian make-up beauty cases.

For inspiration about beauty and make-up, women turn to traditional channels with magazines on top of the list (23%). The point-of-sales (22%) and brochures (21%) are next in the top 3.  Women's magazines are the best information source about new beauty trends (42%) and advertisements featuring beauty products clearly add value to the content: 35% thinks beauty ads in women's magazines are the best information sources about new beauty products.

With 67% of Belgian women looking for some kind of information about beauty products, magazines could be used in different ways to put your make-up accessories in the spotlight: classic ads or advertorials with testimonials/beauty tips/scientific explanations, sample for liquids, coupons for free testers or discount, leaflets, ... Women welcome smart advertising in the right context. Women's magazines are (still!) the right context.

Find additional information about the different types of beauty consumers and the link between (women's) magazines and beauty ads in the presentation below. This presentation and blog post were made possible thanks to the information researched in the survey #Femininsight, part of the Belgian project I'm every WOMAN by Sanoma Media. Some 3.000 Belgian women, aged between 15 and 75 years, were surveyed about their daily life and media consumption behavior (in February - May 2011). Feel free to share and download.

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She's a Reader

Yesterday was the yearly World Book Day. Time to celebrate the written word and to encourage our closed ones to discover/to share the pleasure of reading. I've found my own way to celebrate this day and I took the time yesterday to analyze the reading behavior of Belgian women. Because reading - books or other media - is a great way to escape our daily life!

Belgian women loves reading

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Source: research study #Femininsight - part of the project I'm every WOMAN-  some 3.000 Belgian women, aged between 15 and 75 years, were surveyed about their daily life (in February - May 2011)

#Femininsight for Best Media Research

Discover how to use #Femininsight when planning a campaign or launching a new product. Besides general insights about women's daily life and their consumption behavior, this research makes it possible to target on lifestyle(s) and specific interests.

On March 15th, I’ve exposed this indispensable research in the first round for the Best Media Research at the Annual Masters of Media Awards(AMMA). In this round, the 5 best cases have been shortlisted by an audience of professionals. This shortlist will be examined by a special jury who will finally identify THE Best Media Research for Belgium.

The most difficult thing when you only have 12 minutes to defend your case, is to focus on the practical use of this research without neglecting the variety of topics and items it contains. If I made the choice to put the most important results in the spotlight, more than half of the audience (in need of practical information) would’ve been bored. So, instead of a theoretical presentation about methodology and the flow of the #Femininsight survey, I have compiled a case, in line with the reality of my business to illustrate how it can be used at its best. Find this case below and don't hesitate to ask questions about it.

#Femininsight on the AMMA Shortlist

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20 Tweetable Truths about Belgian Women, Food and Media

Almost every day I fear this one question: what will I cook/eat this evening? First thing, I always ask my boyfriend. Most of the times, he struggles with the same lack of inspiration as I do. We both love food but not the preparation of the daily meal. So, I have to admit that I often turn to women's magazines to inspire me about recipes, and the French-written Belgian weekly Femmes d'Aujourd'hui in particular. And that's what inspire me to write this blog post:  What about Belgian women? How do they find inspiration? According to the research survey #Femininsight, 67% of the Belgian women mostly rely on magazines for (inspiration about) cooking recipes. The second preferred  information channel is very 'classic' too: culinary books (47%).

When it comes to food, drinks, restaurants or recipes, Belgian women turn to traditional information sources: brochures, the point of sales, magazines, TV,... I don't underestimate the power of digital media. As you will discover in the presentation below, e-newsletters and (traditional) websites are still powerful tools to inform  women. Social Media (Facebook, etc) are not very top of mind as preferred channel. Unfortunately, apps were not (yet) included in this edition.

In the presentation below, available for download on SlideShare, I've tried to compile information that can help marketeers in charge of food brands about the use of magazines in their media mix. Advertorials with recipes are great tools to integrate your brand in a non-intrusive way. Inspire women: 50% often tries a recipe after having seen it in a magazine and 48% follow tips read in culi editorials. Despite the huge amount of information available online, women cited magazines as the n°1 information sources about cooking recipes. Play that asset.

Belgian Women, Food and Media

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10 Tweetable Truths about Women and Social Networks

I've already talked (written) about the research study #Femininsight - part of the project I'm every WOMAN-  some 3.000 Belgian women, aged between 15 and 75 years, were surveyed about their daily life (in February - May 2011). Besides sector-related information, we, marketeers at Sanoma Media Belgium, were also curious about the media consumption and media behavior of Belgian ladies. 

My colleagues Trui Lanckriet and Marie Carranza were guest speakers at the last Media Session at the GRP about the evolution of media habits in Belgium. Their presentation will be available soon on the official website of the media sales house of Sanoma Media Belgium. I was really inspired by their presentation and wanted to add my personal touch to their analysis. So, I've focused on the use of social networks by Belgian women. THE HOT TOPIC nowadays.

With only 4% of Belgian women sharing information through blogs and fora - 2% on social networks - the easiest conclusion should be: Belgian women don't care. But that's just one side of the medal. Belgian women are digital ladies: 35% visits social networks daily and women with a profile on facebook even more: 22% checks it more than once a day. And nearly 1 out of  5 agrees with the fact that Internet helps to avoid ‘bad buys’. Discover more about Belgian women and social networks in the presentation below. Feel free to share and to spread the word. As usual, you can download this presentation on SlideShare .

10 Tweetable Truths about Belgian Women and Social Networks

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The audience I try to reach through my blog is made out of people with a busy agenda. That's why I like the difficult exercise to put information in so-called Tweetable Truths, summarizing facts and figures in less than 140 characters. Right now, I'm just wondering about the ideal numbers of slides/truths. I guess, somewhere between 20 and 50. Let me know if I'm right. 

Our iPad Not Mine

From early July to the beginning of August 2011, Sanoma Media conducted an iPad survey in 6 European countries in which it is active and distributes apps: the Netherlands, Finland, Russia, Hungary, Belgium and Germany. Via banners in various Sanoma apps, a total of 3,673 respondents were asked about their use and experience of working with this famous tablet.

Not a personal toy
The iPad has become the primary device at home and the preferred tool to access the internet. But it's by no means a personal computer: 67% of the iPads are actively used by other persons. This is usually the partner and, in over a third of cases, the children.

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She plays, he surfs
Traditional surfing behavior still rules, even with an iPad. It is used mainly for reading the news, surfing and browsing, searching and e-mailing. A second category includes social networking/blogging, playing games, reading magazines, watching TV and videos and looking at photos. Women play more games than men. Shopping, comparing and internet banking are less frequent activities.

On the couch, in bed and at the breakfast table
The iPad is a companion for the evenings in the living room (83%) and for reading the news in the morning (70%) at the breakfast table. But it's also ideal for a last 'social media' check in bed before going to sleep (67%).

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More info and another nice infographic with socio-demographics available here . Some specific information on Belgium coming soon.

50 Tweetable Truths about Women in Belgium

It's been a while since my last blog post. September is usually a tough month with the release of the Print Audience Study (always on September 15th). But this year was particular: besides analysis on the evolution of the Print Audience Study, I have this other beautiful and interesting project at work: the project I'm every WOMAN with the announcement and launch of #Femininsight .

#Femininsight is so much more than another quantitative research. Some 3.000 Belgian women, aged between 15 and 75 years, were surveyed about their daily life and media consumption behavior (in February - May 2011). Enriched with facts and figures about beauty, fashion and food. But the cherry on the cake - in my point of view - is the specific typology that describes 6 different types of women. It's a powerful and inspirational tool for marketeers and creative people.

You could probably write a book with all the information included in this research. But I've started with a PowerPoint presentation. But one with a feminine - practical- and viral touch; summarizing more than 50 facts and figures about women's daily life in less than 140 characters.

My specific task on this project is to feed @iewoman and monitor this account. I will also regularly add new information through this blog and the corporate website of the media sales house of Sanoma Media Belgium, my employer. Enjoy and don't hesitate to spread the word :-)

50 tweetable truths about Belgian women

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Which Media Diet for Light TV Viewers?

(FMCG) Advertisers continue to spend large amounts on expensive TV campaigns. The (long time ago) announced death of the TV-spot is still not a reality. On the contrary! Honestly I'm wondering why, knowing that 4 out of 10 Belgians are light TV viewers. My gut feeling says that these people don't like pushy TV ads. Unfortunately, the CIM-PMPA*-study - which contains data about media audiences and frequency of usage - doesn't measure advertising likeability. But it defintely can help you in your media choice with specific analysis on light and non TV viewers.

Why would advertisers be interested in reaching light and non TV viewers? According to an analysis I've made on the CIM-PMPA, this category represents 3.700.000 people in Belgium (over 12 years old). Not a minority. More than half are the ones in charge of picking up the groceries (the so-called Main Responsible for Purchases). My 'investigations' also demonstrate that light viewers have a more attractive demographic profile: 37% of them are classified in the highest socio-economic groups (1-2)  and 36% are highly educated. It's also a very gender-balanced profile with 51% women. So don't make the wrong match:

LIGHT or NON TV USER =  

MAN or CHILD PLAYING with a MOBILE/COMPUTERLIKE THING

Talking about segmentation, it seems that cultural differences don't play a big role in the media behavior. But gender does. It was really not a surprise to me that women tend to be more print-minded and heavy users of magazines (both weeklies and monthlies). Men seem to appreciate internet and the seats (or popcorn?) of movie theatres more.

Female light viewers represent 20% of the Belgian population. As an employee of Sanoma Media Belgium, with a women-oriented portfolio, I have a strong interest in the media behavior of this target.The CIM-PMPA study gives me insight into the reach and the coverage of magazines in general and of our titles specifically. The most important findings are summarized in a presentation below. As usual, you can download this material for free on SlideShare, with speaker notes for the most difficult slides :-) If you like it, feel free to share.

Not a Minority: Light TV Viewers in Belgium

 

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Even with its limitations, the CIM-PMPA survey is a wonderful tool. All the (most important) media brands with a 'Belgian' ratecard are taken into account. It has one handicap: it doesn't measure (big) foreign channels/titles and of course, non-subscribers. That could be a little bit tricky, especially when 'measuring' the 'real' impact (reach) of TV and some radio channels in the south of the country. Why? It's commonly known that a lot of French-speaking Belgians turn to French TV-shows for entertainment. Each survey has limitations. This is one of them. It's not the Holy Grail. But even if it only gives us an indication of each medium, it's still a valuable tool with a qualitative and quantitative sample. 

*CIM- Center for Information about Media in Belgium
  PMPA: Pluri-Media/Products/Attitudes

Updated: Magazines are 'Home_Pages'

Almost two years ago the media sales house of Sanoma in Belgium launched MAGSCAN. A one-shot publication (pdf) devoted to magazines. Print publishers are crazy people: they actually believe in the power of this odd and misunderstood medium as no one else can. And you know why? Because of the strong emotional bond between readers and magazines. Take the place of reading: magazine readers can read everywhere but because they love being immersed in their experience, they prefer to read at home. Where they feel at ease, safe in their bubble.

(Click on icon full screen to see larger view)

 

Take a look at our latest campaign to promote magazines                     

Uitgevers verdienen nog niks op iPad maar...

Goedele op iPad is een geweldige tool voor de redactie om 'out of the box' te denken en te experimenteren met de mogelijkheden die tablets met zich mee brengen.

Waarom op iPad? Omdat deze tablet voorlopig nog koploper is wat gebruikers betreft en aankoopintenties. En het is over deze markt dat ik het wil hebben. Niet zozeer over de verkoopcijfers van de Goedele edities op iPad die aangehaald worden in het artikel van de krant De Morgen.( Editie van vandaag, 05 mei - geen link naar het artikel want niet gevonden op de site). Context is ook belangrijk. En wat het artikel niet aanhaalt is net de adoptie van de tablet computers door de Belgen.

Volgens een recent onderzoek van de Online Publishers Assocation (OPA) zijn 6% van de Belgische surfers uitgerust met een tablet. Een studie uit eigen bodem, de Chocolate Barometer van Aegis Media, wijst op een penetratiegraad van 3% in de Belgische huishoudens. Men kan dus moeilijk spreken over een mass market product. Toegegeven: met zo'n lage penetratiegraad in ons land geloof ik nooit dat één enkele Belgische uitgever nu al winst maakt met de verkoop van iPadedities van Belgische printmerken. Daarbij speelt op onze markt ook nog de taalverdeling: volgens de OPA is de typische tabletuser eerder Franstalig.

Toch kunnen we vermoeden dat tablets binnenkort hun status van nicheproduct gaan verliezen: zowat 30% van de Belgische surfers geeft aan een tablet te willen aanschaffen in de komende maanden. Een mooie vooruitzicht voor uitgevers die al vertrouwd zijn met het medium.

Met Goedele op iPad wilt de redactie meer dan een doodgewone bladerformule/surfformule - met of zonder zoommogelijkheden- bieden aan zijn lezers. Goedele op iPad moet entertainen, verrassen, overvallen,...  Een maandelijkse challenge die deze straffe madam, samen met een sterk én beperkt team, weet te realiseren sinds een klein aantal maanden. Een première op de markt van de Belgische maandbladen, een voorbeeld voor alle printuitgevers. En hopelijk, een succesvolle zet in een nabije toekomst.

Magazines are 'Homepages'

Our Creative Marketing Inspirator Mark Struyf is a kinda jack-of-all-trades - and Master of many. Discover some of his latest work below: repositioning magazines and affirming the value of this particular medium. This campaign is aimed at media professionals of agencies and advertisers (still running in some business publications). Too bad I cannot translate the copy literally but I have done my best to do so below the picture (click on the image for a better view).

Even the most attractive homepage could never give the pampering feeling a (women's) magazine offers its readers. A unique and personal moment. She longs for it. She recognizes herself in it. She feels at home. Making authentic homepages is our craftmanship since ever.

De magie van lezer-bladbinding

Vorige donderdag sleepte het neuro-onderzoek Het Mediabrein van mijn collega's uit Nederland een FIPP Research Award in de wacht. De toekenning van deze felbegeerde prijs uit onze sector werd bekend gemaakt op het FIPP Research Forum in Parijs. 

MRi staat voor Magnetic Resonance imaging

De middelen die ingezet werden om dit onderzoek in goede banen te leiden zijn best wel indrukwekkend. Niet minder dan 36 dames hebben in een MRi-scanner gelegen, waarbij ze onder andere tijdschrift- en tv-beelden te zien kregen. 


Doel? Een antwoord bieden op 3 belangrijke vragen waarmee magazine-uitgevers heel vaak mee worstelen:

• wat is lezer-bladbinding?
• welk effect heeft deze binding op advertenties in dat blad?
• hoe verhouden advertenties in bladen zich tot tv-commercials?

Het bestaan van lezer-bladbinding is namelijk moeilijk te achterhalen, aangezien deze (ook) door onbewuste processen wordt gecreëerd. Dat de relatie tussen een lezer en zijn blad niet enkel gebaseerd is op interesse in een bepaalde categorie/thema is altijd al duidelijk geweest. Waarom zouden er anders zoveel (verschillende) modebladen bestaan? Om maar één voorbeeld te geven. Maar hoe toon je aan dat een magazine een perfecte omgeving biedt voor advertenties? 


Tal van andere onderzoeken bewijzen de meerwaarde van magazines in een (multi) mediaplan: methodologieën à la media mix cases (pdf), onderzoek rond het halo-effect, cases waar traffic of sales gegenereerd werden, ... Toegegeven: deze tools bieden een antwoord op: hebben magazinelezers mijn advertentie wél gezien? En/of: heb ik een veilige investering gemaakt door mijn budget in magazines te steken (ROI-studie)? 


Het Mediabrein daarentegen geeft meer inzicht in de verwerking en de geheugenopslag van printuitingen vs tv-spots. En in tegenstelling tot mijn collega's, ben ik niet verrast door de conclusies: programma-onderbrekingen worden duidelijk als irritant ervaren. Een tv-commercial is weliswaar ‘sexier’ en wekt iets meer begeerte op dan een printadvertentie, maar roept ook meer irritatie op. Denk maar aan je eigen reactie wanneer één en dezelfde spotje 2 à 3 keer je tv-avond onderbreekt. 


"Waar traditioneel onderzoek liet zien dat de eerste TV commercial in een reclameblok de meeste impact heeft, blijkt uit bovengenoemd hersenonderzoek het tegendeel: de eerste TV commercial in een reclameblok is het irritantst" aldus collega David De Boer op het Researchblog.  


Het onderzoek bewijst ook dat lezer-bladbinding gebaseerd is op vertrouwen. Dit vertrouwen straalt af op de inhoud van het blad, inclusief de advertenties, mits deze passen binnen de bladformule (niet zo'n onbelangrijk detail). Doordat printadvertenties vaker aansluiten aan het blad en aan de belevingswereld van (trouwe) lezeressen, worden deze ook beter door het brein verwerkt en opgeslagen. In dat opzicht kan men dus besluiten dat magazines een 'reclamevriendelijke' omgeving bieden aan adverterteerders. 

The Mediabrain - the impact of the reader-magazine relationship proven by brain research

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Magazines are sales tools: Flair pumps case

One of the main complaints of advertisers is "the effect of magazines on sales can't be measured". Together with: "Magazines are slow in building traffic". Well, thanks to the Flemish Flair readers I have recent proof that these statements are not true. If done in a good way. (Knowing your audience).

Flair pumps

Flair is a weekly aimed at young women (15-35 y.o.) who like getting fun out of life. The typical Flair-reader likes: affordable luxury. So yes, she can combine luxury brands with cheaper (fashion and beauty) brands. Today there was a special offer in the magazine with a coupon for Flair-branded pumps for 15€. It's the second time that retailer Torfs chose Flair as a favored partner (as a kind of seasonal launch for the new collections?). 

The results? Some sales points were out of stock this afternoon. According to some tweets I have read, there was (is?) a stock of at least 20,000 pairs.

On the 'twitterprofile' of Wouter Torfs, CEO of Schoenen Torfs, you can read that this CEO is passionate about rebuilding his company as a community. And he's using communities, in this case, the community of the Flair-lovers, to make the match on a commercial level. Well done! 

I surrendered for the @flair @torfs Mkt Campaign

Sanoma app about Annual Report

I'm one of the 20.000 employees of the media group and I was consulting my twitter account when reading the news: my company publishes its Annual Report with a brand new app for iPad. I'm curious about the volume of downloads. 

But I know what to do tonight ;-)