Digital Magazine Audience Grows, Still Lags PrintDigital magazine readers now consume as many issues on average in a typical month as do print magazine readers.June 19, 2018

Some 42.4% of US adults with internet access report reading at least a single digital magazine issue in the past 30 days, according to the 2018 Mequoda Magazine Consumer Study. That represents a 15% increase from 36.8% doing so in 2015, as the gap between... READ MORE

Analysis Indicates That Increasing Order Frequency is the Fastest Way to Retail GrowthRetailers can also drive growth by focusing on average order values.

Retailers have shifted from a product-centric to a channel-centric mindset in recent years, and are in the midst of a transition to a customer-centric approach, argues Custora in a recent report [download page]. So which customer-centric KPIs have the... READ MORE

These Are CMOs’ Most Important Media ChannelsDigital channels are considered more important and more effective than traditional channels, a perception that is showing up in budget plans.June 18, 2018

CMOs aren’t relenting in their shift to digital media: 82% expect to to hike their budgets in the next year, for an overall increase of 49%, according to the recently-released Nielsen CMO Report [download page]. Not surprisingly given recent trends,... READ MORE

US Podcast Advertising Market Estimated to Have Almost Doubled in Size in 2017Direct response ads represent the lion's share of podcast ad revenues, but are ceding some influence to brand-related formats.

The total US podcast advertising market grew by 86% in 2017 to reach $313.9 million, according to recent estimates [pdf] from the IAB and PwC. Companies directly reporting podcast advertising revenues – which collectively represent less than 100% of... READ MORE

Which Facebook Inc. Ad Tactics Cost the Most?Direct response campaigns such as lead gen and event responses carry easily the highest CPMs.

Facebook Inc. advertising CPMs declined, as expected, from Q4 2017 to Q1 2018, reports iProspect [download page] in a review of advertising performance from its clients. But while CPMs declined on a quarter-over-quarter basis by 30% due to lower post-holiday... READ MORE

Hispanics Spend Close to $100B Annually on CPG ProductsHispanic consumers - Spanish-speakers in particular - are avid adopters of new CPG products.

Total Hispanic consumer expenditures were expected to exceed $815 billion last year, and it seems as though a sizable chunk of that spending will have been allocated to CPG products. In a new study [pdf], IRI reveals that Hispanics spend more than $94... READ MORE

How Marketers Are Acquiring Mobile Users, And Why It’s ImportantSmartphones' share of site visits is on the rise, as is engagement relative to computers.June 15, 2018

Last year, the average visitor engaged with about 80% as much site content on a smartphone as they did when using a desktop or laptop, a gap that has narrowed across industries. That’s according to Adobe’s latest annual “Best of the... READ MORE

World Cup 2018 StatsData surrounding viewing propensity, sponsorships, and advertising revenues.

The World Cup has begun, and with it comes research examining how people will watch the event and the impact it will have on corporate sponsors and advertising markets. Here are some highlights from various studies released in the past few weeks. Each bullet... READ MORE

Do People Share Good and Bad Customer Experiences?Almost 1 in 5 consumers will post on Facebook about a very bad experience they've had with a company.June 14, 2018

People around the world say that customer experience is a competitive differentiator for brands. But do good or bad experiences reverberate beyond the customers themselves? As it stands, most people will tell someone about a very good or very bad experience,... READ MORE

US Out-of-Home Ad Revs Climb Again in Q1 2018This past quarter's rise marks 8 consecutive years of growth for out-of-home advertising.

Out-of-home advertising revenues grew by 2% year-over-year in Q1 2018 to reach $1.68 billion, reports the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA). The latest rise, while modest, represents the largest hike since Q4 2016, and marks 8 consecutive... READ MORE

Are B2B Sales Reps Connecting With Buyers? 5 InsightsBuyers may be stuck in an "apathy loop" that prevents salespeople from differentiating their solutions.June 13, 2018

Sales representatives’ quota attainment has been on the decline for several years now, and failure to change alongside B2B buyers’ shifting preferences may be a key culprit, according to the 2018 Buyer Preferences Study [download page] from CSO... READ MORE

Marketers and Consumers Agree: Social Posts Should TeachWhich social post types do consumers want to see? And which will they share?

Measuring ROI is a far greater challenge for social media marketers than determining what content to post, according to a study from Sprout Social [download page]. But are marketers in alignment with consumers’ preferences when it comes to post types?... READ MORE

Triggered Emails Convert in Q1Lifecycle campaigns had particularly high conversion rates during the quarter.June 12, 2018

Marketers enjoyed strong email response rates in Q1, perhaps as a result of tempered volume in the wake of the holiday period, according to Yes Lifecycle Marketing’s Q1 Email Benchmark Report 2018 [download page]. The report indicates that the average... READ MORE

Convenience Drives Grocery Banner ChoicesShoppers claim low levels of loyalty to grocery stores, and loyalty schemes don't seem to be helping.

Grocery store loyalty is weak, reports tcc global in its 2018 International Loyalty Study [pdf]. Indeed, almost 4 in 10 shoppers surveyed across 15 global territories agree that it wouldn’t matter to them if their usual store closed (as they’d... READ MORE

Teens’ Social Media Preferences Update: Drastic Changes Over the Past 3 YearsA new report puts Facebook's decline - along with Snapchat and Instagram's rise - into numbers.June 11, 2018

Almost half (45%) of teens ages 13-17 in the US report being online “almost constantly,” reveals the Pew Research Center – and it’s a good bet that much of that time online is being spent with social media. So which platforms figure... READ MORE

Big Brands Are Getting BiggerThe top 100 most valuable brands' collective value grew by 21% year-over-year, matching the largest percentage increase in the study's 12-year history.

BrandZ has released its Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2018 report [pdf], and perhaps more interesting than the leading brands (which are dotted with oh-so-familiar names) is the additional value that the top 100 have accrued in the past year. Indeed,... READ MORE

Media Buyers Invest in Advanced TV OpportunitiesA majority are investing in OTT/Connected TV opportunities, while brand safety concerns are driving a shift in the perception of platforms with the best quality of video content.

A slight majority of advertisers plan digital video holistically as a necessary part of a TV campaign (53%) rather than as a standalone from a TV campaign (47%), reports Advertiser Perceptions in an online survey of 300 media brand decision-makers. But... READ MORE

Father’s Day Retail Spending Expected to Approach Last Year’s RecordSome 77% of adults plan to celebrate Father's Day, spending an average of $133 each.

Father’s Day spending will total $15.3 billion this year, says the NRF in a new forecast, putting this year’s total retail spending just below last year’s survey record of $15.5 billion. Some 77% of American adults are planning to celebrate... READ MORE

Teens’ Access to Smartphones and Computers, by Demographic GroupSmartphone access - unlike computer access - is consistent across teen demographic groups.June 8, 2018

Smartphone access is virtually ubiquitous among American teens ages 13-17, reports the Pew Research Center in a recent study [pdf]. Some 95% of teens surveyed said they either have or have access to a smartphone at home, a figure that remains highly... READ MORE

As Concerns Grow Over Internet Privacy, Most Say Search & Social Have Too Much PowerMost people around the world believe that search and social platforms influence the websites they visit, the news they see, and the purchases they make online.

A slight majority (52%) of people around the world say they’re more concerned about their online privacy than they were a year ago, according to a report [pdf] from Ipsos, the Internet Society and the Centre for International Governance Innovation... READ MORE

Department Stores Lead All B2C Sectors in Average NPSIt's a familiar spot at the bottom for ISPs and Pay-TV Providers.June 7, 2018

Which B2C industries and brands enjoy the highest net promoter scores (NPS)? NICE Satmetrix, one of the co-developers of this metric, asked 62,000 US respondents to rate 188 brands across 23 industry sectors, detailing the highlights in its 2018 B2C NPS®... READ MORE

Pay-TV Cord-Cutting Slightly Eases in Q1Traditional pay-TV providers' losses were slightly lower than in the year-earlier period, while internet-delivered services such as DIRECTV NOW continue to pick up subscribers.

Pay-TV providers are still facing cord-cutting behavior from consumers, but Q1 2018 turned out to be slightly less painful than the year-earlier period, according to data from the Leichtman Research Group (LRG). Traditional pay-TV services (excluding... READ MORE

What Challenges Are B2B Marketers Facing in Measuring Their Impact?An absence of measurement at later stages of the funnel may be contributing to B2B marketers' inability to track activity between buyer stages.June 6, 2018

Just 7% of B2B marketers in the US rate their company’s current ability to measure and analyze marketing performance and impact as “excellent,” according to a new study [download page] from Demand Gen Report, with twice as many feeling that... READ MORE

Purpose Pays, Consumers SayPurpose-driven companies can establish strong emotional bonds with consumers, many of whom will defend such companies and act as brand advocates.

Purpose is “more than a trendy buzzword,” it’s a way of doing business that has the power to not only influence positive societal change but also drive company growth. That’s according to the 2018 Cone/Porter Novelli Purpose Study... READ MORE

Email Benchmark Report: Maintaining the Holiday MomentumYes Lifecycle Marketing report provides findings and strategies for post-holiday email engagement.June 5, 2018

[Sponsored] Many marketers focus on attracting new subscribers before the holidays but lack a strategy to keep them engaged after the close of Q4. Yes Lifecycle Marketing’s newest benchmark report [download page] identifies key findings from Q1 and... READ MORE

Gen Z and Millennial Consumers Account for 39% of All Out-of-Home TV ViewingBroadcast, Sports and News networks are enjoying significant lifts in young audiences from out-of-home viewing.

Young people are watching less traditional TV in the home – that much is clear. But new data from Nielsen indicates that they haven’t abandoned their interest in linear TV. Instead, in many cases, they’re tuning in away from the home, and... READ MORE

These Are the Fastest-Growing Large Cities in the USAmericans seem to be migrating South and West, with most of the fastest-growing cities being located in the South.

Americans seem to be migrating to Southern cities. That’s the word from the Census Bureau, which reveals that 8 of the 15 cities or towns with the largest gains in population between 2016 and 2017 were located in the South. Furthermore, 10 of the 15... READ MORE

What’s the CMO’s Role in Driving Growth? 5 InsightsCMOs are leading the way in brand development and storytelling, while most see data and insights knowledge as critical to today's growth leaders.June 4, 2018

One of the most critical traits of an effective CMO is to play a key role in company growth initiatives, according to recent research. So how are organizations defining growth, and where can CMOs make an impact? A new report from Deloitte and the CMO Council... READ MORE

3 in 4 Americans Believe Personal Data Exchange Benefits Businesses More Than PeopleA new report breaks down consumer attitudes to online privacy and the lack of control they feel over their personal data.

Privacy is obviously a hot topic these days with new European data privacy regulations going into effect and Facebook facing questions over its privacy practices. With data privacy concerns already running high, new data from the GDMA and Acxiom [pdf]... READ MORE

Time Spent With Traditional Media Drops As Mobile Internet Use BlossomsRoughly one-quarter of global media consumption is expected to be allocated to mobile internet use this year.

People around the world are expected to spend about 8 hours a day consuming media this year, representing a 12% jump from 2011, says Zenith in a new media consumption forecast. The rise of mobile devices is having a large impact on media consumption... READ MORE

Here’s How Insights Buyers Feel the Industry Should Address Research Sample QualityMarket research clients and buyers are generally more pessimistic than optimistic about the future of sample quality.

Market research buyers and clients are pessimistic about the future of sample quality, according to the Q1-Q2 2018 edition of the Greenbook Research Industry Trends (GRIT) report. In fact, buyers are twice as likely to believe that sample quality will worsen... READ MORE

Here Are US CEOs’ Biggest Challenges in Meeting Millennials’ NeedsCEOs want to understand what sets Millennials apart and how to better engage them.June 1, 2018

It’s no secret that marketers prize Millennials as an appealing target audience. But research from KPMG [pdf] indicates that CEOs are still facing a range of challenges in meeting the needs of Millennial consumers. The survey – fielded among 400... READ MORE

Two-Thirds of the US 13+ Population Play VideogamesConsoles remain the preferred platform and the eSports audience is broadening.

The gaming audience continues to expand. In fact, two-thirds (66%) of Americans ages 13 and older self-identify as gamers, up from 58% in 2013, according to a Nielsen study [download page]. Gamers are spending an average of 11% of their leisure time with... READ MORE

Financially Strapped Millennials Engage in Deal-Seeking Grocery Buying Behavior, Can be Swayed by ReviewsMillennials are the most likely to engage in deal-seeking behavior when buying groceries.May 31, 2018

Almost half (47%) of American adults are making sacrifices to make ends meet, and 44% say their household’s financial health is strained, according to research from IRI [pdf]. The study reveals that Retirees & Seniors are the least likely to have... READ MORE

Video Streaming Services Top Pay-TV Providers in Customer SatisfactionPay-TV providers and ISPs are the worst-rated of all industries, again.

Score another one for streaming services. On the heels of a study indicating that customers perceive much more value from video streaming than pay-TV services, a new report [download page] from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) reveals that... READ MORE

Here’s How Online Adults Find Information About Brands and ServicesWhat role - perhaps even indirectly - does advertising play in conveying information?May 30, 2018

Most online adults across 5 key countries turn to websites in order to find information about brands and services, while about half rely on recommendations from friends and family, according to a report from Kantar Media [download page]. The study indicates... READ MORE

3 in 4 B2B Procurement Officers Experience Pain Points During the E-Commerce Buying ProcessB2B procurement officers are looking for better product and inventory information, along with efficient re-ordering tools and subscription service options.

Almost 9 in 10 B2B firms report buying more online in the past year, reveals Avionos [download page] in a survey of 160 B2B procurement officers at manager level of above at firms with at least $100 million in annual revenues. Survey respondents – most... READ MORE

Smart Speaker Ownership Linked to Higher Consumption of AM/FM RadioAM/FM radio listeners are more likely to say they're listening more to AM/FM radio than less since getting a Smart Speaker.May 29, 2018

Streaming music is one of the more popular uses of Smart Speakers, per recent research, but what’s the source of the music? As it turns out, a substantial portion of AM/FM radio listeners have increased their consumption of AM/FM radio stations since... READ MORE

Mobile Phones Lead in Q1 Video Ad Impressions, Click-Through RatesConnected TV devices are gaining in video ad impression share, though, and have the highest completion rates.

Mobile devices – particularly mobile phones – continue to outpace other devices in video ad impressions, though their dominance is receding at the hands of connected TV devices, reports Extreme Reach in its Q1 2018 Video Advertising Benchmark... READ MORE

What Shoppers Want From the Online Experience: 3 InsightsProduct information - particularly product imagery - and reviews are important to shoppers, who also want a frictionless checkout process.May 25, 2018

Online shoppers enjoy using mobile devices for their e-commerce activities, but a great online shopping experience depends on more than just ease-of-use on mobile devices. That’s according to a report from Namogoo [download page], which surveyed almost... READ MORE

Another Marketing Data Challenge: Telling the Right StoriesFor marketing and creative professionals, it's not just the science of data-driven marketing that's a challenge.

Much has been made of the difficulties marketers face with accessing data, integrating data across technologies, and even trusting their data. But some companies are facing an even bigger problem, according to Widen’s 2018 Connectivity Report [download... READ MORE

Q1 Largely Follows Trend Towards Greater Penetration of Smart Tech ProductsSmartwatch and smart speaker sales are growing, but not all smart products are seeing rapid uptake.May 24, 2018

Smart products are taking share from conventional products in the TV, speaker, and watch categories, reports Adobe Digital Insights in its Digital Dollar Report for Q1 2018. In fact, smart TVs represented almost 9 in 10 TVs sold in the US during the first... READ MORE

Brand Marketers Look to Visual Content As Marketplace DifferentiatorLarge online marketplaces are forcing almost half of brand marketers to rethink how they go to market.

Global e-commerce communities and marketplaces such as Amazon, Alibaba and eBay are revolutionizing and reinventing the global retail marketplace, believe a majority (56%) of brand marketers, according to a report [download page] from the CMO Council. The... READ MORE

Which Companies Are the Most – and Least – Trusted in the US?Supermarkets and Banks are among the most trusted this year, while TV/Internet Service Providers trail distantly.May 23, 2018

Only half of Americans trust business as an institution, per recent research, a problem given that trusting relationships are considered critical for customers, who are more likely to buy and recommend products from trusted companies. So which companies are... READ MORE

Sender Reputations Have A Strong Impact on Email Performance. Here’s How.Mailbox providers are turning away messages sent by mailers with low reputation scores.

Email providers are increasingly making life difficult for spammers, as just one-quarter of emails in 2017 came from the least reputable senders, down from 60% of messages in 2012. That’s according to Return Path, which has released its latest... READ MORE

What Strategies Are Senior Marketers Using to Get More Out of Existing Customers?More relevant and personalized communications - as used in acquisition strategies - are key.May 22, 2018

Only about 1 in 8 marketers (13%) believe that they’re realizing the full revenue potential of their existing customers, according to a study from the CMO Council and Sendwithus [download page]. The report, which is based on a survey of 179 senior... READ MORE

Small Businesses Look to Up Their Activity on Facebook, YouTube and InstagramAlmost all small businesses using social media plan to increase their efforts this year.

Small businesses are looking to increase their time and money investments in social media this year, reports The Manifest in a survey of 351 small business owners and managers at companies in the US with fewer than 500 employees (78% with fewer than 50... READ MORE

Social Media Marketing Update: Preferred Platforms and Content Types in 2018Instagram is rising in the ranks, while Facebook remains the most widely adopted and most important platform.May 21, 2018

What’s trending in social media marketing? The latest annual Social Media Marketing Industry Report from Social Media Examiner, based on a survey of more than 5,700 participants around the world, offers some insights into marketers’ preferences... READ MORE

Subscription Commerce Benchmarks: 7.2% of Customers At Risk of Involuntary Churn Each MonthSaaS businesses prove particularly adept at recovering past due invoices.

Subscriber retention is one of the most – if not the most – important facets of successful subscription businesses. Keeping subscribers satisfied with products and services is one thing – but what about involuntary churn, such as through... READ MORE

Luxury Brands to Devote One-Third of Their Ad Budgets to Digital This YearThe luxury market trails the advertising market as a whole in its shift to digital, as magazines and TV remain desired media channels.

Luxury ad spending is expected to grow by 2.4% this year and by 2.8% next year in the aggregate across 23 key markets, says Zenith in its latest forecast. The forecasted growth rate trails expected increases in overall ad spending in those markets, though... READ MORE