Spring is in full bloom and it’s already feeling like summer over here (hello 90s)! As the temperature heats up, so does the news. So, we’re back to recap what you missed last month: everything from Pepsi, Peeps and Pantone-colored beer, to increasing travel amongst US consumers. Check it out below, and as always, happy reading!
- 88 Words and Phrases You Can Use to Convert [Infographic]
“Are you looking for ways to seduce your website visitors into their desired action? Want to generate more subscribers, leads and customers for your business? Copywriting expert Ashlyn Carter shares 88 words and phrases to fire up your website in this infographic” — Social Media Today - Unilever Will Eliminate ‘Normal’ From Its Product Packaging
“Global beauty conglomerate Unilever this week announced that an international study involving 10,000 people found 70% of participants felt that the word “normal” on beauty packaging has a negative personal impact.” — Adweek - A Drone Went Bowling. Hollywood Noticed.
“A drone operator shot an 87-second video in a Minneapolis bowling alley last week to raise support for the business. The operator didn’t expect it to be viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media, or to win high praise from Hollywood directors.” —The New York Times - Grounded by the pandemic, a travel photographer spent the year pedaling the roads around his home, resulting in a series of poetic self-portraits.
“It started out as just something to do — a challenge to try to see the familiar through fresh eyes. Soon it blossomed into a celebration of traveling at home.” — The New York Times - You Can Now Play Pac-Man on the Side of a Pizza Hut Box Through Augmented Reality
“Pizza Hut is bringing the arcade experience of a classic pizza parlor to the sides of its delivery and takeout boxes with a modern twist.” — Adweek - With a Stunning New Ad, Nike and Wieden+Kennedy Salute Moms as the Toughest Athletes
“This campaign salutes motherhood for Nike’s new maternity activewear line.” — Adweek - STR: Weekly Occupancy Surpasses 50 Percent, Reaching Highest Level in a Year
“STR noted that year-over-year percentage changes are now more favorable as comparisons have shifted to pandemic-affected weeks from 2020. When indexed against 2019 levels, the U.S. has recaptured between 70-75 percent of occupancy in recent weeks.” — Lodging Magazine - Justin Long, Once the Face of Mac, Is Now a PC Guy in Intel’s New Ad Campaign
“As Apple becomes a competitor, Intel turns the tables on a classic campaign.” –AdWeek - Super Nintendo World Opens in Osaka, Japan
Children and adults alike waiting in line for their turn to experience the world’s first Super Nintendo World and its life-sized Mushroom Kingdom, which opened Thursday at Universal Studios Japan. — CNN - In a Zoom meeting you don’t want to be in? This will get you out of it
“A new tool, Zoom Escaper, takes the pressure off your acting and stillness skills. Following a few simple steps, you can sabotage your own audio streams and more.” — Fast Company - With This Adorable Ad, Fisher-Price Shows How Kids Find Toys Everywhere
“In this ad campaign, they’re pushing nostalgia and imagination instead of a product.” — Adweek - How Cool Are These Beer Cans That Show the Pantone Color of the Brew Inside?
“Graphic designers, beer-lovers and package design aficionados will love these minimalist beer cans and bottles created by Spanish designer Txabar. The can/bottles match the Pantone hue of the brew inside.” — Digital Synopsis - Pepsi and Peeps Have Joined Forces to Create Marshmallow Soda
“Peeps has partnered with Pepsi to create Marshmallow Cola, which comes in a three-pack of cute little 7.5oz cans.” — People - Google Has a Plan to Disrupt the College Degree
“Google is announcing the next steps in its plan to disrupt the world of education, including the launch of new certificate programs that are designed to help people bridge any skills gap and get qualifications in high-paying, high-growth job fields.” — Inc. - My View: Providing benefits for independent workers is simpler than you think
“Having a flexible work schedule is a nice arrangement for anyone, but for people like me, it’s absolutely essential” — Phoenix Business Journal - Survey Explore Traveler Intent in 2021
“The average U.S. adult spent 176 hours scrolling social media for travel inspiration throughout the past year, according to new research commissioned by Motel 6 and conducted by SWNS Media Group online among 200 U.S. adults.” — Lodging Magazine - Unsplash is being acquired by Getty Images
“The reason I’m excited about the acquisition is because it’s not goodbye, it’s about acceleration.” — Unsplash - March Adness 2021: Vote for the Year’s Best Advertiser in Adweek’s Annual Bracket
“Adweek’s annual March Adness bracket, in which your votes determine which advertisers should advance and even claim the championship.” — Adweek - Businesses grapple with how to avoid proximity bias when offices reopen
“The issue could come to a head as employers adopt a hybrid working model and consider how to fairly balance perks between employees working remotely and in person.” — Digday - Volvo’s Ad About the ‘Ultimate Safety Test’ Has a Dramatic Twist and a Vital Message
“In its latest global ad, from agency Grey, the car brand goes on the hunt for “the ultimate safety test.” A glacier in the distance then collapses, prompting Bjorn to say that climate change is in fact Volvo’s biggest safety challenge.” — Adweek - Brands Are Punking Us Again for This Year’s April Fools’ Day
“Are you one of these people who thinks that Velveeta cheese is so scrumptious you just want to bathe in it? Well, now’s your chance.” — Adweek - 7-Eleven and 311 Swapping Social Accounts Is the Only April Fools’ Stunt Worth Your Time
“Convenience chain 7-Eleven absolutely nailed it today with its April Fools’ stunt. The brand swapped Twitter and Instagram feeds with rock band 311, known for 1990s and 2000s hits like Down, Amber and All Mixed Up.” — Adweek - How Brands Must Rethink Location Data for a Post-Pandemic World
“As the world slowly starts to re-open, with people increasingly offline and using devices less, experts say that fire hose of pandemic data could start to taper off, revealing new battlegrounds in the fight for customer data.” — AdAge - Google Ad Encourages All to Get Vaccinated so We Can Get Back to What We Love
“To address this, Google released a hopeful ad encouraging viewers to get vaccines. Titled “Get Back to What You Love,” the minute-long commercial takes a look at some of the searches, map results and calendar events that have largely defined the past year in quarantine. ” — Adweek - Facebook Announces New Features for International Women’s Day, Including Multi-Participant IG Live Streams
“Facebook has announced a range of new features to coincide with Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (3/8), with the biggest being the launch of multi-participant Instagram Live rooms, which the company has been testing for the last few months” — Social Media Today
