The Best of Brand Storytelling; How COVID-19 Impacts the Marketing Ecosystem: Monday’s First Things First

The spread of coronavirus has initiated a period of unprecedented uncertainty for global advertising, which could mean a major shift for the industry. Here are just a few ways the ad world is already pivoting and adapting as a result of the outbreak.

AD SPEND: Early indications are that overall ad spending could take at least a temporary hit, but TV in particular could actually benefit from people staying home, tuning in to news and streaming programming.

EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING: “There will be an impact on the experience industry, particularly around large scale events with a global audience,” says Fake Love CEO Alanna Lynch. As a result, agencies and brands need to think proactively about how to approach branded experiences.

AGENCIES: While many agencies are already adept at working from anywhere, the current outbreak could encourage companies to pivot to more remote working tools and videoconferencing rather than putting so much effort into office staffing and global in-person gatherings.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES: Production companies are still in wait-and-see mode, though many of those who work in production are seasoned professionals who have seen all manner of twists, turns and pivots which could serve to make these companies more nimble.

Read more: For this digital feature, we spoke to dozens of sources about the impact coronavirus will have on the brand marketing ecosystem.

Related:

• South by Southwest was canceled late Friday afternoon due to concerns about coronavirus.
• Instagram’s Coronavirus Efforts Mirror Those of Parent Company Facebook
• Coronavirus Tracker: See the latest cancellations and impacts on the industry.
• Google Updates Its Coronavirus Efforts Both Inside and Outside of the Company

Diverse, Topical, Enlightening and Entertaining, These Were the Best Brand Storytellers of 2019

For the fourth year in a row, Adweek is pleased to reveal the latest winners of the Arc Awards, which celebrates the best of brand storytelling each year. Some of the most impressive campaigns came from brands like Tinder, which created a choose-your-own-apocalyptic-adventure; Sandy Hook Promise for this harrowing PSA about gun violence; and Apple iPhone’s “Don’t Mess With Mother” campaign.

Watch: View all the winning campaigns in one place.

What Brands Are Doing to Celebrate International Women’s Day

For International Women’s Day, several campaigns worked to correct stigmas and address the problems women face in the workplace. In a campaign for International Women’s Day, nonprofit group Catalyst is trying to correct biases against women—pointing to how women are given labels with sexist undertones like “nag,” “bossy” and “emotional.” In another campaign, Orangetheory points out in its spot that celebrates women—International Women’s Day falls on the first day of daylight saving time, meaning that it’s only 23 hours long.

Other great work includes a spot from advocacy group Period and agency Huge, which created the mobile-activated tampon dispenser Hooha. The stunt shows men how frustrating tampon dispensers can be by making them pay for toilet paper.

Read more: See more campaigns from Shapermint and Everlast, as well as key data about where women stand in the office as the push for equality continues.

More From International Women’s Day:

• These Female Marketers Wish You a Happy International Women’s Day
• Aerie Looks to Grow Ambassador Platform With First International Women’s Day Summit
• 3 Brands Really Paving the Way for Women
• 7 Changes That Would Offer More Support for Women in Marketing

Don’t Do This: Yes, Shell Is Changing Its Name to She’ll for Women’s Day (But Only at 1 Station)

At one Shell station in San Dimas, Calif., the brand will replace its logo with one that says She’ll to mark Sunday’s global day of recognition for women. While the brand plans to empower women in a number of ways, social media latched onto the most visible part of the stunt and promptly ridiculed it.

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