Industry Story of the Week
The IPA has released their quarterly Bellweather report which surveys and outlines companies' marketing spend intentions and financial confidence. Research indicates a significant 12.8% increase in net balance of companies increasing budgets in Q3, double the previous quarter. Video emerged as the top performer in the main media category. 37.5% of companies said they were more optimistic about their financial prospects, the highest recorded level of optimism since Q1 of 2015.Diversity Story of the Week
According to new findings from the ITV backed ‘Feeling Seen’ report, diverse advertising unites audiences and elicits positive emotional response. The study examined six current ads featuring black people and found they created a greater emotional response with a black, British audience than other ads when using System1’s scoring. The market research firm concluded, ‘Different audiences don’t need different advertising, they just need to feel seen within varied elements of the advertising.’OOH Story of the Week
Lucozade have launched a hula-hooping pop up to bring their TV campaign to life. Inspired by their 'It's on' TV campaign, Lucozade energy have launched a 'Hulamarket' pop-up in London's Exmouth Market. Consumers can hula-hoop as a method to spend their 'energy' on a range of Lucozade products and merchandise.Social Media Story of the Week
Pinterest has announced a series of new features for creators. The goal is to better allow creators to build a following on the platform, much like other social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Creators have previously used the platform to link out to their own private blogs. New features will include being able to respond to a creator's 'Idea Pin’ directly, featured creators and a visual search function.Digital Story of the Week
Mark Zuckerberg has revealed his plans to build the internet of the future, which has also been referred to as the ‘metaverse’. The idea is to create an interconnected virtual platform, or ‘world’, using virtual and augmented reality. Users will move around using online avatars which Zuckerberg has said will create a brand new internet experience, ‘where instead of just viewing the content – you are in it.’