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Nov 25, 2024 | 
uk.themedialeader.com | Emily Fairhead-Keen
OpinionUnderstanding human psychology and behaviour helps us find real insights. But this approach tends to be absent when it comes to the comms plan. I won’t begin to understand the complexities surrounding the US election result. Nor will I offer politics in this. But I do think there are some lessons brands can take from it.
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Nov 20, 2024 | 
mediacatmagazine.co.uk | Andy Lipscombe |Emily Fairhead-Keen |Sarah Yeats |Grace Gollasch
The Northern Lights illuminating our skies; Simone Biles revealing new levels of human capability at the Olympics; extraordinary acts of bravery and communal kindness in the wake of the Southport murders; the small green shoots of hope at the base of the felled Sycamore Gap tree. These have the power to induce ‘awe’ in all of us. They unite people in a shared emotional response that enhances our happiness and enlightenment.
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Oct 16, 2024 | 
mediacatmagazine.co.uk | Paddy Gilmore |Mark Byrne |Emily Fairhead-Keen |Olivia Wedderburn
The long-running embrace of brand purpose increasingly seen as an example of marketers living on another planet. Buying a packet of Rana pasta, for instance, we are told to Live Life Generously, but nothing at all about, y’know, pasta. The epitome of this trend is perhaps The Drum magazine’s slogan Marketing can change the world, which sounds both hilarious and bland at the same time.
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Oct 7, 2024 | 
mediacatmagazine.co.uk | Emily Fairhead-Keen |Anton Jerges |Gary Carruthers |Jeremy Yates
How can brands stand out and capture holiday spending, and encourage consumers to shop with them this year? We asked three marketers in our network where they think strategic advantage could lie. The festive season is a bun fight as brands scream for attention in their bid to entice shoppers to pick their brand over the competition leading up to Christmas.
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Aug 29, 2024 | 
mediacatmagazine.co.uk | Emily Fairhead-Keen |Natasha Randhawa |Chris Jefford |Grace Gollasch
Having returned from two weeks in Sicily, apart from the obvious desire to build more ricotta, pistachios, siestas and baroque into my life, it made me think how we could all be a little bit more Sicilian.
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Jul 15, 2024 | 
mediacatmagazine.co.uk | Paddy Gilmore |Mark Byrne |Emily Fairhead-Keen |David Juul Ledstrup
Using humour in advertising doesn’t just make people laugh or smile. It can be a critical tool in getting brands that much-needed asset — fame. It does this subtly but effectively, using a technique that’s been used for years by global brands such as Škoda, McDonald’s and IKEA. Humour often functions by playing with a commonly-held view or fact. Take this joke: Did you hear about the cargo ship carrying yo-yos? It sank 44 times.
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Jun 27, 2024 | 
mediacatmagazine.co.uk | Patrick Garvey |Mark Byrne |Ben Kay |Emily Fairhead-Keen
Two heavyweight contenders in the advertising ring are squaring off: humour and artificial intelligence. The question I’ve been pondering? Can these two heavy hitters coexist in the realm of truly impactful advertising? So let’s break it down a little. Humour is a powerhouse for ad creatives, offering a direct line to consumers’ hearts. A well-placed laugh can make an ad unforgettable, injecting entertainment value that sticks.
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Apr 15, 2024 | 
mediacatmagazine.co.uk | Mike Piggott |Mark Byrne |Harry Kinnear |Emily Fairhead-Keen
In this interview MediaCat Magazine’s Editor Mike Piggott speaks to Paddy Gilmore, the founder of Studio Gilmore, an organisation which helps brands make more money by understanding how and when to use humour. Three reasons: first, humour in advertising has been shown to making people more likely to buy. So that’s good news for brands. Second, it’s people’s preferred brand messaging type (over say, reassuring or motivational messages). That’s good news for consumers.
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Mar 21, 2024 | 
mediacatmagazine.co.uk | Mark Byrne |Adah Parris |Emily Fairhead-Keen |Hande Yaşargil
While seemingly ubiquitous, it’s like a talent—not everyone can master it. For speakers who can weave authentic, spontaneous humour into their presentations, the rewards include higher ratings and more invitations to speak. Similarly, leaders who don’t take themselves too seriously and can inject humour into difficult meetings often gain popularity. However, the effective use of humour in the workplace is nuanced, hinging on the ‘how’, ‘when’, and ‘where’.
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Mar 12, 2024 | 
mediacatmagazine.co.uk | Becks Collins |Emily Fairhead-Keen |Olivia Wedderburn |Grace Gollasch
When trying to come up with modern ‘funny’ brand examples across social media, the same few companies come up, time and again. Duolingo’s angry aggressive TikTok mascot, Ryanair’s self-deprecating videos, Greggs’ tongue-in-cheek limited editions that often go viral (like their 2022 Primark clothing range). Social media is often key to engaging with an audience. Why then, are so few brands using humour effectively?
