The Big Fat Marketing Blog

Judging by the enlightened opinion from the dais at last week’s ad;tech conference in Chicago—and by the chatter from the auditorium, show floors and breakout-session hallways—both marketers and agencies are expecting to see sunshine peeking through the economic clouds by the end of this year, and perhaps by the end of the quarter.

No one expects that recovery, if it comes, to bring marketing budgets back to pre-recession growth rates. To beat the weather metaphor to death, no one’s actually buying sunscreen. But they are taking off their hip boots and—carefully, tentatively, in a controlled fashion—seem to be getting back to the business of trying to find and talk to their customers in a fragmented media world. more

Sears has unveiled the social media campaign that will promote its back-to-college sales this season, a package of three integrated Facebook tools grouped under the heading “Campus Ready”.

The tools, available on the Sears main Web site or on Facebook, are intended to help first-time college students and their families prepare for the experience by helping them to identify and then pay for the furniture and furnishings they’ll need for dorm life. more

Sears has unveiled the social media campaign that will promote its back-to-college sales this season, a package of three integrated Facebook tools grouped under the heading “Campus Ready”.

The tools, available on the Sears main Web site or on Facebook, are intended to help first-time college students and their families prepare for the experience by helping them to identify and then pay for the furniture and furnishings they’ll need for dorm life. more

American Express is taking aim at small businesses with a user-generated contest and campaign called “Shine a light,” asking participants to nominate and then vote online for a small business that’s inspiring its community with its resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.

The financial services company, which currently targets small and mid-sized businesses with its “Open” community platform and products, has teamed with NBC Universal to launch an integrated cross-platform campaign that will celebrate the ingenuity of small businesses. more

American Express is taking aim at small businesses with a user-generated contest and campaign called “Shine a light,” asking participants to nominate and then vote online for a small business that’s inspiring its community with its resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.

The financial services company, which currently targets small and mid-sized businesses with its “Open” community platform and products, has teamed with NBC Universal to launch an integrated cross-platform campaign that will celebrate the ingenuity of small businesses. more

Nearly three quarters of women say they are “more active” in social media now than they were at this time last year. But brands are not necessarily reaping benefits by contacting females in these channels, according to new research from Q Interactive and the ad:tech marketing conference organization.

The consumer survey, results of which were presented to attendees at the ad:tech Chicago conference, found that about 54% of the women in the survey response group visit social networking sites at least once a day, and 75% of those women said they are more active on those networks now than they were a year ago. more