Agency business has become incredibly complex: Head of Global Agencies, APAC, Twitter
Simon Brockman talks about challenges before agencies in highly competitive environment, use of influencers and bots on Twitter, and much more

From brands like Ola to Amazon, actresses like Deepika Padukone to Swara Bhaskar to politicians across all parties - Twitter wars have not spared anyone. The use of influencers on the platform and bots have also been under the scanner. With so much under scrutiny, we speak to Simon Brockman - Head of Global Brands & Agencies, Asia Pacific, Twitter, to find out their strategy for Indian markets and more.
Edited excerpts:
Keith Weed of Unilever recently said that his company will distance itself from influencers who buy followers. The problem of bot fraud is huge. How do you deal with it?
Brand safety is the top priority for us. Good user experience is very important for user growth. If you get that right, everything else follows. Brand safety is also one of the reasons we invest in premium video content with our partners, as this makes it 100 per cent safe. There is 100 per cent functionality and there is no ad fraud. This is also why we talk about in-stream video. It is one of the most brand-safe products in the market.
What are the major challenges that media agencies are facing these days?
It’s a tough time. Clients are very demanding. Business is changing; it’s becoming incredibly complex. Also, retention of staff is a perennial problem. Employees these days have so many choices in terms of channels and formats and it is difficult to retain them. I think one way to deal with this problem is to upskill the rising stars or good performers within an agency through education and training. This will help the agency retain their best people.
The Cost Per Engagement on Twitter is down by 28 per cent. What’s the sweet spot that you are aiming for in 2018?
It’s all about user experience. If the user experience is good, you will have more people on your platform and more often. Also, if your products are better, like video website card and video app in our case, you can do better in advertising and delivering campaigns. Also, our investment in big sporting events such as 2018 FIFA World Cup would mean that the user experience on our platform is better. And better experience would mean that we have more users on the platform. So more investment would mean that there is deeper engagement from the users.
What are the kind of demands you receive from advertisers in India?
Innovation and creativity. India is a very competitive market. In the Indian market, we are asked for solutions on Twitter which are creative, stand out and have the ability to win votes.
Which ad formats are doing well in India?
India is a very important market. It is already one of our fastest growing regions and we are doing great business there. As far as ad formats are concerned, we have seen the maximum growth in video, in India as well as globally. Our in-stream video product is doing pretty spectacular. Video is what we lead with. It is our fastest growing and best product. In India, we have specific partnerships for videos in areas such as sports, entertainment and Bollywood.
Did you witness growth in the Indian market during the recently concluded IPL?
I don’t have the exact numbers but I am sure the answer would be yes. Partnerships with premium content, particularly in a video-rich market like India, tends to bring an increase in revenue as well as users base.
How is India an interesting market in terms of diversity in culture and language, etc?
India has such a diversity of people, food, culture and personalities. It is one of the most diverse countries in the world. The market has lot of optimism and ambition. If you look at western markets, they are sometimes very similar. But in APAC markets, there is less similarity between markets such as the Philippines and Singapore, or India which is culturally very different from China or Hong Kong.
The differences can be seen in terms of language, religion, food, the way of doing business, the appetite for doing business, or the size of the population, which brings more competition. There is such a variety in the business and it makes me smile sometimes when people from different countries think about APAC as a region where everything looks the same. But it is not true. There are fundamental differences.
It was mentioned that video website cards and video apps have contributed to a strong growth in ad revenue. What do you have to say about it?
Video website card is a fantastic product. It ensures deeper engagement of the users with the products that they are selling.
Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
For more updates, be socially connected with us onInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp
E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur
The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more
With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.
The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.
Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
For more updates, be socially connected with us onInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp
Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out
The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'
Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."
The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."
COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.
Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.
He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
For more updates, be socially connected with us onInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp
Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board
e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.
According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.
As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.
A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.
Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.
Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
For more updates, be socially connected with us onInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp
Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall
The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall
Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.
“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.
“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."
"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."
Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
For more updates, be socially connected with us onInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp
test
test
test
Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
For more updates, be socially connected with us onInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp
test
test
test
Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
For more updates, be socially connected with us onInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp
KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias
Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments
KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.
Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy
Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.
Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."
Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."
Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
For more updates, be socially connected with us onInstagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Youtube & Whatsapp