Most read: BMW is the world's most reputable brand
The automobile brand has topped the , leapfrogging last year's joint winners Walt Disney and Google.
Marketing's Ben Bold reports that RepTrak ranks companies based on how consumers view them, examining 15 stakeholder groups in more than 50 countries for more than 7,000 companies. The rankings are based on each company’s "Pulse", or "the emotional connection consumers have to a brand".
Read on for the full .
S-E-Oh no!: Mobilegeddon
today, penalizing sites which don't offer responsive, mobile optimized websites. Only searches performed on mobile devices will be affected and Google announced these changes back in February, but the web is awash with doomladen prophecies for publishers and brands.
M&S doesn't pass the test. The Mail Online is in trouble, . 44% of Fortune 500 companies aren't mobile ready. have a laundry list of websites Google will "punish", including British royalty: The official website of the British Monarchy and David Beckham’s official site. says the changes could merely "crush millions of small businesses."
Let's all take a deep breath. , the director of technology at RKCR/Y&R, points out that this will make the mobile experience better for users, but is wary of the impact it could have on public services like the NHS who don't have the budget or agility to react to big changes on short notice.
But , with easy steps websites can take and the news that Google will notice and reward changes quickly. They also have some real talk: "Here’s the bigger issue: if you’ve not been sensing and responding to the marketplace and making your content accessible to a mobile world all along, you should stop worrying about Google. Instead, start challenging yourself to keep pace with the changing world around you."
On social: Barbie's brand Instagram is better than your brand's (probably)
Unless your brand's Instagram has stimulated , then you're missing a trick. "From sassy outfits (like SERIOUSLY sassy outfits), to snaps of her famous fashion friends (including Karl Largerfeld, Jeremy Scott and Rachel Zoe to name but a few), and THE BEST throwback Thursday snaps of all time, Barbie’s Instagram feed is the perfect combination of aspirational and jealousy-inducing." We must admit, we're jealous that Barbie is at Coachella.
Poll: Full service agency vs marketing director
Last week, consultant and former chairman of DLKW Greg Delaney asked The CMO of the client, or a planner or strategist at a full service agency? Delaney argued "the best model is one where the CMO leads by example – finding all the right specialists and making them all play together."
A poll we ran on the article found that close to 60% of 32 respondants agreed, as did some of the commenters on the article. But Rob Gray, co-founder of Squad and former TBWA/ planner, had more to say and , arguing that a collection of specialists is preferable to a full service agency, so long as the marketing directors has "a strategist who can be their trusted lieutenant." Have a read and let us know what you think in the poll below.
Happy birthday: Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her actual birthday today, and since this is the year 2015, was trending on Twitter and brands tried to get a piece of the action. Is it a good idea? Can any brand wish our monarch a happy birthday and serve their own purposes without being crass? was none too impressed with Tesco's effort: "please refrain from using the british monarch to advertise your products have you NO manners" they tweeted.
Happy birthday . Is this what one puts on one’s birthday cake?
— Tesco (@Tesco)
We'll give Jelly Beans an A for effort (as long as they didn't make the image in Photoshop).
Who needs birthday cake when you can have an edible portrait? Happy Birthday !
— Jelly Belly UK (@JellyBellyUK)
But our favourite of the day is Marmite. Why have your brand wish Her Majesty a happy birthday when your products can do it with a bit of personality.
Happy birthday, !
— Marmite (@marmite)
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Compiled by Jonathan Shannon
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