Opinionnation

Amazon’s new “virtual product placements” may open up significant opportunities for brands, says David Pullara. But it will come with significant risks for great content.

Rogers’ shocking decision to move its account and close down Theo seems like a stark reminder of just how valuable personal relationships can be.

Great advertising is about real storytelling that is emotional and creates sticky memories, says Target’s Noel O’Dea. And it doesn’t come from a content factory.

When brands support high-quality journalism with rigorous standards and integrity, it’s good for the brands, media and society itself. Kevin Keane explains how it can be done.

The Twitter tiff was good melodrama for the ad world, says Ron Tite. But it was really about two important requirements for productive relationships: Respect and rewards.

Influencer marketing was in the news for all the wrong reasons again this month, thanks to an ill-conceived drunken flight to Mexico. But those weren’t real influencers on that plane, says Eric Blais.

Meant to combat racism, the ads upset Quebec’s Anglophones and might be unwittingly reinforcing racial stereotypes, says Éric Blais.

Air Canada’s English speaking CEO is a reminder of how many Canadian brands don’t think of French Canada as a priority market, says Eric Blais

It’s hard to identify cause in effect in political advertising, but Eric Blais thinks these two ads could have had a big impact on the race.

Shopping has become a political act, and Gen Z customers are increasingly making themselves heard by how they spend their dollars

The shift to digital commerce means that brands should think of brick-and-mortar retail as a giant playground for consumers to interact with their product, says Fuse Create’s Aleena Mazhar.

With all great advertising—just like with great art—craft is only important when in service to delivering a message.

Wahn Yoon and Chris Dacyshyn of Bleublancrouge got together to explain purpose driven marketing. Yoon describes what it is not, and Chris Dacyshyn describes what it is

The early days of social marketing provided important lessons for today’s brand leaders looking to reach their customers on Amazon, says David Pullara

Jared Stein is looking forward to the next season of Bridgerton, but like a lot of people, he’s also ready for some real-life experiences. Brands should take note.

Stephen Brown’s contractors have reminded him how much he misses his office, and his team.

When Scott Knox talks about being gay in the industry, he’s not speaking to the straight audience. It’s to remind anyone who is gay they don’t have to hide.

Fake experts, uninformed thought leaders and swaggering magnetic prophets are proliferating, and their rise threatens to further undermine the industry, says Mo Dezyanian.

To have value, brands need to provide consumers with something that goes well beyond the transactional, says The Hive’s Rick Shaver.

We’re all struggling to get through the pandemic. But responding to that email or answering that call can go a long way towards helping someone through difficult times, says Kerry Fleiser